Dr. Vince Crichton (Doc Moose) from Chapleau coming to Cranbrook to speak at Big Game Symposium sponsored by Kootenay Heritage Wildlife Fund

Doc Moose (Vince Crichton Collection)

When I saw news about a Big Game Symposium scheduled for Cranbrook where I now live, on April 13,  I reflected on my childhood days in  northern Ontario in Chapleau where I was raised. 

 There were many moose in the Chapleau area. In fact, I could stand in front of our house on Grey Street as a kid, look across the Nebskwashi River and see them.

Right away I thought "Who speaks for the moose?

Well it did not take long to find the answer. It is no one other than Dr. Vince Crichton also known as “Doc Moose”. Was I surprised!!– yes and no. Doc Moose also comes from Chapleau and he followed in the footsteps of his father Vince Crichton Sr., into the wildlife game. Further, his dad and my my mother Muriel (Hunt) Morris are cousins.

Vince was coming to Cranbrook. to speak at the Kootenay Heritage Wildlife Fund one day Big Game Symposium with six professional presenters each covering a different topic . I got in touch with him. 

Vince retired just a few years back after 40 years with the Manitoba’s Wildlife Branch and had many positions such as regional wildlife biologist, provincial moose/elk/caribou biologist and for the 10 years prior to retiring he was manager of game fur and problem wildlife. Although retired from government he has not retired from the Wildlife Game and is active in the moose world where he is recognized internationally by colleagues and by the general public and in the field of moose and wildlife diseases.

His  biography includes  highlights of his career. Born in Chapleau, he attended Chapleau Public and Chapleau High Schools.

Vince Crichton collection

Advanced degrees were done at the Universities of Manitoba and Guelph in the field of wildlife diseases. He retired after 40 years with Manitoba’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch where he served in many capacities two of which were Provincial Moose, Elk, Caribou Biologist and prior to retiring Manager, Game, Fur & Problem Wildlife. 

He is a certified Wildlife Biologist and has published in scientific journals, popular magazines, authored 2 chapters in a book entitled “The Ecology and Management of the North American Moose”, past eeditor and now associate editor of the journal ALCES, editorial panel for various journals, editor of the Moose Call newsletter for 12 years and past president of the Manitoba Big Game Trophy Association. 

Vince produced a video entitled Moose Close Up and a CD entitled Moose Music and has been featured in documentaries on the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. Recently he has been featured with his 13 year old granddaughter in a four episode series on moose. 

Vince and grandaughter. Vince Crichton collection

A hunter, conservationist, university lecturer, guest speaker and amateur photographer he is recognized internationally as an expert on moose biology and management. His peers awarded him the Distinguished Moose Biologist Award in 1988 and a special award in 2016 at the 50th North American Moose Conference/8th International Moose Symposium (which he co-chaired) for his long standing commitment to these events. 

He is a recipient of the Conservation Award presented by the Manitoba Chapter of The Wildlife Society and in 2018 the Manitoba Wildlife Federation recognized his contributions by presenting him with their Outdoor Heritage Award. He is recognized for his ability to communicate with his peers and the public. Although retired, he is still active in the wildlife game – a strong advocate for public education and for contemporary management programs in these challenging times to ensure there are resources for future generations. Next to family, wildlife runs in his veins and he speaks for “The Moose".

Vince will be one of the guest speakers at the symposium that include some other well-known and respected speakers. His presentation will focus on moose and cover items such as where did they come from, how they distributed themselves across Canada and the United States, some significant diseases, natural and anthropogenic mortalities, reproduction and hunting.

Vince Crichton collection

In light of extremely low populations in a number of jurisdictions what can be done?? He will touch on these and some will be controversial. But, if our generation is to manage the resources passed to us and pass them on in a sustainable fashion then there is a need now to invoke action plans which will ensure the legacy is there, he argues.

Vince believes that a fundamental change that must happen and he is outspoken on this is the need for science to come before politics and recognize that moose and other big game are there not just for hunters of all stripes but for those societal members who do not hunt but enjoy seeing all wildlife. 

He adds that legislation must be universally applicable and not just directed at licensed hunters. Since moose migrated to North America they have not changed but look at what society has in these contemporary times – cars, trucks, aircraft hi-powered firearms, atvs, snow machines etc and greater access via roads. 

He poses a challenge: "What chance do they have? It is time all members of society and politicians looked in the mirror and recognize that if changes are not made what a legacy to leave."

Now that we know who speaks for the moose will you step forward and work with Doc Moose and his colleagues. All photos are from the Dr. Vince Crichton collection and are used with permission.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Remembering Flying Officer Jim Morris: 'Every day is Remembrance Day' for 75 years

Rotary Park

By Michael J Morris

Rotary Park in the very heart of Cranbrook's downtown core has been one of my favourite places in the city ever since I arrived here 29 years ago just about now.

Over the years I have often stopped there to rest when on a walkabout of that part of the city, but this time I had a special reason for a visit. The cenotaph and Wall of Honour are located there, and for me it was the place to go and spend a few moments in quiet reflection on a long ago incident that affected me and my family and the lives we have led.

Seventy-five years ago, on July 16, 1943, a Wellington bomber took off from an air force base in England. It was to be a short height test flight around the airfield only.

The last entry in the pilot's log book written later by the squadron's wing commander was, "Aircraft exploded in air."

The usual telegram was sent by the war office, expressing regret that Flying Officer James E. Morris, my father,  was killed while on active service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, July 16,1943. Similar messages would have been sent to the families of my father's crew who were on the flight with him. The crew members were five Canadian boys, from Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, brought together  because of Canada's participation in World War II.

Dad shortly before he was killed 1943

Upon arriving at Rotary Park, I stopped at the cenotaph located in about the exact middle of the park, and read the inscription: "To the honour and memory of OUR BOYS from Cranbrook district who gave themselves for liberty." Every one of those inscribed on the cenotaph, like me, had a family and friends, and I shared a moment with them.

I headed over to the Wall of Honour, a project spearheaded by the Cranbrook Firefighters and Branch Number 24 of the Royal Canadian Legion where the names of those who served their country in the Boer War, World War I, World War II and Korea are inscribed.

As I stood looking at the wall with the Canadian Ensign, Maple Leaf and Union Jack flags fluttering above me, I thought what a truly amazing project it was to have undertaken and to all those who made it a reality -- thank you.

On the other side of the Wall of Honour is  a mural entitled Valour Remembered and a plaque says it was done as a Millenneum Project from the time Cranbrook and district had people involved in the Boer war in 1900 to 2000. The mural was painted by the distinguished internationally acclaimed Canadian artist Joseph Cross, who lives in Cranbrook.

The latest addition to the site is a Garden of Remembrance opened in June 2011.

I sat down on a park bench for some reflection.

My Dad and Mom on Wedding day 1940

Although I didn't know it at the time, July 16, 1943, was destined to be the most significant turning point in my life, and I wasn't even two years old when my father's plane exploded in air and crashed over the English countryside during World War II. In fact, that date had a profound effect on my entire family. Nobody was ever quite the same again. Of course, in 1943, I wasn't really aware of what life was like for my mother, Muriel E. (Hunt) Morris, my grandparents Harry and Lil Morris and George and Edith Hunt, my father's sister Marion, and the close relationship they all had. 

Me with my Dad 1942 Only photo of us

My grandmother Hunt was in England at the time working as a war nurse and my father had visited her the weekend before he was killed. She attended his funeral and burial in Ripon Cemetery, Yorkshire, England. Grandpa Hunt was with us in Chapleau.

Jim Morris 

My father, like so many who joined Canada's armed forces during World War II was an ordinary Canadian from a small town, in his case, Chapleau, Ontario where he was born and raised, called upon to perform the exceptional. There was absolutely no doubt in their minds whatsoever that it was the right thing for them to do. I am sure there are many here in Cranbrook who felt the same way.

After his death, The Evening Telegram of Toronto reported that my father took to flying in his early teens and became associated with several of Canada's early bush pilots who were operating in the Chapleau area. Actually he was going down to the waterfront and getting rides and learning to fly planes, thinking that my grandmother didn't know what was going on. But she did. Mothers always know!  

In 1940 my father enlisted in the RCAF at Moncton, New Brunswick. He became a flying instructor and was posted to No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School at Mount Hope. He was among the first instructors in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In 1942 he went overseas. I was born on November 3, 1941.

On November 11, Remembrance Day, we pause for a moment, and for some of us, for much more than a moment, to remember all those who died in war. For those of us affected so profoundly by war, we live with a day of remembrance each day of our lives.

My mother who likely never missed a Remembrance Day service, once told me that "Every day is remembrance day."  I thought of my mother's words before I headed off to Rotary Park and knew it was the right thing to do.

Stephen Hayter, the executive director, of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon, Manitoba, has agreed to include my father's  RCAF material in a display there.

In an email to me, Mr. Hayter wrote: "It is your father's story that we wish to preserve for future generations...Your father's name is also listed in our memorial book They Shall Grow Not Old which also states that he was part of #432 Leaside Squadron (Saevitir Ad Lucem), and that his Wellington aircraft #JA 119 crashed one and one half miles west of Malton, Yorkshire."  

Me 2018. a Michael Pelzer photo

As I was leaving the park I noticed another plaque in memory of Soren Johnson, a horticulturist who was instrumental in tree selection for  Cranbrook Rotary Club in 1928 that created the beautiful urban forest in the downtown core.

What a beautiful place it is and what visionaries the members of the 1928 Rotary Club were to create it. And thanks to Cranbrook Firefighters, Branch Number 24 of the Royal Canadian Legion and all the rest who were involved in creating the Wall of Honour. 

They shall grow not old, not at all, for you will always remember yours as I remember mine. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

'Just waiting for Charlie' at the Chapleau CPR station and a swimming pool meeting many years later with family members in Cranbrook

Train No. 8 was arriving at Chapleau and the station platform was crowded with citizens, according to Margaret Costello, in the Sudbury Star.

The headline read: "They weren't going anywhere, just waiting for Charlie."

"Charlie" was W.D. Collings, who was being welcomed as he made his last run in 1962 -- after 49 years and seven months service with the Canadian Pacific Railway.

"Foremost in the gathering were Mrs. Collings and sons and daughters, railway officials  and a host of friends, all eager to extend their congratulations and good wishes to this popular citizen and Chapleau councillor."

I was browsing through the Chapleau and the CPR section on the Chapleau Public Library, and came across the article about Mr. Collings --- and there is an outstanding collection of newspaper stories about CPR employees. Again Doug Greig deserves credit for his efforts to put this section together.

However, I selected Mr. Collings to show once again how small the world it really is as I renewed my personal connection with the Collings family at the swimming pool in Cranbrook. Stay with me. 

After the station welcome,  a family dinner was held in Renison Hall at St. John's Anglican Church, a place Mrs. Collings knew well as president of the Senior WA during those years when it catered in a major way to banquets, including the weekly meeting of the Chapleau Rotary Club. Mrs. Collings was also president of the Ladies Auxiliary to Branch No. 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion in 1948-49.

After the dinner, an open house was held at their home at 15 Pine Street.

Maggie noted that "About everyone in town knows 'Charlie' Collings, and about everybody dropped in during the evening to wish him many happy years of free time and a good life."

Born In Chelmsford, his family moved to Biscotasing, and in 1911, he arrived in Chapleau. Maggie relates that in 1912 he entered the service of the CPR as a railboy, and by 1915 he had joined the operating department as a a trainman, and since 1941, a conductor.

Mr. Collings took a leave during World War I and saw service in the Seventh Railroad Battalion for three years. 

In 1921 he married Anna Eggert of Pembroke, and they made their home in Chapleau. Their children were Charles, Violet, Freda, Harvey and James.

He became commonly known as 'Charlie' up and down the CPR line.

Mr. Collings told Maggie that he was looking forward to having more time at his disposal to devote to his office as councillor. He was deeply interested in municipal affairs and any measure that would improve the community.

Also fond of outdoor pursuits and travel, "within the next few weeks when the roads are once again in good shape, he and Mrs. Collings will be off on a well earned holiday," Maggie wrote.

Now back to the small world and Chapleau!

As many readers will know, for over five years now, I go swimming every day at the Cranbrook Aquatic Centre, or at the pool wherever I may be. A few months ago, as I was entering the pool area, one of the lifeguards said, "You are from Chapleau."

I was amazed -- in over 27 years here, nobody had identified me so directly with Chapleau.

I stopped to chat with the lifeguard, Cody Collings, who turned out to be a great grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. 'Charlie' Collings. His grandfather was Charles, and his father Allen Collings, who had worked for the CPR at Chapleau. I had not known Cody's surname until that night.

In fact, his father Allen has just recently retired from the CPR. They have been living in Cranbrook for some years now, and I have seen Allen periodically, but I did not know his children.

A short time later, Cody told me his father was coming swimming that night, and we had a great reunion chatting about old times and the small world that it really is. 

Thanks to Doug Greig and Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick for research assistance.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Letters to Santa Claus from 1940s to recent photos bring back fond memories of growing up in Chapleau

Dr G E Young old house At Christmas

When we were kids growing up in Chapleau in the 1940s, after World War II, Branch Number 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion, sponsored the annual Santa Claus visit and Parade each year.

Ted Soucie, a World War II veteran, and Legion member, was responsible for a column in the Chapleau Post, where we, me included, would send letters to Santa.

In his column, Mr. Soucie would also include updates on Santa, such as this one in November 1949 advising that Santa had written him, advising that his plane was now ski equipped, and the ice was forming "nice and thick" on the river at Chapleau where he would land. His sleigh and the reindeer would be waiting.

Before I go any further with this, I have just seen some photos on Facebook of Santa's 2015 Chapleau visit, and congratulations to all on making it a huge success.

As I was browsing through digital versions of the Chapleau Post kindly provided to me by Doug Greig, I realized that I had recent photos of some of those who had written letters in the late 1940s, and I had visited with them during the past three years --- some at the 90th anniversary reunion  of Chapleau High School in 2012, others at that great party at the home at the home of Butch and Brigitte Pellow in Toronto in 2014. I saw others when I was home in the Summer to launch "The Chapleau Boys Go To War" with my co-author and cousin Michael McMullen.

Such fond memories of growing up Chapleau!

And yes. some were there for all three occasions, again proving the maxim that you can take folks out of Chapleau, but you can't take Chapleau out of us.

Anyway, I decided to do that was then with a few of the Santa Claus letters from our growing up days in Chapleau, to photos of this is now with some of the same people taken in the past three years. So here goes.

"Dear Old Santa: You will soon be here now. So long since I saw you. Wish you would bring me a sewing machine, a sweet grass sewing basket, printing sets, story books and a game. Thanks a lot." -- Doreen Cormier

Ian, Jim, Ann, Doreen (2014 at Harry/Brigitte party

"I would like two Gene Autry guns. I would like 5 and a half foot skis and a Dale Sleigh. I would like a standard size ukulele and a hockey game, pool table, hockey stick and puck and a Pedro Target game."  -- Bill Cachagee

(Bill Cachagee and Doreen Cormier later married and now make their home at Fox Lake First Nations Reserve)

Bill and Butch

"So glad you are visiting again. I am writing a letter for my baby sister, my twin brother and sister and myself. Patsy my baby sister wants a new doll, also Bunny slippers. My brother wants a  model builder and fire truck. My sister wants a doll house and furniture. I would like boots or skates, a sewing kit, also Chinese checkers."  -- Ann Keays

(Ann Keays and Jim Machan married. I could not find letter from Jim to Santa. They attended the CHS reunion in 2012 and the Toronto party.)  

"I would like a two wheeled bicycle but my Mother and Daddy think I am too small yet." -- Ken Schroeder

(Ken and family members spend part of each Summer at Chapleau where they have a cottage)

Ken and Elsie (Collings) Pellow 2012 CHS reunion

"I am glad you are coming to Chapleau again this year. Would you please bring me a Fleetwing sleigh, carpenter set, blackboard, and a Lone Rider cowboy outfit with gun." -- Bruce Poynter

(Bruce spends Summers at Mulligan's Bay)

MJM with Bruce 2015

"Will you please bring me a Barbara Ann Scott doll, and a Bubble set. also some books and crayons.Bring Georgie a horse and Teddy a duck on wheels."  -- Sharon Swanson

(George and Ted are Sharon's brothers. Sharon lives in Chapleau)

Sharon with MJM and Mike McMullen

And finally, my letter, " I am very glad you are coming back to Chapleau. I would like a pair of skates and a pair of binoculars."

I am the guy from Chapleau, who lives in Cranbrook BC but writes weekly about "that place' in Ontario, and loves going back and forth to Orlando, Florida.

 I did not find letters to Santa from Ian Macdonald and Harry Pellow but  left them in the photos because they are still so interested in the community. Michael McMullen is too but moved there in the early 1950s. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

The Long Hard Road to Reconciliation: A Canadian Problem

By Rev Yme Woensdregt, Incumbent, Christ Church Anglican, Cranbrook BC


This has been an historic week in Canada. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its report after 6 years of hard work. They listened to the heart–breaking stories of survivors of residential schools as they recounted how their families had been torn apart, as children were removed from their homes and sent to residential schools, as they suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse. They were painful and horrific stories about a systematic attempt to “beat the Indian out of us” and “make us into little copies of white people.”
Justice Murray Sinclair, the Chair of the TRC, described this shameful episode in Canadian history as “cultural genocide”. He noted that any who would engage in these horrific activities today would be subject to prosecution at the World Court.
The goal of the Commission is to repair the relationship between aboriginal people and the rest of Canada. This is not an aboriginal problem. It is a Canadian problem, and the TRC noted that Canada needs to move from “apology to action” if reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples is to succeed.
The final report of the TRC includes 94 recommendations for change in policies, programs and the “way we talk to, and about, each other.” In a brief video about what he means by reconciliation, Justice Sinclair notes, “Seven generations of children went through the residential schools, and each of the children in those generations were told that their lives were not as good as the lives of the non–aboriginal people of this country. They were told that their languages, their cultures were irrelevant, that their ancestors and their people were heathen and uncivilized and they were told that they needed to give up that way of life and come to a different way of living. Non–aboriginal children were being told the same thing about the aboriginal people.
“We need to change that. It was the educational system that contributed to this problem in this country, and it is the educational system that’s going to help us get away from this. We need to look at the way that we educate children; we need to look at the way we educate ourselves; we need to look at what our textbooks say about aboriginal people; we need to look at what it is that aboriginal people are allowed to say within the educational system about their own histories.”
It will take lots of time and lots of work. The road to reconciliation is long and painful, and fraught with difficulties.
The recommendations include the creation of a National Centre and Council for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as asking the government to draft new and revised legislation for child welfare, education, health care, and aboriginal languages (including an Aboriginal Languages Act which will preserve and promote aboriginal languages).
Representatives of the churches who ran the state–sponsored schools were present. They include the Anglican Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Church, the United Church of Canada and the Jesuits of English Canada.
In their response, they noted that “Indian Residential Schools, in policy and in practice, were an assault on Indigenous families, culture, language and spiritual traditions, and that great harm was done. We continue to acknowledge and regret our part in that legacy. Those harmed were children, vulnerable, far from their families and communities. The sexual, physical, and emotional abuse they suffered is well-documented.”
The churches have made a public commitment to pursue reconciliation. “We are committed to respect Indigenous spiritual traditions in their own right. As individual churches and in shared interfaith and ecumenical initiatives—for example through Kairos, through interfaith groups, and
through the Canadian Council of Churches—we will continue to foster learning about and awareness of the reality and legacy of the residential schools, the negative impact of such past teachings as the Doctrine of Discovery, and the new ways forward found in places, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We will continue our commitment to financial support for community-controlled initiatives in healing, language and cultural revitalization, education and relationship-building, and self–determination.
My hope and prayer is that we can begin to foster some of these actions here in Cranbrook. This is a Canadian issue. This is an issue for Cranbrook.
In the closing words of the prayer “Remembering the Children” written in 2008 as the TRC began its work, “Great Creator God who desires that all creation live in harmony and peace, Remembering the Children we dare to dream of a Path of Reconciliation where apology from the heart leads to healing of the heart and the chance of restoring the circle, where justice walks with all, where respect leads to true partnership, where the power to change comes from each heart. Hear our prayer of hope, and guide this country of Canada on a new and different path.
May it be so.

Healthy Tradition…Unhealthy Traditionalism

By Rev. Yme Woensdregt

“Fiddler on the Roof” is one of my favourite movies. It opens with an extended musical number about the importance of tradition. Tradition, says Tevye, tells us who we are, how to behave, how to relate with one another and with God. Tradition is often the glue that holds a family or a community together.
Life is filled with traditions of all kinds. What would political life be without the pageantry of an inauguration, or the hectic atmosphere of a nominating meeting? How could families celebrate their lives without tradition? We each of us have our traditions, and life can be its best when we take long–standing traditions and fill them with new meanings appropriate to a new day and a new way of being.
Jaroslav Pelikan, one of the foremost historians of Christianity, however warned us of the dangers of a narrow traditionalism. In one of his famous aphorisms, he said, “Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living”.
I was reminded of this again when a friend sent me an email about the standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) in the US. The standard is 4 feet, 8.5 inches —an exceedingly odd number. Why such an odd gauge?
Well, that’s the way they built railroads in England, and since railroads in North America were originally built by English immigrants, Canada and the USA use the same gauge.
The story deepens. The English built them to that gauge because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre–railroad tramways, and that’s the gauge they used. And ‘they’ used that gauge because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons which used that wheel spacing. And the wagons had that odd wheel spacing because otherwise the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England because that was the spacing of the wheel ruts in the old roads. Those old roads were built by imperial Rome so their legions could travel long distances more easily. Those roads have been used ever since.
And the ruts in the roads were that wide because they were originally formed by Roman war chariots, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagon wheels. Finally, the wheels were that far apart to accommodate the rear ends of the two horses which pulled the chariots.
So the standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specs for an Imperial Roman war chariot. Bureaucracies, which thrive on traditionalism, live forever.
But it gets even more interesting. Modern space shuttles have two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These solid rocket boosters were designed at a factory in Utah. The engineers who designed them would have preferred to make them a bit fatter … but they had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site. The railroad line from the factory happens to run through a tunnel in the mountains. The rockets had to fit through the tunnel, which is slightly wider than the railroad track; and the railroad track, as you know, is about as wide as two horses’ behinds.
So, a major design feature of what is arguably the world’s most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of rear ends of two horses.
When I received that email, I couldn’t help but laugh. All of us, to some extent, are caught by such unthinking traditionalism. We think that the way we do things makes good sense … but truthfully, we often do them that way because we've always done them that way.
We never really think it through. We do something once … twice … and it becomes a tradition, even when the original reason for it has passed. After all, who decrees that a set of train tracks needs the same width as a set of chariot wheels?
The church is especially vulnerable to this. “Gimme that old time religion”, a spiritual sings, because “it was good enough for (add a name here)”. But that’s not really so. Each new age needs to formulate its faith in a new way to meet new needs and to answer new questions. We can’t just keep doing the same old things the same old way.
Tradition can be a very good thing. Traditionalism usually is pretty unhealthy.

Rev Dr Yme Woensdregt is the Incumbent at Christ Church Anglican in Cranbrook BC.

Friday Morning Coffee Club meets in new location with visit from The Sound Principle

Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC,  met for the first time in its new location at the White Spot, Triple O, with a special musical moment for Valentine's Day provided by 'The Sound Principle'.

'The Sound Principle', a very popular Cranbrook barber shop quartet, with FMCC founding member Joel Vinge as a member was making its annual rounds for Valentine's Day to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. All funds raised go to the foundation.

It takes them two days to visit all those who sign up in Cranbrook and Kimberley  to have the quartet visit in person and present a rose to a loved one and sing two appropriate songs for the occasion.

 In fact, they even sing for the mother of Jim Roberts, another FMCC founding member, who lives in Oregon, Technology assists greatly!

They found time to visit White Spot Triple O, and present a rose and sing two songs, which were greeted by loud applause by the FMCC members, staff and customers. Members of 'The Sound Principle' are: lead, Gert DeGroot; bass, Rollie Cummins; bass, Michael Jones, and tenor, Joel Vinge.

Thanks so much.

FMCC had to move after two years when the Starbucks in Target closed as part of the store closing.

Thanks to the staff who made us feel so welcome at the new location.

Also, thanks to 'The Sound Principle' who bring moments of delight into the lives of so many people all year round, but especially on Valentine's Day.

They remind me of a quote attributed to Etienne de Grellet, a Quaker missionary:

I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Etienne de Grellet
Quaker Missionary

Friday Morning Coffee Club Wishes You a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, brought holiday greetings to shoppers and team members at the Target store in Cranbrook with a rousing rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". It was part of the regular weekly gathering at the Starbucks location in the store. Trina (Starbucks) and Leona (Target) joined the group.

From FMCC were MJM, Joel Vinge, Gerry Warner, Yme Woensdregt, Ron McFarland and Bill Nightingale.

Jim Roberts was travelling but in touch by phone and Mark Spence-Vinge was late arriving as he was assisting packing boxes for Christmas at the Salvation Army.

FMCC extends thanks to Trina (Starbucks) and Leona (Target) as well as store team leader Mike for their assistance with the production.

Antoine, Ron

Although FMCC has been meeting at the Starbucks in Target for a year and a half now, two very special occasions have taken place "off campus"

Brian, Antoine, Bill, Ron

Recently, an awesome Christmas party was held at the home of Ron McFarland which was really enjoyed by all. While FMCC, was at Ron's place for their party, the ladies went out for dinner.

Justin and  Jim at Ron's

Thanks so much Ron for your hospitality and special thanks to Judy!

Back Joel, Mj, Brian, Ron, Mark, Jim, seated Gordon and Bill

The other occasion was Breakfast at the Ranch, organized by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge, with special assistance provided by Justin Cleland.

Peter, Yme, Gordon at Ron's

Thanks Jim, Mark and Justin for making it happen. A very special thanks to Joel Vinge for being our "official" photographer.

Back Jim, Bill Joel. Seated Antoine, Gordon, Peter, MJ, Ron, Bob, Mark

FMCC has also celebrated birthdays and sends thanks to Target Starbucks for helping make these occasions special.

MJ and Mark at Ron's

 "We wish you a Merry Christmas, best wishes for the holiday season and a Happy New Year!"

Winston and MJ

Rope swinging into swimming pool to mark 50 years in journalism

Dane, MJ, Zach. Jessica, Louis

When I was a kid I loved rope swinging into the muddy waters of the Humber River in Toronto while on Summer vacation there with my Mom.

Update already on Aug 29. Charlie Purich reminded me that I used to rope swing from the old CPR trestle into the Chapleau River. Indeed I did but had totally forgotten. Thanks Charlie

For more than three years now, I spend time almost daily at the swimming pool, aka Cranbrook Aquatic Centre.  UPDATE: In 2016 it is five years that I have been swimming daily at the Cranbrook pool

One of the activities I have most enjoyed watching is the youngsters rope swinging, and I conduct my own contest selecting a boy and girl winner.. Of course, I don't announce the winners to anyone, but many of them are darn good at it.

Anyway, I guess I mentioned my prowess as a "rope swinger",  more or less 60 years ago. one too many times to the lifeguards, because a few weeks ago, Dane Ries told me, "We'll make it happen" He meant I was going to be able to get up on the diving platform and swing out into the pool, just like it was yesterday I last did it.

My training began mostly under the direction Jessica Portsmouth, Zach Smith and Louis Gauer and Dane.

I had to get used to wearing a life jacket, and they had me roll around in it. Great fun really. I passed their tests I guess because the date was set for the rope swing. In the interests of full disclosure I use a noodle while swimming, but I have a feeling, those days may now be numbered.

Dane advised me that the swing would take place on August 27 at six p.m. Jessica followed up with an email in the morning: "The rope swing is still happening at 6, we are all looking forward to it."

I arrived at the pool a bit earlier than usual and Dane was just completing his shift, and suggested that I do some warmup laps. When I looked over at the lifeguard room, it was more crowded than usual, and it struck me that the rope swing team were all off duty and were showing up to help with my rope swing attempt.

Trust me folks. These lifeguards are super, and have made me feel safe and secure since the first day I started going to the pool after returning from a trip to Florida where I swam every day.

I was so touched that they would give up personal time for me to repeat something I did as a kid.

It was time to do it, and I headed to the diving platform with Dane, Jessica and my friend Joel Vinge who had come to take some photos.

Although, I had told Dane  that I didn't think it was necessary to have lifeguards in the water, two of them were, just in case, and Louis even had his underwater camera.

Jessica positioned herself on the diving board while Dane and Zach got me into my life jacket and gave me instructions.

Up I went onto the platform with a boost from the guys, who were joined by at least one other lifeguard who was just off shift.

I grabbed the rope, edged close to the edge, and for the first time said to myself, "you crazy fool, what do you think you're doing?"

The moment passed, I waved at Joel, and said "Let's do it!" And away I went helped on by a little shove from Dane and Zach, not exactly soaring like the kids, but the next thing I knew I was in the pool. WOW!

Sometimes in this life time stops for a moment, and then for much much more than a moment, and then continues on its merry way. For me, that's the way it was for me, as I looked around me in the pool, and saw the smiles on the faces of the rope swing team.

Jessica summed it all up in an email later with "YOUR BIG DAY" in the subject line.  Indeed it was, thanks to more than a little help from my friends who made it possible. Thank you so much! And thanks to Joel for being there and my friend Michael Pelzer for suggesting I start swimming again.

As an aside, never in my wildest imaginings did I think that I would be marking the 50th anniversary of my first job as a daily newspaper reporter with a story about me swinging on a rope into a swimming pool. But as Tom Brokaw, the longtime anchor of NBC Nightly News once said, "It's all storytelling, you know. That's what journalism is all about."  My email is mj.morris@live.ca 

The Rope Swing Team from Left Dane Ries. MJM, Zach Smith, Jessica Portsmouth, Louis Gauer. Photos by Jessica