Retirement, kids and JFK: Michael Shouldice takes the Proust Questionnaire

Michael Shouldice lived through most of Rankin Inlet’s history. He first moved to the hamlet in 1988 from Arviat and still lives in the community of about 3,000 that has more than doubled in size since then.

Shouldice helped create Nunavut Arctic College in 1995 and would later become its president.

Now retired, he is an active community member, hamlet councillor, outdoorsman and a master of handmade knives and leatherwork.

Shouldice recently talked to Nunatsiaq News to answer the Proust Questionnaire.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I don’t think it exists.

But the best times in my life had to do with being married and having a family.

What is your greatest fear?

Oh, I didn’t know what it was like to be afraid until we had kids and they got sick. And then you feel absolutely helpless at times, when they’re in trouble.

Which living person do you most admire?

I wasn’t expecting you to ask about a living person that I most admire. As you age, you lose your friends that you admire, right?

There are a couple of guys I would say have influenced me a lot over the years, but they aren’t alive.

What is your greatest achievement?

I think learning to ask before you shoot.

As you age, you are not as aggressive, and animosity is something you don’t seem to have anymore. I think that you can grow into that mindset where you look at the positive end of the world.

For me, the glass is truly half full, and I just refuse to live in negativity or hatred.

What is your current state of mind?

Pretty good. I like being retired. It’s a very privileged lifestyle, and it’s very nice just to do your thing every day.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

The dog barks, but the caravan passes.

It’s a French expression.

You know, people complain about stuff or they yap at this and that, but the caravan just keeps on going no matter how much the dog chases the tires and barks.

What is your greatest regret?

Well, I regret losing good friends. It’s part of life.

Someone’s company can be quite a gift, and when they’re not there anymore it’s a real sense of loss.

I regret that they’re not there.

Once in front of God, what would you tell him?

I most likely will have lots of questions.

Historically, I’m curious about who did what. Like, who really killed JFK? [Former president John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963].

But I think the big question for me is, you stare at a starry night into the depths of … what is this?

The big picture on that would be greatly appreciated.

Nunatsiaq News is borrowing the old Proust Questionnaire parlour game to get to know people who are in the news. If you know someone in your community who our readers should get to know by taking this questionnaire, let us know by email: editors@nunatsiaq.com.