Chapleau Rotary Club supported several projects in 1962 as well as naming Jim Lane president

Angelo Bucciarelli, Jack Shoup, governor, Art Grout, Bubs Zufelt chrter members

In 1962, the Chapleau Rotary Club announced its support of various projects as well as introducing its new executive

The club had officially been established on December 3, 1951 and charter members included president Rev. E. Roy Haddon, vice president Dr. G.E. Young, secretary Newt Pellow, treasurer Bob Serre,sergeant at arms B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt, Gordon Bailey, Charles W Collins, Lionel Moorey, Ross Thornton, Angelo Bucciarelli, Ernie Collins, Bob James, Cecil Smith, Dr. Bill Young, Harold Cahill, John McClellan, Earle Sootheran and J.M. Shoup.

In its first year with Mr. Haddon as president the club held its first canvas for the Crippled Children's Fund as well as establishing a Ladies Night, and took over a Halloween celebration for all Chapleau children.The club continued to do "good works" in the community which has continued to the present day.

Roy Haddon

In 1962 a Sudbury Star story said that club president Gene Bernier distributed funds as follows: J.M. Shoup, chairman of the Chapleau Recreation Committee $200 for the beach; C.B. Greenlaw, president of the Lady Minto Hospital Board, $300; Les Jones of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. $300 for its hall; J.F. Hodgins, chairman of the Rotary Student Loan Fund, $1,500; J. R. Keddie, district forester of the Department of Lands and Forests, $30.00 for a project; Margaret Costello, member of the Chapleau Public Library Board, $100 for the library, and Richard Avison, chairman of the Boy Scouts committee, $200. 

As an aside, by 1952 Chapleau had a recreation committee often referred to as the "Beach Committee". The beach had actually been created by Dr. G. E. Young using his own funds after he returned home to practise medicine in 1944. Dr. Young was the second president of the Rotary Club.

In 1962, total donations from the club reached $4,000 -- a pretty significant amount for the times in a small town.

Commenting on the CNIB donation, Les Jones noted that the club had never failed the organization.

At the same meeting four charter members were presented with charter member pins by President Bernier. They were Cecil Smith, Jack Shoup, Angelo Bucciarelli and Arthur Grout.

Reg Thrush paid "high tribute" to Gene Bernier for his leadership of the club and was presented with a past president's plaque.Arthur Grout presented him with a past president's plaque.

The new executive saw Jim Lane as president with Jack Scrowther as vivce president; Ross Perrigard as secretary, and RegThrush as treasurer.

J.R. Keddie became chair of club services; Ken Stephenson, vocation services; J.D Macfarlane, international services, and Bob Warren, community services.

For many years the Senior WA of St. John's Anglican Church catered to the Rotary Club dinner each week. Both my grandmothers Lil Morris and Edith Hunt were WA members and helped with the meal. Looking back fondly on my growing up  years until 1960 when I was at university, I never missed an opportunity to visit my grandmothers and have some dessert..  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Rotary Club donates wheelchairs for those in need in 2008 honouring past distinguished Chapleau club members

Ever since the Rotary Club of Chapleau held its first meetings in the Fall of 1951, it has been doing good works in the community and the wider world including the purchase of wheelchairs for use by those in need of them in other countries.

I was prompted to look back at the good work of the Rotary Club in Chapleau upon reading the article in the January 10, 2019 edition of the Chapleau Express, "Rotary Club Helps Out Community Groups".

Although meetings were held in 1951, the club received its charter on January 26, 1952 at a meeting in the Town Hall basement. As an aside, I was there, first with my friends looking in through the windows, then going to the kitchen through the back door to see my grandmothers Lil Morris and Edith Hunt. I was ten years old.

While browsing the Chapleau Public Library history site, I came across a Chapleau Express article from 2008 about the club's purchase of five wheelchairs to be distributed to people in Africa and Mexico. What an amazing project!!

The article explained that each wheelchair the Chapleau club paid for was bought in the name of a member who had died and whose contribution was remembered. For this particular project, the members selected were Gene Bernier, Dick Lapp, Lorne Marsh, Yvon Martel and Andre Nadeau. Five wheelchairs had been bought to honour these past presidents of the Chapleau club.

At its Christmas meeting in 2008, the article noted that family members of four of the five members were present including Grace Bernier, Mike Bernier, Alan Marsh, Guy Martel, Elaine Smith and Janick Nadeau. A representative of the family of Dick Lapp was unable to be present. The photo was sent to his family.

Local club president David Laughland presented each family with a commemorative photo of the grateful recipient sitting in the wheelchair purchased in the name "of a late distinguished Rotarian."

Also, in November 2008, David and Joanne Laughland travelled to  El Salvador to take part in a distribution of 1,400 wheelchairs provided by Rotarians in Ontario and Northern Quebec.

The article says that both David and Joanne were touched and deeply impressed by the huge difference these wheelchairs meant to the quality of life of the recipients who ranged in age from very young to very old.

Rev E Roy Haddon

Flashback to 1951 and the beginnings of the club in Chapleau. Rev E. Roy Haddon the Rector of St. John's Anglican Church was the first president while Dr. G.E. 'Ted' Young was vice president; Newt Pellow, secretary; Bob Serre, treasurer and B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt, sergeant at arms.

I have also included a photo of the ladies of the Senior WA at St. John's Anglican Church from 1952. These ladies catered to the Rotary Club for many years. 

names below

My sincere congratulations to the Rotary Club of Chapleau on all its good works since 1951 in the community and far beyond. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

PHOTO NAMES

Senior WA of St John's Church in 1952 Mrs. Hands, Mrs. Saylors, Mrs. Haskins, Mrs. Swanson, Mrs. Machan - ? Mrs. Chappise, Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. McKnight, Mrs. Crichton, Mrs. H. Morris, (my grandmother) Mrs. Hunt, (my grandmother) Mrs. Angove, Mrs. F. Morris, Mrs. Edie McKnight, Mrs. Coulter, Mrs. Keays Mrs. Herbert, Mrs. Donna Westerman front row Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Way-White, Mrs. Whybray, Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Collings, Mrs. Haddon, Mrs. Block, Mrs. Card. What a great bunch of ladies.  Photo from late Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick collection)

Con Schmidt and Gordon Jones opening arts and crafts fall fair among highlights of 1977 in Chapleau

With a little help from Con Schmidt and Gordon Jones, the executive committee of the Chapleau Arts and Crafts Fall Fair officially opened it in 1977.

Con, who was active in the Chapleau Chamber of Commerce and other organizations and Gordon Jones, who at the time was the popular host of the CBC Mid-Canada AM Radio program did the ribbon cutting honours. Other executive members present for the grand opening included Kathleen and Walter Broomhead, the fair's founders; Jeanne Seguin and Eleanor Thomson.

In fact, Con was chamber president when Mr. and Mrs. Broomhead presented the fall fair idea idea in 1973 Con was also very involved in the work of the Chapleau Rotary Club.

Going through my boxes of newspaper clippings, I came across an article from The Chapleau Sentinel  which mentioned some of happenings in the community in 1977. 

So, even though it is not yet the dog days of Summer yet when such articles are usually commonly used, here are some more of the 1977 highlights. See if you remember when!

Township council approved  the "new" Chapleau Civic Centre and Chapleau Recreation Centre, and construction was underway by the Summer. Chapleau Senior Services approved Cedar Grove Lodge and construction was also started on it. They all opened in 1978.  Wow! Thirty six years ago!

Bill Scheer won the Northland Intermediate Hockey League scoring title for the 1976-77 season, but the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies were once again defeated by the Timmins Northstars in the league semi-finals. They finally beat their archrivals in the 1978-79 season. Bill, in his first year playing in Chapleau, was also the team's most valuable player in regular season, most sportsmanlike player, rookie of the year and leading scorer.

Despite the Timmins-Chapleau rivalry, the mayor of Timmins, Mike Doody, was guest speaker at the Huskies awards banquet

Plans were being made for the expansion of the Chapleau Municipal Airport, now the Eugene (Gene) Bernier Airport, and the project was completed in 1979. 

The Chapleau Rotary Club raised $2,000 in its Walkathon. "Rain fails to dampen spirits", the Sentinel reported.

In July, after nearly  13 years as publishers of the Sentinel Tom and Leah Welch retired. Both had been very active in community life, and Tom, with Keith 'Buddy' Swanson and Lorne Riley were instrumental in the founding and success of the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies of the International Junior "B" Hockey League in the 1966-67 season --- just after artificial ice was put in to the Chapleau Memorial Arena.

In January 1977, the Sentinel reported that "flames could be seen for miles around and when daylight dawned the smoke billowed high into the air for many hours as fire struck the old Moose Hall on Lorne Street..."

Foster Hewitt

Peter Bernier was chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee that year and succeeded in bringing hockey icons Foster Hewitt, Frank Selke Jr, and King Clancy to the community as part of the Canada Day Celebrations. They were in Northern Ontario to promote Canada Day activities.

For those who may not know who they were, Foster Hewitt was the play-by-play announcer for Toronto Maple Leafs games for years on CBC Radio Hockey Night in Canada, famous for "He shoots, he scores," and when the Leafs lost, he would often say on radio, "The score was no indication of the play" by his beloved Leafs. He later broadcast games on television.

Frank Selke Jr. was a hockey executive and sports broadcaster, however he also became involved with the Special Olympics and greatly assisted that organization

King Clancy

Francis Michael "King" Clancy did everything in hockey -- professional player with the old Ottawa Senators and the Leafs, referee, coach and executive. When he visited Chapleau he was with the Leafs as an executive

Finally, for 1977, the first baby of the year was Joseph Samuel Clifford, son of Joe and Suzanne Clifford, born on January 7. 

These  are just some of the highlights of the year. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Cecil Smith described as 'Master Showman' by George Tremblay takes over the Regent Theatre in Chapleau in 1940

Reeve B.W. Zufelt, C.W. Collins, C.A.. Smith, pres Board of Trade

When Cecil Smith, and his wife Ruth, first arrived in Chapleau on CPR passenger train Number 3, the Dominion,  "Len the taxi man" picked them up at the station, loaded their luggage, then the taxi "dashed up and around the steep horseshoe bridge that spanned the railway yards" then through the downtown to the YMCA, their first home in the community.

The taxi man was Len Perfetto and Mr. and Mrs. Smith had come to Chapleau on a cold  day in November 1940, to negotiate the purchase of the Regent Theatre. Len's Taxi stand was located in a small building right beside the theatre.

In his wonderful book about the early days of the movies 'Break at Nine' George Tremblay tells the story of Mr. Smith and the theatre, referring to him as 'Master Showman'. Mr. Tremblay worked as the projectionist at the Chapleau theatre.

Mr. Tremblay describes the train ride from Sudbury, where Mr. Smith had been working as a projectionist. "Hour after hour the train weaved its way through the granite rock cuts, countless freezing lakes and the unbounded forests of the Canadian shield. Finally, just after noon it steamed into Chapleau and lurched to a stop in front of the station complex where a team of railway service people rushed forward to carry out their servicing work."

Rotarians F. Leigh, A. Bucciarelli, J. McClellan,  D.O. Payette, C. Smith

Mr. Tremblay also provides an interesting insight into Chapleau as it was in 1940.

After disembarking from the train and making their way through a crowd of people boarding the train, the Smith's spotted the taxi cab and upon spotting them, Len "dashed over to help them carry the heavy luggage."

It may come as a surprise to some, but in 1940 Chapleau had "limited amenities to offer casual travellers" and they had been advised to book a room at 'the Y'. 

Regent Theatre. Photo by Gamma Centre

"The YMCA was a large and well maintained wooden building located in the heart of the community (on Lorne Street near where the LCBO is now). It had a good restaurant, clean comfortable rooms and even had reading room for its guests. It even had a bowling alley in the basement..."

At this point, Mr. Tremblay writes, their plans were flexible. If they could negotiate  successfully with the theatre owner, they would stay in Chapleau: if not they would return to Sudbury where Mr. Smith had  been working as a projectionist. Originally from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Mr. Smith had come east to work for his uncle Charles Mavety, a pioneer in the Canadian movie industry, in 1929.

That night, Mr. Smith worked as projectionist at the theatre, and after the show he and his wife compared notes, agreeing that business would keep on improving, and in the next few days "the finer points of the deal" had been worked out and the theatre license was transferred to Cecil Smith on November 13, 1940.

Having now taken over the theatre, the next challenge facing the Smith's was finding a place to live as apartments were in short supply. 

Cecil Smith, A.J. Grout, Reeve Bubs Zufelt at sewage plant start

Mr. Tremblay explains: "That was not an easy matter as apartments were in short supply because of the growing number of new railroaders in the town. Being war time (World War II had started in September 1939) the railroad was becoming busier by the day and the railroad company had to bring in more men to fill the need and many of them had families thus creating a housing shortage."

Arthur Simpson, the owner of the Chapleau Post came to the rescue. He had space above his shop on Young Street but there was only one problem: it was only semi-furnished. "It had a complete bathroom and something resembling a kitchen but nothing else. There were no other partitions and the resulting space looked like a giant meeting hall."

Nonetheless, the Smith's took it and over time built partitions and lived there until they built their own home on Cherry Street some years later.

Turning his attention to the theatre, Mr. Smith knew that a big benefit movie for the hospital would be an effective way to introduce himself to the community. A movie was selected and Mr. Tremblay noted that that the promotion was effective and the theatre filled to capacity with the entire effort creating a great deal of goodwill. It was a fitting start for the venture.

Over the years Mr. Smith made improvements at the theatre but his efforts to convert the Regent to show Cinemascope movies was made almost impossible because of structural limitations. Also the theatre did not meet new standards so Mr. Smith decided to build a new modern theatre, purchased property adjacent to the Regent at Birch and Lorne Streets and built the "Fox' Theatre in 1955. He also expanded by purchasing the theatres in Thessalon and Espanola.

The old Regent is where the Royal Bank of Canada branch is located. 

On the corner Mr. Smith was responsible for the construction of the building that houses the Chapleau News Depot to this day, and behind it was the first Simpsons order office in Chapleau. 

After getting his theatre business operating successfully, Mr. Smith became active in Chapleau affairs, serving as president of the Chapleau Board of Trade when the sewage system was installed about 1950 when B.W. Zufelt was reeve. He also was a member of the Chapleau Rotary Club and the Masonic Lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were active in St. John's Anglican Church and also played golf.

In the mid 1970s they decided to retire and sold their business interests. Mrs. Smith died in 1980, and her husband in 1987.

Mr. Tremblay summed up the 'Master Showman': "Not only was he a superb showman, he was also a kind and generous man and he has been missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him."

Let me share a personal anecdote about Mr. Smith. After my grandfather Harry Morris died in 1957, Mr. Smith greatly assisted my grandmother Lil (Mulligan) Morris with business affairs that had always been my grandfather's responsibility. Often, when I visited her, she would say that Mr. Smith had been over, or was coming the next day. Indeed, Cecil Smith was a "kind and generous man" and one of Chapleau's most successful entrepreneurs.

I have just shared a glimpse of the Cecil and Ruth story and their theatre in Chapleau as told by George Tremblay in 'Break at Nine', and have not even touched Mr. Tremblay's story of the movie industry. A great read!!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Rotary Club celebrates 60 years of service to Chapleau and wider world from E. Roy Haddon as first president to Dave Laughland in 2011-2012

Rev E Roy Haddon

It seems like only yesterday but 60 years have passed since a group of business and professional men met to establish the Chapleau Rotary Club sponsored by the Sudbury club and united by the 'Ideal of Service'.

During the past week, I have been receiving news clippings and photos about the Chapleau club as it enters into a year of celebrating its 60th anniversary in Chapleau. For me, who was only ten when Rotary came to Chapleau, it has been a journey into the mothballs of my memory, and I am delighted to share some of the history of the Chapleau Rotary Club. Obviously I am at least a couple of years older now.

The founders of the Chapleau club read like a who's who of Chapleau in 1951, and all of them were so very much involved in the life of Chapleau as the community experienced expansion and growth. At the time there were no women in the Rotary club.

The club's first president was Rev. E. Roy Haddon, rector of St. John's Anglican church, World War II veteran and padre to Branch No. 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion. Vice president was Dr. G.E. Young, who became the club's second president, while, Newt Pellow, a local businessman was secretary; J.R. Serre, the township clerk was treasurer and B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt, the reeve of Chapleau and owner of Chapleau Bakery was sergeant at arms.

The first directors were local businessmen E.E. 'Ernie' Collin ands Harold Cahill, Royal Bank manager G.F. Bailey and pharmacist J.R. 'Ross' Thornton.

Other founding members included Angelo Bucciarelli, Charles W. Collins, Dr. William Young, A.J. Grout, R. James, John McClellan, F.L. Moorey, Wilf Simpson, Earle Sootheran, C.A Smith   and J.M. Shoup.

When the Chapleau club was founded, Rotary had about 350,000 members worldwide while today Rotary International is made up of over a million men and women of all races and religions, found in all parts of the world who accept its  motto “Service above self”. As such, Rotarians do not allow politics or religious issues to interfere with striving to make this world a better place for all. Rotary was founded as a service club in 1905.

In Chapleau, as the club celebrates its 60th anniversary, the members include Jocelynne Bernier, Twyla Berry, Lucy Bignucolo, Lynn Bignucolo, Richard Bignucolo, George Evans, Dave Laughland, Joanne Laughland, Jim Shearer, Luc Tessier, and Natalie Tessier. Dave Laughland is the president for 2011-2012.

Once established the new club met weekly in Renison Hall of St. John's Anglican Church where the church ladies provided their meal for many years.

In 1952, the club held its first 'Ladies Night' where Mr. Haddon gave an address and Mr. Zufelt proposed the toast to the ladies, responded to by Mrs. C.A. Smith.Bob Serre provided entertainment on his accordion and Mr. and Mrs. W. Bernhardt gave a number of dances. Games and dancing followed --- and the usual close to reports of such gatherings, "a good time was enjoyed by all".

Jimmy Purich, Angelo Bucciarelli

To provide the necessary funds to carry out its good works, over the years, Rotary undertook many projects as fundraisers. In its early years in Chapleau was the annual car draw, and Pat (Purich) Russell and her brother Charlie kindly provided information about it. Their father, Jimmy Purich was very active in the Chapleau Rotary Club and it is fair to say, the car draw was one of his favourite projects.

Pat advised that Mr. Purich was Chairman "Ways and Means", and  organizer of fundraisers such as car raffle draws and bingos.

"For car draws he would set up  on the main street and had a little black book to keep the names of those requesting tickets and he would make sure those folks did get their tickets."

Charlie added: "Five Hundred tickets would be sold on e.g. a 1959 Pontiac. Tickets were ten dollars each and all were sold. Dad would love to stand outside of the Dominion's Store and sell them to passerbys, with Charlie Law's permission of course. (Mr. Law was manager of the Dominion store.)

"Once all tickets were sold, the big draw would take place at the scheduled bingo in the basement of the old Town Hall. Each and every ticket was drawn and each person's name was placed on a huge chalkboard, numbered 1 through 500. The ultimate winner would be the last name drawn. 

"On a number of occasions, when only two tickets remained, the Rotarians would check to see if both parties were in attendance. If they were, they were asked if they wanted to split the cash value or take a chance on the last name out. Back then the car would cost approximately $2500 thus yielding a profit of $2500 for an upcoming worthwhile causes".

 Pat also said that her father  would grow tall gladiolus and take bunches to Rotary meetings and auction them off to the highest bidder. "One year he took one of his prize pumpkins to have the Rotarians guess the weight of the pumpkin....original ideas adding to the coffers of Chapleau Rotary Club".

Names at bottom

Over the years, the fundraising projects may have changed but members still devote much time on them -- two more recent ones by the Chapleau club have been an annual curling bonspiel with profits split between the favourite charity of the winning team and Rotary, while another major one has been an annual Rotary Trade and Sports Show in the spring.

The Chapleau Rotary Club meets twice a month. Here are some of the things it does in the community, according to an information bulletin.

"We offer scholarships and awards to students in all the schools of Chapleau. We annually send a high school student for an “Adventure in Citizenship” offered by the Rotary Club of Ottawa. 

Fund raising bonspiel

"We built the Rotary Pavilion on Chapleau’s waterfront and we are continuing to beautify the area with planters and trees. We continue to make major contributions to the Chapleau General Hospital Foundation, and the Bignucolo Residence, including the Standing Garden in the latter’s courtyard, the chapel and, RED program for future development. We support the Chapleau branch of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and other specific projects for local groups..."

Next week, I will continue with more about the Chapleau Rotary Club, then and now! Congrats on the occasion of your 60th anniversary.

Sport and Trade Show

Thanks to all who contributed to this article: Joanne Laughland, George L. Evans, Pat (Purich) Russell, Charlie Purich, Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick, Doug Greig. Any errors are mine.My email is mj.morris@live.ca

NAMES FOR COOKING PHOTO

Chapleau Rotarians in the 1960s cooking for community function. Front row l to r D.O.Payette, Jim Keddie, Bob Warren. L to r back row, not identified, Jim Lane, Gene Bernier, Ray Ouellette, not identified, Jim Purich, Ross Perrigard, Jack Shoup, not identified.