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APRIL 04

T H E S W O R D Volume 14 Issue 05 MAY 2017

http://www.champlainseniors.ca

Pause for Thought – Rick Beyers, spoke on the state of politics in Ontario as reported by Rex Murphy, CBC News Analyst. Murphy discusses many of the issues such as

Provincial Leadership, hydro rates, cutting of hydro to homes, government funding in the Auto Sector etc. and all the problems being experienced in these areas. He opines that “Surely some superior dark force has a hold on Ontario.”

MASTER OF CEREMONIES - DAVID GODWARD David enlightened us with some

jokes that we haven’t heard before to much laughter. Our old friend Bill Price would have called a few “marginal”.

SPEAKER-RAY HAYHURST- MY LIFE SO FAR Ray started by telling us “I expect that in

this room, I may be in a group that is a minority. The minority is people who have lived in Orillia their whole life.” He said “he was grateful for all of you who have moved here over the years or for retirement. It would be a small community without you.” Ray went on to say that there are a few members of the club who had a positive influence on who he is today, namely Brian Pounder, a good friend, and Blair Ashmore who was one of his first teachers at ODCVI. Ray also noted that with the mentoring of Mel Greer and Clayton Parnaby, he went on to obtain his accounting degree, Registered Industrial Accountant (RIA), which later became Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He is now a Life Member Chartered Professional Accountant-(CPA).

WRITER - THIS ISSUE – ROGER LIPPERT

Rick Beyers

David Godward and the Choir

And the MusicMakers Made Music

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Ray was married to Gayle for 48 years prior to her passing four months ago. Ray has two sons, Ian and Rob. The sons have provided Ray with three grand-daughters and two grand-sons. Ray is very proud of his family. Antique cars have been a hobby of his for many years. He has volunteered for ten years on the Board of Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, and was a Founding Director and treasurer of North Simcoe Victims Crisis Service, as well as volunteer positions with Antique Car Clubs. His employment included Royal Bank for five years, and Canada Wood Specialty Co. Ltd for six years. He eventually went to work for Orillia Water, Light & Power Commission as Accountant and retired as General Manager & Secretary-Treasurer in 1998. After retiring Ray replied to an advertisement for a director’s position, was selected and holds that position at this time 45 years after he was hired as an accountant. Ray was then presented his permanent membership name badge.

MASTER OF CEREMONIES – HAL TAYLOR.

A TRIBUTE TO CANADIANS WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE President Mike Jones opened the meeting Welcoming guests Councillor Ted Emond and a Representative from the Hon. Bruce Stanton’s office who brought his greetings. Hal welcomed the guests who would be taking part in the Vimy Ridge presentation; namely John Winchester and Jim Watt. John Winchester, son-in law of Brian Pounder, made a very detailed presentation on the events leading up to Vimy Ridge as well as the battle itself. John briefly reviewed Canada’s position within the British Empire in early 1900’s. Basically Canada was a colony. The Battle took place from April 9-

12, 1917 and was composed of the Canadian Corps of four divisions

against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle was part of the opening phase of the British led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive. The success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge is attributed to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training as well the failure of the German defensive doctrine. When the war broke out 33,000 Canadian men volunteered in the first month. Bill Winchester, John’s Grandfather, was one of those volunteers. Upon enlistment they were given a physical and one of the parameters that could get them declared unfit was chest expansion. Many of the volunteers were in their late

teens and early twenties. Lord Kitchener wanted to break up the Canadian Corps and blend them into the British forces; however Colonel Sam Hughes objected. As a result the

Canadian Corps

Ray Hayhurst Receives his Permanent Badge

Carl Black with WW1 Memorabilia

Large Audience in the Vimy Room

John Winchester - Vimy Presentation

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were able to fight as a unit. Vimy Ridge was one of the most heavily defended German positions. The formal assault plan adopted in early March 1917 drew heavily on the briefings of staff officers (Canadian Commander Arthur Currie was in this contingent) sent to learn from the experiences of the French Army during the Battle of Verdun. The report of 1st Canadian Division Commander Currie highlighted the lessons he believed the Canadian Corps could learn from the experiences of the French. Training played a role in preparation for this battle. The Canadian Corps practiced (simulated) their role in the offensive. (I don’t believe that has been done since, in a war of that magnitude.) The British General Staff released a training pamphlet “Instructions for the Training of Platoons for Offensive action.” Along with Commander Currie’s reports the Canadian Corps embraced the tactical change. The training emphasized the importance of hand grenade, rifle grenade and machine gun sections in suppressing enemy strong points and also was based on every member of a platoon learning the positions other than their own up to and including command should a commander be lost to enemy fire. This was new for this time. REMEMBERING ORILLIA’S FALLEN - Jim Watt Jim noted that in the annuls of Simcoe County and City of Orillia a local regiment called the Grey and Simcoe Foresters regiment

was organized in 1866 to defend against the Fenian raids and later earned their battle honours during the North West Rebellion in 1885. At the start of the First World War citizens of Simcoe County decided to recruit one company as part of the new 157 Battalion, Grey and Simcoe Foresters. C Company from the Orillia area quickly filled its recruitment quota. However, the 157 Battalion would never fight together as a unit. Men from the 157th Battalion were to provide reinforcements for units destroyed by the heavy casualties created by trench warfare. Men from the 157th Battalion went to various battalions fighting in the trenches on the Western Front. The bulk joined the 1st battalion Canadian

Mounted Rifles and the 116th Battalion, and the balance to nine different units. Six young men from the Orillia area died bravely in

this important battle. They were: Pte. William Arthur Ansdell - One of the older enlistees, at age 32, William stood just five foot three inches tall.(minimum height for enlistment) Ansdell was born in Georgetown on June 9, 1883. His family moved to Orillia and resided there from 1901-1911. He then moved to Hamilton in 1911. On Aug. 9, 1915 he enlisted with the 92nd Battalion, 48th Highlanders and disembarked in England May 29, 1916. Transferring to the 42nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, as reinforcement, he landed in France Aug. 28, 1916. He was married in 1916. Fighting on the first day of the attack on Vimy Ridge, April 9, Ansdell died in the assault at age 34. He was the only Vimy casualty from Orillia that was married. Pte. Robert Allen Burton- Burton at age 18 enlisted on Feb. 1, 1916. After training at Camp Borden, he arrived in Bramshot Camp in England on Nov. 28. 1916. He joined the 1st Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 3rd Division, at the front on Dec. 2, 1916. On April 12, 1917 the fourth day of the attack on Vimy Ridge, Burton died on the battlefield at age 19. He is buried at Bois-Carre Cemetery, located on Vimy Ridge, near the village of Thelus. Cpl Francis Cooney- The Cooney family originated in Mara Township and lived in Orillia for 15 years before moving to Edmonton. Cooney attended Orillia Separate School and Orillia Collegiate. After schooling he worked as a ticket agent at the CPR station in Orillia. He then moved to Montreal to work as a telegraph operator for the Grand Trunk Railway. He enlisted in Montreal on Feb. 15, 1915. Cooney went overseas on July 18, 1915 where he trained at Bramshot Camp. On Aug. 9, 1916 he was sent to France where he transferred to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles and later the 87th Battalion Canadian Grenadier Guards of

Hal Taylor as MC of the Vimy Tribute

Jim Watt - Remembering Orillia's Fallen

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Montreal. Cooney died in action on April 9, 1917 at the age of 24 and is buried in the Canadian Cemetery No.2 near the village of Saint-Vaast, near Vimy Ridge. Pte. Andrew Durnford -The Durnford family lived in Coldwater and attended Coldwater Methodist Church. Andrew was born April12, 1897, and enlisted on Feb. 7, 1916 at the age of 18 years and 8 months. He went to England on Oct. 28, 1916, where he trained at Bramshot Camp. While at Bramshot he and many other members of the 157 Battalion, Grey and Simcoe Foresters, were transferred to the 1st Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles. He arrived at the front in France on Dec. 2, 1916. Durnford died three days before his 20th birthday on April 9, 1917 during the first of the attack on Vimy Ridge. Pte. Thomas Charles Kennard-Thomas was born in England in 1897. He was a “Barnardo boy” who at the age of 10 journeyed across the Atlantic by himself to Portland, Maine on March 23, 1908. He later lived and

worked on the McDougal farm in Gamebridge until 1912. The McDougals retired and moved to Orillia as did Thomas. He studied and received his high school diploma and later a further diploma from George McKee’s Business College. On Jan. 26, 1916 he enlisted with the 157 Grey and Simcoe Regiment at the age of 18. Thomas went overseas April 14, 1916. He transferred to the 4th Battailion Canadian Mounted Rifles on June 28, 1916. He was wounded in battle on Oct. 14, 1916 and rejoined his unit on Oct. 24, 1916.He died at the age of 19, on the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Pte. James Henry Pearsall-James was born Sept. 29, 1897. He grew up on a farm near Mitchell Square. He attended Secondary School No. 8 Oro and Barrie Collegiate. He joined the Merchants Bank in Orillia in 1914. James joined the 177th Battalion of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, March 6, 1916.

The 177th battalion was formed when the 157th Battalion exceeded its official strength. He went overseas to France in

November 1916. Like many other Orillians in the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, he transferred to the 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, when the local regiment was broken up to provide reinforcements to other battalions. James died on the day of the attack on Vimy Ridge. He is buried in Bois-Carre Cemetery. Champlain Seniors who had

relatives who fought in The First World War are as follows:

Kirk Thornton, father enlisted in 1916

Dr. Bill Zufelt, father, Medical Corps stretcher bearer at Vimy and Ypres. John Wallinger, father, machine gunner was gassed in the war. Bob Ballantyne, father recruited by Major McCrae 43rd Howitzer battery, Somme, Vimy and Passchendaele.

Sicotte Hamilton, father was at Vimy. As a member of Champlain Seniors and having heard many presentations I believe this has to be the most comprehensive and well organized I have heard. A big “well done” to Hal Taylor and his Team. R.L.

Act of Remembrance at the Memorial Monument

Champlain Seniors and Guests at the Remembrance Ceremony

Toni Lisi and Cliff Scott Prepared Steaks and Chicken

for BBQ Lunch

IN MEMORIAM – Leo Huffman Leo Huffman (Retired from the Great Atlantic and Pacific Co., after 46 years; Member of the Knights of Columbus and Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #34, Orillia, Past Chairman of the Fund-raising Committee of Guardian Angels Church; Past President of St. Vincent de Paul Society; Past Member of the Simcoe County Separate School Board. On April 11, 2017 at Hillcrest Village, Midland, in his 95th year. Full obituary at Mundell Funeral Home. http://www.mundellfuneralhome.com/notice.asp?msg=Y&id=3416

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APRIL 18 Pause For Thought-Brian Hoover. Brian spoke of his time in Florida working for Habitat for Humanity and building

houses. He likened the team work and leadership he experienced there to what he sees in Champlain Seniors Service Club, many very capable people and leaders. MASTER OF CEREMONIES- PAT VERNER. Pat told a few stories, some of which were kind of groaners and others that were new. Potpourri-Joe Ciesielski, Joe spoke of mining in Canada. Mining dates back 1000 years to 1017 when Norsemen dug iron ore in what is now Newfoundland. In 1883 when the CPR railway was laying track through Sudbury they discovered copper and nickel. This led to further discoveries of Silver at Cobalt, Gold at Kirkland Lake, Timmins and Noranda. Joe’s father was a miner and Joe

thought he also wanted to be a miner however his diminutive size didn’t bode well for him. Joe worked in mining engineering for over 50 years. Joe also spoke of the differences in equipment when he started in engineering compared to today; for instance lifts taking men down went from 10 man buckets to 10 man cages and now 300 men lifts. Also Skips for hauling ore were 40 cubic ft. then compared to 1600 cubic ft. now. Joe having worked for various mining equipment manufacturing companies said that while he never got to be a miner he did work to make it safer. SPEAKER-RUSTY DRAPER- a former Radio personality was born and raised in Gravenhurst. He said that growing up school was a torture and he despised every day. He was dyslexic, failed grade 2 and was finally

promoted to Grade 3 on probation. He failed grades 2, 6, 9 and 10 twice. He said Dyslexia haunted him all his younger years. He entered a talent show playing his guitar and singing, when someone suggested he should be a radio announcer. He thought that sounded pretty good and at age 19 applied to CKAR in Huntsville for an announcer position. There were 5 applying and he got the job. He said “I can’t imagine how bad the other four must have been.” He had the position of newsman which required him to read the news (a big problem). He said he would read and memorize the news items and then ad lib the news on air. The station manager came one day and said he was so good at ad-libing that he gave him his own show. Eventually he went to CJRN in Niagara Falls and later to CFOR in Orillia. He indicated his experience in Orillia was very meaningful to him

as it was really community radio. He also told many humorous stories that took place in the various radio studios where he worked. He said

that on Feb. 2, 1983 on the way to work one morning he heard on the police scanner of a car stopped with a woman about to deliver a baby. The car was in the area he was traveling; he saw the car, stopped and assisted an OPP officer to deliver the baby. Last year he received a Facebook message from Warsaw, Indiana, asking if he was a radio announcer. He responded that he was and exchanged information only to find out this man was the baby he helped deliver 34 years ago. He hasn’t been in radio for 30 years, yet people still remember his by-line ”Put the kettle on honey I’m coming home”.

Brian Hoover

Warren Doner Receives Life Membership

Pat Verner as MC with the Choir and MusicMakers

Rusty Draper

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He has since become a Minister. He said alcohol had become a big problem for him and on Feb. 27, 1977 he was reading book which caused him to commit his life to the Lord. He hasn’t had a drink in 40 years.

Pause For Thought- John Smalley. John asked, if we ever thought of how some of our common sayings came about?

Taken literally many of them don’t make sense. To mention a few examples, we say “Thank You” and expect the response of “You’re Welcome.” Today however the reply for those under 25 is “no problem”. Expression: “Bite The Bullet” meaning: accepting something difficult or unpleasant. History tells us that during battle when emergency surgery was required without anesthesia the patient was given a bullet and told to bite it in an attempt to distract him from pain. Expression: “Saved By The Bell” meaning; Rescued from an unwanted situation. As scary as it sounds, being buried alive was once a common occurrence. People

who feared succumbing to such a fate were buried in special coffins that connected to a bell above ground. At night, guards listened for any bells in case they had to dig up a living person and save them “by the bell.”

Tribute to Dick Sleep - By Barry Keen. Dick was born Charles Richard Sleep in Lindsay on May 21, 1940. He was named Richard after a great Uncle and grandfather and was affectionately known as Dickie 3. He graduated from Lindsay Collegiate Institute in 1957. He later enlisted in the Navy. Dick learned an electrical trade and traveled extensively around the Atlantic Ocean. After discharge from the Navy Dick eventually applied for and was employed by the OPP, where he remained for 28 years. During his time with the OPP he met and married his wife Ann and subsequently had three children, two girls and a boy. Upon retirement from the OPP Dick worked for the Orillia Police Service as a court officer for one year. He then started his own courier service and later worked for the Gaming Commission and MDS Labs. Volunteerism has been a big part of his life as he still drives for Meals on Wheels and volunteers at OSMH. MASTER OF CERMONIES- BOB BALLANTYNE. Bob said his theme was “Old”, Old songs, old jokes and old fellows. Bob told his stories as only he can do and received a lot of laughs in the process. As part of Bob’s program he had Joe

Ciesielski play a

tune. As usual Joe told his usually corny jokes before he played.

SPEAKER - JOHN MORRISON - MY LIFE SO FAR John started his presentation by saying “I failed over and over again”. He paid homage to parents and ancestors. They made many sacrifices so that he might have better opportunities and a more rewarding life. He has been married to Heather for 41 years and his proudest accomplishment is his two daughters. He said he failed Grade 1 and also failed to make any sports teams until Grade 6; however, he kept trying. He graduated from University of Toronto in 1977 with a BPHE. While trying to establish a working career he taught school on contract, worked at the Durham YMCA as a coordinator of day camps and youth programs and was

John Smalley

Dick Sleep and Barry Keen

Bob Ballantyne as MC with the Choir

Joe Ciesielski with Flannigan's Polka

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a fitness leader and coordinator for the City of Oshawa. He also worked for Toronto Fire Service for 9 years on the truck plus teaching first aid and CPR at the Training Academy. He taught Wood Shop Construction and Cabinet Making for 7 years at a Vocational school. He became a Vice Principal and later a Principal at Anderson VCI in Whitby. He has worked with kids who have come from less than stellar backgrounds. His Development of the Culture of Peace has made a difference in kid’s lives. John has received 2006 YMCA Peace Medallion, 2007 Canada’s Outstanding Principal by The Learning Partnership and 2008 Harmony Movement Leader in Education Award. John has worked for York University, Ontario Federation of Independent Schools and PEI Department of Education coordinating and developing Leadership Programs for Administrators, teachers and future school leaders. Today John owns with a partner Canadian Heritage Woodwork where they finish, refurbish, and restore old furniture etc. and salvage and use old barn wood. He thanked his sponsors for introducing him to Champlain Seniors Service Club and the membership for making him feel at home. He closed his presentation with Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom. “After climbing a great hill, one only finds there are more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.” President Mike Jones presented John with his permanent Membership Badge.

DATE EVENT CONTACT

TUESDAY, MAY 30

LAST MEETING OF THE MONTH. PLEASE BRING A DONATION FOR THE FOOD BANK TO THE MEETING.

Ross Ferguson

THURSDAY JUNE 08

GUYS and DOLLS STRATFORD FESTIVAL

LUXURY COACH and LUNCH INCLUDED, WIVES AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME.

TICKETS; $139.00 EACH, TAX INCLUDED.

Fayne Bullen

SUNDAY NIGHTS FROM

JUNE 18

SUNDAY NIGHT BAND CONCERTS AT COUCHICHING

BEACH PARK. STARTING SUNDAY JUNE 18 AND RUNNING FOR 10 WEEKS

Pat Verner

TUESDAY JULY 04

LADIES’ SUMMER LUNCHEON CELEBRATING CANADA'S 150TH BIRTHDAY

COFFEE SOCIAL 9:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. MEETING AND PROGRAM 10:00 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M.

LUNCH SERVED AT 12:00 NOON WIVES AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME. TICKETS; $30.00

Barry Keen

Note: If you have any upcoming events, Tag Days, Community Events, Club Events coming up anytime in 2017, send the information to the Editor to have them advertised here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

President Mike Jones Presents John Morrison with His

Membership Badge

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PAUSE FOR THOUGHT (Rick Beyers) MASTER OF CEREMONIES (Pat Verner) May 02 Jim Graham May 02 Rick Beyers May 09 Jack Allen May 09 Tony Lisi May 16 Hal Taylor May 16 Peter Van Kessel May 23 Roger Lippert May 23 Ed Nevala May 30 Dave Austin May 30 Jack Allen POTPOURRI (Fayne Bullen) TRIBUTE (Fayne Bullen)

(Jim McAdams)

May 04 Jean Watkins May 13 Al Hockin May 15 Brian Leach May 05 Maureen Scott May 14 Dennis Hollands May 16 Pauline Spencer May 08 Jean Grant May 14 Frank Skelton May 18 Cliff Spurgeon May 11 Clayton French May 14 May Skelton May 27 Barry Keen

(Jim McAdams)

May 11 Brian and Vivian Pounder May 20 Charles and Nancy Kelly

May 12 Everet and Marilyn Rayburn May 24 Bob and Pauline Burns

May 15 Brian and Muriel Leach May 30 John and Ann Bobyk

May 16 Alan and Lynne Scott May 31 John and Ellen Sheepway

May 18 Ross and Duggan Ferguson

(Rae Hutt, Dave Godward and John Smalley)

MAY 02 John Bouchard – My Life So Far

MAY 09 Canada's New Official Bird- The Gray Jay- Bob Bowles

MAY 16 Orillia Soldiers in WW 1 - Bruce McRae

MAY 23 An Exciting Part of My Life- Bob Gauldie

MAY 30 Organ Donation & Transplants - Margot Crowder Davidson & Deanna Peacock

Note: If you do not get the Bulletin by email by the weekend after the last meeting of the month, go to the web site to download it. The Champlain Seniors Web Site is http://www.champlainseniors.ca

William Leslie – Editor - w.leslie@rogers.com

MAY BIRTHDAYS

DAILY PROGRAM

GUEST SPEAKERS

MAY ANNIVERSARIES AAANNIVERSARIES