‘Great Beaver’ gets name

Ken Johnston
Editor

January 1, 1904 the hamlet of Beaver Mills, Ontario became incorporated as the Town of Rainy River. Last Thursday, January 1, 2004, about 120 members of the Town of Rainy River gathered for a New Year’s Levee to celebrate the 100th birthday of the community.
Town Crier Doug Giles started the festivities ringing an old school bell from the former Rainy River Alexandra School. “Hear Ye! Hear Ye!” said Giles as he rang his way through the packed Legion Hall to the podium where he welcomed everyone.
Centennial Committee Chair Gord Armstrong then made note of the year ahead. “This is a special day and it will be a busy year ahead with many activities planned to mark the centennial.”
Long time resident Gill Stamler, accompanied by Grandma Jean Heard, lead everyone in the singing of the national anthem.
Father James Panikulam of the local and Pinewood Catholic Churches lead everyone in prayer. He thanked God for all those who have worked hard to make the community what it is over the past 100 years and asked God to bless Rainy River over the next 100 years.
Publicity chair for the centennial committee, Jack Elliott, then took to the podium and spoke about the now famous “Great Beaver”. “Thanks to Wayne McCarthy for dreaming up and finding this beaver for us,” said Elliott. He also made note of Jordan Beller, Doug Giles, Don Beyak and Rene Hogue for helping keep the “Beaver Fever” alive.
The committee used the myth of a great beaver being alive in and around Rainy River as a promotional tool to get people interested in the centennial. Thanks to the publishers across the district, the story was well received and anticipated by both RR residents and former residents alike.
To cap off the “Great Beaver” legacy, Elliott called upon Mayor Glen Armstrong and Legion President Gerry Marchuk to unveil a newly built statute of the “Great Beaver” in front of the crowd last Thursday. The RR Legion kicked in $5,000 to have the statue built. It will eventually be placed in Heritage Square somewhere near the 4008 steam engine as a photo opp. Elliott said they plan to build a stand for it that looks like a beaver lodge.
After it was unveiled, Elliott announced that the contest held to name the beaver was met with great enthusiasm from people. Several came up with the winning name and there was a prize for the winner. The committee chose to draw from all those who came up with the name and the winner was Corrie and Janice Wiersema. The winning name was “Millie.” Not long after the name was announced members of the audience were calling her “Beaver Millie” which seemed fitting as the town was originally called Beaver Mills. With Baudette having Willie Walleye and Kenora having Huskie the Muskie and RR now having a female mascot, Elliott said there are rumours abounding across the region that their may be offspring in the area. It is thought that Lil Amik in Fort Frances could be one of Beaver Millie’s.
The next item of business was to honour the town’s centenarians and former mayors. Mr. Clinton Park turns 100 March 26, 2004 and has lived in Rainy River almost his entire life. To honour him he was announced as the first inductee into the Order of the Great Beaver, created to honour citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the community. Mrs. Emma Friesting who could not attend the levee was also honoured as a centenarian. Jordan Beller, Wayne McCarthy, Doug Giles, Jack Elliott and Gord Armstrong were all inducted into the Order.
Mayor Glen Armstrong also gave a speech. He thanked Chair Gord Armstrong and his committee for all their hard work preparing for “this special year.” “Today we unveiled Millie the beaver who will be forever a reminder of this important event. This year we will have the opportunity to extend a welcome to visitors and old friends. We will celebrate the strength, courage and passion of our ancestors.”
After a few more remarks, the Mayor honoured previous mayors still living in Rainy River, two of which were in attendance, Gord Armstrong and Don Budreau. He noted three that were absent, Lou Nicholson, Gordon Prost and Clarence Olinyk. Each of them received a town flag and a centennial pin.
Dignitaries from several communities then congratulated Rainy River and presented the community with gifts. Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown, Emo Reeve Russ Fortier, Morley Reeve Gary Gamsby and Dawson Reeve John Amundsen all addressed the crowd.
Fortier told a story of the Fisher family in Emo who’s ancestors came to the area in the late 1800s arriving at Beaver Mills. They took a boat east and ran into trouble at the Manitou Rapids. “It took them five days to make the journey. Today it took me thirty minutes.”
Gamsby noted, “Yesterday our centennial year ended, today yours begins! You will need many hard working people to make it a success. If everyone helps a little, a lot will get done.”
Brown noted that over the many years he has been in municipal politics that he has worked with many Rainy River politicians and the town’s staff. “Not only did they always look out for what was best for Rainy River, but always worked for the betterment of the Rainy River District.”
Just before the giant sized birthday cake, made and decorated by Lisa Fraser, was cut by town council, special note was made of all the committee members. Gord Armstrong, chair, Susan Douglas, vice-chair, Jack Elliott, public relations, Marlene McNally, town beautification, Melanie Murray, homecoming, Norma Elliott, events, Don Ricci, website, Pat Berg, Gill Stamler, Heidi Ivall, Bunnie Atkin, John Trenchard, Harry Arnould, parade, and Marjorie Stintzi, history.
The cake was cut and Grandma Jean lead everyone in singing Happy Birthday to Rainy River.
Mayor Armstrong then lead everyone in a toast to Rainy River, her past, present and future, to conclude the levee.