St Jean Baptiste Day celebration rocks Town Hall walls with "excitement and merriment" with 800 suppers served to end day's activities

Gilbert Chevigny with his lamb

On St Jean Baptiste Day activities to mark the occasion sponsored by Chapleau's French Canadian Association attracted hundreds and the day was a great success, according to  Sudbury Star report. 

The report included in the Richard Brownlee papers does not have the year, but judging by the people in the photos, my best guess is around 1959 or 1960. The younger folks were among by good friends growing up in Chapleau in the 1950s. If anyone knows the exact year, please feel free to let me know.

Headed by association president A. R. Morin, the day began with High Mass sung by Rev. Father R. Marchand at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church with special music under the direction of Robert Labelle, with Gaetan Roussel at the organ.

Although rain interrupted the plan momentarily, it did not spoil the pleasure of the hundreds of children and their parents who packed the Town Hall to capacity, following the parade.

A highlight of the parade was St. Jean and his lamb, a real one, with six-year-old Gilbert Chevigny playing the role of St. Jean. There were seven floats plus hundreds of children in the parade.

The parade went from Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School to the town hall where Paul Belair took over as master of ceremonies.

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Singers in solo and groups included Jeannine and Rita Morin who also played the piano. Daniel Lemieux, Cheryl Martin and Mrs. Charles Ouellette played selections at the piano while the Frappier sisters entertained with their singing, as did Norman Bosse. Group members included Jacqueline Broyeau, Rejeanne Roussel, Rita Morin and Denise St. Jacques.

The article noted that "After the concert the real uproar began in the basement and the old town hall's walls rocked with excitement and merriment of hundreds of children in high spirits. A supper of beans to end all beans was served as the final event. It was estimated that 800 suppers were served not counting those who returned for seconds."

Members of the executive committee who worked with Mr. Morin to make the day a success included Paul Belair, A. Leclerc, Claude Bourget, I. Charlebois, M. Carbonneau, Maurice Chevigny, N. Roussel and Maurice Levebvre. 

Women also "shared the load in the preparation for the celebration and in carrying out duties to make the day a success," the Sudbury Star article noted. See photo.

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Once again I thank Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin for loaning me the Richard Brownlee papers. In working on this column I realized that Mrs. Jeanne Brownlee, the wife of Mr. Brownlee added to the papers after her husband died in 1951.  Mrs. Brownlee was a member of the St. Jean Baptiste Day committee. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

PHOTOS

Organizers included front row left to right: Napoleon Roussel, Paul Belair, Gaitan Rouseel, Father R. Marchand, A.R. Morin, R. Noiseaux. Second row: I. Charlebois, R. Charbonneau, O. Landry, R. Morin, M. Lefebvre. Back: E. Pineault, Claude Bourget, E. Leclerc, Lionel Ouellette

Ladies group members who also assisted: Front left to right Rejeanne Roussel, Ghislaine Longchamps, Lorraine Cormier, Rita Morin. Second row: Jeanine Morin, Mrs. Eddie Gionet, Mrs. Thomas Rioux, Mrs. J. Charlebois, Mrs. Andre Morin. Third row: Mrs. N. Roussel, Mrs. Aldred Leclerc, Mrs. Albert Longchamps, Mrs. Lorenzo Longchamps, Mrs. E. Pineault, Mrs. Jeanne Brownlee, Mrs. A.R. Morin.

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