George Theriault relaxes with prime ministers Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent

When George Theriault was in the Royal Canadian Air Force, on numerous occasions he was called upon to fly dignitaries like the prime minister to a secluded lake for a few hours or days of fishing, hunting or just plain relaxing.

In his wonderful book 'Trespassing in God's Country - Sixty Years of Flying in Northern Canada', he includes a chapter, 'Relaxing with the Prime Ministers'. In 1954, after retiring from the RCAF, he established the main base for Theriault Air Service at Chapleau. He had joined the air force in 1940 during World War II.

He reveals that before Prime Minister Mackenzie King retired in 1948, "I had several opportunities to socialize with him at his summer home in Kingsmere, a small lake in the Gatineau Park, where he loved to spend the weekends. He enjoyed the simple pleasure of sitting on his verandah and chatting about all the unimportant details of life."

Mr. Theriault gives an insightful look into the life of Mr. King when he was out of the public eye. One day he relates that the prime minister in "his very shy way" if he would do him a favour.

"He had some young children visiting from Ottawa, and he wanted them to see the country from the air in my J-3 Cub which I usually flew to the lake on weekends. He even offered to pay for the gasoline for the trips... Naturally, I agreed to the trips but wouldn't accept payment for the gasoline."

He tried to convince the prime minister "to come up for a spin but he politely declined saying that he only flew when he was on business. He preferred to have his feet on the ground when he was relaxing."

Just imagine sitting on a verandah with the prime minister today "sipping some cool drinks." Well, Mr. Theriault did, and was asked by Prime Minister King  what the average air force pilot earned as a yearly salary, then added how much would a similar pilot flying for Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada make).

Mr. Theriault replied that he made about $4800 a year, and a TCA pilot about $10000 a year.

One of the other air force officials present asked the prime minister his salary. Mr. King "was silent for a while , and then responded that he made under $10000; this was in the summer of 1948!"

Turning to Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, who succeeded Mr. King later in 1948. Mr. Theriault wrote, "we found a boss who really liked to relax in a boat or canoe."

"If Mr. St. Laurent only had a few hours to relax and fish, I flew him in the Norseman to a private camp North of Ottawa ... we could leave Ottawa after 5:00 pm and return by 10 pm."

Mr. Theriault always enjoyed fishing with him "because he would just paddle a 16-foot canoe out onto a lake and sit for hours. There was no competition, no hurry to catch a fish. It seemed to be a way of meditation for him. After a few hours of fly fishing his whole countenance brightened and the weight of office seemed to grow lighter on his shoulders.

"Catching a fish seemed less important t o him than the experience of just sitting in the canoe moving his fishing line in and out of the water. In the privacy of nature, he seemed to allow the pressure of government business to dissolve. The hours spent with him in a canoe were beyond the realm of time. The transforming power of nature worked its magic on us both."

Mr. Theriault has provided an insightful behind-the-scenes look at  two of Canada's long serving prime ministers. "Trespassing in God's Country" in its entirety is a great read. Russ Bannock, the former president of de Havilland Aircraft of Canada noted that it is a "magnificent story of his (Mr. Theriault's} life as a Canadian pilot.

My thanks to George Theriault and his son John for making a copy available to me. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau High School at turning point in its history in 1961-62 as enrolment jumped significantly, new course added

Merrick Goldstein 1960s

Chapleau High School took its first small step towards bilingualism - French and English - in the 1961-62 school year with the arrival of Luther Emerson as principal.

Susan Cecile, a Grade 13 student, who wrote a column in the short lived Chapleau Press explained that students who had graduated from the bilingual program at the separate school would be able to take "advanced French instead of the ordinary elementary French", in Grade 9. Plans were to continue it through to Grade 13 for these students.

At that time there were no plans to offer other courses in French, but it was the start of courses for those who spoke French as a first language.

Interestingly, Susan points out that enrolment has jumped to 201 as compared to 136 in the previous year. There were three Grade 9 classes, two Grade 10 and one each for Grades 11, 12 and 13.

Innocents John Murray, Jim Anderson, Peter Simpson Frank Bignucolo

For those who started at CHS in 1961-62, you may recall the teachers who were Mr. Emerson, Jean Hattie, Sheila Kingston, Raymond Achurch, Yvon Charbonneau, Marcel Gelinas, Clement Miron, Gladys Bowles, and George Evans in his first year at the school.

Susan commented: "We have found our new teachers enthusiastic, cooperative and just plain terrific".


Susan noted the importance of physical education courses, which were compulsory from grades 9 to 12, with two qualified teachers -- Mr. Gelinas and Miss Kingston. Activities would be held on the playing field and in the "cellar gym".

A skating rink was planned behind the school while there was also a school bowling league with games scheduled once a week at the YMCA lanes.  The fee for students was $2.00 a month.

Curling was also popular with 16 teams competing at the Pine Street curling rink after school on weekdays. Playoffs were planned for the end of the season.

Religious instruction classes were held weekly conducted by Father R. Marchand of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Rev. J.G.M. Doolan of St. John's Anglican Church and Rev. M.A. McBride of Trinity United Church.

To mark the start of the school year, Branch Number 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion dedicated a new flag and flagpole in front of the school, according to the Sudbury Star.

Gerry Boucher

Legion member Ken Encil headed a team which erected the flagpole. The dedication ceremonies were conducted by branch president Herbert Doig assisted by Scotty Welch. The flag was raised by Wilfred Simpson.

The occasion was also an opportunity to present awards to four members of 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps for proficiency in Morse Code training while at Camp Ipperwash. They were Wayne Midkiff, K. Knorz, Danny Mizuguchi and Edward Beynon, who won an additional award for work at Camp Borden.

The 1961-62 year at CHS marked a turning point in the history of secondary school education in Chapleau in more ways than one, but that is a story for another day,  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Photos from Lark Ritchie collection

Friday Morning Coffee Club meets in new location with visit from The Sound Principle

Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC,  met for the first time in its new location at the White Spot, Triple O, with a special musical moment for Valentine's Day provided by 'The Sound Principle'.

'The Sound Principle', a very popular Cranbrook barber shop quartet, with FMCC founding member Joel Vinge as a member was making its annual rounds for Valentine's Day to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. All funds raised go to the foundation.

It takes them two days to visit all those who sign up in Cranbrook and Kimberley  to have the quartet visit in person and present a rose to a loved one and sing two appropriate songs for the occasion.

 In fact, they even sing for the mother of Jim Roberts, another FMCC founding member, who lives in Oregon, Technology assists greatly!

They found time to visit White Spot Triple O, and present a rose and sing two songs, which were greeted by loud applause by the FMCC members, staff and customers. Members of 'The Sound Principle' are: lead, Gert DeGroot; bass, Rollie Cummins; bass, Michael Jones, and tenor, Joel Vinge.

Thanks so much.

FMCC had to move after two years when the Starbucks in Target closed as part of the store closing.

Thanks to the staff who made us feel so welcome at the new location.

Also, thanks to 'The Sound Principle' who bring moments of delight into the lives of so many people all year round, but especially on Valentine's Day.

They remind me of a quote attributed to Etienne de Grellet, a Quaker missionary:

I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Etienne de Grellet
Quaker Missionary