VOLUME ONE HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER ONE
STETTLER, ALBERTA
January 2, 2013
PRICE – $1.09 Plus GST
Chapman dies on farm in sombre start to 2013
Jack Chapman (left) and Cpl. Dane Graham, both of Stettler, took part in the Nov. 11, 2011, Remembrance Day services at the Performing Arts Centre in Stettler. Chapman, who survived the Dieppe Raids in the Second World War, died Tuesday in a farm accident. He was 92.
Stettler lost one of its stalwarts on New Year’s Day with the death of Dieppe veteran Jack Chapman. Chapman, 92, died in a farming accident at about 1 0 : 3 0 a . m . Tu e s d a y, Stettler RCMP reported as this week’s edition of the Stettler Independent went to press. “Stettler EMS, Stettler Fire Department and Stettler RCMP were called to a farm southeast of Stettler to the scene of a fatal farm incident,” said RCMP Const. Clayton Delowski. “A s a r e s u l t o f t h e i nv e s t i g a t i o n , i t w a s determined that 92-yearold Jack Chapman had succumbed to injuries that he sustained as a result of the incident. Foul play has been ruled out at this time. “Jack has been a longtime resident of the Stettler area and is one of the last survivors of the raid on Dieppe during the Second World War.” For more on Chapman, see next week’s paper.
Dieppe survivor Chapman counts his blessings (Reprinted from Nov. 9, 2011)
JOHN MACNEIL Independent editor Almost 70 years later, the infamous Dieppe battle still resonates with survivor Jack Chapman of Stettler. “That was 69 years ago that we had the raid on Dieppe,” Chapman, 91, said of the Aug. 19 anniversary. “It only took five hours to take the lives of 900 young Canadian boys, and 1,800 more were taken German prisoners. “There’s two of us left in this area — Roy Lincoln is in the nursing home, and I’m still actively ranching seven
miles south of town. I’ve lived there all my life, except for the war years.” Chapman, an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion for the past 60 years, remains an enduring face of a fading generation of Second World War veterans who served Canada. As he does each year, he plans to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Performing Arts Centre in Stettler this Friday morning. “I should be definitely thankful for my good health, after spending three years as a Prisoner of War,” he said. “I’m very appreciative that I’ve been able to have good health and continue looking after 100-head of cattle. “My health will dictate that, but I have every intention of continuing
(to tend the farm). “I have a very good (ally) in my wife, Madeleine.” Chapman came home to his Stettlerarea farm in 1945 and has lived there ever since. Each year, the Dieppe anniversary triggers memories for Chapman. “I’m reminded of the many young men that lost their lives that were close friends,” he said. “Lots of them weren’t from the (Stettler) district, but there’s lots of them that were — there was 41 of us got on the train in Stettler the morning we went to Calgary.” As painful as most of his wartime memories are, Chapman is thankful that he’s able to remember. “Your thoughts take you back,” he
said. “I guess that’s one blessing that you have — that you can remember the things that happened. “I didn’t have effects on my brain from being a Prisoner of War — I was lucky I didn’t have that — but I still have shells in me that were received at Dieppe at the raids. I’ve got lots of wounds.” Some of the wounds might be less graphic, but emotional scars still run deep. “It’s sad to see your friends gradually leave, but that’s the process of life, I guess,” Chapman reasoned. “I kept closely associated with the ones that were in the district. We were friends then, and we’re still friends, or were until their passing.”
Board grants Bailey five-year extension to lead Clearview LES STULBERG Independent reporter At the board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 20, Clearview School Board trustees voted narrowly in a 4-3 decision to reappoint John Bailey to the position of superintendent for a five-year extension. The point of contention in the discussion of the motion was the length of term. Some trustees expressed concern that five years was too long of a term. Trustee Peter Simons suggested “a friendly amendment” to the motion for a two-year extension, but that was defeated. Trustee Karen Holoway said a five-year term shows a good long-term commitment and gives stability to the school division. The board plans to prepare a new contract with Bailey and send a notice of “intent to re-appoint” to the Minister of Education for approval — as per the requirements of the School Act. In the future, the Clearview board meetings might be webcast for
public viewing. By a unanimous motion, trustees voted to have administration investigate the feasibility and cost of webcasting the public portion of board meetings, and report back to the board. The school board considered a number of measures aimed at improving board transparency. It decided to post the remuneration, benefits and expenses of the board trustees, and the expenses of the superintendent and secretarytreasurer on the division website, beginning in February 2013. The board considered draft policies that would see the board agenda package made available to the public prior to meetings. The board received a request from an Emmerson Acres resident for busing to be provided. Bailey said the parent believed it was a Clearview bus in the area, but the bus actually belonged to the East Central Catholic Schools. Bailey said that because the parent’s letter was addressed to the board, the board chair would send a response, outlining the information regarding the bus and that the earliest the board would even be able to consider busing in that area would be September 2013.
LES STULBERG/Independent reporter
HILL OF DREAMS — Although temperatures aren’t as cold as the frigid period before Christmas, there’s plenty of snow on the ground. Aislinn Stonehouse (above) and her twin brother, Noah, enjoy Stettler’s snow mounds.
INSIDE: 2012 — the year that was; also online at stettlerindependent.com