May 14, 2004 Preserving francophone heritage

In a recent conversation with Wayne LeBelle, the well-known local historian and author from Field, I learned a lot about area francophone heritage preservation.  Wayne’s book Sturgeon Falls 1895-1995 celebrating the Sturgeon Falls Centenary is a unique publication with English and French text.  His second book, West Nipissing Quest (1998), profiles a dozen communities around Sturgeon Falls in a similar manner. Amalgamation has joined these communities in the new Municipality of West Nipissing.  Both books, and other work he has done use a wide range of fascinating photographs to enhance the text. 

Wayne is one of many people working on francophone history.  I have talked to Roger Lafond and Dr. Nicol Patinaude and I am aware of the work of David Lafleur and others in the development of the outstanding Sturgeon River House Museum complex.  In my conversation with Wayne he mentioned that there is an active francophone historical society (Societe Historique du Nipissing) which meets regularly, has an archives and has produced a dozen books (Bibliographie) profiling significant francophone personalities. 

I asked Wayne to show me the Societe's “Archives” and we met at the Ecole Secondaire Algonquin in North Bay in the cozy archival space provided there next to the school’s library.  The meetings of the Society are held there each month.  The materials collected are quite extensive and well-organized Societe.  Wayne is the current President and among other things is involved in a pending Bibliographie.  The 2003 edition features profiles of the 3 men mentioned above along with several other men and women.  The photo shows Wayne at work in the archives office. 

The Societe was founded in 1979 to serve the Nipissing District and has continued through the years creating a valuable repository for future use.  The group is interested in improving coordination and sharing with other francophone organizations.  Statistics show a large francophone population throughout the area many with large families that started on farms and have now often become urbanized and active in communities throughout the district. 

Francophone Genealogy 

Wayne directed me to the other important francophone resources in the North Bay Public Library’s francophone section.  It had a good genealogical section and assistance under librarian Robert Boisvert.  This library is by coincidence adjacent to the Research Room of the Nipissing Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society where their resources are available several afternoons a week as well. 

There is also an Ontario francophone genealogical society with several branches including a new one in North Bay housed in the francophone library above.  I visited the library and met Gilles Pleau the president of the new group (494-8531) who showed me some excellent new resources brought in by the new group.  They also have a brochure available there.  Its introduction states that La Regionale Jean Nicolet (Nipissing) est un organisme sans but lucratif fonde; en 2003.  Elle dessert North Bay et ses environs.  Son centre de recherches est situe; a la Bibliotheque de North Bay.  Elle constitue l’une des douze Regionales qui composent presentement la Societe; franco-ontarienne d’histoire et de genealogie (SFOHG) qui oevre au niveau de toute la province. 

West Nipissing 

There are various other francophone resources including those at the West Nipissing Public Library under CAO Carole Marion (Wayne LeBelle’s wife).  Field celebrated the 100^th anniversary of its parish in 2002 and the committee received a FEDNOR grant for an intern to facilitate the acquisition of material for a pending history book. 

Historical photo of the Field Lumber Company Fire – photo by W. LeBelle

Wayne LeBelle and other Field residents have established an ongoing history society.  Some of their material is in the West Nipissing Library which since amalgamation is their library too. 

Field is currently carrying out an important economic development initiative that includes an emphasis on local history as a tourist draw.  A pointer boat like those used for generations by loggers has been acquired and will be located on the Sturgeon River at Field (see photo). 

Pointer boat at Field with Lloyd Anderson owner of the boat (L) Wayne LeBelle and Gordon Jackson, Chair and member of the Field Economic Development Committee respectively.

Wayne will be retiring this spring and devoting more time to his business, WFL Communications, which has already produced a book for Valley East and is finishing one on Smooth Rock Falls.  His books to date which include over 3000 photographs have sold well.  He can be contacted at 705-758-9669 or by email at wayne_lebelle@onlink.net