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Looking back with Don and Kay McLaren

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.

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.

Don McLaren arrived in Flin Flon in 1945 from Lac Vert, Saskatchewan and like many others came here looking for work. He started at New Core Mine at Douglas Lake working there from October till December when the mine shut down. Then he went to work for Imperial Oil working with George Evans. Later he went to work for the City of Flin Flon for a few months. Don worked at Fruit and Produce for Stan Petroski and drove cab for Bobbie's Taxi (Bob Marshall), Richmond Taxi and at Joe's Taxi under Joe Pallanuik till 1951 when he got on with HBMS. Don worked in the smelter on the copper floor working with Johnny Masson and Ed Longmore who were his bosses. Then he went to the fuming plant when it opened in 1951 with Al Osby being the shift boss and guys such as Orlie Johnson, Jim Onophrechuk, Howard Fraser, and George Rideout. Don transferred to the mechanical department in 1959 working with Bill Kvern, Al Rainville, Jack Willis, Albert Feldman and Roy Mitchell just to name a few. Don retired from the mechanical department in 1980 after 28 years. Don was a member of the volunteer Flin Flon Fire Department from 1952 till 1980 when he moved to Denare Beach. He worked with such Fire Chiefs as Walter Redman, Fred Livesay, Don Still and Reuben Hagan. See 'Northland' P.# Con't from P.# Kay Lemcke came to Flin Flon in 1952. She had two brothers living here, Gerald at HBMS and Don who worked for CN Express. Kay worked at Milts and then The Bay (for 15 years broken service while raising her children). Kay met Don in the Northern Cafe and they were married in October 1955. While courting they went to many dances at the Lobstick on Saturday nights with Jimmy Wardle singing and the Wes Vickery orchestra playing. The Legion also had dances on Friday night and had Bob Warren's band with Bob on the violin, Marg Bradt on the piano and Herb Jaszan on the guitar. They also went to lots of shows at either the Northland or the Rex theatres, as well as the odd Bomber game, saying "it was a big day when they won the Memorial Cup". Kay's dad, who was visiting from the States and going on to see her sister in Regina, was lucky enough to get a ticket (thanks to Eli Ross) and saw the Bombers win the Memorial Cup. The couple first lived at 106 Riverside where they raised their children, till 1980 when they sold and moved to Denare Beach, living there for about 10 years. Then, they moved back to Flin Flon and are living in their present home on Hapnot Street. Don and Kay have four children: Debbie (in 1957), Randy (in 1959), Brian (in 1960), and Kelly (in 1964). They have five granddaughters and lost one grandson in 1983 at the age of two and one-half years. They are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first great grandchild in December, 2004. Don belonged to the Elks for about 10 years from 1952-1962. He was also very active on the Phantom Lake Golf Club executive being the president around 1978-79. He still golfs when he isn't fishing! Don curled with Stewie Evans in the 60s and with Al Lindgren. In 1980 while curling with Bob Lawrence, they won the HBMS watches along with Jim Finucane and Al Lindgren. Kay is an original member of the Fire Belles that was started in the early 60s. She also curled in many bonspiels mainly with "pick-up" rinks. She remembers going to Snow Lake one year with Bernice Gourlay, Bertha Haggarty and Marg McKee. Now in their retirement, Don and Kay love to camp especially at Jan Lake where the fishing is so good. Sometimes they can be found camping at the Narrows as well. When asked what changes, if any, they would like to see in Flin Flon, they both felt that something should be done with the old Flin Flon Hotel. For example, turn it into suites for the seniors in this town who want to be close to the basic needs such as doctors, hospital and the lawyers, all of whom are uptown. They added that if the seniors want to shop below the hill that there is bus service for them. They both said that they have no plans of leaving here. They have many friends and like it in Flin Flon. Kay, a proud grandma stated that they have one granddaughter in her final year of mechanical engineering in Saskatoon, one is presently working on opening a massage therapy business behind Curves, one is a pharmacy technician in Winnipeg, one works in Flin Flon for the NOR-MAN Regional Health Authority and one is still in school. Thanks for sharing your memories with us! The interview was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon! Writer's Note In Eleanor Sparling's story in last week's Looking Back column, the impression was mistakenly given that Eleanor's son Jim, who lives in Vancouver, had his son Tanner living with him. In fact, Tanner lives with his mother Lisa Garuk in Calgary.

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