Dominion Day (now Canada Day) started with sound of cannon in Chapleau's early years

Dominion Day was a time for a "great holiday" celebration in the early years of Chapleau's history from six a.m. when a cannon sounded until a dance ended the festivities in the evening.

Actually, Dominion Day, now called Canada Day on July 1 was a major celebration to mark Canada's birth as a nation, for many years, first sponsored by the municipal council after 1901 when Chapleau became a municipality, and later Branch No. 5, (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion.

According to Vince Crichton in his book 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario' the six a.m. salute to mark the beginning of the day's actvities was fired from an old cannon owned by Tom Lonergan. Mr. Lonergan had served in the military in India and Canada.

Dominion Day 1911

This tradition lasted many years as I remember the cannon sounding during my growing up years in the 1940s and 1950s.

As well as celebrating Canada's birthday, another main objective was to get everyone out to enjoy themselves and participate, and the program involved activities for all ages.

Dominion Day 1903

In the early years a giant parade formed at the rink located on Lorne Street at nine a.m. It was led by the Chapleau Brass Band.

Vince shared details on one parade. The children followed the band some being pulled in small wagons and each carrying a Union Jack or Red Ensign. As an aside I just recalled that houses and stores were decorated with flags for the occasion.

Dr. J.J. Sheahan organized this part of the parade and all children got five cents to spend. In later years J.M. 'Jack' Shoup, veteran of World War I and II, and long time principal of Chapleau Public School was in charge. I think we got ten cents. Mr. Shoup also was in charge of children's races.

J M Shoup far right 1950s

Horse drawn floats all decorated were in the parade and top prize was about five dollars.

Parades in Chapleau were always awesome.

Vince summed up those early years: "The enthusiasm and happy holiday spirit was further enhanced by the music of the band at intervals throughout the day and above all the shouting and huffing of the citizens,"

There were always sports activities including ball games between Chapleau teams and others who came from Schreiber, White River and Fort William. 

They may even have had their own car on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Common in those years. In fact, I recall our Bantam hockey team had our own car for  a trip to Sudbury in the 1950s.

There were also water sports and in the evening the day ended with a dance usually in the Town Hall basement.

I've kinda gone back and forth between the very early days, and later years in Chapleau, but I really wanted to share some photos from the early 1900s to Mr. Shoup's time in the 1950s. 

Dominion (Canada) Day celebrations were always such an important part of community life. Happy Canada Day. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

NAMES OF BAND

The Chapleau Brass Band taken at south-east corner of Birch and Lansdowne Street, 1905. They are as follows: 1 Mickey Lanigan, 2 Max Brunette, 3 Joe Windburn, 4 Dr. Jim Gillie, 5 Harry West, 6 Stanley Dexter, 7 J.B. Dexter, 8 unknown, 9 Tom Lonergan, 10 unknown, 11 unknown, 12 Fred Burrows, 13 D.O. Payette, 14 Alec Sweezy.

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Parades in Chapleau played major role in success of winter and summer community celebrations

CHS Band in parade circa 1956

The old saying that everyone loves a parade sure applied to Chapleau throughout its history playing a major role in celebrations from its earliest beginnings after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885.

Browsing through old photographs and "Googling" it seems that the first parades were associated with Dominion Day, now Canada Day  on July 1, but through the years, there would be other ones hosted by organizations such as the Orange Lodge, Knights of Columbus, and after 1926, Branch No. 5 of the Royal Canadian  Legion. The Legion took over the July 1 celebrations.

By 1937, with D.O. Payette, then the president of Smith and Chapple Ltd. as the "catalyst" according to a report at the time, with his business partner Arthur Grout as chairman, the Chapleau Winter Carnival was launched. Carnivals were planned in Mr. Payette's office.

Jimmy Purich leads parade

Jimmy Purich became parade marshal and would lead the parade on a white horse from the CPR station from where it formed up over the old overhead bridge to an ice palace on Main Street or across from the old old arena on Lorne Street.

B.W. Zufelt with Bev Machan 1956

After B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt became reeve in 1948, the Chapleau Recreation Commission was formed and a Beach Day celebration on the first Monday in August was added, including a parade. The carnival queen was also a feature attraction in parades.

Jack Shoup far right

My generation will well remember J. M. 'Jack' Shoup, the principal of Chapleau Pubic School and longest serving township councillor organizing us for the parade, and later the children's races. He ran the skating races at the winter carnival too.

The Chapleau Band, first called Chapleau Brass Band, would appear to have been part of parades from about 1887 on and it even travelled to other communities to participate in their celebrations.  

Parade circa 1957

A bugle band was formed at Chapleau High School after the cadet corps was founded about 1926, and was directed by principal and teacher John 'Mac' McClellan. A parade around town was always part of the annual inspection.

Allan Ritchie

Allan Ritchie, who had moved to Chapleau from Moose Factory with his parents by canoe, proudly displayed his native heritage in Chapleau parades. His grandson Lark Ritchie, writing about him in Chapleau Trails said that he was "noted for his proud and consistent display of his native heritage at many Chapleau community events participating in parades."

Re-enactment of Cartier arrival

But parades were not limited to the streets of Chapleau, as there were at least two on the Chapleau River. In May 1934, John Burns, Edward Levesque, Hill Gagnon, Gerard Tremblay and Joe Fortier marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of French explorer Jacques Cartier at Newfoundland by sailing on the river in a replica of Cartier's ship. 

Ernie Gilbert, MJ, Marcel Bourgeault 1976

Winter Carnival 1938

In 1976, as part of the celebration of Chapleau's 75th anniversary of incorporation as a municipality, a canoe flotilla travelled from the Ministry of Natural Resources "Point" to the beach area.

Parades started from CPR station

There may also have been sailboat parades at one time as races were held on the river in the community's early years.

I am sure everyone has their favourite parade stories, and please feel free to send them along. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Enjoy the ice fishing derby and Chapleau Winter Carnival.