Earle Freeborn, Leo Vezina, Andre (Zenon) Rioux leave CPR ranks to retire as last 'firemen' to leave railway in Chapleau in 1993

First passenger diesel in 1949

Three locomotive engineers with many years of service on the Canadian Pacific Railway "all left the ranks to enjoy retirement", in 1993 which was also an historic moment as they were also the last three "firemen" to leave the railway at Chapleau.

They were Earle Freeborn, Leo Vezina and Andre (Zenon) Rioux.

An article about them notes that Earle had something to boast about as he was never involved in a derailment, runoff or mishap and his record showed no demerit marks over all his 41 years of service.

Earle was also quite involved with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as vice chair of the local as well as service on the EAP committee. Earle was written up as an engineer in 1961 became permanent locomotive engineer in 1974.

On his last day of work trip into Chapleau, the article notes that his wife Nancy, daughter Shelley and son David met the train at Esher and drove the rest of the way into Chapleau on it with Earle.

Earle has been very involved in Chapleau community life including service on the Chapleau Board of Education and as mayor of the Township of Chapleau.

During layoffs which were quite frequent during his early years on the CPR, Leo worked in the ice house, on the lake and on snow gangs. For many years he was chair of the locomotive engineers local. The article says "His knowledge and wisdom will certainly be missed."

As Leo retired he and his wife Joyce also celebrated 27 years of marriage on April 23 plus their eldest son Chris received his Master's degree in Biology as Leo made his last trip on April 30 - May 1.

He added that fishing, computers and photography would keep him busy as well as keeping track of the children -- Darryl, Deborah, Jen and Chris.

Andre, (known best perhaps as Zenon) started with the CPR as a mechanic's helper in 1954 before joining the running trades as a fireman in 1954.

He became a full time engineer in 1974 and "kept the throttle moving until his retirement"

On April 15, 1993, he had his last day of work on the CPR and also celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife Jeannine.

Golfing would be his favourite summer pastime and in due course, they moved to North Bay. 

I recall the involvement of Earle, Leo and Zenon in Chapleau hockey. Earle played and coached the Junior "B" Huskies of the International Junior "B'" Hockey League while Zenon played and was the first trainer of the Junior "B" Huskies when the team was established in 1966-67 by Keith 'Buddy' Swanson, Lorne Riley and Tom Welch. Leo played and was great supporter of Chapleau minor hockey. His son Chris played on the Chapleau Midget team I coached in 1982-83.

This threesome are also members of not only Chapleau pioneer families but of CPR families in the community.

I only recently came across the article about them in Algoma/Hi - Rail Edition No 22, CP Rail System, May/June 1993. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

'Chapleau 2012' highlighted by 90th anniversary reunion festival of Chapleau High School

Graham speaking, MJ right back committee on left

As I have been reflecting on the year past, perhaps best simply described as 'Chapleau 2012', it struck me that it was Grant Henderson, a 1927 Chapleau High School graduate who summed up so well why so many of us went back for the school's 90th anniversary reunion.

In a poem for the 60th anniversary in 1982, Grant wrote in part, "Perhaps those days through memory's haze take on a richer hue" adding that "perhaps that's true but ... this I know. And I've wandered up and down. Were I to pick my bringin' up place. I'd choose the same old town."

Like Grant, I too have wandered up and down, spending moments and at times much more than a moment in places from Ontario to British Columbia, and in my daily newspaper reporter years, back and forth across this vast and magnificent land with side trips to the United States. In fact, I thought about this column while spending time at Cocoa Beach at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where Michael Pelzer, my good friend, and extremely talented photographer and videographer was doing a shoot.

However, from the moment I learned that  the CHS reunion festival was being planned, I knew as did Grant 30 years ago when he wrote his poem, that I would return to my "bringin' up place" for it. Grant died in 1994.

Soon afterwards I received a message from the organizing committee asking if I would serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Most kind of them to invite me to participate, and I thank them again so much.

This put me back in regular touch with George Evans, my friend, CHS colleague and member of township council when I was reeve of Chapleau in the 1970s. Like everyone, I was shocked and greatly saddened when George was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident before the reunion.

But, in his memory, Chapleau did the right thing  by naming the library after him. From the day he arrived as a young teacher at CHS, George was a staunch supporter of the public library -- and worked to improve the one at the school which when he arrived in 1961 was located in a tiny room on the second floor of the building on Pine Street.

I was delighted that so many of my growin' up in Chapleau friends also planned to attend, and once we met, it seemed like only yesterday since we  were hanging out in the Boston Cafe, or driving aimlessly around town on a summer evening, never straying far from Main Street, just in case something might happen downtown and we missed it.

It was great to go around town and end up at the Boston Cafe, now Hongers Redwood again, and visit with Yen, Jean and Jim Hong. 

We talked about school and Teen Town dances, going down the lake by one of two rivers to a bay called Mulligan's, or over the gravel road to Racine Lake to awesome get togethers at Martel's.  We reminisced about skating on a Friday night by the light of the silvery moon in the old arena and the old old one, both on Lorne Street, and yes, always so important, hockey, on the ice and on the road and on the rivers.

And the central place for the reunion was at the Chapleau Recreation Centre, opened exactly 34 years ago on June 29, 1978, as pointed out to me by co-chair Graham Bertrand. Earle Freeborn, a reunion committee member and former Chapleau mayor was the arena manager at the time. 

Tom, MJ, Olive McAdam, Bob, Marg Fife, Bill Pellow, Sonia Schmitwilke

For many of us John 'Mac' McClellan, the legendary principal of CHS, and Dr. Karl A. Hackstetter, as teacher, who a few years later returned as principal, defined CHS. We were members of 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps, and for me, it was so great to see Neil Ritchie, Jim Hong, Jim Evans and Ian Macdonald, all of them officers when I was in cadets. I even finally told them how they terrified me, except for Jim Evans, who advised he preferred a "gentler touch."

Regrettably our good friend David McMillan, cadet officer, actor, hockey player and inspiration, who had looked forward so much to attending, died before the reunion.

For those of us in her CHS class, our good friend Pat (Purich) Russell made and presented each of us with a school banner. In my case, she made a special one in the old and new school colours as I had attended and taught at CHS. Much appreciated Pat and it hangs above my desk in place of honour.

While I so much enjoyed spending time with old school friends, I was so pleased to chat with  former students from my years as a teacher at CHS. And yes, we talked hockey and school plays, and "stories by MJ". Great to see all of you again and get caught up.

On a very personal basis, the most touching moments of the reunion were during the wonderful ecumenical service presided over by Rt. Rev. Thomas A. Corston, Anglican bishop of Moosonee, known to so many of us simply as "Tom". Growing up in Chapleau, Tom is the son of Frances (Jardine)  and the late Henry 'Chicken' Corston.

Sitting beside me on the stage was Robert Fife, now the CTV News Ottawa Bureau Chief, but to me simply "Bob" or more commonly "Fife".  Bob is the son of Margaret and the late Clyde Fife. 

As the service progressed, I looked out at the faces of over 400 people, all of whom defined Chapleau in one way and another from its beginnings in 1885 to the present day.

In my remarks near the end of the service I tried to capture it all when I commented that before me I saw the history of Chapleau and I did, but after relating that I had been on a morning walk to the Memegos property, my favourite walking place, I started to lose it -- one of those emotional moments -- and I thank Bishop Tom for rescuing me.

And so, Chapleau 2012, is coming to a close, but for the more than 1,000 who registered for the reunion, the precious moments of once again being home, I am sure,  will remain with us forever.  A school reunion, as my former newspaper colleague Derik Hodgson once noted, is often "the binding that holds the town book together."  This one sure contributed whether we still live there or have wandered up and down, and ended up in some other place.

Like Grant Henderson, I would not have picked another place as my home town, even if I had been given the choice. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau experienced some tough times in 1970s but education was booming and memorial arena packed for Junior "B" Huskies games

Greaser Day at CHS 1975. Can you name the Greasers?

Although a visiting magazine writer portrayed Chapleau as going through tough times in 1971, two very community minded citizens made sure Tom Slater of Canadian Panorama magazine knew it was a "terrific" place to live.

Slater was in town to write about the closing down of the CPR diesel engine repair shops and the possibility that an iron ore mine would open about 22 miles from Chapleau, but its employees would live in town. Kipco Metals and Chemicals Ltd. had announced that it would open a mine, but of course it never happened.

I just have to share how Slater describes his arrival in Chapleau, obviously intended for his readers, most of whom had never been north of Barrie, from Toronto.

Slater writes: "The big train lumbers into the station and pulls up with a deep sigh. Attendants bundled up in heavy parkas and thick gloves breathe clouds of white frost as they struggle to unload baggage for the few passengers.

"The stop is Chapleau ... a spot on the Canadian Pacific Railway's main line... It is 4:30 a.m and the thermometer reads 25 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) Snow is piled higher than man can reach".

After he gets settled, Slater writes that the "sun has replaced the stars, and the hard-packed snow glares under its brilliance and crunches under heavy boots as the natives of Chapleau walk along Birch Street .. for an early morning coffee at the Sportsman Hotel or the Au Cog D'Or Restaurant."

Slater meets Con Schmidt and "it comes as a surprise" to him that Con had lived in Toronto and had settled in Chapleau.

Con, always a great Chapleau booster told him: "There was a time when I thought living in a small place like Chapleau would be terrible. And, my wife (Wilma), she just couldn't stand the thought of coming up here. But now (in 1971), we can't think of a better place to live".

And, Tom Welch, the publisher of the Chapleau Sentinel, adnitting that times were tough for a lot of people, said, "But I'm sure they're going to get better. There's so much for people to do here and the community atmosphere is terrific".

I had returned home in 1969 and started teaching at Chapleau High School, and shortly after arriving was contacted by Jim Hong and Raoul Lemieux to return to refereeing games in the International Junior "B" Hockey League, of which the Chapleau Huskies were a member since 1966-67 when it won the championship in its first year. Tom Welch, along with Keith "Buddy" Swanson and Lorne Riley, were instrumental in founding the team and the Huskies were a major reason for a great community atmosphere.

The Chapleau Memorial Community Arena would be packed for home games, and fans in great numbers would be packed into vehicles to travel to away games. Great fun, and too bad writers from afar who visit for a day or so would not stick around for a real taste of the north. They could describe a trip to Wawa on a cold winter night, or maybe to Sault Ste. Marie along Highway 17 during a blinding snowstorm.

Anyway, in the 1970-71 season, Earle Freeborn was coaching the Huskies and a great season it was with the team winning the honour of participating in southern Ontario.

Although, the Chapleau economy was hurting in some respects, education was booming. For example, the new Chapleau High School had opened on the hill in 1966, and by 1971 an addition was completed. By 1972 it had about 450 students, compared to about 100 when I was a CHS student in the 1950s and 200 plus in the Sixties.

In the 1950s there were six or seven teachers and by 1970 over 20 on the high school staff. Expansion had also taken place at the Chapleau Public School and the Chapleau Roman Catholic Separate Schools.

In fact, there was a shortage of teachers in Northern Ontario at the time and the Ontario Department of Education introduced a summer school program for teachers  at Lakehead University. I attended it with Alex Babin, Wayne Pascoe, Al White and Ron Jackson from CHS.

In 2012, CHS will celebrate its 90th anniversary, and former students and teachers, will come home to Chapleau to join those who still live there, and many stories will be told, out of the mothballs of memory, about the terrific place where we grew up and went to school. Many, for sure, will be very rough drafts of history. Pardon me for mixing metaphors of mothballs of memory and rough draft of history!

To help you get started, the photo this week is from Greaser Day at Chapleau High in 1975 when these senior students posed for this awesome photo. They will remain anonymous for the moment, but if you know who they are, jot down their names. Watch for more news on the upcoming Chapleau High School Terrific Photo Contest.

Thanks to David McMillan and Larry Martel for their assistance. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

New era in railroading arrives as first diesel locomotive purred into CPR station at Chapleau pulling transcontinental passenger train Number 3 in 1949

A new era in railroading was witnessed by a large crowd as the first diesel powered passenger train pulled into the Canadian Pacific Railway station in Chapleau pulling westbound transcontinental train Number 3, the Chapleau Post reported.

The first diesel passenger train came through Chapleau on December 5th 1949, not January 9,1950 as I had reported earlier. Thanks to Ian Macdonald for the correction.

The Post described the diesel as a large three-unit blue and cream locomotive on loan from General Motors for test purposes in this "rugged terrain" that "purred in to the station and came to a smooth stop".

It was a 14-car passenger train with Wilfred Muske as the engineer and Raoul Comte as fireman from Cartier to Chapleau. Lawrence "Ton" Comte, has told me that his father had travelled to California for courses on the operation of diesel locomotives.

As permanent refuelling facilities had not been completed, the diesel was refuelled from a tank car on a siding.

The newspaper also reported that "veteran railwaymen were not entirely at home in the new locomotive. They felt it odd to be located in the nose of the locomotive with a clear view of the tracks ahead and at both sides.

"It was so quiet in the cab that the engineer, fireman and brakeman can talk normally without raising their voices".

While researching this article, it struck me that growing up in Chapleau in the !940s and 50s, it never dawned on me me that I lived in a part of Canada that William C. Van Horne,described as '200 miles of engineering impossibilities" because of rugged terrain between Cartier and Fort William, now Thunder Bay. My grandfather, Harry Morris, was a CPR conductor, and occasionally he would take me on a trip to Fort William or Toronto, depending which end he was working. What great experiences they were.

Mr. Van Horne was appointed general manager of the CPR and in 1884 became its vice-president. Rising to president in 1888, he is most famous for overseeing the major construction of the railway, according to Wikipedia.

The November 2010 issue of CPR Tracks explains that the rugged 517 mile long Schreiber division was selected as a testing ground by the CPR for diesel locomotives.

It was part of this stretch to which Mr. Van Horne was referring.

The article notes that if the diesel locomotive could make it there, it could make it anywhere on the CPR line.

Initially, the article explains, the CPR was very cautious about the use of diesels preferring the dependability of steam locomotives. They let railroads in the United States work out the many engineering difficulties and complexities of the electrical system.

The CPR then assigned 58 diesels to the Schreiber division where there were also 77 steam locomoties working at the time.

Yard engine diesels were assigned to Schreiber, White river and Cartier, and in Chapleau it was Alco S-2 7044, and went there in 1949.

Ian Macdonald advised that CPR President Norris Crump was a fanatic advocate of diesel power and he really moved the process along much more quickly than was originally intended.

As an aside, it was a really historic moment in 1964 when J.M. "Bud" Park was the engineer on CPR Locomotive 5433 as it was pushed by the yard engine by engineer Earle Freeborn across the tracks on a specially built rail line from about the roundhouse area to its new home in Chapleau Centennial Park.

Mr. Crump attended a ceremony in Chapleau to mark its arrival in the park. Sam Chappise presented Mr. Crump with a rifle.

"I wonder if anyone could have imagined that the old fifty car freight trains would eventually transition to the container unit trains that are now more than two miles in length," Ian added. So do Ian!

ROBERT NIXON ON DOMINION DAY

Louise Cooper, the daughter of Winnie (Nixon) Rosseter, sent me the attached Nixon family photo from Dominion Day in Chapleau, circa 1918. Her grandfather Robert Nixon arrived in Chapleau from England in 1912, and worked for the CPR. All the best for the Canada (Dominion) Day weekend.

I extend special thanks to Doug Greig, Ian Macdonald, Reginald Fitzpatrick (the last Mayor of Franz), Brian Westhouse (an expert on the CPR and railways generally), and Louise Cooper for their assistance. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Reflections on Chapleau councils from George Brecken Nicholson taking office in 1901 to Andre Byham becoming mayor 110 years later

As Chapleau prepares to mark its 110th anniversary of incorporation as a municipality in Ontario in 2011, Andre Byham will become the 22nd mayor (formerly called reeves) when he takes office on December 1.

The newly elected mayor is actually the 20th person to hold the office as Frank Edwards, a CPR engineer, and Kenneth Russell, Technical Director of Radiology at the hospital, each served again after a break in terms.





G.B. Nicholson

On February 15, 1901, George Brecken "G.B." Nicholson, took office as reeve, and served until 1913, never facing an opponent as he was returned by acclamation for one year terms. Looking at the history of Chapleau, Mr. Nicholson and his councils created the basic infrastructure for the community in the 20th century. By the time Mr. Nicholson retired as reeve Chapleau had a water works system, cement sidewalks in some residential areas, two schools with a high school under consideration, and a Town Hall considered most modern at the time. Mr. Nicholson was in the lumber and other businesses and later served as a Member of Parliament.

The railway YMCA with its rooms, restaurant and programs was called one of the best institutions of its kind anywhere in Canada, while the Lady Minto Hospital under the Victorian Order of Nurses opened in 1914. The major employer was the Canadian Pacific Railway while the business section contained a number of special, general and department stores. The population had reached about 2,500 people.

Before I go any further, let me extend my most sincere congratulations to Mr. Byham, and Lisi Crichton. Laurent Lacroix, Doug Greig and Rose Bertrand on their election to Chapleau council. All the best to each of you.

Doug Greig has been researching Chapleau councils and sent me the most recent results of his efforts. Just reading the names is a journey into history, so I decided to share some of the information about those who have served their community on council over the past 110 years, adding a bit here and there mostly from the mothballs of my own memory. This is really just a starting point, and I hope Doug will have time to continue his efforts. Perhaps others will volunteer to help.

Lisi Crichton, who will be serving her first term has a direct family connection to Chapleau council. Her great grandfather Vincent Crichton, who was a plumber and proprietor of the Regent movie theatre, was a Chapleau councillor in 1921. (Full Disclosure: Vincent Crichton was my great uncle)

But, as I reviewed Doug's research, it became apparent that the family of Earle Freeborn, the retiring mayor, has had the most members who served on council. His grandfather, J.D. McAdam, a CPR engineer, was the third reeve of Chapleau, holding office from 1917 to 1919, while his father Earle Freeborn, a CPR freight agent, died in office while serving as the 7th reeve in 1938. Earle's brother Elmer was a councillor for several terms, while Earle, who was a CPR engineer and recreation centre manager, has been in office as mayor since 1998.

During World War I, T.J. Godfrey, who was Indian agent, entrepreneur and major force over the years for the construction of Highway 129, finally opened in 1949, was the second reeve from 1914 to 1916, followed by Mr. McAdam.

Max Brunette, elected in 1920, a CPR conductor, served as reeve until 1929 to be succeeded by Mr. Edwards who was in office until 1936 and then returned from 1943 to 1947. In 1937, Edgar Pellow, the sixth reeve took office, held it for less than two months the resigned to be succeeded by Mr. Freeborn.

It should be noted that elections were held yearly, with the first council to serve a two-year term elected for 1969-70. Later they went to three year and now a four year term.

George Fife, the manager of the Chapleau Electric Light Company became the 8th reeve and was in office until 1942. Mr. Fife is reportedly the only Chapleau reeve to meet a British monarch. When King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were on their Canadian tour in 1939, the Royal Train stopped in Chapleau apparently in the night and the King got up to meet Mr. Fife.

While the reeves from Mr. Nicholson to Mr. Edwards saw Chapleau through two World Wars and the Great Depression,all of which presented huge challenges to the community and are stories in themselves, it was the election of 1947 that saw B.W. "Bubs" Zufelt, owner of Chapleau Bakery, as the 10th reeve that marked the emergence of Chapleau from its relative isolation and set the stage for a somewhat different community. Mr. Zufelt (who in the interests of full disclosure was my uncle) served as reeve until 1955.

In 1948, a disastrous forest fire resulted in new lumber companies coming to the Chapleau area providing an expansion of the employment base. By 1949, Highway 129 was finally completed although the celebration was marred by the death of Mr. Godfrey during the official opening just as his dream became a reality. With the end of World War II Chapleau citizens returned from overseas and many stayed to work, gort married and started families. The baby boom was underway.

On the local scene, some of the major projects included a sewage plant and system, the first road paving project and the completion of the new Chapleau Memorial Community Arena. In the early Fifties, Smith and Chapple Ltd. expanded to the "other side of main street". and many may not be aware that Chapleau had two soft drink bottling plants -- Coca Cola and Pepsi.

Residential areas were also expanded in the Fifties and it seemed like Chapleau boom times would continue. A Brewer's Retail store arrived in the Fifties too.

Mr. Zufelt was succeeded by Leo Racicot, a CPR conductor, who served from 1956 to 1959, then James "Jim" Broomhead, of the Algoma Dairy, from 1960 to 1962. Arthur Grout, president of Smith and Chapple Ltd. became the 13th reeve in January 1963 but resigned after two months to be succeeded by Fred A. "Nick" Card, a CPR engineer, who held office until 1966. William J. Card, Mr. Card's father had served as a councillor for eight years between 1922 and 1934.

In 1962 Highway 101 linked Chapleau to Timmins.

T.C. "Terry" Way-White, a CPR conductor, became the 15th reeve serving from 1967 to 1973. Major projects undertaken in those years were the new water plant and new bridge and pedestrian overpass. I succeeded Mr. Way-White in 1974 and major projects included the recreation centre, civic centre and Cedar Grove Lodge.

William Howard , of CPR, became the 17th reeve in 1980 and was in office until 1986 when Kenneth Russell took over. Mr Russell served as reeve until 1997.  However, he resigned and  from December 1990 until December 1991 he was  he was out of office and Claire Charron was reeve. Mr. Russell returned to office.

Earle Freeborn became the 21st holder of the office, and the 19th person to do so.

It has not been my intention to provide a detailed look at projects undertaken over the past 110 years. Those mentioned are simply to provide a context for what was happening at certain times in Chapleau's history.
Just a couple of more mentions of Chapleau people who have served on council.

J.M. "Jack" Shoup, the long time principal of Chapleau Public School, appears to hold the record for longest serving councillor -- 16 years of one year terms - starting in 1946 and ending in 1968.

Before Dr. G.E. "Ted" Young served on council, his father George Young and his brother Dr. William "Bill" Young had been members.

Mrs. Maud Hands, elected in 1947 was the first woman on Chapleau council. It appears that only eight other women have been members in 110 years.

Thanks to Doug Greig for sharing his research. As I put together this column, I could not help but reflect on all those who have sat on Chapleau council. They were also most active in other areas of community life too.

Andre Byham

Now Andre Byham, the newly elected mayor and his council, embark on a journey to take Chapleau into its second 110 years as a progressive community facing the challenges of the 21st Century. Godspeed! My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau High student predicts wireless phones in 1932, while Earle Freeborn sang in barbershop quartet in 1952, and we played on 'Murch's' basketball team in '59

In 1932, Donald Boucher, who was in Form1A (Grade 9) at Chapleau High School wrote in the school magazine 'Static' that within 50 years, "it will be possible to phone a person on a wireless phone and to see the person's image reflected on a screen at the same time." He was only a few years off on his fearless prediction as we now take wireless communication with video for granted.

Donald made some other observations that he said were "commonly heard nowadays" (in 1932) including one that cities would be heated from one huge central heating plant, adding that buildings "will be so high and huge that streets will be necessary at different levels."

Interesting comments from a Grade 9 student. I have been reading the souvenir newspaper published in 1982 to mark the 60th anniversary of CHS, and here are some of my discoveries about the people and events at the school in its earlier years, in no particular order.

In 1931 Olive Vezina told the High School News that "public school boys are much more entertaining than high school boys" while students wondered what would happen if Doug Beacock didn't talk to 'Mr. Mac' (John McClellan, the long time teacher and CHS principal) about professional hockey, while the only comment made by Ted Young was "Oh fudge."

Jumping ahead to 1952, I wonder how many recall that Earle Freeborn, now the mayor, was part of a barber shop quartet that "serenaded" students at one of its productions. Earle was accompanied by Leo Vezina, John Houghton and John Longchamps.

Hundreds of Chapleauites packed the theatre in the old Town Hall in 1956 when John "Mac" McClellan retired as principal after 30 years at the school. Tributes poured in from former students which also recognized his work with Number 1187, Chapleau High School Cadet Corps. "Mac" as he was fondly known likely defined the school more than anyone in its history. The Austin- McClellan Scholarship was named in his honour.

In 1959 CHS was an extremely active place. At the annual commencement Harry Pellow was the valedictorian, while Jimmy Evans and Mary Serre received the top academic awards, having graduated the previous year. A basketball team ahd been formed coached by teacher Richard Murchland which challenged other groups to play it. Players were Louis Fortin, David Mizuguchi, Ron Morris, Michael Morris, Jim Schafer, Bill McLeod, Lawrence Comte and Robert Lemieux. (As an aside, something I just realized is that Robert Lemieux and I later taught at CHS) Nelson Eveline and Bruce Poynter had attended cadet camp and were new instructors.

The wiener roast at Bucciarelli Beach was an annual CHS social event for many years and we will all have our own memories of them. In 1944 Noreen Delaney was the announcer assisted by John Thomson. The "Rhythm Boys", John Thomson, Doug Jardine, Keith McKnight and Neil Dowsley sang the popular hit, 'Ma, she's making eyes at me.' In 1945 the rationing of meat meant a change from wiener roast to bean feed but reports said it did not dampen the enthusiasm, with a trumpet duet by George Tremblay and George Payette a highlight of the evening.

In 1963 CHS was the place to be with John Murray as president of the student council and Dr. Karl A. Hackstetter as principal. Dr Hackstetter first taught at CHS from 1954 to 1957, and returned as principal. James Pullen was editor of Ad Astra and Charlie Purich was referred to as the "catalyst" of the hockey team. Some Grade 9 students listed included Ted Swanson, Bruce McCarthy, Leslie Zufelt, Kathy Fife, John Reid, Gary Coulter, Judy Corston, David Morris, Harvey Brillant and Candy Corston.

The chairpersons of the 1982 60th CHS reunion, the late Alex Babin and Margaret Rose (Payette) Fortin were both grads of the school, who at the time were on the teaching staff. It is believed that Clarence Fiaschetti was the first CHS grad to return and teach there.

In 1964 the yearbook revealed that Jim St. Amand's main interest was hockey while Ian Clegg enjoyed skiing and apparently George Ritchie wanted to beat Howard Higuchi in Physics. Hugh McKechnie (later at teacher at CHS) was instumental in the destruction of many a history class and Ron Doig was a member of the table tennis club.

There are so many great moments in the history of Chapleau High School that I will stop for the moment, and let those of you who attended the school reflect on your time there. I will share more of the people and the times later. For me, who started high school in 1955 in "Mr. Mac's" final year as principal and was greatly influenced by him and Dr. Karl A. Hackstetter, and later returned in 1969 to teach there, Chapleau High School has always been much more than a place to go to school. It has been an integral part of my life, thanks to my friends from school days and my students from teaching days. Email me at mj.morris@live.ca

Hockey keeps Canada together

Chapleau Int A Huskies in 1970s

I took a course in twentieth century European history from Dr Jacques Goutor more than 40 years ago now, and the first thing I learned from him was that hockey kept Canada together. Well, he didn't actually come out and say that exactly, but on the first day of class he told us about his arrival in Canada from France.

Dr Goutor told us that upon arriving in Toronto, he went out and bought the newspapers and the headlines were LEAFS WIN STANLEY CUP! It was 1967, our Centennial year as a nation, and the Toronto Maple Leafs had defeated their arch rivals the Montreal Canadiens in six games. It was to be the last time the Leafs would win Lord Stanley's mug.

Dr Jacques Goutor

All so typically Canadian for our Centennial year -- a team from the heart of English Canada wins the Stanley Cup but the focus for the celebrations of the centennial is on Montreal, the major French Canadian city which hosted Expo '67, and the cup is named after an Englishman who was Governor General at one time. Trust me on this one! It is such as this that contributes to keeping the country together and safe-- the invisible hand of Canadian compromise!

Dr Goutor, who at the time had little knowledge of hockey and its importance to Canadians, said he decided to stay here because it had to be a safe place if the headlines were about a sporting event. He was raised in France and lived through the horrors of World War II and its aftermath.

To this day, I watch the headlines of Canadian daily newspapers, and headline writers are ecstatic on those days they can proclaim victory for their local hockey team when it wins a title, and are beside themselves with joy when Canada wins internationally. But they know their audience. Hockey keeps it all together in this vast and magnificent land where we will travel great distances for a hockey game, and complain about that other great Canadian unifier, the weather.

MJM in 1978 at Chapleau Carnival

Tee Chambers, Butch Pellow, Aldee Martel, circa 1954

Our passion for hockey of course begins at the local level. I was raised in the northern Ontario town of Chapleau, where the Chapleau Huskies, in various incarnations were  the pride and joy for much longer than I have been around. Growing up there in the 1940s and 50s my hockey heroes were local, especially the late Garth ''Tee" Chambers, who to this day I believe was better than any NHL player who ever donned skates.

When I returned to Chapleau to teach, shortly thereafter I was "hired' by the 1970-71 Midgets to coach them. Yes, they actually "fired" their coach and I took over, and that is a story in itself. At that time though, the focus was on the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies who played in a Junior league, and in 1967 won the league title, as well as NOHA title.

Chapleau Jr B Huskies 1966-67

 The coaches of the day were the late Keith 'Buddy' Swanson, Lorne Riley, who had been an outstanding goalie and Earle Freeborn, one real tough defenceman in his playing days who also served as the Mayor of Chapleau. Saturday nights were hockey night in Chapleau, and the great community unifier, especially when the Wawa Travellers were in town.

A few years later, again after receiving a visit from hockey players, the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies were born and our arch rivals in the Northland Intermediate Hockey league were the Timmins Northstars. For three years it was a struggle to beat them in the league semi-finals but in our fourth year we did, and it was like we had won the Stanley Cup. We won in Timmins but soon received reports that back in Chapleau, the celebration had begun with horns honking and a party underway.

And so, from local unheated hockey rinks, many of them called barns, where rivalries among communities bring people together to cheer on their own team, to national and international championship series, Dr Goutor was right. It is a safe country in which to live

I welcome your comments. Please feel free to add them or email me at mj.morris@live.com