Category: S

Thank you to Michael Puccini forhonouring David Suzuki and for supporting the Waterfront Pergola campaign.  Story to follow.

Honoured by his Family.

Born in North Bay April 15, 1935 to Clifford and Hannah (Lancaster) and he was the fourth child of five. He had all his schooling in North Bay and at age 16 he left school as an Honor student. He started working as an apprentice in the coach shop of the Ontario Northland Railway and worked there as a painter for 10years. On July 20,1957 he married Delta Robinson and they had 3 children, David, Dawn and Daren.

In 1962 at age 27 he joined the North Bay Police Force with a badge number of 27. He started as a 3rd class constable, rose to 1st class, then Sergeant and finally as an Inspector in the criminal investigation unit. He excelled in all his police courses and was the first constable in Northern Ontario to win the Ontario Police Award. He was well respected by his fellow policemen. He took the Christopher course to help him speak in public when he was assigned to work in the Courts. He was also asked if he would teach at the Police School in Aylmer, Ontario. He did not do this as his children were in their teens and he felt he should be home with them at that time. Don was appointed to sit on the Board of of the Children’s Aid Society, he became Chair and stayed on the Board for several years. After serving for 30 years Don retired from the police force in 1992. He later took the position of Secretary of the Police Commission where he stayed until 2007. He passed away on June 5, 2007.

Don was a wonderful friend, husband, father and grandfather. He took the family on many vacations from the east coast to the west and many other places in the United States. The family went camping and had wonderful times. Don enjoyed jogging with our dog Tiger. He was very kind and helped the children and friends who asked for help from time to time.

Don started golfing with fellow policemen in the 70’s and this became his passion. He got Delta interested in golf, with many golf trips and always enjoyed themselves.
He spent many hours at his hobby of collecting golf score cards and corresponded with others all over the world.

He is missed very much by all who knew him.

Theodore (Ted) Seguin (1908-1986) & Margaret (McCharles) Seguin (1914-1999)

Our Mother and Father were self-employed. Ted Seguin was in trucking, owning his own trucks at 1544 Wyld Street. In the winter having a wood yard, he sold to the public. Mother took the orders. From spring to fall he gathered up cream from the local farm taking in approximately 50-100 miles radius of North Bay and trucking the load to the North Bay co-operative creamery.

Upon retiring in 1947 he built a food store at the corner of Duke and Wyld which became very popular to most in that area plus. Dad joined the chain with 7 other grocers namely the Red and White Grocers being individually owned and becoming very successful as a group. Mother and us children (growing up) played a large part in the operation of this store. Twenty years later upon retiring they converted the building into apartments and then selling them about 1968; when they built their last home on Larocque Road.

Being Semi retired dad did various jobs including snow removal for many different establishments. He obtained a bread route run from North Bay to Temiskaming.

Our parents, highly respected and loved by many, also inspired their seven children tremendously.

We say it best: “behind every successful man exists a good woman”.

Honoured by their children: Yvonne, Jeannette, Harvey, Simone, Gary, Rick and Brenda

Honoured by the Swanson family.

When the North Bay Chamber of Commerce mentioned the Waterfront development in 1981, it was an annual community project proposal. This proposal was first made by Bruce Goulet over twenty years previously.

When it came up again, the reaction of several members of the City Administration was that it could not be done and would never happen. Bunty Swanson was the Chair of a citizens’ Waterfront Committee which had been formed under the auspices of the Chamber that year. To her this was obviously the WRONG thing to say! Like a red flag to a bull, Bunty took exception to this attitude and decided that yes, indeed, there WAS going to be a developed waterfront!!The Committee asked the combined forces of the Brownies, Guides and Boy Scouts in North Bay to come to the waterfront area leased by the Chamber one Saturday and join in a clean-up of brush and garbage… it was very successful. Next, the Committee approached the City and the Fire Department to oversee a fireworks display on the waterfront for the 24th of May. It was a huge event and citizens started to demand the development of “their” beach.

The Committee, backed by the Chamber of Commerce, applied for a Federal grant to do more clean-up and restoration of the dock area, which was a Federal jurisdiction. The money had to be used to hire Northern Ontario unemployed miners and loggers. This was carried out and the work gang was supervised by the Chamber and the Committee. Wages were paid through the grant and other funds were raised from the community of North Bay.

By now, the public and the private interests were onside and a City Committee for Waterfront Development was formed. Provincial and Federal monies were also by chance available only for a short window of time. Bunty was the Chamber rep to this group.
If it had not been for the efforts of Bunty and her initial Chamber of Commerce group, there would have been only the Bruce Goulet Dream, instead of the present Goulet Golden Mile which forms part of our lovely Waterfront Development.

Bunty has also been active in other Community areas.

She has served on the executives of the Catholic Women’s League of the Pro-Cathedral, the Parish Council, the Gateway Theatre Guild, QUONTA Regional  Drama, Canadian University Women of North Bay.

As a public representative she worked on Parks Creek Flood Management (Conservation Authority), Waterfront underpass, North Bay Escarpment Review, the North Bay Discovery Centre (Museum), Nipissing College and later University Board, The Nip U Animal Care Committee, the Canadore Environmental Conferences.

In later years, she worked with the Stephen Lewis Organization to start a Grandmother to Grandmother chapter in North Bay. She is also a member of Greenspace North Bay.

Bunty, a retired teacher, is married to Roy and has happily raised four daughters in the Bay.

Thank you Pat Stamp for honouring Lloyd and supporting the Waterfront Pergola campaign.  Story to follow.

Thank you to Elspeth Atkinson for honouring Anne and supporting the Waterfront Pergola campaign.  Story to follow.

Honoured by the Saunders Family.

It is with great pride that the family of Bert Saunders honours and celebrates his accomplishments and contributions to his family, friends and community.

Bert was born and raised in North Bay. He passed away in 2003 and left us with his own touching and humourous handwritten Obituary. In his words….
“I was born on Kennedy Avenue in 1935 (the day of the earthquake) to my wonderful and hardworking mom and dad – Lillian Meecham and William Saunders. I was the second of three sons.

I married Joyce Graeber in 1966 and for 37 years she has been the love of my life as well as my right hand. Our wonderful children Darren and Sheri blessed us with 5 beautiful granddaughters. I love all 5 girls and I am sorry I will not be around to teach them what I have learned in my lifetime.

I graduated from NBCI&VS where I played hockey, basketball and football. Hockey was always my greatest pastime, including our involvement with the North Bay Centennials, which gave us the opportunity to welcome to our family Vitali Yachmenev and other aspiring hockey players.

Art was my favourite pastime. Since the age of six I loved to draw, but it wasn’t until 1990 that I challenged myself to paint. It has been very gratifying to see that my work has been appreciated by so many. I hope my art continues to give you as much pleasure as it did me.

I worked since I was 10 years old at places too numerous to mention including the City of North Bay and 27 years in real estate with long time partner Barry Rice. I was a past member of the Chamber of Commerce, North Bay Area Museum and the North Bay LACAC (Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee).

Through these experiences, I was fortunate to meet many people from all walks of life. I strived to treat everyone with respect and believed in doing right. God being my helper…”

Bert loved history and had a particular interest in the Great Wars. His father had served in both WWI and WWII. He became a serious collector of war memorabilia and was approached by the Royal Canadian Legion to set up a War Museum display which was attended by young and old alike. It was also viewed by local students and teachers as a historical reference.

Bert’s life was marked by numerous accomplishments. He illustrated Murray Leatherdale’s classic 1975 book, “Nipissing From Brule to Booth”; designed six commemorative coins for the North Bay Chamber of Commerce, one of which depicted the Dionne Quintuplets 50th birthday; designed the logo for the North Bay Centennials Hockey Club of the OHL; and produced many award winning sketches for the North Bay Nugget, as well as numerous honour scrolls and logos for local organizations. His contributions to North Bay were recognized when he was presented with an “Honoured Citizen” medal commemorating the City of North Bay’s 50th Anniversary.

Bert was an exceptional artist and had a prolific career. He enjoyed working with acrylics and produced several limited edition prints. His artwork is prominently displayed in many businesses and homes throughout the area, particularly his historical paintings of Downtown North Bay circa 1935. This includes a portrait featured on the North Bay Heritage Carousel.

In Bert’s words, his greatest accomplishment was his family.

His gift to us was his selfless willingness to give of himself, as well as his love and dedication to his family and friends. He enriched our lives and made a lasting impact on all who knew him.

“There’s a place inside the heart where love lives always….
And where nothing beautiful can ever be forgotten”.

Honoured by Terry, Wendy, and Eli.

Melanie was our family’s greatest Christmas gift ever, when she was born December 23, 1989. Although her birth was in Milton, ON, she celebrated her third birthday in North Bay, having relocated in April 1992.

Mel quickly fit in to this community attending Sacred Heart Elementary and joining the NBBA (North Bay Basketball Association) at the slightly younger than allowed age of 7. She was always trying to keep up with her older brother, Eli.

Melanie soon rose to award winning level with Coach Doyle Anthony’s Coach’s Choice plaque for her first season of play. He attributed this award to Mel’s constant high spirits and smile.

As a grade eight graduate in 2003, she clenched Athlete of the Year leading their b-ball team to the annual Championship among schools.

That’s when Coach Jim Davidson from St. Joe’s Scollard Hall recruited Melanie for its basketball summer camp and junior team. In grade 9 ,she took home “most valuable player” trophy for the juniors team. The following year, she skipped up to senior level and conquered MVP for a second consecutive year.

Melanie loved basketball. During the summer she spent a lot of time in the gym helping and volunteering with younger players. Not only an exceptional athlete, but also a very intelligent young woman, she was always on the Honour Roll. She had such a promising future until July 31, 2005. She was killed in a triple fatality car crash.

Since then, her school and family started the “Live Out Loud” basketball trophy and plaques for outstanding athletes with honour grades and her generally great attitude.

We, Melanie’s family , dedicate this leaf in her honour as another display of the everlasting love and pride we feel for her.

Marie Zita Storms (Tremblay) (1931-2006)

Born in Mattawa, Ontario, in 1931, Marie Zita Storms was one of eleven children born to Malvina and Lorenzo Tremblay.

Zita married Jack Storms of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and they started their family along the beautiful Niagara River at Black Creek. The family grew to include five boys: Curtis, Bruce, Greg, Kyle and Troy.

She raised her family as she was raised, with love and passion. She was saddened by the passing of their son, Kyle, at the age of 22 but showed her strength for the rest of the family, although we all knew this was a very difficult time in her life.

Zita loved life; she was a wonderful mother, a Roman Catholic believer, a very caring person.

What people said about Zita was that she was a true friend, someone who was there through troubled times as well as good times. She left an impression on everyone she met.

She battled cancer for the last four years of her life with the same passion and love that she gave everyone. We all tried as hard as we could, this is what she wanted, but in the end it was her time to rise to the other side.

Zita is sadly missed by all of her family, but what she left us allows us to continue our journey with confidence and passion. We miss you, Mom.

Jack, Curtis, Bruce, Greg, Kyle, Troy, Cherielyn, and Jennifer

Misty Sinclair – honoured by Ken Sinclair .

Thank you to Ken Sinclair for honouring Misty Sinclair and for being a part of the park.