Stanley Deluce inducted into Canadian Aviation Hall of fame put 'incredible entrepreneurial stamp on aviation'

Stanley Deluce, born and raised in Chapleau,was "a genuine aviation pioneer", according to Michael Posner of The Globe and Mail, in an article written about him after his death on January 27, 2010.

Predeceased by Angela, his wife of 59 years, and his parents John and Elizabeth Deluce, in World War II, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force becoming a Flight Officer in Squadron  126. 

At the end of the war he returned to his employment as a locomotive engineer at Chapleau with the Canadian Pacific Railway. He retired in 1976. Mr. Deluce was born in Chapleau on July 20, 1923.

In 1947, he married he married Angela Spadoni, and by 1949, he had bought a Flight Canuck aircraft to combine "his love of flying with his love of hunting and fishing", according to article about him.

Soon therafter White River Air Service was established, and over the years it led to Mr. Deluce putting an "incredible entrepreneurial stamp" on aviation, Mr. Posner wrote.

In 1970, as the Chapleau Aiport was under construction, Mr. Deluce with passenger Yvon Martel made the first official landing there. Gene Bernier, the chair of the airport commission, after whom the airport is now named, greeted them on arrival.

After Mr. Deluce was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, his profile stated in part : "His development of a small commuter airline in Northern Ontario, which led to one of the largest regional airlines in Canada ... has been of great benefit to aviation in Canada".

As well as being inducted into the aviation hall of fame, he was member of the Civil Aviation Tribunal, a director of the Air Transport Association and was selected as an outstanding aviation pioneer of 1993 by the Rusty Blakey Heritage Aviation Group. He was also an honourary Life Member of ATAC.

His obituary in the Toronto Star, notes that "Stan oversaw the growth of White River Air Services with its acquisition of Sault Airways, Kapuskasing Air Service, Austin Airways, Superior Airways, Air Manitoba, Air Ontario and the startup of both NorOntair and Air Creebec. At one point in the mid 1970's after further relocating to Timmins, Stan's companies were doing charter and scheduled operations all over North America and were supplying planes, pilots and services to places as far away as Denmark, France (Reunion Island), Tunisia and Nepal."

Mr. Posner wrote that "There was never, Mr. Deluce once explained to an interviewer, any grand, master plan. 'It seemed to just come naturally. When you see opportunities you take them, but I never really had ambitions past doing things in Northern Ontario. I guess we grew because of the boys [among nine children, seven were sons, all of whom acquired commercial pilot licenses]coming into the business. Other than that, I probably never would have bothered, because after a certain point you're just adding headaches.'"

Mr. Posner noted that "As the large family and many friends gathered to pay final respects a Harvard AT-6 made a slow tributary pass over the cemetery in a fitting salute. Mr. Deluce trained on precisely such an aircraft" after joining the RCAF. A friend had arranged for the flight.

Mr. Posner also wrote that as the funeral cortage was making its way to the cemetery from the church, it was forced to stop at a railway crossing as a Canadian Pacific Railway train passed through it. All so very fitting!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Chamber of Commerce receives good news on airport but highway maintenance not satisfactory in 1973

When the Chapleau Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting in January 1973, members received good news about plans for the Chapleau airport, but highway maintenance was subject of complaints.

As airport committee chair Gene Bernier was absent, Bill Ward reported on his behalf.

"All hurdles had been jumped having been jumped, work would begin on a 3,000 foot runway topped with crushed rock. Margaret Costello reported in the Sault Star that "Other developments in connection with the airport are also expected to get underway, which it is hoped will accommodate various aircraft and be of considerable significance in solving some of Chapleau's transportation problems."

By 1975, Chapleau had daily norOntair  flights, and even Premier Bill Davis arrived at the airport to tour projects underway in the community. Perhaps the most distinguished visitor to arrive was Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Pauline McGibbon who visited Chapleau in 1978 to officially open the Chapleau Civic Centre.

An airport terminal building was also opened as well as other improvements which included paving the runway. J. M 'Bud' Park became the first airport manager.

The first "official" landing at the airport was in 1970 by a plane piloted by Stan Deluce.

The chamber decided that 1973 was to be "transportation year" as this was a major problem for the community. That included negotiations with norOntair and completion of the road through Sultan to Highway 144. That project is still on the table more than 40 years later, despite the best efforts of Chapleau.

The members also heard that the highways patrolled by the Chapleau patrol yard were "not receiving proper winter maintenance". Sound familiar ???

According to Maggie's story complaints centred around a shortage of materials provided by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

It was decided to send a letter to the ministry office in Sault Ste. Marie "reporting the unsatisfactory maintenance of highways within a 30 mile radius of Chapleau registering complaints of regular travelers from outside points as well as local."

As I was working on this column, I could not help but wonder how many letters have been sent  and meetings held over the past 40 years on this issue -- and the Sultan road.

Walter Broomhead reported on efforts to publicize Chapleau with radio ads, a brochure and signage. By the Fall of 1973. Mr. Broomhead and his wife Kay, were primarily responsible for the launching of the first Chapleau Arts and Crafts Fall Fair, which remains an integral and important part of community life to this day.

Election of officers took place and Matt Castonguay and Con Schmidt were returned as president and vice president respectively.  Ronald Bruneau succeeded long time secretary Myrtle Delaney who retired and Lorne Hoppenreys became treasurer.  Directors were Walter Broomhead, Cy Leduc, Bill Ward, Olive M. Card, Mike Rubin, Len Houghton, Gene Bernier and Margaret Costello.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Button "flew off" Gene Bernier's vest as he wheeled baby carriage down Chapleau main street, according to the Chapleau Post in 1947 plus fury of the social editor

When I was just beginning my career as a daily newspaper reporter 47 years ago this month with The Daily Press in Timmins, it didn't take me long to learn that the social, or women's editor, played a very important role in the life of the paper.

Although I would never have admitted it at that time, being all caught up in reporting the hard news of the day, it is quite likely that more people read the social news than my stuff -- with the exception of court news where we would report the name, address and penalty of every person convicted of an offense, and woe betide us if we left a name out. The wrath of the editor would descend upon us.

All these years later, I am still not sure if I feared the editor or the social editor more, for the latter's fury would be felt if we ever misspelled a person's name when called upon to make a story out of the handwritten notes, that ended up on our desks for rewriting into a story.

Such was the case at all the newspapers I worked. Hard news reporters were recruited to assist the social editors who had their own office adjacent to the newsroom. Not even the sports writers had their own private space. Sports writers live in their own space anyway, a breed apart from the rest of the newsroom.

I had learned to mind my spelling much earlier in life before I met newspaper editors though. I once got the strap while in Grade Four (I think), at Chapleau Public School, for having more than three mistakes in spelling. I swore it would never happen again, so was pretty well prepared for my years in the newspaper business.

During these dog days of summer which have finally arrived in southeastern British Columbia where I live, I have been going through scrapbooks of newspaper clippings kept by my aunt, Marion (Morris) Kennedy, which I inherited after she died. Aunt Marion's files have been the source for many articles.

Anyway, I discovered that the Chapleau Post was also big on social news and I decided to share a bit of it from the late 1940s.

Engine 2330 used on CPR passenger trains 1940s

Let me start with a piece from 1947, where the Post reporter tells a story, with tongue in cheek, about Gene Bernier, who was working at Smith and Chapple Ltd, and later became its president.

The Post reported that it was the store's custom to give as a gift to any member of their staff the first baby carriage required in the family.

"As is also the custom the new Daddy must personally wheel it home at the noon hour to the accompanying humour of the staff and the townspeople."

Gene qualified, and the Post story continued that he was taking the new carriage home "with much back slapping and cigar passing and razzing..."

Apparently, so the story goes, Gene got to the drug store and one of the buttons "flew off his vest" and struck a good lady "right in the eye" adding that "Gene is still trying to find out if his public liability insurance covers damages done from a swelled chest".

Well, not exactly the way most social news was reported, but in small town Chapleau in 1947, all in good fun I am sure.

In the same issue of the Post, the Ladies Aid to the Canadian Legion installed its officers for the next year, which was much more typical of the stories in this section of a newspaper. The officers were president Mrs. Chas. Collings, past president Mrs J. Robinson, first vice president Mrs. Geo. Desson, second vice president Miss Josephine Way-White, secretary Mrs. E. Chambers, treasurer Mrs. Geo. Hunt, sgt at arms Miss Lois Holding.

Readers will note that in those days, married women were referred to by their husband's name, not their own first name.

For example, my grandmother, Edith Hunt, played bridge every Tuesday night for years with the same ladies, and to this day I could not tell you the first name of any of them. In fact, they did not even call each other by their first names even at their weekly social gathering.

On the other hand, my mother, Muriel (Hunt) Morris, also played bridge with her friends and I knew their first names but certainly never called any of them by it. Mom and friends did call each other by their first names.

Team Number One of the Thursday Night Bowling Club held its Christmas Party at the YMCA and the members of the team served the turkey banquet to 40 members. Serving were Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Broomhead, Mrs. Sauve, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Futhey, Mrs. Ethier, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Burns and Mrs. Shannon. No first names provided in this one, but "the table was tastefully decorated for the season. After the banquet a sing-song, quizz and games were enjoyed with a ukulele solo by Mrs. J. Futhey".

Of course I knew all these people who were mentioned in the Chapleau Post articles from 1947. They made for a good read and memories of life in Chapleau when I was growing up there as well as my years in the daily newspaper business. I hope you are enjoying the summer. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Gene Bernier, Yvon Martel led successful seven year campaign to establish Chapleau airport with support from local business, industry and individuals by 1970

When Gene Bernier became president of the Chapleau Chamber of Commerce in 1963, he had one major thought in mind -- the construction of an airstrip for Chapleau.

Ralph Stewart, Gene, Dr McIlveen, MJM

Closely associated with Gene from the outset was Yvon Martel, and together they launched a seven-year campaign to obtain support for the project, and by May, 1970, the airstrip had become a reality when Stan Deluce, of Chapleau, president of of White River Air Service officially landed the first plane on the airstrip with Yvon as his passenger. Gene headed the welcoming committee.

As I was researching the airport story, I could not help but think of Tom Godfrey Sr, of a previous generation of Chapleau community builders, all volunteers, whose great passion was to have Highway 129 to Thessalon completed, and "turkey trail" through the bush it may have been when opened in 1949, the community had a highway link to break down the barriers of isolation.

Gene, Yvon and the others who joined them in the airport project were of a generation who saw that air travel was becoming more common by the 1960s and they were determined that Chapleau would not be left behind.

The chamber of commerce backed Gene's "thought" about the airstrip, and an airport committee was formed. It had its own bank account and Gene was the chairman. In no way, was the project officially supported by the Township of Chapleau council. In fact, over the next seven years there would be some misunderstandings between the two, but they were resolved by May 1970 when the council agreed to let them use township land, but would not provide any grants for the project.

In short, Chapleau got an airport because of the dedication of volunteers from businesses, industries and individuals who supported it.

For example, Gene and Yvon made innumerable trips at their own expense to meet with federal and provincial government officials in Ottawa and Toronto.

And, when construction began, Yvon, became the "foreman" according to a report Gene gave to the Chapleau Rotary Club, adding he was of "tremendous value" to the success of the project. Although they received some funding from senior governments, they also relied on donations of funds and equipment locally.

These airport pioneers were not content to just create a gravel strip runway, but were busy negotiating with the provincial government to establish a forest fire water bombing base at it, which eventually contributed to expansion.

By 1973, it had become the Chapleau Municipal Airport and the council had established the Chapleau Airport Commission. The first members were Gene as chair, with Yvon and Jack Russell as members, and a representative of council. When I became Chapleau reeve in 1974 I represented council on the airport commission.

But, it was the government of Premier Bill Davis who gave the airport a great boost when it established NorOntair in 1971. The airline was established to create east-west links across Northern Ontario. Premier Davis landed at the airport on a visit to Chapleau in 1975, where he toured the construction site of the Chapleau General Hospital and reviewed plans for other projects planned by council.

First NorOntair flight Timmins-Chapleau

Chapleau was added by 1975, and more barriers of isolation had come tumbling down. Citizens had daily service to Timmins, Sault Ste Marie and connections to Toronto. Depending on the schedules over the years you could also fly directly to Elliot Lake, Sudbury and North Bay.


In July 1975, the terminal building was officially opened. It coincided with a visit to Chapleau by an American marching band which was enlisted to play for the ceremonies.

Chapleau reeve Michael leaving 1st NorOntair flight

Ralph Stewart, the Member of Parliament at the time was present, and being a very accomplished musician was invited to lead the band in the Playing of 'O Canada'. Ralph took his place and proceeded to conduct the playing of the Canadian national anthem -- the only problem was that the band played the AMERICAN national anthem, followed by the Canadian.

In October 1979, a ceremony was held to officially open two paved runways, and Gene retired as chairman to be succeeded by Yvon Martel.


Chapleau had airline passenger service until 1996 when the government of Premier Mike Harris stopped subsidies to NorOntair.


In recognition of his tremendous contribution to the airport, it is now called after the person who had a thought in 1963, and made it into a reality -- the Eugene Bernier Airport. My email is mj.morris@live.ca


Thanks to DOUG GREIG for his research assistance.