Category: F

Honoured by Ted Thomson.  Story to follow.

Honoured by Hector & Sharron Morin

Thank you for honouring Dare and Martha Fowler with a Leaf of Inspiration.  Story to follow.

Honoured by J.L. Shogren and P. M. Anderson.

Thank you for honouring Dr. Ralph and Orma Foster with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project.  Story to follow.

Honoured by Robert Becksted.

 

Herewith is his story commemorating his significant participation in developing and recording the history of the City of North Bay, where he now lives.

Lorne Fleece was born in Kirkland Lake at 106 Taylor Avenue on April 10, 1932.  His wife was Rita and they had three children and eight grandchildren.

He was employed by Ontario Northland Tele-communications for 37 years and two years as the Archivist for the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.  Lorne wrote eight articles and reports on Northern Ontario history including the T & NO plus the ONR.

In this participation he frequently visited the archives in Toronto and Ottawa for ten years collecting pertinent information on this matter.

Lorne provided extensive assistance to this City’s Municipal Heritage Committee for three years in the preparation of the “illustrative Guide to Heritage Properties in the City of North Bay” which was published in 2006.  His knowledge was gained over 39 years that became extensively valuable in our researching the development of the CPR & CNR Railway Stations.

Together with the ONR, these railways established this City as the “Gateway of the North”, which achieved “coast to coast to coast” rail service in this nation.

Lorne was much experienced in communication that secured safe passage of goods and passengers travelling in opposite directions on a single track.  Procedural orders were then conveyed with the “Morse Code”.  He has been recently teaching some interested youngsters that method of conversing.

Together with a “cross arm”, this can be employed in the operation of the model train service currently circulating the Waterfront Park.

Lorne Fleece deserves significant recognition of his major contribution to the history of this City. I am proud to present him as a member of those to be identified on a Leaf of Inspiration included in the Waterfront Pergola declaring Lorne Fleece.

Honoured by Des and Toni Field.

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

Honoured by Josef, Carla, Katy and Kristina.

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

Leo and Agnes Fournier – “121 Duke Street East”
IF THIS HOUSE COULD TALK

In 1950 moving from Corbeil, a man, his wife and seven kids rented a small house. Feeling crowded, the man decides it was time to build his own home. Hence, with the help of family and friends, “121 DUKE STREET EAST’ was built; I had my start.
Dimensionally I was not a big house, but, as a home I was the best. Once they moved in, I remember how good it felt to feel the pitter-patter of little feet running on my joists and soon number eight to fourteen were on their way.

Quite a crowd at meal time, they didn’t have much but they were happy. I remember parties as Christmas and New Years with 40-50 people dancing and laughing all night. Man, my joists were sore in the morning; they even creaked a little.

The husband worked out of town a lot so it was up to the wife to make everything work. She did a great job of it too! The kids all did their share; well most of the time anyway. The smell of the woman’s cooking especially her seapie will always be embedded in my walls.

By the way, 121 DUKE STREET EAST, is still firmly standing today. I am still a loving home to the large family, plus the many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Sixteen cedar trees were planted; two in the front representing the man and his wife, and fourteen alongside the driveway symbolizing the children.

So, you can see my load has gone up and down over the years. “Leo”, my creator, always said, “Build them right and they will last!” The lady of the house “Agnes” (92 years old), is doing a great job in keeping up with my maintenance. After all these years, I’m still the best!

In closing, the man and his wife were Leo and Agnes Fournier, with their seven boys and seven girls. Elise, Lucille, Ron, Reg, Claudette, Claire, Louise, Rene, Richard, Suzanne, Denise, Robert, Rolland and Raymond.

Honoured by the McLachlan Family.

Thank you for purchasing a Leaf of Inspiration for Hugh and Elizabeth and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

Honoured by Scott Floyd.

In memory of my parents, Bill and Shirely Floyd.

Honoured by his wife, Ruth, and the Family.

Thank you for purchasing a Leaf of Inspiration for Dr. Frank Fazzari and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.