'@VisitChapleau' on Twitter excellent example of social media application by economic development corporation to promote community

Aerial view of Chapleau 2015

"@VisitChapleau" on Twitter is an invitation for newcomers to pay a virtual visit to Chapleau before making a trip there, but it also provides a "nostalgic carpet" ride for those of us who lived in the community. 

A project of the Chapleau Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), @VisitChapleau is an excellent example of a social media application to extol the benefits of a community.

CEDC describes it as "an invitation to become lost in your passion -- fishing, hunting, enjoying art and nature, looking for Northern Lights in our beautiful part of Northern Ontario."  With a mix of awesome photos depicting Chapleau and area and text (140 characters in each post) they are succeeding.

"Michael Levesque Trails: This photo was taken during the summer of 2014. That summer CEDC staff mapped the trail with GPS in order to show it on local maps and visitor guides:" Stephen Lee

Before I go any further though, and in the interests of full disclosure, for the past 22 years, a good part of my life has centred around appplications of New (now called Social)  Media Communications. I taught my first course in writing for new media in 1994 at College of the Rockies, and added other courses when the college launched a full graduate program -- although retired now, I still am involved daily in social media applications.

Let me share some of my discoveries on @VisitChapleau during a recent visit to it on Twitter.

"Chapleau River: The dock, as seen in September 2015. The quality of life, the joy that comes from living so close to this.. it's wonderful:" Stephen Lee

I really liked the invitation to those of us who no longer live in Chapleau to send "tweets" about what makes us proud of the community, and our favourite spot. I hope many will respond to the invite and include photos.

My favourite spot, based on my visit home in 2015 is the Louis Dube Peace Park, located across from where I grew up and played at the 'Big Rock'.

I could not help feeling nostalgic when I saw a hockey tournament is planned for "Taste of the North" the Chapleau Winter Carnival from February 19 to 21. My first involvement with the carnival was in 1958 when I was president of the Chapleau High School Student Council, and chair Jimmy Dillon appointed me to the committee. It continued one way and another for most of the years I lived in Chapleau.

There is also the ice sculpture contest.

Just a word on Taste of the North. It was coined in 1974 when Walter Wilson was carnival chair.

I also noted that the 19th Annual Pike Fishing Derby is scheduled for February 13..... apparently it is SOLD OUT!

Throwback to circa 1910 Chapleau hockey champions

The site also advises that over 100 photos were submitted in the 2016 Welcome Guide Photo Challenge, and posts the winning photos in the four categories of adventure, wildlife, people and fishing. Simply amazing! My congratulations to the winners and all those who participated. 

Here are a couple of comments made by visitors:

"I've been to your town. Such a beautiful place. I really hope I can make it back to do some fishing again."

"A perfect day would be snowmobiling, skating, ice fishing and a good movie."

I chuckled upon reading references to the weather with a quote from an old popular song:

"Some say the weather outside is frightful, but we say let it snow, let it snow!"

As one who loved travelling back lanes and backyards as a kid in Chapleau, I really enjoyed this one:  "Here is to the small towns and back roads. The getaways and pure clean doses of nature."  

That just about sums it up. 

I extend my most sincere congratulations to the folks at CEDC who are maximizing the potential of social media in a most positive way. My sincere thanks to Stephen Lee for his assistance and co-operation, and apologies to Ann (Bedford) Midgley for taking "nostalgic carpet" out of context... I just had to use it Ann.

Finally, on a most personal note, I so much appreciated that CEDC paid tribute to the community's veterans  on @VisitChapleau last Remembrance Day.

See you on Twitter at @VisitChapleau!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau despite 'wild surroundings' up-to-date community in 1939 Royal Tour booklet declares

A stranger might be surprised to discover  an up-to-date community like Chapleau considering its "wild surroundings", a booklet prepared for the Royal Tour of 1939 declared.

An excerpt from the booklet 'Across Canada - Commemorating the Royal Tour' was written out by either Mr. or Mrs. Richard Brownlee, and is included in the Brownlee Papers. If my memory serves me right this booklet was primarily prepared for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the Royal Party who accompanied them on the Royal Train.

"Considering its wild surroundings, the stranger is agreeably surprised to find a spot so remote from what he calls civilization, anything so completely up-to-date as Chapleau.."

The writer, who would have made a trip across Canada before their Majesties paid a visit added, "...no shack-town but a busy railway divisional point, with electric light and power, three churches, public, separate and high schools, hotels, a library, a hospital, a YMCA, motion picture theatre  and bank  ---- and a nine-hole golf course."

As an aside, I have lost track of the number of times since I left the "wild surroundings" of Chapleau for so called "civilization" I have had to explain that the community was a most "up-to date" place and has been for more than 100 years. 

The writer also describes Chapleau's location most eloquently. 

"On the shores of Lake (he got that wrong) Kabequashesing (close) Chapleau is the pulsating heart of the Chapleau Game Preserve, which has an area of 5,000 square miles and is the loveliest many say in Ontario.

"Strict protection has enabled the speckled brook trout, lake trout, great northern pike. walleyes, moose, deer, bear and other game in the preserve to multiply so much that they have skipped over into surrounding territory. Countless lakes lead readily through these splendid fishing and hunting grounds."

The writer mentions canoe trips to the height of land, "the continent's backbone, dividing north from south bound waters", with"raging rivers through magnificent scenery..." This is only one of the similar journeys which may be made from Chapleau.

He seemed greatly interested in the "rolling school cars' operated out of Chapleau , and other Northern Ontario points with the "object of giving the children of scattered railway men and others remote from even the smallest educational centres an opportunity otherwise unavailable of acquiring not merely the three R's but high school standards."

The teacher and family lived on the car which also included a library, and there were between 30 and 40 pupils ranging in age from five to 20.

The article concludes by noting that Chapleau has a lumber industry  and is "situated in a rich gold, mica and copper district..."

Remember that this article was written mainly for readers, including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who knew very little about Canada, In fact, as I was working on this column, I wondered if their Majesties had  read it.

Chapleau was not included for an "official" visit as the Royal Train was scheduled to arrive at two a.m. However, Chapleau Reeve George Fife wanted to meet the King and Queen, a message was sent to them, and they got up and met the Reeve, and other dignitaries.

Apparently, the King also conducted an inspection of 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps who were on hand for the occasion.

Yes, Robert Fife, The Ottawa Bureau Chief of The Globe and Mail and host of CTV's Question Period is the grandson of Mr. Fife. Bob confirmed that his grandfather did indeed have Chapleau officially added to the Royal Tour.

Thanks again to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin for loaning me the Brownlee Papers. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Discovering the meaning behind the 'good stick'

Perhaps  the man I met on the bush road at Chapleau some 30 years ago who told me "Maybe some day you will find a good stick too", meant much more than I thought he did.

As I walked along the road, coming towards me was a man who I had often seen go by my house, but I did not know him. As he approached, he said, "Where is your good stick?", stopping to explain that he always carried a "good stick" with him. He moved it from hand to hand, he told me and it served to strengthen his arms and upper body.

 Perhaps  the man I met on the bush road at Chapleau some 30 years ago who told me "Maybe some day you will find a good stick too", meant much more than I thought he did.

 As he passed on by he added,  "Maybe you will also see the wolf. It's auburn. Don't be afraid. He won't hurt you." I never saw the man again, or the wolf.... (or so I thought)

I had written a story about finding the good stick some years ago, and even spoke about it at the 90th anniversary reunion of Chapleau High School in 2012. I hadn't thought about it much recently, until I received huge box from my lifelong friend Harry 'Butch' Pellow. Upon opening it. Butch had sent me a walking stick. UPDATE: Harry Pellow died on December 13, 2016

Butch and MJM circa 1947

But, it was the enclosed letter that made me fully realize the metaphor of the "good stick". Harry wrote that it was sent with best wishes "as you carry it". 

He added: "As our frailties become more evident, we need to be mindful of every step going forward -- be reminded of your friend many years ago who explained the "good stick theory."  I get the message my friend.

Butch and Brigitte Pellow 2015

By the way, the bush road was actually a logging road built originally by Edgar Pellow, Butch's uncle circa 1930.

Let me go back to my story about the good stick, and I hope I don't mangle metaphors too badly in so doing. "Shortly thereafter I came across a stick and picked it up. It wasn't as sturdy or straight as the one the man was carrying, but crooked as it was I had found my good stick. My good stick became my travelling companion helping me cross a beaver dam and walk along the edge of a pond. When I became tired I leaned on it and took a rest, and when I stumbled it helped me keep my balance, and aided me as I climbed a hill.

"My good stick was very powerful indeed, and long after I lost it I thought that if that old piece of wood from a dead tree could have been so much help to me as I wandered along, giving me confidence to surmount minor obstacles, maybe the man I met on the road meant much more with his comments than maybe I would find a good stick and even see the wolf that would not harm me some day."

For a guy like me who loves metaphor, it took me about 30 years to grasp the implied comparison between a piece of wood that was very helpful and powerful in helping me as I walked along life's road and my friends who have also been there with me and for me -- most particularly Harry 'Butch' Pellow. I have been most blessed.

Thanks Butch for being the "good stick" so often over the past 70 years or so.

I was so excited with my discovery that I was going to use it as a framework for a review of 2015 which was a truly amazing one for me, as my friends, aka "good sticks" made possible. 

Back David, Jim, MJ, Ed, Brian, Joel, Antoine Seated, Dennis, Mark. Ron

However, the Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, was meeting and of course, I had to bring my good stick to our weekly session. It is just on three years now since FMCC was launched quite unintentionally.. 

I started having coffee at Starbucks in the newly opened, now closed Target store, was joined by Joel Vinge, then Jim Roberts, and the rest is history.If everyone shows, we now have 20 members. There is no agenda. We meet for fellowship, many laughs for an hour with all the "good sticks" who have become good friends.

We celebrate birthdays and other special occasions, and have played golf and had breakfasts at Rocky View Ranch.

Without mixing metaphors any further, let me leave you with a quote from Stephen Grellet as I head out carrying my good stick:  “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

PS  I am not even going to try and deal with the wolf metaphor now!!!