Police often take flak over coffee. Tim Horton and doughnut jokes abound. The truth is, especially in small town policing, is that our breaks are never truly ours. When you’re as visible as the police are, and expected to be “on” at all times you expect to be interrupted . I can’t envision a postal worker sitting down at a coffee shop and having someone run up saying “I’ve got a parcel that needs to be mailed to Victoria right now.” And if it did happen I really can’t envision a postal worker getting up, plopping down his money for coffee at the counter and rushing off to mail the parcel.
I’ve had many an interesting incident commence at one of my coffee or lunch breaks, from canoeists needing rescue, to fights, to, well to almost anything you can imagine. When I worked at Fort Providence in the Northwest Territories, we often took our breaks at Big River (or in the local vernacular Big Rivers), a restaurant/truck stop/motel/gas station on the highway near Fort Providence, just north of the mighty MacKenzie.
One particular spring day I had just walked in to Big Rivers when a young woman about 24 years old came out of the kitchen crying and headed straight for me. When she reached me she sobbed “My mum in Australia wants to talk to you.” and she began leading me to the phone in the restaurant kitchen, starting me on an investigation that touched on four provinces and the Northwest Territories and two other continents, Australia and Europe.
Comments
9 responses
No fair to leave us readers hanging like that!! Post again soon!
Hi,
Thanks to Murray I now have your blog. It’s very interesting. But
How can you end “my mom from Austraiia wants to speak to you” like that. I’m in total suspense!
Have a great day and stay warm I am her in Florida and it dipped down to 88 F today!
Looking forward to another great story Clare.
Hi Clare,
I live in Calgary and work for the Arctic Institute of North America.
I’ve never been north of Whitehorse and your blogs and photos have given me some insight into what its like in the High Arctic.
I was very sorry to hear about the suicide of that young man. We hear a lot about youth suicides in northern communities down here in the south. Such a tragic loss.
Where do kids in your community go to school? Do they have internet access?
Don’t keep us waiting with your Australia story.
Bye for now,
Ruth
I’m still waiting for the second part to that Australia story :D, we are allw aiting patiently 🙂
I keep meaning to post a comment to let you know I’m here reading. I’m anxiously waiting to hear the end of this story! BTW, I’m asking everyone up here, if there is a Northern / Northmart up there, can you snap a quick picture the next time you’re out and email it to me? Check out my blog and you’ll see why I ask.
-Tina
Ahhh! How much longer till the end of the story!
I had to laugh out loud at the “big rivers” comment! The memories of driving out there time and time again with my new licence to see what “5-0” and summer student Sabrina were up to on a Friday night! haha.
PS – when are you going to finish this story?! 🙂
I’ll get to the next installment soon Kara.
Welcome Patsy. I’ve gotten quite a few hits through Murray’s blog since he posted that link. I’m chuckling at the thought of the temperature “dipping” to 88 (31 C) except for my trips out this spring and summer I think the warmest I’ve seen in 5 years was 14C (57F).
Thanks Darcy
Welcome Ruth, You’ll have to get your employers at the Arctic Institute to send you up here for a week or two. After all, if you’re working there you should have a better appreciation for the place. Tell them I said so.
Hi Tina,
I’ll try and get a picture of the Northern. Perhaps on Monday when I drop Leah off at work.
I’m not sure how long to the end of the story Little Chikpea. The next installment should be along shortly. You can always visit “True Crime” on the side bar categories for other similar stories.
Hey Kari,
How’s school? Ah yes, Big Rivers on a Friday night. The stuff memories are made of.
Arctic Bay has school from pre-school to Grade XII. Two of the teachers from the school here blog and their blogs should give you a glimpse into the schooling up here. Check out Way Way Up and Tales from the Arctic. You can find them on my sidebar. We have broadband internet here. Many of the youth in town have access to it through the Community Access Program, found at the local college.
Hi Ida,
it’s coming, it’s coming.