The history of the YMCA in Canada is illustrated by postcards collected by Don McGregor, and now published as a book by his daughter Patty. Many of the original YMCA buildings are shown as well as postcards of Railway YMCAs, War Services, Camping and Sports.

With the author’s permission, Tielines presents an extensive review of this unique book about a unique collection.

DECEMBER 2012CanaFYR Newsletter of the Canadian Fellowship of YMCA Retirees

Canadian YMCA Postcards Don't Forget to Write

TRURO NS PETERBOROUGH ON

LONDON YMCA

DON McGREGOR worked for 45 years in the YMCA in Canada and was one of the most respected professionals of his time in the field of Physical Education . Shortly after his retirement in 1978, an old postcard with a YMCA scene sparked his interest in this type of YMCA memento. He began collecting Canadian YMCA postcards eventually amassing a collection of over 500 such cards. About half of Don’s collection is contained in an impressive book put together and published by his daughter Patty as a tribute to her father and a unique contribution to the history of the YMCA in Canada.

on’t orget to riteD F W

THE HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF YMCA FACILITIES is well documented and illustrated with text and over sixty postcards with pictorials of the buildings from early in the 20th century (1906) and all through the first building “boom” up to the beginning of WWI and a few beyond even during the depression years . Most of these are very impressive buildings that were built throughout the country; they are shown in the book according to region: Maritimes and Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies, and British Columbia.

For the Maritimes and Newfoundland, postcards of YMCA buildings in Saint John, Moncton, Pictou, Springhill, Stellarton, Truro, Yarmouth, and St. Johns are included in Patty’s book.

In the province of Quebec buildings are shown from

the YMCAs of Montreal, Westmount, Sherbrooke and Quebec City. As could be predicted, there were many more YMCAs built in Ontario than other regions. The postcards showing these buildings are p resen ted in a lphabet i ca l o rder by municipality – Acton, Barrie, Belleville, Brantford, Fort William, Galt, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Orillia, Oshawa, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Pembroke, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Sault Ste. Marie, Stratford, Toronto, Welland, Windsor, Woodstock.

The Prairies are represented by the Ys of Winnipeg, Brandon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Calgary, Lethbridge, and Edmonton. In the case of Regina postcards show the YMCA building as it looked in 1911 followed by two more graphically depicting the

same building completely destroyed following a cyclone in 1912. Also included is a postcard from the New Regina YMCA showing its modern new building circa 1960.

British Columbia – Prince Rupert, Vancouver, and Victoria have postcards in the collection and the book.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The postcard of the London, Ontario, YMCA building showed a flag that intrigued me. I found another card (not part of Don’s collection) on the internet that had an image of the same flag. It turned out to be a flag created for the coronation of George V in 1911, one that was never given Royal approval and is not on the list of official Canadian flags. It is included here to illustrate how postcards can capture historical details that may not otherwise be preserved in the public memory Postmarked 1913

Postmarked 1908

POSTCARDS IN CANADA when first available in 1871 were plain government issued cards that came with a printed 1¢ stamp and space for the address on one side with the reverse to be used for the message. By 1904 cards with a picture on one side and the back divided for the stamp and address on one half and the message on the other could be issued by private enterprises. These pictorial cards were a hit with the public; Canadians posted sixty million of them in 1913. These and other interesting details of the development of the use of postcards in Canada are contained in Chapter One of the book along with depictions of examples of these early postcards.

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“While the earliest work with railway men in Canada probably occurred in Toronto in the 1870s, it wasn’t until 1879 that the first Railway YMCA secretary was appointed. In 1897 the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) converted one of their buildings for YMCA work. The building, at the foot of Spadina Avenue, included a a dormitory, a restaurant, a small gym, baths and an outside play area. In St.

Thomas, Ontario, railway men were presented with rooms, library facilities and table games. These two locations were the first successful pioneers of YMCA railway work in Canada. In Quebec, work started with railway men at Pointe St. Charles in 1879, and a building was opened there in 1904.”

on’t orget to riteD F W Railway YMCAs — a Unique Response to Canadian Industrialization

“By 1900 there were six rai lway YMCAs in the country, only three of these had buildings, but a number of established city YMCAs o f f e red p rog rams fo r railway men within their existing facilities. Programs expanded over the years, and by 1920 there were nineteen YMCA Railway Associations, fifteen of them having their own buildings. Support was provided by the railway companies and costs were offset by charges for meals, rooms and a variety of programs.

The number of YMCA Railway Association began to decrease as a result of t h e D e p r e s s i o n a n d changes in railroading. As steam locomotives were r e p l a c e d b y d i e s e l locomotives, which did not need to stop as frequently, the need for such facilities diminished. However many of these organizations continued on past the middle of the twentieth century.

Railway YMCAs in Canada included:Cranbook, British ColumbiaField, Britsh Columbia

Revelstoke, British ColumbiaCalgary, AlbertaAlgoma, OntarioAllandale (Barrie), OntarioBellevile, OntarioCapreol, OntarioEast Toronto, OntarioFort Erie, OntarioHornpayne, OntarioKenora, OntarioNew Toronto (Mimico), OntarioNiagara Falls, OntarioPort Huron, OntarioSt. Thomas, OntarioSarnia, OntarioSchreiber, OntarioSioux Lookout, OntarioStratford, OntarioToronto Spadina, OntarioWhite River, OntarioMontreal St Henri, QuebecPointe St. Charles, QuebecMoncton, New Brunswick”

The YMCA of Trail BC with Mt. Stephen in background

All of the above text is quoted directly from “Don’t Forget to Write” Page 34.

SIOUX LOOKOUT ONTARIO POSTMARKED 1952 CHAPLEAU ONTARIO POSTMARKED 1926 CPR WHITE RIVER, POSTMARKED 1930

RAILWAY YMCA FIELD B.C.

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MILITIA CAMP VICTORIA PARK PEI

on’t orget to riteD F W Responding to the Needs of the Troops – The Canadian YMCA War Services and the Military (1871 - 1945)

Caption on back: A shady nook and a “Y” Tea Car –a welcome sight during training in England

The YMCA first began providing services to the military during the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870. These services included delivering parcels, setting up reading rooms and holding meetings.

After Confederation, young men were required to serve in the military for a few weeks each year. The YMCA reading rooms in the militia camps provided free writing paper, pens and ink. Eventually the YMCA Associations were operating in almost all the camps and their services had expanded to include games and physical activities. At the turn of the century, the YMCA sent secretaries with the first and second contingents of Canadian soldiers to South Africa, during the Boer War, offering the same kinds of services.

When WWI broke out in 1914, the YMCA offered assistance to the government. This was accepted; initially it was limited to military camps in Canada (soldiers training and awaiting transport) and in England. In 1916, YMCA secretaries were allowed to go to France leading to “a vast system of services, spread to all centres where Canadian soldiers were located.” This included right to the front lines where reinforced holes at the side of the trenches – called YMCA Dugouts – gave out hot drinks and reading and writing material. Further back from the front, YMCA Tea Cars provided candy, cigarettes and other amenities in addition to hot drinks. Initially tents were used as a base for services. Later, as the work developed and included large-scale entertainment such as movies, talent nights and bingos, huts became more common – at first just quonsets, then larger, more substantial wooden buildings.

The services offered in WWII were similar to those of WWI, but larger and more organized and coordinated with other NGO’s like the Salvation Army and Canadian Legion. In cities where large numbers of troops were located, YMCA services now included meals and reasonably priced overnight accommodations for soldiers on leave. The Red Triangle Clubs were so popular in Canada that some continued to operate for several years after the end of the war.

This card is one of a series that were h a n d e d o u t t o P O W s h e l d i n internment camps during WWII. The YMCA and Red Cross were the only organizations allowed to visit the camps. The card showing two POWs retrieving a ping pong ball under a portrait of Marlene Dietrich is an example of the constructive use of humour in difficult circumstances.

Caption on back: The Canadian “Y” is a popular placebetween shows in the Bomber Command

EDITOR’S NOTE: This section of the book was particularly interesting and informative. Although most of us have heard of the excellent and extensive work of the YMCA in the two World Wars, I, for one, knew little of the details. Chapter Six is comprised of 16 pages of text and reproductions of postcards that illustrate this important contribution of the YMCA to Canadian society in a compellingly graphic and satisfyingly complete manner.

Caption on back: This is a typical Y hutone of many in Canada and overseas

Maple Leaf Club, Hilversum, Holland

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on’t orget to riteD F W The Development of YMCA Boys’ Work and YMCA Camping

BOYS’ WORK: “Before 1885, programming for boys was not considered to be an overly important part of Y work in Canada. Some exceptions included the Hamilton YMCA, which established a Boys’ Home in the 1860s, the Toronto and Montreal Associations, which were offering some programs for boys in the 1870s – a time when there was growing concern across the country about child labour – and the newsboys’ school operated by the Ottawa Association. . . . . By 1898, twenty-five YMCAs were providing programs to over 2,000 boy members; by 1920 this had increased to fifty-four YMCAs and almost

16,000 boy members. Boys work soon became an integral part of every city YMCA in the country. . . . The philosophy became one of work with boys rather than work for boys. From this work with boys developed a body of knowledge about them, their habits and their likes and dislikes, which grew to form a solid foundation on which future work would be based. The strong leadership provided by the YMCA in residential camping and physical activities came as a direct result of the commitment to work with boys.”DIRECT QUOTE FROM “DON’T FORGET TO WRITE” CHAPTER SEVEN

CAMPING: The author goes on to outline the history of the YMCA Camping movement as it developed in Canada from the 1890s to mid-20th century. Many CanaFYR members have had significant camp experiences to judge from their submissions to the “Profile” section of Tielines. The camps most often mentioned in this regard

are included in the text and postcards of this chapter of the book: Camp Stephens of the Winnipeg YMCA; Camp Big Cove in Nova Scotia; Victoria YMCA’s Camp Thunderbird; Camp Pinecrest now operated by the YMCA of Greater Toronto; Camp On-Da-Da-Waks and Red Pine Camp of the Ottawa YMCA; Montreal YMCA’s Camp

K a n a w a n a ; C a m p Glenburn of the Saint John YMCA; Calagary YMCA’s Camp Chief Hector. Many more Y M C A c a m p s a r e illustrated in the book.

Summerside P.E.I. Boys’ Camp Stellarton NS Camp Elphinstone BCCamp Pinecrest, Greater Toronto Y

A professional organization was established in the early 1870s for full time YMCA workers, then called General Secretaries. The outline of a course of study and the need for training centres soon followed. In Canada this was met by the establishment of a camp for this purpose on Lake Couchiching which developed into present day YMCA Geneva Park. Many CanaFYR members, your editor included, have fond memories of summer school here. As a training centre and family camp it generated a lot of postcards over the years and 30 are reprinted in a full chapter devoted to this part of Canadian YMCA history.

on’t orget to riteD F W A National Training Centre (Geneva Park) and the Growth of YMCA Professionalism

SUNSET ROCKBOATHOUSE SWIM DOCK SUMMER SCHOOL SECRETARIESVIEWING AQUATIC ACTIVITIES

GENEVA COURT CIRCA 1970

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on’t orget to riteD F W In a PowerPoint presentation at the Multi-Anniversary in September, 2012, Patty shared her dilemma as to what she would do with the wonderful collection of postcards left by her father. She decided fi n a l l y t o p u b l i s h a b o o k . T h e consequences of that decision would occupy a great deal of her time for the next nine years. Not for the faint-hearted, here is what it takes:

Create the manuscriptPut the collection in contextDetermine what to coverDo the research and write it upType it all outProofread, edit, correctTry to find a publisherDeal with rejectionDecide to self publishFind a printerManuscript editing and fact checkingLayout challengesGrammar and style decisionsConsistency, consistency, consistencyPublish as a real book or an e-book Pre-formatted publishingPick a catchy titleHardcover or softcoverCover to design

Dust jacket or notCostEvery change or addition costs more moneyMarketing – you’re on your own9 years later – The Book: “Don’t Forget to Write”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Patty has done amazing work with this extraordinary collection of postcards. The way she has organized the material, the quality of the writing and the research that has gone into creating a historical context for the cards is truly superb.

To conclude the book she talks of Don McGregor’s efforts to get Canada Post to issue a stamp in honour of the 150th Anniversary of the YMCA in Canada. Very fittingly, one of the instruments used in the campaign was a postcard (shown, right) “Let’s put our Stamp on the Future”. The efforts were rewarded with a 47¢ stamp issued on November 8, 2001, exactly 150 years after the founding of the first YMCA in Canada

Patty McGregor decided to self-publish the book and to have it printed hard cover, in full colour and with a dust jacket. You may contact her at : canymcapcs@gmail.com. Copies are available – $38.00 plus shipping and handling (postage costs will be quoted based on postal code).

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President's Cornerby Bill Thorsteinson

You will notice along with this edition of Tie l ines , we have inc luded your membership application for 2013. The Executive decided to use Tielines as the vehicle as we know that all our members enjoy reading the newsletter and also it saves us a mailing. We hope you will take a few moments to complete the form and return it ASAP. Another thing you might do is make a copy and pass it along to someone you know who has retired from the Y, either as a volunteer or staff, and has yet to join.

Your Executive met twice at Geneva Park during the reunion and also held an open forum for questions and concerns from the membership.. The first question asked was from Garth Toombs who wanted to know what issues the Executive was facing. My reply was MEMBERSHIP. The issue is not numbers as we have been at a steady 200 – 250 for quite a few years. The concern is that we are not recruiting the newer retirees; those youngsters in their mid 60's. The average age of our membership is creeping up toward the late 70's.

On the advice of Tony Fry I contacted George Rodger to pick his brains about what we might do. George was soon to be in Toronto and while there met with Laura Palmer-Korn of the Y Canada staff and discussed this matter with her. They suggested that Ursula Hoehner was the one member of the Executive who would be recognized by most CEO's across the country and that a letter from her asking them to identify impending retirees might provide us with a list of people to contact. Ursula was happy to comply and the Executive endorsed the plan. A letter went out in October and while we have yet to receive a response we are on their radar.

Another matter of concern to the Executive is the Brookbank funds. As you will recall, Roy Brookbank bequested $10,000 to CanaFYR in his will. We have been looking for a project on which to use these funds. Peter Green, our new VP for the Atlantic Region, knew Roy personally and commented that Roy would have specified if he wished

the funds to go to a project. Peter suggested that what Roy most likely intended was that the funds were to assist in strengthening CanaFYR. With this in mind the Executive decided not to use the funds to support a project of the Prince George Y, but to retain the funds within the organization. Instead we decided to promote the Prince George Y project through Tielines and ask members to make an individual donation. To my knowledge a number of our members have chosen to do just that and so the Prince George Y project has received some support.

At our next Executive meeting in May we will discuss ways to use the funds. They are currently invested in four Term Deposits of $2,500 each. They were for terms of one to four years such that one comes due each year for four years . The first came due this Fall and was turned over for another four years. If you have any ideas which would strengthen our Fellowship please let me know by phone, e-mail or snail mail. Some things that come to my mind are funds:

- available to regions for special events- to subsidize travel to regional and national events- for the further development and promotion of the CanaFYR web-site

Christmas will soon be upon us and then the beginning of a brand new year – 2013. May I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and happy and prosperous New Year.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Not part of his report, Bill submitted separately the following item on the difference between the words “Complete” and “Finished” no doubt for the edification of the Tielines editorial staff.

No English dictionary has been able to adequately explain the difference between these two words. In a recently held linguistic competition in London, England, and attended by the best in the world, Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese man from Bachelors Adventure, was the clear winner with a standing ovation which lasted over 5 minutes. The final question was: How do you explain the difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED in a way that is easy to understand. Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED. Here is his astute answer .... when you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE. When you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED. And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED! He won a trip to travel the world in style and a case of 25 year old Eldorado Rum.

Reports Tielines December 2012

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Renewal time, renewal time...please complete and mail the membership renewal form enclosed in this package -- a great end to this year and a good start to the new one.

I would like to wish our new and long-time members a lovely Christmas and another healthy year. It has been a pleasure working with the current Executive Committee members and I look forward to more good

Secours Spéciauxby Laurie BorneChair, Secours Spéciaux

As of December 1, seventy-eight members have contributed $10,769 to the 2012 Secours Spéciaux campaign. At year end last year our total was $11, 497 from 83 donors. As of this date, there are a number of regular contributors who have not yet made their

2012 donation (reminders have been sent). I am hopeful we will meet or surpass last year's total.

Reports Tielines December 2012

Membership Mattersby Jackie Kennedy

Canadian Fellowship of YMCA Retirees – MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION

Renewing New membership Returning after one year or moreCheck one of:

Type of Membership: Single $25.00 Couples $45.00

Names: Family name First name First name of Spouse (if Couples Membership)

Address: Street, Apt# etc, City, Town, R.R.#

E-Mail AddressContact Information:

Telephone No.(s)

Please mail this registration form with a cheque for membership fees ($25 Single or $45 Couples)to: Ursula Hoehner, 72 Citation Drive, Toronto, ON, M2K 1S8 8

Postal Code

Hello...and Season's Greetings....I hope you all join me in hoping for greater PEACE than the world currently is experiencing. It is my wish that Canada revert to a greater peacekeeping role like we had before the wars of the past decade.... Enough on that matter....I have

now received replies from many of our Atlantic members of CanaFYR and have had email and telephone dialogue with members in Moncton about a gathering in Moncton in May, 2013...The responses from members show support for the get together and, thus, we are putting wheels in motion to plan the event.

The target dates are May 22-23 or 23-24. In order to commence planning the program we need to know your wishes. So, I would appreciate responses from all members on :

1.Preference of dates - May 22-23 or 23-24 2.Do you want a program which calls for an overnight in Moncton ?

3.Program ideas - activities you would like to have as part of the program.

It will be difficult to have more than a half day program including lunch if we have only a one day event. If we are to start, say, at Noon and extend to part of the following day, we will have to negotiate a good rate at a downtown Moncton hotel, probably close to the Moncton Y. I don't think that will be a problem given the organizing and negotiating strength we have in our Moncton members. We just need to know the wishes of the group. Thus, the importance of your responses. I plan to travel to Moncton in early to mid-January to meet with our members there and plan the event. So, if I could have your responses this month it would help plan the timing and program and fit in with my January target time to work on the details. In addition to focussing on the May event, if you can think of former Y staff and serious Y volunteers who we can recruit to CanaFYR membership, please contact them or send their contact info to me and I will make the contact. If we know people who have retired from Y employment years ago or more recently we should see if we can get them to join us and hopefully be part of our Moncton gathering in May. I look forward to emails from you during this month. I will be away after this weekend visiting and spending the Christmas Holidays with family but will be in email contact.

My best wishes to all members and their families for a happy and healthy holiday season and the same for 2013,

Peter

Reports Tielines December 2012

News from Atlantic Regionby Peter Green

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BUNDY, Anita Winnifred - Anita Bundy of Victoria, BC, widow of Reginald and mother to Judith passed on October 23, 2012. Anita was active in peace and justice issues and a member of the Victoria Raging Grannies. "I'd like to be a blade of grass that cracks concrete". Condolences may be made at www.earthsoption.com.After circulating this brief death notice amongst a number of appropriate age cohort CanaFYR members asking for any additional observations and comments and having been in Anita's company, I did not feel these few facts did justice to her rich life and her many varied accomplishments. Anita was 94 at the time of her death. A quick reminder: among other postings, Reg served as Executive Secretary of the Toronto North Toronto Branch and was a facilitator during the YMCA's "sensitivity training" era.

With the exception of Margaret Torrance's tribute which follows, the welcome responses were regretfully few and terse, but they remind us that Anita was a nurturing mother, a great hostess, an active member and contributor to the Toronto "Y" Wives, a senior administrator with the Anglican Church House in Toronto, a person who championed many social justice causes and

managed a full life having set amazing personal goals in the shadow of her husband's charisma and high jinks. Margaret and B o b T o r r a n c e r e -connected with Anita in Victoria, Beacon Hill, BC, at a time when all three found times and places of solace after decades of living and working in the Big Smoke.

From Margaret Torrance. "It is February in Victoria, 1992. It's raining. Anita has walked across Beaver Hill Park and is at a table by the window in the Tudor Rose Tea Room on Cook St reet . An i ta welcomes us with a bag full of local papers and street publications and muffins. Bob and I are warmed by Anita's introduction to life in James Bay. Anita was a gift to me from the Toronto " Y" Wives group of yore. From her apartment on Dallas Road (Heaven) - it was just across the road to the beach - Anita had a secret haven there where she wrote, read, and marveled as the ocean smiled and roared.

The Raging Grannies met Tuesdays to plan their attacks and compose their songs amid chaotic, unscripted meetings. Anita said of them: "It's too much fun to do any good". When USA nuclear vessels used Canada's Nanoose Bay as their ‘nest’, the Grannies took action and boarded a piece of rock planting their own flag of protest. On one occasion, officers from an intimidating US vessel were invited to a tea party on shore. Cause after cause was supported as the Grannies educated from the streets, media and Legislature grounds.

Anita was a Peace Activist. Passionate always from peace to a properly made cup of tea. Anita was passionate about Tommy Douglas and Medicare. One day in the Beacon Drive Inn coffee shop I joined her going from table to table planting his name (on a sheet) and credentials. The James Bay Community School was a joy to her - its sense of community, community suppers, Concerts and the children. Her hand- embossed stationery was graced with a long-stemmed red rose bud. How we loved her.”

Tielines December 2012REMEMBERING

A Raging Granny at 83in 2002

Anita plants the RagingGrannies Flag

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WELTON: G. Lloyd.

A resident of Chatham, Lloyd Welton passed away at Riverview Gardens, Chatham on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the age of 90. Born in Sault Ste Marie, son of the late George and Hilde (Phillips) Welton. Beloved husband of Jean (Gilliland) Welton for 66 years. Dear father of David Welton and his wife Shelley of Chatham, Philip Welton and his wife Jeanine of Loring, and Jeffrey Welton and his wife Betty of Burlington. Grandfather of Tonya Welton, Holly and Brian Yates, Eric Welton, Katie and Mark Dickerson, Christina Welton, and Michael Welton. Great-grandfather of Cody, Maggie, Zack, Devin, Charlie, and Annabella. Brother of the late Marion Sullivan and her husband Fred. Also survived by God-son Scott Sullivan of Chicago and several nieces and nephews.

Lloyd worked with YMCA for 41 years in different capacities, including Boys work, Youth/Adults, Camp Director, and Executive Director (including Chatham). In his last 10 years with YMCA, he served in Chicago as Campaign Director and raised millions of dollars for YMCA’s in the U.S.A. and Canada. Throughout his career, Lloyd lived in 16 different cities in the U.S.A. and 10 in Canada.

He was a member of Rotary International, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Chatham. Lloyd loved music, all sports, especially the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, fishing, and golf. Lloyd and Jean spent 10 years in Bradenton, Florida in their retirement, where they loved taking cruises and long walks on the beach

Check out our revamped Website at:canafyr.org

Let us know what you think and give us any suggestions you have for what should be put on the site.Send to garyccc25@hotmail.com

NEW WEBSITE

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The word Wassail refers to several related traditions; first and foremost wassailing is an ancient southern English tradition that is performed with the intention of ensuring a good crop of cider apples for the next year's harvest. It also refers to both the salute 'Waes Hail', the term itself is a contraction of the Middle English phrase wæs hæil, meaning litereally 'good health' or 'be you healthy' and to the drink of 'wassail' which is a hot mulled cider traditionally drunk as an integral part of the wassail ceremony.

In the spirit of the season, Tielines presents a virtual Wassail Bowl of various and sundry items each of which could have appeared as a Miscellaneous item or a Christmas greeting or a letter. They are all here as things that could be said or read or sung around a Wassail Bowl as CanaFYR friends get together at Christmas to wish one another well and think about old friends and colleagues in this festive and holy season.

Waes Hail

The Wassail Bowl

EDITOR’S NOTE: This material appeared in the Christmas issue of 2010. The varied contributions received for this year’s newsletter seemed to fit the theme so I used it again. To borrow a phrase from Mark Twain:“I frequently quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation.” 12

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15from Hal Studholme

Christmas Greetings from Hal and Marilyn Studholme, Norris Lineweaver, Ginny and Gord Ramsayand memories of a happy moment for Al and Norma Crawford

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T h i s s i g n c o n g r a t u l a t i n g A l a n d N o r m a Crawford on 58 years of wedded bliss appearedat lunch one day at the September Multi-Anniversary c e l e b r a t i o n a t Y M C A G e n e v a P a r k .Ivan Eaton was believed to be responsible.

Hi Gary; I am not sure of the spelling of some of the names. Jake 1. Alex (Saas) Peepre; 4. Dick MacDonald; 5. Don McGregor; 6. Arvo Tiidus; 9. Wes McVicar; 13. John McCurdy; 14. Greg McDiarmid; 16. Gord Patrick; 17. Ted Yard; 19. Bob Rae; 21. Sandy Keir; 22. Mike Andrassy; 28. Dave Saunders; 29. Jim Wallace; 30. Dave Nickelson

1 2 34 5 6 7 8

9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1718 19

20 21 22 23 24 25

26

27

28

30

29

The only one that I recognize who is not on Jakes list is 3. Ivan Eaton. Do you know the names of any others still not identified? If so, please send us the names referenced by the numbers. We would like to identify them all. Please send by email if possible to Editor: garyccc25@hotmail.com

A staff retreat at Camp Sunfish in 1951 Contributor: Ian Fleming

In the October issue we asked for help identifying the people in this photo. Jake Smythe responded with his usual promptness and precision. Thanks Jake

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SIMPLE WISDOM - TO CATCH A THIEF

It's probably the most universal problem faced by Y's around the globe….locker security. Having visited dozens of Y facilities over the years, I've witnessed an equal number of attempts to secure lockers from break-in and theft. And to the persistent thief, not one is absolutely fool proof. Given time, creativity and sometimes simple brute force, any locker can be made to give up its treasures.

I do recall one instance when, though the lock was beaten, the culprit was apprehended by creativity equal to or surpassing that of the would-be thief.

I was in my first year of fellowship at old Toronto West End Y, working with what I still consider a dream staff. Russ Davey, Gord Saunders and of course, the legendary Ing Jonas, the Physical Director of the branch. Ing was revered by those of us who grew up in the leader Corps and camp staff of the era. It was not just his talents and skills in creating an excellent leadership force that operated a fine array of sports, fitness and recreation programs, but the man had a way with "things." We seldom, if ever, witnessed a mechanical device that he could not fix or fabricate – from camp water systems to TV sets, pool filters to home silk-screened T shirts. But, for quite a while one winter, a clever thief defied every effort to nab him in the act of getting into other member's lockers. Members were upset, rightly so, and so were senior staff, including the boss of bosses, Branch Executive secretary, Wes. McVicar. Ing was called in from Camp Norval, where he had been labouring to add more heat in the dining hall for weekend rental groups.

After a couple of tries at posting "stake-outs”, without success, in the locker room, Ing came up with an ingenious solution. Taking a pair of discarded men's pants he emptied part of a large tube of black Gestetner ink into all the pockets and then, with the rest of a clothing ensemble, locked them in a locker in the secluded corner where most of the thefts occurred. Then , along with Ing, several of us took up posts near the tote desk and, looking very casual, awaited the outcome. Just after closing, with no results we began to think that even this idea was doomed to fail. Then, one of the regular locker room staff who kept the room clean, dry and tidy during the evening, came out of the area with his head down and a bundle of towels wrapped around his hands and lower arms. At this point, George Madden, the evening tote room clerk, who was in on the "sting" went up and said, "Here, I'll take those from you for the bin." A brief tussle ensued which ended in the culprit dropping the towels. Caught in the act. His hands were smeared with the thick, indelible, black ink that had lined the pockets of the pants in the locker.

We all waited for the inevitable words of dismissal, if not the threat to report the string of thefts to the police. Our culprit had blurted out a confession when caught in the act. But to our surprise, Ing simply said "Do you like working here at the Y?” "Yes." was the whispered response. "Then, Ing went on, "you can continue, but with these conditions: you work at half pay for six months, you return the goods and valuables you took, and you apologize to the members from whom you took them." The young man simply nodded his reply.

The next day he was back on the job, wearing gloves to hide the evidence of his guilt. He served out his term and then left his job at the Y for parts unknown. We trust he learned a valuable lesson from the "Great Gestetner Gambit.”

The spirit of forgiveness and the ethic of restitution rather than punishment makes this story particularly apt for Christmas.

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by Hal Studholme

The Cow Who Won the War

In recent years, in literarycircles there has beenan increased interest in the graphic novel. Forany of our readers not yet familiar with this renaissance,we present this synopsis ofthe story of Laura Secord’scow.

The true story of the war of 1812 – (a synopsis of the original as presented at the Multi-Anniversary, YMCA Geneva Park)

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from all of us to all of you!

Merry Christmas