Summerfest Canada Week activities ranged from toddler races to pipe smoking contest to indoor tennis tournament in 1978

Recreation director Terry Bryson reported that "Summerfest Canada Week" in 1978 was a success.. Terry wrote a weekly column in the Chapleau Sentinel.

Terry thanked the Summerfest committee -- Chair Peter Bernier (also chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee); Denis Desbois (Township Clerk-administrator); Graham Bertrand (recration committee member), and Earle Freeborn (manager of the A.W Moore Arena).

Summerfest got underway after the Chapleau Civic Centre was officially opened on June 28, with the Chapleau Recreation Centre and Cedar Grove Lodge ceremonies held on June 29 and 30, respectively.

Then the activities got underway ranging from toddlers races to pipe smoking to ball tournaments, to an indoor tennis tournament,and of course a parade.

Here are some of the winners and highlights.

In the Toddlers races, Paul Bernier and Heather Lewis were the winners while Alexandra Boucher and Christine Tremblay emerged victorious.

In the 3 to 4 year old race mixed, Shannon Hatfield won. Christine Bujold won the Kick-the-Hoe race, and Connie Bujold was first in the Potato Sack race.

Rene Serre, Wiilliam Memegos

In the Kiddies races, 5 to 6, Glen Harvey (two races), Dana Vaughan, Connie Picody, Dean Harvey (three), Shelly Hughes, all were winners

Michel Babin was the big winner in the 9-10 year old races  with three wins, and Ken Groves won in the 11-12 year old race.

In the Gitls Three Legged race Pam May and Johanna Black won while Dean Harvey and Derek Hatfield took first place.

In the Carling O'Keefe pipe smoking contest George Basylec was first with Guy Martel and Gerald Bernier as runner sup. In horsehoe throwing Chapleau Intermediate A Huskies players dominated with David McMillan and Ted Swanson in first and J.C. Cyr and Doug Prusky in second.

The fire department won the bed race. Team members included Robert Moreau, Harvey Turcotte, Jacques Lafreniere, Ghislain Lafreniere, Richard St Amand, Wally Leigh and Raoul Lemieux.

The first Chapleau indoor tennis tournament was played on the floor of the new A.W. Moore Arena with Heather "Bubby" Hong winning the Ladies title with Carol Telik as runner-up. Tim Morin defeated his brother Allan for the men's title. 

In mixed doubles Fred Welch and Bubby Hong were the winners. 

As I was typing away, out of the mothballs of memory I recalled that I had played the first set of tennis on the indoor court against Carlo Cattarello, president of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, during the activities with equipment borrowed from Tim Morin. Carlo won!

The very next weekend the Good Brothers with their "joyful music" appeared at the new recreation centre. At the time they were one of Canada's most popular bands. They played packed houses from the Maritimes to British Columbia and the United States.

But they almost didn't make it. The day they were to arrive in Chapleau, it was pouring rain with lots of thunder and lightning. For a time it looked like they would be able to land at the Chapleau Municipal Airport, but late in the afternoon it started to clear up, and the show went on as scheduled. 

Now I think I may go to YouTube and listen to some Good Brothers just for old times sake!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca