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Vol. 31, Issue 4, September 24, 2026
Chapleau Community Celebrates Kruger Big Assist Grand Prize Win
O
n Saturday September 19th, a cheque for $100,000 was presented to Chapleau Minor Hockey Association, the winners of the 2026 Kruger’s Big Assist Program, by Hayley Wickenheiser and representatives from Kruger Products. A well attended Long Term event as more than 150 Forecast community members, Thursday local leaders and High 19 dignitaries attended the Low 4 community celebraFriday tion. High 14 More than 85 Low 4 Saturday High 18 Low 6 Sunday High 15 Low 3 Monday High 14 Low 4 Tuesday High 16 Low 8
Chapleau Minor Hockey Association players participated in a special on-ice skate with fourtime Olympic gold medallist and Kruger Big Assist Ambassador Hayley Wickenheiser Kruger Products has contributed more than $1 million to support minor hockey associations across Canada, helping more Canadian children participate in the sport. Kruger Products, known for brands like Cashmere, Purex, Scotties, SpongeTowels, and Bonterra, is helping remove cost barriers for families interested in hockey through its program called the Kruger Big Assist. Since 2020, this national program has provided
Hayley Wickenheiser addressing the crowd
funding to local hockey groups and families so that more kids can get on the ice. Through the Kruger Big Assist, children gain confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. The Kruger Big Assist helps make hockey more affordable for families. Each year, Kruger Products invites people across Canada to nominate local minor hockey associations for funding to remove barriers like high registration fees, lack of equipment, or limited learn-to-play programs. For many families, even a few hundred dollars can decide Cont’d on P.2
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Chapleau Community Celebrates Kruger Big Assist Grand Prize Win Cont’d from P.1 whether a child gets on the ice or not, which is why the program focuses on directing support to communities that need it most. Over the past 6 years, the Kruger Big Assist has donated more than $1 million to over 50 hockey associations across Canada. This year, the program is giving another $200,000, with five minor hockey associations each receiving $25,000 and one grand prize winner
receiving an extra $75,000, chosen by public vote in April 2026. The program has helped more than 1,500 families get their kids on the ice over the past six years. Last year’s grand prize winner, the North Halton Girls Minor Hockey Association, used its $100,000 award to help families who needed financial support and to expand a leadership program for young female hockey players.
EXPLORE CANADA THIS WINTER
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, September 24, 2026 - Page 3
Electric washers, canoes, snowshoes, radios, coal, lumber, Chapleau 'Everything for Everybody' at Smith and Chapple
Moments
Michael J. Morris
From the archives of
Michael J. Morris September 3, 2015
Arthur Grout, one of Chapleau's best known citizens, had only one employer in his lifetime which was Smith and Chapple Ltd. In an article contained in the Richard Brownlee papers, loaned to me by Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin, Mr. Grout writes that D.T. Chapple asked his parents if he would like to learn the hardware business. His parents said "Yes"; he said "No" but he soon realized it was time for him to get a job.
Smith & Chapple staff party 1950s Charles W Collins
1) Ad Andrews, 2) Grenvill “Bud” Murray, grocery manager,
3) Bob Warren, 4) Earl Sootheran, 5) unkown, 6) D.O. Payette, 7) Norm Veit, 8) Joe Shannon, 9) Tom Godfrey Jr., 10) On March 30, 1916, Mr. Blanche Payette, 11) Dorothy Bain, 12) Zetta Murray, 13) Grout started work at Smith and Viola Nolan, 14) Helen Lapp, 15) Dick Lapp, 16) Gene Chapple Ltd. "The miracle of it is Bernier, 17) Ted Soucie, 18) Keith (Mac) Macdonal, 19) Fred that this is the only job I ever had. Mathers. (AJ Grout Photo) I say miracle because when I think of the way I did things in However, they decided to sell radios in those early days it's a miracle that I wasn't fired the store and eventually carried most major immediately ..." brands. Sharing some of the history of the retail As an aside, Mr. Collins became business in Chapleau, Mr. Grout noted that the Chapleau's other major retailer, purchasing the store was the first to sell "electric washers" in Chapleau and "I really think I have done a Alex Langis share of Langis and Wolfe, and washing in half the homes in Chapleau changing the name to Wolfe and Collins in 1928. demonstrating how the old wooden tub washers According to Vince Crichton in 'Pioneering in Cont’d on P.4 worked." After World War I ended in 1918, trappers and First Nations people were "plentifully supplied with money from the fur sales and it was nothing for a trapper to make from three to five thousand dollars from his winter's work and they way they bought canoes, tents, snowshoes, traps, etc., was a salesman's dream." He wrote that radio "started as a novelty item about 1923 and it grew into something big". On the side he had been "playing around with these contraptions" with Charles W. Collins "but the work grew so much that I had to consider Reeve Bubs Zufelt and Art Grout as Rotary going after it seriously or dropping it." (I assume Smith and Chapple store 1948 Club Chefs they were working on making radios)
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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, September 24, 2026 - Page 4
Chapleau Moments Cont’d from P.3 Northern Ontario', it became Collins and Matters in 1934, and by 1940, had become Charles W. Collins Stores Ltd. Despite being business competitors Mr. Grout and Mr. Collins served together to assist the community such as the board of Lady Minto Hospital and St. John's Anglican Church. They both were very active community supporters. Mr. Grout also noted that working hours had improved by the 1930s. When he first started they came to work at seven a.m. and worked every other night until eight p.m. with eleven p.m. being closing time On Saturday. By the 1930s store hours were eight a.m. to 6:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays. However, in the summer the store
closed at noon on Wednesdays. In 1930, Mr. Grout and D.O. Payette took over the store with Mr. Payette as president, and Mr. Grout as vice president. The Great Depression started and it was not the best time to be taking over a business. Mr. Grout outlined their situation. The general offices of the Canadian Pacific Railway were moved which was their "first blow" Then business steadily got worse as operators, section men and the B and B workers were reduced. Lumber offices moved and highway work was stopped and "it seemed like Job and his troubles had nothing on us." But they survived. "They say that necessity is the mother of invention and it must be
First instalment: so for during September 30,those 2026depressing days we cast about Stoetry c o and n d find i n s some t a l mmeans e n t : to help bolster up the business." November 30, 2026. Coal was added and became a major product sold by the store. They became involved in the tourist business and took up contracting, doing home renovations, and as a result adding lumber and other products. They also started selling gasoline. Eventually, the Smith and Chapple logo became "Everything for Everybody" and as I read Mr. Grout's article, It struck me that as boy growing up in Chapleau, it sure seemed they had "everything". In fact I worked in the men's wear, furniture, grocery and service station part-time while attending high school and university. Mr. Grout added that he and Mr. Payette had tried to maintain the firm's hard won reputation of "fair dealing, good quality and good service." In 1987, Smith and Chapple Ltd. became Chapleau Village
Superior East CFDC Celebrates Community Futures Week, September 21 – 27, 2026 Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation (SECFDC), a nonprofit organization serving the Superior East region, is joining CFDCs across Ontario to celebrate Community Futures Week from
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NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS The instalment due dates for the 2026 final tax billing are as follows: First instalment: September 30, 2026 Second instalment: November 30, 2026. AVIS AUX CONTRIBUABLES DE TAXES Les dates d'échéance des versements pour la facturation finale de l'impôt de 2026 sont les suivantes : Premier versement : 30 septembre 2026 Deuxième versement : 30 novembre 2026. L. Jones Treasurer/Tax Collector Trésorier/Percepteur
September 21 to 27, 2026. The week recognizes the accomplishments of the Community Futures program and its role in helping rural communities through small business financing and regional economic development services. To celebrate this week, Community Futures Ontario is offering free virtual sessions with practical information and resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses, sharing stories from across Ontario, and highlighting the impact of the Community Futures Program. Please visit the following site for more information: https://www.cfontario.ca/cfweek. Each CFDC is governed by a local volunteer board whose members live in the region they serve. Working together, Superior East CFDC’s experienced board and team provide one-on-one counselling and financial assistance to local entrepreneurs, including loans of up to $750,000. Across Ontario, CFDCs invested $328.9 million in small business loans in 2025–2026. Superior East CFDC has approved $815,500 in regional loans so far this year and, since its inception, has approved $32.1 million in loans that have affected a total of 3,090 jobs in the region. Superior East CFDC is proud to support local businesses through personalized guidance and financing. Beyond its loan programs, Superior East CFDC offers a Community Development Fund for local non-profit organizations undertaking projects with an economic impact. For information about this funding option, contact Heidi Trudeau at trudeau@superioreastcfdc.ca. Superior East CFDC also administers the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) in the region, which helps local employers support employees who are applying
for permanent residence. For more information, contact program coordinator Stephen Dufour at dufour@superioreastcfdc.ca. To apply for a loan program, contact Tracy Amos at amos@superioreastcfdc.ca or Cathy Ward at cward@superioreastcfdc.ca. Applications for all programs are available in both official languages at www.superioreastcfdc.ca. You may also visit the office at 14 Ganley Street in Wawa. For general inquiries, contact Margaret Davidson at davidson@superioreastcfdc.ca, call 705-8561105, or call toll-free at 1-800-387-5776, ext. 221. The Superior East CFDC is supported by FedNor.
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, September 24, 2026 - Page 5
Ontario Helping More Family Doctors Learn and Stay in the Province Province opening applications for expanded Ontario Learn and Stay Grant with $220 million investment to support more than 2,000 future family doctors First launched in spring 2023, the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant covers the cost of tuition, books and other direct educational costs for students in nursing, paramedic and medical laboratory technology/science programs in highneed areas of the province who commit to working in the region where they studied after graduation. In 2024, the government announced an $88 million expansion of the OLSG program to train 1,360 future family doctors in exchange for these students agreeing to practice family medicine in any community across Ontario upon graduation. Today, the government announced applications are now open for this expanded program, with an increased investment of $220 million to support four cohorts of future family doctors, totalling more than 2,000 medical students. “Today’s announcement builds on the bold action our government has taken to expand medical education and train the next generation of health-care professionals,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By expanding the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to include family medicine, we are taking the next step in ensuring Ontario has the world-class health-care workforce it needs for years to come.” The expanded program could help up to 2 million people become or remain attached to primary care based on average Take advantage of our BOOST attachment rates for family doctors. While Ontario continues in online traffic! to lead the country with nearly 90 per cent of people connected to a Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, people have increasingly turned to their local newspapers for reliable primary care provider, the information. In just a few weeks, the number of readers of our province has set clear goals in its digital version of the newspaper has increased by 55%. Primary Care Action Plan to WE ARE REACHING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER BEFORE! connect every person to a family If you want to benefit from this doctor or primary care team by surge in web traffic, 2029. NOW’S THE TIME TO ADVERTISE. “Thank you to the Ontario Government for this important investment in the next generation of family physicians in the province,” said Dr. John Email us with your needs at Yoo, Dean of Schulich School of chaexpress@sympatico.ca Medicine & Dentistry, Western or call us at 705-864-4376 University. “This support is THANK YOU FOR YOUR critical to improving access to CONTINUED SUPPORT! primary care for people across
The Ontario government has opened applications for the new Ontario Learn and Stay Grant - Medical Education (OLSG-ME) program to help more than 2,000 Ontario medical students studying to become family doctors and practice in the province. Backed by a $220 million investment, the Ontario government’s new OLSG stream will cover the undergraduate medical school tuition, books and other direct education costs for postgraduate medical students if they commit to working as family doctors anywhere in Ontario for a minimum of five years after graduation. “Ontario’s family doctors provide the high-quality and compassionate care that keep our families and communities healthy,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “By breaking down financial barriers for our province’s next generation of family doctors, we are strengthening Ontario’s pipeline of highly skilled physicians, ensuring everyone can access the care they need, when and where they need it.”
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Ontario. Western is proud to play a leading role in training future family doctors. We are committed to ensuring our medical students and residents have meaningful opportunities to learn and train in rural and regional communities, strengthening the physician workforce and improving access to high-quality care across Southwestern Ontario.” Students can learn more at the Ontario Learn and Stay - Medical Education webpage. In order to be eligible for the OLSG-ME program, students must be enrolled in a postgraduate family medicine residency program at an Ontario medical school. The four cohorts of students covered by this investment will begin their residency between July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030. Through the Ontario 2025 budget, the government invested $261.7 million into the Ontario Learn and Stay program to continue supporting nurses, paramedics, and medical lab techs who commit to working in high need regions of the province. To date, the Ontario government has invested more than $182 million through OLSG to fund the education of 13,300 future nurses, paramedics and medical lab technologists in high need areas of the province. The government is investing in the largest medical school education expansion in more than a decade by adding 340 undergraduate seats and 551 postgraduate medical residency positions by 2028-29, representing a 67 per cent increase in family medicine learners. In July 2026, the Ontario government announced $55.8 million to support the planning and operations of York University’s new School of Medicine, the first medical school in Ontario that is focused on training family doctors. As part of the government’s historic $6.4 billion postsecondary funding model, the province is investing $1.7 billion to fund 70,000 seats in key, labour-market driven sectors including 16,100 more seats in health care programs.
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CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, September 24, 2026 - Page 6
Last weeks solutions MOMENTS IN TIME On Oct. 8, 1957, a piano-thumping, bible-school dropout named Jerry Lee Lewis gave the music world what would become the definitive version of "Great Balls of Fire" for Sun Records. Hours into the session, Lewis began arguing with the label's head, Sam Phillips, that the song was "too sinful" for him to record, but Phillips prevailed and the tune quickly became Lewis' second smash hit, after "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, September 24, 2026 - Page 7
Les élèves du CSC Nouvelon célébreront la Journée des Franco-Ontariennes et des Franco-Ontariens à la 12e année à l’école secondaire catholique Champlain (Chelmsford) dans le cadre du festival Franco-Requins. Le festival sera marqué par le lever du drapeau franco-ontarien à 12 h. À Val Thérèse, les élèves de la maternelle à la 8e année de l’école catholique Notre-Place se rassembleront avec enthousiasme devant l’école dès 9 h 20 afin de démontrer leur identité francophone et leur esprit communautaire lors d’un tintamarre. Pour la communauté scolaire de l’école Saint-Joseph (Blind River), les célébrations de la Journée des Franco-Ontariennes et des FrancoOntariens débuteront à 10 h dans la cour de l’école. À 11 h, les classes d’éducation spécialisée de l’école secondaire catholique l’Horizon (Val Caron) participeront à la cérémonie du lever du drapeau franco-ontarien de l’organisme Intégration communautaire Grand Sudbury à Blezard Valley. À l’école Notre-Dame-du-Sault (SaultSte-Marie), les élèves et le personnel scolaire du palier élémentaire se rendront au Centre civique dès 11 h afin de participer aux activités communautaires organisées par le Centre francophone de Sault-Ste-Marie. Par la suite, les familles de NotreDame-du-Sault pourront se joindre aux célébrations lors d’un pique-nique scolaire sous le Pavillon Roberta Bondar. Pour leur part, les élèves du secondaire feront une cérémonie du lever du drapeau et des activités de construction identitaire à l’école préparées par le Parlement des élèves. À l’école St-Dominique (Sudbury), la communauté scolaire participera à une multitude d’activités de construction identitaire au cours de la journée. À 12 h, tous les élèves et les membres du personnel se rassembleront dans le gymnase pour assister à une présentation animée par les élèves de la 7e année sur l’historique et l’importance du drapeau franco-ontarien. Par la suite, la chorale de l’école interprétera une variété de chansons francophones, dont « Franco-O » de Rodney Meilleur. Les élèves et le personnel de l’école catholique FélixRicard (Sudbury) témoigneront de leur fierté franco-ontarienne lors d’un tintamarre de 13 h 30 à 14 h. 705-864-4376
La Journée des Franco-Ontariennes et des Franco-Ontariens sera célébrée en grand dans les écoles du Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon le vendredi 25 septembre. Plusieurs élèves, familles et membres du personnel participeront à des activités dynamiques à l’école ou dans la communauté afin de rendre hommage à la vitalité de la francophonie ontarienne. Voici un aperçu des activités identitaires prévues dans les écoles du CSC Nouvelon. Les représentants des médias sont invités à y assister. Les élèves de la 9e à la 12e année du Collège Notre-Dame (Sudbury) débuteront la journée à 8 h 30 avec une cérémonie du lever du drapeau franco-ontarien. De plus, un groupe d’élèves de l’école vivra une expérience enrichissante axée sur le leadership et la francophonie à l’Université de Sudbury à compter de 9 h 30. Cette activité, organisée conjointement par l’ACFO du Grand Sudbury et l’Université de Sudbury, culminera avec une cérémonie du lever du drapeau franco-ontarien communautaire à 11 h. De 9 h 15 à 12 h 15, les élèves de la 5e à la 8e année de l’école Ste-Marie (Azilda), l’école Alliance St-Joseph (Chelmsford) et l’école StÉtienne (Dowling) se joindront aux élèves de la 9e
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À Chapleau, les élèves de la maternelle à la 6e année de l’école Sacré-Cœur et les élèves de la 7e à la 12e année de l’école secondaire catholique Trillium célébreront l’occasion avec le Centre culturel Louis Hémon et l’Alliance des francophones engagés de Chapleau. Dès 13 h 45, les élèves feront un tintamarre de leur école respective jusqu’au Pavillon Rotary afin d’assister à une cérémonie du drapeau franco-ontarien avec les membres de la communauté. Les élèves de la maternelle à la 8e année de l’école St-Denis (Sudbury) marcheront dans la cour d’école ou le quartier avoisinant pour parader dans leurs habits verts et blancs à compter de 14 h. La communauté scolaire de l’école NotreDame de la Merci (Coniston) exprimera haut et fort son esprit franco-ontarien lors d’un tintamarre qui débutera à 14 h. Vêtus de vert et de blanc, les élèves de l’école St-Joseph (Sudbury) participeront à une fête dansante de 14 h à 14 h 30 pour bouger sur le rythme de leurs chansons francophones préférées.
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Your Propane Refilling Station
705-864-0781 Northern Lights Ford Sales Andrew G. McKenzie Travis Gendron Highway 17 North P.O. Box 1033 Wawa, ON. P0S 1K0 Business 705-856-2775 Fax 705-856-4862 tgendron@northernlightsford.ca sales@northernlightsford.ca
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, September 24, 2026 - Page 8
La SADC Supérieur Est célèbre la Semaine du développement des collectivités, du 21 au 27 septembre 2026 La Société d’aide au développement des collectivités Supérieur Est (SADC Supérieur Est), un organisme sans but lucratif qui dessert la région de Supérieur Est, se joint aux SADC de partout en Ontario pour célébrer la Semaine du développement des collectivités du 21 au 27 septembre 2026. Cette semaine souligne les réalisations du Programme de développement des collectivités et son rôle dans le soutien aux collectivités rurales grâce au financement des petites entreprises et aux services de développement économique régional. Chaque SADC est dirigée par un conseil d’administration bénévole local dont les membres résident dans la région desservie.
Ensemble, le conseil d’administration programme de prêts, communiquez avec Tracy expérimenté et l’équipe de la SADC Supérieur Amos à amos@superioreastcfdc.ca ou Cathy Est offrent aux entrepreneurs locaux des ser- Ward à cward@superioreastcfdc.ca. Les vices-conseils personnalisés et une aide formulaires de demande pour tous les financière, notamment des prêts pouvant programmes sont disponibles dans les deux atteindre 750 000 $. Dans l’ensemble de langues officielles à www.superioreastcfdc.ca. l’Ontario, les SADC ont investi 328,9 millions Vous pouvez également vous rendre au bureau de dollars en prêts aux petites entreprises en situé au 14, rue Ganley, à Wawa. Pour toute 2025-2026. Jusqu’à présent cette année, la demande de renseignements généraux, SADC Supérieur Est a approuvé 815 500 $ en communiquez avec Margaret Davidson à prêts régionaux et, depuis sa création, elle a davidson@superioreastcfdc.ca, composez le approuvé 32,1 millions de dollars en prêts qui ont 705-856-1105 ou, sans frais, le 1-800-387-5776, eu une incidence sur un total de 3 090 emplois poste 221. dans la région. La S A D C The man who stops advertising Supérieur Est est fière d’appuyer les entreprises locales grâce à un to save money accompagnement personnalisé is like the man who stops the clock et à du financement. to save time. En plus de ses programmes de prêts, la SADC - Thomas Jeferson Supérieur Est offre un Fonds de développement communautaire aux organismes locaux sans but lucratif qui réalisent des projets ayant des retombées Start advertising your products and services this week économiques. Pour obtenir des to reach over 1700 readers. renseignements sur cette option de financement, communiquez Contact your media representative today! avec Heidi Trudeau à tru705-864-4376 deau@superioreastcfdc.ca. La SADC Supérieur Est administre également le Programme pilote d’immigration dans les communautés francophones (PPICF) dans la région, qui aide les employeurs locaux à soutenir les employés qui présentent une demande de résidence permanente. Pour en savoir plus, communiquez avec le coordonnateur du programme, Stephen Dufour, à dufour@ superioreastcfdc.ca. Pour présenter une demande dans le cadre d’un
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