Dr. G.E. Young, family physician in Chapleau for 50 years, dies at age 95 - Funeral was held Fri. Nov. 19

 UPDATE ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19:   Pastor Anna Chikoski conducted the funeral service at Trinity United Church, Chapleau, for Dr. Young who died on November 14,

Organist was Betty O'Shaughnessy while Kenneth Russell sang 'How Great Thou Art' at the special request of Dr. Young. Mr. Russell,a former reeve of Chapleau was Technical Director of Radiology at the hospital and worked with Dr. Young for many years.

A multi domination choir, representative of all the churches in Chapleau was present. The hymns, 'Precious Lord Take My Hand' and Psalm 23, 'The Lord is My Shepherd' were sung.

The Bible on the pulpit was once owned by one of Dr. Young's brothers.

Earle Freeborn, the mayor of Chapleau delivered the eulogy while Pastor Anna gave the sermon, both reflecting on Dr. Young's life.

With special thanks to Dennis Barbeiro of Chapleau who provided details on Dr. Young's funeral. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.



Dr Young at party for him 1987 by Helen Henderson

STORY POSTED NOVEMBER 14 FOLLOWS:
Dr. G.E. Young, one of Chapleau, Ontario's most beloved and distinguished citizens, who served the community and area as a family physician for 50 years died November 14  at the Bignucolo Residence in Chapleau. Dr. Young was 95.

George Edward Young, the son of the late George and Mabel Young, born on December 2, 1914, graduated from Chapleau Public and Chapleau High Schools, then attended Queen's University to study medicine. Upon graduation in 1942, "Ted" Young interned at the Columbia University School of Medicine in New York City.

In 1944, a Dr. Crozier in Chapleau asked Dr. Young to return home for "six months." In 1994, Dr. Young retired after serving Chapleau and area, sometimes as the only medical doctor, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

From 1944 to 1992, Dr. Young was the CPR doctor in Chapleau, and was Chief of Staff at Lady Minto Hospital for 20 years. He was also the local Medical Officer of Health for 20 years and also served as Medical Director of Cedar Grove Lodge.

From 1944 to 1982 he served as coroner and was recognized for his service by the Government of Ontario.

On several occasions he was recognized by the people of Chapleau who held an appreciation party for him in 1987 and another in 1992 marking his 50th anniversary of graduation from Queen's in medicine. On March 31, 1994 a retirement party was held.

In the early Sixties, Dr. Young established a cable television system for the community, and was always undertaking projects -- most never quite finished,

He also served on the township council for six years and shortly after returning home, at his own expense, transformed a garbage dump into a beautiful beach for the citizens of Chapleau.

However, Dr. Young will be primarily remembered for his unfailing concern for his patients for 50 years. He was also there when needed no matter the time of day or the weather.

Dr G.E. Young a pioneer in cable television in Canada

If someone asked you who the pioneers of cable television were in Canada, immediately you may be inclined to say Rogers or Shaw, the giants of the industry in English Canada today. And to a great extent, you are right.

But although most Canadians have likely never heard of him, Dr G.E, Young who practised medicine in the small isolated northern Ontario community of Chapleau for more than 50 years, deserves a place right up there among the giants of the cable industry. In the 1960s Dr Young placed microwave towers on the top of a hill, originally called "Slaughterhouse Hill" and later "Dr Young's Hill" and started his "clothesline" cable system with poles and wire in all the back lanes of the town, with dishes atop his medical and apartment complex in downtown Chapleau.

In the early years reception was limited and snowy, and the stations few, but Dr Young's efforts brought cable television to a community that would otherwise have likely been limited to the CBC affiliate station in Timmins for many years.

Dr Young also waged many battles with the CRTC, the regulatory agency, as he had little patience for the bureaucracy. However, in 1982, when his licence was up for renewal, once again Dr Young made history. He comvinced the CRTC that the people of Chapleau had a right to be heard live at the hearing, but as the hearing was in Toronto, very few would be able to attend.

So, an audio link was established over phone lines from Dr Young's office in Chapleau to the CRTC hearing in Toronto, and Chapleau citizens were able to make their case live. And I was so privileged to host the Chapleau end of the hearing and broadcast it live with video over the system's community channel. It was the first time in Canadian history that the CRTC had permitted a hearing of this kind where everyone was not physically present in the room

Graham Bertrand assumed responsibility for all the technical aspects of the production. Dr Young and Tony Byvank were in Toronto.

When I visited Dr Young in 2001 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Chapleau, he had recently sold the cable system, bringing to an end about 40 years of his involvement in providing television to the community.

Dr G.E "Ted" Young, born and raised in Chapleau, graduated from Queen's University in medicine and never planned to return home. He interned at Columbia University in New York and went home to replace a doctor for six months and he stayed making Chapleau a better place for being a true visionary who despite many challenges worked for his people.

At 94 years of age, Dr Young lives in retirement in Chapleau.




NOTE: I am aware that A.J, Grout the president of Smith and Chapple Ltd, also started a cable system in Chapleau in the 1950s. In fact, I had a weekly program on CHAP TV in 1958, but the system was closed down in the early 1960s and it was Dr Young who carried on to bring us television.