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Lease too costly © by Chris Knowles The Penetanguishene Chamber of Com- merce has decided the cost of remaining in old post office building is too steep, and as a result will be vacating the premises by August 31. The chamber's decision was prompted by the federal government's insistance that the 52 pages Small fry mouths aren't quite stretchable enough to get a good grip on a slippery cob of corn as two year old Billy Leonard found out. Billy gave it all he got as he tried to get a good chunk of the sweet corn and ignore the Exchange by David Wilson When Yvan Laberge was applying for a position in the Quebec-Ontario ex- Wednesday, August 17, 1977 No easy job, this eating Yvan Laberg building's sole tenant sign a formal lease. A public lease tender was issued when the building becanfe vacant last year and the Chamber was the highest bidder followed by Centre d'Activites Francaises. The Chamber has been without a formal lease since then. Negotiations have begun with Centre of- ficials to determine their interest in leasing Vol. 10, No. 33 20 cents rather hot cob in the process. He was one of hundreds who partook of burgers, hot dogs and roasted corn at the Toanche Bazaar and ball tournament held in the North/West Basin on 'Saturday. ' change program, he was told that over 100 positions were available to him. He surveyed the various opportunities and the premises. Les Mondich, information officer for Public Works Canada, said if the Centre doesn't lease the building, it could "possibly be put up for sale." If still no response, it would be handed over to Crown Assets Disposal. "There's no way we can lease this thing on a yearly basis," said Chamber of Commerce President Peter Shirriff. "It would cost us $20,000 per year to operate, plus an initial $50,000 in renovations, and that's the bottom figure." Sherriff cited poor plumbing, the need to upgrade the building's safety stan- dards and an electrical system that is "blowing fuses all the time," as reasons for the high upkeep costs. The town has approved the chamber's move to the McGibbon Building on Water St. for a temporary stay. This was the Cham- ber's home before it's move to the old post office building. '"'We should have stayed there," said Shirriff. No one needs space Public Works Canada has canvassed Federal, Provincial and Municipal govern- ments in an effort to lease the building. "There's no need for space by any govern- ment agency," said Mondich. "They've (the Federal government) tried hard to find an answer." Shirriff commented, adding, "you just don't want a white elephant on your main street. "I'm surprised there's a body around with the kind of money needed to sink into it." The Centre d'Activites Francaises has to decided if they can afford the $50,000 worth of renovations and high operating costs. "We're certainly going to look at it," said Centre President Roland Desroches. "It could be a good cultural centre for us. I know it needs work badly but we definitely need a new facility. We have outgrown our own building." Shirriff feels it could be "a super professional building." It's got five or six really good suites." The Chamber of Commerce will wait a few months before making a decision on a per- manent home. Toanche Park fund raising gets off to rousing start Toanche Park is going places if the members of the Toanche Park and Recreation Association have any say in the matter. On Saturday_the association members staged the first annual Toanche bazaar and ball tournament to raise funds for the park's development. Upwards of 300 turned out to scream support for their favourite ballteam, savour the corn, hot dogs and 'hamburgs' view the crafts displays, pick up some bake table delicacies or play the occasional game of dart or crown and anchor. And in the evening residents again nibbled on roasted corn and sang and danced to the tunes of the North West Basin's own Marcel (Maurice) and his Northeners. It was an all day affair that demanded an all-out effort from each and every member of the com- munity. Although final tallies were not available at press time, officials estimate that the fun day netted the park's association over $400. Six teams competed in the eight hour long ball tournament and when the dust. had cleared towards dusk, Port. McNicoll Inn walked away $150 richer. Coldwater took home second prize of $100 and the consolation winners, the Thunder Bay Therriens are $50 richer today. "All the money we made today will go right back into the park,' emphasizes Albert LaRose, vice-president of the parks' association. "We want to improve our park, build change rooms for the (ball) teams, get fe swings, slides for the kids - things like that." Although the Toanche Parks' Association has owned the approximately 10 acre property on Champlain Road in Tiny Township for two years, it's only this year that an active citizens' movement decided to do something with the land. Monthly dances had been previous associations' only con- tribution to the social scene in the North West Basin. Outdoor recreation facilities, the group decided, were the answer for the money which had been accumulated, the result of the successful monthly dances. In the immediate future, La Rose hopes a paved area which could be used for tennis courts and a hockey rink in the winter will be installed. Further into the future there are plans for a community centre for North West Basin residents. The cost of that is estimated at $100,000, about $25,000 of which the parks' association already has available. Overtures will (of course) be made to Wintario, Tiny Township and area residents: 'We don't want to have to mortgage,' La Rose em- phasizes. The bazaar and ball tourney will likely be the groups' only 'major fund-raising un- dertaking this summer. Tentative plans call for a ski-doo-trail-a-thon this winter and of course the second annual bazaar and ball game next summer. "After that; we'll 'see;~an 'optimistic LaRose smiles. Bellehumeur comment raises trustees eyebrows A comment by Marcel Bellehumeur, chairman of the French Language Advisory Committee, that "'slipped out" during the committee's last meeting caused a slight stir when reported to the Simcoe County Board of Education's monthly meeting last Wed- nesday. Bellehumeur expressed his concern about the procedures used in the hiring of French speaking teachers to French language schools at the July 28 meeting. The report to the SCSB from the meeting mentioned a "lively discussion" precipitated from the remark before it was agreed to leave the concern to a later date. Penetanguishene school trustee Alvin Gravelle said the discussion centred around "the linguistic ability of teachers in the French language" and that consideration should be given to this ability in the future before hiring teachers for French language decided upon one which promised a summer of employment with thirty students in a _ place called Penetanguishene. "T had never heard of the place, but the idea of working with people my age attracted me to it," he explains. And Yvan is glad he chose Penetang. He has spent the summer working at the Historic Military and Naval Establishments, conducting tours. His main purpose in coming to Ontario was to improve his English. Conducting tours around the Establish- ments has proven to be an excellent way of doing so. Yvan comes from the Montreal suburb of Chateau Gai, and is a law student. When he returns to Quebec this weekend he faces a gruelling year of classes punctuated by Bar examinations. Come May he will be ready to article. But thoughts of his summer in Penetang seem to occupy Yvan more -than thoughts of the year that lies ahead. "Thave enjoyed myself tremendously here. Everyone is so friendly - the people at the Establishments, the people of Penetang, everybody." When not working, Yvan has made the most of the opportunities available to people of the Penetanguishene area. He spent a good deal of time in the Public Library, and remarks how impressed he was at its collection of French literature. He took a folk dancing course offered by Georgian College. Along with his workmates from the Establishments and Ste. Marie. he went on a cruise on the "David Richard." Again, with his schools. Midland trustee John McCullough had a different view. 'They (FLAC) claim there's a difference between someone that can speak French and teach in French and a Franco- Ontarian," he said in a later interview. 'You have to be born and raised in French Ontario." McCullough feels the committee is bigotted in its views on who should be hired to teach in French schools. "If you're not a Frenchman you can't think like a Frenchman," he said. Bellehumeur was reluctant to talk about the situation. 'It should never have been brought up," he said, adding, 'It must be handled with kid gloves. "We discussed it now so it won't reflect on the teachers who have already been hired. It probably won't be brought up again before next spring or may be not at all." student takes to Penetanguishene friends from the Establishment, he visited the famous (and infamous) Commodore Hotel. He spent a weekend in Toronto, en- joying the rich diversity of cultures present in places like Kensington Market. And he journeyed to Sudbury for the Festival Boreal folk festival. Yvan comes across as an intelligent young man whose appreciation of the town extends beyond a_ merely superficial acquaintance. He is well aware of Penetang's French heritage, and was impressed with the town's ability to retain a unique identity in an H almost totally anglicized province. | He is also well aware of thercurrent political climate in Quebec. He con- tends that it is "really too hard to tell | whether Quebec will remain in Con- | federation or not." But he is sure of one thing: 'Any referendum that is held will have to be fair. You can't force independence on people. The most important thing in ] this whole matter is that it remains | democratic." | | ] While Yvan was staying in Penetang, his younger brother paid him a visit. According to Yvan, his brother '"'really liked" the area and intends to apply like Yvan to the Establishments. Although Yvan will be occupied by his studies and career for the next few years, he says he will advise friends and family to visit Penetanguishene with the hope that they will come away with memories as warm as his. As far as Yvan himself is concerned, he claims that he fully intends to visit the area again in the future. And talking to him, one suspects that indeed he will. are FO te ae ts ht dae Carhagouha revisited Leaders of the Roman Catholic faith in North Simcoe celebrated a very special mass at Carhagouha this Sunday - the 362nd an- niversary of the first mass ever said in this region of the New World in 1615. Strong winds buffeted the priests and the make-shift altar set up at the Carhagouha monument. Those who came to celebrate with their leaders sat on the grass or on chairs. in a semi-circle "Let us continue, by our own lives and examples, to 'earn from the heroism of the past." With those words Father J.S. McGivern of the Martyr's Shrine, paid tribute to the courage of the missionaries and converted natives who, through their convictions in the 1600's laid the foundation for Christianity in the new world. Father McGivern, together with Father Cyril Robitaille, Cure of Ste. Croix in Lafontaine and Father V. Laurin, officiated at a special mass at Carhagouha on Sunday, marking the 362 anniversary of the first Roman Catholic mass ever said in this part of the world. Upwards of 300 area residents streamed to the grassy clearing just off Concession 18 near Cedar Point to give their thanks for the beliefs of their forefathers. St. Ann's choir members under the direction of Andre Boileau led those present in song. A strong wind whipped the makeshift altar, the priests' robes and the golden wheat in the neighbouring fields. And at first Father Laurin spoke in French, then Father McGivern in English, the following was returned to 1615 when curious native Indians stood by as Father Joseph Le Caron celebrated the first mass "in this part of the world from the North Pole to Mexico"' for the small company of 14 Frenchmen, including explorer Samuel de Champlain who had made it to the interior of Huronia. around the monument. Father V. Laurin of Perkinsfield addressed the congregation in French, listening are (left to right) Father Winston Rye, Father Justin Desroches, Father Cyril Robitaille, and Father Evain Marchand. Father McGivern, who addressed the English following, was seated out of the picture to the right of the altar Staff photo "In this land of Huronia starts one of the greatest acts of heroism ever heard of anywhere in the world,' said Father MeGivern Eight missionaries gave their lives for their work in Huronia and upstate New York, but emphasized Father McGivern, they were _ not the only heroes of the time. There were converted Indians such as _ Joseph Chiwatenewa who was one of the first con- verts in the area and the first lay retreatent in Canada. Their sacrifice too should be recognized. "In their first 25 years, there were only two converts who were in their adulthood. That's not a great success as a mission,"' the father admitted. "The success," he suggested, "'is in the heroism of martyrs, converts and missionaries of-Huronia."' Although the site of the commemorative mass a Said on Sunday may not be identical to that of the 1615 mass, Father McGivern says it is as close as we can establish today knowing only approximately where the Indian village of Carhagouha once stood. Indian relics found in the fields ap- proximately a half mile south of the location of the cross marking that first mass have led contemporaries to believe they are at least close to the site of that first special occasion Following the bilingual mass, six young members of the Christian Island Native Dancers entertained the crowd. Entertainment for crowds Lisa Sunday (with the pigtails) pulls Kenny Sandy with behind her in one of several dances: performed by the Christian Island Native Dancers at Carhagouha last Sunday. Other members of the troupe are Dana Monague, Curtis Smith, Benny Smith and Annabelle Sunday. Staff photo