Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
16FOCUS-FEBRUARY2013WedidnthaveagymatmyrstschoolinBrook-lin.ButIwasabletoworkoutadealtousethevillagesarenaonceaweek.Andlaterweblacktoppedanewbasketballcourtintheschoolyard.AsdomanyteachersGarymigratedamongschoolsanddistrictsdeliveringacombinationofacademicandPhys.Ed.coursesatvariouslevels.AfterasixyearstintasPhys.Ed.consultantforthenewly-createdDurhamRegionSchoolBoardhereturnedtotheclassroomwhichhefoundhedcometomiss.AdaptingChurchillsfamousphraseGarys1990retirementfromteachingprovedtobemerelytheendofthebeginninginhisvariedcareer.Itsnextphasewouldprovetobeequallyrewardingandsuccessful.HeyearnedtoimprovethelotofScugogsFirstNa-tionpeopleandbecameinvolvedinitsleadership.Wewantedtorestoreourhuntingandshingrightsandmovetowardsself-sufciency.Ididnthaveapoliti-calbackgroundbutfeltcondentinmyabilitytomakethingshappen.AndtruetohiswordasChiefoftheMississaugasofScugogIslandGaryquicklybeganadvancingitscausesinofcialcircles.Alandusepermitfor30acresontheIslandsnorthendhelpedachievehisinitialgoalbuild-ingasitetoserveastheMississaugasmeetinghallandadministrativecentre.Fundingallowedthehiringofpart-timestafffrominsidetheband.AndastorefrontindowntownPortPerryNativePerspectiveshelpedtopromotetheirvisibilitywithinthesurroundingcom-munity.Theexperienceshegainedwiththeworkingsofgovernmentfacilitatedanotherachievement.AsourEconomicDevelopmentOfcerIsatonacommitteewithAboriginalChiefsandgovernmentofcialswhentheydiscussedgaminglicenses.OurapplicationultimatelybecametheGreatBlueHeronCasino.Garysinitialvisionwashumblerthanthefacilityeventuallybecame.Wesawitprimarilyasabingohallwithlimitedgamingheremembers.ButbeforeitcouldbecomeanythingGreatBlueHeronneededapartnertoprofessionallyoperatethefacility.FollowingcourtshipfromseveralpossibilitiesGaryhelpedbrokeradealwithanAustriangroupwithexperiencemanaginganumberofEuropeancasinos.AgainstalloddstheypartneredwithusGaryrecallshiseyesstillshowingtheamazementhefeltatthetime.Theyloanedus26millioninstart-upmoneyanamountwecouldneverhaverepaidiftheplacefailedtogeneratetherequiredrevenue.Theproposalofanycasinoiscertaintodrawop-positionfromsomequartersofthecommunity.WiththepartnershipdealnalizedGaryre-channeledhisenergytosatisfyinglocaldissenters.Intheendhisdip-lomaticeffortsguaranteedtheGreatBlueHeronwouldbecomeareality.AndultimatelyveryquicklyaftertheintroductionofslotsGaryreportstheMississaugabandwasabletorepaytheAustriansinfull.TheBaagwatingCommunityAssociationthenamemeans-thepeopleofshallowwatersformedtooverseefairdistributionofthebandsshareofcasinorevenues.NotsurprisinglyGaryEdgarservedasitsChair.AsacharitablecasinowevesupportedtheScugoghospitalthelibraryandthearena.WevereachedoutbeyondScugogtoUOITUniversityofOntarioInstituteofTechnologyaswellastheneo-natalandcancercarefacilitiesattheOshawahospital.AndintheirrecenttimeofneedwecontributedtoGreatBlueHeronCasino-ScugogIsland.Continuedfrompage15CONGRATULATIONSGARYEDGARoftheMississaugasofScugogIslandFirstNationforawelldeservedFirstNationCanadianGamingAwardLifetimeAchievementAwardFIRSTNATIONCANADIANGAMINGAWARDS