Bishop Tom Corston to retire as Assistant Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Moosonee at end of 2019

Bishop Tom Corston has submitted his intention to Archbishop Anne Germond to retire as Assistant Bishop of Moosonee at the end 2019, according to a post on the Diocese of Moosonee Facebook Page. 

The post says that Archbishop informed the Diocesan Executive Committee of the Bishop's decision and of her acceptance.

 Bishop Tom was consecrated in July 2010 and retired as Diocesan in December 2013. He returned as Assistant Bishop at the request of former Diocesan Archbishop Colin Johnson. At the end of June he will have been ordained 45 years

For those of us with a Chapleau connection, we still call him "Tom",who was born and raised in Chapleau, Ontario, the son of Frances (Jardine) and the late Henry "Chicken" Corston

He had been  elected the ninth Bishop of the Anglican Church Diocese of Moosonee at a synod in Timmins in 2010. He succeeded Archbishop Caleb Lawrence who had retired.

At the time he was an  archdeacon in the Anglican church and also Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Sudbury, Ontario,

Growing up in Chapleau, Tom was active in St. John's Anglican Church, as AYPA president. Tom becomes the first Chapleau boy to have become an Anglican priest to have been elected a Bishop. Tom was also a president of the Students' Council at Chapleau High School.

He graduated from Lakehead University with the Bachelor of Arts degree and Wycliffe College with a Master of Divinity degree.

In June,1974, 45 years ago, Tom was ordained a Deacon in a service at St. John's in a service conducted by Archbishop James A. Watton, then the Bishop of Moosonee. He was ordained to the priesthood a year later.

He started his ministry in the Diocese of Moosonee at Foleyet.

Just recently Tom conducted his "last" services at St. John's Chapleau and St. John's Foleyet where he has been serving as part-time "priest in charge".

Tom is married with two children.

Tom's grandparents John and Lydia (Swanson) Corston, came from James Bay in the Diocese of Moosonee to Chapleau in 1907 where his grandfather began work with the Canadian Pacific Railway. They established their family home on Grey Street.

In 2013 Tom was presented with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee by the Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Upon learning the news, he posted on his Facebook page: "Just been informed that I am to be presented with the Queen's Jubilee Medal by the Ontario Command of the Royal Canadian Legion on April 13th. Very humbling. I am mindlful of the sacrifices made by my father, wounded at Caen, France in 19 and all Veterans past and present." On June 6, 2019 the 75th anniversary od D-Day was marked. Tom remembered his father in a Facebook post.

Meanwhile .....

Our Diocesan Administrator, Archdeacon Larry Armstrong, will be at St. John's Church, Chapleau, on Trinity Sunday, June 16th at 10:30 am. Come out to welcome him as he assumes responsibility as our new "Priest-in-Charge", the Anglican Diocese of Moosonee posted on its Facebook page. on behalf of St. John's.

On a very personal note I extend my most sincere congratulations to Tom on his retirement after 45 years since he was first ordained as a Deacon at a service at St. John's. May you  enjoy your retirement. Every blessing Tom... My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau's Dakotah Woods signs to play junior hockey with Temiscaming Titans for 2019-2020 season

Dad looks on as Dakotah signs

Dakotah Woods, who started his hockey career in Chapleau has signed to play for the Temiscaming Titans for the 2019-2020 season, the hockey club has announced.

In a news release the club based in Temiscaming, Quebec said that "Former QMJHL Rempart joins Titans The Titans are proud to announce a major signing."

It added that  "Titans defense got a lot bigger as rear guard Dakotah Woods, 1998 born, 6 '6” 225lb signed his contract and joined the Titans blue line. Dakotah spent 1 complete season with the Remparts of Quebec in the QMJHL at the age of 17.

 "Since then, he won the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) Championship in 2017-18, and then participated in the Dudley Hewitt Cup that same year with the Dryden Ice Dogs.. 

"The veteran then wore the colors with the NOJHL’s Powassan Voodoos last season."  Dakotah has also played for other junior teams.

In a Facebook post the Titans said  that "The impact that Dakotah will have on the Titans, but also on the league as a whole, is major. Dakotah is an experienced defenseman who has played at the highest level Junior, the Major Junior, while being a champion in another junior league. 

Dakotah with his number and team manager

"These are experiences that can’t be bought and that very few players possess in our league. Dakotah has played in almost 240 games at the junior level.  In terms of hockey, Dakotah is a solid blueliner, with a long reach that helps him particularly in 1-on-1 situations, and a physical strength that his opponents do not have. All teams are looking for a defender like him but, very few find. Dakotah Woods will be number 66 with the Blues.

"Welcome to the Titans Dakotah !."

According to Wikipedia the Temiscaming Titans are a junior ice hockey team based in Témiscaming, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League. The Titans play their home games at the 750 seat Le Centre de Témiscaming.

In an earlier column about Dakotah when he signed with the Quebec Remparts, his father Gordon Woods told me that his son had taken figure skating lessons when he was four years old, I just had to include a question to Dakotah about it in an interview in which we texted back and forth --- he texts much faster than I do. Dakotah was born in Chapleau.

Dakotah said that figure skating helped him out "a lot really. You know you learn all your edges and have to stay balanced or you fall. Strapping on a pair of skates at young age is tough. Figure skating taught me a lot."

Dakotah is the son of Gordie and Isabelle (Saunders) Woods. He is also a member of Brunswick House First Nation.

Before the family moved to North Bay in 2008, he played Initiation, Novice and Atom on Chapleau Minor Hockey Association teams. 

;The following is the announcement of Dakotah's signing with the Titans in French from the hockey club: 

"Les Titans sont fiers d’annoncer une signature majeure. 
Le défenseur format géant Dakotah Woods (98) 6’ 6’’ 225l a signé son contrat ce midi et portera les couleurs des Titans cette saison Dakotah a passé 1 saison complète avec les Remparts de Québec à l’âge de 17 ans. Depuis, il a remporté le Championnat de la Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) en 2017-18, puis a participé à la Coupe Dudley Hewitt cette même année. Le vétéran s’est aligné avec les Powassan Voodoos de la NOJHL la saison dernière. Voici ce que notre directeur général peut nous dire à propos de sa plus récente acquisition. 

« L’impact que Dakotah aura pour les Titans, mais aussi pour la ligue en entier, est majeur. Dakotah est un défenseur expérimenté ayant joué au plus haut niveau Jr, soit le Junior Majeur, tout en étant un champion dans une autre ligue Jr. Il s’agit d’expériences qui ne s’achètent pas et que bien peu de joueurs possèdent dans notre ligue avec presque 240 matchs disputés au niveau junior 

"Sur le plan strictement du hockey, Dakotah est un solide arrière défensif, doté d’une longue portée qui l’aide particulièrement à 1 contre 1, et d’une force physique que ses adversaires ne possèdent pas. Toutes les équipes recherchent un défenseur comme lui mais, bien peu en trouvent. »Dakotah Woods portera le numéro 66 avec les Bleus. 
Bienvenue chez les Titans Dakotah"

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

George Bucciarelli honoured at 'Bucciarelliville' ceremony for good work especially for his 'best friends' the children

George Bucciarelli was honoured  in appreciation for the good work he had performed for Chapleau citizens especially the children at a ceremony led by Reeve Frank Edwards on November 2, 1947.

Mr. Bucciarelli was asked to attend at his property and was greeted by a large group of citizens and the Town Band.

Writing in his book 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario', Vince Crichton noted that Mr. Bucciarelli's "best friends were the children of Chapleau". 

A letter to Mr. Bucciarelli, signed by Reeve Frank Edwards expressed the community's sincere appreciation of the many improvements he had undertaken in Chapleau and for the spirit of citizenship that prompted him to make them available for the public pleasure and enjoyment. Particular tribute was paid for Bucciarelliville. The reeve commented from the letter at the ceremony.

The Chapleau Post reported more of a speech by Reeve Edwards based on the letter.

"The citizens of Chapleau desire to convey to you their very  sincere appreciation of the many improvement projects that you have undertaken in the district during the past years and for the spirit of citizenship that prompted you to make them available for public enjoymernt and pleasure.

"Today we in particulat desire to pay tribute to your effort in developing what we will always be known as BUCCIARELLIVILLE.

"Here out of the rugged bushland at considerable personal expense you are now in possession of of a splendid picnic grounds with bathing beach. Having made this pleasure spot available yo the public, the citizens of Chapleau unite in saying ; "We thank you Mr. Bucciarelli. We know that you desire much satisfaction in seeing the enjoyment the people -- particularly the young folk -- find in visiting your grounds".

"It is our earnest wish that you may enjoy many years of good health in order that may continue to witness the happiness that you have brought into the lives of others."

Mr. Bucciarelli, who had arrived in Chapleau circa 1910, and established a store, actually held the first picnic for the children on August 22, 1931, as the effects of the Great Depression were being felt. Vince Crichton called it a "brilliant idea" (which it was) and he added that "without a doubt was the biggest event of the year for kids."

The Chapleau Post reported that Mr. Bucciarelli had asked a small group of children if they would like to attend a picnic the next day at his farm. They liked the idea and 275 children showed up the next day. 

Needless to say Mr. Bucciarelli had to scurry to get rides and extra food for the occasion. But it all worked out successfully and the Bucciarelli Picnic began.

When I was growing up in Chapleau in the late 1940s and the 1950s, Bucciarelli's Beach was the place to go in the summer months. For years Chapleau High School ended its week long Grade Nine initiation activities with a wiener roast and dance there.

Frank Bucciarelli, Mr. Bucciarelli's nephew advised that in due course, "The "beach" had four small cottages, a dance hall with a juke box, and a small confectionery store open in the summer. It was also a great place to swim, complete with sandy area and diving board and became very popular. Frank also noted there was great blueberry picking in the bush near the beach."

George Bucciarelli was another of Chapleau's outstanding citizens. He died on January 6, 1967.

My thanks to Frank Bucciarelli as well as to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin for lending me the Richard Brownlee papers. My email is mj.morris@live.ca