Bill Friesen attended Brandon College from 1954 to 58. It was there, during a discussion about looking for summer jobs, that a classmate suggested Bill apply at HBM&S (now Hudbay) in . He did, and was hired on for the summer of ’58.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Brandon, Bill intended to go back to university for post-graduate studies.
“After taking a crack at post-graduate studies at the U of M [University of Manitoba] in 1958-59,” Bill smiles, “I decided it wasn’t my cup of tea.”
Leaving his studies, Bill applied at a few places, including HBM&S, and was hired in Flin Flon.
He hadn’t intended to stay long, but he discovered that he liked Flin Flon, the people and the job, working in an analytical facility in the assay lab. He started with routine assay, moved on to installing analytical equipment and later was involved with the lab’s management.
Through the years Bill worked with staff from both the environmental and analytical departments under Len Creighton, Ed Martin, Doug Allen and with Sam Donoghue, Gordon Brownridge, Mac McCrimmon, Gerry George, Leon Ballard, Ted Linnick, Joanne Sturley, Dwight Collins, Jake Maximchuk, Bruce Cluff and Nick Dubeski.
All told, Bill worked at the analytical labs in HBM&S for 43 years.
When Bill first arrived in Flin Flon, he joined the young adults’ group at the Northminster United Church. He also served on the board.
Bill volunteered with the Flin Flon Ski Club when it was a downhill club and then later when it became a cross-country ski group. In the early years members included Ivor Hedman, Norm Crerar and many of the Crerar family, who were very involved.
Bill says the downhill club at that time was a vibrant organization.
“We used to hire a bus and go skiing on the weekends to places like McCreary,” he recalls.
However, in 1969, Bill found himself “hurtling down the hill” and broke his leg just above the ankle. He had a compression plate inserted and a bone graft, after which he missed a whole year of work. He has since had the plate removed.
Bill says he met some very remarkable people during his time in rehab, and he was inspired by some who were struggling with severe problems.
In the mid’ 70s Dave Price, Ivor Hedman, Glen Campbell and Bill went on a cross-county skiing trip to Banff, Alberta, with the Mt. Assinboine Ski excursion, joining others from the US and BC.
In the summer Bill joined the canoe club, finding that many people who were skiers in the winter canoed in the summer.
“We had the use of the Labatt Blue boats; they were all the same and used for canoe racing, which was a popular thing during Trout Festivals in the early days,” Bill says. “We‘d often go canoe camping on weekends along with Norm Crerar, Stewart Bexton, Edna Fisher, Dave Crerar, Sharon Hopkinson, Blair Harvey and others.”
Bill and his racing partner Brian Kinsley once raced in the La Voyageur canoe race on the Red River.
“In 1966-67, I built myself a sailing boat at the hobby club,” he says. “Jim Hillier and Tony McDonald did the same and we got organized along with Glen Campbell.”
The group formed the Precambrian Sailing Club, and Bill says they would sail at Little Lake Athapap (Bakers Narrows), where many regattas were held.
“I sailed for 15 years in my homemade boat,” Bill says with a smile. “In later years the sailing club switched to Beaver Lake when our commodore, Glen Campbell, moved out there.
“I tried my hand at golf, but I preferred sailing.”
He also tried curling at Uptown Curling Club with some workmates but found the late draw too much when having to go to work early the next day.
Bill was also a member of the Kinsmen Club until mandatory retirement at the age of 40, along with Wayne Fraser, Ken Shoemaker and many others.
With his love for travel, Bill found himself driving from coast to coast to coast in Canada, travelling the Grimshaw Highway to Yellowknife and then by air to Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk on the Beaufort Sea. He also followed the Alaska Highway to Yukon and Alaska, and includes Newfoundland among his destinations.
In 1987 Bill was asked by local teacher Gerry Clark to join a high school trip to Europe.
“For the next 15 years I travelled with the club” he says.
By the time Clark retired, Bill had visited 15 countries on four continents.
Bill has also gone several times to Florida, where he has family. His most recent trip was a cultural tour of Cuba.
Of all the places he has travelled, Tunisia stands out as his favourite.
“That was different from any other place I have been,” Bill says. “I spent a night in a hotel that was carved out of soft rock. Everything was underground: the showers, kitchen, dining room and lounges were joined together by tunnels. I even got to ride a camel!”
“Now that you are retired,” I ask, “why stay in Flin Flon?”
He laughs. “You know, my nephew who lives in the States enjoys telling people that I live at the end of the highway. But I find great people here, and lots of activities. I can go out my door and hike around the lake, and cross-country ski in the winter. HBM&S treated me very well. It wasn’t all roses, but nothing ever is. I liked the people I worked with, so here I am!
“When people ask me what I do with my time,” Bill shrugs. “I don’t really know, but the days fly by. I enjoy my computer and I have learned how to assemble one from recycled or purchased parts.”
In 2008, Bill bought a GPS receiver and took up geocaching.
“I thought I would try a couple of caches, but now I am hooked,” he says. “Ron Watt and Ted Baumgartner are two who really play the game. But, you know, you get to see some very interesting places that I would have never gone to otherwise.”
Bill also belongs to an alumni lobby group from Brandon University that tries to improve the school’s ratings.
What an interesting and busy life. You can still find Bill visiting his friends for coffee or out for supper around town. Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories.
