Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac city morning show. I am your host Elliot Pierre, and we're going to start the show off the same way we start every show off with the moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us truly does mean the world to me on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:24 Oh, she caught me, loves your listen to the next <inaudible>.
Speaker 0 00:00:32 All right. So we have a fun episode today. Uh, we are going to be chatting with a long long-term residents of Fort McMurray, tons of stories. Um, there's more stories and we're going to be able to tell in 20 minutes, but it's going to be a lot of fun. Now, as you already know, I do not introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves because they can do a better job than I. So on that note, can you please introduce yourself and tell everybody who you are?
Speaker 2 00:00:55 Good morning. I'm Florence Weeber and my family moved here in 1958. My father worked at the air force base and we lived in Anzac. Okay. Yeah. Nice.
Speaker 0 00:01:09 So air force base. I don't think a lot of people in Fort McMurray would know about that now, but it used to be used to have military here in Fort McMurray, correct? Yeah, that's right between the air force base. And they had the trains that used to come through and, uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but they used to run exercises at Mackwell lake. Like you have Greg war and then you have a little hidden gem than a lot of people know about the NACWAA. I was told back in the day they used to like run different kinds of training simulations out there too.
Speaker 2 00:01:40 I was too young. I don't know about that. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:01:43 So you have had a very interesting life like everybody, but you used to have a business that was a thriving in Fort McMurray. People loved it and you've moved into retirement right now. And when you haven't slowed down, but what, what was the business that you, uh, used to have? What was it called and what was it about?
Speaker 2 00:02:03 I started, uh, my framing business in 1991 as a family business. Um, at that time it was called JCD frames and more right after my three kids. And then it grew into a larger framing center. And, uh, in around night, 2012, I met with the artists in the community. We had a powwow and, uh, ask the artists what they wanted and that grew into the gallery points, north gallery. That's right.
Speaker 0 00:02:38 Yeah. It was a really nice place. And you could support local artists there and you could see their work and then you could purchase it as well, but then attached to the store, which always like for me was so cool. Cause I can't do it, but you also had like a whole area of like yarn and you would weave and knit and it was so, and it was like, anyways, let's talk about that component as well, please. Like, what's that all about
Speaker 2 00:03:06 In 2015, my, uh, friend, uh, then had, um, home-based business selling really beautiful yarn and fiber supplies and she was moving away. So I kind of got a little excited about her leaving anxious rather. And, uh, I just had to carry on with that. So I just did it. I bought her stock and increase just made it into a lovely yarn gallery. That's right.
Speaker 0 00:03:40 It was amazing. And, and you had, and I don't know what it was called, but you guys had like a machine. And when I say machine, I use the word lightly. I think people at home are going to think that it's like this technology, it's a piece of wood, basically in a wheel, a spinning wheel. And you used to like, it could manufacture its own yarn, basically spin fiber yarn lievable. But I remember I would come in on like a weekend, just like poke around and look at things and you'd have women there knitting and somebody sitting at this wheel,
Speaker 2 00:04:15 Like not just women either. Did you have a lot of men that you should come in and that's
Speaker 0 00:04:20 Awesome. Oh yes. Okay. So now point north you're retired. I went, yes, but you're, you're not done. No,
Speaker 2 00:04:31 I'm not. Um, I have a little house downtown and in the garage of that house is where all my frames were, were cut and joined and built. And now once I get that cleaned out, um, I'm going to clean it all up and painted nice and open a community fiber arts studio. So people will have a location to come to learn how to knit and spin and weave.
Speaker 0 00:05:00 Oh wow. That's awesome. I'm really excited about it. No doubt. That's going to be a lot of fun. It really will. And I know
Speaker 2 00:05:09 It will grow because, uh, it has been so much interest in that area, that interest, I don't know what's going to happen to it, but it's going to really be below.
Speaker 0 00:05:18 Yeah, no doubt. So what is it about you that keeps you going with these businesses and keeping busy and being out in the community after all these years?
Speaker 2 00:05:29 Well, I think the bottom line is I love to work with my hands. Right. And my passion right now is fiber. Right. And there's such, I've got so many friends that also work with fiber and love the whole process. And I just need to keep surrounding myself with like-minded people. That's right. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:06:00 Very cool. Now these like-minded people that you have accumulated over the years, how have they found you in regards to like your, my mom knows you very well. And so it's just one of those things where most of the viewers at home, um, they have the internet, they have these groups that they can join. They can find people, they can find you easily. How have you accumulated these friends over the years in Fort McMurray? Like how do you bump into these people and get them in your inner circle? You talk me too.
Speaker 2 00:06:32 Yeah. Um, I D I'm just pretty friendly and I approach people and share my passion.
Speaker 0 00:06:41 Yeah. There you go. Okay. Now in Fort McMurray, you've seen tremendous changes over the years. What would you say is like one of the biggest things that is for you and Fort McMurray that has been like a, a visual big change in the community? Like I know for me, it's Mac island, for example, like, cause I remember what Mac island used to look like back in the day and what it is now and nobody, unless you go look it at historical walnuts in there it's mindblowing. So what's something in Fort McMurray that you're just like, wow, that was not here. When I was here. When I first got here,
Speaker 2 00:07:22 I think often about Franklin having you. Okay. Because when I was going to school and um, I went to Peter pond high, I graduated in 1972. A lot of Franklin avenue was a Bush. Really? Yeah. Like we're uh, Tamarac center is McDonald's and that Freshie. Yeah, that was all Bush really? Oh, I don't remember that. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:07:53 Oh my goodness. So Franklin avenue has changed for you,
Speaker 2 00:07:56 Right? Well, and then years prior it was all mud. Right? When we would come into shop at Paxton's general store,
Speaker 0 00:08:07 It was basically just mud really? Huh? I don't remember that. That's fascinating. Um, my mom tells me the airport when I chat with her about like the biggest changes her own is the airport. Cause um, my parents moved here in 1977, if I'm not correct, 1976 or 19 77, 1 of the two. And she said like, it just used to be a trailer. And uh, she flew in from Toronto and she touched down and she, what is this? Her story is so funny. Um, heartbreaking at the time. Funny, in retrospect now, but yeah, she says like the airport just used to be a trailer.
Speaker 3 00:08:47 Yep. So did our hospital.
Speaker 2 00:08:50 Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Yeah. Regional hospital. Yeah. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:08:57 So where did your parents immigrate from? Like where did they come? They came from Edmonton to here. Yeah. So why did they, uh, why for Macquarie? What was like
Speaker 2 00:09:07 Probably for work. Yeah. Like most people, the rest of us. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:09:11 And so this is, I, I have to ask what keeps you here?
Speaker 2 00:09:16 Oh, I have a relationship with the Clearwater river.
Speaker 0 00:09:20 Okay. All right.
Speaker 2 00:09:24 Oh yeah. I love that river and I kayak on it as often as I can. Yeah. And then we lived across the river. Okay. In the early nineties. That's where my kids grew up. Right. So we would take a boat back and forth. That's right. Okay. So the river keeps you here. I love that river. Yeah. Air here. And the people. Yeah,
Speaker 0 00:09:49 Because you fall into a bracket like my parents, I think, uh, growing up here, um, most adults who came here had a retirement plan of leaving Fort McMurry when I'm done, I'm moving somewhere else. And that seemed to be the pattern that most people did. And then all of a sudden there became this generation and your in it, who was just like, no, no, no. Why would I go anywhere else? This is where my friends are. This is where my family is. This is, this is my community. I'm not going anywhere. And my parents have decided to do the same thing, but now I'm seeing that more and more people are actually retiring in Fort
Speaker 2 00:10:28 McMurray, which I think is great.
Speaker 0 00:10:31 Especially for me with the kid. Like my parents are here. They get great relationship with him. Built in babysitters.
Speaker 2 00:10:39 Well family that's right. Yeah. Yeah. Do you have any grandchildren? No. No.
Speaker 0 00:10:46 Oh, you gotta yell at your kids.
Speaker 2 00:10:48 Three children. No, they're not ready when they're ready and then you'll have them. Okay. Where are your kids now? Um, my oldest son, Casey is here in McMurray. Okay. Uh, Dawson is in KA. In Edmonton. Okay. And Jessica is in Calgary. Oh, she's close to Alicia then. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. They see one another. Um, yeah. I'm really fortunate that we're all like together. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah, it is.
Speaker 0 00:11:17 Okay. We're out of, part of the show. Um, it's called the Mac city minute. So this is Tanner segment. Get ready for it to, I'm just going to ask you five questions. I don't know what he's going to ask you. So, uh, best of luck with the Mac city minute. Thank you. Okay. Go ahead with the Mexican meal. Question.
Speaker 3 00:11:32 Number one. What do you remember from your first time coming to Fort McMurray?
Speaker 2 00:11:37 I remember coming on the train. It was Easter and I had on my little white Easter grubs and my little white hat. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:11:47 That's a great memory question.
Speaker 3 00:11:50 Number two. What is the most interesting of art you've seen in Fort McMurray?
Speaker 2 00:11:56 Oh my God. How can I answer that?
Speaker 0 00:12:01 It's like asking who your favorite kid is
Speaker 2 00:12:03 Most interesting piece of art. I love the sculpture on the way to Mach island. Oh Lordy. That's a big question. It's a hard one. There's so many incredible pieces of art. Um, I like the piece of art outside of Earl's but Amy. Yeah, that's a good one. I have most recently purchase a piece of art. It's a beadwork. It's the most incredible bead work. I've never seen a designed and created by treasure Cooper. Okay. It is so beautiful. There's a photograph on it. On the front cover of the northward. Okay. Latest issue. Yeah. Solstice. Yeah. That is stunning. Yeah. There you go. Oh man. That's a hard question.
Speaker 0 00:13:21 There you go. Next question one, man.
Speaker 3 00:13:23 Number three. What was it like to celebrate for McMurry? Turning from a village to a town.
Speaker 2 00:13:32 I remember that I remember being at the fire hall when they made the announcement of it being renamed of the Tom being renamed. Yeah. Yeah. It was a big celebration. Okay. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:13:55 Question number four. What is your favorite way to spend time in or around the river?
Speaker 2 00:14:02 In my kayak, listening to the birds and I picked berries along the way when they're, when I can see them. It overhanging. Nice.
Speaker 3 00:14:12 And your final question, what was your favorite part of raising your kids in Fort McMurray? The Bush. And those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:14:22 What about the Bush? You guys went and walked in the trails or
Speaker 2 00:14:25 We lived across the river. So we were in the Bush. W just when it was raining, Jess and I would go and walk in the rain and the puddles. Yeah. Nice. The kids would float down the river in the summer and play on the sandbar and our little black lab would keep them all contained and safe. It was so beautiful. Yeah. I've
Speaker 0 00:14:46 Always wondered. How did you make it across the river? Cause like the town didn't over there.
Speaker 2 00:14:52 Oh, well were you on the line? We were, uh, we were bought that land in 1970. Right. Um, and then they built a log home and this is your man and his wife. Yeah. And then we, we purchased and bought into the land in 1990 and moved, moved a house across the ice right. In March of 1991. Okay. That's crazy. That was crazy. Crazy. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:15:31 And like your house was so tucked away. It was hard. Like you had pure seclusion, so beautiful and yeah, it was just, but it was so cool. It was just like, for me, it's like, I love to daydream and imagine about things. Right. And so you'd be on the Clearwater and you'd be hanging around and you see this house in the woods and you're just like, Ooh, daydreaming. And I just remember like, just looking one time and my mom being like, you know, I know who lives in that house. I'm like, what you do, who is that that person must be so cool. And like, yeah. So yeah, you guys were trailblazers in regards to living off the grid, but in the
Speaker 2 00:16:07 Grid really? Yeah. We had our own water supply down from the Hills behind and, um, we did have, um, ATPCO electric. Yeah. I think it was called Alberta power when they read her, she set it up and then our wood source was pallet heat. Okay. And, um, we had a wood-burning central, central back central or whatever you call it. Yeah. That would heat the house with wood. So it was really beautiful. It was just a little house, 1200 square feet and it was beautiful.
Speaker 0 00:16:44 That's awesome. That is so nice. Your kids must have just loved that.
Speaker 2 00:16:49 We always, I loved it, especially because the kids could bring their friends over and then we would make really great food and the kids would play outside and it was
Speaker 0 00:16:58 Great. That's awesome. Yeah. No, what, uh, yeah, that, that house definitely got my imagination going as a child. For
Speaker 2 00:17:06 Sure. For sure. Yeah. So
Speaker 0 00:17:08 When you came to Fort McMurry initially, like the one thing that you talked about, which I think is hilarious, your memory is the train. Can you talk about the train? Cause no. There's I guarantee you, most of the view and audience has no idea that there used to be a train to Fort McMurray. Can you talk about that? A little?
Speaker 2 00:17:25 Sure. Um, my brother and I would come to school on the train. Okay. Was in grade one. And uh, I was, I was really little, I guess. Of course. Yeah. And I'm the conductor on the train had a hook hand. I remember him. He was so kind, it was such a nice man and he looked after me. Yeah. And Rodney, I would come across, well, we'd leave Anzac on a Sunday and come by train. And we stayed with a family in waterways. Right. That had nine kids. Yeah. That's just added to that and we all live together and I'd read food
Speaker 0 00:18:07 Again. That's awesome. So this train, like did it, it stopped in Fort McMurray. Did it go any further than four? This was the end of the rail. Waterways. Waterways. Yeah. Not to form Murray. That's correct. Tanner good call. That's another thing that a lot of people kind of miss that like waterways, was it? Yes. There was no Fort McMurray. That's right. Waterways was it? And so that train, it ended in Fort McMurray, but you could go all the way to Edmonton and further on, on that train when we're going to have to fact check this later on. Sorry. We're horrible. At fact checking here, but I wonder when that train stopped operation to form a query,
Speaker 2 00:18:49 Was that it must've been in the sixties. Yeah. I want to say the sixties. I don't. Yeah. I think around a long time ago, do you know?
Speaker 3 00:19:00 We still have rails that come in. Yes. We do still have rails and for all
Speaker 2 00:19:04 The rails and Draper. Right.
Speaker 3 00:19:06 But active rail system. If you drive out to, uh, like south break Creek, the airport area, if you look just through the bushes, there's an actual laydown yard for trains and stuff. It's not a person trained, but they bring in materials and stuff on it. Yeah. Just outside of town.
Speaker 0 00:19:25 Yeah. The, uh, they shipped stuff like for the oil and gas industry up here. Yeah. But like it's so far removed from town now, like you said, the Draper trails and then there used to be down in, um, in waterways. I don't know. I know where
Speaker 3 00:19:38 The berm is now. There used to be a building and that was the train
Speaker 4 00:19:42 Station. Why they decommissioned that
Speaker 0 00:19:45 And took it down. It was such a nice historical landmark in burned. Oh, did it burn? Is that what happened? Oh, there we go. They didn't decommission it. The fire took
Speaker 2 00:19:52 Care of it. Yeah. Not this fire. Another one. Yeah. Some kids were, oh, okay. Unfortunately it caught on fire. Oh wow. Yeah. Silly kids. Yeah. Yeah. Tricks are for kids. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well
Speaker 0 00:20:08 Florence, that's it. This is a show. Just you and me talking. So I want to thank you. I've wanted to have you on for a long time, but you're such a busy lady and then you were winding down points north. So like the scheduling didn't work. So thank you for making the time. I know my mother can't stop talking. And when I told her that you were coming she's I can't wait to see that episode. So my mom and my sister say hello, or they're going to be watching at home right now. I know that. But before we let you go, shameless plug that happens at the end. Can you please tell people once again about your new business, you don't have it yet, but it's coming. So what is it all about? And when it comes, how can people find you and support it?
Speaker 2 00:20:51 Community fiber arts studio. Okay. I'm not, I, I'm not sure when I'll be starting up. Cause there's so much work to be done prior. I've got to clean my garage out. Right, right. Um, but I'm really hoping to have it like by fall this year. Right. And um, I guess social media. Okay. And I think it's just going to be called the community fiber arts studio. You simple kind of learn how to weave and spin fiber and knit, crochet, nega point, all of that good stuff. Nice.
Speaker 0 00:21:28 Okay. Well, when you open it up, you can come back on the show and we'll promote it and get everybody coming to your, your garage new setup. So thank you. Elliot, go make a Mac city blanket. Oh, hundred percent. No, it's one of those things. I'm not, I'm not joking. I'm going to come and I'm going to do it. I, uh, I'm very interested. Like I like tuques and socks and stuff. And if I could like knit my own stuff with like the colors I want. Absolutely. So beautiful. Yeah. We'll be coming me and Tanner will we'll come check
Speaker 2 00:21:55 It out. Excellent. Cool. Already got one fellow signed up to learn how to weave. Nice. Yeah. Nice. There we go. All
Speaker 0 00:22:03 Right. Well for McMurry wood, Buffalo, this has been another episode of the Mac city morning show. Once again. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for tuning in. It's been a great show. Florence. Thank you so much for coming. I really do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 00:22:15 Thank you. Thank you, Donna Tanner. Yep. There we go. Alright.
Speaker 0 00:22:19 Well, everybody at home. Thank you very much for tuning in. Hopefully you're having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 5 00:22:44 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
