1 00:00:00,968 --> 00:00:01,967 Here we are in morden, manitoba. 2 00:00:01,969 --> 00:00:03,868 [cheering & applauding] 3 00:00:03,904 --> 00:00:05,570 Couple hours south of winnipeg. 4 00:00:05,606 --> 00:00:07,639 30 minutes north of north dakota. 5 00:00:07,775 --> 00:00:10,642 Right in the heart of picturesque pembina valley. 6 00:00:10,778 --> 00:00:13,378 Now, I'm not sure, in the prairies, 7 00:00:13,414 --> 00:00:16,048 How you define valley. 8 00:00:16,117 --> 00:00:18,584 [laughing] 9 00:00:18,719 --> 00:00:20,652 Like, I'm sure it is, it's just... 10 00:00:20,688 --> 00:00:23,489 I haven't seen the sides. 11 00:00:23,491 --> 00:00:25,724 [laughing] 12 00:00:25,859 --> 00:00:27,726 I feel like I should be able to see the sides, 13 00:00:27,861 --> 00:00:29,194 Like there's nothing in the way. 14 00:00:29,230 --> 00:00:31,263 I should be able to see the sides. 15 00:00:31,265 --> 00:00:34,800 Is it still a valley if you can't see the sides, 16 00:00:34,935 --> 00:00:36,735 Due to the curvature of the earth? 17 00:00:36,870 --> 00:00:40,138 [laughing] 18 00:00:40,174 --> 00:00:42,774 When you grow up in a small town in newfoundland, 19 00:00:42,777 --> 00:00:44,075 You see that people have a sense of humour 20 00:00:44,111 --> 00:00:45,177 About hard times. 21 00:00:45,312 --> 00:00:46,177 Check, check. 22 00:00:46,213 --> 00:00:48,280 I turned that into a career and hit the road. 23 00:00:48,282 --> 00:00:50,516 [mc] mr. Jonny harris! 24 00:00:50,518 --> 00:00:52,751 Now I'm on a mission to find the funny in the places 25 00:00:52,886 --> 00:00:54,086 You'd least expect it, 26 00:00:54,221 --> 00:00:56,155 Canada's struggling small towns. 27 00:00:56,290 --> 00:00:59,525 Towns that are against the ropes, but hanging in there. 28 00:00:59,527 --> 00:01:02,027 Still laughing in the face of adversity. 29 00:01:02,029 --> 00:01:04,029 This is morden, manitoba. 30 00:01:04,031 --> 00:01:08,100 ♪ 31 00:01:08,235 --> 00:01:09,768 Woo! 32 00:01:09,903 --> 00:01:15,507 ♪ 33 00:01:15,543 --> 00:01:18,009 [indistinct speaking] 34 00:01:18,045 --> 00:01:22,914 [cheering & applauding] 35 00:01:22,950 --> 00:01:25,184 Morden's known as the city of discovery. 36 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:26,418 That's right, city. 37 00:01:26,487 --> 00:01:29,054 Unlike most of the towns that we feature on this show, 38 00:01:29,056 --> 00:01:31,123 The population here is actually growing. 39 00:01:31,125 --> 00:01:33,058 It's one of the fastest -growing communities 40 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:34,726 In manitoba. 41 00:01:34,795 --> 00:01:35,961 You didn't move to the city, 42 00:01:36,096 --> 00:01:38,263 City status was bestowed on you. 43 00:01:38,299 --> 00:01:40,099 It's like the mountain came to mohammed. 44 00:01:40,234 --> 00:01:42,067 [laughing] 45 00:01:42,136 --> 00:01:44,670 I'm only joking, there's no mountain, there's no mountain. 46 00:01:44,672 --> 00:01:45,937 [laughing] 47 00:01:46,006 --> 00:01:47,206 If the second mountain came though 48 00:01:47,341 --> 00:01:49,141 They could probably call the place a valley. 49 00:01:49,210 --> 00:01:51,610 [laughing] 50 00:01:51,679 --> 00:01:53,845 There's a growing population, growing industry. 51 00:01:53,914 --> 00:01:57,682 The trouble here happened in the summer of 2021, 52 00:01:57,718 --> 00:02:01,720 When morden experienced a severe drought. 53 00:02:01,855 --> 00:02:03,021 ♪ 54 00:02:03,057 --> 00:02:04,623 Actually, it was worse than severe. 55 00:02:04,758 --> 00:02:06,091 The way they categorize them, 56 00:02:06,226 --> 00:02:09,561 A d2 level is a severe drought. 57 00:02:09,696 --> 00:02:12,431 Summer of '21, most of southern manitoba 58 00:02:12,566 --> 00:02:17,602 Was in a d3 status, which is extreme drought. 59 00:02:17,671 --> 00:02:20,906 But morden and the surrounding area was in d4, 60 00:02:20,908 --> 00:02:24,009 Exceptional drought, which kind of sounds like 61 00:02:24,144 --> 00:02:26,044 I should congratulate you on that or something. 62 00:02:26,180 --> 00:02:27,979 [laughing] 63 00:02:28,015 --> 00:02:29,548 You know, it wasn't until I got here, 64 00:02:29,617 --> 00:02:31,649 I realized how bad the drought was when I saw 65 00:02:31,685 --> 00:02:34,186 That weird, beached whale by your town sign. 66 00:02:34,188 --> 00:02:35,587 [laughing] 67 00:02:35,656 --> 00:02:37,756 [applauding] 68 00:02:37,758 --> 00:02:40,993 ♪ 69 00:02:41,128 --> 00:02:43,127 I spoke to morden's water warden, 70 00:02:43,164 --> 00:02:45,998 Campground manager, brian thiessen. 71 00:02:46,133 --> 00:02:50,068 [cheering & applauding] 72 00:02:50,204 --> 00:02:51,737 The lake, it's not just sort of like a draw 73 00:02:51,872 --> 00:02:53,738 For campers and tourists. 74 00:02:53,774 --> 00:02:55,874 I mean, that is the source, would you say? 75 00:02:55,943 --> 00:02:57,109 Oh, absolutely. 76 00:02:57,244 --> 00:03:01,213 Nearly all of town relies on that as their water source. 77 00:03:01,282 --> 00:03:04,950 He told me lake minnewasta is a man-made reservoir, 78 00:03:05,085 --> 00:03:09,621 And it provides morden with 90% of its drinking water. 79 00:03:09,657 --> 00:03:12,757 And during the drought, there was real danger of 80 00:03:12,793 --> 00:03:14,893 The community running dry. 81 00:03:14,895 --> 00:03:18,162 The saying kept being, "we just need a good rain." 82 00:03:18,199 --> 00:03:21,233 That's all we need is just one good rain and the lake 83 00:03:21,368 --> 00:03:23,702 Would bounce back, and we'd be okay, but... 84 00:03:23,704 --> 00:03:25,036 It never came. 85 00:03:25,072 --> 00:03:26,305 And then when July hit, 86 00:03:26,307 --> 00:03:28,172 That's where the real concern was. 87 00:03:28,209 --> 00:03:30,976 The water just kept going down. 88 00:03:30,978 --> 00:03:36,180 People watched as your water supply got lower and lower. 89 00:03:36,217 --> 00:03:39,017 Brian said on the hottest days of the year, in July, 90 00:03:39,053 --> 00:03:43,255 The lake was dropping an inch every two to three days. 91 00:03:43,257 --> 00:03:46,691 And then if you take a look at it as like a bowl, 92 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,727 The closer you get to the bottom, 93 00:03:48,729 --> 00:03:51,697 The quicker it goes down, so that grew exponentially 94 00:03:51,832 --> 00:03:53,765 As the summer went on. 95 00:03:53,834 --> 00:03:57,402 Lake minnewasta dropped no less than 15 feet. 96 00:03:57,404 --> 00:04:00,172 It was weird for lifeguards, you know, someone was, 97 00:04:00,174 --> 00:04:02,007 "ah, help, I can't swim." 98 00:04:02,076 --> 00:04:03,742 "well, can you touch the bottom?" 99 00:04:03,744 --> 00:04:05,944 "no, I can't!" "well, you will soon." 100 00:04:06,013 --> 00:04:08,246 [laughing] 101 00:04:08,249 --> 00:04:10,582 There were a lot of people that were very fearful of 102 00:04:10,717 --> 00:04:11,850 What was gonna happen. 103 00:04:11,919 --> 00:04:13,751 There was, there was concern, for sure. 104 00:04:13,787 --> 00:04:14,886 It was bad. 105 00:04:14,955 --> 00:04:17,155 A state of emergency was declared. 106 00:04:17,291 --> 00:04:20,359 The water conservation measures were put in place, 107 00:04:20,361 --> 00:04:22,127 You know, things like you couldn't fill your pool 108 00:04:22,196 --> 00:04:23,595 Or your hot tub. 109 00:04:23,664 --> 00:04:25,063 -You waste nothing. -Yeah. 110 00:04:25,099 --> 00:04:25,997 Nothing goes down the drain 111 00:04:26,033 --> 00:04:28,233 Unless it's done something else before. 112 00:04:28,368 --> 00:04:30,235 So, if you wanted to wash your hands, 113 00:04:30,237 --> 00:04:33,171 You catch that and then that goes into, 114 00:04:33,173 --> 00:04:36,041 Let's say the tank of the toilet, so you can flush it. 115 00:04:36,043 --> 00:04:38,243 People were saving water, reusing it. 116 00:04:38,378 --> 00:04:41,913 Maybe if you could put it in the tank for flush the toilet 117 00:04:41,915 --> 00:04:44,783 Or give it to the dog or your least favourite kid or... 118 00:04:44,852 --> 00:04:46,652 [laughing] 119 00:04:46,787 --> 00:04:49,187 Construction companies that were doing any work in town 120 00:04:49,189 --> 00:04:51,990 That needed water, they had to haul in their own water. 121 00:04:52,125 --> 00:04:55,127 They closed down the splash pad in morden park there. 122 00:04:55,262 --> 00:04:57,162 Everybody had to change the way that they did things. 123 00:04:57,297 --> 00:04:59,264 Like, this was the only time where a bartender 124 00:04:59,266 --> 00:05:02,067 Would insist you have a few rum and cokes before 125 00:05:02,069 --> 00:05:04,001 They'd give you another water. 126 00:05:04,038 --> 00:05:05,637 [laughing] 127 00:05:05,706 --> 00:05:06,772 "okay, buddy, take it- 128 00:05:06,907 --> 00:05:08,106 You've already had a couple of waters. 129 00:05:08,142 --> 00:05:09,741 Just take it easy, okay." 130 00:05:09,777 --> 00:05:11,409 [laughing] 131 00:05:11,478 --> 00:05:13,345 We wouldn't have made it through without the way 132 00:05:13,414 --> 00:05:16,013 Everybody did as much as they could... 133 00:05:16,050 --> 00:05:19,951 And still be presentable at work... 134 00:05:20,087 --> 00:05:23,354 Without missing a shower too many times in a row or 135 00:05:23,390 --> 00:05:25,290 Not washing their clothes. 136 00:05:25,425 --> 00:05:26,858 You know, as you can see, 137 00:05:26,993 --> 00:05:30,161 I don't have any water up here with me tonight. 138 00:05:30,197 --> 00:05:33,665 So, I'm doing my part, as you can see. 139 00:05:33,667 --> 00:05:34,966 As you can smell, maybe. 140 00:05:35,102 --> 00:05:36,434 I don't know if the front row... 141 00:05:36,570 --> 00:05:38,202 [laughing] 142 00:05:38,238 --> 00:05:39,304 I thought that was interesting that everybody 143 00:05:39,373 --> 00:05:41,105 Sort of tried to do their part. 144 00:05:41,141 --> 00:05:44,175 It's not very often you see examples of a shortage 145 00:05:44,244 --> 00:05:46,478 Of something bringing people together. 146 00:05:46,613 --> 00:05:49,247 That wasn't how it was in my neighbourhood 147 00:05:49,316 --> 00:05:50,849 During covid with toilet paper. 148 00:05:50,918 --> 00:05:52,317 [laughing] 149 00:05:52,386 --> 00:05:54,952 [applauding] 150 00:06:00,260 --> 00:06:04,362 ♪ 151 00:06:04,431 --> 00:06:06,998 In an agricultural town suffering from drought, 152 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,201 Sometimes you just wish some help would fall from the sky. 153 00:06:10,237 --> 00:06:12,670 That's where pembina air comes in. 154 00:06:12,672 --> 00:06:14,506 I talked to operations manager whose job 155 00:06:14,575 --> 00:06:16,007 Demands she keeps her feet 156 00:06:16,076 --> 00:06:18,276 On the ground, but her head in the clouds, 157 00:06:18,278 --> 00:06:19,945 Vienna peters. 158 00:06:19,947 --> 00:06:24,883 [cheering & applauding] 159 00:06:24,885 --> 00:06:28,019 Pembina air services is our family business. 160 00:06:28,021 --> 00:06:31,289 My dad, myself, my mom, brother, and sister. 161 00:06:31,291 --> 00:06:34,025 We've been here, I believe, since 1999. 162 00:06:34,027 --> 00:06:35,660 So, a long time. I mean, 163 00:06:35,696 --> 00:06:38,497 Southern manitoba, farming industry is huge, right? 164 00:06:38,499 --> 00:06:41,566 Crops are everything so, we do our best to 165 00:06:41,701 --> 00:06:44,536 Take care of local farmers, from the air. 166 00:06:44,605 --> 00:06:46,571 And they can spray any number of things 167 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,975 Like fertilizer or seed. 168 00:06:49,977 --> 00:06:52,243 You know, they use gps, and they find out which fields 169 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,447 They're going to spray and what they're going to spray. 170 00:06:55,516 --> 00:06:58,116 And she said also the direction, 171 00:06:58,251 --> 00:07:00,318 Which I didn't know that was even a factor. 172 00:07:00,354 --> 00:07:02,320 I just assumed it would always be down. 173 00:07:02,356 --> 00:07:04,922 [laughing] 174 00:07:04,958 --> 00:07:07,058 Farming and aerial application, 175 00:07:07,127 --> 00:07:09,361 It's very dependent on the weather. 176 00:07:09,363 --> 00:07:11,963 So, morden and a lot of southern manitoba 177 00:07:11,999 --> 00:07:13,465 Experienced a drought. 178 00:07:13,467 --> 00:07:16,100 So, that meant a lot less work. 179 00:07:16,170 --> 00:07:18,303 Vienna said that because of the drought, 180 00:07:18,372 --> 00:07:21,439 The number of acres they would normally spray 181 00:07:21,574 --> 00:07:23,208 Was cut in half. 182 00:07:23,343 --> 00:07:24,876 So, half the income, right? 183 00:07:25,011 --> 00:07:27,145 And that's why we had to cut staff. 184 00:07:27,147 --> 00:07:29,347 So, it was tough financially for everybody. 185 00:07:29,383 --> 00:07:32,484 Like, she said that she had to lay off half of her staff. 186 00:07:32,619 --> 00:07:34,285 Now, it could have been worse, I guess, 187 00:07:34,321 --> 00:07:35,520 At least they weren't up in the plane 188 00:07:35,655 --> 00:07:37,055 When she let them go. 189 00:07:37,190 --> 00:07:38,356 [laughing] 190 00:07:38,425 --> 00:07:41,526 She told me that they took a couple of local farmers up, 191 00:07:41,661 --> 00:07:44,629 Clients of theirs, just for a recon flight, 192 00:07:44,665 --> 00:07:47,199 So they could sort of see what was going on. 193 00:07:47,334 --> 00:07:48,666 Because of the drought, they wanted to 194 00:07:48,668 --> 00:07:50,335 Kind of see where things were at. 195 00:07:50,470 --> 00:07:52,703 And, they said to dad, you know, 196 00:07:52,739 --> 00:07:55,439 "don't take us up again," in one of these drought years, 197 00:07:55,476 --> 00:07:57,242 Because it was pretty scary, I think, 198 00:07:57,311 --> 00:07:59,544 To view the fields from that perspective. 199 00:07:59,580 --> 00:08:01,312 Because nobody was growing food. 200 00:08:01,348 --> 00:08:03,181 And all these fields were just- 201 00:08:03,316 --> 00:08:04,716 And I can imagine how upsetting it would be. 202 00:08:04,718 --> 00:08:06,484 I get upset on a flight when it looks like 203 00:08:06,487 --> 00:08:07,986 There's going to be no food. 204 00:08:07,988 --> 00:08:10,121 [laughing] 205 00:08:10,123 --> 00:08:12,023 The other thing that saved the business 206 00:08:12,092 --> 00:08:13,992 Was sheer determination. 207 00:08:14,127 --> 00:08:15,660 A little bit of volunteer work, I'd say, 208 00:08:15,662 --> 00:08:18,196 On my part and as well as my brother's just because it is 209 00:08:18,331 --> 00:08:20,532 A small business and we had to make ends meet 210 00:08:20,601 --> 00:08:21,500 With the drought. 211 00:08:21,635 --> 00:08:23,301 We were able to, you know, push through. 212 00:08:23,370 --> 00:08:26,004 She said that she and her brother both plugged a lot of 213 00:08:26,073 --> 00:08:29,007 Unpaid hours just to keep the business running. 214 00:08:29,076 --> 00:08:31,142 I mean, every day, one day at a time of 215 00:08:31,211 --> 00:08:32,410 Figuring out how to move forward. 216 00:08:32,546 --> 00:08:34,279 This has been a good summer. 217 00:08:34,281 --> 00:08:35,614 Perhaps next year when, 218 00:08:35,749 --> 00:08:37,548 Let's cross our fingers first, 219 00:08:37,584 --> 00:08:38,984 Another good season. 220 00:08:39,119 --> 00:08:40,385 -Yeah. -Mhm, mhm. 221 00:08:40,387 --> 00:08:42,253 Vienna not only managed the business, 222 00:08:42,256 --> 00:08:44,623 But managed to keep a can-do altitude. 223 00:08:44,625 --> 00:08:46,591 [laughing] 224 00:08:46,593 --> 00:08:49,628 [applauding] 225 00:08:49,630 --> 00:08:56,701 ♪ 226 00:08:56,770 --> 00:08:58,703 Next, I met a couple who moved to morden. 227 00:08:58,772 --> 00:09:01,439 Why? Mostly just to get a breath of fresh air. 228 00:09:01,441 --> 00:09:04,241 I'm talking about mrinmoy and niby moulick. 229 00:09:04,278 --> 00:09:09,214 [cheering & applauding] 230 00:09:09,216 --> 00:09:10,315 We used to live in delhi, 231 00:09:10,384 --> 00:09:11,616 Which is like the capital of india. 232 00:09:11,751 --> 00:09:13,751 Populated, and we were done with it. 233 00:09:13,787 --> 00:09:14,753 [laughing] 234 00:09:14,755 --> 00:09:17,188 My daughter having some problem, also, 235 00:09:17,224 --> 00:09:18,256 With the pollution. 236 00:09:18,391 --> 00:09:21,225 They told me that the air quality where they were 237 00:09:21,295 --> 00:09:24,129 Living in delhi was so poor that it was affecting 238 00:09:24,131 --> 00:09:25,597 Their daughter's asthma. 239 00:09:25,599 --> 00:09:27,232 They knew they wanted to move. 240 00:09:27,367 --> 00:09:30,267 We were looking for any place to actually migrate and... 241 00:09:30,304 --> 00:09:33,171 We googled different migration programs. 242 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:34,606 What jumped out at them was 243 00:09:34,608 --> 00:09:36,540 Morden's immigration program. 244 00:09:36,577 --> 00:09:39,344 They said it looked enticing, and they figured, you know, 245 00:09:39,479 --> 00:09:42,880 Rural manitoba is a place where you can breathe easy. 246 00:09:42,882 --> 00:09:44,482 Which is true except for, you know, 247 00:09:44,518 --> 00:09:46,651 When it hits minus 45 and... 248 00:09:46,786 --> 00:09:48,886 You get some frost buildup in your windpipe. 249 00:09:48,888 --> 00:09:51,489 [laughing] 250 00:09:51,491 --> 00:09:54,325 We just mailed them a general email. 251 00:09:54,328 --> 00:09:56,828 And we heard back from them, which we usually- 252 00:09:56,830 --> 00:10:00,632 It's surprising 'cause usually people don't reply back. 253 00:10:00,701 --> 00:10:02,801 And then, eventually, niby came over for 254 00:10:02,803 --> 00:10:05,503 An exploratory visit to check out the town. 255 00:10:05,539 --> 00:10:07,639 And she said she was super impressed. 256 00:10:07,641 --> 00:10:09,073 There was a lot of things which was 257 00:10:09,142 --> 00:10:10,608 Already lined up for me. 258 00:10:10,677 --> 00:10:12,877 Someone's picking me up from the airport. 259 00:10:12,879 --> 00:10:15,346 They had fixed up all the hotels and everything. 260 00:10:15,382 --> 00:10:17,315 She flew over, they came, picked her up, 261 00:10:17,384 --> 00:10:20,719 Brought her into town, had the whole itinerary done up. 262 00:10:20,854 --> 00:10:23,722 Sounded pretty deluxe, considering... 263 00:10:23,724 --> 00:10:26,524 You know, here I am putting the town on national tv, 264 00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:28,927 I had to drive my own rental from winnipeg airport. 265 00:10:28,929 --> 00:10:31,162 [laughing] 266 00:10:31,297 --> 00:10:33,298 Like, they made sure that I had an appointment booked 267 00:10:33,433 --> 00:10:36,300 With the mayor, just to tell us how the town looked like. 268 00:10:36,370 --> 00:10:38,203 It's like, the mayor wants to meet me? 269 00:10:38,338 --> 00:10:40,939 And who am I, right? Why would he like to meet me? 270 00:10:40,941 --> 00:10:43,207 She met the mayor. Niby, it was so funny. 271 00:10:43,276 --> 00:10:44,476 She was like, "oh, I couldn't believe it." 272 00:10:44,611 --> 00:10:47,278 I mean, here she is just checking out the town, 273 00:10:47,414 --> 00:10:48,946 Having a look at the school. 274 00:10:48,948 --> 00:10:52,417 She asks about the tap water, and they say, 275 00:10:52,486 --> 00:10:53,885 "you gotta meet the mayor." 276 00:10:53,954 --> 00:10:57,221 [laughing] 277 00:10:57,257 --> 00:10:59,223 That's why we don't want to move anywhere else. 278 00:10:59,292 --> 00:11:00,158 Yeah. 279 00:11:00,227 --> 00:11:01,358 Yeah, this is like a community which 280 00:11:01,395 --> 00:11:02,560 We can rely upon. 281 00:11:02,596 --> 00:11:04,162 But you know, moving to a new country 282 00:11:04,231 --> 00:11:05,830 Isn't easy for anybody, and it was no different 283 00:11:05,965 --> 00:11:07,765 For niby and mrinmoy. 284 00:11:07,801 --> 00:11:10,568 Morden helped with the move, but they still had to hustle. 285 00:11:10,637 --> 00:11:13,238 They both held down several part-time jobs. 286 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:14,806 I got a job at mcdonald's. 287 00:11:14,941 --> 00:11:17,575 I work in the night shift mcdonald's. 288 00:11:17,711 --> 00:11:19,577 -Walmart. -Walmart in the morning. 289 00:11:19,646 --> 00:11:21,646 Until they saved enough money to open 290 00:11:21,781 --> 00:11:23,881 Their own cleaning business. 291 00:11:23,950 --> 00:11:26,550 Like, right now, almost like 20 people 292 00:11:26,586 --> 00:11:28,386 Are working in my company. 293 00:11:28,521 --> 00:11:31,523 And, I'm thankful that I can give them a job. 294 00:11:31,525 --> 00:11:34,592 Most of our employees are newcomers. 295 00:11:34,728 --> 00:11:37,662 Now, they're helping new mordenites that are 296 00:11:37,797 --> 00:11:39,397 In the same position that they were in. 297 00:11:39,532 --> 00:11:41,332 Initially, when you come to another country, 298 00:11:41,368 --> 00:11:42,867 The language is always a barrier. 299 00:11:42,869 --> 00:11:44,702 -Exactly, yeah. -We don't mind that. 300 00:11:44,771 --> 00:11:45,970 We'll give them part-time job. 301 00:11:45,972 --> 00:11:48,272 -We'll give them hourly job. -Full-time job, also. 302 00:11:48,341 --> 00:11:50,375 Full-time job. Whatever they require. 303 00:11:50,377 --> 00:11:51,509 If they don't know the language, 304 00:11:51,545 --> 00:11:52,811 They can still train them in it, 305 00:11:52,946 --> 00:11:54,678 And somebody can be working and earning 306 00:11:54,715 --> 00:11:56,213 While they get their bearings. 307 00:11:56,349 --> 00:11:57,748 So it just makes life a bit easier. 308 00:11:57,784 --> 00:11:59,684 That's their cleaning business slogan, 309 00:11:59,819 --> 00:12:02,287 "easy on new mordenites, tough on stains". 310 00:12:02,422 --> 00:12:04,489 [laughing] 311 00:12:04,558 --> 00:12:06,423 [applauding] 312 00:12:11,098 --> 00:12:13,364 ♪ 313 00:12:13,433 --> 00:12:15,433 Now, as soon as you drive into morden, 314 00:12:15,568 --> 00:12:17,001 You know something is going on. 315 00:12:17,137 --> 00:12:18,937 You see some curious sights. 316 00:12:18,939 --> 00:12:22,106 You see bruce the mosasaur. 317 00:12:22,109 --> 00:12:25,176 You see archie the giant sea turtle. 318 00:12:25,311 --> 00:12:28,379 You see that big, terrifying toothy fish. 319 00:12:28,448 --> 00:12:29,447 You can stick your head up and 320 00:12:29,449 --> 00:12:31,649 Get your picture taken through his mouth. 321 00:12:31,651 --> 00:12:33,418 But I still didn't know why morden was the 322 00:12:33,553 --> 00:12:36,487 "city of discovery". Did I want to learn? 323 00:12:36,523 --> 00:12:38,289 You bet jurassic. 324 00:12:38,424 --> 00:12:40,658 [laughing] 325 00:12:40,660 --> 00:12:43,460 I went and I boned up on fossils with executive 326 00:12:43,497 --> 00:12:46,130 Director of the canadian fossil discovery centre, 327 00:12:46,133 --> 00:12:47,998 Adolfo cuetara. 328 00:12:48,134 --> 00:12:53,338 [cheering & applauding] 329 00:12:53,340 --> 00:12:56,607 Fossils in this area date back to a fascinating 330 00:12:56,676 --> 00:13:00,545 Geological age, the cretaceous period. 331 00:13:00,680 --> 00:13:03,147 Okay? This followed the jurassic period. 332 00:13:03,216 --> 00:13:05,216 And if you're into the jurassic period, you know, 333 00:13:05,218 --> 00:13:06,651 Lots of people are, and good for you. 334 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,686 [laughing] 335 00:13:08,722 --> 00:13:11,623 But the cretaceous period is full of all these, like, 336 00:13:11,758 --> 00:13:15,125 Weird and wonderful aquatic beasts. 337 00:13:15,162 --> 00:13:18,562 83 million years ago, the sea was... 338 00:13:18,598 --> 00:13:20,331 Higher than now, quite higher. 339 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,435 So there were interior seaway, like a giant channel of sea. 340 00:13:24,437 --> 00:13:26,504 This place was underwater. 341 00:13:26,573 --> 00:13:29,040 There was a seaway from the arctic that came down 342 00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:30,774 Through the middle of canada, and the middle of 343 00:13:30,811 --> 00:13:32,777 The united states, ended up in the... 344 00:13:32,779 --> 00:13:34,312 Gulf of mexico. 345 00:13:34,314 --> 00:13:37,181 And all these unbelievable fossil discoveries 346 00:13:37,250 --> 00:13:39,216 Had been made right here in morden. 347 00:13:39,252 --> 00:13:43,588 We have around 1500 specimens. 348 00:13:43,657 --> 00:13:46,123 Different specimens that altogether are 349 00:13:46,159 --> 00:13:48,059 More than 20,000 fossils. 350 00:13:48,194 --> 00:13:52,263 But in display, we have like probably 5% of that amount. 351 00:13:52,299 --> 00:13:55,399 Adolfo explain to me right now the paleontology world 352 00:13:55,435 --> 00:13:57,134 Is discovering morden, 353 00:13:57,170 --> 00:14:00,137 While morden discovers its own discoveries. 354 00:14:00,173 --> 00:14:01,539 Let me explain. 355 00:14:01,674 --> 00:14:03,241 [laughing] 356 00:14:03,310 --> 00:14:06,277 Fossils in this area started to be collected 357 00:14:06,346 --> 00:14:08,213 Back in the 1960s. 358 00:14:08,348 --> 00:14:11,916 And only recently people like adolfo have been discovering 359 00:14:12,051 --> 00:14:14,752 How significant some of these finds are. 360 00:14:14,754 --> 00:14:17,755 Like, bruce, the mosasaur... 361 00:14:17,791 --> 00:14:22,493 Morden has the largest mosasaur on display 362 00:14:22,495 --> 00:14:24,195 On the planet. 363 00:14:24,330 --> 00:14:26,130 This is the guinness world record. 364 00:14:26,132 --> 00:14:29,433 This is the largest mosasaur in display in the world. 365 00:14:29,469 --> 00:14:31,769 This is 43 feet long. 366 00:14:31,771 --> 00:14:35,039 It looks like a cross between a whale and a crocodile. 367 00:14:35,108 --> 00:14:38,242 And it's got like fins, but it's also got rear fins, 368 00:14:38,278 --> 00:14:40,244 So they sort of look like undeveloped legs. 369 00:14:40,313 --> 00:14:41,446 Very unsettling. 370 00:14:41,448 --> 00:14:45,216 But the scariest thing is its mouth, this enormous, 371 00:14:45,218 --> 00:14:48,119 Long mouth with huge teeth. 372 00:14:48,121 --> 00:14:52,589 And then it's got another set of teeth behind its teeth. 373 00:14:52,626 --> 00:14:56,093 It's got a mouth in its mouth... 374 00:14:56,129 --> 00:14:58,262 Like the alien in alien. 375 00:14:58,331 --> 00:15:02,100 [laughing] 376 00:15:02,102 --> 00:15:04,001 It's just a terrifying -looking thing. 377 00:15:04,070 --> 00:15:06,204 I can't imagine if you saw this thing coming up 378 00:15:06,339 --> 00:15:07,738 Through the water at you... 379 00:15:07,774 --> 00:15:10,107 I freak out if my foot touches some seaweed. 380 00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:12,076 [laughing] 381 00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:14,779 Can you imagine a mosasaur got a hold of you? 382 00:15:14,781 --> 00:15:16,214 "oh my god, the mosasaur got me! 383 00:15:16,349 --> 00:15:17,815 My leg's in its mouth, and I think my foot 384 00:15:17,817 --> 00:15:19,783 Is in its other mouth! Gross!" 385 00:15:19,819 --> 00:15:21,585 [laughing] 386 00:15:21,655 --> 00:15:23,621 But they were all eating each other, for pete's sake. 387 00:15:23,690 --> 00:15:25,757 Violent times, the cretaceous period, 388 00:15:25,892 --> 00:15:27,224 It was terrifying. 389 00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:30,261 The mosasaur would often eat giant sea turtles. 390 00:15:30,396 --> 00:15:32,496 That's why they got archie over at the co-op, 391 00:15:32,532 --> 00:15:34,465 And bruce up by the hotel. -[laughing] 392 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,734 Be a bloodbath, otherwise. 393 00:15:36,770 --> 00:15:41,239 Adolfo said the centre brings in about 15,000 people a year. 394 00:15:41,241 --> 00:15:44,442 And he said that will increase dramatically. 395 00:15:44,577 --> 00:15:47,445 We now are the hidden gem of manitoba. 396 00:15:47,580 --> 00:15:49,847 Nobody knows about us, but hopefully, 397 00:15:49,916 --> 00:15:53,217 In a couple or three years, everybody will know. 398 00:15:53,253 --> 00:15:56,520 If you want to see bruce the mosasaur, 399 00:15:56,589 --> 00:15:59,524 The largest mosasaur, which jumped out of the water and 400 00:15:59,526 --> 00:16:01,659 Killed indominus rex and saved the day 401 00:16:01,794 --> 00:16:03,328 At the end of jurassic world... 402 00:16:03,463 --> 00:16:05,162 [laughing] 403 00:16:05,198 --> 00:16:07,398 You want to see that, you got to come to morden. 404 00:16:07,434 --> 00:16:10,134 [cheering & applauding] 405 00:16:10,269 --> 00:16:13,070 Spoiler alert, probably should've put in 406 00:16:13,206 --> 00:16:14,571 A spoiler alert in there. 407 00:16:14,607 --> 00:16:16,273 [laughing] 408 00:16:16,275 --> 00:16:22,546 [applauding] 409 00:16:22,582 --> 00:16:26,884 ♪ 410 00:16:26,953 --> 00:16:29,821 I was told morden had a great special olympics program, 411 00:16:29,823 --> 00:16:33,624 But covid threw a pretty good curveball and shut it down. 412 00:16:33,693 --> 00:16:35,526 Kids with disabilities in this area 413 00:16:35,562 --> 00:16:37,061 Were left with no sports at all. 414 00:16:37,196 --> 00:16:38,830 So parents got together, and 415 00:16:38,832 --> 00:16:42,733 Challenger baseball has been a real homerun here. 416 00:16:42,802 --> 00:16:43,901 I talked to a couple of people 417 00:16:43,903 --> 00:16:45,536 Who've been hitting it out of the park, 418 00:16:45,538 --> 00:16:48,573 Courtney yeo-thiessen and evan hesom. 419 00:16:48,708 --> 00:16:50,174 [cheering & applauding] 420 00:16:50,176 --> 00:16:52,510 Courtney is a high school teacher. 421 00:16:52,512 --> 00:16:54,445 She was involved with the special olympics program. 422 00:16:54,514 --> 00:16:55,813 And when challenger baseball came up, 423 00:16:55,882 --> 00:16:57,014 They needed a coach. 424 00:16:57,017 --> 00:16:58,516 She volunteered even though she said 425 00:16:58,518 --> 00:17:00,551 She didn't know much about baseball. 426 00:17:00,587 --> 00:17:02,352 I can throw a ball, I can catch a ball. 427 00:17:02,389 --> 00:17:03,554 But that's about it. 428 00:17:03,689 --> 00:17:06,391 I've played sports, but I'm never really a baseball fan. 429 00:17:06,526 --> 00:17:07,992 Which became apparent to me when she asked me 430 00:17:08,127 --> 00:17:09,961 If I wanted to throw out the first field goal. 431 00:17:10,096 --> 00:17:12,630 [laughing] 432 00:17:12,765 --> 00:17:14,965 So, the kids ended up teaching me more about 433 00:17:14,967 --> 00:17:17,301 Baseball as the seasons go on. 434 00:17:17,370 --> 00:17:20,671 Evan's one of the players. Evan has spina bifida, 435 00:17:20,707 --> 00:17:22,540 But loves baseball and is 436 00:17:22,609 --> 00:17:24,742 Very knowledgeable of baseball. 437 00:17:24,744 --> 00:17:26,077 He knows everything about it: 438 00:17:26,146 --> 00:17:28,679 The rules, the strategies, the players. 439 00:17:28,681 --> 00:17:31,415 He also knows what he likes and what he doesn't like. 440 00:17:31,484 --> 00:17:34,819 For me, the position that I mostly play is... 441 00:17:34,821 --> 00:17:37,688 Pitcher or first baseman. 442 00:17:37,690 --> 00:17:41,425 He likes to play first base or pitcher because 443 00:17:41,461 --> 00:17:42,827 He doesn't like to run. 444 00:17:42,829 --> 00:17:44,095 [laughing] 445 00:17:44,164 --> 00:17:46,630 I'm not a big fan, myself. 446 00:17:46,666 --> 00:17:49,433 Most people say that you put a shortstop 447 00:17:49,502 --> 00:17:50,768 Between second and third. 448 00:17:50,837 --> 00:17:53,004 I like to take a shortstop between all the bases. 449 00:17:53,006 --> 00:17:54,972 [laughing] 450 00:17:55,008 --> 00:17:59,610 But challenger baseball is a modified version of the game 451 00:17:59,679 --> 00:18:01,712 Where each player has a buddy. 452 00:18:01,781 --> 00:18:03,981 For the most part, I can run the bases, 453 00:18:03,983 --> 00:18:06,050 But it's just when I get really tired that 454 00:18:06,052 --> 00:18:08,019 I need the buddy to run for me. 455 00:18:08,021 --> 00:18:10,654 Your buddy can help you out with anything that 456 00:18:10,690 --> 00:18:12,689 You have trouble doing. 457 00:18:12,725 --> 00:18:14,659 Like, at one point, evan was batting, 458 00:18:14,661 --> 00:18:18,863 And I was doing the running- a pinch runner, essentially. 459 00:18:18,865 --> 00:18:21,599 And the point is that if someone else does the bits 460 00:18:21,668 --> 00:18:24,335 That you can't do, you can genuinely contribute 461 00:18:24,404 --> 00:18:26,537 With what you can do. 462 00:18:26,539 --> 00:18:30,041 And when they play against other minor ball teams, 463 00:18:30,043 --> 00:18:32,777 The other team will be given some challenges 464 00:18:32,779 --> 00:18:34,545 To sort of even the playing field. 465 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,981 Usually, they switch hit, which means that they 466 00:18:37,116 --> 00:18:40,151 Have to use their opposite hand with the bat, 467 00:18:40,153 --> 00:18:42,553 And they have to put the glove on the opposite hand. 468 00:18:42,589 --> 00:18:43,821 Which is harder than it sounds. 469 00:18:43,956 --> 00:18:47,524 I tried it with evan, and we were playing catch. 470 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,193 [laughing] 471 00:18:49,328 --> 00:18:51,395 I felt like an idiot. 472 00:18:51,531 --> 00:18:52,896 I didn't think I qualified. 473 00:18:52,932 --> 00:18:53,998 I don't think I should have to put 474 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,133 My glove on the wrong hand. 475 00:18:55,268 --> 00:18:58,135 I don't technically have a disability, but... 476 00:18:58,138 --> 00:19:00,137 I would say I have an inability. 477 00:19:00,140 --> 00:19:02,006 [laughing] 478 00:19:02,141 --> 00:19:04,508 ♪ 479 00:19:04,577 --> 00:19:06,744 -Oh, I got that! -Nice catch, nice catch. 480 00:19:06,746 --> 00:19:09,446 ♪ 481 00:19:09,482 --> 00:19:10,915 Got a hole in your glove? 482 00:19:10,917 --> 00:19:12,850 And then, suddenly, he starts chirping me. 483 00:19:12,852 --> 00:19:14,818 [laughing] 484 00:19:14,854 --> 00:19:16,587 ♪ 485 00:19:16,722 --> 00:19:17,655 Oh... 486 00:19:17,790 --> 00:19:19,590 Would you like me to throw underhand to you? 487 00:19:19,725 --> 00:19:21,492 Ha, ha, ha, yes! 488 00:19:21,627 --> 00:19:22,927 I said, "okay, but I can see somebody doesn't have 489 00:19:22,996 --> 00:19:24,795 A problem running their mouth." 490 00:19:24,797 --> 00:19:26,664 [laughing] 491 00:19:26,799 --> 00:19:28,599 -[cheering] -whoa! 492 00:19:28,635 --> 00:19:30,134 [cheering] 493 00:19:30,203 --> 00:19:31,736 But it was nice to be out there. 494 00:19:31,871 --> 00:19:33,704 It was nice to see some challenger baseball. 495 00:19:33,839 --> 00:19:35,206 Beautiful day in morden park. 496 00:19:35,275 --> 00:19:36,907 It was nice to see people coming out and 497 00:19:36,976 --> 00:19:38,175 Getting together. 498 00:19:38,211 --> 00:19:40,945 And it was good to see this program where kids get to, 499 00:19:40,947 --> 00:19:42,546 You know, genuinely play. 500 00:19:42,615 --> 00:19:44,782 They're not just going to be relegated to, you know, 501 00:19:44,784 --> 00:19:46,884 Being water boy... 502 00:19:47,019 --> 00:19:47,952 Because in morden, 503 00:19:48,087 --> 00:19:49,754 Being water boy can be a challenge in itself. 504 00:19:49,889 --> 00:19:52,023 [laughing] 505 00:19:52,025 --> 00:19:54,725 [applauding] 506 00:19:54,727 --> 00:19:56,160 ♪ 507 00:19:56,229 --> 00:19:58,762 During the drought, you know, there was no point to pout. 508 00:19:58,798 --> 00:20:00,731 Get some buckets under spouts. 509 00:20:00,866 --> 00:20:03,200 A negative attitude is bull. 510 00:20:03,336 --> 00:20:05,168 The air is clean, and I know what they mean 511 00:20:05,205 --> 00:20:07,772 When they say their lake is half full. 512 00:20:07,907 --> 00:20:09,707 [laughing] 513 00:20:09,709 --> 00:20:13,277 See an old crop duster return to the sky over earth 514 00:20:13,313 --> 00:20:16,013 With old bones strewn through it. 515 00:20:16,082 --> 00:20:18,049 Kids take challenge in stride, 516 00:20:18,051 --> 00:20:19,850 And take a big swing with pride. 517 00:20:19,919 --> 00:20:21,985 As for running, get your buddy to do it. 518 00:20:22,021 --> 00:20:23,154 [laughing] 519 00:20:23,289 --> 00:20:25,223 I'll say the drought of all droughts 520 00:20:25,358 --> 00:20:27,091 Couldn't knock this town out. 521 00:20:27,093 --> 00:20:30,260 And while I know a poor harvest will cost you. 522 00:20:30,296 --> 00:20:32,195 I'll tell those who don't know ya, 523 00:20:32,232 --> 00:20:33,964 That they're tough in manitoba, 524 00:20:33,967 --> 00:20:36,066 Especially around lake minnewasta. 525 00:20:36,135 --> 00:20:37,267 Thanks for coming out, everybody. 526 00:20:37,303 --> 00:20:38,703 You've been great! 527 00:20:38,838 --> 00:20:40,937 Take care, morden. We love ya. 528 00:20:40,974 --> 00:20:43,541 It was done so tastefully. I can't- 529 00:20:43,676 --> 00:20:45,876 I couldn't stop smiling, and my cheeks hurt. 530 00:20:45,912 --> 00:20:48,579 I think it was very funny and awesome. 531 00:20:48,648 --> 00:20:52,316 ♪ 532 00:20:52,452 --> 00:20:54,618 I hope anybody watching the show finds their way to 533 00:20:54,687 --> 00:20:57,088 Morden sometime, stop by the campground, say hi. 534 00:20:57,090 --> 00:20:58,756 Take a dive into the lake. 535 00:20:58,825 --> 00:21:00,224 I'm sure there'll be water in it. 536 00:21:00,293 --> 00:21:01,958 [laughing] 537 00:21:01,995 --> 00:21:03,761 -Jonny did an excellent job. -Excellent job, yeah. 538 00:21:03,763 --> 00:21:05,296 It was really good. 539 00:21:05,298 --> 00:21:07,564 Yeah, we had fun, yeah. 540 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,633 I thought it was... 541 00:21:09,702 --> 00:21:13,037 Really, well, I thought some of the jokes were funny. 542 00:21:13,106 --> 00:21:14,638 -[cats meowing] -hey, sweetie. 543 00:21:14,674 --> 00:21:16,574 -This is maverick and goose. -Oh, are you serious? 544 00:21:16,709 --> 00:21:19,976 -Yes. -That's hilarious. 545 00:21:20,013 --> 00:21:21,679 Amazing. 546 00:21:21,681 --> 00:21:23,847 Although, they cut off the best part.