Chapleau Moose Lodge made immense contribution to community for 40 years

For 40 years after being established in 1969 the Chapleau Lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose made an immense contribution to the community.

The Chapleau lodge was officially founded on July 13, 1969, and closed in 2009, according to Jim Apsey, to whom I extend my most sincere thanks for his research assistance.

Jim also pointed out that among the lodge's major accomplishments was that "We sent a family with children to live at Ontario house at Moose Haven and put them through college." Quite an accomplishment for a lodge in a relatively small community.

I have tried to catch a glimpse of the lodge in Chapleau made possible by the work of the late Doug Greig. 

By 1971 the lodge was celebrating the opening of a new hall on Lorne Street and it being winter it included hockey games between Chapleau and two Moose sponsored teams from Timmins -- Peewee and Bantam.

Both Timmins teams won, the Peewees 6-2 and Bantams 4-1 according to an article in the Chapleau Sentinel in "exciting games". A return engagement was planned.

This reminded me of the many banquets that were catered to by the Women of the Moose and I thought about one in 1977 held in the Moose Hall where Mayor Mike Doody of Timmins was the special guest. There were many great banquets in the Moose Hall over the years,

Heres is an excerpt from a column I wrote some years ago: "Despite the intense rivalry between the Chapleau Huskies and Timmins Northstars of the Northland Intermediate Hockey League, it did not prevent Timmins Mayor Mike Doody from accepting an invitation to Chapleau to be the guest speaker at the local team's annual award night in June 1977.

"Also, before a packed house at the Moose Hall, Bill Scheer, in his first year with the Intermediate 'A' team, was the winner of four awards

 Bill was named most valuable player in regular season, leading scorer, rookie of the year and most sportsmanlike player."

Master of Ceremonies was Dr. Frank Brromhead.

 Mike Doody had been elected mayor in 1976, and was also sports director at CFCL television. 

Back to the hall opening in 1971 the ribbon cutting was done by provincial membership director Art Cooper of Toronto.

In 1975 a new hall was opened also on Lorne Street with an $84,000 mortgage which had been retired within ten years.

By the 1980s it had 115 members.

A 1993 article about a celebration to mark its anniversary noted that "A superb meal was prepared by Toy Gregson and staff. As usual Toy outdid herself." 

Certificates were also presented to the 1992-93 executive who included Joe Ladouceur, James Apsey, Armand Ruffo, Jean Guy Presse and Alfie Desbiens.

I was amazed at the support the lodge gave to good causes over a two year period ending in 1988. The total was $73,465 which included $11,885 to local charities, $11, 180 to associations and foundations, $15,000 to Chapleau extended care project, $4,400 to handicapped and seniors. The article adds the understatement: "A tidy sum for a 115 member organization."

At one point in its history the lodge received the Lodge Merit Award for four consecutive years. This is the the highest award a lodge can receive from Moose International.

This has just been a glimpse at the outstanding contribution that the Moose Lodge made to Chapleau over 40 years based on work started by the late Doug Greig with my thanks again to Jim Apsey. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Public and high school education demands met as increased enrolment from 'Baby Boom' hits Chapleau in the early 1960s

As the "baby boom" after World War II hit Chapleau in the early 1960s, the community was faced with the reality that additional space was required at Chapleau Public School while plans were also underway for a new Chapleau High School.

The Sudbury Star reported that if plans for a new high school and additions and alterations at the public school became a reality, the taxpayer was "going to get a jolt" according to Reeve Arthur Grout apparently "not too happily".

Mr. Grout made his comments at a joint meeting of council, public school board and high school board pinting out that a tax increase of 15 percent had shot up to 25 percent when education costs were included.

He added that a number of things council planned to do would have to be eliminated , "however education demands must be met."

At the meeting the high school board was represented by Chair Len Harris and members Richard Selin and George Collins, and the public school board by chair Frank Coulter and members Doug Jardine and Mansel Robinson.

High school principal Dr. Karl Hackstetter and public school principal Foy Wright were also there.

Mr. Coulter explained that a $90,000 debenture had been approved by the Ontario Municipal Board for public school expansion.

Mr. Wright explained that public school enrolment in 1962-63 had reached 277 pupils in a school designed for 180. 

These pupils were in eight rooms, one being part of a hallway and one the assembly room. Mr. Wright said the situation was hard on "teachers, pupils and parents. More space is essential".

So, what happened?

Renovations were undertaken at the public school, and by 1966, the "new" high school on the hill was opened, with plans to expand it underway almost as soon as it replaced the school on Pine Street. The public school was also expanded. 

From 1966 to 1972, some public school classes were held in the old high school It was demolished in 1975 to make way for the Chapleau Civic Centre officially opened in June 1978.

Notwithstanding the challenges brought about by the postwar "baby boom", the members of the public school and high school boards , met them and the education needs of the community were met. The two boards were merged into the Chapleau Board of Education by 1966. 

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Search and Rescue Organization receives training from Civil Air Search and Rescue Association in 1990s

The Chapleau Search and Rescue Organization issued a call for new members in January  1993.

In an advertisement Mike Fortin and Reg Fletcher said the organization was looking for volunteers, explaining that it was "a group of people like you who want to make a difference. We have trained pilots, navigators, spotters, ground personnel and ground search people" but more members were needed. 

The Chapleau association received financial assistance from the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge --- and perhaps other organizations.

The Chapleau association conducted training and searches.

Fast forward to January 25, 1998  "Tiger 320" associated with the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) from 424 Squadron at Trenton, Ontario, arrived in Chapleau to assist with spotter training for Chapleau association members. They were in a C130 Hercules aircraft.

An article in the Chapleau Express said the purpose of the visit was two-fold -- to provide training for Chapleau members and to evaluate their performance.

Those participating included Leon Landry, Richard Beaudoin, Celine Hann, Christiane Jacques, A,J. Bowes, Paul Morin, Fern Gauthier and Raymond Gouge.

They departed Chapleau airport  for the first target area at Leblanc Lake where Aaron Bouvier and Dale Rioux were ice fishing. They provided the searchers with a smoke signal fire and mirror signal flasher as they passed nearby to get their attention, according to the article.

The object of the spotter is to guide the pilot directly over the target so that visual observation of the site can be made.

Marius Demers had set up another site.

During this training flight all spotters underwent performance evaluation by the CASARA team on board.

The article also thanked William Yanta for his "quick job" in removing snow from the Chapleau Municipal Airport, now the Eugene Bernier Airport, without which the Hercules would have been unable to land.

Other examplse of training programs were in March 1993 when the Chapleau members underwent winter survival training and in 1999 when they participated in "Operation Northern Rescue". 

I have provided a quick glimpse of the Chaoleau Search and Rescue Organization based on information compiled by the late Doug Greig. If anyone would like to provide me with more information on this important group, please feel free to email me at mj.morris@live.ca  HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL!!!!