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TUNGSTEN
As Mike Chemerys drove through a mountain pass and waited for his first glimpse of Mirror Lake and the CanTung Mine beyond that, he knew he was almost home.

Andrea Dunbar of Winnipeg stands with the plaque at Tungsten dedicated to all of the former residents. Dunbar was one of 23 people who participated in a reunion at Tungsten last month. - photo courtesy of Mike Chemerys

"The hairs started standing up on the back of my neck in apprehension," he said.

Chemerys, who used to live in Fort Simpson but now lives in Dawson Creek, B.C., was one of 23 people who participated in a trip titled Going Back Home One Last Time from Aug. 2 to 5. For the participants, home was Tungsten.

Located in the NWT approximately 300 km by road northeast of Watson Lake, Yukon, Tungsten was a bustling mining community in the 1970s built around a tungsten deposit and mine. When the mine closed in 1986, however, the residents of Tungsten left as well. Most have never had the opportunity to come back.

After hearing that North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd., the current owner of CanTung Mine, was doing reclamation work at the mine, including demolishing many of the old houses and buildings, former residents began thinking about holding a reunion at their former hometown. After the corporation gave permission for the gathering, Chemerys helped organize the event.

Twelve former residents were able to make the trip. They brought along their children and in some cases, grandchildren. The group met in Watson Lake and made the drive together.

The trip was like one big family reunion, said Chemerys.

"There were so many stories," he said.

Chemerys lived in Tungsten from 1976 to 1981, attending grades 7 to 9 there. Chemerys made the move from Whitehorse with his dad, Norman, who got a job as an above-ground heavy duty mechanic.

When the living facilities for families were ready, Chemerys' mom Hilda and his two sisters followed.

"It took a special kind of person to live in Tungsten because you were so isolated," he said.

Being back and seeing the town again was in many ways bittersweet, said Chemerys. All of the old houses and many of the other buildings have red tape over their doors and signs warning people not to go in for safety reasons.

Chemerys wasn't able to see his family's former home, a trailer, because the mine's tailings pond has expanded over where it was located.

'It wouldn't be like it was when we lived there.'

"We knew full well it wouldn't be like it was when we lived there," he said.

The North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd.'s staff did organize tours for the reunion participants but they only involved a quick drive through the town. No one was allowed to go in the old buildings, said Chemerys.

Despite not having access to the buildings, the trip was well worth it, said Ingrid Hillgren.

Hillgren, from Whitehorse, attended the reunion with her sister Katherine. Hillgren moved to Tungsten in 1977 and left in 1984. Her dad worked as a surface carpenter at the mine.

"I've never lived in a happier place in my life," she said.

Hillgren said many of the former residents' happiest memories are of Tungsten and a lot of people still dream about it. Adults made good money at Tungsten and the mine took good care of the families, she said.

Hillgren remembers her family coming up with a grocery order every Sunday night and taking it to the company's cookhouse to have it filled. Employees' food and rents were subsidized.

"In a lot of ways, life was so good," she said.

Hillgren said the reunion gave her and her sister a chance to find closure. Their family left Tungsten because the mine was closing and her dad took a severance package.

"My sister and I didn't understand why we had to leave," she said.

Since being home, I feel at ease in my life."

For Chemerys and Hillgren as well as Ben Dunbar Jr., one of the highlights of the trip was seeing the familiar mountain scenery again. Tungsten is located in a mountain valley.

"Feeling the safeness of the mountains, it was comforting to see them again," said Hillgren.

Dunbar, his sisters Bev and Andrea, their children, and their mother Anne drove all the way from Winnipeg to attend the reunion.

"You could just stare out your front window for hours at the mountain," said Ben.

Anne was only one of three former employees of the mine to attend the gathering. The other two were John and Margie McConnell.

Childhood memories

Ben spent his whole childhood at Tungsten, arriving when he was one year old and leaving when the mine closed in 1986 at the age of 14. Ben said when he heard the buildings were being torn down at the mine, he wanted to get some pictures.

"It was worth it," he said.

Being at Tungsten triggered a lot of memories for the former residents. Coming over the mountain pass into the valley, Ben remembered how it was called Walk-a-thon Pass.

Every year, the school held a Terry Fox Run. The students were driven 18 kilometres from the town up the pass and then walked back. The finish line was at the hotsprings past the town where a barbecue would be waiting.

While the town is no longer the same, the scenery including Mount Baldie and Dutchman, two large mountains, and the lakes haven't changed, said Ben. He remembers nights his dad, Ben Dunbar Sr., would drive him up the switchbacks on the mountain.

"In the evening when all the lights were on, it was a beautiful scene," he said.

Ben, who brought his son on the trip, said he hopes the reunion can become a yearly event. He also has a more wistful dream.

"I wish it could be a town again," he said.

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