Chapleau Railroad YMCA played important role in community life as 'home away from home' for railroaders for 63 years until demolished in 1971

The Chapleau Railroad YMCA was one of the most distinctive landmarks in Chapleau from its opening in 1908 until it was demolished in 1971, Ian Macdonald writes in 'Mile 615.1: Building a Northern Community'.

Ian, who spent many of his growing up years in Chapleau, worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway for a time, attended university, became an architect, and in 2005 retired as head of the school of architecture at the University of Manitoba.

Writing in a monograph which is an important part of Bill McLeod's newest book, 'Chapleau: Retrospective on Life in an Isolated Northern Community', Ian explains that the Chapleau Y was one of nine railroad YMCA's built by the CPR in Canada and one in Maine. The others were in Revelstoke, Field, Cranbrook (where I now live), Kenora, Ignace, Schreiber, White River, Cartier and Brownville Junction, Maine.

The usual arrangement was that the CPR paid for the construction of the buildings and then turned ownership and operation over to the Young Men's Christian Association.

The company also gave a cash donation of $100 a month and provided steam heat in the winter and ice in the summer. The CPR provided heat for all its operations and other Chapleau buuildings from a central plant.

Ian notes that the YMCA became part of the "social fabric" of the communities served, confirmed by Ron Brown in his book 'The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore' who observed that they became a sight and activity centre as much a part of the community as the gardens, sitting rooms in the stations or new water tanks.

At the Chapleau YMCA, moving picture shows, according to Ian, were routinely patronized by everyone in town.

"The subject matter, of course, was always of the most wholesome variety, some of it even supplied by the CPR's own film interests."

There were also two bowling alleys in the basement which were used by Chapleau citizens. Whenever anyone recalls the bowling alleys, it is to share their experience as a pin boy (or girl), and to mention that Mrs. Mabel Young, Dr. G.E. Young's mother, was still bowling there in her nineties.

Quoting from a CPR publication Ian writes that the facilities were given to the YMCA to operate "because of its unselfish purpose to be of service to railway men without financial gain".

However, before the CPR and YMCA got together to build the railway YMCA's, the railway was concerned about how its employees were spending their time out on the road, away from home, which is a story of it own.

One writer in 'Not Just a Game: Essays in Sports Sociology' commented that soon after the first one was established in Revelstoke, British Columbia, "the YMCA made lambs out of the wild men (of Revelstoke)..." Given the Revelstoke success, the YMCA's were quickly expanded to other divisional points.

Quoting from the CPR Bulletin of August 1922, Ian comments on the social role of the YMCA's. The bulletin said in part: "the buildings are open day and night and provide a 'homelike place' at the other end of the run.


"The engineers and trainmen, after driving through the snow and cold, find an open fire, a good meal and cheerful companionship awaiting them at the end of a journey..."

Ian notes that the YMCA had characteristics of home including a carefully manicured front lawn and fence, rambling front porch and other features of homes at those times.

However, it was not only CPR employees who stayed at the YMCA. George Tremblay, another Chapleauite, in his wonderful book about the movies 'Break at Nine' tells about the arrival of Ruth and Cecil Smith in 1940 to take over the Regent Theatre.

In November 1940 they arrived in Chapleau on the CPR Train, the Dominion, Number 3, and looked for a taxi.

Len 'the taxi man' Perfetto, was there and away they went as the taxi "dashed up and around the steep horsehoe bridge that spanned the railway yards, then through the downtown" and finally arrived at the YMCA on Lorne Street south.

George noted that it may "sound strange" to learn that they would stay at the YMCA "but in 1940 it was the accepted thing to do" as there were no motels at the time and the two hotels were now rooming houses and apartment buildings.

George Theriault, in his book 'Trespassing in God's Country' writes that when he arrived in 1954, "I bunked down at the YMCA, bought an old boathouse on the Chapleau river and hired two carpenters to winterize it." It was the beginning of Theriault Air Services.

Ian notes that "Time and events gradually overtook the established social role of the YMCA in the years following World War II, and it was condemned and demolished in 1971, adding that one can "scarcely miss the irony when the Chapleau Railway Y was demolished to make way for the new Liquor Control Board of Ontario retail outlet."

I have only touched upon the contents of Ian's monograph 'Mile 615.1: Building a Northern Community' and have not even referred to the rest of Bill's book, "Chapleau: Retrospective on Life in an Isolated Northern Community. Thanks to Ian for permitting me to quote freely from his work, and to Bill, who has been a friend since we were kids growing up in Chapleau.
Thanks as well to George Tremblay and George Theriault. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

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Gene Bernier, Yvon Martel led successful seven year campaign to establish Chapleau airport with support from local business, industry and individuals by 1970

When Gene Bernier became president of the Chapleau Chamber of Commerce in 1963, he had one major thought in mind -- the construction of an airstrip for Chapleau.

Ralph Stewart, Gene, Dr McIlveen, MJM

Closely associated with Gene from the outset was Yvon Martel, and together they launched a seven-year campaign to obtain support for the project, and by May, 1970, the airstrip had become a reality when Stan Deluce, of Chapleau, president of of White River Air Service officially landed the first plane on the airstrip with Yvon as his passenger. Gene headed the welcoming committee.

As I was researching the airport story, I could not help but think of Tom Godfrey Sr, of a previous generation of Chapleau community builders, all volunteers, whose great passion was to have Highway 129 to Thessalon completed, and "turkey trail" through the bush it may have been when opened in 1949, the community had a highway link to break down the barriers of isolation.

Gene, Yvon and the others who joined them in the airport project were of a generation who saw that air travel was becoming more common by the 1960s and they were determined that Chapleau would not be left behind.

The chamber of commerce backed Gene's "thought" about the airstrip, and an airport committee was formed. It had its own bank account and Gene was the chairman. In no way, was the project officially supported by the Township of Chapleau council. In fact, over the next seven years there would be some misunderstandings between the two, but they were resolved by May 1970 when the council agreed to let them use township land, but would not provide any grants for the project.

In short, Chapleau got an airport because of the dedication of volunteers from businesses, industries and individuals who supported it.

For example, Gene and Yvon made innumerable trips at their own expense to meet with federal and provincial government officials in Ottawa and Toronto.

And, when construction began, Yvon, became the "foreman" according to a report Gene gave to the Chapleau Rotary Club, adding he was of "tremendous value" to the success of the project. Although they received some funding from senior governments, they also relied on donations of funds and equipment locally.

These airport pioneers were not content to just create a gravel strip runway, but were busy negotiating with the provincial government to establish a forest fire water bombing base at it, which eventually contributed to expansion.

By 1973, it had become the Chapleau Municipal Airport and the council had established the Chapleau Airport Commission. The first members were Gene as chair, with Yvon and Jack Russell as members, and a representative of council. When I became Chapleau reeve in 1974 I represented council on the airport commission.

But, it was the government of Premier Bill Davis who gave the airport a great boost when it established NorOntair in 1971. The airline was established to create east-west links across Northern Ontario. Premier Davis landed at the airport on a visit to Chapleau in 1975, where he toured the construction site of the Chapleau General Hospital and reviewed plans for other projects planned by council.

First NorOntair flight Timmins-Chapleau

Chapleau was added by 1975, and more barriers of isolation had come tumbling down. Citizens had daily service to Timmins, Sault Ste Marie and connections to Toronto. Depending on the schedules over the years you could also fly directly to Elliot Lake, Sudbury and North Bay.


In July 1975, the terminal building was officially opened. It coincided with a visit to Chapleau by an American marching band which was enlisted to play for the ceremonies.

Chapleau reeve Michael leaving 1st NorOntair flight

Ralph Stewart, the Member of Parliament at the time was present, and being a very accomplished musician was invited to lead the band in the Playing of 'O Canada'. Ralph took his place and proceeded to conduct the playing of the Canadian national anthem -- the only problem was that the band played the AMERICAN national anthem, followed by the Canadian.

In October 1979, a ceremony was held to officially open two paved runways, and Gene retired as chairman to be succeeded by Yvon Martel.


Chapleau had airline passenger service until 1996 when the government of Premier Mike Harris stopped subsidies to NorOntair.


In recognition of his tremendous contribution to the airport, it is now called after the person who had a thought in 1963, and made it into a reality -- the Eugene Bernier Airport. My email is mj.morris@live.ca


Thanks to DOUG GREIG for his research assistance.