I absolutely loved my years at Jarvis. I remember fondly my eccentric and devoted teachers, and a particular girls’ air band, the Hague twins, Georgina Balascas and myself, singing a Beatles song. I attended Toronto Teachers College since being a teacher had been my goal since I was six. After graduating, I was to teach a grade three class in North York, but I had seen a presentation and knew I had to go to Northern Ontario. Leaving all that I knew and loved was hard. My first teaching position was in Big Trout Lake, 500 miles north of Thunder Bay, now called Kitchenuhmaykoosib, where I taught grade one. It was wonderful.
I remember one day an airplane flew over and my whole class disappeared down to meet the aircraft. The following summer I would marry a bush pilot/engineer, Henri Boulanger, who owned and operated Bearskin Lake Air Services. He has been my husband for the past 51 remarkable years! We have three children, Michelle Jane 1970, Gregory Xavier 1973, and Matthew Scott 1979. Michelle heads up the givingArt project in Calgary; Greg has a dangerous tree-removal business in Athabasca; and Matt is an engineer for Buffalo Airways. He was in a few episodes of the television series Ice Pilots. We have five grandchildren.
We moved to Lac du Bonnet, 115 km northeast of Winnipeg, in 1977. I had the luxury in the seventies to stay home while my children were little. I took some courses through U of Manitoba in 1980 in psychology, personality, geography, and many other leadership courses over the years. I did some supply teaching in the 80s and 90s. Always concerned with more than curriculum, I believe that children need to be in a creative environment that helps them discover their unique gifts and talents, enabling them to set and reach their goals. Knowledge with wisdom is power.
Let’s see, in 1975, before leaving the North, I got my private pilot’s licence. I did some marketing for an energy company and, for a time, I also developed wild rice markets across Canada. My experience in business has fostered an appreciation for the free enterprise system.
We have enjoyed traveling throughout Europe and the Caribbean, and of course all over Canada, this beautiful land of ours! In 2019, we took a cruise through the Panama Canal to celebrate one of the fifty things to do for our 50th anniversary! Henri and I were in a tap dance group from 1998 to 2014 and even performed at the Manitoba Theatre Centre, so much fun! Our dance club was featured in the 2004 movie Shall We Dance?
Henri and I have worked with foster children and their families for years, which we continue to do as it is highly rewarding. I have done much volunteer work over the years and received a Certificate of Merit from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney! I have worked with Girl Guides of Canada, and two of my girls (one being my daughter) were chosen for national and global camps. I have been a logistics coordinator for Operation Christmas Child for 17 years. Henri and I had the opportunity to deliver shoe boxes to a remote mountain community in Mexico while on a mission trip in 2004 to help build the girls’ residence of the Pan de Vida Orphanage in Queretara. It really was a life-changing experience.
At the age of 21, I discovered the incredible truth and wisdom in God’s Word. My faith has been my guide through the years. One of my greatest joys has been directing and sometimes writing Christmas Productions for Abundant Life Chapel. It was an opportunity to share the message of Christmas in unique and creative ways, often presented in our local community centre. I have worked with children and youth groups through the years. Recently, I have been running a worship dance team and mentoring my ‘Girl Tribe’ (grades 9-12). It has been a privilege and an honour to serve in this way. I often say that these students have given me far more than I have given them.
By far, my role as wife and mother has taught me much about relationships, nurturing, patience, teamwork, problem solving, conflict management, budgeting, planning and most importantly, the uniqueness of the individual and the strength of the whole.
Well Oliver, at the last minute, that’s all I could come up with. A little glimpse of my life!
From Judy Hague , now Anderson: Jane and I are still in touch. Donna married a French-Canadian bush pilot about 50 years ago — a very happy, loving marriage – and they now live in Lac du Bonnet, northeast of Winnipeg, on the shores of the Winnipeg River.
In 1968, she went to an Indian Reserve to teach. There she met Henri Boulanger, a bush pilot about 13 years her senior. Henri and Donna were married on July 12, 1969. Jane (Hague) was a bridesmaid: I was out in Saskatchewan that summer. Donna and Henri have three children and five grandchildren. They are very committed Christians and very involved in their community. Over the decades, they’ve done a lot of travelling to warm climes and other places. Henri still flies, I believe, and is in demand to inspect planes in many places. Donna and Henri are a really dynamic duo, who give and give in so many significant ways to their community. I really respect them.
From Judy Hague , now Anderson:
Donna wanted her accreditation as a swimming instructor at the Bronze Medallion level. But, she needed to demonstrate her skill with two student candidates. Guess whom she picked? Jane and me.
We’d been to summer camp as kids and were good swimmers. She told us we would earn our Bronze Medallions if we passed.
We were all — there were about ten of us, I think – asked to jump into the bath-tub sized Jarvis pool at the same time to do our 20 lengths with four different strokes. The water was really choppy — not great for the head-up crawl — so I held back. Nope. Donna was instructed to make me get in — now! So I did. Jane and I achieved our Bronze Medallions and Donna her instructor’s accreditation. Mission accomplished!
Oliver Bertin: That pool is now the school drama room, believe it or not!