The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
This couple have been companions for 74 years, first meeting when they were 15 years-old. They got their education and then were married in 1939. In the early years of Lew's life he had started coming up to the Flin Flon, Snow Lake area around 1929 with his father, C. R. Parres and his brother Jim. The first successful mining development that the Parres men were involved in was the Nor-Acme mine in Snow Lake which was a gold ore body that was staked and prospected prior to 1929. This was the ore body that the Town of Snow Lake was built around. The Parres men would "ride the rods" from Saskatoon to Mile 81 on the Hudson Bay Railroad and then go on to Snow Lake by canoe where their Dad taught Lew and Jim how to pan gold from the Gossan, trenching by hand steeling and blasting with dynamite. In 1934, Jim and Lew along with seven other University of Saskatchewan geological students traveled by canoe down the Saskatchewan River from Saskatoon to Flin Flon/Snow Lake where they panned gold and did assessment work. All these students went on to develop successful careers: Jim Parres formed DEE Explorations and made the original Autunite discovery in Saskatchewan. This is still a viable company today even though Jim (SR) has passed on. See 'House' P.# Con't from P.# In 1938 after spending two years in Yellowknife, Lew and Eric Swanson paddled to Saskatoon and then to The Pas where they flew up to Snow Lake to successfully outline the big ore body. This was financed by Lew and Mr. G. Clare, placing Snow Lake claims into a company called Nor-Acme and then selling shares at 10 cents per share to initially raise $500. Lew Parres was largely responsible for the completion of the Hanson Lake road the way it is now. The original government plan was to construct the road from Flin Flon to the Nipawin area via Beaver Lake, but due to Lew's lobbying the route was changed. Lew received his BA in Geology at the University of Saskatchewan and worked underground as a miner, shift boss and geologist from 1938 to 1941, when he enlisted in the RCAF, after which he worked for HBMS for a year. In 1945, Lew's wife, Billie, with their son Jim (4) and daughter Beverley (1) arrived on the train from Victoria to join him. Billie recalls, "There was a pot belly stove in one corner of the train car to help keep us warm. The Powells (Dale's parents), traveled in the same car as we did!" Their first family home was on Boam Street across from Ross Lake School. During this time Lew began prospecting on his own having many exciting experiences during the Lynn Lake Rush in 1947 and then in 1949 the Mystery Lake Nickel Rush, both of which Lew did well. Housing in Flin Flon was a real premium at that time and happily Wilf and his wife Mary Burrows told them of a house coming up for sale on Church Street and the family quickly bought it. This was about 1950 because Brenda, the youngest daughter of the Parres' family, was born while the family lived in that home. The family's third home was the move down to Green Street to a house that was known as one of the "dairy homes". The home had been owned by the co-owner of the dairy, a Mr. Holmes who along with Leif Reitlo owned the dairy. As the family grew the children became very involved in the Scouts and Guides. Trips to Camp Whitney or Clearwater Lake where not uncommon for the kids. Jim became a Queen Scout and was presented with the award by the Governor General Vincent Massey on the old Birchview School grounds. Bev went on to receive her Gold Cord in Guides along with Cecilia Sulitz and Sharon Kenny. The girls received their awards from Lady Baden Powell by telephone from Winnipeg. Brenda also went on to get her Gold Cord in Guiding. There was no TV in those days and the kids spent a lot of time at Phantom Lake. They walked out, of course, on the foot path. They played tennis and the family would have picnic suppers out there every Sunday, often with Bill and Kay Uhrich, Orson and Molly Wright, Joy-Ann and Grant Thompson and their families. The concession was open in those days and was run by Jenny Woods, then Mrs, Irene Hutton, and Mrs. Noah and recently by the Borgstrom family. (Bev and her husband Lyle). Christmas gatherings were always a fun time. The family and guests would play charades and a family friend, Joan Edwards, would entertain with her poem recitations such as "The Ice Worm" and "Dangerous Dan Magru". Joan was also a nurse at Camp Whitney. The kids were also involved in figure skating and played ball in the summer. And they got involved in the Kids' Circus that was held at Kinsmen Park in the summertime. Billie was a "stay-at-home-Mom" as she was also the "midnight secretary" for Lew , on his after hours work schedule. See 'Recently' P.# Con't from P.# Billie was involved in the Scouting and Guiding movement as well, she was on the Home and School Committee when they were trying to get the censorship of movies going, which she worked on with Mrs. Maurice Roche. Billie stated: "The United Church Women's Group #3 was very important." These women used to cater the Rotary luncheons. Some of them that Billie recalls were: Evelyn Constable, Hazel Cowie, Jean Brownridge, Dorothy Douglas, Jean Hopkins, Kay Urich, Isobel Dunn and Edie Chlan. She also taught Sunday School. Bille and Mrs. Maurice Roche were both presented with the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Award. Lew's hard work with the Rotary, including being president, earned him the Paul Harris Award in 1986. The Parres family's lives were a busy one. With Lew off all over the country working in the bush for long hours, and the kids' busy schedules, there wasn't much time to sit and get bored! The couple just recently had their 65th wedding anniversary! Lew can be heard to say as he looks lovingly at Billie: "She is the most beautiful specimen of humanity." Billie and Lew now reside in the Northern Lights Manor. They enjoy as their neighbours many friends that they associated with in the early years such as Eleanor Reitlo and Flora Warren. Lew and Billie have seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren who they love to pieces and look forward to their visits. They have no plans of ever leaving here, stating that Flin Flon was, and still is, a great place to raise a family and enjoy their many friendships. The family is planning a "great celebration" this summer. I would like to thank Billie and Lew for a great story and a wonderful interview. Thanks for sharing.
