CHAPLEAU EXPRESS
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Vol. 28, Issue 14, December 7, 2023
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Science North and Indigenous Tourism Ontario host a grand opening of travelling exhibition in Chapleau
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hapleau Mayor Ryan Bignucolo and special guests attended the grand opening of Anishinaabewin Maamninendimowin: Pane Gii-Bite (Indigenous Ingenuity: Timeless Inventions) this morning in Chapleau. Indigenous Ingenuity, presented by Indigenous Tourism Ontario and Science North, is currently on display in the Chapleau Community Hall until December 6. Admission is free of charge. Visitors can experience the exhibition from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday through Wednesday, and from 10:00am to 7:00pm Thursday and Friday. Chapleau is the 11th stop of the tour, having made a recent stop in Timmins. Until fall of 2024, the exhibition will be travelling to approximately 30 communities across the north, presenting a clever and novel mix of science and culture intended to stir a sense of pride among First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. Elements of the main 500 sqm exhibition have been redesigned into a tour-sized format capable of efficient travel, easy to install and host while maintaining an impactful and engaging visitor experience. In addition, this version adds new content inclusive of Northern Ontario, including content that was developed in close Long Term collaboration with Forecast S cience North's Thursday Indigenous Advisors. High 1 Low -3 The northern tour of this exhibit will create a Friday High 3 significant economic Low 2 impact in the north through the growth and Saturday High Low
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diversification of the tourism sector and job creation at Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Science North, and partner attractions. The Indigenous Ingenuity: Timeless Inventions travelling exhibition was developed in consultation with the Montreal Science Centre and is proudly supported by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and the Government of Canada. For more information about the Indigenous Ingenuity tour and upcoming stops on its tour, visit sciencenorth.ca/indigenous-ingenuity The Igloo installation in the exhibition is
an original creation by the National Film Board, directed by Dan Thornhill, designed to bring to life the richness of Canadian Inuit culture. For more information, visit NFB.ca/Unikkausivut. "As Mayor of Chapleau, I am honoured to witness the grand opening of Anishinaabewin Maamninendimowin: Pane Gii-Bite (Indigenous Ingenuity: Timeless Inventions) in our township. This exhibition not only celebrates the rich tapestry of Indigenous knowledge but also underscores the importance of recognizing and honouring the ingenious contributions of First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. Our Cont’d on P.2
MISSION
MOTORS ofWAWA
61 Mission Road, Wawa, ON, P0S 1K0 Phone (705) 856-2394
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 2
Science North and Indigenous Tourism Ontario host a grand opening of travelling exhibition in Chapleau Cont’d from P.1 heartfelt thanks to Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Science North, and all partners for making Chapleau the 11th stop on this inspiring tour. I encourage everyone to explore and embrace the cultural richness on display in our Community Hall until December 6. Let this exhibition be a catalyst for greater understanding, appreciation, and unity within our diverse community.” – Ryan Bignucolo, Mayor of Chapleau “We are excited that people will learn about many of the crucial contributions, innovations and methods that Indigenous peoples have created and shared with the world. It's an important step to see tourist attractions like Science North feature exhibitions that highlight Indigenous successes.” – Kevin Eshkawkogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Indigenous Tourism Ontario “We are grateful to the community of Chapleau for welcoming Science North and this one-of-a-kind exhibition, which will help educate, highlight, and share the contributions of Indigenous peoples. I want to highlight the incredible team at Indigenous Tourism Ontario for all their efforts in bringing the tour of Anishinaabewin Maamninendimowin: Pane GiiB i t e ( I n d i g e n o u s I n g e n u i t y : Ti m e l e s s Inventions) to life. Thank you also to the fantastic team at the Township of Chapleau for hosting this powerful exhibition.” – Ashley Larose MSc, CEO – Science North
About Indigenous Tourism Ontario Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) is the province's first and only dedicated Indigenous tourism organization that focuses on uniting communities, Indigenous organizations, and industry leaders to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Ontario. Through product development and marketing of authentic Indigenous experiences, ITO establishes a platform for Indigenous cultural expression and
preservation through tourism. ITO is recognized by the Chiefs of Ontario (C O O), the Government of Ontario and ministries for their work therein. For more information about ITO and their initiatives please visit: indigenoustourismontario.ca. About Science North Science North is Northern Ontario's most
popular tourist attraction and an educational resource for children and adults across the province. Science North maintains the second – and eighth-largest science centres in Canada. Science North's attractions include a science centre, IMAX® theatre, digital Planetarium, butterfly gallery, special exhibits hall, and Dynamic Earth: Home of the Big Nickel. Science North, in partnership with Laurentian University, o ff e r s N o r t h A m e r i c a ' s f i r s t a n d o n l y comprehensive Science Communication program, a joint master's and graduate diploma program. As part of its mandate, Science North provides science experiences throughout Northern Ontario including outreach to schools and festivals, summer science camps and more, and has a permanent base in Thunder Bay providing outreach to the Northwest. Science North is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For information, visit sciencenorth.ca.
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 3
Chapleau Moments by
Michael J. Morris After hearing from Bob Lewis about the Chapleau beach. my thoughts turned to Dr. G.E. "Ted" Young, who returned home to practise medicine (for six months!) after doing his internship at Columbia University in New York City and was instrumental in transforming the town's garbage dump into a beach for the community. As World War II was drawing to a close, Dr. Young arrived home to replace a doctor for six months -- the rest of course is history as Dr. Young stayed, and within a few years had undertaken the creation of the beach behind Chapleau Public School, completing the project by about 1953. Oldtimers will recall that the location was the site of the old town dump, and Dr. Young had to have all the garbage hauled away before he could begin the restoration, complete with change rooms, wading pools, grass, benches, picnic tables, diving towers on a dock and fresh sand hauled to the site yearly - all at his own expense. Also in the beach area were the bandstand where the Chapleau Town Band would give concerts on special occasions and summer evenings, a canteen and pavilion, a very popular spot for playing games of chance at community celebrations. In 1948, the D r. G . E . " Te d " council led by Reeve Young, shortly after B.W. "Bubs" established he returned to the first Chapleau Chapleau to start his Recreation Commission medical practise. with Councillor J.M. P h o t o c o u r t e s y "Jack" Shoup as its first www.chapleau.com, chairperson, but the Dr. Young collection. beach project was Dr.
Dr. G.E. Young transforms garbage dump into beach for citizens plus memories of growing up in Chapleau from Michael's email bag Young's, although in later years the annual "Beach Day" in August raised funds to maintain the area. Dr. Young served on the Beach Committee, as the recreation commission was commonly called, and interestingly his father George Young was a member of Chapleau council in 1951. Dr. Young, who loved swimming, also became famous for his swim from the town dock area to his family's camp at Mulligan's Bay. When I once asked him about it, he played down his fame on this one: "Well, I started out to swim to the point, and when I got there, I just decided to keep going and ended up in Mulligan's Bay." I often think of Dr. Young's contribution in undertaking this project and providing a beach area for the people of Chapleau - especially the children. And modest person that he is, Dr. Young never took much credit for transforming the town dump into a scenic waterfront for his community. He just did it. Growing up in Chapleau I sure played and swam at the beach -- so after all these years, thanks "Doc" for your efforts, not only on this project, but for all your contributions to life in Chapleau. One of the great enjoyments of writing Chapleau Moments is that I hear from so many people who share some of their memories of life in Chapleau, so here are a few from my "email bag." JODY THERIAULT We walk back a bit. It is the early 60's. I'm staring at my feet, I'm in a yard full of small black cinders in the south end of town, near the railway yard. Then on my right as I walk north, I see a laundry mat with golden washers circling about in the window. I know that behind that laundry mat is Victor Sonego's house and I am thinking of him. I go into Mione's, a small, strange smelling store that sells ice cream. and as I continue my walk down Lorne (?) I go to Desi's on the corner of Birch. I look for new comic books, Betty and Veronica, Superman and Dennis the Menace. They are all displayed, and I check to see if the latest issue is there yet. There are orange popsicles in the freezer, but I am looking for a
blue one. It will cost five cents. Ice cream and chocolate bars are ten cents. Then I pass Collins and they have camping things and a tent in the window, a male mannequin who is the father with a chipped chin and a small one who is the boy. They are wearing jackets. Graham's dog Joey sniffs me as I pass the house. I go into my yard through a white picket gate and up the cement steps into the back door. The shoes are piled into a jumble, running shoes and boots with mud. I am glad to be home. VIVIAN (EDWARDS) McLEAN I read your articles in the Chapleau paper, and I thought I could share some of my grandfather's life. My grandfather Bill Creighton was born in Chaput, Quebec and married Loretta Giroux in Pembroke. He was the last man to have a team of horses in Chapleau. He picked up people's garbage and was a proud man (he looked tall, but it was because he was sitting on his wallet.) Grandpa would let me sit beside him and drive his horses(they knew where they were going ) I felt like I was queen of the hill sitting beside him Grandpa took me to the Trainman dances at the old town hall I was about 15 and boy could he dance so many women loved to dance with him as Fred Astaire could of learned some steps from him. My uncle Sonny and brother Bill worked for him and worked darn hard. Grandpa had worked on the railway at one time but gave it up as he loved horses basically, he was a happy man in his own way. My grandmother was a very special lady we stopped at Granny's on the way home from school. She was always baking, and we stood there until she said would you like a cookie. We never refused. My grandmother and Mrs. Deluce were best friends and loved blueberry picking. She always had a garden. We Cont’d on P.5
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 4
REPORT from OTTAWA Rapport d’Ottawa by/par
Carol Hughes Federal member of Parliament Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
A year ago this month, RBC, Canada's largest bank by market share, proposed taking over HSBCs Canadian customer base as the British-owned bank plans on exiting the Canadian market. While the proposed deal still has to go through a number of regulatory hurdles, if it is allowed to proceed, it will mean fewer banking options for Canadians and higher banking fees for customers at a time when people's budgets are already stretched thin. RBCs proposed $13.5-billion acquisition of HSBCs Canadian holdings would have a direct effect on their 780,000 customers. HSBC holds approximately two percent of all bank deposits and mortgages in the country, and allowing the largest bank in the nation to grow substantially will only diminish Canadian banking competition. While this government's track record on refusing mergers and acquisitions between large corporations has not exactly been favorable to consumers (the Rogers-Shaw deal comes to mind), it's clear that allowing this deal to proceed is not in the best interests of Canadians. In fact, this proposed deal has been opposed by the House of Commons Finance Committee, who stated “removing competition in the financial sector could raise banking fees for Canadians who already pay more for financial services due to an already uncompetitive financial sector.” Opposition MPs of all stripes have called on the Finance Minister to roundly reject the deal, as have civil society groups such as the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project and environmental groups such as Environmental Defence. The acquisition deal, despite all of the formal opposition, may still go through. The Competition Bureau has stated the deal is "not likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition under the Competition Act." They did however also state that it would "result in a loss of rivalry between Canada's largest and seventh largest banks," and also contended that the financial services market is still very concentrated, with the majority of Canadians having services provided by the largest five Canadian banking institutions. The Competition Bureau also noted that “there are high barriers to entry and expansion in many of these markets” and that “conditions in certain markets may facilitate coordinated behaviour among firms.” Clearly, concentrating the market among a smaller and smaller group of banks isn't going to help diversify banking services and make them more affordable.
Government Must Reject HSBC-RBC Merger In fact, the last time a deal of this size between banks was proposed was during the 1990s when RBC and the Bank of Montreal attempted to merge. That deal was refused by the Finance Minister at the time. The deal was opposed by the majority of Canadians, and the Competition Bureau also cited the diminished competition in banking that would ultimately guide the then Finance Minister's hand. It would be great to say we are in a different position now, but the Canadian banking system is still overconcentrated in a small handful of major players. The deal is now being reviewed by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OFSI), who will provide further guidance to the Finance Minister, who has the ultimate say on the deal. Clearly allowing
Canada's biggest bank to become even larger would not have a positive effect on Canadians, particularly as Canada's six largest banks are already considered “too big to fail” by OFSI's own standards. Ultimately, much like the Rogers-Shaw deal, it's hard to imagine who would benefit from allowing this merger to take place, aside from RBC executives themselves. It would give Canadians less choice in banking institutions. With less choice, it would allow banks to charge more for services they currently provide through banking fees. It would allow the largest bank in the country to grow even more. At a time when interest rates are higher than they have been in years, it's important to give people more choice. Allowing a bank to acquire a competitor will have the opposite effect.
Le gouvernement doit rejeter une fusion entre HSBC et RBC Il y a un an ce mois-ci, RBC, la plus grande banque du Canada en termes de parts de marché, a proposé de reprendre la clientèle canadienne de HSBC, la banque britannique ayant l'intention de se retirer du marché canadien. Bien que l'entente proposée doive encore franchir un certain nombre d'obstacles réglementaires, si on l'autorise à aller de l'avant, elle se traduira par moins d'options bancaires pour les Canadiens et par des frais bancaires plus élevés pour les clients à un moment où leur budget est déjà serré. Le projet d'acquisition des actifs canadiens de HSBC par RBC, pour un montant de 13,5 milliards de dollars, aurait un effet direct sur les 780 000 clients de la banque HSBC. Celle-ci détient environ deux pour cent de l'ensemble des dépôts bancaires et des prêts hypothécaires du pays, et permettre à la plus grande banque du pays de croître de manière substantielle ne fera que diminuer la concurrence bancaire canadienne. Alors que le bilan de ce gouvernement en matière de refus des fusions et acquisitions entre grandes entreprises n'a pas vraiment été favorable aux consommateurs (on pense notamment à l'accord Rogers-Shaw), il est clair que permettre la concrétisation de cet accord n'est pas dans l'intérêt des Canadiens. En fait, le Comité permanent des finances de la Chambre des communes s'est opposé à ce projet d'accord en déclarant que « l'affaiblissement de la concurrence dans le secteur financier pourrait susciter une hausse des frais de banque des Canadiens, alors que ces frais sont déjà élevés en raison du manque de concurrence dans le secteur ». Les députés de l'opposition, toutes allégeances confondues, ont demandé à la ministre des
Finances de rejeter catégoriquement l'accord, tout comme des groupes de la société civile tels que le Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project et des groupes de défense de l'environnement comme Environmental Defence. Malgré toute l'opposition formelle, le projet d'acquisition pourrait encore avoir lieu. Le Bureau de la concurrence a déclaré que le fusionnement proposé « n'aura vraisemblablement pas pour effet d'empêcher ou de diminuer sensiblement la concurrence en vertu de la Loi sur la concurrence ». Toutefois, il a également déclaré qu'elle « entraînerait une perte de rivalité entre les première et septième plus grandes banques du Canada » et a également soutenu que les marchés pertinents des services financiers demeurent concentrés, avec les cinq plus grandes banques du Canada représentant la grande majorité des services fournis aux Canadiens. Le Bureau de la concurrence a également fait remarquer que « les obstacles à l'entrée et à l'expansion sur plusieurs de ces marchés sont élevés » et que « les conditions dans certains de ces marchés peuvent faciliter un comportement coordonné entre les entreprises ». Il est évident que la concentration du marché entre un groupe de banques de plus en plus restreint ne va pas contribuer à diversifier les services bancaires et à les rendre plus abordables. En fait, la dernière fois qu'un accord de cette ampleur entre banques a été proposé, c'était dans les années 1990, lorsque la RBC et la Banque de Montréal ont tenté de fusionner. Cet accord avait été refusé par le ministre des Finances de l'époque. La majorité des Canadiens s'était opposée à la transaction, et le Bureau de la concurrence avait Suite P.11
Chapleau Monents Cont’d from P.3 loved our little grandma. But Michael my grandfather was a very intelligent person, and I appreciated his stories. Well Michael as I said, love your stories in the paper. MURIELE FORTIN Everybody seems to have covered everything I was about to recall about back lanes, except maybe this part about the garbage pick up. We actually would hitch rides on the back of Mr. Creighton's horse drawn wagon, filled with trash, and thought that was great entertainment for the day. He would pretend not to notice us. Many dark evenings when I headed home down that unlit back lane did, I imagine some creature jumping out and scaring me but it never stopped me from taking that short cut when I was late for curfew. Interestingly, in the subdivision where I now reside in Kingston, a development behind me is being built using the lane way design. Folks will have access to their garages via this private lane way. I like that it will give more distance
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 5 between their house and mine, for privacy. that I managed to read during my stay. I found your articles very interesting, and I was anxious Thanks for the memories. Murielle JACK POYNTER to read the next as I went through them Sadly, I cannot remember anything extra chronologically. exciting, or illegal, going on in our back lanes You did an article this spring on the "CPR although they certainly did join the Community ice gangs", which was my favorite because together. I do remember they were a great "Dalmas Paquette" is my grandfather. I always shortcut to UPTOWN as well as for CPR knew he was a foreman for the CPR but never employees going to work. When we were facing knew he was in charge of the ice for the trains. I Pine St. as you noted our directly opposite lane was part of an ice gang one winter when Tommy neighbours were the Kemps where there was (Sawyer) and I helped my uncle Ross gather ice always some activity going on, at least until they for the bait shop. Thanks for the great writing. Thanks to all the contributors. My email arrived home one noon hour and the house was is mikejmorris41@outlook.com sadly engulfed in flames. On one side of us was the Anglican Rectory and of course the Tennis courts where a lot of us got daily exercise (in the summer) with a different type of exercise going on across the lane at the Legion. Down the lane in the opposite direction were the CPR houses of the Burrows and Dessons then Austin, Goheen and Chrusoskie. Remember when Howard G. was buried in the ground and left there when everyone had to go to supper? When we moved and faced Beech St. the same lane continued and we then had Dick Hoath, the oil man directly opposite us. We used to play baseball in the backyards before church Sunday... It is interesting to note that from our area the quickest way to get to all jnsigns@gmail.com three Churches was by the back lanes albeit you may get a little dusty. Employment Opportunity Clothes could always be Chapleau Artie Watershed Snowmobile Club seen drying from the lanes and Groomer (Paid position) Dr. Young's French poodle put on T h e C h a p l e a u A r c t i c Wa t e r s h e d a show over the fence. There Snowmobile Club is a member of The Ontario were also a lot of great vegetable Federation of Snowmobile Clubs which is a and flower gardens evident from volunteer led not for profit association that provides the lanes. the voice for organized snowmobiling in the Yes, there are a lot of lanes Province of Ontario. T h e C h a p l e a u A r c t i c Wa t e r s h e d in Chapleau, and I am certain Snowmobile Club works to provide exceptional some have great stories but, in the snowmobile trails and rider experiences in the area, I lived they were just fun Chapleau area. ways to get home, meet kids and The Club is looking for a groomer for the socialize. They were too narrow upcoming season. This is a paid position within the to play serious baseball plus the organization. This position involves grooming trails from Chapleau to half way to Foleyet, Chapleau to windows on the front of most Halfway Haven and some grooming on our local houses were closer on the main trails. drags and hence could be broken Qualifications: easier by a wayward ball. Neither • G2 drivers license or better • Ability to work nights were they wide enough for a rink. • Ability to adapt to various work hours ART MADORE JR. There will be in-house and on line groomer I was recently on holidays operator training. at my camp in Dalton visiting my Pay: $18.00/hour dad. Roger Mizuguchi has been If you are interested, please send your cover collecting the Chapleau Express letter and resume to Ryan Richardson at and giving them to my dad. There ryanrichardson88@hotmail.com were two years' worth of papers
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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 6
Weather Summary for Ontario November 2023: Typical Fall Temperature Swings and Rather Dry Temperatures Most regions saw near normal average temperatures for the month, except in western portions of both the northwest and Far North, where it was slightly warmer than normal. In contrast to the last few months, there were few strong temperature anomalies on finer time scales. The province was cooler than normal for much of the first week in the north and Far North, whereas mixed weak fluctuations were found over the south. In the second week, warmer weather began to spread across the province from the northwest lasting into much of the third week. The strongest temperature anomalies for the month were found in the northwest and Far Northwest on the 15th to the 16th where Geraldton reached 8oC. The remainder of the month saw variability of weak intensity provincewide. The end of the month was mostly slightly cooler than normal with warmth creeping in from the northwest and across the south. Precipitation The province was mostly drier than normal this month, especially in the Far North and the south. The most significant precipitation events occurred around the end of the first and third weeks (7th and 21st). Kapuskasing Airport received 21.6 cm of snow on the 6th from the first of two significant, consecutive storms, which both crossed most of the province from west to east. Northeastern Ontario saw precipitation throughout the month. Southern Ontario saw the transition of two significant storms on the 21st and the 26th, bringing mostly rain. Following these, many localities in the traditional snow belt areas saw significant snowfall amounts, which lasted several days. Snowfall amounts of 30 to 45 cm were reported southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay over the 28th into most of the 29th. Snowfall amounts were, however, slightly below normal for the entire month especially in the northwest and away from the Great Lakes. Significant Events November 1: First lake effect snow event of the season tests drivers Snow bands off Lake Huron resulted in hazardous travel to areas south of the lake between Sarnia and London, with 88 minor collisions reported by early afternoon. Several small power outages
occurred under the bands of heavy wet snow, with about 1,500 Hydro One customers losing power. Snowfall amounts of around 15 cm were reported in Strathroy and Appin. This event was also accompanied by lightning, with over 400 lightning strikes detected. November 8-9: Winter weather returns with a vengeance A weather system with freezing rain, freezing drizzle and snow affected much of northeastern and southern Ontario. Several hours of freezing rain affected the area from southwest of Kitchener, northward up to Timmins, and eastward past Cornwall. As a result, many collisions were reported on major highways, including 6 collisions that occurred within 30 minutes on Highway 401, and a significant disruption to public transit in KitchenerWaterloo. Over 20,000 customers were without power from northwest to northeast of Toronto due to the freezing rain. School buses were cancelled in part of Simcoe County, and in Orillia, Midland, Penetanguishene, Madawaska, and North Hastings. In northeastern Ontario, school buses were cancelled in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, West Nipissing, North Bay, and Mattawa. Snow impacted travel north and east of Lake Superior Wednesday night and Thursday, with long stretches of Highway 17 and 129 requiring closures. A swath from Grand Bend to Pontypool (35 km southwest of Peterborough) reported 23 to 32 mm of precipitation from this event. November 28: Widespread lake effect snow event for southern Ontario A significant lake effect snow event brought accumulating snow to portions of
southern Ontario to the lee of the Great Lakes. Heavy snow and blowing snow in snow squalls resulted in over 100 collisions and multi-vehicle accidents, including a seven-vehicle pile-up and three separate incidents that resulted in serious injuries. Major highway closures occurred on Highway 89 in Shelbourne and near Harriston, Highway 403 in Brantford, and Highway 52 outside of Hamilton due to crashes in the poor conditions. Bracebridge, Lucknow, and Markdale reported more than 20 cm while Phelpston, Lake Dalrymple and Oro Park reported more than 15 cm of snow. Ice Conditions in the Great Lakes Ice has not formed in the open waters of the Great Lakes this November, which is quite typical. The most ice can be found in some of the northern bays of Lake Superior, particularly Black Bay situated northeast of Thunder Bay. Ice has begun forming near the southern and eastern shores of Whitefish Bay as well as along the North Channel near the mainland over to Sault Ste Marie. Some ice can also be found along the northeastern shores of Lake Ontario from Trenton to Kingston to the St Lawrence River. Outlook for December Temperatures may be warmer than normal in northern Ontario and the Far North, with near normal temperatures most likely for southern Ontario. In terms of precipitation, drier than normal conditions are predicted for much of northern Ontario, particularly along the shores of Lake Superior. The Bruce Peninsula and areas west of London are also expected to be drier than normal. The rest of the province shows no clear signal.
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 7
Ontario Supporting Innovation in the Forest Sector Province investing $1.5 million in 15 projects supporting new and emerging uses of forest biomass The Government of Ontario is creating new opportunities in the forest sector and strengthening regional economies with an initial $1.5 million in funding for projects under the new Forest Biomass Program. These investments will develop the untapped economic potential and environmental benefit of new and emerging uses of underutilized wood and mill by-products, collectively known as forest biomass.
The Geminid Meteor Shower The annual Geminid meteor shower will peak on the night of Dec 13 into the morning of the 14th. This shower will produce up to 120 meteors per hour with some bright fireballs. Annual meteor showers are produced when Earth crosses debris fields from comets as we orbit the sun, this is why various showers occur at the same time each year. In the case of the Geminids, Earth will encounter tiny sand-sized particles from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon with some gravel size pieces producing bright dramatic fireballs that will light up the sky as well as the ground. The meteors will harmlessly vaporize some 80 kilometres above the ground at a slow 35 km/sec compared to the Perseids in August at twice that speed. A few meteors can be seen starting at about 7 pm locally when the constellation is low in the northeast. Greater numbers will be seen as the constellation rises higher throughout the night. The moon will not interfere this year. This is a must-see event. Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker, monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as well as a STEM educator. He has been interviewed on more than 55 Canadian radio stations as well as various television stations across Canada and the U.S. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Facebook and his website: www.wondersofastronomy.com
“In just a few months, our Forest Biomass Program has identified many promising forest sector initiatives, with many more projects we plan to support in the months to come,” said Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. “Today's investment will begin to unleash the potential that biomass has to create good jobs, build strong communities and support healthy forests.” Each project supports new and emerging uses of forest biomass, the mill by-products from manufacturing, bark, shavings and sawdust, as well as trees or above-ground tree parts unsuited in the production of other forest products. The program's initial investment of over $1.5 million will leverage funding from industry and other funding programs to advance 15 research, innovation and modernization initiatives. The 15 projects include: · Harvest Bioindustrial Group and Lavern Heideman & Sons ($120,000), to study and increase the use of underutilized hardwoods to produce biochemicals and other products. (Burlington, Pembroke) · Infinite Carbon Corporation ($197,600) to increase the use of birch and poplar wood and support development of new and innovative technology that has potential to reduce carbon emissions in industrial steel production. (London, Nanticoke) · Roseburg Forest Products Canada Ltd. ($100,000), to improve supply chain resiliency, support forest sector diversification and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by exploring energy production using forest biomass. (Pembroke) These new projects will increase the use of Ontario's forest resources while developing new technologies, improving productivity and providing environmental benefits. First announced in May 2023, the Forest Biomass Program is providing a $19.6 million investment in projects to harvest more Crown wood, create forest sector jobs and regional economic growth and find new uses for wood in collaboration with stakeholders, industry and Indigenous communities. “Creating and sustaining employment opportunities in the forest sector is something our government is keenly focused on,” said MPP John Yakabuski, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke. “The Forest Biomass Program is another example of our commitment to jobs in the forest sector. These investments will help support workers, operators and our sustainably managed forests.” Investments through the Forest Biomass Program further the government's commitments to build a strong forest sector via technological innovation and greater use of forest biomass. Ontario's Forest Biomass Action Plan is part of the broader Forest Sector Strategy launched in 2020. The strategy focuses on the province's plan to create jobs and encourage economic growth in the forestry
industry, supporting the Indigenous, northern and rural communities that depend on the sector while ensuring forests are managed sustainably for generations to come. The Forest Biomass Action Plan is a fiveyear plan that encourages the use of forest biomass resources to secure jobs, support economic development and encourage sustainability in Ontario's forest sector. Forest biomass has many current and emerging uses, including as a source of low-carbon consumer products and renewable energy. Wood produced from Ontario's Crown forests is sustainably sourced and renewable. Wood is a renewable resource, a clean energy source, and a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to singleuse plastics.
Ontario Responds to U.S. International Trade Commission's Decision on Canadian Softwood Lumber Province stands with Ontario's Forest Sector Today, Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) vote in its five-year “sunset review” of duty orders imposed on Canadian exports of softwood lumber to the United States: “The Ontario government is extremely disappointed by the ITC's decision, which upholds the 2017 injury determination and maintains antidumping and countervailing duties against Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. Today's decision ignores the strong evidence presented to the Commission demonstrating that softwood lumber exports from Ontario and Canada are not harming the U.S. softwood lumber industry – and it ignores Ontario's long-standing criticism that U.S. duties on softwood lumber are unwarranted and unfair. After careful review of the I T C's forthcoming explanations for its decision, Ontario will evaluate its legal options at this stage of the dispute, in consultation with its stakeholders. Ontario will continue to defend the workers, families and communities who depend on Ontario's forest sector – which generates nearly $21 billion in annual revenue and supports more than 142,000 direct and indirect jobs. Together with provincial governments, the federal government and industry leaders across the country, Ontario stands united to support the Canadian forest industry and free trade between our two countries.”
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 8
ÉSC Trillium students dance to the sound of LeFLOFRANCO and DJ Skorpyon Students at École secondaire catholique Trillium (Chapleau) were delighted to welcome LeFLOFRANCO and DJ Skorpyon in their school for a musical event on November 20. In their company, they were offered a memorable Francophone cultural and identity-building experience and got to know these FrancoO n t a r i a n a r t i s t s b e t t e r. T h a n k y o u LeFLOFRANCO and DJ Skorpyon for getting
them moving and singing along! Ottawa-based hip-hop sensation, LeFLOFRANCO brings to the table a sound high in energy mixed with heartfelt lyrical content. Striving to push Hip-Hop's sound towards new heights, he refers to his unique sound as multicolored urban pop. LeFLOFRANCO seeks to take the public on a musical journey going from modern Hip-Hop, to
Trap, to EDM all the way to the Caribbean Soca vibes, reggae fusion and music from his Haitian background; Kompa. Since the released of his first full-length LP “Force inhérente” in 2019, he has performed from Ontario to British Columbia. He has also released two music videos; the festive-summer-ready “Bal exotique” and the gritty-thought-provoking “On en a assez!.” DJ Skorpyon stands out as an up-and-coming
Le FLOFRANCO et DJ Skorpyon font bouger les élèves de l'ÉSC Trillium Les élèves du secondaire de l'École secondaire catholique Trillium (Chapleau) ont eu le plaisir d'accueillir le 20 novembre les artistes Le FLOFRANCO et DJ Skorpyon. En leur compagnie, ils ont vécu une expérience culturelle et identitaire francophone mémorable en plus
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d'apprendre à mieux connaître ces artistes franco- en 2019, il monte sur les scènes de l'Ontario à la ontariens. Merci LeFLOFRANCO et DJ Colombie-Britannique et a fait paraitre deux Skorpyon de les avoir fait bouger et chanter avec vidéoclips : le tube prêt pour toutes festivités estivales « Bal exotique » et plus récemment, le cri entrain! L ' a r t i s t e h i p - h o p o t t a v i e n , d'alerte « On en a assez ! ». DJ Skorpyon se LeFLOFRANCO propose un son rempli de hautes démarque en tant que beatmakers en ascension. vibrations mariées à des textes remplis d'émotions. Cherchant à pousser la scène HipHop vers de nouveaux horizons, il décrit son style comme étant de la « pop urbaine multicolore ». LeFLOFRANCO cherche à faire voyager son auditoire partant du Hip-hop moderne, au TRAP, à l'Électro jusqu'au sonorités des caraïbes tel que le Soca, le ReggaeFusion et la musique de ses origines haïtiennes ; le Kompa. Depuis le lancement de son jnsigns@gmail.com premier album « Force inhérente »
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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 9
Jennifer Sarlo acclaimed as Chair & Elaine Johnston acclaimed as Vice Chair of the Algoma District School Board
Jennifer Sarlo Algoma District School Board (ADSB) held their Inaugural Meeting on December 5, 2023. Both Jennifer Sarlo and Elaine Johnston were acclaimed to their respective roles as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board. Chair Jennifer Sarlo Jennifer was first elected as a Trustee for the Algoma District School Board in 2006 serving Ward One in Sault Ste. Marie. In 2009, Jennifer became Vice Chair of the Board and in December 2011, she was elected as Chair, a position she has held consecutively for the past eleven years. She has served as a member of ADSB's Finance and Operations Committee, the Audit Committee, the Discipline Committee, and the Transportation Consortium. Jennifer was also played an active role in the School Effectiveness Visits and the New Schools Steering Committee. Jennifer is a respected voice provincially with the Ministry of Education and has served with the Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA) as a Policy Work Team member and a Program Work Team member advising the government on issues and policies that impact the education system. She has been a past member of OPSBA's conference planning committee, a conference panel member, and an AGM workshop presenter. Prior to being elected to the Algoma District School Board, Jennifer was the Chair of A D S B's School Council Coordinating Committee (SCCC) now known as the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC). She was also the
Chair of Grand View Public School's School Council. Jennifer is an involved and respected member of her community and her church. She has been a Ministry lead in numerous capacities at Bethel Bible Chapel and served the Board at the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works for 5 years. Since 2013 Jennifer has coordinated the Coldest Night of the Year event in support of St. Vincent Place which has raised over $700,000. She is a team lead at St. Vincent Place Soup Kitchen, a past president of the board of ABK Bible Camp (board member for 16 years) and regular volunteer and is currently a member of 100+ Women Who Care Sault Ste. Marie. Following her acclimation, Chair Sarlo shared "I am honored to continue to serve the Algoma District School Board as Chair for my 12th year. Thank you, Trustee Myers, for your nomination, and thank you to my fellow trustees for your confidence and continued support. I look forward to continuing to work with Vice Chair Johnston. Working with our dynamic leadership team, we will seek every opportunity – whether in classrooms, through budget discussions, or at the Board table -- to strive to meet the diverse needs of every student in our system. I cannot believe this new Board has been working together just over a year since the election in 2022. We know the learning curve has been steep, but we already feel like we know and understand each other quite well and can tap into the skills and experiences of each Board member coupled with their knowledge of their communities to make good decisions around this board table." Vice Chair Elaine Johnston Elaine is the ADSB's First Nation trustee and has served on the Algoma District School Board for the last 9 years. From Serpent River First Nation, Elaine has served on numerous Boards and committees at the local, regional and national level. She is the Chair of the Indigenous Trustee Council of the Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA). Presently she is also the Chair of the Elliot Lake Hospital Board. Elaine is the former Chief of Serpent River First Nation, a position she held for four and a half years. She sat on Council for 10 years and was a former Chair of the Nogdawindamin Board and Vice Chair of Mamaweswen, the North Shore Tribal Council. She worked at the Assembly of First Nations and the Anishinabek Nation. Elaine has presented to the United Nations, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and to numerous standing committees, to name just a
Elaine Johnston few. Elaine attended post-secondary education at Cambrian College and Sudbury Laurentian University and received training as an Ambulance & Emergency Care Attendant, Paramedic along with her diploma and degree in nursing. Her career in health provided her opportunities to work in the hospital, ambulance, air ambulance, community, the Canadian Coast Guard, government and First Nation organizations. Following her acclimation as Vice Chair of the Algoma District School Board, Elaine thanked the Board for returning her to the position of Vice Chair and she looks forward to working with everyone again in the upcoming year. Elaine continues as Algoma District School Board's First Nation Trustee. The North Shore Tr i b a l C o u n c i l E d u c a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t coordinated the selection process and Elaine was acclaimed as the successful candidate for the 2022-2026 term. This is Elaine's third term as ADSB's First Nation Trustee having been first appointed in 2014.
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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 10
Last weeks solutions MOMENTS IN TIME
On Dec. 18, 1966, Dr. Seuss's popular book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" was made into an animated TV special narrated by well-known horror movie star Boris Karloff, who also provided the voice of the titular character, and shown for the first time on CBS.
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 11
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Le gouvernement doit rejeter Local MARKETPLACE une fusion entre HSBC et RBC Suite de la P.4 également invoqué la diminution de la concurrence dans le secteur bancaire, ce qui allait finalement influencer la décision du ministre des Finances de l'époque. Il serait formidable de pouvoir dire que notre situation est différente
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aujourd'hui, mais le système bancaire canadien est encore trop concentré entre les mains d'une petite poignée d'acteurs majeurs. La transaction est actuellement examinée par le Bureau du surintendant des institutions financières (BSIF), qui fournira des conseils supplémentaires à la ministre des Finances, qui a le dernier mot sur la transaction. Il est indéniable que permettre à la plus grande banque du Canada de prendre encore d'ampleur n'aurait pas d'effet positif sur les Canadiens, d'autant plus que les six plus grandes banques du Canada sont déjà considérées comme « trop imposantes pour faire faillite » selon les normes du BSIF. En fin de compte, à l'instar de la fusion Rogers-Shaw, il est difficile d'imaginer qui aurait intérêt à ce que cette fusion ait lieu, à part les dirigeants de RBC eux-mêmes. Les Canadiens auraient ainsi moins de choix en matière d'institutions bancaires. Cette diminution du choix permettrait aux banques d'exiger des frais plus élevés pour les services qu'elles offrent actuellement. La plus grande banque du pays pourrait ainsi croître encore davantage. À une époque où les taux d'intérêt sont plus élevés qu'ils ne l'ont été depuis des années, il est important de donner plus de choix aux gens. Permettre à une banque d'acquérir un concurrent aura l'effet contraire.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (A.A).Open discussion meeting every Monday evening. Brunswick House First Nation Band office lounge 7pm. Narcotics Anonymous(N.A) every Tuesday same place same time. NNADAP Worker @ 864-0174 info.
CHADWIC HOME, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE. Offers shelter, emotional support, and information for women and their children who are in crisis situations. We have a Toll Free Crisis Line which is staffed 24 hours a day. We can arrange for free transportation to the Centre for women who live in the Algoma/Chapleau area. We also offer support to women who live in the communities of Chapleau, White River, Dubreuilville, and Hornepayne through our Outreach Program. Our Outreach Worker travels to those communities to meet with women who need emotional support as well as information about their rights and options. If you need to speak with the Outreach Worker when she is in your community, you can call the Centre at any time to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a resident of the Centre in order to use our services. If you need someone to talk to or if you just need someone to listen, call our Toll Free Crisis line at 1800-461-2242 or you can drop in at the Centre. We are here for you.
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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, December 7, 2023- Page 12
Food bank use is skyrocketing, but surprisingly, inflation is not the root cause The Feed Ontario (FO) 2023 Hunger Report (formerly known as the Ontario Association of Food Banks) was released this week. The report is a well-organized, user-friendly tool to access statistics on food bank use. The 2023 report confirmed that hunger is not just a big-city problem. It has just as firm a grip on smaller, rural and Northern communities like ours. Here are some rather alarming and worrisome statistics for Ontario and Algoma-Manitoulin. · Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, more than 800,000 Ontarians reached out to emergency food banks for support, with total visits climbing to over 5.9 million, a significant 36% increase from the previous year. · Food banks in Algoma-Manitoulin served 3661 households, totalling 14,491 visits. Sadly, 34 percent of those visits were made by hungry children. · In Algoma-Manitoulin, there are 1,078 people whose reported income source is Ontario Works (OW). 34 percent of food bank clients rely on OW, who have no choice but to try to scape by on a meagre $733. · In this riding, 2193 recipients count on ODSP's monthly support of $1,308. Anyone trying to run a household in this region knows neither sum is enough to meet even basic needs.
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· 10 percent of Ontario residents are said to live in poverty and 11.5 percent of our children. Unfortunately for residents of AlgomaManitoulin, the news is worse. The poverty rate is listed at 16 percent, and 19 percent of children live in poverty. The federal government is under pressure to do something to curb rampant inflation. Public opinion is that inflation is the leading cause of consumer pain. With citizens breathing down their necks, the Trudeau Government is barking at the heels of big-name grocery chains with threats of punitive taxation and penalties if they don't get their prices under control. There is no doubt that rampant inflation rates are making it difficult for families and seniors to make ends meet month after month. However, inflation is by no means the root cause of our economic pain. The truth is that low wages and employment have a more significant impact than inflation. But Premier Ford does not want Ontarians to see it this way. It is much more convenient for Mr. Ford to have people point the accusatory finger at the federal government to deflect political blame from his government. (Readers of last week's column may recall former United States Vice President and Senator Hubert Humphrey's quote, “To err is human; to blame someone else is politics.”) Statistics show that unemployment is not an issue here in Ontario, with a comparatively low rate of just 6.2 percent. This is actually LOWER than the long-term average rate of 7.38 percent. And it is definitely lower than in the 1960s and 70s when economists and policymakers believed they could lower unemployment through higher inflation. Lack of employment is not the problem. In truth, Ontarians ARE working - some even working on multiple jobs. The FO report indicated that 1 in 6 food bank patrons list their primary income source as employment wages. FO CEO Carolyn Stewart stated, “While we are seeing low unemployment rates across the province, working Ontarians are having trouble earning enough income to afford today's cost of living. As a result, more working families than ever before are turning to food banks for help.” People are employed and are getting hours, sometimes even more than is healthy for their family, such as when both adults are at work or in a single parent's case. If this is true, how can our current crisis be explained? The primary issue is low wages. People are not being paid a living wage or for the value of their work. Victoria Wells wrote in the November 30, 2022 edition of the Financial Post, “Highpaying, unionized manufacturing jobs have given way to lower-paying, part-time or temporary ones,
such as gig work.” Readers will recall that after Doug Ford was first elected, he quickly cancelled the 2019 scheduled increase in the minimum wage from $14 to $15. It stayed down until it finally rose to $16.50 in October 2023. So, it is a Ford government policy that is keeping worker's wages artificially low. And to date, Ontario has never recovered from Premier Ford's multi-year delays. The Conservative government is holding Ontario workers' wages down. The government knows their wage and employment policies are letting Ontarians down miserably. No matter how hard Ontarians work or how many hours they work every week, many thousands just can't bring home a cheque that will help them make ends meet and stave off true hunger. And that, my friends, is something Premier Ford can rectify. Ontario workers should be paid wages that will not see them getting further and further behind the economic eight ball, month after month, year after year. And everyone should be entitled to sick days. Staying home helps to prevent the spreading of viruses and respects the well-being of coworkers and customers. But the reality is that workers just can't afford to lose a day's pay for sickness. Food banks were never intended to be a long-term food supply for Ontario families and seniors. They are primarily staffed by volunteers and are supported by generous donations of nonperishable goods or money from caring people and businesses in the community. Honestly, the current rate of use is just not sustainable. But for now, put aside the politics and theory. That can wait for another day. All of us can make a difference today in the homes of people in our community. The children down the street should not be heading off to school hungry, and the senior next door should not have to go to bed hungry, cold or wanting. We can't give all the time. But if we commit to doing what we can as often as possible, we can make a real difference in the lives of people we know. Donating a jar of peanut butter, a box of cereal, or a package of pasta is excellent. It is easier still to make a monetary donation so the food bank can take inventory of what is needed and take advantage of bulk buying and deals from food suppliers. Remember, if we each give a little, we all give a lot. Please do your best to give generously to our food banks this holiday season. As always, please feel free to contact my office about these issues or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ola.org or by phone Toll-free at 1800-831-1899.