Friday, December 3, 2010

Community is built by people

By Hilda Young

The community of Petawawa Ontario has two main focuses: CFB Petawawa: the military base with over 5000 troops, and the surrounding community that supports the base. Many active seniors in the community are retired from the military or civilian supports. One couple has an interesting history as both members are civilian but lived on the base prior to their marriage. Jack and Elaine Chalmers were wed in St. George's Chapel by Padre Norman MacKenzie in 1958 and still attend the chapel today Jack Chalmers back ground was Presbyterian and Elaine’s was Baptist. They stayed in the Protestant chapel as it combined all the Protestant traditions. There is a full sized Baptist “bath’ for full immersion baptism.. The chaplains come from all the major Protestant traditions.

Jack Chalmers moved to the base in 1938 as a child of 5 as his father was responsible for the ammunition depot. He tells stories of having horse drawn wagons bring ice to the house and having sleigh rides to get to school He attended Victoria School off the base. He tells of birthday parties where school friends would bring their parents to go sledding. As his home was one of the largest on the base it was a gathering place for the troops; there would often be 30 people over to watch a movie on Saturday night. The Sergeant mess was close by and the officers would bring the food and booze. As a civilian Jack has a charmed life as a kid as there was no charge to attend the movies on base for civilians. Jack was not interested in school so his parents said he had to get a job. He started working as civilian supply storeman..

Elaine was an elementary school teacher who moved to the base in 1956. She tells of living in “S-10” an: H” with the other female teachers. Their meal were cooked by the military. Washing facilities would be in the middle of the h hut. The teachers socialized with the military attending dances and gong to curling events. Elaine and Jack met at the curling rink. The Chalmers settled in Petawawa and continued to be active members of the community and the church. They raised three children. Elaine taught school fulltime on base after her marriage for 4 years then supply taught for twenty five years. She was also active in the chapel choir and Guild. In the community she helped at the Special Olympics, and the Food Bank. Jack has been a sidesman for years..He was a coach and referee for minor hockey and played old timers hockey.

They combined working on base and living in the community. Community is built over a life time.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Life at CFB Petawawa fr om 1938 to 1960

A civilian living in a military town is an observer of a different lifestyle. A civilian with a history background is a curious observer who likes to ask questions and tries to understand the military life style . I am such an observer and am curious about life in the early days on base before regular schools when the military families live on base. In the time since I moved here in 2001 there have been many changes to the Petawawa community. I would love to hear the stories of the old timers and record them while the pioneers of the community are still alive. If anyone has stories to tell please email me or phone 613-687-1476
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