Vogar Manitoba in the 1960's and 70's was indeed quite a different place than it is now. Back then there were many large families both in the village itself and also on the neighbouring Lake Manitoba Reserve. Times were allot tougher no doubt but the instinctive survival genes in these proud people made them a very happy and contented group. Given that most of the trek to Winnipeg, our capital City was on very poor gravel roads and also given that money was scarce we were for the most part quite remote. There were two churches in Vogar, two stores, a two room school and a pool-room! The pool-room had a jukebox, a shuffleboard and two pool tables.........who need Winnipeg.....we had it all. Oh, I almost forgot, we had a town hall that measured about 20 x 26 which operated as the local Movie Theatre on Friday nites and "Wedding Palace" on many Saturday nights. There was no such luxuries as amplified instruments, just the local fiddle player and his sidekick quite content to entertain all nite long just for a constant nursing of beer and cigarettes.
There were many locals that provided for these large families by hunting, trapping, fishing and working for the local farmers with their annual hay harvesting. There were also those that travelled to Winnipeg every week to work for large construction companies that paid union wages! These guys were Johnnie Monkman, Lloyd Pelletier, Gary Monkman, Ronald Monkman etc. Ronald was my idol, he would always come back from his work jaunts with a very fast 50's Ford or Dodge. That would be cause for everyone in the vilage to look out as there would be continual racingwith Ronald and his brother Ralph throught the village for an entire weekend!
I also have great memories of growing up and going to school with Dennis Beach, Dennis Monkman, Steven Monkman, Lester, Cecil, Norman Spence and all the pretty girls.......There was also the guys from Lake Man that would congregate in the pool room every evening playing 101 for money always 
. I am referring to great guys like John Paul Sr with his boys Roy, Steve and Willie. Good men like Chillainshe, Joe Roulette, Alan Baptiste, Kitche Arthur, Jerry Baptiste, Atchachee, Todo, Sheegauk, Shake, Johnny Mclean, Cheese, Tootoosh, Leslie, Elmer, Geese, Joe Caiyou, Moona, Gordie, Cecil and Alvin Paul. I can't list all of them. For the risk of getting a frying pan over the head, I cant list all of the beautiful girls also
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Life was good, there was no such thing as diabetes? Everybody worked, walked and never complained. Although I have more now than I could have ever dreamed of, I sometimes wonder which was best. I am attempting to locate photos for this page so stay tuned!
