Chapleau Hub located in St. John's Anglican Church introducing wide variety of projects with goal of preserving historical building

Victoria Rioux photo

The Chapleau Hub, located in the upstairs of historic St. John's Anglican Church, is in the process of becoming home for a wide variety of activities and projects, but the Anglican community also holds its services there.

Victoria Rioux provided an update on some of the activities pointing out that "Our main goal remains preserving this historical building and provide an affordable option for the Anglican congregation to remain in the building. The beautiful space upstairs is currently under-utilized. The building needs to be humming to keep the lights on".

As a matter of historical interest St. John's was established in Chapleau in 1885 with the first church building located on the site of the old tennis court beside the rectory. The first service in the present St, John's was held on March 29, 1908 when it was dedicated by Bishop George Holmes. For a time Bishop Holmes lived in Chapleau and St. John's was the Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Moosonee.

Bev Hamilton photo

Stonewalls restaurant is located downstairs which is now "humming along" according to Victoria.

Victoria advised that the Chapleau that the Chapleau Hub was started with support from "MSDSB (Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board) in the form of two summer students. After Canada Day, we trialed a few community activities just to see what appetite Chapleau has. One summer student Hannah Barlow has returned on her coop term so we have been able to maintain some consistency. She is absolutely integral to our mission."

Victoria Rioux photo

Her team is running weekly movie nights, and  hosted a Community Yard Sale in September which raised $400 for the Anglican church on the day, as well as stocking the second hand store with unsold items which they can sell in the store.

Right now the major event being planned is a Children's Halloween Event scheduled for October 27 and 28. It will include pumpkin decorating, candy toss, scavenger hunt and more. Sounds like fun. The Hub is planning a major activity each month.

There are other tenants including Yoga by Kathleen Bouchard and Boot Camp by Margo Beaudoin, while the EarlyON program was scheduled to join the Hub as I was working on this column. 

Victoria noted that the "BIGGEST" news is that they are installing the first wood heating system in Chapleau. It may now be completed.

She explained  this will make the building Carbon Free!: It is a wood pellet boiler that is high efficiency and fully automatic. It is completely hands off, no handling of pellets by hand, just like an oil or propane furnace. 

Victoria Rioux photp

She added: "Why? Reason #1: Unlike propane and oil, wood pellets are environmentally friendly because it's not a fossil fuel, it's carbon neutral (bc you regrow the trees).  Reason #2: Wood pellets are half the price of oil and propane, and 1/4 the price of heating with electricity.  Reason #3:  It supports Northern Ontario's economy.  Wood pellets are made in Northern Ontario, and all the money stays in Northern Ontario with the pellet facility owners and the forestry industry that supplies the wood.  Our wood pellets will initially be coming from the Thunder Bay and Atikokan region, delivered by a special delivery truck.

"Also, Jason(Rioux) believes there's a "sustainable future" here, one that is best for the environment and saving our plant from climate change, one that creates new economic growth and jobs for Northern Ontario, and one that is more affordable to homes and businesses. 

"Nordic countries have been doing this for over 30 years. But going first has proven to be tough, we need to install a large pellet storage bin at our site before the wood pellet delivery truck can come from Thunder Bay to fill us up.  Once we have the system fully installed, we will be inviting the community to come take a look and learn about the future.  Parts of Europe decided decades ago that wood pellet heating was the long term sustainable way to go, and Europe purchases almost all of the pellets we make in Canada!  It has proven to be economically viable for them to import all our pellets, it surely makes sense for us to be using them for our own heating needs."

My thanks to Victoria for providing an update on progress at the Chapleau Hub. Other projects and activities are in the works. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

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Making peace by overcoming ugliness with beauty, meanness with generosity, lies with truth, evil with good!

Let me share some thoughts expressed by Rev. Canon H.A. Sims, the Rector of St. John's Anglican Church in 1948. They seem as appropriate today on this Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) in our troubled world as they were three years after the end of World War II.

In part, here is what Canon Sims. a World War I veteran,  said:

"There is not the slightest necessity for civilized men to destroy their civilization in warfare. Nothing is settled by warfare which could not be better settled in some more reasonable, humane and decent way.

"Warfare is caused by men  who have allowed the spirit of the devil rather than the spirit of God to determine their thinking.

"Peace does not come through wishing for it or through praying for it... peace comes only from those who make it; who work harder at making peace than men working at making war.

"We must make peace by working hard at overcoming ugliness with beauty; overcoming meanness with generosity; overcoming lies with truth and by overcoming evil with good."

I was at the church that night with my family because a memorial prayer desk was being dedicated in memory of my father, Flying Officer James E Morris, who was killed on active service in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943 during World War II. I was seven years old.

In his incredible book, 'The Ordeal of Total War', Gordon Wright tells us that Sir Winston Churchill once commented that the effects of World War II, will be felt by those affected by it for at least 100 years. Trust me, Churchill was right. I am just shy of 77 now , and have lived with that war every day of my life.

Every time I hear of the death of one of the member of our armed forces, or for that matter police officers, firefighters, and other first responders, my heart goes out to their family and friends. I know, I care  and I understand.  My email ias mj.morris@live.ca

Jason Rioux provides update on progress made on restoration and future plans for St. John's Anglican Church in Chapleau

Jason Rioux, the owner of the St John's Anglican Church building, kindly provided me with a copy of a letter he sent to the congregation and Bishop Tom Corston about the present situation at the church. The letter provides details on steps that have already been taken to restore the church, and measures that are planned.

I extend my thanks to Jason for permitting me to share the letter with readers of the Chapleau Express in Chapleau Moments and here, as he moves forward. Jason is also open to hearing from you.  His email is jason.rioux@gmail.com

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

BY JASON RIOUX

Happy 2018! We wanted to share how things are going and provide an update for our vision on things yet to come. This building was built by you and taken care of by you for the last 100+ years.

Regardless of a change in building ownership, this remains YOUR church and we are deeply committed to keeping you in YOUR church. It’s not St. John’s Anglican Church without you.

Preserving the Building In 2016 and 2017, we undertook major renovations to improve the bones of the building. Without this investment, the building would have fallen into further disrepair.

Major basement renovations were completed to allow for fully accessible commercial food and retail use. This turned out to be an enormous job with many costly hurdles that were overcome. Exterior brick repairs and restoration work began.

We completed repairs to the northeast corner of the building near the chimney and started on the west wall’s spaulding brick. The brick chimney was rebuilt to full height and lined so it can be used again.

The rear cement patio and landscaping was added. We are lucky to have found Marc, our local experienced bricklayer to take on this work, and he had to find 100 year old reclaimed brick from southern Ontario and haul it north to Chapleau to do the job right.

And as it turns out, our bricklayer is now the tenant downstairs with homemade pizza making skills second to none!

As for 2018, we will finish the brick repairs on the west wall, point the brickwork around the building, and start brick repairs to the bell tower. We would like to bring back the original “castle top” -- if we can find a way to fund it.

Financial Sustainability

The church building remains a money losing project, big time. Our objective is to bring the building into financial sustainability for the for the long term. To accomplish this, the reality is we have 3 things to focus on:

1. Finding additional rent from the main floor

• We need this new rent to co-exist with the congregation, and will likely come from a new additional tenant or from running special events.

• We are currently looking for ideas, other non-profits focusing on local history and culture, performing arts, entertainment, special events, etc.

• Unfortunately this will require most of the pews to come out. More about pews discussed below.

2. Reducing our heating costs

• Step 1 – Install a new wood stove in the basement, just finished!

• Step 2 – Get completely off heating oil – We plan to install a new boiler heating system in 2018 that will use renewable wood pellets as the fuel. These are considered carbon neutral (good for the environment) and will be sourced from northern Ontario (good for the local economy).

 • Step 3 – Seal up the building – we need to seal up air cracks and gaps on the main floor. We will get a blower door test conducted to identify the air leaks and then try to seal them up to improve the efficiency of the building and reduce our heating costs for next winter.

3. Helping our current tenants be successful long term

• We are working closely with our current basement tenant, Stonewalls restaurant, to help them grow their business to meet the needs and desires of the Chapleau community. We are in the process of installing a new wood fired pizza oven downstairs for everyone’s eating pleasure in the next month or so, I’m super excited about that.

• We want to help the Anglican Church congregation find ways to innovate and connect with the community. We are open to trying new things, we have the large vacant lot next door that can host special events, we have the ability to be creative together for mutual benefit.

Please keep this in mind as you plan 2018.

We are here to help where we can, just pitch us your ideas on what you want to try.

Environmental Sustainability

We believe that we can make investments in the b that can both accomplish financial and environmental sustainability. For example the heating system improvements have the ability to make the building “carbon neutral”. Currently we are burning over 15,000 litres of heating oil per winter, this has significant CO2 emissions that are bad for our climate.

It just happens that converting to modern wood pellet heating is lower cost than oil, and is carbon neutral, a win-win situation. But it takes effort to make this switch.

We are working with technology suppliers from Europe, and we are working with Ontario pellet fuel suppliers for bulk deliveries to Chapleau. It’s not easy going first, but we think it is worth the effort.

What to do with the Pews? We expect that any new uses upstairs will require more flexibility in the space, different seating arrangements, more open space, ability to set up tables and We would like to hear ideas and preferences from the congregation on how we select which pews we should keep. We think we can probably keep 6 to 10 long pews in the space. Some questions and ideas we would like your feedback on:

1. Do we add name plaques to identify the original family pews that will remain in the church? This way we can keep track of the pews as they are shuffled around over time. Can you propose which pews we should keep as a priority?

2. We will be looking to sell 20 or more pews to help offset our building restoration costs. Should we first offer the pews for sale to the original families they may have sat in them? If so, how do we contact those families if no longer in attendance?

 3. Any ideas for local businesses or places that might need pews like this?

4. Do we know a local carpenter that can shorten pews so that they can fit better into people’s homes? This could help more of the pew find their way into homes in Chapleau.

 In terms of replacement seating that can accommodate multiple uses, we are thankful to receive 100 chairs from the United Church to help get us started! Opening up the space and getting more people into the church will help with our collective community outreach. It's a beautiful building and sharing it with the community is a positive thing that increases the long term viability of the church.

As always, I want to hear your thoughts. You can email me anytime at Jason.rioux@gmail.com

Once upon a time, Christmas memories from third pew from the chancel steps and below the pulpit at St. John's Chapleau

"Once upon a time, in a land, far, far away, and in a divisional point on the mighty transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway was erected a replica of an 'English' church found in the 'Mother Country'", Marion (Morris) Kennedy, wrote in a letter to me shortly before she died on December 26, 2007.

Aunt Marion, daughter of Lil (Mulligan) and Harry Morris and sister of my father, James E. Morris, was writing about St. John's Anglican Church in Chapleau, being a replica of a church in England. She was reflecting on memories of St. John's at Christmas time when she was a young girl "sitting with her mother who was hard of hearing, third pew from the chancel steps and below the pulpit."

Aunt Marion married Harold Kennedy who came to Chapleau as the Ontario Provincial Police officer.

She was kneeling "watching (through her fingers) the parishioners partaking in the Holy Communion rite."

But, Aunt Marion started her letter with a wonderful description of St. John's as it was when she was young, and was the same when I last visited it when home for the Chapleau High School 90th anniversary reunion in 2012.

She wrote that it was "a marvel, with flying buttreses, and inside, carved pews, railings, choir stalls, bishop's chair, pulpit and pipe organ. (As an aside, my family in 1948 donated a Prayer desk in front of the bishop's chair in memory of my father who was killed on active service in the RCAF during World War II).

"Over the entry in the chancel, inscribed on the walls, semi-circle are the words "Enter Into His Gates with Thanksgiving and Into His Courts with Praise" (Psalm 100:4)

"Above the beautiful altar screen three stained glass windows are positioned, centred with Jesus and the famous "Behold I stand at the door and knock..." (Revelation 3:20) and yes, no door latch. St. John and St. Andrew as flanks, and above 'wall to wall' fresco depicting kneeling women.

My aunt, like me, was not in favour of church doors being locked with her comment "and yes, no door latch" but that is a story for another day.

She continues with the popular story among church members years ago about the bellows being worked "by boys given the honour in a cupboard below the organ".

"There was many a tale of the organist wildly pumping the foot pedals and calling for air", when the boys failed to work the bellows.

"The boys carved or wrote their initials on the walls -- one set belonging to the brother of the narrator, and in times of refurbishing the church the initials were always left as is". I wonder if they are still there -- a pretty historic document in the life of St. John's.

As church members exited at the end of the service Christmas greetings were exchanged quietly as the congregation had been very moved 'by the devotion and faith" of an elderly First Nations person who had walked a far distance to attend.

She wrote to me that she recalled this particular service and her thoughts every Christmas no matter where she lived. She added that following the services on Christmas Eve the townspeople from St. John's, Trinity United Church and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church would greet each other on their way home.

She also noted that following Christmas Eve services, neighbours would gather, " in the clear moon lit night with the Aurora Borealis crackling above".

That was my experience too growing up in Chapleau after  attending St. John's, where my mother, Muriel E. (Hunt) Morris would leave home early as she was choir director, but walk home with us -- my grandparents Edythe and George Hunt. My aunt and uncle B.W. 'Bubs' and Elsie Zufelt and my cousins Betty, Anne, Joan and Leslie would depart at the Beech Street corner, and we would see them on Christmas Day.

I would also spend time with my Morris grandparents, and Aunt Marion when she was home in Chapleau.

Those were the days my friends in so many ways, and when I came across my aunt's letter recently, decided to share some of it with you. I extend my most sincere best wishes, and every blessing, for a very Merry Christmas. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Amy Green 'a real heroine' in Chapleau who expressed herself in beautiful music ready to play for all occasions

When St John's Anglican Church celebrated its 90th anniversary in 1975, Rev William P. Ivey paid special tribute to Mrs Amy Green, who at the time had served as church organist for 13 years, having responded to a call to take the position on a "temporary" basis.

Mr Ivey referred to her as "a real heroine. She is an excellent organist and is unfailingly ready to play for every service, choir practice, wedding, funeral and special occasion that arises."

Although Mrs Green continued as organist for about 30 years, her contribution to the community overall as pianist and organist was summed up in article written after she died in 1995.   

"As long as she had the strength to sit on a piano bench and the eyesight to read the music she  expressed herself in beautiful music that will live on in the hearts of all all that knew her."

In 1984, when I was writing 'Sons of Thunder ... Apostles of Love' to mark the 100th anniversary of St John's I had a chat with Mrs Green who provided me with an anecdote involving my grandmother Lil (Mulligan) Morris.

Apparently my grandmother played a role in Mrs. Green becoming church organist. She revealed the following "... when I told my neighbor Mrs Morris, your grandmother, that Mr Doolan (Rev J.G.M. Doolan) wanted me to stay and play the organ that Sunday and I had wanted to go to Toronto to buy a long white dress for the Eastern Star where I would have the office of organist,  Mrs Morris said that if I would stay and play the organ that she would make me a dress for Eastern Star.

"So Mrs Morris and I went over to Simpsons order office and looked through the catalogue and ordered the material and your grandmother made my long white dress for all special meetings as officers. So I started playing the church organ in 1962."

My grandparents Lil (Mulligan) and Harry Morris lived right beside Amy (Pitts) and Len Green on Elgin Street --- at Teak Street with the Green house on the corner!

Born in England in 1900, she arrived in Chapleau in 1913,with her parents Louisa and Frank Pitts after her parents had read an article by Rev. Guy Rogers extolling the virtues of Northern Ontario  and Chapleau which he had visited.

Although Rev Rogers had good things to say about Chapleau and St. John's when he visited, he also commented "How the early settlers stood the monotony and hardship of life is known only to them and God. What it must be like to live at some pinpoint when the temperatures fall far below zero!"

Apparently, the family arrived in Chapleau during a March blizzard, and was ready to leave before life in the community really began, but the outpouring of friendship kept them there. The article about Mrs Green notes that Rev Percy Soanes, rector of St John's formed a welcoming committee, and her father got employment in the CPR office. Her mother, who was an excellent cook, was hired by Dr. J.J. Sheahan, who also provided accommodation for the family.

She had been unable to bring her piano from England but Mr and Mrs Bill Lyness made the piano in their home available to her.

She graduated from the continuation school in Chapleau and then attended Kingston Business College.

Her father enlisted in 1916, in the Canadian Army in World War I, but became ill and returned to Canada in 1918. He died in 1922.

Chapleau friendship continued as Mr. Lyness and friends came together and built the Elgin Street house for them. This was really quite common in the early days, as I recall my grandfather telling me about friends helping build their house --- and after World War II, our camp at Healy.

She married Len Green who had come to Chapleau for a short visit from England in 1924.

By this time the area where they lived in Chapleau was referred to as 'Little England' --- some of the families in the neighbourhood were Green, Wedge, Hands, Mitchell, and a bit later Card and Austin, and of course my grandparents.  To this day I am not sure if my grandparents really qualified as they were Irish.

As time passed Mrs Green's ability as an accompaniest became well known and she was called upon to play piano and/or organ at many events.

Her husband Len, who had served in the armed forces in World War I, was a charter member of Branch 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion, while she was a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary, also serving as president. In 1985 she was awarded a 50-year membership pin.

Mrs Green was also recognized for her bookkeeping skills and for 17 years served as secretary treasurer of the public school board, as well as working for the CPR and Austin Lumber and other places where she was needed.

She was also librarian for  number of years where one of her favourite visitors was a young man by the name of Ted Young, who apparently loved mystery stories. She followed his career and he eventually became her doctor when he returned home as Dr G.E. 'Ted' Young. 

Gardening and reading were two of her passions and she continued both all her life. She read a book a day!

In 1937, Mrs. Green learned that an old trapper's cabin was available at Healy, and she bought it for $25. It became an important place for summer vacation, and after World War II, we joined them there when my grandfather, assisted by my mother Muriel E (Hunt) Morris built a camp there.

Len Green as well as other Healy residents also assisted in the construction, extending Chapleau friendship beyond its boundaries! The Green family also built a new camp.

 For me, bridging the great physical divide in Chapleau because of the CPR tracks, and living on the "other side" of town from my father's parents, but visiting them often, and camping at Healy, were so very important to me. I lived on Grey Street with my mother Muriel (Hunt) Morris and my other grandparents, Edythe and George Hunt. Most readers will know my father Flying Officer Jim Morris was killed on active service in the RCAF during World War II. My email is mj.morris@live.ca  

Bishop Tom Corston spent a 'little different Christmas' in 2010 as he travelled to Chapleau and Foleyet for services through freezing rain, fog and 'beautiful bush'

Rt Rev Thomas A. Corston, who most of us from Chapleau commonly refer to simply as "Tom", spent a "little different Christmas" shortly after he became the ninth Anglican Bishop of Moosonee, in 2010.

At Christmas time in 2010,  Tom left Timmins on an historic trip down Highway 101 to preside at services at St. John's In Foleyet, and at St. John's in Chapleau. 

Writing in his blog in January 2011, he shared the story. I stumbled across his blog while doing some research recently, contacted Tom, the son of the Frances (Jardine) and the late Henry Corston, who were our next door neighbours, and asked if I could quote from it. He gave me permission. 

His little different Christmas started out a bit badly when shortly after leaving Timmins, he realized he had forgotten his wallet so had to return to the Synod office for it. 

Having left early, he had time but on the drive to Foleyet, "I encountered some light freezing rain but made the trip in good time.

"The rain created some beautiful Christmas card scenes on the surrounding trees."

The church was filled for the four p.m service. St. John's in Foleyet had been his first parish 35 years ago, in 1975. so "it was great to see some old friends in the congregation, now with grandchildren. We even had an organist so we enjoyed singing the carols and ended the celebration with everyone holding a candle and singing 'Silent Night'"

Leaving Foleyet he wrote, "I was worried for the drive to Chapleau as it was now dark. The highway was good though and I encountered no more freezing rain. Just outside town I encountered fog and as I entered town with the shops now closed and literally no one present on the main street, it was a surreal experience driving in the heavy fog.  Certainly not what one would expect on Christmas Eve in a northern community."

He noted that Chapleau was his home community and the large St. John's Church had struggled in recent years to keep its doors open. As an aside, St. John's was sold in 2016 to Jason Rioux, and plans for its future are now underway. Also for those who may not know, Tom attended Chapleau Public and Chapleau High Schools and was active in St. John's.

"What a wonderful experience it was that the old church was filled by the time the celebration began," he wrote.

"The full church unnerved the Layreader somewhat as she confessed her nervousness. I assured her that I was far more nervous than she because I recognized so many friends of my youth who came out to meet me, with grandchildren in tow.

"Christmas at home was a wonderful celebration, even with the canned music!!"

"I had not been in my home church for Christmas since 1974 and it was good to see family and friends come out to renew old acquaintances."

Tom was ordained Deacon in 1974 at St. John's, and to the priesthood in 1975.

His son Andrew  met him in Chapleau and they spent Christmas Eve at his sister Margaret's home on Borden Lake.

On the drive to Sudbury the next morning Tom related that he enjoyed "travelling through some beautiful bush, coloured with God's frosty paint brush."

As I read Tom's blog, my mind wandered back to 1885, and the first Church of England (Anglican) service held at Christmas time in Chapleau. It was conducted by Rev Gowan Gillmor, best known as 'The Tramp' who travelled the CPR line in Northern Ontario, as the "railway missionary." The service was likely conducted in a boxcar which was the first station.

Ian Macdonald collection

Rev. Gillmor was known to walk the CPR line, and at times pushed a handcar from place to place. 

Rev. Gillmor was also in Chapleau to  assist with the planning of the building of a church, which was officially opened on the site of the old tennis court on July 1,  1886.

The first service in the present St. John's was held on March 29, 1908 when it was dedicated by Bishop George Holmes.

Rev John Sanders

I also recalled reading about the travels by canoe and dog team of Rev. John Sanders (Saunders), who conducted a service at Chapleau on the banks of the river in 1882. I don't know if Rev. Sanders ever visited Chapleau in the Winter, but like Bishop Tom, am sure he enjoyed travelling through the "beautiful bush..." of Northern Ontario. Rev. Sanders may have been the first Indigenous (Ojibway) priest in the Church of England (Anglican) in Canada. 

Tom made it home safely to Sudbury where he was greeted by wife Ruth, son Stephen, mother Frances, and other family members.

He retired as Bishop of Moosonee on December 31, 2013, and is now Assisting Bishop, as well as interim part time Rector of the Church of the Epiphany in Sudbury, where he previously served as Rector.

Thank you Bishop Tom for letting me share parts of your "little different Christmas." It also let me do what I really enjoy -- mixing metaphors with my references to Rev. Gillmor and Rev. Sanders!.. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

"

'Just waiting for Charlie' at the Chapleau CPR station and a swimming pool meeting many years later with family members in Cranbrook

Train No. 8 was arriving at Chapleau and the station platform was crowded with citizens, according to Margaret Costello, in the Sudbury Star.

The headline read: "They weren't going anywhere, just waiting for Charlie."

"Charlie" was W.D. Collings, who was being welcomed as he made his last run in 1962 -- after 49 years and seven months service with the Canadian Pacific Railway.

"Foremost in the gathering were Mrs. Collings and sons and daughters, railway officials  and a host of friends, all eager to extend their congratulations and good wishes to this popular citizen and Chapleau councillor."

I was browsing through the Chapleau and the CPR section on the Chapleau Public Library, and came across the article about Mr. Collings --- and there is an outstanding collection of newspaper stories about CPR employees. Again Doug Greig deserves credit for his efforts to put this section together.

However, I selected Mr. Collings to show once again how small the world it really is as I renewed my personal connection with the Collings family at the swimming pool in Cranbrook. Stay with me. 

After the station welcome,  a family dinner was held in Renison Hall at St. John's Anglican Church, a place Mrs. Collings knew well as president of the Senior WA during those years when it catered in a major way to banquets, including the weekly meeting of the Chapleau Rotary Club. Mrs. Collings was also president of the Ladies Auxiliary to Branch No. 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion in 1948-49.

After the dinner, an open house was held at their home at 15 Pine Street.

Maggie noted that "About everyone in town knows 'Charlie' Collings, and about everybody dropped in during the evening to wish him many happy years of free time and a good life."

Born In Chelmsford, his family moved to Biscotasing, and in 1911, he arrived in Chapleau. Maggie relates that in 1912 he entered the service of the CPR as a railboy, and by 1915 he had joined the operating department as a a trainman, and since 1941, a conductor.

Mr. Collings took a leave during World War I and saw service in the Seventh Railroad Battalion for three years. 

In 1921 he married Anna Eggert of Pembroke, and they made their home in Chapleau. Their children were Charles, Violet, Freda, Harvey and James.

He became commonly known as 'Charlie' up and down the CPR line.

Mr. Collings told Maggie that he was looking forward to having more time at his disposal to devote to his office as councillor. He was deeply interested in municipal affairs and any measure that would improve the community.

Also fond of outdoor pursuits and travel, "within the next few weeks when the roads are once again in good shape, he and Mrs. Collings will be off on a well earned holiday," Maggie wrote.

Now back to the small world and Chapleau!

As many readers will know, for over five years now, I go swimming every day at the Cranbrook Aquatic Centre, or at the pool wherever I may be. A few months ago, as I was entering the pool area, one of the lifeguards said, "You are from Chapleau."

I was amazed -- in over 27 years here, nobody had identified me so directly with Chapleau.

I stopped to chat with the lifeguard, Cody Collings, who turned out to be a great grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. 'Charlie' Collings. His grandfather was Charles, and his father Allen Collings, who had worked for the CPR at Chapleau. I had not known Cody's surname until that night.

In fact, his father Allen has just recently retired from the CPR. They have been living in Cranbrook for some years now, and I have seen Allen periodically, but I did not know his children.

A short time later, Cody told me his father was coming swimming that night, and we had a great reunion chatting about old times and the small world that it really is. 

Thanks to Doug Greig and Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick for research assistance.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

'Colouring outside the lines ...exploring new paths' as open house for St. John's future to be held in Chapleau

Recently I attended the 50th anniversary celebration for a Shared Ministry between the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada at Invermere, British Columbia. 

It was an experiment that has worked and the celebration brought the Primate of the Anglican Church and Moderator of the United Church to rural British Columbia to be part of it. In fact, while chatting with Archbishop John Privett of the Diocese of Kootenay, he commented that it was not often the leaders of these two churches, would be seen at a service together. Good point by Archbishop John.

My thanks to Joel Vinge for taking me to the service.

Shortly thereafter, I received an email from Jason Rioux telling me about an Open House planned for August 4 starting at six p.m.to brainstorm new uses for St John's church which he recently purchased from the Diocese of Moosonee. It will still be used for church services

.I immediately thought of one of the hymns sung at the Invermere celebration 'My Love Colours Outside the Lines' written by George Light in 1995. In fact I am listening to it now on Youtube being sung by the Northwest Barrie United church choir. Here is the chorus:

“My love colours outside the lines,
Exploring paths that few could ever find;

And takes me into places where I’ve never been before

And opens doors to worlds outside the lines."

As new paths are explored for St, John's new worlds will assuredly be opened "outside the lines".

In fact, in 1885, St. John's may never have become a reality if the committee of adults meeting to discuss plans for the church had their way.

 Let me share a bit of what happened from my 1984 book, "Sons of Thunder...Apostles of Love". The first motion put before the meeting proposed that the matter be dropped as the amount of $500 was too great for the people to raise. 

The motion was defeated but a stalemate arose over who would be on the finance committee. 

Mrs. R.V. Nicholson preserved an account of the meeting which relates the next development: 

 "At this point Miss Annie Nicholson, although only seventeen years old got up and said that if the meeting would allow her, she would volunteer to collect the amount with the assistance of her friend Miss Minnie Richardson."

Several "prominent" members ridiculed this idea, but a motion passed appointing the two girls to the finance committee, and at the next meeting Miss Nicholson commented that a "a really strong box" would be required to hold the money subscribed.Slightly more than one thousand dollars had been collected and paid.

The first St. John's located on the old tennis court was opened and dedicated on July 1, 1886 -- colouring outside the lines by the adults led to the church being established.

On April 23, 1906 at an Easter Congregational meeting a motion was passed to build a new church but at the outset of discussions a majority favoured enlarging the existing building but Rev, W,L. James, the Rector, who Archbishop R.J. Renison referred to as a 'flame of fire' held out and the meeting agreed unanimously.

The first service in the new St. John's was held on March 29 1908, when it was dedicated by Bishop George Holmes.

G B Nicholson

By this time in St. John's history, G. B. Nicholson, had become the the first reeve of Chapleau in 1901 and was greatly involved in the life of St. John's. At Easter 1918, St. John's paid tribute to Mr. Nicholson in a letter that was framed and can still be seen on a wall in the church.

It reads in part: "As a member of the congregation from the day the first service was held in the town, as a member of the committees which have planned and directed the building of both church and rectory, as a member of the choir, and as a warden for twenty-two years, you have had much to do with every stage of the work. Your business ability, supported as it is by your great generosity, has helped more than anyone can say in establishing the parish on a sound financial basis with a splendid rectory, and a beautiful church, both free of debt."

Chapleau, not only St. John's owes so much to Mr. Nicholson, who coloured outside the lines in so many ways for the betterment of the community by obviously colouring outside the lines.

Rev John Sanders

Although, he did not serve as Rector of St. John's, Rev. John Sanders, also spelled Saunders, born to Ojibwe parents at Flying Post in 1845, was one of the first indigenous priests of the Anglican church in Canada, then the Church of England. He was ordained priest in 1979. John Horden, the first bishop of Moosonee, recruited him for the ministry -- certainly colouring outside the lines in 1872 when he took the young man to St. John's College in Winnipeg.

As a missionary he travelled from his base at Mattagami to Flying Post to Missanabie and Michipicoten. He also travelled  by way of Loon (Borden) Lake, the Loon Lake portage and the Chapleau river to the present site of Chapleau. He conducted a service on the banks of the river. After Chapleau was established oldtimers recalled open air services he held at the Indian Reserve and at St. John's church.

Descendants of Rev. Sanders (Saunders) still live in Chapleau and area. 

And now, fast forward to 2016, as St. John's embarks on a new journey. Like so many churches today, many in communities near where I live in rural British Columbia, with dwindling congregations and declining financial resources, other uses are being found for them.St. John's will continue to be used for church  services under an agreement with the Diocese of Moosonee, but the open house is designed to explore other opportunities for the historic building

I was delighted to hear from Heather Campbell who is working with Jason Rioux on plans for St. John's. She wrote in an email about the open house planned for August 4 .

  "As Jason Rioux works toward renovating and revitalizing the church building, we want to invite the community to experience what the Church space could become, and experience some of the ideas for possible new uses.

"We are also inviting everyone to share their memories of the space and other key community gathering spots in Chapleau. We’ll have displays celebrating the Church and community’s heritage, highlighting some other important landmarks in the community, and offer the opportunity to meet some of the local artisans who are interested in using the basement space as a crafts market."

 "Community consultation and engagement are a very important part of the project, as the space has been, and will remain, a very community-centric one. Inviting everyone into the space – and into the process – at this early stage is essential to creating a place that is truly owned by the community 

"There will be plenty of opportunities to give input into the vision of what the space will become. Draw us a picture, drop off a notecard, tell us your thought there are many ways to be involved!  

As I was thinking about this column, I sent an email to my cousin Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick, with some questions and request for photos she might have of our family's involvement with St. John's. 

As always she replied with information and photos but I am saving them for another day. 

However, as Chapleau folks prepare for the open house, I was reminded of one anecdote about St. John's which occurred before I was born. In 1935, the church celebrated its 50th anniversary which was attended by the Primate Archbiahop Derwyn T. Owen. My grandfather George Hunt was the choirmaster, my mother Muriel was a soloist singing 'Now the Day is Over', my grandmother Edythe and Elsie, (the mother of Anne, Betty, Joan and Leslie) were all in the choir. What a great moment it must have been for my family.

 I am sure you have memories too.

Heather is with Small, a company which works with rural communities to assist in the transition from natural resources-based economies to cultural resource-based ones. These efforts help diversify economies while celebrating the natural heritage, built heritage, and intangible heritage (skills and traditions) within these communities. Beginning in Newfoundland with communities affected by the cod moratorium, we’ve also recently worked in New Brunswick, Ontario and the Yukon. 

She said: "We’re thrilled to be involved in the St. John’s Church project in Chapleau, to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Church and the community."

I wish all the very best as you meet to plan the new journey for St. John's and leave you with the last verse of 'My love Colours Outside the Lines':

My soul longs to colour outside the lines

Tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine

I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I've never been before

Throw open doors to worlds outside the lines. 

My email is mj.morris@live.ca