1 00:00:01,035 --> 00:00:02,301 Here we are in lac la biche, alberta! 2 00:00:02,436 --> 00:00:04,970 [cheering & applauding] 3 00:00:05,039 --> 00:00:06,971 This place, it's amazing! 4 00:00:07,008 --> 00:00:09,107 On one side, it's this blue collar, 5 00:00:09,176 --> 00:00:13,111 Alberta oil town between edmonton and fort mcmurray, 6 00:00:13,147 --> 00:00:15,947 Where the economy goes up and down with the price of gas. 7 00:00:16,017 --> 00:00:18,784 But on the other, if we're talking crude, 8 00:00:18,919 --> 00:00:20,986 This town is anything but. 9 00:00:21,055 --> 00:00:26,191 Lac la biche has not only a fancy french-sounding name, 10 00:00:26,327 --> 00:00:31,596 But a history of white fish caviar and fur mink coats. 11 00:00:31,665 --> 00:00:34,666 Well, excusez-moi and pass the grey poupon. 12 00:00:34,802 --> 00:00:36,368 [laughing] 13 00:00:36,503 --> 00:00:39,804 I've seen top of the line cree teepees with bedding 14 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,709 By the bay, a touch of metis magnifique. 15 00:00:43,844 --> 00:00:47,813 I've seen a gas station with lavatories so luxurious, 16 00:00:47,815 --> 00:00:51,683 Well, talk about taking a "piss de resistance". 17 00:00:51,752 --> 00:00:53,785 [laughing] 18 00:00:53,821 --> 00:00:56,754 Mon dieu, I think I j'aime lac la biche. 19 00:00:56,791 --> 00:00:58,090 [laughing] 20 00:00:58,092 --> 00:00:59,691 That, of course, means I love- 21 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,161 Actually, I don't know if I should say love, but already 22 00:01:02,163 --> 00:01:04,496 I can honestly say I "lac" you more than a friend. 23 00:01:04,498 --> 00:01:06,698 [laughing] 24 00:01:06,767 --> 00:01:08,434 [cheering & applauding] 25 00:01:08,569 --> 00:01:10,902 When you grew up in a small town in newfoundland, 26 00:01:10,938 --> 00:01:12,137 You see the people have a sense of humour 27 00:01:12,272 --> 00:01:13,505 About hard times. 28 00:01:13,507 --> 00:01:14,473 Check, check. 29 00:01:14,542 --> 00:01:16,675 I turned that into a career and hit the road. 30 00:01:16,677 --> 00:01:18,844 [mc] mr. Jonny harris! 31 00:01:18,846 --> 00:01:20,979 Now I'm on a mission to find the funny in the places 32 00:01:21,015 --> 00:01:22,480 You'd least expect it... 33 00:01:22,516 --> 00:01:24,616 Canada's struggling small towns. 34 00:01:24,618 --> 00:01:27,719 Towns that are against the ropes, but hanging in there. 35 00:01:27,788 --> 00:01:30,322 Still laughing in the face of adversity. 36 00:01:30,324 --> 00:01:32,257 This is lac la biche, alberta. 37 00:01:32,293 --> 00:01:35,927 ♪ 38 00:01:38,299 --> 00:01:40,031 [inaudible conversation] [faintly] yeah... 39 00:01:40,101 --> 00:01:42,534 ♪ 40 00:01:42,570 --> 00:01:44,670 -Bye! -Bye! 41 00:01:44,805 --> 00:01:48,874 [cheering & applauding] 42 00:01:48,876 --> 00:01:51,810 For nearly two centuries, lac la biche was reliant on 43 00:01:51,945 --> 00:01:54,813 Its founding industries: Farming, fur, 44 00:01:54,948 --> 00:01:56,915 Forestry, and fishing. 45 00:01:56,984 --> 00:01:59,284 But when those steady industries declined, 46 00:01:59,286 --> 00:02:02,721 The town transitioned to the more boom or bust economy 47 00:02:02,723 --> 00:02:04,289 Of oil and gas. 48 00:02:04,291 --> 00:02:07,493 It's sort of a service hub to fort mcmurray, 49 00:02:07,628 --> 00:02:09,862 Which is a couple hours north of here. 50 00:02:09,997 --> 00:02:12,497 This is one of those rare situations where you want 51 00:02:12,566 --> 00:02:14,233 The people upwind of you had gas. 52 00:02:14,368 --> 00:02:16,401 [laughing] 53 00:02:16,537 --> 00:02:22,174 ♪ 54 00:02:22,176 --> 00:02:25,177 I spoke to a woman who's so proud to be born and 55 00:02:25,179 --> 00:02:26,645 Raised in lac la biche, 56 00:02:26,714 --> 00:02:29,514 A retired schoolteacher, which was great except every 57 00:02:29,583 --> 00:02:31,717 Time I asked her a question I had raised to my hand. 58 00:02:31,719 --> 00:02:33,018 [laughing] 59 00:02:33,153 --> 00:02:34,653 Mysoon tarrabain. 60 00:02:34,722 --> 00:02:37,322 [cheering & applauding] 61 00:02:37,391 --> 00:02:42,460 When I found out that this place had a huge arab population, 62 00:02:42,462 --> 00:02:46,130 I said, "you cannot be syrians!" and they're not- 63 00:02:46,167 --> 00:02:48,033 -Lebanese, mostly. -[laughing] 64 00:02:48,102 --> 00:02:50,068 Big lebanese community here. 65 00:02:50,070 --> 00:02:52,104 [cheering & applauding] 66 00:02:52,239 --> 00:02:55,340 My parents both are immigrants to lac la biche. 67 00:02:55,342 --> 00:02:59,144 America was the land of riches and opportunities. 68 00:02:59,213 --> 00:03:00,812 When they had decided to come, 69 00:03:00,881 --> 00:03:02,880 She said her father was so excited, right. 70 00:03:02,917 --> 00:03:06,685 They were coming to america, the land of milk and honey. 71 00:03:06,687 --> 00:03:07,885 They got so excited. 72 00:03:07,922 --> 00:03:10,889 He comes, lands at the international airport. 73 00:03:10,958 --> 00:03:13,825 Italian suit, italian loafers. 74 00:03:13,961 --> 00:03:16,027 She said he got dressed up in his best suit, 75 00:03:16,063 --> 00:03:18,230 And was wearing his italian loafers 76 00:03:18,365 --> 00:03:20,265 When he stepped off the plane... 77 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,166 In edmonton, in February. 78 00:03:22,203 --> 00:03:23,868 [laughing] 79 00:03:23,938 --> 00:03:26,238 But you know, at the end of the day, jonny, 80 00:03:26,373 --> 00:03:28,574 My dad loved minus forty. 81 00:03:28,709 --> 00:03:30,108 -Is that right? -Yeah, he went... 82 00:03:30,110 --> 00:03:32,110 We'd go back to lebanon, and he'd say, "oh, 83 00:03:32,246 --> 00:03:34,112 Can't stand this weather." 84 00:03:34,181 --> 00:03:36,180 Once they got- she said her dad loved it here. 85 00:03:36,217 --> 00:03:37,849 The family loved it here. 86 00:03:37,851 --> 00:03:41,687 My father became a well-known mink breeder. 87 00:03:41,689 --> 00:03:42,788 Apparently, this was what a lot of 88 00:03:42,923 --> 00:03:44,122 Lebanese people did here. 89 00:03:44,258 --> 00:03:46,858 Farming the black majestic mink. 90 00:03:46,994 --> 00:03:48,926 There was tons of mink ranches here. 91 00:03:49,063 --> 00:03:52,197 In town, out of town, by the lake. 92 00:03:52,332 --> 00:03:53,898 All over, they were all over. 93 00:03:53,968 --> 00:03:56,668 I was told that by the 70s, there was something like 94 00:03:56,704 --> 00:03:59,938 40 lebanese families here with mink ranches. 95 00:04:00,073 --> 00:04:02,340 In fact, it was so many, a little mosque was built 96 00:04:02,376 --> 00:04:06,244 Here in town, second one ever in all of canada. 97 00:04:06,246 --> 00:04:07,812 [applauding] 98 00:04:07,947 --> 00:04:10,181 For that to happen right here on the prairie... 99 00:04:10,217 --> 00:04:11,917 I mean, regardless of how you feel about a second 100 00:04:12,052 --> 00:04:13,618 Little mosque on the prairie... 101 00:04:13,687 --> 00:04:14,886 [laughing] 102 00:04:14,888 --> 00:04:17,021 I get a bonus every time I mention another cbc show. 103 00:04:17,057 --> 00:04:19,357 Hey, ten bucks is ten bucks, come on! 104 00:04:19,393 --> 00:04:21,026 [laughing] 105 00:04:21,028 --> 00:04:23,762 And they did well with the mink ranching, right, 106 00:04:23,764 --> 00:04:26,031 Producing these highly valued furs... 107 00:04:26,166 --> 00:04:28,099 As did a lot of lebanese families, 108 00:04:28,101 --> 00:04:30,435 And that was going well for a while. 109 00:04:30,571 --> 00:04:35,807 With people becoming more aware of animal activists, 110 00:04:35,809 --> 00:04:39,377 People not wanting to really wear fur anymore, 111 00:04:39,379 --> 00:04:42,914 People started to think they need to diversify or evolve 112 00:04:42,983 --> 00:04:47,052 Somehow because mink ranching was not going to survive. 113 00:04:47,187 --> 00:04:50,789 Fur just sort of lost its hollywood image in a way. 114 00:04:50,858 --> 00:04:53,191 Fur sort of fell out of fashion. You know, 115 00:04:53,193 --> 00:04:57,195 At one point- mink coats- that was, you know... 116 00:04:57,197 --> 00:04:59,897 Marilyn monroe and liz taylor 117 00:04:59,933 --> 00:05:02,667 Then, all of a sudden, it's sort of... 118 00:05:02,670 --> 00:05:04,135 Kid rock and don cherry. 119 00:05:04,171 --> 00:05:06,338 [laughing] 120 00:05:06,340 --> 00:05:10,275 Lac la biche has survived, and continues to survive. 121 00:05:10,410 --> 00:05:12,878 We had families that moved into lac la biche 122 00:05:13,013 --> 00:05:14,913 Because of the oil and gas industries. 123 00:05:14,982 --> 00:05:16,948 We don't live far from fort mcmurray. 124 00:05:16,984 --> 00:05:19,951 People prefer to raise their families here. 125 00:05:20,087 --> 00:05:23,722 And then, go work seven days in fort mac and come back. 126 00:05:23,724 --> 00:05:26,491 This town provides the oil patch with everything from 127 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,328 Propane tanks, to tires, to a workforce. 128 00:05:30,397 --> 00:05:32,431 People here began working there. 129 00:05:32,566 --> 00:05:36,134 People who were working there began buying homes here. 130 00:05:36,203 --> 00:05:38,069 And everything was humming along, 131 00:05:38,138 --> 00:05:41,105 Looking pretty good until... 132 00:05:41,141 --> 00:05:46,378 Oil production took a dive in 2015, and the town felt it. 133 00:05:46,447 --> 00:05:49,448 Oil and gas eventually dropped 70%. 134 00:05:49,583 --> 00:05:51,850 And even with the prices where they're at now, 135 00:05:51,919 --> 00:05:54,953 Lac la biche hasn't entirely recovered. 136 00:05:55,088 --> 00:05:57,489 We noticed that the population is declining. 137 00:05:57,624 --> 00:05:59,357 Lots of 'for sale' signs. 138 00:05:59,426 --> 00:06:01,459 And a lot of people had to leave, you know. 139 00:06:01,495 --> 00:06:03,795 A lot of young families too, which is a shame. 140 00:06:03,930 --> 00:06:05,396 You know, young guys in alberta, 141 00:06:05,432 --> 00:06:07,132 They don't want to pack up the truck. 142 00:06:07,134 --> 00:06:09,467 They want to work and make money and jack up the truck. 143 00:06:09,603 --> 00:06:11,269 [laughing] 144 00:06:11,404 --> 00:06:13,205 That's the thing, you know, with the price of gas, 145 00:06:13,340 --> 00:06:14,939 It's kind of out of your hands. 146 00:06:14,975 --> 00:06:17,409 Like, what can you do? Like maybe it's a bit like... 147 00:06:17,544 --> 00:06:19,945 When I was a teenager siphoning fuel from 148 00:06:19,947 --> 00:06:22,247 Our principal's hatchback into my dirt bike. 149 00:06:22,316 --> 00:06:25,217 Like, sometimes it sucks when gas tanks and 150 00:06:25,352 --> 00:06:26,484 You just have to swallow it. 151 00:06:26,619 --> 00:06:28,954 [laughing] 152 00:06:29,089 --> 00:06:30,755 [applauding] 153 00:06:35,062 --> 00:06:38,497 ♪ 154 00:06:38,632 --> 00:06:41,566 I met a woman who came here originally for forestry, 155 00:06:41,602 --> 00:06:44,903 But realized that fishing is where the real action 156 00:06:44,905 --> 00:06:47,338 Is in lac la biche, brenda robitaille. 157 00:06:47,374 --> 00:06:51,977 [cheering & applauding] 158 00:06:52,112 --> 00:06:53,511 We were fishing for tullibee in the winter. 159 00:06:53,580 --> 00:06:55,847 Some days were a little treacherous, you know, 160 00:06:55,916 --> 00:06:58,116 Like twenty below and the wind's just going. 161 00:06:58,251 --> 00:07:00,018 But I loved being out there. 162 00:07:00,087 --> 00:07:03,989 The big commercial catcher for a while, ironically, was... 163 00:07:04,124 --> 00:07:06,925 Tullibee, which people can't eat. 164 00:07:06,927 --> 00:07:09,094 Apparently, it has some type of like cyst worm thing in it 165 00:07:09,096 --> 00:07:12,096 And stuff that was not good for human consumption. 166 00:07:12,132 --> 00:07:14,065 She said, "it's got some kind of worm in it, 167 00:07:14,101 --> 00:07:16,400 And if humans eat it, you might be fine. 168 00:07:16,437 --> 00:07:17,936 You might get very sick." 169 00:07:17,938 --> 00:07:19,403 It's like the cookie dough of fish. 170 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,139 [laughing] 171 00:07:21,274 --> 00:07:23,542 But while people couldn't eat it, 172 00:07:23,544 --> 00:07:25,276 You know who loved it? 173 00:07:25,312 --> 00:07:26,611 The mink. 174 00:07:26,613 --> 00:07:28,246 You know, there was like 54 mink ranches here, 175 00:07:28,381 --> 00:07:30,281 So it was a lot, a lot of people out fishing 176 00:07:30,350 --> 00:07:32,116 To feed all those minks. 177 00:07:32,186 --> 00:07:34,419 So, you had these two local industries here that 178 00:07:34,554 --> 00:07:37,556 Supported each other, which is pretty neat. 179 00:07:37,558 --> 00:07:39,824 It's funny, you should see, you should see my impression 180 00:07:39,893 --> 00:07:44,029 Of a worm being eaten by a fish being eaten by a mink. 181 00:07:44,031 --> 00:07:45,763 It's off the food chain. I get- 182 00:07:45,765 --> 00:07:47,065 [laughing] 183 00:07:47,134 --> 00:07:48,399 I don't have it fully figured out right now, 184 00:07:48,469 --> 00:07:50,035 But it's sort of like- 185 00:07:50,037 --> 00:07:52,169 No, no, I'm not gonna do it, I'm not gonna... 186 00:07:52,206 --> 00:07:54,272 Oh, all right, all right! 187 00:07:54,341 --> 00:07:55,974 Okay, so here's an impression of a worm 188 00:07:56,109 --> 00:07:57,842 Getting eaten by a fish, getting eaten by a mink. 189 00:07:57,911 --> 00:08:00,378 Okay, it's like, "whoa, okay, so this is happening." 190 00:08:00,380 --> 00:08:02,580 -Anyway, I still... -[laughing] 191 00:08:02,715 --> 00:08:04,181 I'm still working on it. 192 00:08:04,218 --> 00:08:06,317 [laughing] 193 00:08:06,353 --> 00:08:07,452 Brenda said, you know, in the 70s, 194 00:08:07,587 --> 00:08:09,921 When the fur industry declined, of course, 195 00:08:10,056 --> 00:08:13,058 The tullibee market took a big blow with it. 196 00:08:13,193 --> 00:08:16,661 But white fish was the one that laid the golden eggs. 197 00:08:16,663 --> 00:08:19,330 Lac la biche got into the caviar game. 198 00:08:19,366 --> 00:08:21,866 -Was very highly praised. -Yeah? 199 00:08:21,935 --> 00:08:23,334 Like, the cruise ships demanded 200 00:08:23,403 --> 00:08:25,670 Lac la biche white fish caviar. 201 00:08:25,672 --> 00:08:29,040 And no everyday dollar store caviar, mind you. 202 00:08:29,175 --> 00:08:31,676 Like, this was the uniquely golden eggs 203 00:08:31,678 --> 00:08:33,211 From the white fish. 204 00:08:33,346 --> 00:08:37,415 Now, why were these fish eggs savoured by so many? 205 00:08:37,484 --> 00:08:41,118 Well, apparently because rich people are weird. 206 00:08:41,154 --> 00:08:43,021 They'll get into anything, do you know what I mean? 207 00:08:43,090 --> 00:08:46,892 Like, "oh, you think the lac la biche white fish, itself, 208 00:08:47,027 --> 00:08:50,028 Is a delicacy? I rather think you haven't tried 209 00:08:50,163 --> 00:08:52,497 The goop that comes out of its butthole." 210 00:08:52,632 --> 00:08:57,102 [laughing & applauding] 211 00:08:57,104 --> 00:09:02,173 ♪ 212 00:09:02,175 --> 00:09:05,109 This next guy is known for having a great can. 213 00:09:05,178 --> 00:09:06,244 Hear me out. 214 00:09:06,379 --> 00:09:07,645 [laughing] 215 00:09:07,781 --> 00:09:10,048 The owner of beaver hill gas station and 216 00:09:10,050 --> 00:09:13,117 Mediterranean restaurant- you heard me- 217 00:09:13,153 --> 00:09:14,853 Mo kabalan. 218 00:09:14,988 --> 00:09:18,990 [cheering & applauding] 219 00:09:19,026 --> 00:09:22,127 Mo opened this business, it's the gas station... 220 00:09:22,129 --> 00:09:26,330 As well as the lebanese and mediterranean restaurant. 221 00:09:26,366 --> 00:09:27,398 You know, you look on the outside, 222 00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:28,600 It doesn't look much, it looks like a building. 223 00:09:28,669 --> 00:09:30,935 And then as soon as you walk in there, you see guys, 224 00:09:31,004 --> 00:09:32,003 Like their eyes just open up. 225 00:09:32,005 --> 00:09:32,938 -Yeah, yeah. -So... [laughing] 226 00:09:33,073 --> 00:09:34,339 They've got, you know, 227 00:09:34,341 --> 00:09:36,274 A stone oven to make fresh pizza. 228 00:09:36,409 --> 00:09:41,179 They serve shawarma plates, chicken kebab, beef kofta. 229 00:09:41,181 --> 00:09:43,547 Great food and, if you get a combo, 230 00:09:43,584 --> 00:09:46,350 You can get half a litre of windshield fluid. 231 00:09:46,386 --> 00:09:49,955 [laughing] 232 00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:55,493 But, the claim to fame for this place is the bathrooms. 233 00:09:55,628 --> 00:09:58,029 This bathroom is so nice it won an award for 234 00:09:58,065 --> 00:09:59,998 Best bathroom. You're thinking, what, 235 00:10:00,067 --> 00:10:03,034 Best bathroom in a service station in northern alberta? 236 00:10:03,070 --> 00:10:07,639 No, no, no, best bathroom- period- in canada, period. 237 00:10:07,774 --> 00:10:10,041 ♪ [angelic] 238 00:10:10,077 --> 00:10:12,043 Granite countertops, okay? 239 00:10:12,079 --> 00:10:15,513 Wood-framed mirrors, and chandeliers. 240 00:10:15,582 --> 00:10:18,116 A herringbone floor pattern 241 00:10:18,118 --> 00:10:20,685 With tiles imported from Italy. 242 00:10:20,820 --> 00:10:22,120 People taking selfies in there and 243 00:10:22,122 --> 00:10:23,187 Putting them on facebook. 244 00:10:23,256 --> 00:10:24,622 -Really? -[laughing] 245 00:10:24,625 --> 00:10:27,892 Mo told me that part of the motivation to build these 246 00:10:27,894 --> 00:10:30,628 Lavish lavatories came from his wife. 247 00:10:30,763 --> 00:10:33,531 He said she hated going to a dirty bathroom. 248 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,399 She'd rather go on the side of the road than 249 00:10:35,435 --> 00:10:37,468 Minus 30 outside, she'd be like squatting outside. 250 00:10:37,504 --> 00:10:38,636 [laughing] 251 00:10:38,672 --> 00:10:41,006 And I get it- a grimy bathroom? 252 00:10:41,141 --> 00:10:42,540 You know, at least in minus 30, 253 00:10:42,609 --> 00:10:44,075 You're just gonna catch hypothermia. 254 00:10:44,210 --> 00:10:46,177 [laughing] 255 00:10:46,312 --> 00:10:48,312 And, I guess it's different for women, too, right? 256 00:10:48,348 --> 00:10:50,215 Like, because women sort of- in a public bath- 257 00:10:50,217 --> 00:10:52,483 You got to make contact. Unless you do the hover. 258 00:10:52,519 --> 00:10:53,685 [laughing] 259 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:55,486 But even then, that's only good for- 260 00:10:55,522 --> 00:10:57,689 Like if any of us have to do a number two, 261 00:10:57,691 --> 00:10:59,423 You can't hover, I've tried. 262 00:10:59,425 --> 00:11:01,693 I'll close the cubicle door and latch my belt 263 00:11:01,695 --> 00:11:03,428 Under the coat hook and sort of like... 264 00:11:03,497 --> 00:11:05,629 [laughing] 265 00:11:05,666 --> 00:11:07,665 I feel like an idiot. 266 00:11:07,701 --> 00:11:09,067 I look like somebody who's getting nervous 267 00:11:09,136 --> 00:11:10,768 About doing a rope swing. 268 00:11:10,804 --> 00:11:13,370 [laughing] 269 00:11:13,407 --> 00:11:15,206 And not only that, he and his brother 270 00:11:15,208 --> 00:11:17,575 Are both jiu jitsu experts. 271 00:11:17,711 --> 00:11:20,478 ♪ 272 00:11:20,514 --> 00:11:22,580 In fact, his brother ahmad opened a studio here in town, 273 00:11:22,582 --> 00:11:24,249 Has about 50 students. 274 00:11:24,384 --> 00:11:28,052 And, he won a world championship in las vegas. 275 00:11:28,121 --> 00:11:31,022 [cheering & applauding] 276 00:11:31,024 --> 00:11:32,657 So, don't mess up the bathroom. 277 00:11:32,726 --> 00:11:35,192 [laughing] 278 00:11:35,228 --> 00:11:38,196 If you sprinkle when you tinkle... 279 00:11:38,331 --> 00:11:40,598 Be a sweetie, he can dislocate your shoulder. 280 00:11:40,667 --> 00:11:43,168 [laughing] 281 00:11:43,303 --> 00:11:44,769 [cheering & applauding] 282 00:11:48,608 --> 00:11:54,679 ♪ 283 00:11:54,814 --> 00:11:57,348 I met a woman who is showcasing 284 00:11:57,417 --> 00:11:59,617 Lac la biche's indigenous roots. 285 00:11:59,653 --> 00:12:03,421 And the way she's doing it is really "in tents". 286 00:12:03,490 --> 00:12:05,490 I chatted with donna webster. 287 00:12:05,625 --> 00:12:08,759 [cheering & applauding] 288 00:12:08,795 --> 00:12:11,462 Now, donna is the executive director of the lac la biche 289 00:12:11,531 --> 00:12:13,397 Canadian native friendship centre. 290 00:12:13,467 --> 00:12:16,034 And she's the reason that you have these two beautiful 291 00:12:16,169 --> 00:12:19,370 Teepees on the shore of winston churchill park. 292 00:12:19,439 --> 00:12:21,673 Having grown up here all my life, 293 00:12:21,808 --> 00:12:26,644 There wasn't anything that represented indigenous people. 294 00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:29,581 She felt that there was always a lack of cultural 295 00:12:29,583 --> 00:12:31,916 Representation for indigenous people here, 296 00:12:31,918 --> 00:12:33,684 Cree and metis cultures. 297 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,253 And she wanted to change that. 298 00:12:35,388 --> 00:12:37,721 Donna wanted something in this area, 299 00:12:37,758 --> 00:12:40,792 And she called up alberta parks, and well, 300 00:12:40,794 --> 00:12:42,460 I guess she pitched a tent. 301 00:12:42,462 --> 00:12:44,395 [laughing] 302 00:12:44,431 --> 00:12:47,531 I just called them up and asked them... 303 00:12:47,567 --> 00:12:49,534 "would you like to put some teepees in 304 00:12:49,603 --> 00:12:51,469 Sir winston churchill park?" 305 00:12:51,471 --> 00:12:54,872 And he said, "I'll call you back." 306 00:12:55,008 --> 00:12:56,741 And I thought, well, it was a try, right? 307 00:12:56,810 --> 00:12:58,343 -Yeah. -Two days later, he said... 308 00:12:58,478 --> 00:13:00,278 "I brought all my managers in." 309 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,213 He said, "this is our plan." 310 00:13:02,215 --> 00:13:03,815 And they were into it right away. They said, 311 00:13:03,817 --> 00:13:06,918 "yes, you can have two and there's more on the way." 312 00:13:07,053 --> 00:13:09,354 So, the next step was... 313 00:13:09,489 --> 00:13:11,355 They took a poll... 314 00:13:11,391 --> 00:13:13,358 And then they took 14 more poles. 315 00:13:13,493 --> 00:13:15,459 [laughing] 316 00:13:15,495 --> 00:13:17,361 It's not just a structure. 317 00:13:17,496 --> 00:13:19,731 Every pole has a meaning. 318 00:13:19,866 --> 00:13:22,633 So, it's love, honesty, 319 00:13:22,669 --> 00:13:24,836 Truth, humility, 320 00:13:24,971 --> 00:13:27,438 Things that you bring into your home. 321 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,240 I have a camping tent, it's only three poles, 322 00:13:29,242 --> 00:13:30,507 But I think they're all humility. 323 00:13:30,544 --> 00:13:32,777 [laughing] 324 00:13:32,912 --> 00:13:34,312 Talk about visual representation, 325 00:13:34,381 --> 00:13:35,580 It's 20-foot high.... 326 00:13:35,715 --> 00:13:38,983 Bright beacons of cree culture. 327 00:13:39,019 --> 00:13:42,653 This has been a big success- visitors have come from 328 00:13:42,722 --> 00:13:45,390 All over alberta and from all over the world. 329 00:13:45,525 --> 00:13:48,259 And these teepees, they show you a connection to the past, 330 00:13:48,328 --> 00:13:50,261 But you're not exactly roughing it, okay. 331 00:13:50,263 --> 00:13:54,064 So, this is not a traditional teepee inside. 332 00:13:54,066 --> 00:13:57,602 We have a mattress that is six inches deep. 333 00:13:57,604 --> 00:14:00,839 And if you want to "glamp" a little more, 334 00:14:00,974 --> 00:14:02,873 You can contact the friendship centre and 335 00:14:02,875 --> 00:14:05,610 We will add the hudson bay bedding. 336 00:14:05,745 --> 00:14:07,544 Okay, they got lovely beds in there. 337 00:14:07,581 --> 00:14:09,380 They got pillows and blankets. 338 00:14:09,449 --> 00:14:11,282 These are a bit different than like, 339 00:14:11,284 --> 00:14:13,284 Hundreds of years ago cree teepees, 340 00:14:13,419 --> 00:14:15,819 Because if I know my cree history, 341 00:14:15,856 --> 00:14:17,554 Which I'm pretty sure I do... 342 00:14:17,591 --> 00:14:20,758 I think the heating fans next to the bed 343 00:14:20,894 --> 00:14:23,227 Did not oscillate, but these ones do. 344 00:14:23,263 --> 00:14:25,630 -[laughing] -these ones do. 345 00:14:25,699 --> 00:14:26,964 But it's good 'cause it's... 346 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,066 It's more "glamping" than camping. 347 00:14:29,102 --> 00:14:30,668 You're gonna be comfortable. In fact, 348 00:14:30,704 --> 00:14:33,437 Alberta parks built some amenities there. 349 00:14:33,473 --> 00:14:34,805 There's a little hut there that has 350 00:14:34,841 --> 00:14:37,442 A full bathroom in it. A bathroom, which is- 351 00:14:37,577 --> 00:14:38,977 Listen, I'd just been to mo's place. 352 00:14:38,979 --> 00:14:40,778 The bathroom is fine, it's fine. 353 00:14:40,780 --> 00:14:43,514 [laughing] 354 00:14:43,516 --> 00:14:45,582 And there's also a kitchenette in there, right? 355 00:14:45,619 --> 00:14:47,852 So, they got a stove and a microwave and fridge, 356 00:14:47,854 --> 00:14:49,587 So it's a perfect balance, right? 357 00:14:49,722 --> 00:14:52,657 You want to learn some, some cree history, you can. 358 00:14:52,726 --> 00:14:55,393 You want to warm up a pizza pocket, you can. 359 00:14:55,528 --> 00:14:57,562 [laughing] 360 00:14:57,564 --> 00:15:00,698 There's so many visitors that come by to come and 361 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:02,467 See the teepees. -Right. 362 00:15:02,469 --> 00:15:05,737 Which is great, like, that's creating conversation. 363 00:15:05,739 --> 00:15:07,805 They've been booked solid all summer. 364 00:15:07,807 --> 00:15:08,939 You can go on... 365 00:15:08,975 --> 00:15:12,377 I think alberta parks runs an online booking portal. 366 00:15:12,379 --> 00:15:13,878 It's best to book it online, right? 367 00:15:14,013 --> 00:15:16,013 That's better than, you know, first come, first serve. 368 00:15:16,149 --> 00:15:17,147 Because with this kind of thing, 369 00:15:17,183 --> 00:15:18,549 You don't want to be getting into arguments about 370 00:15:18,551 --> 00:15:19,884 Who was here first. 371 00:15:19,886 --> 00:15:22,487 [laughing] 372 00:15:22,622 --> 00:15:25,756 [applauding] 373 00:15:29,963 --> 00:15:35,400 ♪ 374 00:15:35,535 --> 00:15:37,368 When you talk about the community efforts 375 00:15:37,404 --> 00:15:38,369 In lac la biche, 376 00:15:38,438 --> 00:15:39,737 If you don't talk about archery, 377 00:15:39,739 --> 00:15:41,639 You're missing the point. 378 00:15:41,641 --> 00:15:42,874 [laughing] 379 00:15:43,009 --> 00:15:45,576 I met up with father and daughter, 380 00:15:45,711 --> 00:15:47,645 Rene schaub and emma thomas. 381 00:15:47,647 --> 00:15:51,115 [cheering & applauding] 382 00:15:51,251 --> 00:15:53,651 Okay, so these guys run a 3d archery. 383 00:15:53,653 --> 00:15:55,786 I learned what that was. That's where you're shooting 384 00:15:55,822 --> 00:15:58,923 At a three-dimensional foam model of an animal. 385 00:15:59,058 --> 00:16:01,392 So, when I say 3d, I don't mean like you got goggles 386 00:16:01,428 --> 00:16:03,394 And a headset and you're banging into the bookshelf. 387 00:16:03,529 --> 00:16:04,529 -Right? -[laughing] 388 00:16:04,664 --> 00:16:08,532 This club here, there was down to like ten people. 389 00:16:08,601 --> 00:16:11,803 Rene told me that when he joined the archery club, 390 00:16:11,805 --> 00:16:15,039 It only had about ten members, and no kids. 391 00:16:15,174 --> 00:16:17,942 I wanted to make a family sport out of it. 392 00:16:18,011 --> 00:16:21,045 And so, he did what any parent would do, right? 393 00:16:21,114 --> 00:16:23,881 He became president of the club and changed the rules. 394 00:16:23,883 --> 00:16:25,849 [laughing] 395 00:16:25,885 --> 00:16:28,086 Emma, how old were you when you first shot a bow? 396 00:16:28,088 --> 00:16:29,653 -I was eight. -Eight years old? 397 00:16:29,723 --> 00:16:31,755 Yes, I just loved it. 398 00:16:31,757 --> 00:16:32,957 My dad and I would shoot together, 399 00:16:33,092 --> 00:16:34,892 Which made it even funner. 400 00:16:34,894 --> 00:16:35,760 Amazing. 401 00:16:35,829 --> 00:16:38,629 Rene isn't a guy to set modest goals, 402 00:16:38,765 --> 00:16:41,099 Nor is he wants to take no for an answer. 403 00:16:41,234 --> 00:16:45,069 He set out and succeeded in hosting bigger and 404 00:16:45,071 --> 00:16:47,939 Bigger events here in lac la biche. 405 00:16:47,941 --> 00:16:50,774 And the 2019 world 3d archery championships 406 00:16:50,810 --> 00:16:52,576 Were held right here. 407 00:16:52,712 --> 00:16:54,712 So, there was over 25 countries. 408 00:16:54,781 --> 00:16:56,981 And, how many people? 409 00:16:56,983 --> 00:17:00,251 318 archers, plus all their support staff. 410 00:17:00,253 --> 00:17:01,385 Amazing. 411 00:17:01,388 --> 00:17:03,854 It was the first time the world championships had 412 00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:07,525 Ever been held anywhere outside of europe. 413 00:17:07,594 --> 00:17:10,528 You can look it up, you see the all the host cities there. 414 00:17:10,597 --> 00:17:12,096 There's genoa, Italy. 415 00:17:12,132 --> 00:17:13,664 Avignon, France. 416 00:17:13,666 --> 00:17:14,932 Sopron, hungary. 417 00:17:14,968 --> 00:17:16,801 Lac la biche, alberta. 418 00:17:16,803 --> 00:17:19,037 [cheering & applauding] 419 00:17:19,172 --> 00:17:20,604 The thing that was really impressive 420 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:21,872 Was the community effort. 421 00:17:22,007 --> 00:17:23,807 You know, not only was the facility built, 422 00:17:23,843 --> 00:17:26,877 Everybody in town, they put on a parade for all these 423 00:17:26,913 --> 00:17:29,680 Contestants and visitors from all over the world. 424 00:17:29,816 --> 00:17:32,150 They singled out rene and thanked him for all of his 425 00:17:32,285 --> 00:17:35,586 Efforts, which emma told me was a really touching moment. 426 00:17:35,721 --> 00:17:38,722 The entire place stood in standing ovation for him. 427 00:17:38,758 --> 00:17:41,426 But even like, you know, the community effort, 428 00:17:41,561 --> 00:17:44,429 He told me volunteers went out through the night on atvs 429 00:17:44,564 --> 00:17:46,897 To patrol the course because it's like a 12-kilometre 430 00:17:46,933 --> 00:17:49,633 Course, and all these foam animals were out there. 431 00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:51,702 Usually, you'd put them away, 432 00:17:51,738 --> 00:17:52,837 But they had to leave them out 433 00:17:52,906 --> 00:17:54,839 For the duration of the championships. 434 00:17:54,974 --> 00:17:56,974 And you put them away because... 435 00:17:57,110 --> 00:17:59,710 They'll get eaten by bears. 436 00:17:59,712 --> 00:18:01,179 [laughing] 437 00:18:01,181 --> 00:18:04,015 He said they had, they'd left out a lion one time... 438 00:18:04,017 --> 00:18:08,051 And one of our furthest ones was attacked by a bear. 439 00:18:08,088 --> 00:18:11,522 It was a lion, and took a piece of his bum out. 440 00:18:11,524 --> 00:18:12,723 [laughing] 441 00:18:12,792 --> 00:18:16,660 And the bear came, and ate the lion's butt. 442 00:18:16,696 --> 00:18:18,262 [laughing] 443 00:18:18,264 --> 00:18:19,931 And they had to, they had to get rid of it. 444 00:18:20,066 --> 00:18:21,665 These things are expensive. They had to, 445 00:18:21,701 --> 00:18:23,800 They had to throw the lion away. 446 00:18:23,802 --> 00:18:25,469 Apparently, the butt was repairable, 447 00:18:25,472 --> 00:18:27,204 But they couldn't get the grin off his face. 448 00:18:27,273 --> 00:18:29,273 [laughing] 449 00:18:29,275 --> 00:18:32,543 [applauding] 450 00:18:32,545 --> 00:18:34,812 But I decided to give it a try, you know. 451 00:18:34,814 --> 00:18:36,980 We went up, and they had a tree stand built and so 452 00:18:37,016 --> 00:18:40,817 We were shooting down at this raptor, a velociraptor. 453 00:18:40,854 --> 00:18:43,087 Pull back. 454 00:18:45,758 --> 00:18:46,991 -Nice, look at that! -Ooh! 455 00:18:47,060 --> 00:18:47,925 -You got him! -Got him! 456 00:18:47,994 --> 00:18:49,627 -Just in the back of the neck. -Yeah. 457 00:18:49,629 --> 00:18:50,761 They were both coaching me. 458 00:18:50,897 --> 00:18:52,897 Emma showed me a technique where, you know, 459 00:18:52,899 --> 00:18:56,601 You want to draw your arrow level and then bring it down. 460 00:18:56,736 --> 00:18:58,636 Oh, nice one. 461 00:18:58,638 --> 00:19:00,738 That's how you shoot a velociraptor. 462 00:19:00,873 --> 00:19:01,972 Clever girl! 463 00:19:02,008 --> 00:19:05,108 [laughing] 464 00:19:05,145 --> 00:19:06,210 Nice! 465 00:19:06,279 --> 00:19:08,378 I took a few shots at the crocodile in the swamp, 466 00:19:08,414 --> 00:19:10,915 From the bridge. 467 00:19:10,984 --> 00:19:12,149 Look at that! 468 00:19:12,218 --> 00:19:14,518 I got excited because there's a kill zone and I thought 469 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,720 I got it in the kill zone, but realized I just missed. 470 00:19:16,756 --> 00:19:17,588 -Nice! -Oh! 471 00:19:17,590 --> 00:19:18,656 [emma] so close! [jonny] so close! 472 00:19:18,791 --> 00:19:21,024 And then, I was like, I'm gonna get it next shot. 473 00:19:21,060 --> 00:19:22,893 Okay, here we go. 474 00:19:22,929 --> 00:19:25,729 ♪ 475 00:19:27,867 --> 00:19:30,500 -[emma laughing] -I nailed the gopro! 476 00:19:30,537 --> 00:19:32,069 I hit the camera. 477 00:19:32,071 --> 00:19:34,671 They had a gopro set up behind the crocodile, 478 00:19:34,707 --> 00:19:35,940 And I hit the gopro. 479 00:19:36,009 --> 00:19:37,742 So now, all we got to do in editing, 480 00:19:37,877 --> 00:19:39,677 I just got to go in and record me saying, 481 00:19:39,746 --> 00:19:41,011 "all right, forget the crocodile. 482 00:19:41,047 --> 00:19:42,479 I'm going for the gopro." 483 00:19:42,549 --> 00:19:44,015 [laughing] 484 00:19:44,150 --> 00:19:47,684 -Give me five, all right! -Ah! [laughing] 485 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,654 But it wasn't hard to believe that so many people 486 00:19:49,789 --> 00:19:52,056 Came here and really enjoyed lac la biche. 487 00:19:52,125 --> 00:19:55,159 Where else are there teepees and a mosque, 488 00:19:55,294 --> 00:19:58,963 An orthodox church with the onion dome on top? 489 00:19:59,032 --> 00:20:02,233 Yet it's uniquely albertan, for you also will find... 490 00:20:02,235 --> 00:20:04,635 No less than twelve tire shops. 491 00:20:04,770 --> 00:20:06,971 [laughing] 492 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:09,640 The world came to town with bows at the ready. 493 00:20:09,709 --> 00:20:13,677 They ate the culture up like a rich person eating caviar, 494 00:20:13,713 --> 00:20:15,813 Or a bear eating a fake lion's butt. 495 00:20:15,948 --> 00:20:17,948 [laughing] 496 00:20:17,951 --> 00:20:20,184 I saw the beach and dipped my toes. 497 00:20:20,253 --> 00:20:23,721 I relieved myself, to my relief, at mo's... 498 00:20:23,723 --> 00:20:26,824 After finishing a lebanese dish. 499 00:20:26,893 --> 00:20:29,192 But sadly, now I must depart. 500 00:20:29,229 --> 00:20:32,162 Cupid's lakeland arrow through my heart. 501 00:20:32,198 --> 00:20:34,431 I think I love, more than like, 502 00:20:34,433 --> 00:20:35,700 Lac la biche. 503 00:20:35,702 --> 00:20:37,068 Thanks for coming out, everybody. 504 00:20:37,070 --> 00:20:39,270 You've been great! Thank you! 505 00:20:39,272 --> 00:20:41,138 -Thanks again! -[cheering & applauding] 506 00:20:41,207 --> 00:20:43,941 I loved it, and I feel like it really accurately 507 00:20:44,076 --> 00:20:46,010 Represents lac la biche and how we can basically 508 00:20:46,145 --> 00:20:47,077 Get through anything. 509 00:20:47,113 --> 00:20:49,013 Thank you so much for coming to our town, 510 00:20:49,015 --> 00:20:52,016 And showing all the beautiful people we have, 511 00:20:52,085 --> 00:20:54,618 All the culture that we have. 512 00:20:54,687 --> 00:20:56,887 A feather in my hair. 513 00:20:57,023 --> 00:20:58,756 Oh, here, I'll get it. 514 00:20:58,758 --> 00:21:00,123 Thank you. 515 00:21:00,159 --> 00:21:01,826 [laughing] 516 00:21:01,961 --> 00:21:12,102 ♪ 517 00:21:12,171 --> 00:21:14,038 [off-screen] [laughing] 518 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,308 [seagulls screeching] 519 00:21:17,377 --> 00:21:23,247 ♪ 520 00:21:23,382 --> 00:21:25,349 Still standing rocks!