Chapleau $1.7 million water treatment plant officially opened in 1976 replacing pump house and water storage tank

Joe Clifford, Graham Bertrand, Clem Bernier,- water plant employees

Official opening ceremonies for the new Chapleau water treatment plant were held on October 21, 1976, although it did not go into full operation until January 25, 1977.

The plant, built by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for the municipality at a cost of $1.7 million, replaced the pump house which had been built circa 1910. In due course, the pump house became the home of the Chapleau Air Cadets.

At the same time that the plant was being built, $500,000 was spent replacing old water mains, according to William Gibson of the ministry. Murray Cheetham of the environment ministry was master of ceremonies.

With the launch of the new water treatment plant, there was no further need for the water storage tank located on the hill on Elgin Street, near the CPR station. It was demolished but not before it buckled in some places, causing a scare in the community in 1977.

Floyd Laughren the NDP MPP for Nickel Belt which included Chapleau, was present to participate in the opening ceremonies.

The water plant project was initiated in 1967 when T.C. "Terry" Way-White was the reeve, and by 1972 an agreement had been reached between the province and the municipality which was confirmed by the Ontario Municipal Board.

Clem Bernier, First water plant superintendent

Mr. Laughren said he was pleased to be in Chapleau for the water plant opening, adding that he had attended a recent Habitat conference in Vancouver where "pure water" was felt to be the greatest need of people.

Rev. William Ivey of St. John's Anglican Church and Rev. Donald Maclean of Trinity United Church offered  prayers.

Clem Bernier was the first superintendent of the water plant while Graham Bertrand and Joe Clifford were the operators.

The water treatment system for the community provided for 1.2 million gallons a day, with the three reservoirs able to hold about three quarters of a million gallons in case of an emergency, which would last about four hours.

The plant included its own generator which started automatically in case of an electrical power failure.

Water was taken from the Kebsquasheshing River into a raw water well inside the plant.

The plant was staffed eight hours a day, and for the remaining hours the equipment operated automatically. In the event of an emergency, alarms would sound and staff contacted immediately.

Tours of the new plant were popular for school children. They would be conducted by the plant employees. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

School nurse Mrs. Elsie Wilkinson described as "most valuable cog in the health machinery" of Chapleau

Mrs Wilkinson, son Lorne, Dr Steve Wilkinson

Mrs. Elsie Wilkinson did her work as school nurse "so quietly" that many did not realize her "supreme importance" in the community.

"With perfect organization she operates so smoothly and efficiently that many hardly realize her presence. A system that does a marvellous task with one bit of self advertising, is functioning daily in our midst," J.M. Shoup, principal of Chapleau Public School, wrote in his In the School Column in the Chapleau Post in 1948.

Elsie McKinnon arrived in Chapleau in 1915 to become Matron at the Lady Minto Hospital which had opened in 1914.

She married Dr. Steve Wilkinson, and after he died she became nurse at the public school, Chapleau High School and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School for many years. She made the rounds each week during the school year.

I remember Mrs. Wilkinson well as she was  a great friend of Lil (Mulligan) Morris, my grandmother, and she often visited at my grandparents' home on Elgin Street. I also caddied for her, Mrs. George Fife and my grandmother when they played a round on Ladies' Day at the golf course. I think I carried one club.

My cousin, Michael McMullen recalls that he earned his "first real money" from Mrs. Wilkinson when he mowed the lawn at her home on Beech Street for 25 cents each time. That was about 1953.

In his column 'In the Schools' Mr. Shoup noted that such vast improvements in student health  are observed that one almost fears to report for fear of one be too hasty  arriving at decisions and then having to wait anxiously with fingers crossed if disease strikes.

Lady Minto Hospital

Epidemics, which took their toll in the early years of Chapleau had largely been eliminated by 1948. Mrs. Wilkinson had her records and every child was "religiously vaccinated, inoculated and T.B. patch tested with a x-ray follow-up when necessary."

Every school pupil was regularly weighed and height taken and progressive records kept, the article said, adding that the growing child whose weight remains stationary or drops is at once the concern of the nurse and family doctor.

"Cod liver or Vitamin tablets, on the nurse's recommendation are supplied by the Red Cross and a smooth distribution is carried out so that no one is missed."

School attendance had improved marvellously by 1948, due apparently to better student health. Many rooms ran for days with a perfect attendance.

Under Mrs. Wilkinson's direction, the system was so efficient that the big task was to check carefully the new arrival of  student.

She was prepared for emergencies and as part of her duties often visited an absent sick child at home and when necessary called in the doctor. 

"School nurse, with parental and school co-operation give a healthier, sounder generation - prevent many illnesses from even starting, and give more alert minds because of better health.

"The most valuable cog in the health machinery is the School Nurse", Mr. Shoup wrote.

My thanks to Bev (Yanta) and Ken Leclaire for sending me a copy of the Chapleau Post. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies open 1977-78 Northland Intermediate Hockey League season with two wins on the road

The Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies seemed to have established themselves as a top contender as they opened their 1977-78 season on the road with two wins. 

It was the start of their third season in the Northland intermediate Hockey League, and with a new coach, new captain, several new players and the excellent play of team stalwarts from the previous season, they dumped the Hearst Lumberkings and Calvert GMs in convincing fashion -- 11-4 and 6-2 respectively.

The Chapleau Sentinel reported that the season openers were "a fine beginning" for coach Doug Prusky as the team had never won their first games since entering the league for the 1975-76 season. 

Jean Claude Cyr had been named captain and played "sparkling hockey in both games and was rewarded for his efforts with a five goal performance."

Glen Cappellani was in goal for the locals in both games having been the backbone of the Junior "B" Huskies for several years followed by a stint in the United States Hockey League. The Sentinel reported that Cappellani's "semi-pro experience was most evident as he came up with scintillating saves" in both games. Danny Law of the Midgets was back up goaltender as David McAdam was unable to make the trip.

Steve Prusky was back in the lineup after three years in the USHL and demonstrated the experience he had gained since leaving Chapleau where he was a star defenceman. 

"Prusky has the ability to control a hockey game from the blueline", the article noted.

Ron Larcher, Bill Scheer

Other new faces in the Chapleau lineup were Ron Larcher and Gary Legros from the Junior "B" ranks; Paul Scheer who had moved to Chapleau from Burlington; Rick Walker, a solid defenceman from Brampton and Danny Homerodean a winger who had played for the Burlington Junior "B" Mohawks.

Ron Larcher, the speedy forward was on a line with his brother Raymond and team captain Cyr. The plan may have been to use them as checking line but they came up with nine points in the two games. Raymond and Jean Claude had been with the team since its beginning

Paul Scheer made his first appearances on a line with brother Bill, who had joined the Huskies for the 1976-77 season, and Pat Swanson. Paul came up with a goal and three assists.

By the end of the weekend Pat Swanson, another veteran from first game in the Northland league was off to a fast start with two goals and four assists led the team's point parade.

Danny Homorodean played right wing for Dave McMillan and Jamie Doyle, both veterans,  and this line came up with excellent performances accumulating 10 points over the weekend.

The Sentinel commented that "McMillan is a class centre always calculating his moves while Doyle is one hockey player who skates faster coming back down the ice to his zone than he moves offensively." (As an aside the comment about Jamie was so true and a hallmark of all his playing days but he was a great two way player.)

Legros and Walker were both on the blueline and came up with very solid performances with Legros a tough player who in his first two games gave every indication he will become a valuable addition to the roster.  Walker is a thinking defenceman with an excellent shot.

Bill Scheer, Pat Swanson, Trainer Graham Bertrand. Donkey baseball

Ted Swanson was back in the lineup for another year and his experience helped the newcomers. Ted had two excellent games sliding in fronts and setting up plays in great fashion. Ted never missed a game in the four years the team was in the Northland league.

In the Short Shots section of the article, the writer took a "shot" at me, commenting that "Players and fans on the trip are unable to decide if Mike Morris, now the manager, is more excitable now than when he was coaching." I had coached the team since it was founded in 1974-75 season the for two years in the Northland League. Within one week, thirty-six years later, I really don't know. 

Dave McMillan, Danny Vaughan, Paul McDonald

John Theriault took photos of the team on the ice and while involved in other community activities. Thanks for making them available John. My email is mj.morris@live.ca