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B2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 29, 2001 Enjoyed the historic sites the visited along the way (C o n tin u e d fro m p a g e B1) m s David Angas, above, and Mickie Daniel, left, plan to return to the Yukon, where they recently paddled the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson. Their next visit, they claim, will be during the winter when they plan to dog sled instead. Last year they paddled from Kingston to Ottawa, a distance of 220 kilometres in nine days. Both trips were fundraisers, with a goal of $25,000 for four charities. After realizing more than $20,000 from pledges for both trips, Angas and Daniel feel they have achieved their goal. Money raised last year went to the United Way of Oakville and the Oakville YMCA. This year's funds are going to two projects supported by the Rotary Foundation of Canada - a scholarship pro gram for less fortunate students run by the Rotary Club of Oakville West, and the Canadi an Alzheimer's Association. (Daniel's father died from Alzheimer's in January.) Angas, who admits to being somewhat of a his tory buff, has been fascinated by the Klondike Gold Rush since childhood. He was intrigued by the few historic sites they came across at the less traveled spots along the river. "We came across Sam M cGee's ashes," notes Angas. "He was made famous by poet Robert Service, who wrote The Cremation o f Sam McGee and numerous other poems and books about the Klondike Gold Rush. They stopped at Fort Selkirk, "which looks like Black Creek Pioneer Village without the people. It was built in 1858 and the only access to it is by river." In 1952, it was abandoned when the Alaska Highway was built, and "for the last 15 years, the Yukon government and First Nations people have been restoring the village. It was a magical look back at history, untouched and unchanged, and not ruined by commercialism." Another spot they came across north of the Stewart River was simply known as Tom's Loca tion, a well-maintained cabin with a posted note inviting visitors to make themselves at home and leave nothing behind. "It is believed Tom - his last name was never recorded when his body was found by the North west Mounted Police when they found in body in the early 1900s - settled here before the 1890 gold rush." Tom's Location was a way station for the stagecoach, said Angas, adding that the Old Dawson Road from W hitehorse to Dawson, which went past this cabin, was abandoned about 60 years ago. About two days before they "drifted into Dawson," Angas and Daniel stopped at Kirkland Crossing, a modem weigh station "where there were fresh baked bread and pies." In Dawson, they stayed at a bed-and-breakfast - a beautiful Victorian manor that had been relo cated and renovated two years ago. Originally a bar and brothel, it was abandoned in the 1920s and left vacant for about 80 years, explains Angas. "It was called Bombay Peggy's - Peggy was a bootlegger. And, we learned that `B and B' at one time stood for bar and brothel, not bed and breakfast!" The pair carried an Oakville flag, using it unsuccessfully as a sail on Lake Laberge - "the wind kept changing direction" - and displaying it at every campsite. Ultimately, they presented it "a little soiled" to Mayor Glenn Everitt of Daw son. The adventurous couple also visited the Robert Service Cabin, a national monument. "The celebrated poet left Dawson in 1912 and his landlady didn't change a thing; and kept the cabin for him and never rented it out to anybody else, believing he would be back. He never was." The IODE has taken over the maintenance of the cabin, which still contains much of his furni ture and belongings. "The trip was phenom enal," concludes Daniel. "Would we do it again? Yes, without hesita tion. We were reluctant for the trip to end. We had withdrawal," she says. "It was an alluring experience. It makes you really appreciate the beauty of the Yukon." "It gives you a real sense of the adventurous spirit o f the people who settled here," adds Angas. "To think we carried 350 pounds of sup plies over 4,500 miles. The homesteaders carried half a ton of supplies... "It gives you a real sense of the Canadian spir it, and it's a shame more Canadians don't take the time to discover this." "It expands the mind, body and spirit," adds Daniel. "When we paddled from Kingston to Ottawa, that really reinforced our history and who we are as Canadians. But now, we really did it." Last year they paddled from Kingston to Ottawa, a distance of 220 kilometres in nine days. Both trips were fundraisers. Their goal was to raise $25,000 for four charities. Having realized more than $20,000 from pledges for both trips, Angas and Daniel feel they have achieved their goal. Money raised last year went to the United Way of Oakville and the Oakville YMCA. This year's funds are going to two projects supported by the Rotary Foundation of Canada a scholarship program for less fortunate students run by the Rotary Club of Oakville West, and the Canadian A lzheim er's Association. (D aniel's father died from Alzheimer's in January.) Left with a "lingering sense" of yearning for the Yukon, Angas and Daniel do plan to go back. "The locals told us to come back in the win ter," says Angas. "We would like to do a dog sled run from Whitehorse to Dawson. You could call it the lure of the North." Living With Stroke program at OTMH Starting September, Halton Healthcare Services is pre senting the "Living with Stroke" program at the OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH). The program, an initiative of the Heart & Stroke Founda tion, provides information and support for stroke survivors and their caregivers. "The Living with Stroke Program benefits stroke sur vivors and their caregivers by giving them an increased awareness of the causes and effects of their condition, as well as the community resources available to them," says Shirley Coughlin, and Occupational Therapist at OTMH who is also a facilitator for the program. "It teaches participants about recovering strategies and stroke treatments," continues Coughlin. "It compliments hospital and rehab but is not meant to replace it." Other topics that may be covered include: Physical effects of stroke and recovery strategies Communication Treatments and lifestyle changes Dealing with the emotional impact of a stroke Issues in caregiving Stroke in younger individuals The program begins on Sept. 19 and runs until Oct. 24 at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. The program is offered free of charge. For more information on the "Living with Stroke" pro gram, call Morena at the Heart and Stroke Foundation at 905-634-7732. To register for the program, call Lizanne or Janet at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital at 905-3384366. High speed's a turn on. High speed for free, is a real turn on. Thinking about making the move to COGECO@Home high speed Internet? Then now is definitely the time to do it. Turn on to COGECO@Home high speed Internet for a month, Free!* Take it for a test spin. If you like it, you can keep it for $39.95 a month. If you're not interested, we'll take it back, no questions asked. No cost to you. Oakville Museum hosts Appraisal Day Turn on your own network. With an optional Home Networking Hub, you can turn up to 3 computers into your own high speed network through one line, at one low price. Plus; Customizable Excite browser No dial-up, you're always turned on Safe and secure access Turn on to true high speed. Leave dial-up in your download dust. Watch video in real time, and download data, MP3s and software upgrades in seconds. What are you waiting for? Call us and turn on to COGECO@Home high speed Internet for a whole month, free. n If you are an antique collector or have a number of ancient treasures, bring them to Appraisal Day at the Oakville Museum at Erchless on Saturday, Sept. 15 between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Have you ever wondered if a family heirloom, that has been passed down through several generations, and is now presently sitting in your living room, is of much value? Today many people have unique antiques, eclectic pieces of work that have been crafted with great care and work manship, something you do not see too very often in today's highly automated world. Bring those cherished pieces to Oakville Museum and have Richard Browne & Carl Booth give you a professional appraisal. Find out what type of care should go into preserving these wonderful pieces. Cost is $10.00 per item. For more information, call 905-338-4400 or visit the museum's web site at www.oakvillemuseum.com. The museum is at 8 Navy St. cogi : v - w 7 V V 1 Hom e Need someone to talk to? Help is just a phone call away. The Oakville Distress Centre is a United Way Member Agency that connects callers with empathetic volunteers trained to listen and help explore options. Dial 849-4541 from noon to midnight, seven days a week. All calls are confidential. The Centre -- which has served the communities of South Halton for over 25 years -- receives many crisis calls. More frequent, however, are calls from people expe riencing everyday problems ranging from substance abuse and family conflicts to mental illness and loneliness. If you need someone to talk to, or if you would like to volunteer, call the Centre at 849-4541. www.cogeco.com 1-877-8-ATHOM E ·Offer ends October 31, 2001. Valid for new customers only (disconnect > 90 days). Cable modem rental credited for C O G E C O Cable customers (*39.95/month and *10.00/month cable modem rental). Residential service only. Business service also available. Full installation charge for laptop computers. Additional charges will apply for non-standard installations. Not available in all areas. Some restrictions may apply. ((G w C O G I X v Keeping you turned