Canadians continue to celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria marking the start of swimming and camping season (weather permitting!)

Remember the old ditty that goes something like this: "The 24th of May is the Queen's birthday. If you don't give us a holiday, we'll all run away."

Well, we've changed the date to make it the third Monday in May, which in 2020 happens to be the 18th, but Canadians still look forward to Victoria Day, named after the British monarch who died more than a century ago. I wonder how many Canadians today even know who she was.

It says something about this vast and magnificent land, and its people, the majority of whom are housed along a thin east to west ribbon of territory, close to the American behemoth, that the name of the major Spring holiday is named after a figure from Canada's past.

And to me, that's OK. We are a people who have never really understood each other very well -- Canada has more or less developed on a regional basis, yet we can enjoy together the common holiday -- Victoria Day.

When I was a kid growing up in Chapleau, the ice would be off the river, and the weekend marked the beginning of the swimming season for the hale and hearty. Have to admit that I was not among them, preferring to wait until Dominion Day -- now Canada Day. I see in weather reports from Chapleau, they had snow recently so maybe no early swims in 2020. 

It was also the weekend when summer camps, (now usually called cottages) were opened for the season, and perhaps most of Canada followed much the same routine. At least, today as I reflect on the past 50 years or so, it seems to me they did wherever I happened to be living -- Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and now British Columbia.

We always felt quite kindly towards Queen Victoria for giving us a holiday, and nobody ever abolished it so we didn't have to run away. Every once in a while someone wants to change the name of the holiday to reflect contemporary Canadian society or abolish the monarchy. Queen Victoria's great-great granddaughter, Elizabeth II officially remains Canada's head of state..

At one point in my life I was a staunch monarchist, most likely because I was so greatly influenced by my grandparents, George and Edith Hunt, who had an abiding faith in values like duty, service, the monarch, family, country - and the Anglican church, then called the Church of England in Canada.

My thinking on the monarchy has changed somewhat today but as this Victoria Day weekend arrives I pause and wonder if it was all so bad years ago -- at least we knew where we stood without equivocation.

We knew beyond any shadow of a doubt as my Grandpa Hunt would say who we were. We did not need opinion polls to tell us what we were thinking.

Much has changed in Canada since the days of my grandparents, but on this Victoria Day weekend, having now lived in five provinces of this great nation, I think we are still a work in progress. Perhaps it is a good time to reflect on ourselves as Canadians and define our future focusing on those things that bring us together rather than those things that divide us.

Many years ago now, the distinguished Canadian journalist Bruce Hutchison wrote in a column: "This nation with all its problems, its unbalanced politics and its repulsive self pity remains the luckiest in a deranged world."

So, let's enjoy the Victoria Day weekend, and let's not run away from the challenges before us as Canadians.despite the challenges presented to us this year by the virus issues. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Pat Bamford very popular Chapleau High School teacher active in community dies in Timmins

Claude Fortin with Pat CHS reunion 2012

Pat Bamford, a very popular former teacher at Chapleau High School died in Timmins last week, with the mayor of the city George Pirie issuing a news release hoping that all those grieving "will find ways to connect, remember and celebrate the truly wonderful man he was." The flag was also to be lowered to half staff at Timmins city hall in his honour,.

And Pat was a wonderful man. I taught with Pat at Chapleau High School arriving there just after he did, and we have remained friends ever since although we did not see each other very often, In fact the last time was at the 90th anniversary reunion of CHS in 2012.

Louise Tremblay's popular Chapleau History and Genealogy page on Facebook came alive with Memories of Pat from his former students from Chapleau sharing stories about him.

Pat still stayed in touch and students from his Grade !! Geography class have actually held reunions every five years.   I hope I got that right.

Pat was very active in Chapleau life particularly sports. As the CHS curling coach in 1972-73, he coached a team skipped by Claude Fortin to first place at a bonspiel held in Marathon. Other team members included Maurice Tremblay, Irene Johnson, and Mona  Rioux.

A member of the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies executive, he established the Pat Bamford Trophy for best defenceman. He succeeded me as manager of the Chapleau Midgets 

In due course Pat left Chapleau to teach in Timmins. but was actively involved in the city.

“It is with deep sadness that we learned of Pat’s passing yesterday,” said Timmins Mayor George Pirie in a news release. “Pat served our community with true dedication and commitment for many years, and he will certainly be missed by all who knew him. We would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this truly trying time, and it is our hope that all those grieving will find ways to connect, remember and celebrate the truly wonderful man he was.”

Bamford had a 35-year career in education, the last 10 of which were in administration at Roland Michener Secondary School, the news release said. After retiring, he represented Ward 4 in Porcupine on Timmins council for 12 years. 

“Pat’s just one of those guys that was in it for all the right reasons,” said Steve Black, a former Timmins mayor and councillor in a tribute to Pat in The Daily Press. Mr. Black summed up Pat.

“He didn’t have any personal motivations. Sometimes in politics you see ulterior motives to some things, but Pat just genuinely wanted to do good for Timmins, and see Timmins and the East End he represented, do well and take an active role in the community.

“Definitely a man with a very solid heart for the community and the people he served within the community.”

.Mr, Black said in his interview: “Me and Pat kept in touch. I considered him a true friend. He’d always be very happy to share stories of his former students, from his previous career, and how well they were doing in life. You could tell he was really passionate about that, and the students that he engaged with throughout his life, and his own family.”

I extend my most sincere sympathy to Pat's family and friends. May he rest in peace. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Virus-free. www.avg.com

In the blink of an eye, everything can change...

"In the blink of an eye everything can change..."

I went for my morning walk here in Cranbrook, and met the manager of the local Save On Foods store who told me that I could go shopping between 7 and 8 am, a special time for the elderly during the Corona virus crisis. (Yes, I have reached that age where I am considered elderly ... 

The streets were very quiet unusual for a Friday morning and there were signs in many windows along my way announcing they were closed indefinitely.

On my return home I said hello to the guard in front of the liquor store who was limiting the number of customers who would be admitted at any one time.

From what I have been reading, similar scenes were taking place across Canada, and indeed the world.

"In the blink of an eye.."

I decided to take a look backwards to the early beginnings of Chapleau.

in my book, "Sons of Thunder ... Apostles of Love' which I wote to mark the 100th anniversary of St. John's Anglican Church in 1985, I wrote "The winter of 1885 was very strenuous for the early citizens of the fledgling community. It must have been for they had left their old way of life to build a new one far from any comforts they might have known. Apparently it was a bitterly cold winter and disease was rampant,"

In 1885 instructions were given to put a spur for a boxcar to be set out at mileage 615 on the Canadian Pacific Railway line which was in the centre of the present community of Chapleau. The boxcar became the first station, office building and train dispatcher's office... A station and office building were under construction and Chapleau had become a town  made up of surplus boxcars and tents. The population consisted of about 400 people, ninety five percent of them men.

Not quite like the health care crisis we are facing today perhaps but the illness of the winter of 1885-86 most assuredly frightened these good people.

There was no hospital in Chapleau until 1914 when the Lady Minto Hospital opened and medical doctors would come and visit periodically. 

But these good people overcame the challenges and by the end of 1886 permanent structures were beginning to appear and the thoroughfares w er being being blazed replacing the forests. General stores were being built as well as churches and private residences.

In 1888 a major health care crisis occurred. Life was not easy for the early inhabitants. An outbreak of diptheria of a most virulent type inflicted the residents. Several including young children died from the disease.

But Chapleau survived the threat presented by the  diptheria epidemic, and other scares throughout its history, up to and including today. I follow Chapleau on Facebook and daily see the efforts in the community to deal with the threats posed by the Corona virus.

Two rows of boxcars became temporary homes in Chapleau by late 1885

Although Chapleau is located on the Kebsquasheshing and Nebskwashi Rivers, the first site selected for the community was Tawagami, about five miles to the east about where Devon is, according to a long handwritten article in the Richard Brownlee papers.

The Devon site was apparently too swampy for a settlement near the tracks so the Canadian Pacific Railway work camps were moved west to what became Chapleau by 1885. A spur track for a boxcar, which became the first station was set out and Chapleau came into existence.

Before I go any further, and in the interests of full disclosure, I have no idea who wrote this article which summarizes the first 50 years of Chapleau history as there is no byline. It may very well have been Mr. Brownlee. It is excellent.

The author revealed that by late 1885 there were two rows of boxcars which had become temporary homes on "Stovepipe" and "Gosling" Avenues.

I was amazed to learn that by 1888 Chapleau had a public library in a boxcar with over 2000 volumes of "fine literature'  all donated by Sir William Van Horne, the president of the CPR. The library was later located in the Mechanics Institute.

The Chapleau Brass Band was established in 1888 and by 1889 Dominion Day on July 1 was being celebrated.

Efforts were made just before the turn of the century to have Chapleau incorporated as a municipality but failed because an insufficient number of names could be found for a petition calling for a vote.

However, in 1901 Chapleau became a municipality with G.B. Nicholson as the first Reeve. Mr. Nicholson served until 1913 being returned by acclamation each year. Members of the first council were A. Rothwell, D. Royal, P.J. MacFarlane and W. Boswell. To the best of my knowledge only relatives of Mr. Nicholson still live in Chapleau -- members of the Collins family.  Mrs. Eileen Collins, the wife of Charles W. Collins was a member of the Nicholson family.

The first act of the council was to float debentures for the construction of a public school. The first school was in a tent, then the first Roman Catholic Church then back to tent.

The author noted that the second tent was pitched on the spot where the United Church parsonage was located. 

"It was a very pretty spot and the tent was nestled among the big pine trees. Great fun was had when the pine cones dropped on the roof making a drumming noise. There were twelve rough hewn seats in the school. 

"Another feature of this school was the big stove in the middle and those who sat near ir roasted those away froze."

Turning to the CPR, the author wrote that the round house, a necessity in a railroad town, had no doors and when the snow piled up the section men shovelled it out.. The oil was kept outside and had to be heated on stoves. 

"The railroaders had a hard winter in those early days but they were hardy men."

D. O. Payette described Chapleau as he saw it in 1904 when he arrived.

"At least half of Chapleau was bush. There were no electric lights and coal oil was used almost exclusively for lighting purposes. The stores and hotels used acetylene gas. The water supply was had from pitcher pumps which drew the water from well points driven into the ground at varying depths."

Things changed quickly and that is a column for another day as we look at the early days of Chapleau. If you would like to contribute to the story please contact me at mj.morris@live.ca

Once again I extend my sincere thanks to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin who kindly loaned me the Richard Brownlee Papers!

Dr G. E. 'Ted' Young strode like a colossus through Chapleau life for almost a century

Whenever it gets close to Christmas, no matter where I am, my thoughts turn to growing up in Chapleau, and the Dr. G. E. 'Ted' Young display that was referred to as "our Disneyland" Indeed it was!

This year has been no different with a boost from Leo Vezina and Harriet Bouillon. Leo posted a photo from one of the displays on Louise Tremblay's Chapleau History and Genealogy page on  Facebook and Harriet suggested he contact me re photos she had sent me some years ago. I saw their posts and here I am even though I may repeat myself a bit from earlier columns.

To get started, when I was growing up in Chapleau and had come down with one of the common childhood diseases, after my mother left for school, I would suggest to my grandmother that we call Dr. Young who for sure would come and make me better.

Almost momentarily, or so it seemed, Dr. Young would appear with his black bag, and sit beside my bed. take my pulse and temperature, and my favorite, take out his stethoscope and and have me take deep breaths to make sure I was still alive. Then he would talk with Nanny, my grandmother, Edith Hunt, who assured me she would follow his instructions and in due course, I would be "all better" and head back to school.

When my dog Rex was hit by a car while I was still in public school, I carried him into the house, in tears, shouting at my mother, Muriel E. Morris, "Call Dr. Young." She did and once again, it seemed within moments, he arrived. After examining Rex, he told me to put a blanket near the wood stove as well as food and water, and let him be. Amazingly, Rex recovered and lived another 10 years. Dr. Young had done it again.

 George Edward "Ted" Young, who served Chapleau and area for 50 years as a medical doctor, was born on November 2, 1914, died at age 95 on November 14, 2010.


For almost a century, born in Chapleau  to George and Mabel Young, he strode like a colossus through every aspect of community life -- as a young athlete who became famous for swimming to Mulligan's Bay, as an officer in Number 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps, as a medical student at Queen's University who came home to practise for six months in 1942 and remained 50 years before he retired in 1994, as the builder of the Chapleau beach, as a member of township council, as a cable television pioneer, and as one who was constantly undertaking new projects, many of which were never quite completed. He was also a founding member of the Chapleau Rotary Club and served as its second president.
He started his famous Christmas displays shortly after he launched his practise in the home originally built and owned by G.B. Nicholson, the community's first reeve, and lumber baron.

After I posted some photos on Louise Tremblay's popular page, the comments about Dr. Young started and had reached close to 500 when I began work on this column.

Here is a random selection without names as I did not ask permission to quote.

"A Chapleau icon. Fondly remembered as a great man" -- "Fantastic doctor and we always looked forward to what new thing he was adding each year," --  Great old Dr. Young. I had many great conversations with him and will always remember him."  --" Dr. Young was from the old school. He had no problem making home visits."

There were many similar comments.

On a personal basis, Dr. Young and I were good personal friends, and after I moved from Chapleau to teach at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook BC, I spent a month visiting with him when I returned home for the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Chapleau in 2001. Much storytelling which continued when he travelled west and visited me here. Until that visit I was not aware that his mother was from Creston so we went there and visited the church the family attended and the family plot in the local cemetery. He told me he was not sure he could find the grave but he walked right to it!!!

I extend my most sincere thanks to Leo Vezina and Harriet Bouillon  for prompting me to reflect on a few memories of Dr. Young, and congrats to Louise Tremblay for her Facebook page..My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Legion Hall opened as St John's Parish House marks its 100th anniversary in April 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Here we are at a new year and a new decade. My very best wishes to all of you!! MJM

As 2020 gets underway, a highlight of this year in Chapleau will be the marking of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion Hall -- officially opened in April, 1920 as the parish house of St. John's Anglican Church.

It was built during 1919 by Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Nicholson in memory of their only son Lorne and his friends. Lorne was killed in action just before the end of World War I. Mr. Nicholson was the first reeve of Chapleau, serving from 1901 when the municipality was established until 1913. Mr. Nicholson also served as Member of Parliament and president of the Austin Nicholson Lumber Company. He died in 1935.

Writing about the hall, the late George L. Evans long-time assistant principal and teacher at Chapleau High School made reference to the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson did not include their names in dedication of the hall. (See plaque)

At the memorial service some of those participating  at St. John's Anglican Church and official opening at the hall included  Rev. John Nelson Blodgett, Rector of St. John's Anglican Church; Rev. Dr. Robert John Renison, later Bishop of the Anglican Church diocese of Moosonee; Rt. Rev. John George Anderson, Bishop of Moosonee; Reeve Max Brunette, Township of Chapleau; Rev. George Prewer and Rev. White of Trinity United Church..

Lt. -Col. C. H. LeP. Jones , the commanding officer of 227th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and Major D.M. Brodie also participated.

When I wrote about the hall some years ago Ian Macdonald, retired head of the department of architecture and professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba, who has researched and written extensively on Chapleau buildings kindly agreed to let me share some of his thoughts about the building, now commonly referred to simply as "The Legion".

"A building as distinctive and prominent as the Nicholson Hall accurately reflected the public honour for war sacrifice, military service, veterans and the Union Jack that the World War I vets fought under. The Victorian gothic revival style of the building, which is closely associated with monarchism, reminds us of the significant cultural role of architecture and the British Dominion that we were at the time," Ian wrote.

"The Canadian Parliament buildings were also built in the same style to echo the architecture of Westminster and provide a permanent reminder of our British heritage."

"The Legion Hall is formally organized around a central axis, and the gothic revival windows, doors and details are what most individuals would associate with a religious building," Ian noted.

Ian also speculated on what the Legion in Chapleau might have built, had it not been for the philanthropic act of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, albeit that it was first given to St. John's Anglican Church as a parish house.

"There are plenty of examples of other Legion facilities in small Canadian communities to provide an idea of what might have been", Ian wrote, adding that the Nicholson generosity "has left Chapleau with what is probably the most elegant and distinctive of all Royal Canadian Legion properties in Canada. It is clearly the most sophisticated building of its time in Chapleau."

Thanks so much Ian!!!

Other public buildings in Chapleau at this time included the Town Hall, Lady Minto Hospital, the Anglican, Roman Catholic and United churches.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, St. John's was no longer able to afford the upkeep of the hall, and for a time it closed, and in due course was used by Branch 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion. It was not until 1955 when B.W, "Bubs" Zufelt was reeve that the Legion officially took over ownership of the building from the municipality.

For his efforts Mr. Zufelt was made a life member of the branch. (In the interests of full disclosure, Mr. Zufelt was my uncle)

Congratulations to the members of Branch Number 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion who have ensured that the hall has been an integral part of the community for many years. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Roman Catholics will celebrate 100th anniversary of first midnight mass in present church this Christmas Eve

When members of Chapleau's Roman Catholic community attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve this year, they will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the present Sacred Heart Church. The mass in 1919 was celebrated by Father Romeo Gascon.

According to an article by Father Albert Burns SJ, a Chapleau native who was an altar boy at the December 24, 1919 Midnight Mass, the first church was built in 1885, on the site of what is today Collins Hardware. This church had become too small, and a larger one was built in 1891 with its final touch in 1898 on the site of the present church. Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire on December 18, 1918 just before Christmas. 

Father Albert Burns SJ

The new church was built under the guidance of  Mgr Roméo Gascon, Pastor at that time. The first Mass was Midnight Mass December 24, 1919.

Father Burns added, quoting from a book by Gemma Gagnon that the Jesuit Fathers on October 19th 1911, transferred the parish to a zealous priest, who had been two years pastor of Cochrane, Father Roméo Gascon. Later made Mgr Gascon, he was pastor 47 years in Chapleau. He died on January 25th 1958. 

To my many Roman Catholic friends in and from Chapleau, I extend my most sincere congratulations to you on the 100th anniversary of the present Sacred Heart Church. As a young person in Chapleau I was privileged to attend Midnight Mass at Christmas in your church with my good friend Louis Fortin and members of his family. One year I ran between your church and St. John's Anglican Church to attend both services. The Mass was celebrated in Latin at that time, and I still vividly recall the choir singing Adestes Fideles (O Come all Ye Faithful.). My life was made better from knowing so many of you. Thank you.

Turning to St John's Church for a moment, my aunt, Marion (Morris) Kennedy who died in 2007 once sent me a piece of writing she had done which captured Christmas at St. John's Anglican Church. when she was a child growing up in Chapleau. Aunt Marion wrote in part: "The bellows were worked by boys given the honour in a cupboard below the organ. There was many a tale of the organist wildly pumping the footpedals and calling for air. The boys carved or wrote their initials on the walls - one set belonging to the brother of the narrator (my father James E. Morris), and in times of refurbishing the church the initials were always left as is.

"At one of the Christmas services, a young girl sat with her mother (my grandmother, Lil (Mulligan) Morris), third pew from the chancel steps and below the pulpit, watching through her fingers, the parishioners partaking the Holy Communion Rite. So many came forward and at the end of the procession one native gentleman came slowly up the aisle on moccasined feet -- one could feel the pain,

"He was helped up the chancel steps by a choir member to the waiting respectful minister holding chalice and bread. The repast over. the gentleman made his way slowly back to his pew. The choir and congregation in awe, joined in humble reunion. As the church members exited, Christmas greetings were exchanged quietly. Everyone was moved by the devotion and faith of the native gentleman who had walked a long distance to attend." Aunt Marion added that she recalled this particular service every Christmas thereafter no matter where she was living.

I recall Christmas Eve in Chapleau so well as citizens of all denominations would meet and greet each other as they went to and from their respective churches. It was usually a bitterly cold clear night with the temperature at times reaching minus 50 below Fahrenheit, the smoke from chimneys going straight up to the heavens, lots and lots of snow, and everyone bundled up in their Christmas finery. But people greeted each other and the sounds of "Merry Christmas" and "Joyeux Noel" could be heard from all sections of the town as people took time from their other festivities to attend church.This also included parishioners from Trinity United Church.

The display at Dr Young's building at Beech and Lorne Streets was also a special attraction.

 To all readers, my very best wishes for Christmas and 2020 as we start another decade of the 21st century. God bless. 

NOTE --This column appears in a bit different way in the December 19, 2001 edition of the Chapleau Express as my Chapleau Moments column. I wanted to mark the 100th anniversary of the present Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Updated third edition of 'The Chapleau Boys Go To War' as legacy to Chapleau boys who served our country now available

Ongoing research since the first edition of 'The Chapleau Boys Go to War' was first published in 2015 has led to a third edition being made available, according to co-author Michael McMullen.

I co-authored the book with Michael who is my cousin through our paternal grandparents, May (Mulligan) McMullen and Lil (Mulligan) Morris. We trace our Chapleau connection to 1885 and the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway when Patrick Mulligan, their uncle arrived in the community.

"As a result of our on-going research of the past several years we felt we had enough information to produce the third edition",  Michael said.  " This is our legacy for the Chapleau Boys who served in uniform and we wanted all our information in print." 

The third edition contains updated information of the Chapleau boys, particularly in World War One including the names of four additional deaths (up from 32 to 36), additional names of enlistments (up from 283 to 293), and more letters from overseas.

There is now a separate chapter on the 227th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, (Men of the North). Of the 293 volunteers with a Chapleau connection who enlisted for World War One with some exceptions they joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force .

By mid-1916 a Chapleau platoon had been formed with over 50 enlistments. Had we never undertaken our book I would not have  known that my grandfather Harry Morris was the first recruit to complete his attestation form on April 16, 1916. He was 26 and a railroad conductor. He never talked much about his experiences overseas in World War One. He also never said too much about his son, James Morris, my father, who was killed on active service in the RCAF during World War Two on July 16, 1943.  My grandmother and I would have chats.

Michael K and Michael J

In April 1916 after a visit to Chapleau by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hugh Lepailleur Jones the Chapleau Citizens Recruiting Committee was formed. One of its members was William McMullen, Michael's grandfather,

Of the 62 who served in the platoon seven died during or soon after the war due to war related activities or disease illness suffered while on active service.

The third edition also contains more letters from the boys on active service to the folks back home. It is  truly a moving experience to read these messages from a battlefield in Europe.

In 'The Chapleau Boys Go To War' we recognize that  World War One and World War Two resulted in Canadians from all walks of life served in our country's armed forces. Our story is about the contributions and sacrifices made during these two wars, at home and abroad, by the people of Chapleau, Ontario, a relatively small community in northern Ontario in World War One and World War Two.

There are 18 more pages than in the previous editions.

Michael and I extend our most sincere thanks to Lucy Bignucolo of Chapleau Village Shops for all the assistance she had provided in promoting and sellling the first two editions of our book. The third edition is also available at Village Shops. It is also available at amazon.com and amazon.ca. You can also email me for a copy at mj.morris@live.ca..Thanks to all who have supported this project.

Ian Macdonald reports on St. John's Chapleau as project draws international attention at 2019 National Trust Conference as Jason Rioux wins award for transformation of church into vibrant, socially useful and profitable facility

JASON RIOUX

Note from MJM: I am delighted that Ian Macdonald, retired head of the department of architecture and professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba agreed to write a column on the award that Jason Rioux won for his efforts in transforming St. John's Church into the "Chapleau Hub" bringing international attention to the project and to Chapleau. Most readers know that Ian is a Chapleau boy having attended Chapleau Public and High Schools as well as working on the Canadian Pacific Railway before becoming a distinguished professor of architecture and architect. He took the time to attend the National Trust Conference where Jason accepted the award.


Ian's continuing interest in Chapleau reminds me of the maxim that you can take the boy (or girl) out of Chapleau, but you can't take Chapleau out of them!!!! Thank you so much Ian.  MJM






BY IAN MACDONALD




Chapleau, Ontario was recently the centre of international attention at the 2019 National Trust Conference held in Winnipeg from October 17 to 19. One of the main conference events was recognition of a selected number of significant heritage projects in Canada including the remarkable efforts of Jason Rioux in transforming St. John’s Church in Chapleau into a vibrant, socially useful and profitable facility.


The National Trust for Canada in association with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals function as major advocates for promoting Canadian heritage including historic architecture, artifacts, landscapes and a multitude of specialized areas including railway heritage. Planning and community development across the country now includes heritage as a major factor in developing healthy and sustainable communities. Major international meetings such as the Winnipeg conference provide an opportunity for a wide range of successful project case studies to be presented, discussed and honoured.


 Conferences of this type remain an important part of keeping abreast of the times for planners and designers. Despite to-day’s ease of access to information, there is still no substitute for sharing experience on a personal basis. Jason Rioux, in addition to the formalities of receiving his award also had the opportunity to present the Chapleau St. John’s project in two working sessions where lessons and problem-solving strategies were shared.


Transformation from St. John’s Anglican Church to “The Hub”


The important historic cultural role of St. John’s Anglican church cannot be understated. Thanks to Michael Morris’ articles and publications, the history of the church is generally well known. The Anglicans established themselves in Chapleau even prior to the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885 with services being conducted in such unlikely places as an empty boxcar and a partially completed railway depot. The first permanent church structure which was opened and consecrated on July 1 1886 was located on the south west corner of Pine and Young St. The rapidly growing community, however, would soon generate a demand for a much larger church to be built opposite the original. Plans for the building were thus developed in 1905 and construction was completed on March 29, 1908 at a cost of $18,000.00. St. John’s, in addition to serving the spiritual needs of the community, functioned in a broader role as the pro-cathedral of the Diocese of Moosonee until 1913. It would gradually play a significant and integral part of the cultural life of the community for the next century.

The church is a classic heritage building originally built in the traditional gothic revival style which was consistent with Anglican churches of the day constructed of masonry bearing walls on a rubble stone foundation. The roof structure is a vaulted timber joist roof assembly supported by distinctive specially fabricated timber hammer trusses. Interiors of the church were elegantly finished and carefully restored in the 1950’s. The basement area which was known then as Renison Hall functioned as a church hall and was used for a variety of community social activities. The church itself could accommodate congregations of over 250 parishioners.


Changing economic conditions coupled with unfortunate ideological division within the broader national Anglican community led to a steady decline in church membership beginning in the 1960s. The dwindling congregation thus found it increasingly difficult to generate funds necessary to
to maintain a building of this size properly.


Specialized work would be required to replace mechanical, heating and ventilation equipment and rehabilitate the building to allow it to accommodate new uses and meet more stringent building code requirements. Unfortunately, neither the Anglican Church of Canada nor the Township of Chapleau was prepared to step up and take responsibility and demolition seemed to be the only option. The challenge for Jason Rioux upon acquiring the building was to retain the original spirit of the building while adapting it to new purposes. The financial risk in addition to the business acumen necessary to develop a strategy for creative and innovative rehabilitation were all factors in selecting the project as an award winner.


Heritage can be a complex factor in the planning and development of communities and not always completely understood and appreciated. We are too easily prone to defaulting to demolition as an easy fix rather than face up to the more complicated task of rehabilitation. Architecture, since the earliest human settlements, has provided commodity and shelter but has at the same time been an enduring expression of cultural beliefs and values.


It is an expression of who we are. Buildings like St. John’s, in this sense, are important historical markers in this case expressing a particular set of Christian values and beliefs of the era. St. John’s along with the other Chapleau churches have co-existed beside one another reflecting a community of diverse cultural backgrounds and values. The fact that beliefs and values change over time does not automatically render something obsolete that has to be destroyed. Buildings, like all of us, can be transformed and adapt to modified values and conditions. Jason Rioux was cited nationally for his personal courage in absorbing financial risk and for mustering the imagination and innovation required to make the Hub project a reality.



Video Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY-pbRvLr6k&feature=youtu.be