Partial backdown by Ontario government to keep three northern provincial parks open in pilot project not satisfactory to retired Ministry of Natural Resources senior parks supervisor

Although a partial backdown by the Ontario government on provincial parks closure in Northeastern Ontario was greeted with optimism by several mayors, a retired senior parks supervisor with the Ministry of Natural Resources is not satisfied with the deal, and says so in a letter to Michael Gravelle, the minister.After the provincial government announced the closure of several parks, there was an incredible backlash to the decision from politicians and citizens across Northeastern Ontario, with a display of unity that resulted in the government making a deal in a two-year pilot project.

The project includes Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park near Chapleau, Rene Brunelle Provincial Park near Moonbeam and Fushimi Provincial Park near Hearst.

A ministry news release states that under the two-year pilot project, it will work with the Town of Hearst, the Township of Moonbeam and the City of Timmins with the goal of increasing the parks' revenues and visitation rates.

It is interesting to note that the respective municipalities involved in the agreement will be responsible for covering any financial losses incurred during the pilot period.

In his letter to Mr. Gravelle, Malcolm MacDonald, who at one time was a parks supervisor at Chapleau, urges him "to show us you have a little credibility and respect -- drop downloading on municipalities" along with other requests.

However, in a ministry news release, Alan Spacek, mayor of Kapuskasing and president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municialities says he is "optimistic" the project will succeed and is "grateful" for the new relationship, thanking Mr. Gravelle for having a "conversation" on the future of the parks. 

Gilles Audet, mayor of the Township of Moonbeam and Roger Sigouin, mayor of Hearst, pretty well echo Mr. Spacek's comments in the ministry news release.

In his letter, Mr. MacDonald, writes:  "You (Mr. Gravelle) and your parks staff have yet to admit you made a mistake announcing the closure of Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park. There are approximately 38 parks in the province with lower visitation and revenue than Ivanhoe and with capital expenditure requirements. Yet you and your staff fingered Ivanhoe for closure ahead of these other parks and for no apparent reason,"  

Mr. MacDonald provided me with a copy of his letter to Mr. Gravelle.

He further asserts that a review of the Ivanhoe Lake situation (and likely the other parks) came only after the minister was faced with "an unanticipated. highly organized and emotional very effective backlash from the campers in northeastern Ontario against your decision" adding that it was "an attempt to cover up the lack of consultation by your ministry with user groups and neighbouring communities impacted by your decision."

Mr. MacDonald reminds the minister. that "In response to your consent for a 'review' we put forth a group of camper citizens to work with your staff. Instead of a review, we were presented a document by your staff telling us what you wanted and how the parks would be operated, if we wanted them to remain open, 

"This quickly became the Terms for Parks Pilot Project setting out exactly what you wanted, including very tight timelines in which to 'negotiate'. We came to the table to negotiate in good faith. Your staff came to the table and set out the one and only way the parks were going to stay open."

"You and your ministry get everything they want at no risk and all the campers and community partners get are the risks for two years of camping," Mr. MacDonald wrote. 

Meanwhile, here is how you can reserve campsites for 2013.

• Beginning on Jan. 28, 2013, campsites can be reserved online 24 hours a day or by calling the park reservation line at             1-888-ONT-PARK       between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. Fushimi Lake operates on a first come-first served basis; reservations are not accepted.
• There are more than 330 provincial parks in Ontario, over 100 of which will continue as operating parks that provide various visitor services.
• As part of the pilot, more seasonal campsites will be offered at the three parks. Applications for seasonal sites at these parks will be accepted between Jan. 18 and Feb. 1, 2013.

For complete updates on this continuing story, you can join the Friends of Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park on Facebook. Thanks to Malcolm MacDonald, and his daughter Kristy for their assistance. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN AS THREE NORTHEASTERN PARKS TO REMAIN OPEN IN PILOT PROJECT

Faced with united opposition across Northeastern Ontario, the provincial government has partially backed down on park closures and has entered into a two-year pilot project agreement  to keep three open. Much credit is due to the efforts of the Friends of Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park on Facebook, in applying pressure  on the Ontario government. Municipal councils were also greatly involved. Congrats folks in Northeastern Ontario on a job well done.

The following is the official news release from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Ontario is working with the Town of Hearst, the Township of Moonbeam and the City of Timmins to keep visitor services at provincial parks in their areas.

In September 2012, the province announced it was changing these parks from operating to non-operating designation along with seven others because of low visitation and occupancy levels that resulted in financial losses.

Under a two-year pilot project, Ontario Parks will work with the respective municipalities to operate Fushimi Lake, René Brunelle and Ivanhoe Lake provincial parks, with the goal of increasing their revenue and visitation rates. Municipal partners will be responsible for covering any financial losses incurred during the pilot period.

Alan Spacek President of FONOM, mayor of Kapuskasing is optimistic regarding the project’s potential success and benefits “The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is grateful for the relationship we share with Minister Gravelle and MNR. We want to thank the minister for being receptive and having a conversation on the future of these provincial parks.” said Spacek.

 Our council is very happy with MNR and Minister Gravelle. We hope that this project will work well as René Brunelle park is very important to our municipality. “Gilles Audet, Mayor, Township of Moonbeam

 Fushimi Lake is an important feature in the social and recreational life of our community. On behalf of our municipal council and Friends of Fushimi, I would like to convey our appreciation for the foresight and trust the Minister has shown to the Town of Hearst. This has helped us achieve a constructive partnership with the Ontario government that will give a second life to Fushimi Lake.” said Roger Sigouin Mayor, Town of Hearst.

Working collaboratively with municipalities is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to strengthen the economy and sustain jobs for families.

Quick Facts

• Beginning on Jan. 28, 2013, campsites can be reserved online 24 hours a day or by calling the park reservation line at             1-888-ONT-PARK       between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. Fushimi Lake operates on a first come-first served basis; reservations are not accepted.
• There are more than 330 provincial parks in Ontario, over 100 of which will continue as operating parks that provide various visitor services.
• As part of the pilot, more seasonal campsites will be offered at the three parks. Applications for seasonal sites at these parks will be accepted between Jan. 18 and Feb. 1, 2013.

Learn More

Hardy curlers in Chapleau "shovel and sweep snow" to play on outdoor rink starting in bitterly cold winter of 1885

Claude Fortin with Pat Bamford, his first CHS curling coach at reunion

Curling arrived early in Chapleau's story with some of the community's first inhabitants making their own sheet of ice on a stretch of land on the east side of Lorne Street using water from Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) engine house and shops across the street during the winter of 1885-86.

In his Chapleau Snapshots, George Evans, using material from 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario' by Vince Crichton and other sources, provided a glimpse into the history of curling in the community which was established in 1885 with the arrival of the CPR.

These early curlers must have really loved the sport as Chapleau was in its infancy, a community of tents and shacks with construction underway on a station and office building. The population consisted of about 400 people, ninety-five percent of them men at the end of 1885, I noted in my 1984 book, 'Sons of Thunder ... Apostles of Love'.  But a roundhouse with turntable and water tank had been erected. 

Apparently the winter of 1885 was bitterly cold, which was pretty usual for Chapleau throughout its history, and disease was rampant, but curling was underway.

"Hardy curlers had to shovel and sweep snow... every time to play," George noted.

In the early years, curling had its "ups and downs" and was played only when "enough enthusiasts willing to make outdooor ice and shovel snow."

By the late 1880s, J. Gill had opened an outdoor skating rink just south of the site, and hockey also arrived in Chapleau. It must have taken off as a Chapleau hockey team made a road trip to Sudbury in 1893.

In his article George writes that Lombard Lafrance took over the rink in 1895 and made changes, including  heated changing shack, one for men and one for women and as high board fence as a defence against drifting snow. By 1904, the rink was entirely closed in. Eight years later a "group of citizens" took over and proceeded to renovate and enlarge it. Two more sheets of ice and clubroom were added in the early 1920s.

from left D Matheson, T. Godfrey, J. Hogg. G.B. Nicholson circa 1928

George suggested that perhaps caught up in the optimism of the "Roaring Twenties" by 1928, they left Lorne Street for their own four sheet building on Pine Street. Chapleau curling enjoyed some of its best early years between 1929 and 1932, despite the start of the Great Depression when it played host twice to the Northern Ontario Curling Association Bonspiels.

Then the effects of the Great Depression struck and dwindling membership became an issue by 1934. George's article notes that the club rejected "an obvious solution when it rejected applications from the four Pirie sisters. Curling was a man's game".

Rene Hackstetter collection

Nonetheless curling continued and Chapleau rinks continued to enjoy success in out-of-town bonspiels.

Women were not admitted until 1949. Interestingly, women appear to have been able to play when curling first arrived but somewhere along the way, they were banned.

After World War II, younger curlers assumed control of the club and as well as women being admitted the club obtained a liquor license that helped keep the books healthy -- and physical improvements were made. The clubroom was enlarged, a washroom was added as well as an oil furnace. 

In 1962, "the ultimate" happened when artificial ice was installed.

from left D. Cote, M.Tangie, D. Fortin, J. Crichton CHS curlers 1960s

George noted that in 1954 Vince Crichton was a major player in establishing school boy curling and a a year later, Herb Riley donated a trophy. Curling became a popular sport  at Chapleau High School. 

One of the highlights at the CHS reunion was the return of Pat Bamford, one of the popular curling coaches during the years he taught at the school. Claude Fortin provided photo of them being reunited and explained that Pat was his coach in the first year he curled.

In the mid 1970s, the Ontario Ministry of Labour ordered structural reports done on arenas and curling rinks and the Chapleau facility was subsequently closed. Despite improvements made at the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena to bring it up to standards, in due course, it was also facing closure.

The municipal council by 1976 had decided to replace the arena and the curling club executive asked to be included in the project which resulted in the Chapleau Recreation Centre, which was opened in 1978.

In his article, George commented that the Pine Street building had a "loveable rustic quality about it." It did indeed.

This is really a first rough draft of the history of curling in Chapleau that I am sharing made possible because of writing by the late George Evans and Vince Crichton. Also thanks to Claude Fortin and Rene Hackstetter. My email is mj.morris@live.ca