Category: G

Gallardi, Orland #133

Honoured by Vivian Gallardi

Thank you for purchasing a leaf in honour of your husband and for supporting your Waterfront Park. Story to follow.

Gauthier, Paul & Diane #444 *

Honoured by Renee Gauthier & Keith Wootten

When I think of my parents, I always think back to the story that my dad told me about how they first met: It was 1975, my dad had just finished work and he had gone to the Elk’s Wine & Cheese in North Bay. These dances took place every Wednesday, and he had gone many times before. My dad had spent the night sitting at a table talking with friends when he decided to go home, as he had to get up early for work the next morning. Sitting at the table with him was an older family friend who told him that he couldn’t leave without dancing at least once. The family friend pointed out three young ladies who were sitting at another table, and told my dad that they were nurses. When the next slow song came on, Paul asked Diane to dance. The rest, as they say in movies, is history.

My dad, Paul Gauthier, was born June 19th, 1955. He was raised on a farm in Corbeil by loving parents Elzéar and Rhéa Gauthier (leaf #44) and had the company of 8 other siblings. From a young age, my dad was known as the family acrobat of sorts: According to the stories, at the tender age of 9 months my father was found on the roof of the house; he had somehow managed to crawl up and through the window and was happily having a look at the view. It only makes sense that through his youth he developed a certain knack and interest for carpentry (where he could climb up on things for a living!).

My mom, Diane Gauthier (née Leblanc), was born September 22, 1951. She was raised in Field with 15 other siblings by loving parents Gérard and Éva Leblanc. The stories of my mother’s childhood are a series of adventures through the countryside. From running on the logs floating on the river at the Field wood mill, to sliding down hills in winter on pieces of vinyl flooring, to raiding gardens for cucumbers, to walking to her grandmother’s house, barefoot, in the winter, an egg in her hand, to have her grandmother cook her an omelet (apparently these were the best omelets around).

Prior to their serendipitous meeting, my dad, Paul, had become self-employed right after completing high school. With his brothers Rhéal and Andy, they started their own construction company called PAR Construction. Prior to meeting my mom, he also worked in Welland for 2 months as a manager trainee and then came back home and went back to being a self-employed contractor for 6 years. My mom, Diane, had worked at Surefit as an industrial sewer in Ajax and then achieved her dream of becoming a nurse when she completed her training at St-Jean de Brébeuf hospital in Sturgeon.

From this my parents established each their own very successful careers:

My mom worked 32 years at North Bay’s Psychiatric Hospital. She was known as a very hard working and caring nurse, who always had the patient’s interests as her first priority. I have heard many stories told by others of my mom advocating for patients when no one else would. She practiced nursing with a tender heart and a level head, always willing to take a moment to sit on a patient’s bed just for a chat to uplift their spirits. After all her years of service and dedication, she retired in 2011 and is finally focusing on herself.

My dad continues to work, and remains a self-employed contractor. Overall, he has worked 32 years for himself, and the last 7 years he has also worked as a property manager for Rod Johnston. I suspect that he will never retire; he has always been one of those people who has bounding energy and needs to be constantly working at something. Through the years he has built approximately 20 houses and completed hundreds, if not thousands, of other odd jobs ranging from dishwasher installation to renovations. Many have likened my dad’s work as a carpenter to be more like art than just carpentry. Not only has he always been extremely hardworking, his precision, skill and craftsmanship has always been near perfection and not easily matched by others.

In 1976, my parents were married in Field, Ontario. Surrounded by their respective families and friends, there was more than enough love to go around. Once married, they lived in North Bay for 1 year and then in 1977 they built their first house together in Corbeil. This house would be followed by two more in Corbeil, also built together, one in 1986 and the last one in 2001.

On October 4th, 1978 their first child, a boy, was born whom they named Camile. Six years later, on May 30th, 1984 their second child, a girl, was born whom they named Renée. Our childhood was nothing short of magical. Our parents raised us in an environment where creativity, adventuring and laughter were key virtues. There were so many picnics, travels, sports, and various quests (too many to list). Looking back on it now, I believe that my parents each took the best parts of their childhoods and sort of gave them to us from which we made new memories. Obviously their endless support and whatever else they did when raising us worked: My brother is now a successful graphic designer in Toronto and I will soon be a physician.

This is only the abridged version of Paul and Diane’s life so far. Needless to say, they have proven to be remarkable individuals who continue to have plenty to offer. I can’t wait to see what other adventures await us because of my parents.

Grannary, Dora #88 *

Honoured by Susan, Dale, Lorrie, Billy, David and their families.

Our Mom, Dora Mary Grannary, was born in Sudbury, Ontario, the second of five children, to Tiziano and Mary Caverson. Mom’s earliest years were spent in Coniston before her family returned to Sudbury when she was in grade nine. Mom attended high school at Sudbury Tech in the commercial program, where she developed her secretarial skills and enjoyed playing on the school basketball and volleyball teams. In 1951 Mom married Donald Grannary. They had five children (Susan, Dale, Lorrie, Billy and David), and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mom is well known and respected for her many years working in the insurance industry in Sudbury, Temagami, North Bay, and Edmonton. Today, Mom enjoys singing with the Baytones and her church choirs, and she is actively involved with the Italian Davedi Club. Walking along the North Bay waterfront with her friends and participating with her fitness and square dancing groups, keeps her agile, healthy and young at heart.

Mom’s energetic love of life inspires her children to this day. Her love of many sports, including softball, curling, swimming, golf, and dancing, has carried on through all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mom devoted her life to ensuring that her five children were healthy, happy, and loved. She taught us the importance of family values, and our memories include happy gatherings with our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mom taught us that family time is good for the heart and soul.

Mom taught us about faith and perseverance. She demonstrated that no matter what challenges you face in life, put one foot in front of the other and carry on. It was her very strong faith in God that carried her through difficult times, and today she encourages her family, by example, to cultivate that faith. The Serenity Prayer hangs on Mom’s kitchen wall and she lives by the words – “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

Mom has taught us to help others. She spent several years in Sudbury caring for her elderly parents when they could no longer live on their own. Mom is always ready to lend a helping hand. She bakes muffins or makes lasagna for friends or family who are going through difficult times. Mom’s kind nature has taught us to be considerate of others.

Our Mom is an independent, resourceful, and intelligent woman, and her confidence in us inspired us to believe we could accomplish anything we set out to do. Mom has taught us to live, love, and laugh together, and for this we are truly grateful.

We love you, Mom.

Green, Jack #1942 *

Jack Green is being honoured by his friends.

Jack Gell Green *
Builder Sports: Football, Basketball, Track, Softball
Builder Categories: Coach, Executive, Administrator
Born: 1942 – Toronto
Elected: 30-Oct-2006
Inducted: 21-Apr-2007
Inductee No. 211 * Deceased 2011

Jack Green is a Toronto native who arrived in North Bay in 1970 after an outstanding multi-sport athletic career which saw him drafted by the CFLWinnipeg Blue Bombers in 1966.

Here he played City League basketball, Masters’ softball and touch football but he has been inducted into the NBSHF because of his work as a Builder of sport (coach, administrator, executive). Green taught atWest Ferris Secondary for almost 30 years- coaching football for 20 years, basketball for 16, and track & field. He coached the Trojan Senior football squad to three NDA titles in nine years and a rare NOSSA crown (first NDA champion in 27 years) in 1982; with the Juniors it was four NDA’s in eight years and an almost as rare NOSSA banner (first in 12 years) in 1979. He also ran the Bantam football program for three seasons. In basketball he directed the Trojan Senior boys for five years and the Midgets for 11- winning seven NDA Championships. He coached volleyball with Dr. Carruthers Public School and led the Northeastern Bantam girls to a Provincial Silver medal in 1989. He coached in the North Bay Minor Girls softball league for several years. As an administrator he convened NDA football four times, NDA basketball on six occasions and NDA track & field five times. As well, he twice convened each of these sports for NOSSA. His executive work, outside the high school milieu, included holding the Presidency of the Senior fastball loop for six years, chairing theWorld Masters tourney on a half dozen occasions and being President of the North Bay Legion track club for five years.

Jack Green – a giver of his time and energies.

Gauthier, Elzear & Rhea #44 *

Elzéar Gauthier (born June 5th, 1920-1993) and Rhéa Gauthier (born November 28th, 1922-1995) were the foundation for a family of nine who were raised with a sense of hard work, self-sufficiency and perseverance. Both were industrious, strong-willed individuals who always knew the importance of family and laughter.

Despite having only completed his grade 3 level education and being illiterate, Elzéar was a sharp individual who always had many strategies on the go to support his family. Elzéar’s successes ranged from carpentry, sales, factory labour, taxi driving and farming; all of which were self-taught and most being self-managed. His inability to read and write did not hinder his ability to keep detailed financial books and to work along the best of them.

Rhéa completed her grade 8 education and would prove to be a very resilient, spirited and independent woman. Unlike many women of her era, Rhéa went away to work in Kirkland Lake, despite the fact that she and Elzéar had been courting at that time.

In 1941, Elzéar, who had been working in Kiosk, hitched a ride to Kirkland Lake to find and marry his true love. He had been keeping in contact with his beloved by having other people write love letters for him to send to her. They were married on April 14th, 1941.

Following their matrimony, 9 children were born. The first was Hugette born on March 6th, 1942, followed by Élise on September 21st, 1943. Their third child Claudette, was born October 30th, 1944 and their fourth child Pauline, was born June 25th, 1948. Their first son, André, was born on February 7th, 1952, followed by Paul who was born June 19th, 1955 and then Rhéal born June 13th, 1956. The last two children were Diane who was born July 3rd, 1963 and Rose born September 20th, 1964.

Throughout their married life, Elzéar and Rhéa continued to be the hard workers they had previously been. Rhéa, a homemaker, did pretty much everything to maintain daily life for her family. From farming, to baking, to making butter and jams, to sewing outfits for her children, even to bookkeeping, she did it all for her family. In the meantime, Elzéar had a variety of employments to support his family. In 1942, during the war, Elzéar worked for Noble in an ammunition plant, as he wasn’t accepted in the army because he had one leg shorter than the other. In 1943 they moved to Weston where he then worked at Victor’s Aircrafts buildings air planes for the war. Their move from Toronto to Corbeil occurred in 1945, where they bought their first piece of land, a farm with barn but no house, which cost them $900.00. In 1946 Elzéar built their first house on this property and he earned a living by selling meat and firewood door-to-door. Between 1948 and 1960 Elzéar bought cattle from northern Québec that he would ship in a boxcar to Toronto every week. He and Rhéa would also attend the farmer’s market in North Bay on 3rd Avenue to sell meat. During those winters he would also sell Christmas trees and in the summer he would sell fruit and vegetables as well. In 1955 Elzéar began building houses to sell. He and his sons built 12 houses all-together, the first of which sold for $3500.00 in 1955.

All of this hard work certainly did payoff however. Not only did Elzéar and Rhéa have enough money to support their family, they were also able to afford some little extras. For instance, Elzéar being a Chrysler man, was able to purchase his first new car in 1927, followed by a brand new ½ ton Mercury truck purchased in 1947. In 1949 Elzéar and Rhéa were one of the first to get electricity when it arrived in Corbeil and in 1956, they purchased one of the first televisions from North Bay, even before the broadcasting had begun. Most impressive however, is that Elzéar and Rhéa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 14th, 1991.

It is evident that together, Elzéar and Rhéa Gauthier were more than successful at starting and establishing a fantastic family to whom they passed on their sense of industriousness, determination and love.