RADILIH KOE'/FORT GOOD HOPE
Sister Joan Liss looks out the window of her modest abode overlooking the snow-covered banks of the Mackenzie River.
"Look out here could you see anything more beautiful," she says.
The view is one that she and fellow missionary sister Pauline Girodat have grown to love ever since they were sent North on a mission by the School Sisters of Notre Dame 12 years ago. But after so many years serving the community, it's time for them to head south again.
Although Fort Good Hope has come to occupy a special place in their hearts, Liss and Girodat are both in their 70s now. On the one hand Liss struggles with arthritis and both woman agree that they are at a point in their lives where they want to be closer to relatives and fellow sisters from the denomination.
Nonetheless the two women acknowledge the move isn't going to be an easy one.
"Let's put it this way, if I were able to I would have stayed," Liss says.
Both Girodat and Liss were exposed to the School Sisters of Notre Dame while attending Catholic schools in rural Ontario.
"It's something I just felt called to do," said Liss.
After finishing their studies they joined the order and became teachers.
In the late '90s Liss was sent North for the first time for a stint in Fort Resolution. In her fourth year there she was joined by Girodat.
After one year of being together in Resolution the two women were sent up to Fort Good Hope, where they have been ever since.
"I was alone for three years in Resolution then she joined me here," said Liss.
Living together for the past few years Girodat and Liss have developed a strong friendship.
"We have our disagreements and our arguments ..." says Liss before being cut off by Girodat.
"But we don't go to bed mad," she laughed.
During their time in Fort Good Hope the two sisters have been in charge of running a regular Sunday sermon. In the summer they hold them in the famous Church of Our Lady of Good Hope which is conveniently located across the street from their home. Liss says the church is one of the most unique of its kind - so much so that in 2005 her niece flew all the way up to the community with a small group of friends and family to be married by her aunt in Fort Good Hope.
"It was a wonderful experience. They still talk about it as if it had happened last month," she says.
Because the building is so expensive to heat, in the winter the Catholic service takes place in a cosy makeshift hall which is attached to their living quarters. On Mondays the sisters have hosted a radio show on the local community radio station, with a regular rotation of special guests, sermons and words of wisdom.
"If they weren't at church they could get it Monday morning," said Girodat.
But the sisters' involvement in the community goes far beyond the church doors. Liss' passion for education saw her spend nine years heavily involved with the K'ahsho Got'ine District Education Authority, serving as its chairperson twice and its treasurer once. "I've always had a spot in my heart for kids, to make sure that they got what they needed," she said. Meanwhile Liss and Girodat have always made themselves available to anyone who needs counseling and people are constantly phoning them - sometimes they are looking for advice, sometimes they just want someone to chat with.
"A lot of the times it's just being there for people," said Liss. "There have been hard times and there have been good times, but it's getting to be with the people, getting to know the people, walking with them through the tragedies and celebrating the joys of life."
"It's certainly not a nine-to-five job," adds Girodat. "It's more like 24/7."
Sure enough, halfway through the interview their kitchen phone rings. After answering it and having a brief conversation Girodat hangs up.
"It was just someone wanting to see if we have had any calendars," she says.
The sisters have also provided a haven for women who are looking to get out of the house.
It is not uncommon for them to call around at all hours to play Scrabble or cards and there is usually some kind of game going on at least four nights a week, Girodat says.
One of the games the sisters tend to play with visitors is a variation of bridge called "little card rummy" which Girodat picked up while on a mission to Japan.
The game has since become part of the sisters' reputation and hardly a traveller has passed through town without sitting down to play a game. Over the years Girodat reckons she has handed out dozens of copies of its specialized playing cards.
"Ever so many people have it now," said Girodat. At the moment it is unclear if anyone will come up to replace the sisters when they leave. Like Liss and Girodat, many of the nuns from the School Sisters of Notre Dame are getting on in age.
"There's a lot of women saying, 'If I was 10 or 20 years younger I would jump at the opportunity," Girodat said.
As for Liss, she knows of at least one unordained lay member who is familiar with Fort Good Hope and has expressed interest in filling the hole the pair will leave in the community.
As it stands the sisters are planning to leave Fort Good Hope in July, when they will head to a retirement home run by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Waterdown, Ont.
Although they are looking forward to the move Girodat and Liss both agree that it won't be easy to leave the community that they have come to call home.
"It's going to be hard to say goodbye," said Girodat.
