When I was a teenager attending high school in Timmins in the early 1990s, people from the James Bay coast were just starting to get accustomed to the modern way of life in the south. There were not many people who had drivers’ licenses and even fewer who owned vehicles. It was a special thing to see someone from the James Bay coast driving a vehicle and even more so if they owned the car or truck they were in.
My dad Marius was an entrepreneur who was constantly searching for ways to build a business wherever he could. Although English was his second language and his skills mostly had to do with how to survive on the land, he was bright and confident enough to search for opportunities in the big city.
He was never afraid to manage a construction project, find heavy machinery or gather the materials needed for his next big project in the North. He usually arrived in Timmins in November or December to prepare ahead of the winter season. That way he could transport everything he needed to the rail service in Cochrane and then over the winter road back to Attawapiskat.
As soon as he arrived in Timmins, he was always happy to see his sons who were attending secondary school – my older brothers Philip, Antoine, Mario and myself. I also remember that it was always difficult. Dad couldn’t rent a vehicle because neither he nor his sons had drivers’ licenses.
So, dad spent a good portion of the money he had raised on taxis and hiring other people to move about town to get to where he needed. I can still remember him constantly moaning in Cree of how much more he could do if he had his own vehicle.
Since then, things have changed a lot for people on the James Bay coast. More are attending post-secondary school in the south, and have better jobs and opportunities. More people have acquired drivers’ licenses and own vehicles. Many, like me, are driving around on the highways now. Dad would be amazed to see so many of his grandchildren driving and owning their own trucks and cars.
As happy as I am seeing these changes, I am also worried about the dangers of the highway, especially during the winter. The combination of fast highway driving at this time of year when temperatures fluctuate between freezing and thawing makes for a dangerous mixture of icy roads and misplaced confidence.
Over the past two decades, I’ve known several people who have been in minor mishaps and a few who have died from major accidents on Highways 11 and 101 in northern Ontario. There are too many transport trucks on the highway and training requirements for drivers don’t seem adequate. This winter has just started and almost daily there are reports of serious accidents.
According to Ontario Provincial Police statistics, there were just over 350 highway fatalities in the province in 2022 and that statistic increased to 411 in 2023.
I’ve been driving on Ontario highways since the late 1990s. Back then the roads were busy but manageable. I’ve also been riding a motorcycle every summer for the same number of years. Riding on an open seat on top of two wheels and an engine with nothing to protect you in an accident makes you very aware of what is on the road. I can definitely say that there is a lot more traffic on the highway than there was 20 years ago.
In his final years dad was able to see his sons and daughters and grandchildren driving their own vehicles, which made him very happy. However, he saw the same dangers I do now and he was always quick to warn everyone to watch their driving, especially this time of year.
So, I caution everyone out there to be careful on our icy roads. Please slow your speed and check weather updates. If the roads are dangerous and a storm is happening, then stay put. Personally, I would prefer if you were more cautious and live to drive another day.