Graham Bertrand retires as Chapleau Fire Chief after more than 40 years of service

TYLER, 'DAD' AND BRYCE

Graham Bertrand has retired as Chief of the Chapleau Volunteer Fire Department after serving in various capacities since he joined it on February 15, 1975.

He advised that his retirement was to take effect on November 12, so he would participate in the Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11 on parade with fire department members.

He was appointed as a Captain in 1997, then Deputy Chief in 2002, and Chief in 2005.

But, over the past 40 plus years, Graham has not only been contributing as a first responder to make Chapleau a safer place, but a better place for everyone to live, work and play.

My files show that Graham was a member  of the 1973 Chapleau Recreation and Festival Chapleau committees, and by 1978 he was the chair of A Taste of the North, the community's winter carnival. He later served as chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee.

 As an aside, in 1978, another great Chapleau volunteer was honoured with Jimmy Dillon being named King of the Carnival.

Graham was also trainer in the 1970s of the Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies of the Northland Intermediate Hockey League --- and actively participated in a "donkey baseball" game sponsored by the team.

In 2010, he was fire chief when the fire department celebrated its official 100th anniversary.

In 2005, Graham was honoured by the township for his 30 years of service and presented with a certificate of thanks and congratulations by Mayor Earle Freeborn.

 Jim Prince, the founder of the  Chapleau Express summed up the contribution of Graham and all firefighters in an article noting that they should be recognized for their work and dedication "on the front lines".

Jim's article  added that volunteering as a firefighter is rewarding and life changing experience for those who serve. They are called upon to perform extremely hard and physical work under adverse conditions.

However, Graham's significant contribution to Chapleau has not begun and ended with his service to the volunteer fire department for more than 40 years.

In 2001, when Chapleau celebrated its 100th anniversary of its incorporation as a municipality, with his late wife Rose (Connelly), he co-chaired the celebration.

 It was a huge success. I know!  It was my first trip back home after moving to British Columbia to teach at College of the Rockies. I stayed with Dr. G.E. "Ted" Young, and had a wonderful time.

Graham also headed the committee for the 90th anniversary reunion of Chapleau High School in 2012, and has advised me that now he has retired as fire chief will "need something to do" so is willing to become involved in a 100th anniversary celebration of the school in 2022.

Graham has also contributed to the life and times of Chapleau as a member of other organizations for many years. I believe that the greatest resource any community has is its people, and Graham C. Bertrand is a shining example of a person who has volunteered his time and talents to the betterment of Chapleau. Congratulations Graham, and I look forward to the 100th anniversary of Chapleau High School.    "Keep smiling Graham!" My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Doug Prusky becomes coach of Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies with Jean Claude Cyr as captain for 1977-78 NIHL season

Doug Prusky, who had starred as a player at all levels in Chapleau hockey became the coach of the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies with the 1977-78 season, the team's third in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League (NIHL) while veteran player, Jean Claude (JC) Cyr became the captain.

Doug was well known to Chapleau hockey fans as an outstanding player with the Junior "B" Huskies and the Intermediate "A" Huskies, until an injury cut short his playing career. He also played on the championship Bantam teams coached by Dave Futhey and David Mizuguchi.

Under the new bench boss, the Huskies established themselves as top contenders winning their two season openers on the road  defeating the Hearst Lumberkings 11-4 and Calvert GMs 6-2.

The Chapleau Sentinel reported that "with a new coach, new captain, several new players and the team stalwarts from the past season",  the wins were "a fine beginning (for Doug) as "the team had never won their first games since entering the league." Graham Bertrand was back as trainer.

The newspaper said that JC Cyr, the new captain played "sparkling hockey in both games and was rewarded for his efforts with five goals."

Glen Cappellani, who had returned home after a stint in the United States Hockey League showed that his semi-pro experience had really helped his game as he came up with "scintillating saves" in both games. Glen would share goaltending duties with David McAdam, who had been the team's stalwart since its beginning.

Steve Prusky, Doug's brother was also home after playing in the USHL and demonstrated the experience he had gained since leaving Chapleau where he had also been a star defenceman. "... (Steve) has the ability to control a hockey game from the blueline...," the Sentinel noted.

Other new faces were Ron Larcher and Gary Legros from the Junior "B" Huskies, Paul Scheer, joining his high scoring brother Bill on the team, and Rick Walker and Danny Homerodean from southern Ontario.

Other players on the roster  included veterans Jamie Doyle, Pat Swanson, Ted Swanson, Dave McMillan, Tom Laframboise, Paul McDonald, Ray Larcher, Richard Lacroix, George Card  and Keith McAdam. Terry Woermke, Danny Vaughan, Moe Poirier and Ted Zajac would also be on the team.

Before the season was too old, John Tavella, of Wawa, joined the team. At the time, John held the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior "A" (Tier One) League record  for most goals and assists in a single season set while playing for the Soo Greyhounds in the 1975-76 season -- 67 goals and 70 assists.

John had also been the 10th round draft choice of the Montreal Canadiens but had decided not to play in their farm system. john Simons of Wawa, who had also played for the Soo Greyhounds joined the team for the 1978-79 season.

In the regular season of 30 games, the Huskies enjoyed tremendous success under Doug's guidance, winning 24, losing four and tying two but for the third year in a row they met their archrivals the Timmins Northstars in the semi-finals, and lost with the Timmins team going on to become league champions.

But the foundation had been laid, and in the 1978-79 season playing in the new Moore Arena, at the Chapleau Recreation Centre, with Doug returning as coach, the Huskies finally defeated the Northstars in the semi-finals, which to the team and Chapleau hockey fans seemed the equivalent of winning the Stanley Cup. They lost in the finals to Kirkland Lake Blue Devils. 

Doug beside bed at the Summerfest races

It would be the final season for the team in the NIHL which continued for several more years until it folded in the 1980s as the "baby boomers" grew older and players were no longer readily available.

After Doug succeeded me as coach, the Sentinel reported that fans and players wondered if I was now more excitable as manager than I had been as coach. As I went through files putting this rough draft of the Intermediate "A" Huskies history focusing on Doug's time as coach, and who was on the team, I really don't know. What I do know though, is that despite ups and downs, it was an awesome experience to have been part of the team and be able to live the great moments we all shared. Thanks guys, and a special thanks to Doug Prusky.

Doug, retired now from the Canadian Pacific Railway, lives in Chapleau with wife Tina (Cappellani) and daughter Mya where he is president of the Chapleau Figure Skating Club.

Happy New Year to all. 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

John Tavella scores first goal in Moore Arena as Chapleau Intermediate 'A" Huskies down Valley East Crusaders in 1978

UPDATE: John Tavella died at age 59 on October 21, 2015.

The Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies inaugurated the Moore Arena at the Chapleau Recreation Centre,  on October 7 and 8, 1978 winning two exhibition games against the Valley East Crusaders.

With a crowd of more than 500 fans on hand for each game, the Huskies were "equal to the task" according to the Chapleau Sentinel, winning both games 6-4 and 5-4 respectively.

Doug Prusky, who had been a star with both the Chapleau Junior "B" and Intermediate "A" Huskies until an injury forced his retirement was entering his second year as coach of the Huskies. I was the manager.

David McAdam and Glen Cappellani shared goaltending duties.

John Tavella of Wawa, now playing for the Chapleau team, who had set an Ontario Hockey Association record for most points by a rookie when he played for the Sault Greyhounds, earned the honour of scoring the first goal in the Moore Arena at the 17:10 mark of the first period. Pat Swanson assisted.

The Sentinel reported that in the first game, Tavella and Jamie Doyle came through with "super performances culminating their efforts with two goals each.

RON LARCHER and the donkey

Entering their fourth year in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League, the Huskies, were playing the newest entry. The Crusaders were the 1977-78 Sudbury Intermediate League champions.

The first period ended in a 1-1 tie.

Doyle scored his first of the night in the second with assists going to Richard Lacroix and Bill Scheer. The Crusaders again tied the match but Ron Larcher scored on an unassisted effort, and the period ended 3-2 for the locals.

Ron Larcher, Bill Scheer on attack

But the Crusaders roared to the attack in the third pulling ahead by one goal.

Richard Lacroix, who had returned to the lineup after an absence started the comeback when he "put home one of his blasts" assisted by Larcher and Jacques Sylvestre. Fans were delighted to see Lacroix back with the Huskies. He had been the team's leading scorer and Rookie of the year during its first year of operation in 1975-76. Tavella scored his second of the night.

With six minutes left Doyle scored his second of the night assisted by Bill Scheer and Dave McMillan, which turned out to be the winning goal.

Veteran referee Jim Hong kept the game well under control handing out only minor penalties to both clubs.

Tavella was again the big marksman in the second game as he scored twice and earned one assist.

In the second game, Larcher opened the scoring for the Huskies after the Crusaders had taken the lead. Ted Swanson, who never missed a game in the team's four year history, assisted on Larcher's goal.

McMillan put the Huskies ahead with assists to Ted Zajac and Ted Swanson.

Although the Crusaders came back again, John Simon, also from Wawa, who had also played for the Sault Greyhounds, scored his first goal in a Chapleau uniform assisted by Tavella and Pat Swanson to give the locals a 3-2 edge at the end of the second period. Simon's son Chris played in the National Hockey League.

The Huskies in Summerfest bed race

In the third, the Crusaders tied the game, but Tavella put the Huskies back in front assisted by McMillan and then scored the winner assisted by Simon and George Card.

Barbara (Bowland) Groves advised that she sold the first ticket for the hockey game in the new Moore Arena. Barbara was the cashier and canteen manager until 1986, commenting "lots of hockey games." Thanks Barbara.

As an aside, while chatting with Graham Bertrand, co-chair of the Chapleau High School 90th anniversary reunion committee, he reminded me that the recreation centre had been officially opened on June 29, 1978, 34 years to the day of the beginning of the reunion.

BILL SCHEER, PAT SWANSON and GRAHAM!

in !978, Graham was the trainer for the Huskies, as well as serving as chair of Taste of the North the winter carnival and as a member of the Chapleau Recreation Centre. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Photos courtesy of JOHN THERIAULT

Graham Bertrand chairs Taste of the North with Jimmy Dillon as Carnival King and Debbie Ferguson as Queen in 1978

Jim Dillon, Graham Bertrand, Debbie Ferguson Bonhomme, MJM

Graham Bertrand was the chairman of 'A Taste of the North', the Chapleau Winter Carnival, while Jimmy Dillon, who was instrumental in reviving the annual winter celebration was honoured by being named King of the Carnival in 1978.

Debbie Ferguson was the Queen of the Carnival while I can't remember who Bonhomme was that year.

Graham, 34 years later, was co-chair with Nadia (Huard) Fortin of the 90th anniversary reunion festival of Chapleau High School, being held from June 29 to July 1.

My files show that Graham was a member of the Chapleau Recreation and Festival Chapleau committees in 1973, so for more than 40 years he has been actively involved in the life of his community -- and I won't even try to list all the ways he has volunteered  for Chapleau activities.

I will mention one though -- Graham was a great trainer for the Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies when they played in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League. He also played donkey baseball!

Bill Scheer, Pat Swanson, Graham Bertrand

Graham was also co-chair with his wife Rose of the 100th anniversary of Chapleau celebration in 2001. He is also Chapleau' fire chief.

Suffice it to say, CONGRATULATIONS GRAHAM and THANK YOU!

Jimmy Dillon was chairman of the winter carnival committee during the 1950s as well as serving as manager of the Chapleau Huskies -- Intermediate 'B' teams who were always entered in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association playoffs, and at carnival time, vied for the Ernest  'Sonny' Bignucolo Memorial Trophy. Sonny, an outstanding goaltender was killed while on active service in Canada;s Armed Forces.

Someone once told me that Jimmy was a great manager who even accounted for "every piece of tape." He was also president of the Chapleau Liberal Party Association when Lester B. 'Mike' Pearson, who became prime minister, was the local Member of Parliament,

'Hinge students' at Chapleau High School participated in locked door rebellion during exciting days at new school in 1966, Tom Corston recalled, as planning begins for 90th anniversary reunion in 2012

CHS gym class on field 1960s

Tom Corston referrred to those who attended both the "old" and "new" Chapleau High School as "hinge students" as he recalled the exciting days in 1966 as the school moved from Pine Street to its present location on the hill.

Writing in the souvenir newspaper published for the 75th anniversary in 1997, Tom says they were exciting days moving from the old to the new.

"We were leaving behind a venerable building that we were aware held valuable memories for our elders. Their initials were well carved into many an old desk and their portraits hung on every available wall space.

"But the old building had become overcrowded and a firetrap." Tom recalled classes being held in the converted basement gymnasium, "freezing in gym shorts out on the back field on cold autumn days because we had no gym; and learning of all things in the 60s to fox-trot. as part of gym class, in the dusty basement of the old town hall."

Tom reminded me of a decade earlier when we learned to waltz at dances in the old high school basement when Dr. Karl A. Hackstetter was a teacher at the old high school... He had returned as principal for three years just before the new school opened.... and it appears that the fox-trot became the dance of choice.

When I received a message from Graham Bertrand advising that a meeting is planned for November 24 in the council chambers of the civic centre in Chapleau at seven p.m. to start organizing the 90th anniversary celebration of Chapleau High School in 2012, Tom's article came to mind and I contacted him about using parts of it in a column. Tom, who is now the Anglican Bishop of Moosonee, replied quickly, "Just fine."

1967 reunion Margaret Rose, Alex in centre

In 1982 and 1997, CHS marked its 60th and 75th anniversaries respectively with hugely successful celebrations, and if the positive reaction on a Facebook page is any indication, the 90th will be quite a party too. Margaret Rose Fortin and Alex Babin were the co-chairs of both reunions.

Tom wrote that the new school was "indeed, beautiful. We who were among its first residents, were so very proud. It required a bit of a longer walk for most of us, in a day before school buses, but it had fully equipped labs, bright classrooms with big windows, a library, a beautiful gymnasium and shiny floors, kept so diligently by a custodial staff to three from the one elderly janitor who cared for the old school.

"Suddenly a great change for us, as well, was that we were all assigned a locker and no longer just a hook upon which to hang our coats."

Tom outlined some of the rules at the new school, some of which were the usual, but he noted that girls had to wear dresses and boys dress pants and no jeans. That rule was not changed until a vote by students in the 1970s several years after I had returned to teach at CHS, and I recall that although a the dress code was changed the results were closer than I thought they would be.

But the rule that led to a student rebellion was the one where students had to stay outside the school during the lunch hour, except for bus students.

Tom shared the story of the student rebellion at CHS:

"We had become frustrated with a rule and with those who were our masters. As i remember it, it was a cold winter day and we had to wait outside the new building during rhe lunch hour. After all, we could never be let loose to have the run of the new building while the staff was off for lunch.

"We were cold and disgruntled. We pounded on the door but to no avail. Then it started small but the rabble rousers among us began to agitate and and before long we were a crazed mob of unruly demonstrators, the likes that CHS had never seen before

"We rebelled! And when the doors were finally opened we moved as a yelling, unruly mob into the new gym not even taking off our shoes.

"We went on strike. We held a sit-in and we sang and we shouted and refused to return to class.... We were strong . We spoke with one voice. It was heady stuff. No one could control us or change our minds."

But, as Tom reported, things changed quickly. The rebels were doing well until the school principal Bill Mair returned from lunch, walked into the gym, and "with one great yell sent us all scattering. It had all lasted 20 minutes and the rule stood!"

However, there was one very significant change at CHS during Tom's time there in 1968 when he was president of the student council -- the new school colours.

"Students had become disgruntled with the old school colours of green, white amd red. .. The opinion was that a new school needed new colours..."

Although some graduates of the school were a bit disgruntled about changing the colours, finally a decision was made and the chosen colours became dark blue and light blue.

"It was a drastic change and some of our parents disagreed, " Tom wrote. "But we were undaunted in our choice. It was ours -- we liked the new colours , and liked even more the stamp we were able to put on our new building and on the history we were making."

Tom also noted that ot her members of the school colours committee included Joan Whitney, David Stevens, Clem Pilon, Marjorie McCrea, Gordie Welch and Gerry Bowland.


Thanks for the memories Tom of those years over 30 years ago when you were a student at CHS. As plans evolve for the celebration of the 90th anniversary in 2012, out of the mothballs of memory will come more stories from all those who have been part of Chapleau High School. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

As plans evolve and more information on the 90th becomes available, I will post it.