Chapleau Recreation Committee establishes programs for all age groups in the Summer of 1973

The Chapleau Recreation Committee was active in 1973 announcing a summer program designed to assist in the provision of recreation and leisure time activities for all age groups in the community.

Major  highlights of the program were the first Summerfest, which was an expanded Beach Day and the founding of the Chapleau Senior Citizens' Club.

Summerfest headed by Ed Swanson as chair,  with Margaret Rose (Payette) Fortin as secretary was expanded to an entire weekend on the August Civic Holiday weekend rather than just one day.

The Chapleau Sentinel reported that events included a 10-speed bicycle race, five-mile road race for the Thomson-Morris Memorial Trophy, mutt show, parade, ball games, children's races, baby contest, water events,dances  and Summerfest Queen contest

The committee included Annie Bowland, Peter Elliott, Earle Freeborn, Manlio Spessot, Greg Lucas, Raoul Lemieux Jr, Jim Mulligan, George Travis, Graham Bertrand, Wally Clarke, Janet Tokarchuk, Ken LeClaire, Bill Ritchie, Mark Mizuguchi, Denis Ladouceur and Richard Ladouceur.

Lise Lafreniere was named the first Summerfest Queen with Catherine Welch and Maureen Lavoie as runners-up.

Looking at the program for the weekend, there were 54 businesses and individuals who contributed prizes to Summerfest activities with a sincere vote of appreciation to J..E. Martel and Sons Lumber Ltd., A and L Lafreniere Lumber Company, Chapleau Lumber Company, the Redwood Dining Room and the Bridgeview Motel for their "special contributions" toward the success of Summerfest.

Chapleau also had an Opportunities for Youth program in 1973.  Assisting  the recreation committee with many programs were the OFY, "Summer Chapleau' participants Jamie Doyle, Maurice Blais, Richard Desbiens, Catherine Welch, Michael Paquette, Peter Freistatter, and Robert Petrunka.

 The recreation committee summer staff of Eileen McCrea, Joan Warren, Denis Foran, Patricia Fortin, William Brady, Keith McAdam and Mary Lou Futhey also assisted.

Through Canada World Youth the group from Malaysia also became part of the Summer activities, and hosted a special evening featuring dances and food from their country.

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Chapleau Senior Citizens Club was actually held on the lawn of the of the old Chapleau High School on Pine Street.

At that first meeting, Mrs Agnes Freeborn assumed the position  of acting president, and was soon thereafter succeeded by Mrs. Min Blackburn. Mrs Freeborn became a vice president. Councillor Ernie Gilbert represented the township on the executive.

In 1978, when Cedar Grove Lodge was opened, the drop-in centre was named after Mrs. Freeborn recognizing her work in the community. 

The first major outing by the the newly formed senior citizens club was a bus trip to Dubreuilville with Marcel Bourgeault as the bus driver.

Although the recreation committee planned to improve conditions at the Chapleau beach, that was made more difficult because the addition to Chapleau Public School eliminated much of the waterfront, the Sentinel reported. However, the committee hoped to make it a pleasant location for citizens.

And now that Chapleau Public School itself was "eliminated' in 2014, the community faces new challenges at the waterfront over 40 years later.

A new innovation was the introduction of a Summer Playground for youngsters undertaken in cooperation with the Sports and Recreation branch of the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Ed Swanson chairs Chapleau's first Summerfest while Lise Lafreniere wins Queen contest and Malaysians entertain with dances and songs in 1973

Chapleau's first Summerfest, a three-day carnival held on the Civic Holiday weekend in August was termed an "outstanding success", with a varied program offering something for everybody, young and old, and in between, according to Margaret Costello in the Sault Star.

Although Chapleau had celebrated Beach Day for many years, in 1973, the program was expanded running from Friday night until the "last dance" at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall on Monday night.

Ed Swanson was the first chairman of Summerfest which eventually became part of Festival Chapleau, and he was ably assisted by secretary-treasurer Margaret Rose (Payette) Fortin. Chatting with Donald Swanson, Ed's son,  at the Chapleau High School Reunion, he recalled, "There were sure lots of meetings around our kitchen table" as plans were made for the weekend.

The committee included Annie Bowland, Peter Elliott, Earle Freeborn, Manlio Spessot, Greg Lucas, Raoul Lemieux Jr, Jim Mulligan, George Travis, Graham Bertrand, Wally Clarke, Janet Tokarchuk, Ken LeClaire, Bill Ritchie, Mark Mizuguchi, Denis Ladouceur and Richard Ladouceur.

Orville Robinson was the Master of ceremonies for the Talent Show and Crowning of the Summerfest Queen Program held in the Chapleau Public School gymnasium on opening night.

High in interest was the selection of the Summerfest Queen from three contestants for that honour. Lise Lafreniere was crowned with "due ceremony" by chairman Ed Swanson. The other contestants were Catherine Welch and Maureen Lavoie.

Maggie wrote that contributing to the success of the talent show were the Malaysians who were spending the summer in Chapleau as part of a Canada World Youth program. "With their colourful and beautiful costumes, graceful and charming dances and songs" they were an "opening gun" for the weekend.

Also on the talent show program were local favourites Leslie Andrews and Jody Theriault, accomplished young pianists; Heather Scott and Nelson Wright, Mary Whitney and Eleanor Creighton, songs with guitar accompaniment; James Henry, songs and guitar. After the show, the first dance of the weekend was held in the town hall basement. 

An outdoor beer garden was held behind the town hall with dancing in the basement while bingo players had their "innings and winnings" at the Legion hall on Saturday.

The  highly polished and trained Levack-Onaping Pipe Band gave a concert in the public school gymnasium which was a "rare treat" for those who loved the pipes.

Matt's Track was the place to be on Sunday for the motorcycle races with contestants from Chapleau, Timmins, Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury. Back in town there were volleyball and basketball games at the public school gymnasium for the youth.

Monday was the big day, all day, starting with "one of the biggest and best parades seen around here in many a day," according to Maggie Costello. "Bands, boy scouts, bright costumes galore, decorated bikes and baby carriages, floats -- on they came all around the town." Margaret Rose (Payette) Fortin chaired the parade subcommittee. The Chapleau Town Band and the Levack-Onaping Pipe Band were also in the parade

Prize winners in the parade were Sean Sweeney, Andy Mahan, Shelley Joly. Tate and Chad Westerman, Myrna Fortin, Dean Fortin and Tina Tangie. Judges were Colombe Champion, Jim Walsh and Cpl. Jack Hatch.

The Malaysian Wedding and Chapleau Recreation Committee were float winners.

During the parade, when the convertible carrying the Summerfest Queen Lise Lafreniere and runnersup broke down in the middle of the route, they were quickly transferred to the back of a fire truck, and the parade went on with little disruption.

Baby carriages filled the area around Renison Hall at St John's Anglican Church as mothers brought their offspring to enter the Baby Show. The show was run by Eva Lester, director of nursing at Lady Minto Hospital, assisted by Alice Martin of the nursing staff. Winner in the birth to six month old category was Shelley Fortier, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Renald Fortier. In the six month to one year category Angela Bazinet, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bazinet won, while Nancy Tremblay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Girard Tremblay, was the winner in the 12-18 month age group.

In the all day fastball tournament on the field behind the old Chapleau High School, a Chapleau team came off the winner against Wawa. 

There were also other activities at the Beach area including swimming races, water bombing, and the ever popular children's races and games of chance. 

Beginning at nine p.m. to close the three-day weekend was a dance at the Legion featuring the Rhythmaires.

Looking at the program for the weekend, there were 54 businesses and individuals who contributed prizes to Summerfest activities with a sincere vote of appreciation to J..E. Martel and Sons Lumber Ltd., A and L Lafreniere Lumber Company, Chapleau Lumber Company, the Redwood Dining Room and the Bridgeview Motel for their "special contributions" toward the success of Summerfest.

Also assisting the committee were the Opportunities for Youth, "Summer Chapleau' participants Jamie Doyle, Maurice Blais, Richard Desbiens, Catherine Welch, Michael Paquette, Peter Freistatter, and Robert Petrunka as well as the recreation committee summer staff of Eileen McCrea, Joan Warren, Denis Foran, Patricia Fortin, William Brady, Keith McAdam and Mary Lou Futhey.

The Summerfest Committee slogan was "Support us in '73 to bring you more in '74". And they did! My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Alcide Small edges out legendary Bill Bryson in pipe smoking contest at Chapleau Railroad Festival in 'uncompromisingly hot' weather in 1975

G. Evans, E. Gilbert, A. Small, MJM, W. Wilson

Although the weather was described as "uncompromisingly hot" in late June 1975, the Chapleau Railroad Festival reached great heights of interest and participation, according to Alcide Small, the CPR Superintendent from Schreiber.

Alcide, a Chapleau boy, was back in Northern Ontario as Superintendent, and a "lively guest and participant" in the three-day festival, according to the Chapleau Sentinel. 

He officially opened the festival by pitching the first ball over home plate to open the softball tournament. After the opening, he and members of Chapleau council donned Festival Chapleau caps and watched the CPR Office staff play the Carbarns and Sectionmen. Festival Chapleau was a creation of the council and Chapleau Recreation Committee to provide overall support to Chapleau winter and summer festivals. 

The softball tournament provided a lot of good moments for the large crowds of spectators at the field behind the old Chapleau High School on Pine Street with the Office Staff emerging as winners. The consolation winners were the Carbarns and Sectionmen. All received caps.

Alcide, who had been a CPR engineer, took out his pipe for the Pipe Smoking Contest, and edged out Bill Bryson to win. Bill  had a legendary reputation for being able to keep his pipe lit from Chapleau to White River with one match. Alcide won a pipe, donated by none other than the CPR. Perhaps Bill let the Boss win??

The CPR Superintendent commented that he "was very pleased with the turnout for the Spike Driving Contest. The weather was hot and against us but the CPR spirit was still there and it pulled through."

There were 14 entries in the Spike Driving Contest. The competition was close with Hans Freistatter emerging as the winner with Salmi Walli as runnerup. Alcide had donated a handsome plaque bearing a silver spike which he presented to the winner.

The Chapleau Memorial Community Arena was packed on Saturday night for the dance featuring Salt Spring Rainbow who provided fast tempo blue grass music.

Recreation Director Terry Bryson, (Bill's son) said overall he felt the festival was "very successful, even though the weather was so hot."

He extended thanks to the CPR Superintendent and the CPR for their assistance, and also to all the other people who volunteered their time and services.

"It is people like these that help make recreation in Chapleau what it is today", he said. "I feel recreation is involving people and Chapleau citizens play an important role in the progress of recreation activities. Thank you for all your assistance in making the Railroad Festival possible."

Aside from his support and participation in the Railroad Festival, Alcide Small was most helpful to his home town in other ways during his time as CPR Superintendent.

The Chapleau General Hospital was in the works and he arranged for quit claim deeds from the CPR for the land occupied by the Lady Minto Hospital, enabling lots to be sold and the revenue derived contributed to the new hospital fundraising campaign. When the Lady Minto Hospital was built in 1913-1914, the CPR owned the land but made it available for a hospital with the proviso that when no longer used for this purpose, the land would revert to the CPR.

This was common practice of the CPR and the same situation applied to the land where the Chapleau Recreation Centre now stands. At first Alcide helped with the construction of Grinton Park, then the recreation centre by obtaining title to the land by the municipality from the CPR. He also arranged a donation to the recreation centre by the CPR.

While he was superintendent the CPR sent a letter to the municipality advising it that it had 30 days to get off CPR land, which was the old road across the trestle to the Planer area as the railroad wanted to expand its tracks. Impossible of course but not to the CPR officials in Montreal who sent the letter. Alcide stepped in and bought time for the municipality to plan and build the road and bridge which are now there.

Alcide, who had attended Chapleau Public School and Chapleau High School, and had served in Canada's forces in World War II, upon his return home at the end of the war, donated an award to a Grade 8 student. 

CATCHING UP

I am gradually catching up on ideas for Chapleau Moments received when I was home for the high school reunion. However, please email me if I have not been in touch. My email is mj.morris@live.ca