Gwen MacGillivray reflected that extra-curricular activities were the 'real heroes' at Chapleau High School with House System example of team spirit

BOYS ATHLETIC ASSOC. Names below. Click to enlarge

Looking back at her years as a student at Chapleau High School, Gwen MacGillivray wrote that she realized that it was not the institution but the students and staff who made it "a valid source of community pride over the years".

GIRLS ATHLETIC ASSOC. Names Below

Gwen, who graduated from CHS in 1980, was writing in a souvenir newspaper marking the school's 60th anniversary in 1982, but I am sure she was speaking for the vast majority of us who attended and/or taught at either the "old" school on Pine Street or the "new" school on the hill in its 90 year history. I am one of those who was a student at the old school and teacher at the new.

I was in touch with Gwen recently and she readily agreed that I could use her column written almost 30 years ago now -- and I was also able to extend best regards to her mother Joan (Simard) who was in the same class as me through Chapleau Public and High schools. Joan was a whiz in mathematics, and  Gwen advised, "She still is".

Gwen noted that CHS students were "strong contenders in anything they chose to enter whether involved in science fairs, typing contests, sports of 'Reach For The Top', they always managed to put in a good showing".

When  the new school opened in 1966, historically the major team sport had been hockey with curling and at one point bowling as sports too. In its earlier years CHS also had very good track and field teams in conjunction with the YMCA. High school hockey ended with the opening of the new building as it was the same year as the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies commenced play  in the International Junior "B" League and it of course recruited almost exclusively from CHS.

However, the new school also had a proper gymnasium, not as Ian Macdonald described the one in the Pine Street school, "A basement level gymnasium ... with a low ceiling height of approximately ten feet. The foundation walls... were whitewashed granite rubble with hostile surfaces quite hazardous to those attempting to play basketball

Gwen wrote that by 1980, CHS had won the NSSSAA Gymnastics Championship every year since 1973, and it struck me that with the new school a new era in high school sports had arrived too. That won't seem like news to students who have been attending CHS for the past 46 years on the hill who have played on the various teams. It has been an integral part of their school experience, and much credit must go to the coaches over the years, with a special nod to Ross Hryhorchuk, who established the school's sports and extra-curricular programs, and has greatly contributed to their success.

Boys' and Girls' Athletic Associations were established as well as a House System for extra-curricular activities and Gwen wrote that the school instilled a sense of "team spirit"  and the success of the house system was a prime example.

"Talent played an important role in all the competitions and contests, but team spirit and the hard work of dedicated individuals was the major contibuting factor .. and that's really what CHS was, and is... team work," Gwen  wrote. 

The school has produced excellent teams often at junior and senior girls' and boys' levels  in gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, curling and soccer, and at one time also had junior and senior cheerleading squads. I won't even try to start listing the championships won by CHS teams, mainly because I don't know all of them, but I do hope that this part of CHS life can be recognized at the school's 90th reunion festival coming up soon.

As Gwen pointed out: "While the students could never be accused of lacking scholastic talent, the extra curricular activities were the real heroes of the time".

She also touched on the importance of other events during her time as a student from 1975 to 1980 like greaser day, winter carnival, initiation, and regular dances with live entertainment, all "a very big part of our education.

"Of course, part of our recreation included ribbing the teachers and frustrating the librarians, but it was all done in fun ... and accepted as fun, right Mrs. Joyal?" (Yvette Joyal was one the school's popular librarians.)

Thanks to Gwen MacGillivray for sharing and to Donald Warren for scanning the photos of the 1972-73 Boys' and Girls' Athletic Associations and making them available. I chose them as they show the number of students involved in the respective associations. In 1972-73 there were 452 students attending CHS, a record enrolment. Robert Fife, now CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief was president of the Students' Council. My email is mj.morris@live.ca


NAMES
CHS BAA 1972-73: Back from left Ross Hryhorchuk, Guy Martel, Denis Brisson, Donald Johnson, Robert Doyle, Guy Bazinet, Bernie Gagne. Front from left, David Doig, Maurice Blais, Jamie Doyle, Keith Marsh, Tim Morris

CHS GAA 1972-73: Back from left Karen Turner, Pierrette Demers, Janet Apsey, Carol Besnier, Georgia Ann Landry, Diane Kohls, Denise Joyal, Ruth Dodds. Middle from left, Debbie Dunne, Tina Cappellani, Micheline Audet, Barbara Hoath, Helen Fortin, Diane Mallek. Front from left, Mary Lou Futhey, Gail May, Lise Bourgeault, Marilyn Laframboise, Cathy Welch.