Stories

Leblanc, Brenda Lee #1958 *

My hero is my Nana Brenda because of all of the wonderful things she has done for me. She’s always been able to help me, no matter what she’s doing. I was only five at the time and I found out that I had coagulation of the aorta and I need a metal stint in the main aorta. They could not do open heart surgery. My blood pressure was too high.

My operations have been simple to cope with and I recuperate well from my operations. I go to her house to get better. My surgical team is awesome and so kind. I love my grandmother a whole lot. She always knows what’s wrong and helps me to feel better. So that’s my story about my hero and how she is always there for me.

By Molly McKenzie Leblanc, 10, and published in “You’re My Hero North Bay” by Barry Spilchuk and Penny Tremblay (2007)

Brenda Leblanc was an amazing caregiver… “an angel among us”… not only for her grandchildren but also for our parents, Dr. Jim and Jessie Jamieson. She became acquainted with our family in August 2002 and remained with us until October of 2010, when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She passed away on Jan. 21, 2011. We miss her dearly and wish to dedicate this leaf of inspiration in her memory.

The Jamieson Daughters

Brule, Adelard & Lucienne #1404 *

Honoured by the Brule Family.

J’admire beaucoup mes  grands-parents Adelard et Lucienne Brûlé pour leur sens d’entreprise, leur énergie dynamique, leur courage et leur créativité.  Lorsqu’ils ont déménagé leur famille au coin de la rue O’Brien et de la grande route, Memère et Pepère ont fondé un magasin général.
Ceci a mené à la création d’une salle de danse, des chalets à louer, un parc pour les familles locales et un restaurant de bines qui servait des bonnes bines faites à maison.  Memère prit soin de ses 9 enfants et des entreprises familiales pendant que Pepère contribue à la construction des chemins de fers ONR avant de devenir conducteur des trains.  Il n’y en avait pas comme Trudeau, les Canadiens de Montréal et le bon St-Joseph quant à ma grand-mère, elle était fière de son héritage Canadien Français et quand est venu le temps de bâtir une école élémentaire, elle et mon grand-père n’ont pas hésité.  Ils ont donné de leur terre pour le projet de l’école Ste-Anne (qui sera fermée on 2012).
Ils sont connus pour leur générosité et on peut toujours compter sur les Brûlés pour un coup de main.  Notre famille se souvient d’eux avec amour pour leur joie de vivre, leur amour de la nature et leur exemple puissant de foi et de service.

Adelard and Lucienne Brûlé were two enterprising individuals that contributed to their community and I look up to them because of their dynamic energy, courage and creativity.  When they relocated their family to the corner of O’Brien and the Highway, Memère and Pepère set up a general store.  This led to the creation of a dance hall, cottages for rent, a park area for local families and a beanery where you could sample some good home cooked beans.  Memère took care of her 9 children and kept everything going while Pepère worked on the ONR first as a builder and then as a driver.  As a diehard Trudeau and Montreal Canadians fan, Memère was proud of her French Canadian heritage and when it came time to build a new French elementary school, there was no hesitation on their part.  My grandparents gave of their land to the school board to build the soon to be closed Ste-Anne elementary school (Closed as of 2012).  They are known for their generous spirit and you know you can count on a Brûlé to help.  Our family remembers them
with love for their joy of living, their love of nature, and their powerful example of faith and service.

Webber Shaw, Edith #124 *

Edith Webber Shaw – Our Mother

Edith was the youngest child of Sophie Langton and James Webber. She led a charmed life.

Having two older brothers to do the farm work and two older sisters to help with the house chores Edith had time to teach herself to play the piano by ear. In fact she was hired by the local silent movie house to provide appropriate background music for the silent films. It was here that she met John Loudon Shaw, a travelling salesman for Canada Packers. It was love at first sight for the gangly Scotsman, recently arrived from Bothwell, Scotland. They eloped in November 1929.
Arriving in North Bay as a new bride with no experience as a homemaker she set her mind to learn to cook and she read her etiquette book regularly. The “Purity Cook Book edition 1929”was well used. A “proper” table was always set.

With great difficulty she delivered her first child Sheila in 1931 – followed by a second daughter Jacqueline – then a son Gary all within six years. While J.L. established his new business Macdonald and Sons Beverages, Edith, with help, during the day managed the household.

Mom insisted on good manners at the table and outside the home. She taught us tolerance and – against Dad’s orders – continued to feed the “hobos” when they appeared at the back door during the “hungry 30’s”.

Edith was never happier than when she could play the piano. When young we would fall asleep most nights to her soft renditions of the old popular tunes. If she could hum it – she could play it.

Our Mother was a gift to us. This gentle reserved lady was hardworking, spiritual, loving, kind, generous and loyal. Her home was her castle. She will never be forgotten by her children, grandchildren and anyone who crossed her path.

Honoured by Sheila, Jackie, Gary.

Carr, Lela Robena #123 *

Honoured by Sheila Carr.

Lela Robena Carr nee Eaton

As a child of twelve, on the death of her Mother, Lela took over the household responsibilities of the Eaton family of five boys, a younger sister and her Father.
At age 18 she married Roy Earnest Carr on his return from war in 1920. Her only child, Gordon, was born January 1st, 1929.

Lela was a dedicated homemaker and church worker, cheerfully baking and entertaining friends and family. Until her 87th birthday she could be found at her ironing board or pulley-clothesline or making homemade soap on the stove. Her grandchildren looked forward to a full cookie jar at each visit to her little house.
Each Christmas she thrilled Michael, Laural, Nancy and Robert with a picnic hamper full of homemade doughnuts and “hard as a rock” ginger cookies. After Christmas Eve church she served her special suet pudding filled with raisins and covered with butterscotch sauce to her smiling brood of grandchildren.

Lela was free with advice – about raising children, their clothes and activities. Pets had no place in her home – too dirty!

She believed in hard work and accepting hard times without complaint. She patiently cared for Roy at home after his stroke until his death. Her one complaint happened when she could not pay her monthly bills with cash. Part of her social life involved her three kilometre walk downtown to chat with the girls at the bank, hydro or City Hall.

At eighty-eight years Lela soldiered through the loss of her only child, Gordon.
We loved her. She was a loving and trusting Mother-in-law and I still miss her and honour her!

Sheila

Fielder, Ted #122 *

Honoured by Sheila Carr.

Theodore Miles Fielder

What our dad has inspired in us: (from the daughters of Ted M. Fielder)
Dare to imagine, dream, turn ideas into opportunities, set goals and take action. Be courageous, confident, and calm at least always try to keep your head about you or appear that way! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; learn from them. Keep a stiff upper lip. Remember, reflect, and never forget. Always forgive. Live life to its fullest; don’t look back with regret. Look forward with anticipation.
Laurie, Sherry, Leslie, Caralee

My Husband, Ted Fielder
We met in the early 50’s as young married couples. The Ted Fielders (four girls and mom Bette) visited North Bay for a week at Turtle Lake (in J.L. Shaw’s log camp) with the Carr family. The outing involved fishing, swimming, canoeing, sailing and roughing it – ie no electricity and a walk to the outhouse.

We both lost our spouses in the early 1990’s and found romance for the second time after 65. How could I be so lucky to find an old friend who loves to travel, is patient and understanding of my Aries traits (determined, independent and stubborn)? He inspires me. He is generous, loving, thoughtful and patient.
He has become my in-house secretary as a result of his computer skills – how lucky am I? He is a loving father to four wonderful daughters – all great Mothers to his eight grandchildren.

He makes me laugh, never holds a grudge and only gets angry at himself. He is everything a second husband should be – trusting, understanding, romantic with a sense of humour.

I love you so!
Sheila.

PS – I still think Bette trained you well.

Knights of Columbus, St. Rita’s #2010 *

Honoured by the Knights of  Columbus Council, St. Rita’s

In 1994,  at the request of Pastor Rev. Angelo Oliverio, a discussion with the gentlemen of the Parish centred on the feasibility of forming  a Knights of Columbus Council within our Parish of St. Rita’s.

It was agreed the formation of a Council would have merit and would be of benefit to our Parish, community and the surrounding area of North Bay.

To receive our Charter the by-law stated a membership of 30 as the prerequisite. By late 1995 a recruitment process was initiated and on April 15, 1996 the designation of Council 11760 Knights of Columbus, St. Rita’s  was conveyed.

Brother Isadore Leblond was elected as Charter Grand Knight and with our first election of officers July 1996 Brother Donald Halsall was elected Grand Knight.  The membership throughout the years vacillated between 50 and 60.

With the advent of Nevada tickets, Bingos, Ontario State Lottery tickets and fundraising garage sales and  dinners our Council during a 14 year existence donated in excess of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to various charities including the Food Bank,  Hospital, Gathering Place, various elementary and secondary schools, Santa Fund, Special Olympics etc.

With parish re-alignment our Church of St. Rita closed  its  doors  December 26, 2010.  On this date Council 11760 Knight of Columbus St. Rita surrendered our charter and ceased to be operative.

Within our membership a total of sixteen Brother Knights have deceased.  It is with enjoyment that the leaf at the pergola will be inscrolled in their memory.

Isadore Leblond

Past Charter Grand Knight

Buckle, Anne & John #1972 *

It was 1972 when my parents, John and Anne Buckle, found their way to North Bay with myself Sue, and my two brothers, David and Howard, in tow. Since then, we’ve each grown a family, sharing grand children and a grand daughter who love them dearly. When the grandkids were asked what they remember the most about growing up with “Beema” and “Poppa”, they shared stories of love, caring and encouragement. This leaf honours my mom and dad for whom family was the most important thing in the world. Love you both. Sue

We remember when ….
Poppa taught us how to drive a motor boat, put worms on a hook and filet a fish at our “B’s Nest” cottage on Naiscoot Lake.
Beema baked gingerbread men, decorated sugar cookies in the shapes of stars and Christmas trees and rolled chocolate balls for us at Christmas. We’d all help decorate (and eat!) them.

Poppa made us special things in his wood-working workshop – name plates for our bedroom doors, loon-shaped coin banks, trains, doll beds, toys, nativity mangers, picture frames, large wooden initials and even a beautiful cradle for each of their three children, to pass along to grandchildren.
Beema baked her world famous chocolate chip cookies for our high school sports teams, cookies that filled boxes to be shared on the team bus on road trips.
Poppa let us win at cards, playing cribbage, “31”, and euchre.
Beema knit mittens and read us bedtime stories over and over and over again.
Beema and Poppa cheered us on at our volleyball, soccer and hockey games; our marching band, swimming and cross-country ski competitions; our horse shows. They celebrated our graduations from kindergarten, high school, college and university.

But most of all we know that when Beema and Poppa did all these things with us, when they tickled us, read to us, laughed with us, teased us and hugged us, we just knew that they loved us.
We love you too Beema & Poppa.
Your grandkids
Cameron, Lianne, Jon, Meghan, Emily, Joshua, Daniel, Shane & Chris…and your great grand daughter Lilly.

Honoured by Sue Buckle.

Williams, Amy Fowler #1927 *

Amy Fowler was born August 3, 1927, in Peru.  Her parents were Canadian and had met there, her mom being a nurse and her father a mining engineer. Sadly her mom passed away prematurely when Amy was only age 13.  Amy was then sent to Canada, under the care of relatives living in Quebec. She was mainly on her own, receiving a lot of her education at boarding school.

Amy could speak English, French as well as Spanish because of her early adventures. She went on to receive a degree in economics from McGill University and it was through being a member of the McGill Choral society, that she met Keith Quirk, who was a medical student. They had three great years there as sweethearts, but ultimately went their own ways. They both married and had wonderful children, but thought of and kept track of each other over the years.

In November of 1999 Keith, then a psychiatrist, called Amy on impulse, while attending a conference in Montreal. When the phone rang, Amy almost passed out for she was certain of who it was. They found out that Amy was widowed for five years, and Keith was separated for five years, and divorcing. They quickly picked up where they had left off, first by daily emails, then regular visits.  Then, Keith accepted an offer that came out of the blue for a full time job with the North Eastern Mental Health Center’s outreach community program ACTT, which would start January 1, 2002.  The job meant a move to North Bay. Keith and Amy were married in North Bay in August of that year. They both loved the City, lived happily here until sadly, cancer carried her away to the next world on April 17, 2010.

Amy lived a life of caring and service to social causes. In addition to raising three wonderful and successful children- Glen, Dale and Heather, she was the ultimate volunteer, and no task was too small or challenge too large. She had a deep concern for social justice and the rights of women.  She became in turn, president of:  the Montreal Council of Women, as well as the National Council of Women (NCWC) and also Zonta International. Amy represented Canada on the International Council of Women on which she was vice-president. As President of NCWC she was a full time advocate and voice of Canadian women, on issues of health, education and the environment. She chaired a two year study of the financial status of older women across Canada and then led a successful lobby that resulted in fundamental changes to the Pension legislation for older women at both the Provincial and Federal levels. For this, and many other community contributions, she received the Order of Canada in 1985.

In addition to being the perfect loving wife for Keith, resulting in truly “Golden Years”, Amy also made a lot of friends in this community. She took a very active part in community groups, including the Canadian Federation of University Women, Living Fit and the North Bay Baha’i Spiritual Assembly. She also joined the waterfront Heritage Gardeners and helped out with their weekly maintenance ‘down to earth’ activity.

Amy and Keith loved the waterfront from day one, and were very excited about the redevelopment steadily taking place over the years. Amy would be most happy to know that we are supporting this Pergola Leaf project in her memory.