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23TuesdayAugust62013ArtsCultureHeritageByRENEFRANCOEURThedesertedsiteofwhatwasoncethebustlingSouthSlaveminingcommunityofPinePointwasalivewithdancinglaughterandrev-vingquadsthisweekendforareunioninrecognitionofthe25thanniversaryofthetownbeingshutdownanddismantled.ThelastreunionforPinePointerswasin1992andthisisthe25thyearsinceweleftanditwouldhavebeenthe50thyearsincethetownwasestablishedsowewantedtodosomethingbigandspecialLoriLaffertytoldTheJournalasshemadepancakesSaturdaymorningfromhercampsiteontheedgeoftheformertowninthethickbushthathassincegrownup.LikealltheothermembersofhercommunityLaffertywhenshewas21packedupandheadeddowntheroadtohernewlifein1987whenthetownclosedpermanently.PinePointatapopulationofnearly2000initsheydayholdsherbestmemoriesshesaid.ShemetherhusbandFrankatPinePointsMa-tonabeeHighSchoolwhenshewasinGrade10.TheyvebeentogethereversinceandnowliveinHayRiver-butPinePointwillalwaysbetheplacetheycallhomeshesaid.FrankandLoriaretwomembersofthereunioncom-mitteewhoworkednon-stopforthepastseveralmonthstoorganizeacampingweekendfullofmusicoldphotosandfriendsgoodfoodandnos-talgicwalksorfourwheelerridesdownmemorylane.AllthatremainsofPinePointarethecrackedtarmacofthestreetsstuddedwithsproutsofvegetationburst-ingupandafewribbonsofsidewalkleadingtonowhere.Itsnotemptyforuswhenwelookoutoverthiswecanseeallthehouses.Icanseethecircusthatcamein1981andKukisPizza-hehadthebestpizzaandnevergaveuphissecretrecipe.IcanvisualizethearenadoorsthefenceleadingdowntotheballdiamondthegasstationrightacrossfromwheretheyhavethetentsetupnowJerryMont-gomerysaid.MontgomerynowlivinginEdmontonhasspentthelast26yearsinthemilitaryasaflightengineerafterthearmycameNorthtore-cruit.HesaidhestravelledtheworldbutneverfoundaplaceasuniqueandcloseknitasPinePointwas.Weallhadthemineincommon.Itheldustogether.Everyonewasinvolved.Mydaddrovethe85-tontrucks.Mymomworkedinadmin-istrationIrememberhertellingmehowshedfeedPinePointersmakemorememoriesatreunionItsnotemptyforuswhenwelookoutoverthiswecanseeallthehouses.Icanseethecircusthatcamein1981andKukisPizza-hehadthebestpizzaandnevergaveuphissecretrecipe.Icanvisualizethearenadoorsthefenceleadingdowntotheballdiamondthegasstationrightacrossfromwheretheyhavethetentsetupnow.JerryMontgomerythecoyotesmarmaladeoncrackersduringherlunchbreaksMontgomerysaidlookingintothedistancedownwhatsleftofatwist-ingpavedroad.PinePointwasanopen-pitleadzincminingoperationrunbyCominco.Theareawasrstsurveyedinthe1920sbecameapointofinterestbythe1950sandeventuallyattractedenoughworktostabilizeasettle-mentbuiltbythecompanycompletewithahotelgolfcourseprivatebusinessesandtwoschools.Thelastgraduatingclasswasin1988whenComincoclosedthemineandbeganstrippingthetownsitetobarebones.Over100peopleshowedupintheirRVsandloadedtrucksforaweekendatPinePoint-muchbiggerthanthelastreunionLaffertysaid.TherewasashfryFri-dayfollowedbyajamses-siononanoutdoorstage.AparadeofquadsafewoatsandtrucksrolledthroughthestreetsSaturdaymorn-inghonkinghornsandblar-ingmusic.Otherweekendactivitiesincludedabarbe-cuedinnerkidsgamescraftsalefamilydanceandtowntributeceremony.ThereunionmarkedthefourthtimeSteveHan-cockhadbeenbacktohishometownsinceitclosed.Hebroughthisyoungfam-ilywithhim.Istillcanpickoutwheremyhousewas.Momsrhu-barbpatchstillcomesupHancocksaid.Hockeywasoneofmybesttimes.Wehadquitetheteam-oneofthebestintheNWT-andafewrivalries.Istillhavemytrophiesfromthosedays.JamesRawleka58year-oldheavydutymechanicnowlivinginGrandePrai-riealsohadnointentionofpassingupachancetotrekaroundhisoldstomp-inggroundswithfamiliarfaces.IfyoueverlivedinPinePointthisistheonlyplaceyoullevercallhome.Itwasaplacewherenoonelockedtheirdoors.Every-onelookedaftereveryoneelse...Therewasnosegre-gationorthingslikethathesaid.WeworkedwegotoffworkandgrabbedapoleandwentfishinginLittleBuffalo.Itwaseasylivingthegoodtimes-re-allythebesttimes.PhotosReneFrancoeurChildrenstandwithasignfromaformerPinePointparadeinthe80s.FromlefttorightMegKruger11KeishaGiroux12WilliamHancock3AliciaHancock11andKateshaBuggins12.ThereunioncommitteeshowsoffareplicaofPinePointsoldwatertowermadebyBarryCooper.LefttorightFrankLaffertyCalvinLizotteShirleyHancockBarryCooperBarbHancock-CooperandLoriLafferty.KevinLaffertyleftandJerryMontgomerydressupashuladancersforthereunionsparadeSaturday.JamesRawlekdonshisoriginalPinePointreghtingsuitthathehassavedalltheseyears.Hewasontheredepartmentfor12years.AcollectionofoldPinePointphotosisdisplayedinsidethebanquettentduringthereunioncampingweekendtostirupmemories.