Chapleau Boys Go To War' story of significant contributions at home and abroad in World War 1 and World War 2

The Chapleau Boys Go To War is  the story of the contributions and sacrifices made during World War 1 and World War 2, at home and abroad by the people of Chapleau.

My cousin, Michael McMullen and I have been working on this project for several years, and the book has just been published. 

In the introduction we note that 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the start of WW 1 and the 75th anniversary of the start of WW 2.

" Canadians volunteered to serve from all across their country for both conflicts, and small towns and villages, like Chapleau, made significant contributions to both war efforts. They went to war because they believed it was the right thing to do. They were representing their families, friends, neighbours, colleagues and all of Canada, and were willing to pay the Supreme Sacrifice."

Our research revealed that there were 283 enlistments in World War 1 with a Chapleau connection, and 416 in World War 2 -- an incredible number given the population of the community during both wars.

Some returned home but others did not not. There were 32 "Chapleau boys" who died while on active service in the first world war and 29 in the second. We pay special tribute to the fallen with a biographical sketch and photos of them where available.

We have included a list of the names of all those with a Chapleau connection who served in both wars.

We also provide a look into the founding of Chapleau in 1885 with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, as well as life on the home front In both wars with a fascinating look at the work of the Chapleau branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society and other projects.

We were able to obtain some letters  from Chapleau boys in both wars who were overseas providing a glimpse into their lives on the front lines, a number of them written home near Christmas.

After World War I, Chapleau's first reeve G.B. Nicholson and his wife, Charlotte, had St. John's Parish House built in memory of their son Lorne who was killed on active service, and his friends. It became the Legion Hall. The book also notes the contribution of Branch No. 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion, from its founding in 1926 on.

On June 25, 1978, the cenotaph was moved from its original location beside St. John's Anglican Church to the Legion property. In 2000, the Chapleau Cree First Nation established the Fox Lake War Veterans Memorial. In 2014, Donald White, Chapleau's oldest living World War II veteran attended the Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph.

Henry (Harry) Byce and his son, Charles Byce, were Chapleau boys. They enlisted and fought in WW 1 and WW 2, respectively. Both received exceptionally high honours for valour and bravery for their individual war exploits. They were among the highest decorated Aboriginal veterans. We tell their stories.

Four Chapleau boys, Willard Bolduc, Baisel Collings, Donald Freeborn and Lloyd McDonald were among the recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross. We share their stories of bravery.

With thanks, particularly to former cadets, we were able to share highlights of 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps.

Michael (left) and I chatting about Chapleau Boys Go To War

Both Michael and I share some personal thoughts, and in my case, for the first time in my life, I share an anecdote involving Dr. Karl Hackstetetter, John McClellan and me when I was in Grade 9 at Chapleau High School.

There is a chapter on cemeteries and monuments globally, compiled by Michael, some of which he has visited.It is a most valuable resource and also shows the high esteem in which our "Chapleau Boys" are held.

Michael McMullen explained that "fallen 'Chapleau Boys' are commemorated by name on the Chapleau cenotaph, and for WW I on a plaque at St. John’s Anglican Church. "

Michael added:

"We wanted to know more about them and for most of them, have been able to put together short resumes with pictures that include family information, occupation at enlistment, place of enlistment, some of their armed forces experience, date of death and cemetery or memorial information. This is our way of preserving their memories.

"We hope the information we have provided for foreign cemeteries and memorials will help to provide a context to where the Chapleau Boys were when they were killed or died due to war inflicted causes.

"We also hope our work will be used as a reference for family descendants to do research on their relatives that served in wars. It is important that photos of those who served and letters that they sent home are preserved with details of their service. If not, this material will be lost, if not already lost, with the passage of time.

"Ideally, our book will serve as a catalyst for families to search old shoeboxes for pictures and letters from those who served. Also, medals and awards should be documented for future family generations. It is important that this information not be lost. We owe this to all Chapleau Boys who have served in wars and conflicts."

I extend my most sincere personal thanks to Mario Lafreniere, publisher of the Chapleau Express, for inviting me to write Chapleau Moments almost six years ago. Had he not done so, I likely would not have begun my research into "Chapleau Boys Go to War". Our book is available or please email me at mj.morris@live.ca for other purchasing options. 

"The Chief" stuck as decided by the Chapleau Midgets of 1970-71

As I was reading a message from one of my former students from Chapleau High School on Facebook, it struck me that I have sure been called an awful lot of names over the past 60 years or so.

Growing up I was simply Michael or Mike, my mother being the one person who always called me Michael.

When I became a newspaper reporter in 1964, bylines were so important and Michael was used in them except at the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix where the legendary managing editor P.V. Wade made me Mike Morris, but he usually called me by my last name, as in "Morris, get in here now!" After I started teaching at Chapleau High School, I became "Mr Morris" and had great difficulty adapting to it.

As CHS student

I still recall telling Robert Fife, now the Ottawa Bureau Chief of The Globe and Mail one day that my name was Michael not Mr but not much I could do about it.

The principal of the day J.B. Walsh would come into the staff room and sternly say, "Mr. Morris, my office now!" Just a shade of difference between Mr Wade and Mr Walsh.

As young reporter

Shortly after I started teaching, the 1970-71 Chapleau Midgets hockey team fired their coach (yes, they fired him) and hired me. At a practice Keith McAdam one night, said, "Hey, MJ...!" and before he got any further in no uncertain terms I told the team I was "Mr Morris" to them. I had really adapted quickly to being a Mr. Teaching high school will do that to you.

I stormed out of the dressing room having made my point, lit a cigarette, and listened through the door to the players talk it over. They really did not think Mr sounded right, but what to call me so that I wouldn't lose it again. Lionel Corston, my next door neighbour and First Nations person spoke up and said, "Let's call him Chief. He's the chief and we are the Indians." Immediately they all agreed. (I use the word Indians totally in the context of the dressing room conversation.)

The dressing room door opened and led by team captain Jamie Doyle, who had hired me, they marched past, each one saying, "Hi Chief" with the mischievous smiles that only kids can display when they have won a round.

What could I do? The name stuck, at first just used by hockey players, then much more widely, and when someone wanted to really make a point it became "The Chief said..." Of course for the most part I was Mr Morris at school. Like all teachers I also became "Sir" as in "Sir said.." and later I had an increasing number call me "MJ" and still do.

As politician 1978

While living in Chapleau I became the reeve (mayor) of Chapleau, and I was called Reeve Morris, Mr Reeve and at times "Your Worship" --- an honorific I actually hated and still do when I hear it in reference to the head of a municipality.

But not all names I have had were terms of endearment. Here is one example as told to me by Gilbert Landry, who was the head custodian at CHS for many years and my good friend. One night Gilbert was at a social gathering when the conversation turned to the Canadian economy which was in a downturn in the early Seventies. Gilbert reported that one person commented: "I know what's wrong with the economy. It's all the fault of that son of a bitch Morris and Trudeau." Pierre Trudeau was prime minister of Canada at the time.

I know that in my time I've been called an SOB and worse whether it has been because of my involvement in hockey or politics or whatever. But that's OK.

At College of the Rockies it was mostly Michael. On Facebook, it seems that I'm getting Michael, Mike, MJ, and Chief most of the time. The odd Sir or Mr Morris.

At College of the Rockie

How did I deal with it when people asked me what I preferred to be called over the years. I have simply replied that whatever makes them comfortable. Obviously Chief brings back some of the fondest memories while coaching those Midgets who were so much a part of my life 40 plus years ago, and for Lionel Corston who died far too young.

In the past ten years I have a new one. My best friend calls me "Bud" as in "what's up today Bud?" when he contacts me on Facebook or phone or with a text.

By the way, today I am Michael J. Morris, with my cousin Michael K. McMullen, as our book 'The Chapleau Boys Go To War' became available on Amazon.com.

Please comment or email me at mj.morris@live.ca.

Friday Morning Coffee Club recognizes veterans on 70th anniversary of V-E Day

Jim, Ron, Bill

\Friday Morning Coffee Club marked V-E Day which celebrates  the end of World War II, by giving special recognition to three of its members who have served in their nation's Armed Forces.

Ron McFarland served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II; Bill Nightingale in the Royal Canadian Air Force for more than 30 years, and Jim Roberts, originally from Oregon, but now a Canadian citizen, in the United States Marines in Vietnam.

Bill, Ron

We deeply appreciate the contributions that Ron, Bill and Jim have made in the service of their respective countries, and continue to make in the community. Thanks guys. 

Lest we ever forget that you each were willing to place yourself in harm's way for your family, friends and country.

Ron front row on left

On May 9, Cranbrook Branch 24 of the Royal Canadian Legion held a most  impressive ceremony at the cenotaph in Rotary Park to honour all those who served in Canada's Armed Forces on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the first Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945.

Ron and Bill were on hand for the occasion.

Bill

Later, at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Legion members and friends gathered, including Joel Vinge, a founding member of FMCC and member of the popular singing group, ' Sound Principle'. was there.

Here are Joel's comments:

Ron

"Our quartet ‘Sound Principle’ sang at the Legion. I dedicated our first song ‘Once Upon A Time’ to the memory of my brother-in-law Jim Parsons.

"My Brother- in law- Jim was 17 when my wife, Sheila, was born. She was 2 when Jim went overseas at the age of 19. When he and his comrades came home after 3 years Sheila remembers going down behind Woodward’s to the railway station, to greet them. 

"She, then 5, remembers mostly knees and being picked up and being swung around by “young men she didn’t know" and that it was a happy time.

"Jim lived until he was 85 and now would now have been 91. He told all that he didn’t win the war as he “was too busy trying to survive” to be a good fighter but I know he was there when he needed to be. He was a good man.  

"I would like to dedicate this song “Once Upon A Time” to Jim’s memory and to thank him for his effort.  Lest we forget!”

Thanks Joel. We all have our memories of once upon a time.

On a very personal basis, I don't recall the exact end of World War II, but my father's sister Marion recalled in a letter to me shortly before she died that, church bells rang, and citizens flocked to the respective churches. 

Jim, Bob, Bill, Ron

And the good people of Chapleau, Ontario, offered prayers of thanks for the end of the war.

My father, Flying Officer James E. Morris, was killed while on active service in the RCAF on July 16,1943. 

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them."

Terry, MJM, Jim

-Ode of Remembrance from For the Fallen, 1914

Photos by Joel Vinge and MJM

Tim Berners-Lee invented World Wide Web creating 21st century mass media

Sir Tim Berners-Lee

by Michael J Morris

Tim Berners- Lee 'invented' the World Wide Web just over 25 years ago, but chances are you have never heard of him. If he hadn't, it is quite likely you would not be reading this article, or for that matter anything else online.

In 1999, Time magazine named Berners- Lee as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century, saying, "He wove the World Wide Web and created a mass medium for the 21st century. The World Wide Web is Berners-Lee's alone. He designed it. He loosed it on the world. And he more than anyone else has fought to keep it open, non proprietary and free."

In  November 2009, Berners-Lee launched the World Wide Web Foundation in order to "Advance the Web to empower humanity by launching transformative programs that build local capacity to leverage the Web as a medium for positive change."

Anniversaries of the World Wide Web don't get much media attention today. Its inventor Tim Berners-Lee is not well known outside academia.

But Berners-Lee may be the single most important person since Guttenberg in changing the way we communicate. I was so privileged to spend an afternoon listening to him in 1996 while attending a conference "The Internet Beyond the Year 2000" at the University of Toronto. 

To be honest, even though I had developed and was teaching in one of the first graduate programs in New Media Communications in Canada at College of the Rockies, I had no idea who Tim Berners-Lee was before that afternoon.

MJM at COTR circa 1996

Perhaps most striking about him was his great modesty.  Here was one of the great thinkers and scientists of our time, and he had no need to be 'the sage on the stage.' After giving his talk, Berners-Lee sat on the edge of the stage to take questions.

The first question was from 'Dr Somebody' from 'Some University', who started his question with "Dr Berners-Lee.." and before he got any further, he was cut off by Berners-Lee who said, "Tim will do." The professor didn't get it and again said, "Dr Berners-Lee." only to be cut off with "Tim" and a shake of his head. The room broke up.

He was asked many questions but one that stuck in my mind was, "What would you do differently now." Berners-Lee replied after a moment, "I realized I didn't need the forward slash." Again the room broke up.

MJM 2015

I was delighted to see on Wikepedia that he confirmed it years later after I heard him speak at the University of Toronto. In a Times article in October 2009, Berners-Lee admitted that the forward slashes ("//") in a web address were actually "unnecessary". He told the newspaper that he could easily have designed URLs not to have the forward slashes.

 "There you go, it seemed like a good idea at the time," he said in his lighthearted apology`.

He was also asked about the process involved in inventing the web and how long it took. He said that he had been "thinking" about it for a long time and then one day simply decided to get it done.

Perhaps the single most impressive moment I saw of Berners-Lee was at a showcase of technology and industry. Students from Confederation High School in Nepean had created a web page, and Berners-Lee, hands behind his back, went up to them and asked some questions. At no time did he identify himself as the inventor of the web.

After he left I went over and asked the students if they knew who their visitor was. They didn't and when I told them, like students everywhere, they were afraid they had made mistakes. I assured them Berners-Lee was likely delighted to see their work.

For those who don't know exactly what he did, Berners Lee wrote the first Web clients and server and defined the URL, HTTP, and HTML specifications on which the Web depends. He was then working at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory.

Knighted in 2004 by Queen Elizabeth, Sir Tim Berners- Lee is now the director of the W3 Consortium and is a principal research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Berners-Lee commented that,  "the web is more a social creation than a technical one. I designed it for social effect - to help people work together - and not as a technical toy. The ultimate goal of the web is to support and improve our weblike existence in the world. We clump into families, associations and companies..." 

A year later, I was back in Toronto, speaking at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Journalists on the topic of whether or nor I thought the internet could be used to defeat politicians, or conversely, help them win. I said "Yes" resoundingly on both counts. The best example so far of a winner is Barack Obama..

Interestingly, oldtime journalists, to which I belong at least by age, disagreed with me vehemently, while young students tended to agree.... be interesting to see if positions have changed almost 20 years later.

All to be expected perhaps when I think that most of the folks at College of the Rockies back then, never thought email would really catch on. Yet, we are still failing in many respects to maximize the potential of the World Wide Web, but that is a story for another day.

But with websites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and so on we are getting there.

For me, to have been able to spend time listening to him has to count as one of the most truly memorable moments of my entire teaching career,  and now that I am retired I remain a Web junkie -- but not a techie!   

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Ciclovia brings the "magical good" of public space to a city

By Michael J Morris

Enrique Penalosa, referencing Jan Gehl, the brilliant Danish urban planner  tells us that a great city is where people want to go out of their homes and where we all feel not excluded. 

Rhonda Winter, in an article in ecolocalizer.com in July 2009, 'What is a good city?' refers to Gehl's thinking while discussing the merits of Ciclovia, the brainchild of the former visionary mayor of Bogota, Colombia, Enrique Penalosa. Ciclovia has now become an integral part of community life in cities around the world.

Referencing Jan Gehl, Penalosa said: "A great city is one where people want to go out of their homes. Public space is a magical good and never ceases to yield pleasure: we should pay it a lot of attention. Public good prevails over private interest. A great city is where we all feel not excluded."

And he added, to my delight as one who walks everywhere I go: "The quality of sidewalks in a city is a most telling thing. Just as a bird needs to fly, fish need to swim and deer need to run, we need to walk."

When Penalosa was mayor of Bogota, a city of about seven million people, 120 km of the city's streets started to be closed to traffic every Sunday for seven hours for the hugely popular Ciclovia.

On some Sundays Ciclovia attracts1.5 million citizens who came together to walk, bike, play and socialize. They have continued for about 30 years now.

                          

In her article Winter argues that how an urban environment is planned, designed and constructed greatly influences how we live, get around and interact. Ciclovia has been a major factor in changing Bogota in a society where walking and biking are becoming more important.  

Penalosa also cautioned that doing what benefits everyone in the name of the public good requires real political leadership and risk.

"I want to emphasize the things that make people happy are not very costly, but they are politically difficult," he said.

He also noted: "I would say that the great city is not the one that has highways, but one where a child on a tricycle or bicycle can go safely anywhere."

Mom and I circa 1947 Chapleau

When I was a child, I was able to travel safely around the community on my tricycle and later my bicycle. As I walk about Cranbrook BC where I now live,, and turn back the clock, there is no way I would feel saf. As I watch vehicles roar by me on Victoria Avenue, Second Street North and The Strip for example, I get the feeling all the drivers want to be in the Indianapolis 500.

However, recently I have been delighted to see an increased RCMP presence about town, including a speed counter sign on Second Street North.

Back to Ciclovia. As I read more about it, I thought -- this is something that might work in downtown Cranbrook.

By other names some of it already occurs -- the Farmers Market, Sam Steele Days, the two major parades a year and the Children's Festival. 

I discovered that Winnipeg, Manitoba, holds a Ciclovia, in the downtown area, and looking at a map of the boundaries for the event, and having lived in the city at one time, they really do close it down for one day, for "a free eco-friendly, healthy, lifestyles festival". It is sponsored by Downtown Winnipeg BIZ with support from many stakeholders.

The activities include a wine and cheese festival, kids' activities, animal rest area, music and cardio on the stage (live music followed by a fitness class on the hour all day), a live art zone, book readings, story telling, a chill zone (Yoga, tai chi, massages), a bike show, farmers' market and the list goes on.

In Bogota, Ciclovia is held every week while in Winnipeg it is only once a year, but no matter how often, they bring people from their homes and none are excluded, which serves the public good, but in so doing, private interests, (i.e. businesses) also benefit.

Imagine if Ciclovia happened in your downtown in public space, where the "magical good" would occur as Jan Gehl suggests, and citizens would focus on those things that bring us together, rather than divide us throughout the city, in all we do.

Penalosa again:  "Children are a kind of indicator species. If we can build a successful city for children, we will have a successful city for all people."

Think about the possibilities. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me. My email is mj.morris@live.ca.

Orlando Moving Toward a Sustainable Future with Envision 2040 Led by Mayor Buddy Dyer

photo by Michael Pelzer

By Michael J Morris

Buddy Dyer, the visionary mayor of Orlando, Florida, challenged his community to develop a plan that would transform Orlando, within a generation, into one of the most environmentally-friendly, economically and socially vibrant communities in the nation. It now ranks 39th on the list of most livable cities in the United States.

On my most recent regular visit to Orlando, I was once again impressed by the efforts led by Mayor Dyer to move the city beyond its fame from the home of Disney World and related tourist activities -- even though on this trip I had a wonderful time at  Universal Orlando and similarly at  Gatorland on a previous trip, and I was totally impressed with the experience.

The Green Works Orlando Community Action Plan will include energy, green economy, livability, local food, solid waste, transportation and water goals, centred around the results from Envision 2040, an ideas competition which aims to illustrate what the city will look like in the future.

To get it all underway, a 20 member task force was appointed to make recommendations, and the action plan evolved out of input from round table meetings with subject matter experts, public comments, and, this one I really like, to ensure public participation -- an interactive online forum.

Envision 2040, the ideas competition is a first step and architects, planners, landscape architects, design professionals, artists, citizens, and students over 18 who are creative and advocates for a sustainable future of the City of Orlando were all encouraged to participate. The ideas competition sought input from interested persons locally,. nationally and internationally, not just Orlando.

After hearing about this community action plan. I visited the Green Works Orlando web site to get more information on Envision 2040 and discovered that those who responded to the challenge were encouraged to think creatively in their approach.

The competition intentionally allow(ed) for many different approaches to fulfill the submittal requirements. Applicants were free to design at the site, corridor, neighbourhood, or the city-wide scale...or a little of each....or in any other manner that you can dream up," the submission guidelines said. Registration has now closed and some projects completed.

Here are some results taken from the City of Orlando web site:

Some Green Works Orlando successes include:

• Expanded the Downtown LYMMO bus circulator and completed SunRail
• Launched car-sharing with bike-sharing
• Performed energy efficiency retrofits to 1,200 houses
• Completed ten LEED-certified municipal buildings, plus two more currently under construction
• Completed or approved $19 million in energy efficiency investments to municipal buildings
• Converted hundreds of fleet vehicles to electric, hybrid, or compressed natural gas
• Planted 10,000 trees and established five community gardens
• Increased recycling collection by 35%
• Adopted the 2012 Municipal Operations Sustainability Plan and the 2013 Green Works Orlando Community Action Plan

It adds: The ultimate beneficiaries of our work will be our children and grandchildren. We are continuing our efforts to guide Orlando on a course toward long-term sustainability. Working together, we can make a cleaner, greener and better Orlando for generations to come.

Orlando, like some other forward thinking communities, realizes that the future is now, and it is time to move beyond today to plan for environmentally-friendly, economically and socially vibrant places to live, work and play tomorrow.

If Orlando, Florida, can do it, why not your community?  My email ismj.morris@live.ca

Friday Morning Coffee Club Holds Birthday Party for Mark

Joel, Mark, Jim

Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, held its first celebration since relocating to Triple O White Spot on "The Strip" in Cranbrook.


The occasion was to extend most sincere birthday greetings, with the usual touches of good humour, to Mark Spence-Vinge, who has been a member since  FMCC was founded almost two years ago.

MJ and  Jim

A rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" led by his brother Joel, greeted Mark.

Bob, Antoine. Terry

It was followed by the official cake cutting ceremony with Jim Roberts assisting, and then cutting generous pieces for all of us. 

Gerry, Bill W and Bill N

The cake was made for the occasion.

Ron, Joel, Peter, Mark, Jim

When FMCC met at the Starbucks in the now closed Target store, it was customary to celebrate birthdays so the tradition has simply continued.

Gordon, Yme

FMCC has also enjoyed Breakfast at the Ranch organized by Jim and Mark, with Chef Justin in charge of the meal. A Christmas party was held at the home of Ron McFarland.

More special events are in the planning stages.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!