George Theriault provides moose meat for Prime Minister Lester Pearson's 'VIP game dinner party' with help from Ross Sawyer

Shortly after Lester B. Pearson became prime minister of Canada in 1963, George Theriault received a phone call from his secretary who made a special request.

Mary MacDonald, the prime minister's long time secretary, said Mr. Pearson was hosting a "VIP game dinner party".

Writing in his fascinating book 'Trespassing in God's Country', Mr. Theriault explained that "He wanted to serve moose meat as one of the main courses. He had specifically asked if I could provide him with a hundred pounds of meat for his party. Even though it was late in the moose hunting season, I was confident that I could find just the right moose to satisfy his desire, so I agreed."

How did Mr. Theriault become acquainted with the prime minister of Canada?  Mr. Theriault met him while stationed at Rockcliffe while he was serving in the RCAF and Mr. Pearson was a "high ranking government official". Later when Mr. Pearson entered politics and became the member of parliament for Algoma East, which included Chapleau, They renewed their friendship.

Mr. Theriault had established his air base at Chapleau after retiring from the RCAF in 1954.

After the phone call, Mr. Theriault flew out to Sahler Lake with his friend and hunting buddy Bill Clarke to dismantle a tent camp they had used during a busy two weeks for moose hunting.

"We finished our chores quickly then paddled the canoe across the lake to a creek. We pulled the canoe onto the shore and walked up a trail along the side of the creek. About three quarters of a mile up the creek, we caught site of a young cow feeding in the shallow water of the creek. Instantly Bill and I both had the same thought  --- there's the prime minister's moose. Without hesitating for one moment, I raised my gun and shot it."

Everything was working out well and within a few days the moose was hung and butchered, and then ... Mr. Theriault entered his office at the airbase only to discover that someone had broken into the building through one of the windows. 

The prime minister's moose had been stolen!

Mr. Theriault notified the Ontario Provincial Police who had coincidentally stopped a car the night before with moose meat in it. However, after visiting the home of the car driver, the police found no meat. 

Now Mr. Theriault was in quite a predicament. It was too late to go hunting.

Ross Sawyer to the rescue!!!

Ross gave him a hind quarter of a moose that he had shot for his family, and this was sent to the prime minister for his party.

"It may not have been as tasty as the young cow, but it was moose meat nonetheless. The dinner party turned out to be a success after all, and the prime minister conveyed his appreciation."

'Trespassing in God's Country: Sixty Years of Flying in Northern Canada' is a must read for anyone interested in our north country..

George Theriault died on May 26, 2015 at age 95. I leave you with the final paragraph from his book: "That's the most amazing thing: life just goes on  -- with us and without us. None of us are permanent fixtures on this landscape; we are all trespassers in God's country."  May he rest in peace.

Thanks  to John Theriault, one of Mr. Theriault's sons who provided me with a copy of his father's book.

Also, I extend my most sincere best wishes to all for the holiday season. Enjoy! Stay safe! Peace be with you. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Prime Minister Lester Pearson extended congratulations to Chapleau telephone operators, 'unsung heroes' of 1965 forest fire

Prime Minister Lester B Pearson sent a telegram of congratulations to Chapleau telephone operators on their efforts during the forest fire that threatened the community in 1965.

Mr. Pearson, who also served as Member of Parliament for Algoma East which included Chapleau, wrote in the telegram to Mrs. Mary Bowes, acting chief operator, "I shared in the relief I know all of you must have felt when the winds shifted and the rains finally came averting the destruction of Chapleau.

"May I congratulate you personally and the members of your staff for your coolness and bravery.

"You have every reason to be proud of your role in a situation which proved the fortitude of the citizens of Chapleau."

While many Chapleau citizens were being evacuated, the telephone operators remained and were working 24/7 handling a record number of calls on the system which had been in use since 1951 when operator assisted calls replaced the dial system.

The Chapleau Sentinel reported that the telephone operators were "unsung heroes" throughout the fire that ravaged the area and seriously threatened the town.

Operators busy during fire

In turns they "took an hour off here and an hour off there and grabbed something to eat whenever they could" and then rushed back to work.

Mrs. Bowes, who was replacing chief operator Mrs Myrtle Delaney who happened to be out of town on business commented  that the operators "seemed to realize there was a crisis and it must be met".

The newspaper reported statistics for the weekend showing that ordinarily the system would handle about 3000 local calls --- they rose to a "staggering 32159" within the community.

Outgoing  long distance calls would usually be less than 500 on a weekend but rose to 3695 with almost the same number incoming during the forest fire threat.

However, the days of the operator assisted system were numbered as construction was being completed on a new facility at the corner of Pine and Young streets and the community would be returning to a dial system, although long distance operators would still be on duty. The operators worked out of a building on Pine Street at one time the Orange Hall and later the by-law office.

Marcel Bourgeault on left Bonnie (Babin) Desbois shows new equipment

After midnight on December 4, 1965 a switch was thrown and the new system went into effect.

At the official opening Councillor Marcel Bourgeault, the acting reeve, brought greetings and extended congratulations to Bell on the new system and facility.

I have been receiving messages since my column  last week from folks sharing their telephone numbers, and from operators and family members who worked in Chapleau during the 1950s and 1960s. Thank you all so much.

The telegram from Prime Minister Pearson pointed out the importance of the telephone operators during a major crisis in Chapleau. In fact, on a personal basis, their efforts to keep lines of communication open, affected me too. I was working as a newspaper reporter In Toronto, but my mother Muriel E (Hunt) Morris and my grandmothers Edythe Hunt and Lil Morris were in Chapleau. I was able to get through to Mom, and even though they did not evacuate, I was able to stay in touch by phone.

All these years later, I am able to share the story of the "unsung heroes" -- the telephone operators in Chapleau! HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Barack Obama is heading to Canada

Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Canada on February 19, making it his first official visit to another country since becoming president of the United States on January 20. Some Canadian journalists are calling it a 'fly by' as Obama will arrive in our capital city Ottawa in the morning, spend time with Stephen Harper, the prime minister and have lunch, answer a few questions at a news conference, then head back to the airport and likely be back in Washington before his children go to bed.

His trip may or may not get a mention on the major American news broadcasts, but at the news conference, Canadian journalists get two questions --- one in English, the other in French. The other two are for the U.S. traveling press corps, according to reports.

What will President Obama and Prime Minister Harper discuss. Obviously the economy.

The U.S. president is hugely popular in Canada with about an 80% approval rating but he will not be making a major address to the Canadian people. In fact the Canadian parliament is on a break this week.

It is difficult to really say how the president and the prime minister will get along but given the dire state of the global economy and the importance of Canada - U.S. trade let's hope all goes OK. I can recall the disastrous relationships between President John F Kennedy and Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and President Lyndon Johnson and Prime Minister Lester Pearson.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien and President Bill Clinton became golfing buddies.

I have my doubts if Obama and Harper will ever break out into song like President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney did with the rendition of 'When Irish Eyes are Smiling' but making a connection for a positive relationship between the two countries will be sufficient.

Harper must be looking forward to the photo-op with Obama, the world's political rock star, hoping it will give him a boost in the polls.

Perhaps President Obama will have much more in common with Official Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff who he plans to meet at the airport. Both attended Harvard University, and Ignatieff headed the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy there during the time that Lawrence Summers was Harvard president. Summers is now the head of Obama's National Economic Council based in the White House. A good friend to have in Washington and Dr Summers is apparently accompanying the president to Ottawa!

Please feel free to leave comment. Email me at mj.morris@live.ca