Min Blackburn brightened lives of Chapleau citizens with her 'zest for life' and leadership of senior citizens club

Min Blackburn, described as a "bright light" in the life of Chapleau, for 15 years participated in the Chapleau Rotary Club's 10 mile walk for crippled children.

But, it was her role as president of the Chapleau Senior Citizens Club in 1973 that really brought her into the community spotlight, first with the establishment of a "Drop-In Centre" in the basement of Trinity United Church, and then for her support of the Cedar Grove Lodge project.

In an article about her, the Chapleau Sentinel said she arrived in Chapleau in 1960 when she married long time resident Peter Blackburn, and from that moment on she was dedicated to "brightening lives of citizens" with her "zest for life".

Born in London, England, in 1907, she came to Canada with her family in 1913 and settled in Fort William, now Thunder Bay.

In the summer of 1973, Mrs. Agnes Freeborn called a meeting, held on the lawn of the old Chapleau High School, where the Chapleau Civic Centre is now, to see if a senior citizens club could be formed. Previous efforts had failed. About 40 people showed up and the group agreed, and by the end of the meeting an executive had been elected with Mrs. Freeborn declining to accept the position of president. 

First meeting on CHS Lawn

Min was elected president while Ernest Gilbert, who as a councillor, also represented the municipality,  became first vice president and Margaret Costello second vice president. Helen Grout was elected treasurer, Charlie Swanson, assistant treasurer, Einar Pearson, secretary and Mrs. Mary Mizuguchi, assistant treasurer. Within a year Mrs. Freeborn had agreed to become a vice president.

Min knew right away that the club needed a permanent home, and space was found in the basement of Trinity United Church. She had the ability to bring people together and by December 1, 1974, the basement had been transformed into the Senior Citizens "Drop-In Centre".  It had become a vital part of community life. 

By 1975, plans were underway for a senior citizens complex and Min gave her full support to the project as did her executive and the club members.

In 1976 as part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the incorporation of Chapleau as a municipality in 1901, Min and club members participated in groundbreaking ceremony for Cedar Grove Lodge with the Hon. Rene Brunelle, an Ontario cabinet minsister who gave great support to the project.

MJ, Dr Young, G Evans, Rene Brunelle, W Wilson, E Gilbert, L Viet, Mrs St Pierre, F Card, L Mione, Min

 In 1978, with its completion, Min assisted with the official opening of Cedar Grove Lodge and the senior citizens moved to the Mrs. Agnes Freeborn Memorial Elderly Persons Centre, in recognition of her efforts in establishing the club. Mrs. Freeborn had died on March 3, 1977. Mrs. Freeborn was born in Chapleau, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.D. McAdam. Her father, a CPR engineer was the third reeve of Chapleau holding office from 1917 to 1919. Her husband Earle, a CPR freight agent died in office while serving as the 7th reeve in 1938. Her son Elmer served several terms on Chapleau council and another son Earle served as reeve/mayor from 1998 to 2010. 

The apartment section of Cedar Grove was named the Blackburn-Crichton Wing after her husband Peter, and Vince Crichton, both contributors to Chapleau over many years.

Jamie Doyle, Min, Peter Bernier (rec committee chair seated)

Min had also donated a trophy to the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies in memory of Peter, to be presented to the player who made the best overall contribution to the team, and she presented it to Jamie Doyle at the opening of the Chapleau Recreation Centre in 1978.

"Min Blackburn was a woman of many accomplishments and many interests with a zest for life," the Chapleau Sentinel article noted, adding, "Min liked people, young and old and won many friends wherever that happened to be."  So very true. She made Chapleau a better place, not just for its senior citizens but for everybody. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Robert Holding like a ghost flits through early Chapleau history after surviving shipwreck off coast of Auckland Islands as young man

Robert Holding, one of Chapleau's earliest residents, and by any measure an interesting personality, was a key mover in establishing the community's first permanent school in 1891.

Although, as J.M. Shoup noted in a report on Chapleau education the first school was established in the vestry of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School, and then into a tent, by 1891, Holding whose own formal education was lacking as he had gone to sea at age 14, was pushing for a school.

George Evans, based on references to 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario' by Vince Crichton, shared part of  Holding's story, and I have referred to them here except where otherwise noted.

A school board was set up in February 1891 and Holding was elected first chairman of the board. By May 21, 1891 a one room school was opened on Pine Street, next to the rectory of St. John's Anglican Church. There were 19 students. Mr. Shoup's report notes that the first teacher was Miss Charlotte Weller, who later married G.B. Nicholson, a businessman and Chapleau's first reeve from 1901 to 1913.

Chapleau school circa 1891 on Pine Street

In his article George wrote that Holding "like a ghost flits through the pages" of Vince's book, "turning up here and there playing a variety of roles in Chapleau's story."

Born in England on March 17, 1840, George wrote that perhaps the most exciting event in Holding's long life came shortly after his 24th birthday when he was aboard the sailing ship Invercauld. On May 20, 1864, the ship was battered to pieces on the rocky west coast of the uninhabited Auckland Islands south of New Zealand.

Nineteen crew members made it to shore, according to one account, 24 in another, but one year and 10 days later when rescuers arrived only Holding and the captain had survived.

Sixty-one years later while living in Chapleau, Holding typed out an account of his shipwreck and survival used by his great granddaughter Madelene Ferguson Allen in her book ' Wake of the Invercauld'. 

By 1888, with his wife and children Holding arrived in Canada and made his way to Chapleau where he found work as a machinist in the Canadian Pacific Railway shops.

He built a tenement building on Beech Street which became his home and a boarding house. It came to be known as the 'Crusoe House' named after Robinson Crusoe in Daniel Defoe's novel. This house was torn due in about 1958 when Dr. G.E. Young owned the property -- this is when Dr. Young was converting the (white) Austin house on Pine Street into the Riverside Inn.

Crusoe House on Beech Street

At one time, according to Vince, Holding served as Chapleau's "ex-officio" police officer before the municipality was incorporated in 1901.

Obviously Holding still had a sense of adventure in him as early in the 20th century on a July 1st, he organized a re-enactment of the Battle of San Juan Hill, a famous incident in the Spanish-American war of 1898. 

According to Vince/George the hill was to be the north side of the Kebsquasheshing River (maybe landing was to take place about where Dr. Young's boathouse stood)  and the attackers came from the south shore (maybe from about the beach area although there was no beach there in those days).

They used home made cannons loaded with sod and propelled with real gunpowder. Holding commanded a hospital ship and picked up "survivors" from sunk or overturned craft.

As an aside, it just struck me as I type that it is a good thing my buddies and I were not aware of this battle on the river when we were kids in the 1950s. A re-enactment would have occurred for sure --- right guys???

Becoming more intrigued with Holding all the time, I did a Google search and lucked into an article about him from 'The Toronto World' newspaper of May 12, 1919 about his mining exploits.

It said in part: "The romance of mining is perhaps not better exemplified than in the case of Robert Holding now 80 years of age, who after scouring two continents in search of the elusive gold, was at last rewarded and now bids fair to become a millionaire."

The article adds that Holding had been prospecting in the Shining Tree area and may have staked "one of the richest finds in the north country". Apparently Holding staked his claims before World War I in 1911 but waited until the end of the war to dispose "of his interest for a large cash payment and other consideration which will probably net him one million dollars."

Nonetheless, in 1928, now 88 years old, Holding bought the Algoma Hotel (later the Hublit now a parking lot) and started a  new career as a hotel owner. His son-in-law Charles Vice managed it for him.

Robert Holding died at age 93 on June 22, 1933 in Chapleau. He is buried in the old Protestant Cemetery on Birch Street. George provided directions to his grave. After entering through the main gate, "angle off to the right" and you will find his grave.

I am sure there is much, much more to be told about the fascinating life of Robert Holding and I would love to hear from you. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

ROBERT FIFE ADDS 'EXCLAMATION POINT' TO DUTIES AS NEW HOST OF CTV's QUESTION PERIOD

TORONTO – CTV’s QUESTION PERIOD launches its 43rd season with new host Robert Fife at the helm, beginning Sunday, Sept. 8 at 11 a.m. ET. 

UPDATE; Fri Sept 6 Justin Trudeau tweeted:

Justin Trudeau, MP ‏@JustinTrudeau21m

Just recorded an interview with Bob Fife, good conversation as always. Tune in to #CTVQP this Sunday! #cdnpoli

One of the country’s foremost political reporters, Fife will discuss the Canadian political agenda for the upcoming week with his unique insider knowledge and analysis,  a CTV news release said.

Bob, the son of the late Margaret and Clyde Fife, was born and raised in Chapleau, Ontario. He is a graduate of Chapleau Public School and Chapleau High School.

Fife’s imprint on political reporting is deepened with his expanded role, adding a weekly exclamation point to his many duties that include reporting for CTV NATIONAL NEWS, his role as Ottawa Bureau Chief, and as Executive Producer for CTV’s daily political show, POWER PLAY WITH DON MARTIN.

With 35 years covering national politics, Fife is ideal to lead Canada’s longest-running political program. He has a longstanding track record of breaking some of Canada’s biggest political stories, including the recent Senate expense scandal. 

Audiences will receive the best view of Parliament Hill and its inner workings through Fife’s distinctive lens, as well as through the country’s most popular political panel, “The Scrum”, featuring press gallery members who have a deep insight into the happenings in Canadian politics. “Robert is one of Canada’s most respected and trustworthy journalists on Parliament Hill,” saiWendy Freeman, President, CTV News.

“With his razor sharp storytelling and penetrating insight, QUESTION PERIOD is poised to cast an unwavering, inquisitive eye on Canadian politics, ultimately delivering one of our best seasons yet.”

“My role at CTV News’ QUESTION PERIOD has moved from behind-the-scenes to in front of the camera, but my dedication to deliver the best in political journalism remains the same,” said Fife. “I promise to continue delivering the answers for taxpaying Canadians who don’t have access to the halls of Parliament.”

In addition to Sundays at 11a.m. ET on CTV and CTV News Channel, encore presentations of QUESTION PERIOD air Sundays at 5 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel, CTVnews.ca/qp, the CTV Mobile channel on Bell Mobile TV, via podcast, and on CTV Two at various times across the country (visit CTVNews.ca/qp for detailed listings).

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