Chapleau despite 'wild surroundings' up-to-date community in 1939 Royal Tour booklet declares

A stranger might be surprised to discover  an up-to-date community like Chapleau considering its "wild surroundings", a booklet prepared for the Royal Tour of 1939 declared.

An excerpt from the booklet 'Across Canada - Commemorating the Royal Tour' was written out by either Mr. or Mrs. Richard Brownlee, and is included in the Brownlee Papers. If my memory serves me right this booklet was primarily prepared for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and the Royal Party who accompanied them on the Royal Train.

"Considering its wild surroundings, the stranger is agreeably surprised to find a spot so remote from what he calls civilization, anything so completely up-to-date as Chapleau.."

The writer, who would have made a trip across Canada before their Majesties paid a visit added, "...no shack-town but a busy railway divisional point, with electric light and power, three churches, public, separate and high schools, hotels, a library, a hospital, a YMCA, motion picture theatre  and bank  ---- and a nine-hole golf course."

As an aside, I have lost track of the number of times since I left the "wild surroundings" of Chapleau for so called "civilization" I have had to explain that the community was a most "up-to date" place and has been for more than 100 years. 

The writer also describes Chapleau's location most eloquently. 

"On the shores of Lake (he got that wrong) Kabequashesing (close) Chapleau is the pulsating heart of the Chapleau Game Preserve, which has an area of 5,000 square miles and is the loveliest many say in Ontario.

"Strict protection has enabled the speckled brook trout, lake trout, great northern pike. walleyes, moose, deer, bear and other game in the preserve to multiply so much that they have skipped over into surrounding territory. Countless lakes lead readily through these splendid fishing and hunting grounds."

The writer mentions canoe trips to the height of land, "the continent's backbone, dividing north from south bound waters", with"raging rivers through magnificent scenery..." This is only one of the similar journeys which may be made from Chapleau.

He seemed greatly interested in the "rolling school cars' operated out of Chapleau , and other Northern Ontario points with the "object of giving the children of scattered railway men and others remote from even the smallest educational centres an opportunity otherwise unavailable of acquiring not merely the three R's but high school standards."

The teacher and family lived on the car which also included a library, and there were between 30 and 40 pupils ranging in age from five to 20.

The article concludes by noting that Chapleau has a lumber industry  and is "situated in a rich gold, mica and copper district..."

Remember that this article was written mainly for readers, including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who knew very little about Canada, In fact, as I was working on this column, I wondered if their Majesties had  read it.

Chapleau was not included for an "official" visit as the Royal Train was scheduled to arrive at two a.m. However, Chapleau Reeve George Fife wanted to meet the King and Queen, a message was sent to them, and they got up and met the Reeve, and other dignitaries.

Apparently, the King also conducted an inspection of 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps who were on hand for the occasion.

Yes, Robert Fife, The Ottawa Bureau Chief of The Globe and Mail and host of CTV's Question Period is the grandson of Mr. Fife. Bob confirmed that his grandfather did indeed have Chapleau officially added to the Royal Tour.

Thanks again to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin for loaning me the Brownlee Papers. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded to Chapleau RCAF members included one recipient having drink of scotch with King George VI during World War II

There were 4018 members of the Royal Canadian Air Force who received the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II, and Chapleau is included among those who received the DFC for acts of valour or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy.

For Willard Bolduc, the son of Joseph Telesfore, who died while on active service with Canadian Forces in World War I, and Barbara (McWatch) Bolduc, it meant receiving his DFC from King George VI at a field investiture In England, and even enjoying a drink of Scotch with His Majesty.

In a letter to his mother, Willard Bolduc, wrote that the King and Queen Elizabeth came for his investiture, which "should make folks sit up and take notice". On the same day he was promoted from pilot officer to flying officer.

He told his mother, according to a newspaper report at the time, that now she may now address "my mail to F.O. Bolduc, D.F.C" adding "I never knew I would ever have any letters after my name - it makes you feel sort of important."

Flying Officer Bolduc explained that he did not go to Buckingham Palace because they had a field investiture where the King and Queen came to their station.

"We had a full parade and I had to march out by myself in front of everyone and the King shook hands with me and pinned on the medal."

Aftrewards, their Majesties joined them for a chicken dinner.

"Before dinner we all had a drink of Scotch in the anteroom with (the King), so now I can say I had a drink of Scotch with the King of England!"

At the end of his letter, Willard admitted to his mother, "But believe me, I was really scared stiff. I could hardly talk and my knees were knocking and everything else. I guess you can say your crazy son is really getting around, eh Mom?"

The department of veterans affairs web site says: Flying Officer Willard John Bolduc. an Ojibwa from Chapleau, Ontario earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his performance as an air gunner during a series of bombing attacks in 1943."

Baisel Benjamin Collings, the son of Clarence and Olive (Shillington) Collings, enlisted in the RCAF in August 1941, rose to rank of Warrant Officer One, and his citation for the DFC noted that he had completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty."

It says that he completed two tours of operations, adding that "Warrant Officer Collings has at all times displayed outstanding ability and a strong sense of duty, and he holds a fine record of achievement on the squadron.

"His untiring devotion to duty in moments of danger has been largely responsible for the successful completion of his crew's many sorties, and by his example of cheerful courage, has maintained a very high standard of morale among, not only his crew members, but the squadron in general."

Donald Boyd Freeborn. the son of Earle and Agnes (McAdam) Freeborn first enlisted as a boy apprentice in the Royal Air Force, was accepted but stayed home as the eldest of eight children when his father died in 1937 one month before Donald was to set sail for England.

He enlisted in the RCAF in October 1941 rising to the rank of Flying Officer.

On one occasion his Lancaster bomber was shot down behind enemy lines in Holland. Writing in Chapleau Trails, edited and published by Dr. Bill Pellow, his sister Beth noted that "Don and his navigator survived the crash and were hidden in the basement of a Dutch family until they could be spirited back to allied territory." Although reported "missing in action", he was returned to flying Lancaster bombers.

Another incident recorded about his service overseas was that "One night in October 1944 this officer captained an aircraft detailed to attack Stuttgart. On the bombing run the aircraft was subjected to anti-aircraft fire. Flying Officer Freeborn was struck by a piece of shrapnel in the thigh. The wound was serious. Nevertheless this pilot withheld the fact from his crew and pressed home his attack. Not until the bombs had been released did he call for assistance. It became necessary to apply a tourniquet to his leg, an operation which Flying Officer Freeborn himself superintended. In spite of much physical suffering this resolute pilot flew the aircraft to this country. He displayed courage, fortitude and devotion to duty of a high order."

Donald Freeborn was awarded the DFC with Bar.

He is a member of a Chapleau family long dedicated to community service with his grandfather J.D. McAdam and father Earle both serving as reeve, while his brother Earle served as reeve/mayor and brother Elmer as a councillor.

Lloyd George McDonald. commonly called by his nickname 'Sparrow" was born in Chapleau in 1918, graduated from Chapleau High School in 1937, then attended the University of Toronto, and enlisted in the RCAF in 1941.

He was posted to Number 426 Squadron and the information on the DFC award reads: "This officer has completed a large number of sorties against enemy targets, including Berlin and Brunswick. At all times he has displayed the highest degree of navigational skill and has been in no small way responsible for the successful completion of many operations. On one occasion his aircraft was severely damaged by an enemy fighter but, working under extreme difficulties, Flying Officer McDonald successfully navigated his aircraft back to an emergency base in this country where a safe landing was made. His navigational skill, coolness and determination have been of the highest order."

After the war Sparrow McDonald returned to work for the Canadian Press where he had started while attending university and worked in Washington and New York for years. He also covered the United Nations and the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Later he headed to Winnipeg Bureau then was chief of Ontario service, then features and night editor.

Willard Bolduc, Baisel Collings, Donald Freeborn, and Lloyd McDonald were among the estimated 350 Chapleau men and women who served in Canada's armed forces in World War II, an incredible number, given the size of the community, all of whom are now referred to as the Greatest Generation. And indeed they are as I reflect on them and the lives they all lived, ordinary men and women from a small community in Northern Ontario who left their homes and families to do the exceptional. Some returned, others did not. Thank you to all of them. Lest we forget!

My sincere thanks to Doug Greig, Dr. Bill Pellow and the Bolduc, Collings and Freeborn families who contributed to Chapleau Trails, and to "Sparrow McDonald, gone now, but a journalist who I was so privileged to interview at the Chapleau High School 60th anniversary reunion in 1982. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Little red school house magically turned into railway coach while dental car also travelled CPR line and Chapleau's reeve George Fife meets the King during 1939 Royal Tour

As Chapleau High School prepares to celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2012,
around the same time that it was established, so was the school car that brought
education to children along the Canadian Pacific Railway between Cartier and
White River for about 40 years.

J.B. McDougall, a school inspector in
North Bay, had the idea for the school in 1926 after a survey revealed that
"children in the backwoods didn't get any education", according to an article in
Better Living magazine in 1946.

The Ontario Department of Education
agreed to the plan and the CPR, CNR and ONR (as it is now called) all agreed to
participate.

Chapleau was selected as the central place for the school
cars on the CPR and one, attached to a freight train, travelled west to serve
the children as far west as White River, and the other, east to Cartier. A
dental car was introduced in 1931.

The school car was not available to
children in places such as Nicholson, Amyot, Franz, Localsh, Missanabie, Biscotasing,
Sultan where a school was already established but was for children of miners,
trappers, section men, woodsmen and others who may travel from their isolated
homes by snowshoe or dog sled to the siding or spur where the school car would
be dropped off for five days before moving to its next location. The children
would be given enough homework to last until it returned.

One story
related is that one student built a lean to against the school car and lived in
it each week that he attended classes.

When the school at Nicholson
closed in 1936, the school car stopped there until 1956. It stopped operating in
1967.

Better Living described  it as "the little red schoolhouse being
magically turned into a railway coach."

The car was complete with
student desks, blackboards and a heater and also had living quarters for the
teacher. All textbooks, pens, pencils and scribblers were provided by the
department of education.

Often the teacher was called upon to provide
assistance to parents as translater, adviser, letter writer and host at social
gatherings held in the evenings on the car. Adult night classes were often
held.

All teachers were qualified under department of education
regulations, and according to a 1951 reports: "Teachers are chosen because of 
their understanding of and adaptability to pioneering life. In addition to
teaching in the classroom, they do much to enrich the life of students and
parents, many of whom are not familiar with Canadian habits and
customs."

As I was researching this piece, I was intrigued by some of
the words I came across such as "backwoods" and "pioneer life". Growing up in
Chapleau in the 1940s, it never struck me that we lived in the backwoods, or
close to it, or were experiencing pioneer life.

In fact, we had a camp
at Healey, built by my grandparents, Lil (Mulligan) and Harry Morris, and my
mother Muriel E (Hunt) Morris, 17 CPR miles west of Chapleau on Lake Windermere.
I guess I really was in the backwoods of pioneer life during the wonderful
summers I spent there. Had we lived there year round I may have attended the
school car but somehow would have had to make my way to Musk or Pardee as there
was no siding or spur line at Healey.

Interestingly, in a guide book
prepared for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for their Royal Tour of Canada
in 1939, reference is made to Northern Ontario.  It noted that the train would
pass "though a land of great rock hills and tall pines, the railway wanders ...
on the main transcontinental line."

Although the guide does  not mention
the school cars, it does say that Cartier was the eastern terminal for dental
cars. The cars, "donated and hauled by the railways, contain a dental clinic and
living quarters for a dentist in charge." Equipped by the Rosedale chapter of
the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire, they had been maintained and
operated by the department of health of the provincial government since
1931.

The program provided for free dental treatment to children in
Northern Ontario who might otherwise not have received any care. I recall the
dental care being made available to us after the death of Dr. William Young,
"the dentist", the brother of Dr. G.E. Young, "the doctor." Chapleau was without
a resident dentist for many years.

The train passed through
Geneva, Benny, Pogosaming, Metagama and other places, and the next comments were
made about Biscotasing. The guide noted that Biscotasing, meaning " narrow
filled with waterlilies, connecting two lakes" had been a Hudson's Bay Company
trading post prior to the arrival of the CPR.

Biscotasing was the "jumping off place for the canoe route to Flying Post,
James Bay and Hudson Bay  -- a route used since earliest times by the Indians on
primitive expeditons, then on journeys to scene of Canadian Pacific construction
-- where they made their first contact with civilization outside the trading
posts."

Again an interesting use of language by the guide writers in 1939 who told
the Royals that the canoe routes had been used by aboriginal peoples since
"earliest times" on "primitive expeditions". I can only surmise that the writers
were sent out from England in advance of the Royal tour to write an interesting
story for their Majesties who were paying their first visit to Canada.

However, by my calculation, the King and Queen were likely asleep as their
train travelled from Sudbury to Chapleau. The Royal Train arrived in Chapleau at
two a.m.and there were no plans for a public appearance. However, Reeve George
Fife of Chapleau had sent a message advising that he wanted to meet them when
the train was in Chapleau. They got up and met Mr Fife.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca