Stories

McKee, Nancy & John #630

Honoured by Marianne Rogers.

Thank you for honouring Nancy and JOhn with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

McFadden, George & Bertha #186

Honoured by Jack McFadden.

In Memory of George and Bertha McFadden who somehow managed to raise and educate four sons and one daughter during the Great Depression and World War II. They were and are revered by sons Bert (deceased), Jack, Bill (deceased), and Bob and daughter Sheila (deceased) for their self -sacrifice, understanding and support. They showed us by example that we could get by on little, yet have much to give to others.

George was born in Trout Creek and, except for two years during the war working on the Canol Pipeline out west, was employed in the North Bay area as a truck driver and heavy vehicle operator, retiring from the North Bay Airport in 1965. Bertha was born near Perth, Ontario, and graduated as a teacher fron North Bay Normal School. Despite having to forego teaching while raising a family, she began teaching again as a supply teacher when she was about 60, learning to drive a car at that time as well.

Richardson, Joyce #184

Honoured by John & Freda Barrett.

Thank you for purchasing a leaf honouring Joyce Richardson and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

Mounce, Janet Anne #590

Honoured by Ed Mounce

Thank you for honouring Janet Anne with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

Sayer, Wilf & Jean #618 *

Honoured by Nancy Sayer.

Wilfred was born in North Bay in 1915, the son of Rose and Bert Sayer. Jean, the daughter of Hubert and Maryanne Dube, was born in 1913 and raised on the shores of Trout Lake.

Jean and Wilf met and courted in North Bay and were married in 1937 in Kirkland Lake, ON, where Wilf was employed as a bus driver.

In 1939, Wilf accepted a position as firefighter with the North Bay Fire Department and they returned to live their lives in North Bay. In 1941, following in his father’s footsteps, Wilfred was hired as a fireman with the Canadian Pacific Railway and was later promoted to a locomotive engineer. Wilf’s second career, while still working for the railway, was working part time at Martyn’s Funeral Home. After retiring from the railway in 1975, Wilf’s part time employment at Martyn’s turned into a full time job.

Jean was a professional stay-at-home mother, raising four boys and four girls.
Wilf and Jean were well known for their hospitality, always welcoming family and friends to their home on Fifth Ave. or to their cottage on Lake Nosbonsing. Jean was well known for her excellent culinary skills but was best known for her “World Famous Jean’s Beans” that were enjoyed by anyone who had the pleasure of tasting them.

After a lengthy illness, Wilfred passed in 1985 and Jean joined him in 1998.

Bookham, Bill & Di #181

Honoured by Joan Ferneyhough

Thank you for honouring Bill and Di Bookham with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

MacDonald, Milton & Lilian (Molly) #1233 *

Honoured by their Sons and Daughters-in-law.

Milton and Lilian (Molly) MacDonald were long-time residents of North Bay who raised a family of four boys in a modest home at 1233 Fraser Street.
Milton was born and raised in Foss Mill and left school to work for the railroad in order to help support his widowed mother and family during the depression. He was a strong and kind man who volunteered for active service when war broke out. As a sapper and NCO with the 1st Canadian army, he landed on the beaches of Sicily and Italy, was wounded in Ortona and later served in Holland.

Molly was a young woman growing up in London, England when war broke out. She married a Canadian soldier who was killed in action shortly after. Now a widow living in a city terrorized by buzz bombs, Molly decided to leave her home and family and set out for a new but uncertain life in Canada.

Molly and Milton met in 1945, a most fortunate event resulting from the grief and upheavals of the times. Molly had landed in Halifax and, after a brief stay in Kiosk, rented a room on Main Street in North Bay with Myrtle MacDonald, a kindly widow whose sons were still off to war. When Milton returned home with the rest of his brothers, he was smitten with this young woman and, after several months of dating they married. They initially took up residence on Lakeshore Drive before purchasing a bungalow on Fraser Street and, as the family grew, so did the house. With four sons, David, Richard, Rodney and Dennis, an additional half story was needed to house the growing boys.

Milton was employed with the CPR as a Carman until he retired in 1973. Molly initially stayed home as a fulltime wife and mother but later worked for the North Bay Public School Board as an assistant custodian. Between the two of them, they created a warm and loving environment for their four rambunctious and energetic sons. As the years passed, they welcomed daughters-in-law and several grandchildren into their hearts.

Milton and Molly were prime examples of kindness, courage and determination; two people brought together in difficult times who were determined to move on and raise a family together. Milton died as he lived; with courage and quiet dignity. Diagnosed with cancer, he fought bravely for two years before succumbing in 1975 at the age of 60. Likewise, Molly was stricken with cancer and died two years later after a valiant struggle at the age of 54. They were two extraordinary individuals who, together shared a remarkable life and left an indelible impression on all who knew them.

Saini, Anthony (Tony) & Claire #569 *

Honoured by their children – Christine, Michael & Marc Saini

Our parents: Anthony (Tony) & Claire Saini

Anthony Joseph was born September 24, 1940 in North Bay, ON, the second of seven children born to Michael and Amelia Saini.

Dad grew up in the East end of the city and attended St Joseph’s School and then Scollard Hall. He entered the Seminary after high school but soon realized that the call to the priesthood was not meant for him, he returned home to North Bay and began working in the Parks and Recreation department with the City of North Bay as a carpenter where he devoted 33 years of his life until his retirement in 2000.

Dad was quite the sportsman, playing hockey but his true love was football. Not only did he play for Scollard, but went on to play for the North Bay Ticats for many years. He won the Lou Valenti Trophy in 1968 & 1975 as the outstanding offensive lineman; in 1971, he won the Don Ryan Memorial Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player and was a unanimous selection as left guard on the NFC all-star team. He founded and co-chaired the Winter Fur Carnival Snowshoe Football Bowl in 1976. Even after he stopped playing, he remained involved in the game as a coach, team trainer, equipment manager and would paint the lines on the fields for all the home games. He was recognized with the Mike Mitchell / Larry Avery Memorial Award in 2006 for his contribution to football throughout the years.

It was during his football years that he met mom on a bus heading to Kirkland Lake. He was heading there to play football; she was with a friend going home to visit family. Dad asked her to come watch his game, and the rest was history.

Claire Laura was born September 3, 1947 in Haileybury, ON, the eldest of six children born to Jean-Claude and Beatrice Vannier. Mom first came to North Bay to attend St Joseph’s College for Grade 12 and 13. She then attended St Joseph’s Nursing School, graduating in 1968 with her RN, and then began working at St Joseph’s Hospital on the Pediatric ward where she became a valued co-worker and friend to many. Over the years, Claire’s interest and enthusiasm in her work encouraged and inspired her fellow-workers to always do better. She was one of the main forces in implementing primary nursing on the Pediatric unit and then continued as chairperson after its inception.

Tony and Claire married on May 17, 1969 at Holy Name of Jesus Church here in North Bay and settled down to raise their family. Christine was born in 1970, Michael in 1972 and Marc in 1976.

Family, Faith and Perseverance are the cornerstones that our lives were built on. They were extremely important to both mom and dad, which in turn, got passed down to us. We always did things as a family growing up: whether it was going to church, our annual camping trips to Mikisew, going on vacation, going to hockey tournaments, attending each other’s functions or just spending time together. Mom and Dad took active roles in participating in our lives and activities. Dad’s love of sports carried over to his sons. He became involved with their hockey teams by either coaching (in the early years) then later becoming their team’s hockey trainer … something which he continued even after both boys had moved on. Mom’s love of music and crafts got passed on to her daughter. Mom was a strong believer that if you started something, you had to finish it. Quitting was not an option.
Thank you mom and dad, for being such a big and important part of our lives; we love you very much.

Honoured by their children Christine, Michael (Becky) and Marc (Serena) and their grandchildren Patrick, Leah Claire, Nicola and Luca