Dominion Day (now Canada Day) started with sound of cannon in Chapleau's early years

Dominion Day was a time for a "great holiday" celebration in the early years of Chapleau's history from six a.m. when a cannon sounded until a dance ended the festivities in the evening.

Actually, Dominion Day, now called Canada Day on July 1 was a major celebration to mark Canada's birth as a nation, for many years, first sponsored by the municipal council after 1901 when Chapleau became a municipality, and later Branch No. 5, (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion.

According to Vince Crichton in his book 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario' the six a.m. salute to mark the beginning of the day's actvities was fired from an old cannon owned by Tom Lonergan. Mr. Lonergan had served in the military in India and Canada.

Dominion Day 1911

This tradition lasted many years as I remember the cannon sounding during my growing up years in the 1940s and 1950s.

As well as celebrating Canada's birthday, another main objective was to get everyone out to enjoy themselves and participate, and the program involved activities for all ages.

Dominion Day 1903

In the early years a giant parade formed at the rink located on Lorne Street at nine a.m. It was led by the Chapleau Brass Band.

Vince shared details on one parade. The children followed the band some being pulled in small wagons and each carrying a Union Jack or Red Ensign. As an aside I just recalled that houses and stores were decorated with flags for the occasion.

Dr. J.J. Sheahan organized this part of the parade and all children got five cents to spend. In later years J.M. 'Jack' Shoup, veteran of World War I and II, and long time principal of Chapleau Public School was in charge. I think we got ten cents. Mr. Shoup also was in charge of children's races.

J M Shoup far right 1950s

Horse drawn floats all decorated were in the parade and top prize was about five dollars.

Parades in Chapleau were always awesome.

Vince summed up those early years: "The enthusiasm and happy holiday spirit was further enhanced by the music of the band at intervals throughout the day and above all the shouting and huffing of the citizens,"

There were always sports activities including ball games between Chapleau teams and others who came from Schreiber, White River and Fort William. 

They may even have had their own car on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Common in those years. In fact, I recall our Bantam hockey team had our own car for  a trip to Sudbury in the 1950s.

There were also water sports and in the evening the day ended with a dance usually in the Town Hall basement.

I've kinda gone back and forth between the very early days, and later years in Chapleau, but I really wanted to share some photos from the early 1900s to Mr. Shoup's time in the 1950s. 

Dominion (Canada) Day celebrations were always such an important part of community life. Happy Canada Day. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

NAMES OF BAND

The Chapleau Brass Band taken at south-east corner of Birch and Lansdowne Street, 1905. They are as follows: 1 Mickey Lanigan, 2 Max Brunette, 3 Joe Windburn, 4 Dr. Jim Gillie, 5 Harry West, 6 Stanley Dexter, 7 J.B. Dexter, 8 unknown, 9 Tom Lonergan, 10 unknown, 11 unknown, 12 Fred Burrows, 13 D.O. Payette, 14 Alec Sweezy.

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