Long time Chapple Reeve honoured last Friday

Stephanie Fleming
Staff writer

The man who devoted over a quarter-century of his life to help develop Chapple was roasted good-naturedly by friends and colleagues last Friday afternoon at the Chapple Recreation Centre.
Former Reeve Cecil Wilson retired for health reasons on Jan. 2, having served as reeve since 1989. Previously, he had served as the clerk for Chapple from 1962-1976.
Like his 25th anniversary party last year, his retirement party was filled with laughter and good-natured ribbing.
And Wilson gave as good as he got.
“I feel so pleased to hear my own eulogy,” he joked after well-wishers thanked him for his dedication to the township and the district.
When told he’d be missed, he countered with, “Anyone wouldn’t miss a sore thumb.”
His laughter rang the loudest as he worked the room like the quintessential politician he is. Wilson will turn 80 this year, but still retains the energy that helped improve the township.
He helped bring the Voyageur Panel mill, Nuinsco and the peat plant to Chapple.
Well-wishers from as far away as Kenora, Dryden, and Atikokan wished him well. NDP leader and local MPP Howard Hampton sent a letter and a book titled “Allegiance, The Ontario Story.”
The book contained photos of the Rainy River and Stratton hotels, places “I’m sure you’ve been once or twice,” Hampton joked.
“Everyone in the Rainy River district knows of your hard work,” he said, adding he’ll miss Wilson’s “sage advice.”
Photos on the wall documented his years working on council. A prominent photo was of Wilson and Manitou First Nations Chief Jim Leonard in their motorized canoe which helped them garner a third place finish in the Chapple Centennial rowboat races.
Another photo was from the August 1997 opening of the Voyageur Panel mill.
Mill manager Percy Champagne credited Wilson with getting the mill for Chapple.
“I wouldn’t be working here if it wasn’t for Cecil,” Champagne said.
In an interview after the roast, Wilson was modest about his accomplishments.
“The mill was going to come. We could supply a good location on the river. Water and sewer was available,” he said. “We had all the ingredients and we put up a good argument.”
He made sure to credit Dan Wright, former economic development officer for the Rainy River Future Development Corp., for his help with the project.
Wilson was equally as modest of his role in securing Nuinsco drilling in Barwick.
“Just one thing led to another. They started to draw wells. We had to look after our sewer so it was feasible to put both in at the same time.”
Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield had no qualms in singing Wilson’s praises. He said that through Wilson’s hard work, Chapple had a better economy.
Emo Reeve Russ Fortier presented Wilson with a plaque to show his township’s appreciation of Wilson and said, “I hope I can still pick your brain once in a while.”
Chapple Coun. Rick Neilson thanked Wilson for the way he conducted council during the four years Neilson has served.
“He’s always made it so much fun [with his] sense of humour,” he said.
“I wasn’t laughing with you,” Reeve countered with a laugh.
When the roasts ended, the audience gave a standing ovation to their well-loved reeve. After he cut his “Happy Retirement” cake, he proceeded to work the room, a politician to the end.