Chapleauites everywhere 'returning home' to vote for community to win Ultimate Fishing Town contest with social media making participation possible

The other day when Henry Byce messaged me on Facebook, "Sorry Chief.......they're a little bigger than the 2 you caught!! LOL", it struck me just how involved Chapleauites had become in the contest to decide the Ultimate Fishing Town in Canada.

From the Chapleau Express I knew that people living in Chapleau were fully supporting it, but suddenly it seemed, given social media like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and yes, even email, that everyone with a connection to the community was voting and contacting friends and family, near and far, to vote for Chapleau.

Every morning when I get up and log in to Facebook, I am greeted by folks who no longer live in Chapleau but are part of the virtual community united in a common effort to bring victory to their home town. Fishing stories abound.

Just this morning, Hugh McGoldrick, Earlene Chambers, Paul Carson, Jamie Thibault, Bob Lewis and Lise McCarthy had posted messages on Facebook urging us to vote. Others were indicating they had. It happens several times a day as Chapleau remained in a tight race with Port Colborne for the title. Voting ends on May 31. Here is link: http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

I am delighted that Chapleau people are rallying in support of he community. It is great to see the community spirit.

Also as many know, after joining the faculty of College of the Rockies I led a team that developed the first college post graduate program in New Media Communications in Canada, way back in 1994. Many back then told me that email was okay but would never really catch on and virtual communities were a non starter. Social media consisted of chat rooms.

Today, Chapleau, the little town that can, is receiving global attention as it battles to win this contest, all because internet technology is providing the tools and Chapleauites everywhere are participating. To adapt an old dictum: "You can take the boy or girl out of Chapleau but you can't take Chapleau out of the boy or girl".

The photo of me to which Henry was referring was taken at Healy on Lake Windermere, 17 CPR miles west of Chapleau at our camp circa 1948. I had caught the fish from Sunday School rock, so named because Mrs. F. M. 'Maud" Hands would conduct Sunday school classes there. Henry sent me photo from his catch, taken in 2010 on a fishing trip home to Chapleau. You win Henry!

Dr. Vince Crichton, who still spends summers at the family camp on Mulligan's Bay was in touch ny email with an interesting insight into how the pickerel arrived in the Chapleau (Kebsquasheshing) River.

Vince wrote: "Where did the pickerel (walleye) in the Chapleau River between the 18 mile rapids and Chapleau come from? They were not always there. For many summers while attending high school and university I had the privilege of working for Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources which in the late 50’s and 60s was known as the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests. The only fish in the aforementioned part of the river were pike, suckers, whitefish.

"One of my summer jobs was to live trap pickerel in Nemegosenda Lake and these fish in turn were relocated to Henderson Lake which is about half way between Chapleau and the 18 mile rapids. Myself along with Robert Lemieux and occasionally conservation officer Tom O’Shaughnessy would spend almost all of July camped in a tent at the north end of the lake capturing pickerel.

"My father (Vince Crichton Sr.) would come in with the Beaver aircraft every 3 or 4 days and airlift the fish to Henderson Lake. The aircraft was fitted with appropriate tanks and oxygen to ensure there was no mortality during the short flite to the river. We used what was called a trap net - when the fish were removed for the trap they were placed in holding pens which we had constructed along the shore. The camp site was at the north end of the lake and the trap net was just below the old dam at the point where the Nemegosenda river exits the lake. The net was secured to the old dam and it had a long centre lead extending down river from the capture box and 2 wings extending at 45 degree angles from the centre lead all of which helped divert fish into the capture box. Care had to be taken when lifting the net (which was pulled over the side of the canoe) daily to ensure the square stern canoe we used did not flip in the current."

Hugh McGoldrick

Here is one of Hugh McGoldrick's Facebook messages to rally us to vote: "Chapleau is movin' up agan.... We need to keep it going. We got "plenty of fish" and people know it!!! Now lets prove it with "plenty of votes!!" Come fishing, maybe you'll catch the fish of your dreams!!!! Vote Chapleau!!!"

Hugh also recalled: "One of my best fishing memories was the time I flew out with John Theriault and John Tangie for an afternoon of fishing. With a canoe strapped to the pontoon we took off in the Beaver and headed about ½ milenorth of Chapleau landing on Trump Lake. It didn’t look like much of a lake but the lake trout we pulled in suggested otherwise. We spent a few hours there and then packed all of our gear back onto the plane and headed about ½ hour east to the Chapleau River. We landed just below a nice rapid and within an hour we had our limit of pickerel. So, we jumped back in the plane and flew home to Chapleau. You can’t ask for much better fishing than that".

John Theriault

Bill Groves, long time Chapleau resident has been sharing some of his fishing photos starring his grandchildren who are clearly enjoying their trips on the pontoon boat.

Paul Carson shared a precious moment on a fishing trip with his father Ron: "In the morning we would venture up the lake to a larger camp and fill our stringer with walleye and lake trout, never go hungry because we always caught plenty of fish.... lunch would be a shore line lunch over a camp fire.... and dinner would be even more fish.... trout on the fire with lemon wedges and spices, how the meat would flake off because it was cooked perfectly.... the smallest things about fishing with my dad and brother as kids I remember fondly."

Janice Selin reminded me of a tradition started by the Chapleau Int A Huskies in the 1970s. "There is a small creek just when you turn onto the Sheppard & Morse & Island Lake road. When it was not dried up we use to creep up not to let the fish hear something was coming.

Bill Groves on pontoon boat with grandson

"All you needed to do was drop a small daredevil in & we would get many little brook trout. On New Year's day it was a tradition that all the Husky team would go to Five mile lake & ice fish. The guys chipped in & bought an electric ice auger & the girls would get a fire started on the lake & place down the Hudson Bay blankets. All the kids were very young then but we all had a great time."

Reflecting on fishing and the Huskies, I have to admit that I never went along on any of their fishing trips in Chapleau, but I did go deep sea fishing with a number of the players off the Florida coast. Danny Vaughan caught a shark, and he was in touch recently so we shared memories of the experience.

In fact as the voting ends on May 31 to decide the Ultimate Fishing Town, I am planning  to be on my way to Florida for my first visit in years. I am not planning to go shark fishing though. Keep voting Chapleau wherever you are. I will vote before I leave. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Islands in lake named after grandchildren contribute to Chapleau as ultimate fishing town

Bill Groves, an avid supporter of Chapleau as the ultimate fishing town  named the islands in the lake at the cottage after his  grandchildren. 

"I  thought with a sign on each island the visitors and tourists would be able to find their way around the lake better. So it was sort of for two reasons. The second reason was they had no name so who better to name them after", Bill wrote.

VOTE FOR CHAPLEAU http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

Cody Plummer is the son of daughter Susan.

Matthew Plummer is also son of daughter Susan

Jacqueline Groves is son Ken's eldest daughter 


VOTE FOR CHAPLEAU http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

JOHN THERIAULT: "Is that an alligator...?", as 35-pound Northern landed on fishing trip from Chapleau

http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on VOTE FOR CHAPLEAU TO WIN AS ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN


John Theriault kindly provided the chapter from his father George's book "Trespassing in God's Country' to help showcase Chapleau as the ultimate fishing town. George Theriault arrived in Chapleau in 1954 and founded Theriault Air Services. Mr Theriault celebrated his 91st birthday in April, 2011. Thanks to John for his cooperation in bringing us this story written by his father....Belated Happy Birthday George!... MJM

George Theriault

BY GEORGE THERIAULT from his book 'Trespassing in God's Country'
During our first year in Chapleau, I met Mr Ralph Stedman from Flint , Michigan. We had the pleasure of taking care of him and his son Larry for many years. He was such a naturally amicable man that within a year or two our business relationship turned into a long standing friendship between our families. 


In the fall of 1956 my five year old son, John, and I accompanied Mr. Stedman and his son Larry to our little tent camp on the north end of Nemegosenda Lake. I didn't have any boats at the site, so for safety we tied two canoes together--a 17 foot square stern with a 9.9 hp motor and a smaller 16 foot canoe, loaded with our gear. We motored down the river to Alcorn Lake and spent the better part of the day still fishing for walleye.


Once we had our fill of catching walleye in the holes along the shore,we decided to troll down the center of the lake. I was using a red and white daredevil in hope of tempting a northern pike to hit my line. Most northern pike are found in shallow water near weed beds where they feed on smaller fish. Ralph and Larry were using casting reels whereas I was using an Alcock spinning reel with about 300 yards of 6 pound test line. It wasn't monofilament line: it was actually made of silk like the thread used on parachutes.


All of a sudden I felt my line tighten, as if I had hooked into a huge log. Ralph immediately saw my line go down and told his son Larry, who was running the motor to turn around because he thought my line was snagged. There was no reverse on motors back then , so Larry turned the boat around and I held the rod up. We motored back up the river about a 100 feet. The line was still out another 200 feet. At this time I began to entertain doubts about this snag. Larry pushed the motor a little faster until we were a 100 feet from where the line was hugging the bottom. Only then did I coinfirm my suspicions that this had to be fish. Whatever was on the line took it on a run for another couple of 100 feet.

George at his 91st birthday party April 2011

We had to wait 10 minutes to get a glimpse of the fish. As soon as it surfaced, I knew it was a northern. It barely stayed on the surface for a few seconds before it dove to the bottom, pulling at least 50 yards of line.Then it sulked and pulled and held the 6 pounds of drag. We sat in this suspended state for several minutes. I knew if I expected to land this fish , I had to make the next move.


I asked Larry to paddle the canoe so that I could put side drag on the line. The northern made a dash and we followed, running the motor slowly enough to keep the pressure on. After a few minutes of this chasing game, the fish stopped, turned 90 degrees and took off a little faster. By now we were in the middle of Alcorn Lake, at a depth of 30 feet and the fish still on the bottom. The pressure was so intense that I could only imagine that I had hooked a 15 pound northern by the tail.


It seemed we had been trailing this fish for an hour, but when I looked at my watch, it had only been about 20 minutes. My hands were sore and tired, but I wasn't about to give up until I had gotten a good look at my opponent. Finally the fish eased up and I could reel in some of the line. This time I got it within 30 feet of the boat. 


From our vantage point, we could see a huge northern. It looked like it was about 5 feet long. I knew my line couldn't handle much more pressure and I figured if this fish decided to take another dive to the bottom it was going to take all my line with it. I began to feel satisfied just to have seen this monster.


Just about the time I was giving up all hope of landing it, the line slackened. I quickly used the opportunity to reel in. My last ditch efforts to get the fish close to the boat paid off. Fortunately the fish seemed to have given up all its will power. By the time I got it within a foot of the boat, there was no fight left in this brute. Larry leaned over the boat and got his hand on the gills. 


With a litle help from  Ralph, he managed to hoist the fish into the smll canoe.

John Theriault on 70s fishing trip

Raoul Lemieux, George & John Theriault. Frank Boucher, David  Morris

My young son John took one very nervous look at the fish and said "Is that an alligator Mr. Stedman ?" His fear of the fish soon subsided and curiousity took over. He climbed over to the other canoe, examined it and decided it was the biggest fish or alligator he had ever seen. It was a huge one. The fish turned out to be a 35 pound northern--the biggest one I ever caught. We had the fish officially weighed and measured and the Stedmans took it home to have it mounted.

BILL GROVES AND FAMILY SHOW WHY CHAPLEAU IS THE ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN

Bill Groves, a long time resident of Chapleau, Ontario, provides the photos to show us that fishing is popular on a cold winter day.

And from the dock in the summer at one of the fishing spots in Chapleau and area. Click on link to vote for Chapleau as ultimate fishing town http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

Bill was out in the boat to catch this beauty

While wife Barb shows off one of her catch back home.

One of Bill and Barb's grandchildren started fishing at an early age, and look what he caught

Bill, with two of his grandchildren after another successful fishing trip

Think they are saying, "Chapleau is the ultimate fishing town.." VOTE NOW http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

"Be sure you go and vote for Chapleau. Look at the big one I caught!"

Thanks Bill, Barb and grandchildren for sharing the photos for this feature and, please folks, VOTE for Chapleau http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

PAUL CARSON ON CHAPLEAU, ONTARIO, AS 'ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN'

I use to do a lot of fishing as a kid when living in Chapleau...I would go to the back river (Nebskwashi River) and fish off the dock at Sawyer's or the Burnt Bridge.... would always catch a few pickerel, and pike.... enjoyed the smell of the burnt wood from the bridge. 

Fond memories of fishing with my dad and brother.  He would take us fishing up to Goldie Lake taking the train up to the lake. 


Fish off the big rock that housed a small trapper's shack and introduced to  magazines that my brother and I were not supposedto look at but we did....fishing until the sun set to the west and the only light came from the bright stars and crisp moon.... silence in the air until a fish would jump and break the silence.... 


HERE IS A VIDEO PAUL MADE OF MULLIGAN's BAY



In the morning we  would venture up the lake to a larger camp and fill our stringer with walleye and lake trout, never go hungry because we always caught plenty of fish.... lunch would be a shore line lunch over a camp fire.... and dinner would be even more fish.... trout on the fire with lemon wedges and spices, how the meat would flake off because it was cooked perfectly.... the smallest things about fishing with my dad and brother as kids I remember fondly.

As an adult, my friend's dad won a million dollars in the lottery, not once but twice. He would invite the guys out fishing.... he supplied the food, the booze the accommodations, and all we had to do was catch the fish. Lots of fish..... the group would catch over a 100 pickerel a day.. we would fillet the fish, and he would prepare the pickerel different ways... fish cakes, deep fried, baked, amazing cook.... amazing how fishing brought so many together.... not disappointed because we always got our limits, sharing good times with good friends, I miss it a
lot living in Southern Ontario... fishing out of stocked ponds and polluted waters.... not the same as fishing in Chapleau Ontario.

Seeing hundreds of American Licence plates travelling several hours to northern Ontario to experience the ultimate fishing in Chapleau Ontario, hearing the buzz of the float planes flying overhead...of fishermen flying out to the experience the ultimate fishing that Chapleau, Ontario has to offer and the countless boats you see either racing up the river to go to the honey holes of fish or a slow troll on the river to find their fish, seeing them along the docks, and shorelines the fishermen trying to catch dinner...or to just catch and release, 


IN the winter time seeing a blanket of white ice and snow and the brave fishermen out braving the cold trying to catch fish.... going to peoples homes and seeing their trophy fishes mounted on the walls of their homes as well in the camps that dot the many lakes in around Chapleau,Ontario. Chapleau is indeed the Ultimate Fishing Town.....and the above is just scratching the surface on how amazing Chapleau is for fishing.


MAKE SURE YOU VOTE FOR CHAPLEAU AS THE ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

North sky turned a reddish orange at night while engine stood ready at station with 'steam up' as Chapleau prepared for 1948 forest fire evacuation

Back in the day when Queen Victoria's birthday was actually celebrated on the 24th of May in Canada, in 1948 it marked the beginning of forest fires that ravaged much of the area near Chapleau, and threatened the community itself.

Following up on the fires that have devastated the town of Slave Lake, Alberta, the Canadian Press carried a story this week on the worst forest fires in Canadian history. Included was the fire commonly called the Mississagi fire of 1948 but as Bill McLeod points out in his book 'The Chapleau Game Preserve: History, Murder and Other Tales', there were actually three fires - Mississagi, South Chapleau and Panet, the latter posing the worst threat to Chapleau.

Canadian Press says that the worst forest fire in Ontario history was the Matheson fire of 1916 in which 244 people were killed.

After reading the Canadian Press story, I googled for more information on the 1948 fires, and came across a feature story from the August 1961 edition of 'Boys' Life'. the publication of the American Boy Scouts. My intention was to simpy use it as the basis for this piece, but after a few reads, realized that much of it was creative non fiction, written by someone who obviously had never visited the area, and was done for an audience of American Boy Scouts.

However, it is a good read and I do refer to some of the article here. I also went to Bill's book for information, and so here we are some 63 years later, on the Victoria Day weekend, being celebrated close to the 24th this year, with a look back to the fires that had an enormous long term impact on Chapleau and area.

Bill McLeod notes that the Mississagi fire was first detected at one p.m. near Rocky Island Lake on May 25, and by the time the first 69 firefighters arrived a day later it had grown to 2,000 acres in size. By May 27, it had jumped the Mississagi River at three points and was being fought by 137 firefighters.

Meanwhile, the South Chapleau fire had started near Flame Lake in Township 8D, and by June 1 had increased to 30,000 acres and was only 12 miles north of Mississagi.

Reflecting all these years later on these two fires stretching roughly along present Highway 129, which at the time, was not completed between Chapleau and Thessalon, Chapleau was threatened as Flame Lake is at Mileage 47, and the fires were eventually joined

However, the danger to the community was to increase even more when a new fire started in Panet Township on June 4, immediately north of the original village of Chapleau.

While the Mississagi, South Chapleau and other fires continued, by June 9, the Panet fire was within four miles of Chapleau.

Reeve B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt told the Sudbury Star that all of the community's firefighting equipment had been tested and was at the ready. Hoses had been attached to every fire hydrant in town, Bill McLeod wrote, adding, "At night, Chapleau residents watched nervously as the north sky turned a reddish orange".

As an historic footnote, Mr. Zufelt was in his first year as Chapleau reeve in 1948 when faced with the possibility of ordering an evacuation. So was T.C. 'Terry' Way-White in 1967. Mr Zufelt did not have have to order it, but Mr. Way-White did.

If an evacuation was necessary empty boxcars were on hand at the CPR station. Keep in mind that in 1948, the CPR was really the only way in and out of Chapleau, and South Chapleau was near Sultan and Nemegos, near the railway line heading east, while the Panet fire was near it going west. The people of Chapleau were faced with a potentially very dangerous situation.

The Chapleau Fire Precaution Group was formed with Arthur Grout as chairman and Fire Chief George Collinson as vice chairman. Four wardens, Adam Andrews, Jim Broomhead, Borden McLeod and Albert Evans, with responsibility for specfic responsibility for sections of town were appointed.

Describing the precautions being taken at Chapleau, the writer of the 'Boys' Life' article says that "the engine stood on a railway siding with steam up, and cars attached."

At one point during the fires, the Ontario government considered seeding the clouds with dry ice and it was undertaken. The 'Boys' Life' article says, "the rain fell, sixty miles away from the fire where it rained out a baseball game". Bill McLeod wrote that shortly after "a drenching downpour partly extinguished a fire near the Swayze River".

Then the rains finally came to Northern Ontario and by June 28, the fires were essentially out, and in their aftermath came a whole new chapter in the history of the Chapleau area with the completion of Highway 129 in 1949, the arrival of new lumber companies, and many other changes in the life and times of this part of Northern Ontario. All stories for another day.

As a sidebar, Doug Greig, who is always so helpful when it comes to providing information, sent me a newspaper clipping announcing that the Ontario Provincial Police had established a detachment at Flame Lake after the fire. Const. D.G Patterson who had served in the RCAF in World War II was the officer posted there. Three lumber mills were in operation undertaking salvage operations. Previously, the one OPP officer from Chapleau had Flame Lake as part of his patrol area.

Thanks to Doug Greig and Bill McLeod and 'Boys' Life' magazine. Happy Victoria Day to all. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Railroad YMCA played important role in community life as 'home away from home' for railroaders for 63 years until demolished in 1971

The Chapleau Railroad YMCA was one of the most distinctive landmarks in Chapleau from its opening in 1908 until it was demolished in 1971, Ian Macdonald writes in 'Mile 615.1: Building a Northern Community'.

Ian, who spent many of his growing up years in Chapleau, worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway for a time, attended university, became an architect, and in 2005 retired as head of the school of architecture at the University of Manitoba.

Writing in a monograph which is an important part of Bill McLeod's newest book, 'Chapleau: Retrospective on Life in an Isolated Northern Community', Ian explains that the Chapleau Y was one of nine railroad YMCA's built by the CPR in Canada and one in Maine. The others were in Revelstoke, Field, Cranbrook (where I now live), Kenora, Ignace, Schreiber, White River, Cartier and Brownville Junction, Maine.

The usual arrangement was that the CPR paid for the construction of the buildings and then turned ownership and operation over to the Young Men's Christian Association.

The company also gave a cash donation of $100 a month and provided steam heat in the winter and ice in the summer. The CPR provided heat for all its operations and other Chapleau buuildings from a central plant.

Ian notes that the YMCA became part of the "social fabric" of the communities served, confirmed by Ron Brown in his book 'The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore' who observed that they became a sight and activity centre as much a part of the community as the gardens, sitting rooms in the stations or new water tanks.

At the Chapleau YMCA, moving picture shows, according to Ian, were routinely patronized by everyone in town.

"The subject matter, of course, was always of the most wholesome variety, some of it even supplied by the CPR's own film interests."

There were also two bowling alleys in the basement which were used by Chapleau citizens. Whenever anyone recalls the bowling alleys, it is to share their experience as a pin boy (or girl), and to mention that Mrs. Mabel Young, Dr. G.E. Young's mother, was still bowling there in her nineties.

Quoting from a CPR publication Ian writes that the facilities were given to the YMCA to operate "because of its unselfish purpose to be of service to railway men without financial gain".

However, before the CPR and YMCA got together to build the railway YMCA's, the railway was concerned about how its employees were spending their time out on the road, away from home, which is a story of it own.

One writer in 'Not Just a Game: Essays in Sports Sociology' commented that soon after the first one was established in Revelstoke, British Columbia, "the YMCA made lambs out of the wild men (of Revelstoke)..." Given the Revelstoke success, the YMCA's were quickly expanded to other divisional points.

Quoting from the CPR Bulletin of August 1922, Ian comments on the social role of the YMCA's. The bulletin said in part: "the buildings are open day and night and provide a 'homelike place' at the other end of the run.


"The engineers and trainmen, after driving through the snow and cold, find an open fire, a good meal and cheerful companionship awaiting them at the end of a journey..."

Ian notes that the YMCA had characteristics of home including a carefully manicured front lawn and fence, rambling front porch and other features of homes at those times.

However, it was not only CPR employees who stayed at the YMCA. George Tremblay, another Chapleauite, in his wonderful book about the movies 'Break at Nine' tells about the arrival of Ruth and Cecil Smith in 1940 to take over the Regent Theatre.

In November 1940 they arrived in Chapleau on the CPR Train, the Dominion, Number 3, and looked for a taxi.

Len 'the taxi man' Perfetto, was there and away they went as the taxi "dashed up and around the steep horsehoe bridge that spanned the railway yards, then through the downtown" and finally arrived at the YMCA on Lorne Street south.

George noted that it may "sound strange" to learn that they would stay at the YMCA "but in 1940 it was the accepted thing to do" as there were no motels at the time and the two hotels were now rooming houses and apartment buildings.

George Theriault, in his book 'Trespassing in God's Country' writes that when he arrived in 1954, "I bunked down at the YMCA, bought an old boathouse on the Chapleau river and hired two carpenters to winterize it." It was the beginning of Theriault Air Services.

Ian notes that "Time and events gradually overtook the established social role of the YMCA in the years following World War II, and it was condemned and demolished in 1971, adding that one can "scarcely miss the irony when the Chapleau Railway Y was demolished to make way for the new Liquor Control Board of Ontario retail outlet."

I have only touched upon the contents of Ian's monograph 'Mile 615.1: Building a Northern Community' and have not even referred to the rest of Bill's book, "Chapleau: Retrospective on Life in an Isolated Northern Community. Thanks to Ian for permitting me to quote freely from his work, and to Bill, who has been a friend since we were kids growing up in Chapleau.
Thanks as well to George Tremblay and George Theriault. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

VOTE NOW AND OFTEN FOR CHAPLEAU AS ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN

http://www.wfnfishingtown.ca/town/chapleau-on

CLICK ON ABOVE LINK AND VOTE FOR CHAPLEAU TO WIN AS ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN

Gene Bernier, Yvon Martel led successful seven year campaign to establish Chapleau airport with support from local business, industry and individuals by 1970

When Gene Bernier became president of the Chapleau Chamber of Commerce in 1963, he had one major thought in mind -- the construction of an airstrip for Chapleau.

Ralph Stewart, Gene, Dr McIlveen, MJM

Closely associated with Gene from the outset was Yvon Martel, and together they launched a seven-year campaign to obtain support for the project, and by May, 1970, the airstrip had become a reality when Stan Deluce, of Chapleau, president of of White River Air Service officially landed the first plane on the airstrip with Yvon as his passenger. Gene headed the welcoming committee.

As I was researching the airport story, I could not help but think of Tom Godfrey Sr, of a previous generation of Chapleau community builders, all volunteers, whose great passion was to have Highway 129 to Thessalon completed, and "turkey trail" through the bush it may have been when opened in 1949, the community had a highway link to break down the barriers of isolation.

Gene, Yvon and the others who joined them in the airport project were of a generation who saw that air travel was becoming more common by the 1960s and they were determined that Chapleau would not be left behind.

The chamber of commerce backed Gene's "thought" about the airstrip, and an airport committee was formed. It had its own bank account and Gene was the chairman. In no way, was the project officially supported by the Township of Chapleau council. In fact, over the next seven years there would be some misunderstandings between the two, but they were resolved by May 1970 when the council agreed to let them use township land, but would not provide any grants for the project.

In short, Chapleau got an airport because of the dedication of volunteers from businesses, industries and individuals who supported it.

For example, Gene and Yvon made innumerable trips at their own expense to meet with federal and provincial government officials in Ottawa and Toronto.

And, when construction began, Yvon, became the "foreman" according to a report Gene gave to the Chapleau Rotary Club, adding he was of "tremendous value" to the success of the project. Although they received some funding from senior governments, they also relied on donations of funds and equipment locally.

These airport pioneers were not content to just create a gravel strip runway, but were busy negotiating with the provincial government to establish a forest fire water bombing base at it, which eventually contributed to expansion.

By 1973, it had become the Chapleau Municipal Airport and the council had established the Chapleau Airport Commission. The first members were Gene as chair, with Yvon and Jack Russell as members, and a representative of council. When I became Chapleau reeve in 1974 I represented council on the airport commission.

But, it was the government of Premier Bill Davis who gave the airport a great boost when it established NorOntair in 1971. The airline was established to create east-west links across Northern Ontario. Premier Davis landed at the airport on a visit to Chapleau in 1975, where he toured the construction site of the Chapleau General Hospital and reviewed plans for other projects planned by council.

First NorOntair flight Timmins-Chapleau

Chapleau was added by 1975, and more barriers of isolation had come tumbling down. Citizens had daily service to Timmins, Sault Ste Marie and connections to Toronto. Depending on the schedules over the years you could also fly directly to Elliot Lake, Sudbury and North Bay.


In July 1975, the terminal building was officially opened. It coincided with a visit to Chapleau by an American marching band which was enlisted to play for the ceremonies.

Chapleau reeve Michael leaving 1st NorOntair flight

Ralph Stewart, the Member of Parliament at the time was present, and being a very accomplished musician was invited to lead the band in the Playing of 'O Canada'. Ralph took his place and proceeded to conduct the playing of the Canadian national anthem -- the only problem was that the band played the AMERICAN national anthem, followed by the Canadian.

In October 1979, a ceremony was held to officially open two paved runways, and Gene retired as chairman to be succeeded by Yvon Martel.


Chapleau had airline passenger service until 1996 when the government of Premier Mike Harris stopped subsidies to NorOntair.


In recognition of his tremendous contribution to the airport, it is now called after the person who had a thought in 1963, and made it into a reality -- the Eugene Bernier Airport. My email is mj.morris@live.ca


Thanks to DOUG GREIG for his research assistance.