Chapleau honours popular citizens Mrs. A.W. Moore as Queen Mother and Layton Goodwin as King at 11th winter carnival in 1962

Mrs 'Hockey' Moore (courtesy Chapleau Express)

Chapleau held its eleventh winter carnival in 1962 and paid tribute to two of the community's most popular citizens. --- Mrs. A.W. 'Hockey' Moore and Layton Goodwin.
For the first time in Chapleau carnival history a "Queen Mother" was crowned and selected for the honour was Mrs. Moore who was known throughout the community for her continuous and untiring efforts to raise funds for hockey teams and the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena.

Layton Goodwin (courtesy Dr Bill Pellow)

The carnival program said that Mrs. Moore "has been an ardent and zealous supporter of the Huskies hockey team, and no doubt, in the fullness of time, will help obtain the reality of having artificial ice in our arena."
In 1965, artificial ice was installed in large measure through the efforts of Mrs. Moore. After the memorial arena was opened Mrs. Moore set out to ensure that one day, artificial ice was installed. She raised over $12,000 herself for the project, a huge sum in those years.
It should be noted that over the years Mrs. Moore supported other hockey teams including her beloved Trappers, and in 1958, for example, Doug Sleivert, president of the Chapleau High School Hockey Club wrote her a lettter of thanks on her assistance with a bingo held by the team.
In 1978, the township council, named the arena portion of the Chapleau Recreation Centre, the Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena in her honour. She was present for the occasion.
Layton Goodwin, the Carnival King, was also no stranger to Chapleau citizens and a popular choice as he had been involved in community activities for many years. Most recently he had been the manager of the memorial arena where he was very well liked with his special interest in the "young fry."
Born in Nova Scotia, Mr. Goodwin arrived in Chapleau in the Spring of 1912 at the age of 22, and took up a position as a telegrapher with the Canadian Pacific Railway.
In 1956, after retiring from the CPR, Mr. Goodwin joined the Chapleau Rotary Club and being fond of children and deeply concerned especially for those who were habdicapped, he took charge of the club's program to provide them with assistance.
Mr. Goodwin also served as master of the Masonic Lodge in Chapleau in 1938.
He said that he was proud of Chapleau and never so happy as when he was making himself a useful citizen of the community.
Jack Sawyer, who had moved to Chapleaun in 1952, and had been a driving force in establishing the Chapleau Mercantile Hockey League in the Fifties was the chairman of the 1962 winter carnival. Jack had also helped establish the Chapleau Juvenile Hockey Club that won the North Shore championship in 1959-60. He also served as secretary of the Pony Baseball League in 1962. The vice chair of the committee was Henry Therriault who was well known for his commitment to Chapleau and was most active in sports and Branch Number 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Jim Lane, who was prominent as a Master of Ceremonies at many Chapleau events was once again in that role at the 1962 carnival.
Thumbing through the carnival program is a nostalgic trip back in Chapleau's history and seeing who was involved. For years J.M.Shoup, the long time principal of Chapleau Public School was in charge of races at both winter and summer events. At the 1962 carnival Mr. Shoup was in charge of the carnival queen contest along with Ross Perrigard and Hank McEachren, and dances, while Foy Wright, his successor as public school principal was looking after the skating races.
Hockey, of course, from the Huskies playing for the Sonny Bignucolo Memorial Trophy to minor hockey teams and and all girls game were on the agenda as well as a special feature -- the Chapleau Knights of Columbus doing "battle" with the Chapleau Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The program says "this game will no doubt supply many interesting sights and scenes along with a dash of some old time hockey finesse."
I had come home from attending Waterloo Lutheran University, now Wilfrid Laurier University, as a "neutral referee" for the Sonny Bignucolo Trophy games and from the mothballs of memory I remember the KC - Odd Fellows game and being so impressed at how good some of the "oldtimers" were. I have no memory, which is perhaps just as well, as to who won the game.
As I was working on this article I noted that my good friend Ken Schroeder was in charge of ski races so I contacted him to get his memories. He recalled that Ross, Frank and Karen Broomhead as well as Sonny Larush were the big winners, but Ken also received a trophy and he wasn't sure why, although he still has it.
Out of town visitors were also a big part of the winter carnival scene -- and so important that a welcoming committee would be at the CPR station to greet arrivals from The Canadian and The Dominion daily and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Budd Car.
Parades were always a highlight of Chapleau carnivals and a highlight was a torch parade to the Bonfire Sing Song, Sleigh Rides and Mocassin Dance at the Chapleau High School grounds on Pine Street. Dancing was free but a sleigh ride would cost you 25 cents.
In 1962, Chapleau phone calls were still handled by the telephone operator and here are some of the numbers you may have called: Jim Hong at the Redwood, 1; Tee Chambers, 38; Len's Taxi, 149;Au Coq D'or restaurant, 19; Dick Hoath, 27; Angelo's Variety Store, 187 and Sportsman Hotel, 356.
D.J. "Jim" Broomhead was reeve of Chapleau and council members were Marcel Bourgeault, Fred A. "Nick" Card, F.B. "Casey" Nowakawski and W.D. Collings.
Now, here is a challenge and I hope someone will email me with the name of the winner of the Carnival Queen contest in 1962. Despite best efforts, unable to come up with the name of the winner and a photo. The contestants were Shirley Donivan sponsored by Chapleau and District Lumber Companies; Barbara Gervais, sponsored by Chapleau High School; Anita Laferriere sponsored by Stedmans and Roseanne Wright, sponsored by Smith and Chapple Ltd. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Ontario cabinet minister Rene Brunelle describes Chapleau as 'most progressive community in Northern Ontario' in 1978 at official opening of Cedar Grove Lodge

When Cedar Grove Lodge for Senior Citizens and the Chapleau Recreation Centre were officially opened in June 1978, it was also an occasion to honour some of Chapleau's distinguished citizens.
At Cedar Grove, the apartment section was named in honour of Peter Blackburn and Vince Crichton, to be known as the Blackburn-Crichton Memorial Wing and the drop-in centre as the Mrs. Agnes Freeborn Memorial Elderly Persons Centre. Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Crichton were long-time residents of Chapleau and great supporters of community life. Mrs. Freeborn was the founding president of the Chapleau Senior Citizens Club whiich held its first meeting on the lawn of the old Chapleau High School in the summer of 1973.

At the recreation centre opening on June 29, it was announced that the arena portion would be known as the Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena in honour of Mrs. Moore, who was present for the occasion. Mrs. Moore, over a period of many years, made an immense contribution to hockey, and to the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena, where she singlehandedly raised the funds for the installation of artificial ice. Her picture and a plaque were to be placed in the arena.

The home for the aged section at Cedar Grove Lodge was named the Rene Brunelle Wing, after the Ontario cabinet minister who was so incredibly supportive of the project, and in large measure made it happen. Mr. Brunelle, who died in April, 2010, was present for the occasion in 1978, and officially opened the complex. The ribbon was held by pioneer residents Mr. and Mrs. Fred Leclerc. Mr. Leclerc had served as a member of Chapleau council.

In his remarks, Mr. Brunelle, who represented Cochrane riding referred to Chapleau as "the most progressive community in Northern Ontario", according to a report in the Chapleau Sentinel. Mr. Brunelle also toured the new civic centre and recreation centre.

In a letter, Ontario Premier William Davis wrote that the decision to name part of the facility after Mr. Brunelle, was a "fitting tribute" adding that the "north has no better friend than Rene Brunelle and in the true northern spirit you have recognized this in a most meaningful way... May I extend to all who have been associated in any way with this project, my warmest best wishes."

Following the opening of Cedar Grove on June 30, the Chapleau Senior Citizens Club, with Mrs. Min Blackburn as president, served a delightful lunch while citizens also toured the facility. Tour guides were members of the Sincerity Rebekah Lodge.

Mrs. Lauretta Veit, a member of the founding board for Cedar Grove was chairperson for the official opening, and delighted those attending with the announcement that Catherine McKinnon and her husband Don Harron, "Charlie Farquharson" were present. Miss McKinnon sang 'Amazing Grace' while "Charlie" performed one of his popular dialogues. The visit was arranged by Peter Bernier, chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee.

Back to the opening of the recreation centre, another highlight was the presentation of the Peter Blackburn Memorial Trophy to Jamie Doyle of the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies as the player who made the most outstanding overall contribution to the team. Mrs. Blackburn had donated the trophy of her husband who had been an avid supporter of the Chapleau entry in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League.

In accepting the trophy, Jamie said: "Mr. Blackburn travelled many miles with our team. He was with us when we lost and when we won. It is a great honour to have won this most prestigious trophy."

Recreation director Terry Bryson was master of ceremonies for the recreation centre opening whiile it was officially declared open by Robert Eaton, MPP, on behalf of Premier William Davis. The keys to the building were presented to Peter Bernier, the chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee.

Harry Pellow, then of Neish Owen Rowland and Roy, and a member of one of Chapleau's pioneer families, was the principal architect for Cedar Grove and the recreation centre. Eileen McCrea, executive assistant to the reeve was overall co-ordinator of the openings.

Among the dignitaries attending the recreation centre opening was Carlo Cattarello, the president of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association and an outstanding tennis player. I had challenged Carlo to a set to be played on the arena floor, and he brought his racquet and clothes all set to play. I tried to use the excuse that I had forgotten everything at home, but Tim Morin came forward and offered to let me use his racquet, shoes, shirt and shorts. Trapped!

The Chapleau Sentinel reported that it was "a great set until the reeve complained of a 'sore wrist' with the games tied 4-4. Mr. Cattarello emerged the winner 5-4".

For new readers, I was the Reeve (Mayor) of Chapleau at the time.

Thanks to all those who have been writing me. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

IN PHOTO are founding members of the board of Cedar Grove Lodge at ground breaking cereemony in 1976: From left, Michael Morris, Dr. G.E.Young, George Evans, Hon Rene Brunelle, Walter Wilson, Ernie Gilbert, Lauretta Veit, G. Ste, Marie, F.A. Card, Louise Mione and Min Blackburn.

Buddy Swanson shares story of the champion Chapleau Jr. 'B' Huskies of 1966-67 (Part One)

NOTE: Keith 'Buddy" Swanson died on May 7, 2011 in Chapleau. May he rest in peace.

To set the stage for the arrival of the 1966-67 champion Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies, let's go back in time to 1929 and the arrival of Mac McAllister in Chapleau to work for Canadian Pacific Communications and play hockey for the Chapleau All Stars Junior team.

Doug Greig recently sent me a note that Mac, who became one of the community's great hockey stars and later a referee, wrote after the death of Mrs. A.W. Moore in 1979. Mac revealed that the Chapleau hockey board of directors was deciding on a uniform and he suggested that since the original Ottawa Senators had just won the Stanley Cup three years in row why not use their barber shop pole stripes. The committee agreed.

Mac also noted that the committee decided to have a Husky dog with the letter C around it, thus the Chapleau Huskies. Mrs. Moore, Chapleau's greatest hockey fan, made the Husky dogs, the letters C and the number for each uniform. She then stitched them on to each uniform. What an incredible lady Mrs. Moore was, and thanks Doug for sending me Mac's note.

Fast forward to 1966 and the arrival of the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies, the first major beneficiaries of the artificial ice in the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena, largely made possible by Mrs. Moore's efforts. I am delighted to be able to bring you highlights from the founding year of the Junior "B" Huskies as told to me by Keith "Buddy" Swanson, who devoted much of his life to sports, particularly the Huskies, in Chapleau and until recently was a township councillor. Thanks so much Buddy for taking time to answer questions, and to your sister Sharon for starting it all!

Here is Part one of the story as told to me by Buddy:

Junior B hockey came to Chapleau in 1966 as a result of a chance summer meeting on our golf course between Tom Welch and a visiting director of the Wawa Travellers who were already a part of the NOHA International Jr. B Hockey League that had been formed in the 1965-66 hockey season. It was suggested that since Chapleau and Wawa had already established a fierce rivalry through the Intermediate Wawa Ironmen and the Chapleau Huskies, our participation in the league would be a natural fit.

In 1965-66 Lorne Riley and I had coached and managed a very good Midget team and with the other overage midgets in town we discussed the proposition and knew we probably had a pretty good nucleus of players to start with. Lorne and I travelled to our first meeting of the League in Wawa in the summer of 1966 on Highway 101 West which was being completed that year. We were well received and tentatively approved for entry in the League by Wawa Travellers, Sault Michigan Indians, Soo Ontario Rapids and the Elliot Lake Vikings. With no arena in Elliot Lake at the time, the Vikings played their home games in Thessalon and a few on their outdoor rink in Elliot Lake.

Our next challenge was where would we find the money to operate a Junior “B” hockey club with a budget of approximately $15,000.00? First we needed to find and hold an election from a group of people to form an organization. Three meetings were called and only Tom, Lorne and myself showed up and Jack Shoup at the third meeting. It did not look good but on the urging of Tom Welch, who was the owner of the Chapleau Sentinel weekly newspaper at the time it was decided to go ahead anyhow, and we would all solicit people to be on the executive. Tom was on board from the start and was elected President of the Club.

Bob St. Pierre became the Treasurer later replaced by Sonja Vaughan. I was the Secretary and team Manager. Lorne Riley was appointed Coach. Andre Rioux accepted the Trainer’s job. Directors of the club included Art Grout, Earle Freeborn, Ross Perrigard, Albert Tremblay, Jack Shoup, Ken Stevenson. Roger Mizuguchi handled the advertising and Public relations position. The executive was tasked with the responsibility to fundraise and find sponsors for the Club. As always, the businesses and people of the Town of Chapleau came through in grand style. Tom Welch and I attended the next League meeting in Sault Ste. Marie where the Huskies were officially accepted into the League. We were ready to roll.

Practices started and our roster was quickly set. Richard Morin was appointed team Captain. Richard had already played a pivotal role with the Intermediate B Huskies and had scored the winning goal the season before in Wawa to eliminate the Ironmen and pave the way for the Huskies to go on to the win the NOHA Intermediate B crown in a tense series with Espanola. Merrick Goldstein and Reg Bouillon would be the anchors of our defence having played in the Wawa series with Goldstein recovered from a broken leg suffered in the Int. B playoffs in Wawa. Ted Swanson and John Laframboise were also available. The versatile Gerry Boucher played both forward and defence.

Up front J. C. Cyr, George Swanson and Richard Morin formed an experienced line. Midget grads Corky Bucci, Greg Vaughan and Mickey Jurynec formed a formidable trio and Raymond Larcher, Robert Morin, John Babin, and Bruce Pellow rounded out the forwards. The only Junior aged goaltender available at the time was Jamie Broomhead to start the season. Freddie Coreau of White River was signed after our first two games and became the starter. We started the season with a decisive win over the Elliot Lake on November 5 in Chapleau.

The turning point in our season took place in the 10th game of the schedule against the 1965-66 champion Sault Ont. Rapids team which was the debut for new no. 1 goalie John Loyst from Timmins. Loyst was outstanding all year and was the only out-of town player we had. He was a winner in his first game as Mickey Jurynec scored in overtime to give the Huskies a hard-fought 4-3 win.

Unfortunately it was after that game that Coach Lorne Riley became ill and on Doctor’s advice could not carry on behind the bench. Secretly, I was at first reluctant to take over the coaching reins because we had my two brothers in the lineup, Ted and George Swanson but I quickly became Manager-Coach for the remainder of the season and the playoffs without regret. Lorne and I confided in each other throughout the season and he attended all the games as a spectator while I handled all the practices and ran the bench. The Huskies committed themselves well and finished the season in 3rd place with a 14 win, 8 loss and 2 ties record and had to meet the first place Wawa Travellers in the playoffs first round.

In Part Two, Buddy shares the exciting playoffs that led to tremendous success for the first year team. I will post during this week.

Thanks Buddy. This article first appeared as my Chapleau Moments column in the Chapleau Express.

Comments welcome.. my email is mj.morris@live.ca