CHAPLEAUEXPRESS
MinisterofJusticeandAttorneyGeneralofCanadaannounces judicialappointmentsintheprovinceofOntario
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for theAtlantic CanadaOpportunitiesAgency,todayannounced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continuetoensuretheappointmentofjuristswho meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Jennifer M. Moser, Assistant Crown AttorneyattheMinistryoftheAttorneyGeneral ofOntarioinLondon,isappointedaJudgeofthe Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in London. Justice Moser replaces Justice K.A. Gorman (London), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective February 25, 2025.
Alexandra J. Bignucolo, a sole practitioner in Stratford, is appointed a Judge of theSuperiorCourtofJusticeofOntario,Family Court, in London. Justice Bignucolo replaces Justice D.M. Korpan (London), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective December6,2024.
Lisa M. Walters, Partner at Wharton Woods Family Law in London, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, Family Court, in London. Justice Walters replaces Justice E.M.Morgan(Toronto), whoelectedtobecomea
supernumerary judge effective January 3, 2025.
The Chief Justice has transferred Justice K. Sah (London – Family Court) into this vacancy.The vacancyisthereforelocatedinLondon–Family Court.
theUniversityofWesternOntarioin1997anda BachelorofLawsfromtheUniversityofWestern Ontario in 2000. She was called to the Ontario Barin2002.
Justice Bignucolo is fluent in English, French, and Italian. She managed her own Stratford-basedfirmsince2006,practicinginthe areas of family law, mediation, real estate, corporate,andwillsandestates.
JusticeBignucolohasconsistentlyserved hercommunity.ShewasapanellawyerforLegal AidOntariothroughoutherentirecareerandwas the Past President of the Perth County Law Association, Past President of the Stratford Public Library Foundation Board, past board memberofShelterlink,andboardmemberofthe Stratford General Hospital Foundation. She holdsaCharteredMediatorDesignationgranted bytheAlternativeDisputeResolutionInstituteof Canada. She instructed a mediator training program for those interested in becoming mediators. She was also a member of the CharteredMediatorAssessmentCommitteewith the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario.
JusticeJenniferM.Moserobtainedher Bachelor of Arts in History and English Literature and her LLB at the University of Western Ontario. She was called to the Ontario Barin2002.
Justice Moser began her legal career at McCarthy Tétrault, primarily involved in medical malpractice litigation. She began working as a provincial Assistant Crown Attorneyin2003.Shehasworkedthroughoutthe Cont’donP.2
Justice Alexandra J. Bignucolo was raised in Northern Ontario in the small bilingual town of Chapleau.SheobtainedaBachelorofArtsfrom
MinisterofJusticeandAttorneyGeneralofCanadaannounces judicialappointmentsintheprovinceofOntario
Cont’dfromP.1 southwest region and has been in the London CrownAttorney’sofficesince2006.Duringthis time, she prosecuted a variety of serious and complex cases in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice, including sexualassaults,childabuseoffences,terrorism, and homicides. In addition, she previously ran the Gladue Court and the Adult Therapeutic Court.
Justice Moser prosecuted a number of high-profile major cases for the province. She has prioritized mentoring law students and new lawyers throughout her career, including by participating in the Externship Course at Western University and the Crown Mentorship Program. She has also volunteered with health care professionals and the London Health Science Centre, dedicated to increasing
educationsurroundingtheCovidpandemic.
Justice Lisa M. Walters was born and raised in Niagara Falls. She attended the University of Western Ontario where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 and her BachelorofLawsin2005.Shewasadmittedto theBarofOntarioin2006.
Justice Walters was a partner in the London office of Wharton Woods Family Law, where she practiced exclusively in family law. She also acted as agent for the Children’s Aid SocietyofLondonandMiddlesex.
JusticeWaltersdedicatedherfreetimeto her local community, volunteering for many communityorganizationsincludingCommunity Living London, where she served as a board member and past President of the Board of Directors.ShewastheViceChairoftheBoardof Directors for St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation in London. She was also a past president of the Middlesex Family Law Association, a Dispute Resolution Officer, a memberoftheSouthwestRegionWomen’sLaw Association, and a member of both the Liaison andtheJointLiaisonCommittees.
Justice Walters resides in London with herhusbandandson,whereshespendsmuchof herfreetimedrivingtoandfromhockeyarenas andbaseballdiamonds.
Federal judicial appointments are made bytheGovernorGeneral,actingontheadviceof the federal Cabinet and recommendations from theMinisterofJustice.
The Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada play a key role in evaluating judicial applications. There are 17 Judicial Advisory Committees, with each province and territoryrepresented.
OntarioInvesting$2MilliontoHelpYoungEntrepreneursStartandGrowBusinesses
Investment will support 320 young entrepreneurs
The Ontario government is investing an additional$2millioninFuturpreneurCanadatohelp more young people develop and launch businesses andstrengthenOntario’seconomyinthefaceofU.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty. The funding will support320youngentrepreneursbetweentheagesof 18 to 39 with access to financing, mentorship and support to start and grow successful businesses. As
part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is making strategic investments that protect workers, support small businesses and build a stronger, more self-relianteconomy.
“Young entrepreneurs are the backbone of Ontario’s future,” said Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business. “By investing in initiatives like Futurpreneur Canada, we are giving
thenextgenerationofbusinessleadersthetoolsthey need to succeed. These businesses will protect our economy,creategood-payingjobsandbuildthriving communitiesacrosstheprovince."
Futurpreneur Canada is a national not-forprofit organization that connects aspiring business owners with collateral-free loans of up to $75,000, twoyearsofmentorshipandin-personprogramming. Itsflagshiploaninitiative,theCoreStartupProgram, helps youth aged 18 to 39 launch and grow their business.Since2021,Ontariohasprovided$9million infundingtoFuturpreneur,helpingtostartandgrow close to 1,200 businesses and create over 5000 jobs acrosstheprovince,includinginNorthern,ruraland remotecommunities.
“This renewed partnership with the Ontario governmentcomesatacriticaltimeforyoungadults across the province who are looking for meaningful waystoadvancetheircareersandbuildaprosperous future,” said Karen Greve Young, Chief Executive Officer, Futurpreneur. “Thanks to this funding commitment,Futurpreneurwillempowerevenmore exceptional, young entrepreneurs to start or buy successfulbusinessesthatbreathelifeintoallOntario communities—whether urban, rural, remote, or Northern—not only by creating jobs, but also by connectingpeople.”
Smallbusinessesarecriticaltotheprovince’s economy, employing nearly two million people and making up 98 per cent of all Ontario businesses. Today’s investment builds on the government’s ongoing supports to help small businesses adapt, succeed and grow in Ontario. These include: Starter CompanyPlus,SummerCompany,theDigitalization CompetenceCentre,theRetailModernizationProject Grant, and business advisory services through Ontario’s Small Business Enterprise Centres and RegionalInnovationCentres.
by MichaelJ. Morris Chapleau
ChapleaucitizensgreetlastrunofViaRail's'TheCanadian' withprotestandsadnessinJanuary1990
Moments
Newspaper headlines blared the story of the"LastRun"oftheCanadianbiddingfarewell to Via Rail's transcontinental train that ran on Canadian Pacific Railway tracks through ChapleauuntilJanuary1990.
TheChapleauSentinelheadlinedeclared 'Aproud Canadian dies' while the London Free Press noted, "Northern communities mourn abruptendofpassengertrain."
An important part of Canadian history ended in January 1990, when the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney cancelled the full service passenger train along the southern route to Vancouver and Toronto/Montreal.
ForChapleaucitizens,andthoseinallthe other communities along the CPR mainline, the daily passenger train was a major player in communitylife.
Gordon Sanderson, a reporter with the London Free Press was on the last run. He wrote: "Northern Ontario communities that owe their existence to the railroad bid farewell to the last westbound transcontinental passenger train.."
Bobby Fortin, of Chapleau,whoatthetimehad35 yearsofservicewiththerailway, was the conductor on the last westbound and eastbound Canadian to pass through Chapleau. The last westbound Canadian passed through Chapleau on January 15 and the last eastbound on January 17, 1990.
Chapleau crew members withBobbyincludedShaneBlack,Baggageman; MarkMizuguchi,Trainman;RaymondBrunette, First Engineer and Walter Telik, Second Engineer.
He told Mr. Sanderson, "I feel terrible... Every trip we could have five more cars, andfillthemall,eveninwinter."
In Bobby's case, like in so many Chapleau families, railroading was part of his family.
"I live in Chapleau. My wife and three daughterswerebornthere,Cont’donP.5
EXPLORE CANADA THIS SUMMER
Chapleau crew outside last Canadian From left WalterTelik, MarkMizuguchi,RaymondBrunette,BobbyFortin(courtesy MargaretRoseandBobbyFortin)
ChapleaucrewonlasteastboundCanadianShaneBlack,Mark Mizuguchi,RaymondBrunette(kneeling),WalterTelik,Bobby Fortin(courtesyMargaretRoseandBobbyFortin)
TheCanadian(MargaretRoseandBobbyFortincollection)
TheJackpines'RocktheLegion
What happens if a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it? Saturday, August 23rd marked the culminationofamonth'slongendeavour: the premiere showcase of the local rock band-TheJackpines-toastanding-roomonlycrowdupstairsattheLegionHall.
Faced with many obstacles, frontman Noah Taylor explains, “we originallywantedourfirstperformanceto beafundraiserforourhighschoolprom, but we just weren't ready.” Instead, they continued to rehearse. After the loss of theirdrummertoasummerjobinWawa, their prospects looked dim. Still they continued to rehearse. Bass player Liam Taaffe picked up drumming duties on some songs, with guitarist Steven Simpsononothers.LeadguitaristAngelo Marchioni alternated with Taaffe, Simpson, and lead singer/guitarist Noah Taylor on bass. A late addition to the band, Sienna Lortie, rounded out the soundaddingbackingvocals,tambourine, and harmonica. The band took the leap andbookedadateattheLegion.
The hometown crowd cheered themthroughtwowellpacedsets-amix of genres ranging from classic rock like Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' to Metallica's'ForWhomtheBellsTolls'. Of particular note were Fleetwood Mac's 'TheChain'featuringLortieandTayloron vocals,Queen's'CrazyLittleThingCalled Love' with solid percussion from Taaffe, and a virtuoso solo from Marchioni with soaring vocals from Taylor on Audioslave's'LikeaStone'.
The band blended good humour and great chops and in the end earned themselves a standing ovation after performing their encore song, 'Hotel California', with Simpson on vocals and Taylor on lead guitar. The crowd, which had swelled over the evening, rewarded themwithastandingovation.
Noah Taylor and Steven Simpson head off to study music at Fanshaw Collegethisfall. Theremainingmembers ofthebandintendtokeepthebandgoing so we may yet have a chance to hearThe Jackpinesmakeasplashinthefuture.
ChapleauMoments
Cont’dfromP.3 and sowasI.Myfatherwasaconductorandmy fourbrothersareworkingfortherailway,"hetold thereporter.
At7:45a.macrowdofcitizensgathered atthestationtobidfarwellbutalsotoprotestthe government decision. The largest sign proclaimed "Brian (Mulroney, the prime minister)Resign--GetBackonTrack".
John Way-White, a member of Club Fifty-Five,andaretiredCPRemployeelivingin Chapleau wrote in the Chapleau Sentinel "... it wasasaddayforthepeopleofChapleauandfor the people of Canada... (as) the last Canadian train ran through our little town on to its final destination in Toronto or Montreal to be mothballed, sold or scrapped -- an ignominous endtoaproudsymbolofCanadianunity.
He added that the Canadian "had long served this country, along with its transcontinentalpredecessors,faithfullythrough wars,depressionsandbettertimeseversincethe
government of Canada ceded invaluable right-of-way land in returnfortransportationservices toCanadians."
John summed up the importance of the train to Chapleau."Manyworkedonitas crewmembers,othersservicedit as shop staff, car men, maintenance staff of the railway of the railway, and station personnel.Townspeoplewhodid not work for the railroad and travelledonthetrain.Thusitwill bemissed.notasaluxury,butas a necessity all across this great country."
John sure summed it up in words that apply now, 25 years later, as they didin1990.ThankstoMargaretRoseandBobby Fortin for providing me with newspaper clippingsandphotosaboutthe"lastrun".Itwas
also great to chat with Mark and Walter at the Redwood when I was home recently, and I saw Raymond at Harry Pellow's party in Toronto in 2014.
StoptheSpraySignsinstalledintheChapleauArea
Bobby Fortin relaxes with Mark Mizuguchi and Jack Pollock (trainmanfromSchreiber)onlastwestboundCanadianthrough Chapleau. (courtesyMargaretRoseandBobbyFortin)
Inthelast24hoursthreemoreStoptheSpraysignshavegoneupintheChapleauArea,keepyoureyesoutwhencomingovertheChapleau overpass,onthe101highwayby theMissanabieturnoff,andinthegamepreserveheadingtowardsRacine.Chi-meegwetchtoChapleauCree PublicWorks forhelpingWahkohtowin get the signs and message out there!The movement to protect the forest from glyphosate is growing. (WahkohtowinFacebookPage)
MOMENTS IN TIME
On Sept. 9, 1942, a Japanese seaplane dropped incendiarybombsnearBrookings,Oregon,inthefirst such attack on the U.S. mainland.The bombs were intended to start a forest fire, but fortunately caused little damage, due to wet conditions. Twenty years later, the pilot, Nobuo Fujita, visited Brookings in a gestureofreconciliationandfriendship. Lastweekssolutions
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GreenFirstForestProducts:StrategicResilience andLong-TermValueinaCyclicalSector
GreenFirst Forest Products (TSX: GFP) has navigated a challenging Q2 2025 with a net loss of $9.6 million, a stark contrast to its Q1 profitability. While short-term headwinds—driven by declining benchmark lumber prices and rising operational costs—have clouded immediate results, the company's strategic investments and operational discipline positionitasacompellinglong-termplayinthe renewable building materials sector. For inves-
torswithamulti-yearhorizon,GreenFirst'sfocus oncapitalefficiency,sustainability,andcapacity expansion underscores its potential to deliver robust EBITDAgrowthdespitecyclicalvolatility.
OperationalHeadwindsandMarketRealities
The Q2 loss reflects broader industry pressures. Benchmark lumber prices fell to $712/mfbm,downfrom$729inQ1,whilecosts surged 29% to $80.1 million, driven by higher shipment volumes and duties.
The U.S. Department of Commerce'srecent35.19%duty rate on Canadian softwood lumber imports will further strain Q3 results, with a noncash expense of $26 million CAD. These challenges are compounded by supply-side constraints in Western Canada, including wildfires and regulatory harvest limits, which have tightenedlumberavailability.
ing, GreenFirst aims to turn its current cost pressuresintoacompetitiveadvantage.
The timing of this expansion is critical. AsNorthAmericanhousingmarketsshowearly signs of recovery—driven by moderating mortgageratesandaginghousingstock—demandfor lumber is expected to rebound. GreenFirst's capacity to scale efficiently will allow it to capture market share during upturns, a trait that historicallydefinessuccessfulcyclicalplays.
SustainabilityasaStrategicDifferentiator
In an industry often criticized for environmental impact, GreenFirst's commitment to responsible forest management is a unique selling point. Its operations align with global trendstowardsustainableconstruction,amarket projected to grow as green building codes and consumer preferences evolve. By emphasizing carbon-neutral practices and reforestation, the company not only mitigates regulatory risks but alsotapsintoapremiumpricingopportunity.
Financial Prudence and Balance Sheet Strength
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, people have increasingly turned to their local newspapers for reliable information. In just a few weeks, the number of readers of our digital version of the newspaper has increased by 55%. WE ARE REACHING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE! If you want to benefit from this surge in web traffic, NOW’S THE TIME TO ADVERTISE.
Email us with your needs at chaexpress@sympatico.ca or call us at 705-864-4376 THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
However,GreenFirst'sQ2 sales volume of 110,000 mfbm—a record 115,000 mfbm inproduction—demonstratesits ability to scale operations even inadownmarket.Thisresilience isnotaccidentalbutaproductof deliberatestrategicchoices.
Chapleau Expansion: A CatalystforEBITDAGrowth
The company's partnership with Chapleau's large log line supplier to build a new production line is a cornerstone of its long-term value creation. This investment, supported by anticipatedgovernmentfunding, is projected to enhance productivity and reduce unit costs by 2026.Byoptimizinglogutilization and streamlining process-
DespitetheQ2loss,GreenFirst'sbalance sheetremainsresilient.With$4.4millionincash, $39.8millioninrevolvingcreditavailability,and $12.7 million in equipment financing capacity, the company has ample liquidity to fund its expansionwithoutoverleveraging.Thisfinancial flexibility is a critical buffer against cyclical downturnsandpositionsGreenFirsttocapitalize onstrategicacquisitionsorcost-savingopportunities.
Investment Thesis: Balancing Risks and Rewards
While near-term risks—such as duty hikes and supply constraints—remain, GreenFirst's strategic investments and operational improvements create a strong foundation for long-term growth. The Chapleau expansion, in particular, is a high-conviction bet that could unlock significant EBITDA upside. For investors, the key is to separate short-term volatility fromlong-termvalue. Take advantage of our BOOST in online
TRAVELONTARIO &CANADA
Driftwood Provincial Park. Photo:Ashton Legris