705 - 864 - 2785
OCHAPLEAUEXPRESS
Green,White,andProud:TheFrancoFiersTourEnergizesChapleauSchools
n September 8, students from
KindergartentoGrade12atÉcoleSacréCœur and École secondaire catholique Trillium in Chapleau welcomed the identitybuildingteamfromtheConseilscolairecatholique Nouvelonaspartofthepop-uptour“FrancoFiers au CSC Nouvelon.” (Proud Franco-Ontarians at CSCNouvelon).WithRodneyMeilleur,identitybuilding facilitator, and Julie Lancup, teaching
consultant,alongwiththeirtrailerdecoratedwith an image of the original Franco-Ontarian flag designed in 1975, students and staff of both schools had the opportunity to celebrate francophone culture by taking part in interactive activities, rallying chants, songs, and dances. These memorable green and white moments helped strengthen the sense of belonging among participants, while reigniting Franco-Ontarian
pride. Until September 24, the tour will continue through CSC Nouvelon schools with stops planned in Wawa, Dubreuilville, Hornepayne, Sault Ste. Marie, Elliot Lake, Blind River, Spanish,Espanola,GreaterSudbury,andSudbury East. These surprise visits are sure to energize CSC Nouvelon school communities as they prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Franco-OntarianflagonSeptember25.
Vert,blanc,etfiers:latournéeFrancoFiersfaitvibrerlesécolesdeChapleau
Le8septembre,lesélèvesdelamaternelle à la 12e année de l'école Sacré-Cœur et de l'école secondaire catholique Trillium à Chapleau ont accueilli l'équipeenconstruction identitaire du Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon,danslecadre de la tournée éclair « Franco Fiers au CSC
Nouvelon ». Accompagnés de Rodney Meilleur,animateurenconstructionidentitaire, et de Julie Lancup, conseillère pédagogique, ainsi que de leur remorque décorée avec une image du drapeau franco-ontarien original conçu en 1975, les élèves et les membres du personnel des deux écoles ont eu l'occasion de célébrer la francophonie en participant à des activitésinteractives,descrisderalliement,des chants et des danses. Ces beaux moments en vert et blanc ont su renforcer le sentiment d'appartenance,tantchezlespetitsquechezles
grands, tout en ravivant la fierté francoontarienne.D'iciau24septembre,latournéese poursuivra dans les écoles du CSC Nouvelon avec des arrêts prévus à Wawa, Dubreuilville, Hornepayne, Sault-Ste-Marie, Elliot Lake, BlindRiver,Spanish,Espanola,GrandSudbury et Sudbury-Est. Ces visites surprises sauront sansaucundoutefairevibrerlescommunautés scolaires du CSC Nouvelon en préparation au 50e anniversaire du drapeau franco-ontarien, célébréle25septembreprochain.
24Yearsagoonthisday
On Tuesday 11 September
2001, suicide attackers seized US passenger jets and crashed them into two New York skyscrapers, killing thousandsofpeople.
What unfolded that day has hadprofoundconsequencesacross theglobe.
BUY
by MichaelJ. Morris Chapleau
CulturalheritageimportanttoChapleauasitprovidesinsights intolifeandtimesofcommunity,IanMacdonaldsuggests
Moments
Ian Macdonald, retired head of the department of architecture and now professor emeritusattheUniversityOfManitoba,looksat the cultural heritage of Chapleau with a vivid contrastbetweentheChapleauPeace-UnityPark for which he gives high praise, and the deterioration of CPR Locomotive 5433 in the Centennial Park. He also suggests other river relatedhistoricalsitesworthyofdevelopmentas partofChapleau'sculturalheritage.
Although Ian has not lived in Chapleau formanyyears,hemaintainsanabidingpositive interest in the community. He agreed to do two columns on his thoughts about maintaining and improvingChapleau'sculturalheritage,afterour visithomethisyearfortheofficiallaunchof'The ChapleauBoysGoToWar'.Ianwasacontributor to the book. We extend our thanks to Michael McMullen for his always valuable insights and assistance.MJM
ByIanMacdonald
On my most recent visit to Chapleau, I had an opportunity to visit Chapleau’s PeaceUnity Park that so effectively celebrates the picturesquelandscapeoftheNebskwashiRiver. Thisisasignificantlandscapewhichispartofthe naturalheritageofChapleauandthecommunity deserves high praise for creation of this special place
The Peace-Unity Park is part of the overallculturalheritageofthecommunitywhich includes buildings, artifacts, books, art and languageOneshouldberemindedthatChapleau has been in existence long enough to actually have developed a distinctive cultural heritage unlike some of the more modern Northern Ontario post-war pulp and paper communities
likeMarathonandTerraceBay.
Otherriverrelatedhistoricalsitesworthy of development include the site of the Hudson’s Bay Company sub-post on the east bank of the NebskwashiRiverbuiltin1884andtheoriginal canoe landing on the Kebsquasheshing River immediately north of the Civic Centre where meetings associated with the establishment of Treaty Nine ( James Bay Treaty ) were held in 1905.
Cultural heritage, unlike forgettable and trendybrandsandgimmicksisnotconjuredupin someconsultant’soffice.Youdon’thavetohirea Toronto spin doctor to invent it as it exists right where you live and breathe. It differs from symbols like Wawa’s big goose or Kenora’s Husky the Muskie which, as interesting objects, maycatchyoureyemomentarilybutreallydon’t provide any insight of the life and times of the communityitself.Cont’donP.5
EXPLORE CANADA THIS SUMMER
Engine5433whileinuse.IanMacdonaldcollection
CPR runningboardpaintguidelines.IanMacdonald
ExploringOntario’sghostparks:Forgottenbeautyinthenorth
Tucked away in northeastern Ontario lie three 'ghost' provincial parks—Greenwater, Obatanga, and The Shoals. Once bustling with campers and outdoor enthusiasts, these now-closed sites offer a unique glimpse into nature reclaiming its space
ByBillSteer What is a ghost park? And what woulditbeliketovisitone?Don’tbeafraid.
When you useAI it says: “A'ghost park' canrefertoseveralconcepts:adesertedamusement parkwithabandonedridesanddecayingstructures, apubliclandareadesignatedforrecreationbutwith ahistoryofresourceconflicts,orinamoreabstract sense, an underappreciated public space or 'ghost town'thatislargelyforgotten.”
In2012theLiberalGovernmentofOntario eliminated overnight camping at ten provincial parksinnortheasternOntarioduetolowvisitation and high upgrade costs, including Caliper Lake, Fushimi Lake, Greenwater, Ivanhoe Lake, Mississagi, Obatanga, René Brunelle,The Shoals, Springwater,andTidewater.TheAdventureIsland themeparkatOntarioPlacealsoclosedin2012for financialreasons.
The government decided to change the status of ten provincial parks to non-operating, ending overnight camping at these locations. The reasons cited included low visitation rates, low campgroundoccupancy,andtheneedforexpensive infrastructureimprovements.
Now, thirteen-fourteen years later, three remainclosedinnortheasternOntario:TheShoals, Greenwater and Obatanga Provincial Parks. (The threeparksrevisited–Ihavepreviouslycampedat whenoperating.)Theothersliveon.
Parkhistory
Parkshaveahistory,andtherearemilestones.
More than 8%, almost nine, of Ontario’s landmass is protected, which represents over 82,000 km2 - an area larger than the Province of NovaScotiaandPEIcombined.
See the OP map for operating, nonoperating and conservation reserves - it’s impressive enough, considering the first provincial park, Algonquin,wasestablishedonMay23,1893.
Along the way, there were significant developments, including the 1950s recreation boomandthefoundingofaParksDivisionin1954.
Therewasakeypolicymilestonein1967, which established the park classification system and the approval of the Ontario Provincial Parks: PlanningandManagementPoliciesin1978.
TheparkssystembecameOntarioParksin 1996, adopting a new entrepreneurial model, and wasfurtherexpandedinthe1980sand1990s.Itwas then that the park’s brown and yellow colours startedtotransitionwiththerebrandingofblueand greenweseetoday.
TheMikeHarrisSr.governmentstartedthe LandsforLifeprocess.Ithadamandatetobalance thecompletionofOntario'sprovincialparkssystem andtheprotectionofnaturalheritageareaswiththe needs of the province's resource industries (like mining and logging), tourism operators, and recreational users, all while ensuring ecological
sustainability.
Announced in 1997 by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, its goal was to provide certainty for resource users and create a comprehensive,representativesystemofprotected areas for all of Ontario's natural and cultural features. Henceforththeninepercentofprotected areas,apartfromCrownland. Wecouldhavemore.
Approximately 87% of Ontario is Crown land. Almost all of the Crown land is situated in northern Ontario, while Southern Ontario is primarily privately owned. See the interactive CrownLandAtlas,includingthe133FirstNations. Background
Provincial parks and protected areas are important.
OntarioParks(OP)has115operatingparks ofits330parks,with226non-operatingparks(like waterway parks - focusing on conservation and wildernessprotection).
There are more than 19,000 car accessible campsitesandover8,000backcountry/wilderness campsites
Ontario also manages 296 conservation reservestoprotectnaturalheritage.
Pukwash P.P. is the most northern car accessiblepark,andTidewateristhemostnorthern typeofhybridpark,andthereareprotectedplaces likePolarBearP.P.Ihavebeentoallthree.
I contacted OP spokesperson Dave Hunt forsomestatistics.
BRB: When did Ontario Parks start the colour changeover from brown to blue-green, approximatelyorwhendidtheirbrandingstart?
Dave Hunt: Ontario Parks was created in 1996,withthelogobecomingauniqueidentifierin 1997. The logo is evocative of the Ontario Parks experience–trees,water,andthreewavesrepresent theguidingprinciplesofprotection,recreationand education, reflecting what Ontarians felt were importantcharacteristicsofprovincialparks.
AsaleadingtourismdestinationinOntario, Ontario Parks has worked to build customer recognition of the brand, including updating the older brown and yellow signs to the current blue andwhitelook.
BRB:Any pertinent occupancy stats over the last five years? The province...and how about northernOntario(NW/NE)?
OntarioParksisonpaceforanotherrecord year in terms of overall visitors, slightly ahead of the12.4millionvisitorswereceivedin2024.
Forparksinthenorth,since2020,therehas been a steady increase in visitors in Northwestern Ontario,surpassing833,000visitorsin2024.Parks in Northeastern Ontario have been even more popular, with visitor numbers remaining fairly steady since 2020, reaching more than 1.4 million in2024.
VisitingaGhostPark
SooffIwenttovisitthethreeghostparks, allofwhichhavecommoncharacteristics,butwith specificthemesattachedtoeachvisit.
Allofthem,bychance,werevisitedabout ten days back, on bright summer days, as this summerhasbeenlikethat.
Obantaga
ItislocatedonHighway17,56kilometres west of Wawa and 37 kilometres east of White River.Theparkcontains9,413hectares.
ThethemehereisthematureJackpine,an easy and serene walk through or bike ride among thetoweringbeauties.
The park was opened in 1962, just after Highway17wascompletedaroundthenorthshore ofLakeSuperior.
Theparkmanagementplandescribesitasa “peacefulsetting,”anditis.
TheentryonHighway17iswellbarricaded –peoplehaverespectedtheclosureandrespectthe day-use mandate. There is no evidence of ATV impact. This is contrary to Greenwater. Perhaps becausefewerpeopleliveclosetoit.
WhatfirstcaughtmyattentionwastheBell phonebooth.Pre-cellphoneservice,manycampers wouldhavemadethatsafetycallhomebehindthe accordion-type door and that speaking-listening handset. To young people, these are now museum pieces.
There’s little vandalism to the park entry kiosk, but it has the traditional chalet-like peaked roof. Alltheseearlyparkshavethem,andmanyof thesmalleronesinnorthernOntariostilldo. The upgraded operating parks now have multi-faceted parkentrybuildingswithmerchandise.
There’s a stretch of asphalt that ends just past the kiosk and then goes on to hard-packed gravel. The once two-vehicle width is now compromised. Therearenotiretracks,andthetallgrass growsfeely.There’sagoodviewinglocationatthe bridge/causewaylookingoverBurnfieldLake.
This natural environment class park has a landscape that varies from flat sand plains in the northeast to rugged bedrock hills in the south. Lakes and wetlands are scattered throughout the parkarea.
Atonetime,theparkhad132campsites(20 with electrical outlets), an outdoor theatre and a comfort station. The comfort station has been brokeninto,butthereisnograffiti.Themagnificent stonework, part of the building’s façade, is crumblingandbreaking.
Check out the map and take your canoe along. There’s a canoe route (Google: Obatanga CanoeRoute)thatwasdevelopeditconnectingthe main park lakes (Burnfield, Obatanga, and Knife Lakes).Therouteisconnectedtoavarietyofareas Cont’donP.7
ChapleauMoments
Cont’dfromP.3
The CPR steam locomotive in Centennial (Station) Park, for instance, wasn't the figment of someone’s imagination. This locomotivetypewasthelastgenerationofsteam locomotivesdesignedandbuiltinCanadabythe CPR andiscloselyassociatedwithChapleauas It was the dominant locomotive type on the Schreiber Division before dieselization. It was
Chapleauisluckytohaveit
thus an authentic and integral part of Chapleau life,operated andmaintained bytheparentsand grandparents of many Chapleau descendants, andamostappropriatesymbolofthesteamera.
Touristsandlong-timeresidentsareable towitnesstheaestheticandculturalhistoryofan area through showcasing heritage. For many of my generation, locomotive 5433 validates memories of growing up in Chapleau. In my case, for instance, it provokes memories of my first trial trip as a fireman on a similar locomotive.Youngergenerationswhowereborn long after steam power disappeared will have a much different association specific to their own experience.
or building. The unfortunate deterioration of Locomotive 5433 since it was positioned in the park some fifty years agoheavily diminishes its value and authenticity as a historical milestone. Accurate replication of lettering style, size, spacing and colour is absolutely essential as it wasstrictlyregulatedbytheCPRandisspecific to this locomotive type. We have made this information available to the community from time to time at no cost, only to have the offer rejectedwithoutexplanation.Thissortofattitude naturally causes concern that little or no value
may be assigned to cultural heritage by those shapingstrategiesforfuturedevelopment.
Attention to detail is an essential aspect of historic preservation whether itis art, artifact
The recent tragic demolition of the Chapleau Public School illustrates how vulnerable our heritage buildings and sites are. The Chapleau Peace-Unity Park provides encouragement and hope, while, unfortunately, the decaying Locomotive 5433 leaves the oppositeimpression.
The next article will describesomerestorationprojects completed in communities the same size as Chapleau and even smaller. Each of these examples required a strategic plan for fundraising and economic sustainability andhadthesupport of enthusiastic and dedicated citizen groups. These are the criticalingredientsforsuccess.
Cedar Street bridge from Peace-Unity Park by Mike McMullen
OjibwayworkersatHudsonBaysubpost CPR CorporateArchives
Lastweekssolutions
MOMENTS IN TIME
On Sept. 23, 1992, Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in one of the four major men's North American pro sports leagues when she stepped on the ice as goalie for the NHL's TampaBayLightninginapreseasongame.Admittingtobeing"very nervous," she also noted that part of her admission was "for publicity,"butaddedthatitwas"stillachancetoplay.That'swhatI careabout."
ExploringOntario’sghostparks:Forgottenbeautyinthenorth
Cont’dfromP.4 outsidethepark.Theparklakesareontheheadwaters of the Dog (University) River- a river that eventuallyflowstoLakeSuperior.Thisriveriswell known to wilderness canoeists as a rugged and difficult but very scenic river. The park was once used as a staging area for canoe trips to Lake Superior.
There’s a good map and photos on the Facebook page Friends of Obatanga Provincial Park.
Walk or take your bike and head for the once-day-useareaonBurnfieldLake(firstleftpast the causeway/bridge ). Also, the Forest Fire Trail (thesignisdown,butitis justtotheeast,wherethe BerryTrailscampgroundwaslocated. Youcansee the park brochure box.) This is a walk through a mature Jack pine forest (a favourite), indicative of the Boreal. And take your canoe for a day use experience (take along the canoe transportation cart/trailer or access from nearby Cotton Lake, see themap).
Shoals Shoals (renamed in 1995) once had one campground (Little Wawa Lake) with 44 sites and approximately five interior campsites associated withtwoloopedcanoeroutes.
Butitisthebeachthatisyourdestination. A 30-minute walk or short bike ride from Highway 101. ItislocatedalmosthalfwaybetweenChapleau andWawa.Youcanalsocanoeaccesstheparkfrom thenavigablecreekabouttwokilometreswestofthe parkentrance.
People have respected the barriers at the parkentrance.
There has been no vandalism to the park kiosk,andtheasphaltendsatthebottomofthehill
INSURANCE
No dot.com impersonal answers here. Justgreatpersonalservicewithgreatrates.
Wewillaskalloftherightquestionstomakesureyougetthe bestcoverageandserviceforyourneeds. Thenwewillshop aroundtogettherightprice.
U Auto U Home U Commercial 219GreatNorthernRoad SaultSte.Marie, ON,P6B4Z2
Phone:705.949.9000
Email:onnserviceteam@brokerlink.ca
headingtowardsthelake.Atthemainjunction,you can go either way and end up at the overgrown parkinglothidingthebeach. Thisisthehighlight, the beach, the view and the serenity. There is no otherdevelopmentonLittleWawaLake.
Atthehighwayentrance,therewasonecar. WhowouldImeet?Withoutalarmingthem,Icalled out from a distance. I came upon Bonnie and Gwendolynne, two retirees from Chapleau, enjoying the sunny day on Little Wawa Lake. I quickly introducedmyselfandmymission.
They had all the beach amenities and snacks.Theytoldmethey’vebeencomingtoShoals for the last dozen years to enjoy exactly what the
Attention:AreyouaSmallBusinessOwner? Doyourequire financing? Thinkingofstartingabusiness?
ThestaffoftheSuperiorEastCommunityFuturesDevelopment CorporationwillbeinChapleauon ThursdaySeptember18th, 2025. TheCFDCofferssmallbusinessloansandcounsellingto currentsmallbusinessownersorindividualslookingatstartinga business. Services are available in both official languages. To makeanappointmenttodiscussfinancingoptions,pleasecall (705) 856-1105 or 1-800-387-5776, ext. 221 or email davidson@superioreastcfdc.ca.
Attention: Êtes-vous propriétaire d'une petite entreprise? Êtes-vous en besoin d'aide financière? Vous-voulez vous partirenaffaires?
Le personnel de la Société d'aide au développement des collectivitésSupérieurEstseraàChapleaujeudile18septembre 2025.
LaSADCoffredesprêtsfinanciersetdesservices-conseilsaux propriétairesactuel(le)sdepetitesentreprisesetauxindividu(e)s intéressé(e)sàsepartirenaffaire. Nosservicessontdisponibles danslesdeuxlanguesofficielles. Pourprendrerendez-vouset discuterdevosbesoinsd'aidefinancièreoupourobtenirdes services-conseils,communiquezavecnousau(705)856-1105 or 1-800-387-5776, poste 221 ou par courriel à davidson@ superioreastcfdc.ca.
Kamik Gas Bar & Gift Shop
Located on the Chapleau Cree First Nation SUMMER HOURS will be from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., 7 days a week
experience was offering. They lamented about the parknotbeingopenandtheirselfishthoughtsabout havingthisparadiseforthemselves.
There was the one-kilometre Lonesome Bogself-guidedinterpretivetrail,atrailersanitation station,aboatlaunchandafishcleaningtable.Idid not find the trail and wanted to. The staff area includes a 15-person staff house and maintenance area,whichiswellintact.
A bonus. There is the well-signed Prairie Bee access point, located approximately 4.5 km westoftheparkentranceonHighway101.Ithasa parkingareaandaboatlaunch.Itprovidesaccessto “excellent angling opportunities on Prairie Bee, LowerPrairieBeeandWindermereLakes.” These lakesarenotwithintheparkexceptforpartsoftheir shorelines, which form the park boundary. This access point is also the starting point for a canoe routethatliespartiallywithinthepark.
This would lead you to the deserted mill townofNicholson,thehomeoftheAustin-Nicolson LumberCompany,islocatedadjacenttothenorthernparkboundary,andthisisfeaturedonthecover ofRonBrown’s‘GhostTownsofOntario’–Volume Two.(IcanoedfromthisaccesstoreachNicholson.) Through the Adventure Map company, there is the Shoals Provincial Park &Area Map. It hasaninterestingmapdescription:“Stillrelatively unknown,andthereforequieterthanotherParks,it usedtobeanoperatingparkwithstaff,maintenance, a great lakeside serviced campground in a red pine forest, plus an extensive wilderness area of superb paddlingandhikingterrain…whichdoesn’tmeanit shouldbeavoided.Infact,it'snowevenquieterand moreremotethanbefore.”
Consideranovelcanoeadventure. “Foran addedtreat,paddlers,Cont’donP.8
Propane Refilling Station
ExploringOntario’sghostparks:Forgottenbeautyinthenorth
including their canoe or kayak, can easily travel here and back by train from Sudbury (3x each week).It'seasy.You'llgetoffandbackonthetrain right at Windermere Lake.” Or go to Canadian CanoeRoutes(free),there’sadetailedmapofsuch. SeetheVillageMediastoryonthetrain.
IfyouaretravellingbetweenChapleauand Wawa,putthisasastop,walkandswim.Thepicnic tablesremainatthebeach.
Future?
It doesn't mean these three parks can't reopen.TherewasFirstNationinterestintheearly years of the closure of these three parks. But it is nowalmostthirteentofourteenyearslater.
It is well known that an Ontario Parks comfortstationwithallthe“bellsandwhistles”of industrial equipment and the field bed, and all the water-related infrastructure challenges in a Park costsapproximatelytwomilliondollars.
Lake St. Peter Provincial Park
You would need to add new roads, an upgradetothewatersystemandallthetrimmings, along with staffing costs, staffing availability, which remains a challenge, and house these employeesatremotelocations. Thecostrecovery in opening or starting a new park may be costprohibitive.Itisashortcampingseasonbylatitude. Caseinpoint.
Thenewconceptof‘BigWind’Provincial Park, south of Huntsville and east of Bracebridge/Gravenhurst, will be the 116th operatingpark.
Minister David Piccini made the announcement on June 22, 2023, at a news conference. Hesaidthatthe1,967-hectareP.P. wouldbecomeanall-season,fullservice provincial park, the first oneinOntarioinover40years.
Oncecomplete,theparkis expected to add 250 campsites andupto25newcabinstotheOP system.
Other amenities may include a visitor centre, electric vehicle charging stations, electrified campsites, low-energy buildings, easy-to-access biking/walkingroutes,withwildlifefriendly planning and design in mind.
It was slated to open in 2026, but it remains in the planning and design stage. The specific cost for establishing the new operating park is not yet known.
Finally
ministryintheprioritypoliticalschemeofthings.
Sincethen(MinisterRodPhillips,June29, 2018),therehavebeenfive MECPministers,with thecurrentMinisterbeingToddMcCarthy.
Fulldisclosure,Iamonthe OntarioParks BoardofDirectorsandhaveservedseveralterms.It is a publicly appointed advisory board comprised ofagroupofvolunteers(nostipends)whoprovide independent advice and recommendations to the Ministeraboutplanning,managinganddeveloping Ontario Parks. Like most governance boards, it doesnotdelveintooperations.
One of my colleagues suggested, “Why don’t they leave the ghost parks to return to their natural state?” Well, that is happening, and they mayneveropenagain. Fornow,theyarethereto enjoy.
(Ihavetalkedaboutthisbefore,thevalueof theseasonaloryearOPpass.Notsureifyouneed oneforaclosedpark.Parksareforpeople.)
Go for a walk or bike ride in these three parks,haveapicnic,swim,andenjoythesolitude; they remain protected areas with a difference. Here’s the map of pertinent locations within these parks.
Funnything,becauseIhavestayedatthese parks, all the parks’ amenities remain well ensconced in my mind. Being there in a solitary time created a time warp of sorts.You can see the smiling faces, the trails and the water activities quiteclearly.
CHAPLEAUEXPRESS
Following the 2018 Ontario election on June 7, the Ministry's name was changed from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). It is a lower
Parks are happy places and are an integral part of my back roads’ life. What of Casper the FriendlyGhostanyway?
Parksarenotghostsafterall–ontheback roads.
BonnieandGwendolynne,tworetireesfromChapleau,enjoyingthesunnydayonLittleWawaLake