1 00:00:01,168 --> 00:00:02,667 Here we are in wabush, newfoundland & labrador. 2 00:00:02,703 --> 00:00:05,938 [cheering & applauding] 3 00:00:06,073 --> 00:00:09,208 Wabush is in the western interior of labrador, near... 4 00:00:09,210 --> 00:00:11,743 Well, besides lab city, not much. 5 00:00:11,746 --> 00:00:13,712 [laughing] 6 00:00:13,714 --> 00:00:16,315 Not much for about six hours in any direction. 7 00:00:16,450 --> 00:00:17,649 [laughing] 8 00:00:17,785 --> 00:00:19,050 But who cares, I mean... 9 00:00:19,086 --> 00:00:20,852 In wabush, it's not about who's near, 10 00:00:20,921 --> 00:00:22,654 It's about what's here. 11 00:00:22,790 --> 00:00:25,724 No neighbours next door means more space to explore. 12 00:00:25,726 --> 00:00:28,060 And labrador, you got more space to explore 13 00:00:28,062 --> 00:00:29,561 Than the mars rover. 14 00:00:29,630 --> 00:00:31,663 [laughing] 15 00:00:31,699 --> 00:00:33,665 People have come from all over the world. 16 00:00:33,734 --> 00:00:35,067 You're attracting a lot of people. 17 00:00:35,202 --> 00:00:37,136 I don't know how you're attracting so many people 18 00:00:37,271 --> 00:00:38,804 'cause some would describe you as cold and 19 00:00:38,873 --> 00:00:40,538 Possibly even a bit distant. 20 00:00:40,574 --> 00:00:43,141 [laughing] 21 00:00:43,177 --> 00:00:45,544 When you grow up in a small town in newfoundland, 22 00:00:45,546 --> 00:00:46,845 You see that people have a sense of humour 23 00:00:46,914 --> 00:00:48,013 About hard times. 24 00:00:48,015 --> 00:00:48,980 Check, check. 25 00:00:49,050 --> 00:00:51,183 I turned that into a career and hit the road. 26 00:00:51,318 --> 00:00:53,252 [mc] mr. Jonny harris! 27 00:00:53,254 --> 00:00:55,821 Now I'm on a mission to find the funny in the places you 28 00:00:55,823 --> 00:00:58,990 Least expect, canada's struggling small towns. 29 00:00:59,060 --> 00:01:02,026 Towns that are against the ropes, but hanging in there. 30 00:01:02,063 --> 00:01:04,897 Still laughing in the face of adversity. 31 00:01:04,899 --> 00:01:07,099 This is wabush, newfoundland & labrador. 32 00:01:07,234 --> 00:01:13,972 ♪ 33 00:01:14,108 --> 00:01:16,108 Labrador, the big land. 34 00:01:16,177 --> 00:01:18,243 Wabush, a mining town. 35 00:01:18,245 --> 00:01:22,647 The rock upon which wabush was built is iron ore. 36 00:01:22,716 --> 00:01:26,318 This started out as a little, scraggly work camp town. 37 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:29,087 But decades of lifting iron, well... 38 00:01:29,123 --> 00:01:30,856 That's how a town gets built. 39 00:01:30,925 --> 00:01:33,592 [laughing] 40 00:01:33,594 --> 00:01:37,629 ♪ 41 00:01:37,665 --> 00:01:40,798 I knew if I wanted to know more about ore, 42 00:01:40,835 --> 00:01:42,868 I should be digging deeper. 43 00:01:42,937 --> 00:01:44,135 [laughing] 44 00:01:44,171 --> 00:01:45,937 I talked to a young man who's not only a 45 00:01:45,973 --> 00:01:48,006 Third-generation miner, 46 00:01:48,008 --> 00:01:50,808 He's also become president of the union. 47 00:01:50,845 --> 00:01:53,745 That's what I call a purebred labrador achiever. 48 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:55,147 Joshua joy. 49 00:01:55,149 --> 00:02:00,152 [cheering & applauding] 50 00:02:00,154 --> 00:02:01,286 When did the operation... 51 00:02:01,355 --> 00:02:03,821 It must have been like a work camp town at that point. 52 00:02:03,858 --> 00:02:06,625 Yeah, it was, yeah, so like, they started in like the 50s. 53 00:02:06,627 --> 00:02:09,161 My grandfather moved up here in the 60s. 54 00:02:09,163 --> 00:02:10,795 Eventually, when dad turned 18, 55 00:02:10,831 --> 00:02:13,699 He got a job at the mine. That was in '78. 56 00:02:13,701 --> 00:02:15,567 How old we were you when started there? 57 00:02:15,702 --> 00:02:17,970 I was 20 when I started there. 58 00:02:18,105 --> 00:02:20,105 Yeah, so just fresh out of college. 59 00:02:20,174 --> 00:02:23,174 Both of joshua's grandfathers came here and 60 00:02:23,210 --> 00:02:25,443 Worked in the mine when it first opened. 61 00:02:25,445 --> 00:02:27,913 His father punched 36 years here. 62 00:02:27,982 --> 00:02:29,915 Joshua got his first job at the mine 63 00:02:29,984 --> 00:02:31,416 When he was 20 years old. 64 00:02:31,418 --> 00:02:33,785 How much iron does this guy have in his blood? 65 00:02:33,787 --> 00:02:35,220 His doctor just said, "put it this way, 66 00:02:35,256 --> 00:02:37,055 His stool sample's a steel sample." 67 00:02:37,057 --> 00:02:39,191 [laughing] 68 00:02:39,326 --> 00:02:41,560 So, your family has been here sort of from the get-go, 69 00:02:41,629 --> 00:02:42,928 Continuously? 70 00:02:42,930 --> 00:02:44,263 Since the mine's been running, 71 00:02:44,265 --> 00:02:45,931 There's been a joy in there, so... 72 00:02:45,933 --> 00:02:47,799 [laughing] 73 00:02:47,935 --> 00:02:49,868 I think they should tell that to people as like 74 00:02:49,937 --> 00:02:51,736 A recruiting tool. 75 00:02:51,772 --> 00:02:53,071 -[laughing] -right? 76 00:02:53,207 --> 00:02:55,674 That's interesting, then you have some new guy- 77 00:02:55,809 --> 00:02:58,210 Exhausted, cold, at the end of his shift being like, 78 00:02:58,279 --> 00:03:00,946 "hey, hang on now. I thought I thought you said 79 00:03:01,015 --> 00:03:03,348 You could always find a joy working at the mine?" 80 00:03:03,350 --> 00:03:05,617 [laughing] 81 00:03:05,653 --> 00:03:07,686 "no, I said you could always find a joy 82 00:03:07,821 --> 00:03:10,022 Working at the mine." 83 00:03:10,157 --> 00:03:12,757 The grade of the iron is very high. 84 00:03:12,793 --> 00:03:15,760 He said it's consistently 63%... 85 00:03:15,796 --> 00:03:17,629 Which is considered very high, not only here, 86 00:03:17,665 --> 00:03:20,265 But where I grew up. One time I got to a 64%, 87 00:03:20,267 --> 00:03:21,766 Mom's still got it on the fridge. 88 00:03:21,902 --> 00:03:23,635 [laughing] 89 00:03:23,637 --> 00:03:25,837 And it looks blue in colour. 90 00:03:25,873 --> 00:03:28,807 Wabush, you're sexier than zoolander. 91 00:03:28,876 --> 00:03:30,842 You're producing blue steel. 92 00:03:30,911 --> 00:03:34,046 [laughing] 93 00:03:34,048 --> 00:03:35,847 We kind of run through a boom and bust cycle, 94 00:03:35,883 --> 00:03:38,316 Like a lot of like commodities and industry towns. 95 00:03:38,385 --> 00:03:41,353 It's like a five-year period, the price of ore drives up, 96 00:03:41,355 --> 00:03:42,921 A lot of people come here. 97 00:03:42,923 --> 00:03:44,889 The prices, the markets are through the roof, 98 00:03:44,959 --> 00:03:46,658 And then, the markets will go down, 99 00:03:46,793 --> 00:03:48,460 And then everything's busted and... 100 00:03:48,462 --> 00:03:50,328 There's going to be layoffs. 101 00:03:50,397 --> 00:03:54,132 In the 80s, when the price of the markets dropped so much, 102 00:03:54,267 --> 00:03:55,400 People literally boarded up 103 00:03:55,469 --> 00:03:57,201 Their windows and their doors... 104 00:03:57,238 --> 00:03:59,070 And then just went into the bank and handed the keys 105 00:03:59,139 --> 00:04:01,006 Back to the bank and, pretty much defaulted 106 00:04:01,075 --> 00:04:02,874 On their mortgages and everything like that. 107 00:04:02,943 --> 00:04:04,876 And then this, just left town. 108 00:04:04,912 --> 00:04:07,679 It sounds a bit like the opposite of a bank robbery. 109 00:04:07,748 --> 00:04:09,081 [laughing] 110 00:04:09,083 --> 00:04:11,283 "who... Hey! Who's got the keys to the vault? 111 00:04:11,418 --> 00:04:12,884 Who, who got the keys to the vault? 112 00:04:12,953 --> 00:04:14,152 You? Yeah? 113 00:04:14,188 --> 00:04:16,688 Okay, here, can you put those in there for safekeeping? 114 00:04:16,757 --> 00:04:19,024 That's my house keys, yeah. 115 00:04:19,093 --> 00:04:21,092 Why, why am I wearing a ski mask? 116 00:04:21,128 --> 00:04:22,894 'cause it's minus 40 out, everybody's got..." 117 00:04:23,030 --> 00:04:24,930 [laughing] 118 00:04:25,065 --> 00:04:27,532 In 2014, the markets in china weren't buying 119 00:04:27,534 --> 00:04:28,967 As high as much as they were. 120 00:04:28,969 --> 00:04:32,036 The price or bottomed out and... 121 00:04:32,072 --> 00:04:33,772 They shut us down. 122 00:04:33,841 --> 00:04:36,174 They just, yeah, it was literally just one day 123 00:04:36,176 --> 00:04:38,109 They just came in and shut the doors. 124 00:04:38,178 --> 00:04:40,178 And they just closed it all down. 125 00:04:40,180 --> 00:04:42,214 It was more than a minor inconvenience. 126 00:04:42,216 --> 00:04:45,983 There was about 400 miners inconvenienced. 127 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,087 It was a rough time. It was... It was hard. 128 00:04:49,222 --> 00:04:50,822 I just had two years punched in there. 129 00:04:50,858 --> 00:04:53,324 We were starting to save up to buy our own house. 130 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,994 You know, kind of start your own life, 131 00:04:55,996 --> 00:04:58,263 And then we're all laid off at that time. 132 00:04:58,398 --> 00:05:01,199 -Really? -And just sent out to pasture. 133 00:05:01,268 --> 00:05:03,068 Five years is a long closure. 134 00:05:03,070 --> 00:05:05,837 Like, that long, some people are just gonna up and move. 135 00:05:05,906 --> 00:05:07,805 Almost everybody in the town... 136 00:05:07,841 --> 00:05:10,942 Like your job is almost all connected to the mine, itself. 137 00:05:11,078 --> 00:05:12,744 If people aren't working, 138 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:15,213 Restaurants aren't gonna be eaten in or... 139 00:05:15,215 --> 00:05:16,814 You know, a lot of places like that, 140 00:05:16,850 --> 00:05:18,350 So they all suffer as well. 141 00:05:18,352 --> 00:05:20,685 A lot of retail shops closed. 142 00:05:20,721 --> 00:05:22,420 The rec centre eventually closed, 143 00:05:22,456 --> 00:05:25,223 With the pool and the bowling alley. 144 00:05:25,292 --> 00:05:28,092 Not only could you not go to a store to buy shoes, 145 00:05:28,128 --> 00:05:30,161 You couldn't even come rent some for an afternoon. 146 00:05:30,197 --> 00:05:31,929 [laughing] 147 00:05:31,965 --> 00:05:33,331 When things go bust, you know, 148 00:05:33,334 --> 00:05:34,899 A lot of people leave town. 149 00:05:35,034 --> 00:05:36,034 At that point, the best way to get... 150 00:05:36,036 --> 00:05:37,902 Try to get somebody to stick around wabush is 151 00:05:37,971 --> 00:05:39,303 Dare 'em to lick a flagpole. 152 00:05:39,340 --> 00:05:42,240 [laughing] 153 00:05:48,349 --> 00:05:51,049 ♪ 154 00:05:51,118 --> 00:05:53,418 Despite having only nice things to say about the place, 155 00:05:53,487 --> 00:05:57,322 Things got a little catty, when I talked to the owner of 156 00:05:57,391 --> 00:06:00,458 Mission kitty thrift store, colette beals. 157 00:06:00,594 --> 00:06:04,062 [cheering & applauding] 158 00:06:04,197 --> 00:06:05,997 Give me the gist of sort of the... 159 00:06:05,999 --> 00:06:07,866 The retail scene in wabush. 160 00:06:08,001 --> 00:06:09,467 There is no retail scene. 161 00:06:09,603 --> 00:06:12,370 I'm probably the only store, really. 162 00:06:12,373 --> 00:06:16,007 Just across from the closed rec centre is 163 00:06:16,009 --> 00:06:18,376 The shopping mall, which is... 164 00:06:18,379 --> 00:06:20,045 Pretty quiet. 165 00:06:20,047 --> 00:06:22,213 When I was a kid, this was the happening spot. 166 00:06:22,215 --> 00:06:24,349 -Yeah. -You know it was, "downtown." 167 00:06:24,418 --> 00:06:27,085 She said now her kids laugh at her when she says, 168 00:06:27,154 --> 00:06:28,686 "I'm going downtown." 169 00:06:28,688 --> 00:06:31,055 [laughing] 170 00:06:31,125 --> 00:06:32,590 Can you imagine your kids laughing at you, 171 00:06:32,626 --> 00:06:34,325 Giving you a reality check? 172 00:06:34,395 --> 00:06:35,994 [laughing] 173 00:06:36,129 --> 00:06:38,497 Like, "mom, we think you're old enough to handle this. 174 00:06:38,499 --> 00:06:40,431 There is no downtown." 175 00:06:40,467 --> 00:06:42,100 [laughing] 176 00:06:42,102 --> 00:06:43,968 There's a real, yeah, lack of... 177 00:06:44,004 --> 00:06:45,904 Of retailers here. 178 00:06:46,039 --> 00:06:48,273 She said she went on a trip with her sister. 179 00:06:48,408 --> 00:06:49,373 We used to do it. 180 00:06:49,410 --> 00:06:51,910 Once a year, we'd just go on a shopping trip. 181 00:06:51,912 --> 00:06:54,712 So, this particular weekend, we were going to halifax for 182 00:06:54,714 --> 00:06:57,048 Two nights to go shopping to get a pair of sneakers. 183 00:06:57,183 --> 00:07:00,051 -She went to halifax! -[laughing] 184 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,788 To get- not an mri, not a root canal... 185 00:07:03,857 --> 00:07:05,991 [laughing] 186 00:07:06,126 --> 00:07:07,759 Pair of sneakers. 187 00:07:07,828 --> 00:07:09,628 [laughing] 188 00:07:09,630 --> 00:07:12,063 Mission kitty began when colette wanted to 189 00:07:12,132 --> 00:07:14,332 Adopt a cat, only to discover... 190 00:07:14,334 --> 00:07:16,267 We could not find a kitten to get. 191 00:07:16,336 --> 00:07:18,370 -Really? -There's no cats in labrador. 192 00:07:18,505 --> 00:07:21,639 Meanwhile, on the island, in newfoundland, 193 00:07:21,641 --> 00:07:24,943 There was an abundance, especially, 194 00:07:25,012 --> 00:07:26,845 For some reason, in corner brook. 195 00:07:26,914 --> 00:07:29,147 Of course, started chatting with them and discovered 196 00:07:29,216 --> 00:07:32,683 How big a problem newfoundland has with cats. 197 00:07:32,719 --> 00:07:33,818 With too many. 198 00:07:33,887 --> 00:07:37,154 Like the ferals and the strays and abandoned cats. 199 00:07:37,191 --> 00:07:38,957 And I thought, hey, I gotta do something. 200 00:07:39,026 --> 00:07:42,360 So, I started everything in my garage, by doing auctions. 201 00:07:42,362 --> 00:07:44,296 At first, she was selling stuff online, 202 00:07:44,298 --> 00:07:47,298 She got donations, clothing, and whatnot from locals. 203 00:07:47,367 --> 00:07:50,568 The first year we raised $25,000, I think. 204 00:07:50,637 --> 00:07:52,437 Last year was my biggest year. 205 00:07:52,572 --> 00:07:54,239 We raised $106,000. 206 00:07:54,308 --> 00:07:55,640 -Are you serious? -Yep. 207 00:07:55,709 --> 00:07:58,310 And I thought, hey, look, I got all this stuff. 208 00:07:58,445 --> 00:08:00,578 I can't run it out of my garages anymore, 209 00:08:00,614 --> 00:08:02,547 So let's open a store. 210 00:08:02,616 --> 00:08:06,384 She opened this sizeable non-profit thrift shop. 211 00:08:06,519 --> 00:08:08,587 I think some people were just- had bags of clothes 212 00:08:08,589 --> 00:08:10,522 In their, in their basement or their garage and, 213 00:08:10,657 --> 00:08:13,057 It's really hard to throw it out for some people. 214 00:08:13,093 --> 00:08:15,593 Yeah, it feels like a waste. 215 00:08:15,729 --> 00:08:18,363 No one wants to throw away perfectly good clothing. 216 00:08:18,432 --> 00:08:21,533 You might have mail ordered something 30 years ago... 217 00:08:21,668 --> 00:08:23,201 [laughing] 218 00:08:23,270 --> 00:08:25,237 And by the time it got to wabush... 219 00:08:25,372 --> 00:08:29,107 [laughing] 220 00:08:29,176 --> 00:08:32,143 You're not gonna return it because god knows 221 00:08:32,179 --> 00:08:34,679 It could be out of business by then. 222 00:08:34,681 --> 00:08:36,081 Do you know what I mean? 223 00:08:36,216 --> 00:08:37,949 You're like, "oh, I really love these gloves, 224 00:08:38,018 --> 00:08:40,552 But they're too small. Maybe I can exchange them. 225 00:08:40,554 --> 00:08:42,220 I'll write a letter to woolworths." 226 00:08:42,222 --> 00:08:44,422 [laughing] 227 00:08:44,558 --> 00:08:46,424 Anybody who was looking for a cat, they would, 228 00:08:46,426 --> 00:08:49,160 You know, call me up or message me and say, 229 00:08:49,162 --> 00:08:50,061 "hey, I want a cat." 230 00:08:50,196 --> 00:08:53,431 And I've brought in over 400 kittens and 231 00:08:53,500 --> 00:08:55,300 Cats from newfoundland. 232 00:08:55,435 --> 00:08:57,668 So, we're helping the rescues in newfoundland, 233 00:08:57,704 --> 00:09:00,371 And we're making people happy here. 234 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:01,573 Think about that, 400 cats. 235 00:09:01,575 --> 00:09:03,508 How many lives has she saved? 236 00:09:03,577 --> 00:09:05,410 [laughing] 237 00:09:05,412 --> 00:09:07,178 Yeah, 3600. 238 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:08,913 [laughing] 239 00:09:08,949 --> 00:09:10,448 I'm very transparent with, you know, 240 00:09:10,517 --> 00:09:13,118 All the money we raise, where it goes. 241 00:09:13,253 --> 00:09:15,687 I feel people, they're very supportive. 242 00:09:15,822 --> 00:09:19,124 Her shop is great. It's, it's the cat's pyjamas. 243 00:09:19,126 --> 00:09:22,259 Also, by the way, provides cats and pyjamas. 244 00:09:22,296 --> 00:09:24,528 [laughing] 245 00:09:30,537 --> 00:09:32,370 [indistinct speaking] 246 00:09:32,439 --> 00:09:36,608 I met a woman who left for the big city, 247 00:09:36,743 --> 00:09:40,544 And moved... To wabush. 248 00:09:40,581 --> 00:09:43,147 Why? She did it all for inuky. 249 00:09:43,149 --> 00:09:45,783 Owner of inuky arts, raeann brown. 250 00:09:45,785 --> 00:09:49,354 [cheering & applauding] 251 00:09:49,423 --> 00:09:53,157 Wabush isn't exactly remote to raeann. 252 00:09:53,226 --> 00:09:56,361 She grew up in postville, nunatsiavat, 253 00:09:56,496 --> 00:09:57,896 On the northern part of labrador, 254 00:09:58,031 --> 00:10:00,031 One of only 250 residents. 255 00:10:00,067 --> 00:10:05,036 I went to a school that had 'k' to 12. 256 00:10:05,105 --> 00:10:07,571 I had three people in my graduating class. 257 00:10:07,608 --> 00:10:10,508 She had a graduating high school class of three people. 258 00:10:10,510 --> 00:10:13,244 You get to wabush, it's like, "oh my god, 259 00:10:13,313 --> 00:10:17,181 They got grenfell corner store and wabush convenience!" 260 00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:19,117 [laughing] 261 00:10:19,119 --> 00:10:21,452 Raeann is, like myself, an incredible artist. 262 00:10:21,454 --> 00:10:23,254 [laughing] 263 00:10:23,290 --> 00:10:25,790 I always paint and I always drew. 264 00:10:25,859 --> 00:10:28,793 And I seen something about glass etching. 265 00:10:28,862 --> 00:10:32,197 So, I just ordered myself a little $30 kit. 266 00:10:32,332 --> 00:10:35,666 Once she discovered etching in glass, that was it. 267 00:10:35,702 --> 00:10:38,436 Every single piece of glass I could get my hands on, 268 00:10:38,438 --> 00:10:41,305 I was etching into, whether it'd be a patio door 269 00:10:41,341 --> 00:10:43,541 Or salt and pepper shakers. 270 00:10:43,676 --> 00:10:46,411 Drinking glasses, windows, mirrors. 271 00:10:46,413 --> 00:10:48,146 There wasn't a window left in the house. 272 00:10:48,281 --> 00:10:49,947 No, there wasn't. [laughing] 273 00:10:49,949 --> 00:10:52,283 I don't know if as an indigenous woman, 274 00:10:52,285 --> 00:10:53,685 There was any sort of glass ceiling. 275 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:54,952 If there was, she took it down 276 00:10:54,954 --> 00:10:56,621 So she could etch inukshuks in. 277 00:10:56,623 --> 00:10:58,423 [laughing] 278 00:10:58,425 --> 00:11:00,525 This here is a stencil with the inukshuk in it. 279 00:11:00,594 --> 00:11:03,161 Raeann showed me a technique to 280 00:11:03,230 --> 00:11:06,530 Get beginners into etching glass. 281 00:11:06,566 --> 00:11:10,568 She creates these stencils, and you apply it to 282 00:11:10,570 --> 00:11:12,236 A drinking glass, in this case. 283 00:11:12,272 --> 00:11:14,105 And what's this? Is this sour cream? 284 00:11:14,107 --> 00:11:16,174 -That is the acid. -That's the acid, okay. 285 00:11:16,243 --> 00:11:19,510 It looks like sour cream, so be careful. 286 00:11:19,546 --> 00:11:22,113 Like, this stuff will corrode the surface of glass 287 00:11:22,149 --> 00:11:24,515 In about 10 seconds, and ruin a taco. 288 00:11:24,551 --> 00:11:27,218 [laughing] 289 00:11:27,353 --> 00:11:30,055 Line that up and then just press it down. 290 00:11:30,190 --> 00:11:33,291 And then you apply acid. 291 00:11:33,426 --> 00:11:34,726 We're gonna blob it on, 292 00:11:34,795 --> 00:11:38,229 So it's gonna be really nice and thick. 293 00:11:38,364 --> 00:11:41,633 Amazing. Look at that! 294 00:11:41,635 --> 00:11:43,735 Someone could go buy this in your store. 295 00:11:43,804 --> 00:11:45,737 Ah! I'd be like, "johnny made that!" 296 00:11:45,872 --> 00:11:49,641 -[laughing] -10, 11 $12, easy. 297 00:11:49,776 --> 00:11:51,609 This is something that I love. 298 00:11:51,745 --> 00:11:55,146 So, when it came to a point where I was so busy with it 299 00:11:55,281 --> 00:11:58,282 That it was becoming a little bit less enjoyable, 300 00:11:58,284 --> 00:12:01,486 I decided that it was time to expand. 301 00:12:01,488 --> 00:12:03,455 She's opened the new shop, and now she has people 302 00:12:03,590 --> 00:12:07,425 Buying pieces from her from the states, the netherlands, 303 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:11,629 Germany, the uk, of course, all across canada. 304 00:12:11,698 --> 00:12:14,766 And she bought a laser engraver. 305 00:12:14,901 --> 00:12:16,501 If I want a new design, 306 00:12:16,503 --> 00:12:18,236 I'll draw something and then... 307 00:12:18,238 --> 00:12:19,637 Send it right over to my laser, 308 00:12:19,706 --> 00:12:22,373 And it's able to duplicate my drawing. 309 00:12:22,442 --> 00:12:24,676 Now, I'm not limited to the materials and 310 00:12:24,678 --> 00:12:26,577 Things I can engrave into. 311 00:12:26,646 --> 00:12:31,516 So, I can do anything from bone to metal to marble. 312 00:12:31,518 --> 00:12:34,519 This laser will do anything. Well, it won't do anything. 313 00:12:34,588 --> 00:12:35,720 She got mad, she caught me- 314 00:12:35,789 --> 00:12:37,589 I was trying to use it to remove a tattoo. 315 00:12:37,724 --> 00:12:38,990 [laughing] 316 00:12:38,992 --> 00:12:42,259 It's not that kind of laser. I think I just made it worse. 317 00:12:42,295 --> 00:12:44,529 Now, it just looks like the dolphin went to chernobyl. 318 00:12:44,664 --> 00:12:46,798 [laughing] 319 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,732 -So how are you doing? -Good. 320 00:12:48,769 --> 00:12:51,536 ♪ 321 00:12:51,671 --> 00:12:54,372 Wabush, labrador is home, or at least home base, 322 00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:57,342 To one of the most gruelling snowmobile endurance 323 00:12:57,477 --> 00:13:00,512 Races in the world, cain's quest. 324 00:13:00,647 --> 00:13:04,615 Why you would ever want to partake in this event was 325 00:13:04,651 --> 00:13:08,753 Just one of the many cain's questions I put to 326 00:13:08,822 --> 00:13:11,288 Two-time winner, andrew milly. 327 00:13:11,324 --> 00:13:15,727 [cheering & applauding] 328 00:13:15,862 --> 00:13:18,429 Let's talk about high speed hobbies. 329 00:13:18,431 --> 00:13:19,631 What is cain's quest? 330 00:13:19,766 --> 00:13:21,732 Cain's quest, it's arguably the 331 00:13:21,802 --> 00:13:23,368 World's longest cross-country race. 332 00:13:23,370 --> 00:13:26,304 It is the ultimate test of speed and 333 00:13:26,439 --> 00:13:29,174 Navigation and endurance. 334 00:13:29,309 --> 00:13:31,376 It takes it to the next level, right. 335 00:13:31,511 --> 00:13:33,511 With sled racing, there's bush league 336 00:13:33,646 --> 00:13:35,180 And then there's wabush league. 337 00:13:35,315 --> 00:13:37,715 [laughing] 338 00:13:37,751 --> 00:13:39,684 Started out with utility sleds, 339 00:13:39,753 --> 00:13:40,985 And the kind of snowmobiles that people would 340 00:13:41,054 --> 00:13:43,520 Normally go caribou hunting on. 341 00:13:43,557 --> 00:13:47,858 Now it spans thousands of kilometres across the 342 00:13:47,894 --> 00:13:50,995 Big land at speeds of, well, let's just say now 343 00:13:51,130 --> 00:13:53,197 You don't want to run into caribou. 344 00:13:53,199 --> 00:13:55,600 [laughing] 345 00:13:55,669 --> 00:13:57,768 And it evolved from that into... 346 00:13:57,838 --> 00:14:01,739 Arguably the world's longest cross-country race. 347 00:14:01,808 --> 00:14:03,675 It's almost every community in labrador, 348 00:14:03,810 --> 00:14:06,611 And it's a big deal. 349 00:14:06,613 --> 00:14:08,413 The race starts on a Friday or a Saturday. 350 00:14:08,415 --> 00:14:09,948 You're looking to finish somewhere between 351 00:14:09,950 --> 00:14:11,749 Wednesday and Friday the next week. 352 00:14:11,785 --> 00:14:13,885 Some days, you could be on the snowmobile 353 00:14:13,954 --> 00:14:15,620 For 24, plus, hours. 354 00:14:15,689 --> 00:14:16,888 It's a tough one. 355 00:14:16,957 --> 00:14:19,624 Just finishing this is an accomplishment. 356 00:14:19,626 --> 00:14:22,559 Andrew 's raced five times. 357 00:14:22,596 --> 00:14:24,428 Started in 2009 with my father. 358 00:14:24,497 --> 00:14:26,830 2009, we had a really good run for 359 00:14:26,867 --> 00:14:28,299 The first two-thirds of the race. 360 00:14:28,368 --> 00:14:29,967 And we ended up finishing eleventh. 361 00:14:29,969 --> 00:14:32,703 In 2016, came back and won. 362 00:14:32,772 --> 00:14:34,972 And in 2018, he won again. 363 00:14:35,008 --> 00:14:37,574 When it comes to cain, this guy is able. 364 00:14:37,611 --> 00:14:39,444 [laughing] 365 00:14:39,579 --> 00:14:40,645 There's techniques that you learn, 366 00:14:40,714 --> 00:14:42,980 I had no idea how you learn. 367 00:14:43,116 --> 00:14:47,051 -I mean, is it dangerous? -Absolutely. 368 00:14:47,053 --> 00:14:49,320 One time, it was really dark. 369 00:14:49,455 --> 00:14:50,788 One of those nights where, like, there's no stars. 370 00:14:50,924 --> 00:14:52,390 It's just dark. 371 00:14:52,459 --> 00:14:54,058 They're coming around the bend of a river, 372 00:14:54,127 --> 00:14:56,994 Where they've been many times before, always frozen. 373 00:14:57,063 --> 00:14:58,595 They come around the corner... 374 00:14:58,632 --> 00:15:00,030 And it was just water. 375 00:15:00,066 --> 00:15:01,899 And just stay on the gas and yell at my buddy in 376 00:15:01,935 --> 00:15:04,535 The radio, "water, water, water, water, water!" 377 00:15:04,537 --> 00:15:05,970 And just keeps going. 378 00:15:06,105 --> 00:15:08,873 And you just go, try to go across the top of the water 379 00:15:08,875 --> 00:15:10,874 And hope that the other side is friendly. 380 00:15:11,011 --> 00:15:12,010 And you just pin it across? 381 00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:14,479 No, you don't pin it, too fast and the belt gets wet. 382 00:15:14,481 --> 00:15:16,814 You don't pin it, you try to go about 65, 383 00:15:16,883 --> 00:15:18,483 That way you'll stay on the surface, 384 00:15:18,618 --> 00:15:20,551 But you won't get your belt wet. 385 00:15:20,587 --> 00:15:21,885 [laughing] 386 00:15:21,922 --> 00:15:24,521 And I was thinking... 387 00:15:24,557 --> 00:15:27,025 How do you learn this and still be alive? 388 00:15:27,027 --> 00:15:30,061 [laughing] 389 00:15:30,063 --> 00:15:33,798 The town is just booming when cain's quest is on the go. 390 00:15:33,933 --> 00:15:36,834 And the hotels are all full and restaurants are all full. 391 00:15:36,836 --> 00:15:38,903 It brings a lot of energy, a lot of money, 392 00:15:38,905 --> 00:15:42,473 A lot of excitement. The town becomes a hub. 393 00:15:42,542 --> 00:15:44,775 People have guests staying in their houses. 394 00:15:44,844 --> 00:15:48,413 And streets are lined with race trailers, 395 00:15:48,548 --> 00:15:49,781 And there are snowmobiles going everywhere, 396 00:15:49,916 --> 00:15:51,916 And there's a lot of excitement the week of 397 00:15:52,051 --> 00:15:54,085 Cain's quest, like it's a big deal. 398 00:15:54,154 --> 00:15:57,055 In a cold place, the cool thing cain's quest is doing 399 00:15:57,057 --> 00:15:59,990 Is putting wabush on the map with people 400 00:16:00,026 --> 00:16:01,692 Who like to look at maps. 401 00:16:01,761 --> 00:16:03,160 [laughing] 402 00:16:03,162 --> 00:16:05,362 [applauding] 403 00:16:09,703 --> 00:16:12,636 ♪ 404 00:16:12,672 --> 00:16:14,605 Then, I knew it was time for me to go and 405 00:16:14,741 --> 00:16:17,474 Break bread with some of the newer locals... 406 00:16:17,510 --> 00:16:19,143 Or I should say, "break naan." 407 00:16:19,278 --> 00:16:22,379 I got filled to the gills with town councillor, 408 00:16:22,415 --> 00:16:26,150 Shazia razi, and dentist, farheen shaikh. 409 00:16:26,285 --> 00:16:30,655 [cheering & applauding] 410 00:16:30,790 --> 00:16:34,291 Shazia, let me start with you. What brought you to wabush? 411 00:16:34,327 --> 00:16:36,260 My husband's job brought me to wabush. 412 00:16:36,296 --> 00:16:38,696 He got a job offer with wabush mine. 413 00:16:38,698 --> 00:16:40,631 We decided that, okay, we'll drive from 414 00:16:40,633 --> 00:16:43,567 Toronto to wabush. Not a good idea. 415 00:16:43,603 --> 00:16:45,436 I flew from toronto, and it still took 416 00:16:45,571 --> 00:16:47,505 4 flights over 12 hours. 417 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:49,507 [laughing] 418 00:16:49,509 --> 00:16:51,509 You got to keep in mind that these ladies are- 419 00:16:51,511 --> 00:16:54,445 They're coming from india, the most densely populated 420 00:16:54,514 --> 00:16:57,715 Country in the world. People per square kilometre... 421 00:16:57,850 --> 00:17:00,118 Ontario: 14. 422 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,454 India: 430. 423 00:17:03,589 --> 00:17:07,191 Labrador: Less than one... 424 00:17:07,193 --> 00:17:09,127 [laughing] 425 00:17:09,129 --> 00:17:12,296 Tenth, less than one-tenth. 426 00:17:12,332 --> 00:17:15,132 She got here, frazzled, long drive. 427 00:17:15,168 --> 00:17:17,001 She doesn't know the place. 428 00:17:17,070 --> 00:17:21,239 After two days, they had a planned power outage. 429 00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:23,207 Did you know the power outage would-? 430 00:17:23,209 --> 00:17:24,375 -No, no. -Okay. 431 00:17:24,444 --> 00:17:26,543 She said there was another indian family that they met 432 00:17:26,579 --> 00:17:28,212 Who, during the power outage, you know, 433 00:17:28,347 --> 00:17:30,414 Took them in and gave them a meal. 434 00:17:30,483 --> 00:17:32,150 They provided us food. 435 00:17:32,285 --> 00:17:36,120 They, you know, they were really, really nice to us. 436 00:17:36,255 --> 00:17:38,489 They were the reason why we moved here. 437 00:17:38,558 --> 00:17:40,124 They convinced us. 438 00:17:40,126 --> 00:17:42,426 Farheen said a similar sort of thing happened 439 00:17:42,495 --> 00:17:44,262 When she first arrived. 440 00:17:44,264 --> 00:17:47,231 First week was very isolated. 441 00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:50,201 But then, I went to the mall one day, 442 00:17:50,336 --> 00:17:52,370 And the person met me from- 443 00:17:52,505 --> 00:17:54,638 He saw my hijab, and he just waited around me 444 00:17:54,674 --> 00:17:56,373 Until my husband came. 445 00:17:56,443 --> 00:17:58,442 And said, "I'm gonna give you a phone number 446 00:17:58,511 --> 00:18:01,245 For somebody that you might want to meet." 447 00:18:01,380 --> 00:18:04,381 And of course, that number was shazia's. 448 00:18:04,417 --> 00:18:07,384 He made us meet shazia, so they took us back home. 449 00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:08,986 They gave us good food and we were like, 450 00:18:09,122 --> 00:18:10,588 Okay, now I can stay here. 451 00:18:10,657 --> 00:18:12,556 Shazia says now she's been in wabush 452 00:18:12,592 --> 00:18:15,159 For almost ten years and her kids... 453 00:18:15,294 --> 00:18:18,028 My middle child, he wants to have a skidoo 454 00:18:18,098 --> 00:18:19,263 That he can ride on. 455 00:18:19,299 --> 00:18:21,165 He wants us to go fishing, hunting. 456 00:18:21,201 --> 00:18:22,600 He wants to have a pickup truck because he doesn't 457 00:18:22,669 --> 00:18:25,236 Think that our suv is good enough. 458 00:18:25,371 --> 00:18:28,071 Kids absorb culture more from their peers 459 00:18:28,108 --> 00:18:29,406 Than their parents. 460 00:18:29,442 --> 00:18:31,742 Like my dad was a british academic, 461 00:18:31,744 --> 00:18:33,210 But growing up in pouch cove, 462 00:18:33,279 --> 00:18:35,413 I was into dirt bikes and pellet guns. 463 00:18:35,415 --> 00:18:36,847 I was a bayman. 464 00:18:36,850 --> 00:18:38,583 [laughing] 465 00:18:38,585 --> 00:18:40,351 Her son, yaseen, he's not gonna get 466 00:18:40,420 --> 00:18:42,186 Her accent, he's gonna get mine. 467 00:18:42,255 --> 00:18:44,088 [laughing] 468 00:18:44,223 --> 00:18:46,490 I just imagine, his, you know, at the age of 16: 469 00:18:46,559 --> 00:18:48,826 "boys, load this sled in the trucks, we'll take off soon as 470 00:18:48,961 --> 00:18:50,495 I'm done over to the mosque." 471 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,297 [laughing] 472 00:18:53,366 --> 00:18:56,500 Farheen and shazia organize these potluck dinners. 473 00:18:56,536 --> 00:18:59,437 It's a chance for long-time locals and newcomers alike 474 00:18:59,439 --> 00:19:01,438 To come and share a meal, 475 00:19:01,474 --> 00:19:04,041 And the kids come and play some games. 476 00:19:04,177 --> 00:19:06,377 Okay, let's all put it on our head. 477 00:19:06,446 --> 00:19:08,446 We played cookie face. 478 00:19:08,448 --> 00:19:09,514 I don't know if you know this game. 479 00:19:09,649 --> 00:19:11,181 You put a cookie on your forehead, 480 00:19:11,217 --> 00:19:12,116 And you try to get into your mouth 481 00:19:12,251 --> 00:19:14,318 Without using your hands. 482 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,253 So, you got to like scrunch up your face. 483 00:19:16,389 --> 00:19:18,389 [laughing] 484 00:19:18,391 --> 00:19:20,724 Cookie face is a game I'd like to bring back to toronto. 485 00:19:20,793 --> 00:19:23,394 I bet it'd be a good way to see who's got botox. 486 00:19:23,396 --> 00:19:25,796 [laughing] 487 00:19:25,932 --> 00:19:28,799 "oh my god, I'm trying as hard as I can, but..." 488 00:19:28,801 --> 00:19:30,668 [laughing] 489 00:19:30,737 --> 00:19:33,404 "this game is so crazy, it makes me laugh. 490 00:19:33,473 --> 00:19:35,072 Ha-ha-ha." 491 00:19:35,141 --> 00:19:37,341 [laughing] 492 00:19:37,343 --> 00:19:39,777 Bye now, nice meeting you. 493 00:19:39,846 --> 00:19:43,414 Newcomers bring culture from all over the world. 494 00:19:43,483 --> 00:19:46,183 Indian food can finally be found. 495 00:19:46,318 --> 00:19:49,687 There's come-from-aways and new homes for strays. 496 00:19:49,689 --> 00:19:52,190 Lots of furry felines around. 497 00:19:52,325 --> 00:19:54,525 But none are the coolest cat from corner brook, 498 00:19:54,594 --> 00:19:56,627 Sure jonny harris was born in that town. 499 00:19:56,629 --> 00:19:58,429 [laughing] 500 00:19:58,498 --> 00:20:01,232 Racers ride sleds like a bat out of hell... 501 00:20:01,367 --> 00:20:04,235 Over wilderness mile upon mile. 502 00:20:04,370 --> 00:20:05,769 What possesses them to do so? 503 00:20:05,838 --> 00:20:09,540 If I had to guess, it's the lore of the labrador wild. 504 00:20:09,609 --> 00:20:12,776 Life's up and down and rides the price of ore. 505 00:20:12,845 --> 00:20:15,779 Sometimes a layoff will loom. 506 00:20:15,815 --> 00:20:19,216 But if you can't deal with wabush at bust, 507 00:20:19,219 --> 00:20:21,885 You don't deserve her at boom. 508 00:20:21,955 --> 00:20:24,222 The work is rough, and the people are tough. 509 00:20:24,357 --> 00:20:27,258 Strong backs and hands that are calloused. 510 00:20:27,393 --> 00:20:30,694 The rock sparkles blue. The sky glows green. 511 00:20:31,397 --> 00:20:33,998 The iron aurora borealis. 512 00:20:34,934 --> 00:20:36,167 Thanks for coming out, everybody. 513 00:20:36,302 --> 00:20:37,301 You've been great. 514 00:20:37,303 --> 00:20:39,937 Thanks so much for coming out and having us! 515 00:20:40,072 --> 00:20:42,005 And we'll see you again! 516 00:20:42,041 --> 00:20:44,341 Oh, it was fantastic, jonny was hilarious. 517 00:20:44,377 --> 00:20:46,477 I loved it. It was just amazing. 518 00:20:46,546 --> 00:20:48,545 ♪ 519 00:20:48,581 --> 00:20:50,615 I really liked how it kind of dug around town to find 520 00:20:50,750 --> 00:20:54,452 Different aspects of the town to get into his jokes. 521 00:20:54,587 --> 00:20:56,520 ♪ 522 00:20:56,556 --> 00:20:58,756 Oh my gosh, it was super. 523 00:20:58,758 --> 00:21:01,625 Couldn't stop smiling, it was the cat's meow. 524 00:21:01,628 --> 00:21:03,527 ♪ 525 00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:05,429 It was really, really nice. 526 00:21:05,431 --> 00:21:07,031 It was really good, good stuff, 527 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:09,166 But a laugh out of the whole crowd. 528 00:21:09,168 --> 00:21:12,169 ♪ 529 00:21:12,238 --> 00:21:14,237 We can always find snowmobiles for people, 530 00:21:14,274 --> 00:21:16,206 So bring all your friends and just come out. 531 00:21:16,242 --> 00:21:19,176 ♪ 532 00:21:19,245 --> 00:21:21,679 Thanks jonny, for coming to wabush and... 533 00:21:21,748 --> 00:21:23,981 I think you're forever etched in our hearts.