What if Tom Creighton and David Collins could somehow meet face to face?
What would Creighton, the prospector history credits as the father of Flin Flon, say to Collins, the Métis trapper many say is the true founder of the community?
Those intriguing questions formed the basis of a nine-act skit performed at the Wild Rice Ragout, a social held last Saturday, Sept. 27 as part of
Culture Days.
“It was fun to do,” said local historian Gerry Clark, who wrote and performed in the skit.
Clark donned a fedora and prospector’s garb to portray Tom Creighton – or rather Creighton’s ghost – while Ron Burwash, a local Métis resident, took on the role of Collins’ ghost.
Research
While all of the dialogue between the men was fictitious, it was based on actual research conducted by Clark, a retired history teacher.
Clark chose to depict the men as friendly toward each other, which he admits may be seen as a controversial choice.
He doesn’t even know if they met again after Collins reportedly showed Creighton the outcroppings of what would become the Flin Flon ore body.
In penning the dialogue, Clark ensured Collins got his licks in, as the trapper spoke of Creighton receiving all the money and prestige from the discovery.
Clark hoped the skit would raise awareness of the role Collins played in the founding of
Flin Flon.
That’s no surprise since Clark has long advocated for Collins to get his historical due.
“It’s embarrassing to me that nothing has ever been done for David Collins in Flin Flon,”
he said.
Still, Clark concedes that no one really knows for sure what Collins’ role may or may not have been in the discovery. Both Creighton and Collins are long deceased.
“I guess in a way it comes down to what you believe,” said Clark, adding that he trusts what he considers to be the most reliable sources.
