The Canatara Park Binders, Chapter 7 (Lambton County Archives)

Chapter 7

Canatara Park, 1950 - 1969

Summary of Events 1950 – 1959

1950

May – June Beach picnic shelter constructed by H. Pippard on site of former pavilion.

1951

April – June Refreshment booth at west end of park constructed on site of original store. This booth as dismantled in 1994.

Apr. Board of parks initiates further efforts to purchase CNR right-of-way through Canatara.

July Memorial stone dedicated to Mrs. Hanna placed at east entrance.

1952

Jan. City dump north of Michigan Ave. closed.

Sept. Former city gate pillars moved to east entrance.

1953

Apr. Log barricade placed along north side of the park road to prevent cars from going into picnic grounds.

Sept. New entrance off Christina Street constructed.

1954

May Parks Board allow city to continue to remove sand from Canatara beach.

June Large curb stones from the corner of Christina & Lochiel Streets are obtained for use at new east entrance.

1955

Mar. Parks Board gives approval to Sarnia Citizens Band to use a portable band platform in Canatara.

City dump in east side of landfill site open.

Nov. Proposal made to use a portion of Canatara for a children’s zoo and amusement park.

List of proposed improvements to Canatara by H. Savage, superintendent of parks.

1956

Jan. Golf club asked for permission to use water from Lake Chipican

Feb. Small pond excavated at southeast corner of Lake Chipican

Apr. Entrance to beach area made at north end of Lake Chipican and east end of beach parking lot is constructed.

Sept. – Oct. Roadbed is laid for loop road around the south end of the ballfield.

1957

Jan. Parks Board approves 20-year management program.

May Rose beds added to east entrance. New loop road graded, oiled and opened.

Oct. Old building moved from Jaycee Park to Canatara for storage shed. (On present site of maintenance building)

Dec. Proposal to locate camping ground in Canatara is opposed by Parks Board. Horse water trough is moved to Canatara.

1958

Jan. Road north of ballfield closed.

Feb. Plans made to put identification markers on trees in Tarzanland.

May Canatara pamphlet produced.

Aug. – Sept. Small beach parking lot at west end constructed.

Oct. Parks Board approves the use of Lake Chipican as a storm drain outlet for the new Highbury subdivision.

Proposal to locate CNR steam locomotive in Canatara.

Nov. Overflow drain from Lake Chipican to existing drain.

1959

May Parks Board opposes boating on Lake Chipican.

Original park washrooms demolished.

July

Queen Elizabeth II visits Canatara.

Nov. Parks Board approves relocation of Victoria Park canon to Canatara.

Board discusses possible use of Lake Chipican as a reservoir for storm sewer water from northern sections of the city.

Summary of Features and Activities in Canatara Park 1950 – 1960

During the twenty years reviewed in this volume many changes took place in the park. New buildings, roads, parking lots, picnic grounds and other features such as ponds and the Children’s Farm were introduced. Most of the low marshy areas that remained in the park in 1950 were filled to create the grounds for these recreational facilities.

In the summer, large numbers of people from Sarnia and the surrounding region flocked to the Canatara beach & the major industries in the area held their annual picnics in the park. Starting in 1956 the Sarnia Citizens Band also held regular concerts in the park during the summer. In the winter the park staff cleaned the snow from much of Lake Chipican for the large number of skaters that came to the park. During several winters music was also provided for the skaters and floodlights were installed for night-time skating. The most memorable event that occurred in the park during these years was the visit of the Queen and Prince Philip in July 1959.

For most of this period a municipal dump was operating in the present landfill site and until 1967 the Sarnia Works Department removed sand from the Canatara beach. Every year the park was sprayed with pesticides to control the mosquitoes and poison ivy. On many occasions parks officials refused to permit commercial-type features to be located in the park such as advertising billboards, motorboat and beach-chair rentals, a small electric train system, a tourist campground, a merry-go-round and a flying chair ride. Changes also occurred in the administration of the park. In 1955 the Parks Board was replaced by the Parks & Recreation Board, which included two Sarnia aldermen. Jack Newton who had been the superintendent at the city’s parks since 1927, retired, and was succeeded by Harry Savage in 1954, by Bill Palmer in 1957, and Bob Harrison in 1967. Two Canatara management plans were proposed during these years: the 1957 Twentyyear Plan& the 1969 Development Plan.

The popular roller-skating rink known as Rose Gardens was located just west of the park and a cement products plant & brick factory were also adjacent to the park at these times. All these park features and activities are documented in the Parks Board minutes, newspaper articles, photos, maps & site plans provided below. For a more detailed description of the events and issues concerning the Lake Chipican section of the park, see Volume 10.

Parks Board Meeting Minutes – 1950

January 31: The Board decided to have a new picnic shelter built on the site of the 1939 beach pavilion, similar in design to the one H. Pippard built in the picnic grounds in 1948. (This large shelter is the current one located adjacent to the band shell and was constructed in the spring of 1950 by Pippard, as shown in several photos below).

April 13: The Board decided to engage the Parker Farm Service to spray for mosquito control in Canatara Park. (During the 1950’s, this spraying for mosquitoes was done every June in Canatara).

October 31: The Board decided to have the architect N.B. Forbes produce plans for a new refreshment booth at Canatara.

Members of the Parks Board 1950: W.E, Germain (chairman), Mayor Nelson, J.C. Barr, E.L. Bedard, N. Perry, H.B. Savage, W.A. Watson. & J. Newton (secretary).

Note: Barr, Bedard & Perry were all former mayors.

The same members were on the Board in the years 1951 – 1954.

This photo shows the view looking south from the beach. The washrooms that were originally located at the west end of this shelter can be seen on the right.

Note: This shelter was constructed on the floor of the 1939 pavilion that was destroyed by a storm in 1941.

Canatara Closes Down This Week

Sarnia Observer, Sept. 7, 1950, p3

Canatara Park will officially close its summer season, the end of this week, Jack Newton, secretary-treasurer of the Park Board said this morning.

Cool weather has cut the attendance at the park to a minimum, according to park officials. The closing date, however, coincides with average years when the park ends around the middle of September.

Employees Laid Off

The majority of the park employees will be laid off the end of the week, said Mr. Newton. One man, however, will be kept on at the park for a few weeks. Employees include two lifeguards, a caretaker and a janitress. A number of the employees will be absorbed into the regular parks work, explained Mr. Newton.

The last scheduled picnic of the year will be held at the park Saturday. The park will reopen the beginning of June 1951.

Mr. Newton said park attendance had increased this year and more out-of-town picnics were coming to Canatara each year.

Parks Board Minutes – 1951

March 8: The Board approved the plan for the new Canatara refreshment booth, which is to be located adjacent to the large shelter in the picnic grounds. (This booth was built in the spring of 1951 and demolished in 1994. The Rotary playground now occupies this site).

March 14: The Board decided that for the construction of the new booth, Pippard would do the carpentry work and the Penvidic Contracting Co. would do the balance of the work.

April 12: The Board rejected a request from the Sarnia Poster Advertising Co. to erect a sign board at the northwest corner of Michigan Avenue & Woodrowe Road. (This would be at the southeast corner of Tarzanland).

The Board decided to initiate further efforts to purchase the CNR right-of-way through Canatara Park. (The city acquired the eastern section of this right-of-way in June 1963, as recorded below).

June 1: The Board chose J. Torrance to operate the Canatara refreshment booth in the summer of 1951.

The Board decided to have a memorial boulder dedicated to Mrs. Hanna placed at the east entrance to Canatara Park, as shown in a photo below.

November 8: The Board accepted the request by the city council to move the city gates from the corner of London Road & East Street to the east entrance to Canatara Park. (The two pillars were moved in September 1952).

The photo below was taken on July 18, 1951, when the memorial boulder to Mrs. Hanna was officially dedicated. The original road into the park from Christina Street can be seen on the right. A row of catalpa trees was located along both sides of the entrance. The current road at the east entrance was opened in 1953 just to the left of the photo. The boulder can be seen today at this location surrounded by a flower bed. Bill Germain was on the Parks Board for over 40 years and Sam Crosbie was the superintendent at Canatara Park for many years. A 1955 Observer article about Germain in provided below.

Bill Germain & Sam Crosbie: 1951

Lady’s Public Spirit Honored Stone Tribute to Mrs. Hanna

July 19, 1952 P6

At the easterly entrance to Canatara Park has been placed a stone as a memorial to the generosity of the late Mrs. W.J. Hanna, who gave $10,000 toward the purchase of the park for the use of the people of Sarnia. The stone has been prepared and erected by the Sarnia Board of parks and Management which is deserving of commendation for thus commemorating this, and indirectly, other public benefactions by this public-spirited woman.

It is not the size of the memorial but rather the spirit that prompted its erection by the Parks Board that commends itself to us. So many times, the good deeds that people perform in this world are forgotten that it is refreshing to see an instance of this kind where they are recognized.

Mrs. Hanna, who was the widow of Hon. W.J. Hanna, a former provincial secretary and president of Imperial Oil Limited, was greatly interested in wholesome public recreation and contributed in many ways toward providing facilities for this form of amusement. What made her contribution to the purchase of Canatara Park outstanding was that had it not been for her practical idealism the property would not have been secured as there was much opposition to investment for such purposes at the time in view of a prevailing economic slump. It was due to this condition however, that it was possible to purchase the property at a tempting price. Many who bitterly opposed the buying of the lake front property have lived to realise what a boon it has become to the people of the city and environs.

Mrs. Hanna also purchased the property on South Mitton street, now known as the Hanna Playground, although for a considerable time she would not permit her part in providing this recreation centre for the children to be publicized by the use of her name. For a time, she also financed the supervision of a playground in the Collingwood Street area, until the property passed to other uses. She was also a great lover of trees and influenced the introduction of the system of tree surgery which prevails in the city today.

At her death some years ago, Mrs. Hanna was a member of the Board of Parks Management, and it is fitting that it was her colleagues on that body who placed the stone where those who now enjoy Canatara Park may know through whose foresight and financial aid this beautiful lakeside park was made possible.

Behind The Curtain of Time

“Mr. Parks Board” – A Valuable Citizen

By E.G. Ahern

Although W.E. Germain cannot be numbered among Sarnia’s “old-timers”, his contribution to the recreational welfare of the city entitles him to a space here today.

Mr. Germain came here to Lambton County from Kingston, when he was 10 years old and in due course, entered the service of what is now the Canadian National Railway at Watford.

Retired in ‘37

After travelling over Western Ontario as relieving agent for several years, Mr. Germain came to Sarnia as freight and passenger agent in 1916, holding that position until October 1937, when he retired.

However, insofar as Sarnia is concerned, Mr. Germain’s chief claim to fame in his connection with the Sarnia Board of Parks Management of which he became a member in 1923. He has continued with the board ever since. He is now chairman.

From two parks – Victoria and Bayview – in 1923, Sarnia now has 12 developed parks and six underdeveloped, all of which have felt the touch of “Mr. Park’s Board’s” care and admiration. Included among these is the 262-acre Canatara Park which was commenced in 1932 with the assistance of the late Mrs. W.J. Hanna who donated $10,000 toward it. The parks board found the balance of the amount. In 1952, the city purchased 50 acres around the site of the County Home for Parks purposes. As a fitting tribute the new park was called Germain Park.

City Closes Dump Ground

The Canadian Observer – January 25, 1952, p2

The dumping ground formerly used by the city and the Village of Point Edward on Parks Board property, south of Canatara Park, has been finally closed, it was stated at the city hall today.

From now on, mayor W.C. Nelson stated, it will be unlawful for citizens to deposit waste material in that area.

The city has acquired a small piece of land for dumping purposes at the southwest corner of Murphy Road and the Errol Road, formerly known as the Severn property, and garbage and refuse will be dumped there for the present.

The Point Edward council it is learned has entered into a temporary arrangement with the Township of Sarnia to use the Township dump; until such a time as an adequate site can be secured.

Parks Board Minutes – 1952

January 10: The Board refused a request by Krikor Hekiman to cut a hole in the ice at Lake Chipican in which to hold a swimming exhibition! The newspapers were to be notified of this refusal since cutting a hole in the ice would create a public danger.

The Board notified Point Edward officials that after January 20th, the dumping ground north of Michigan Avenue would be closed. (As recorded in Volume 4, this municipal dump began in the current Canatara landfill site in 1930. When this dump was closed, a new dumping ground was opened in a gravel pit at the southwest corner of Murphy & Errol roads, where Agincourt Park is now located. In 1955 the city dump was moved back to the Canatara landfill, as noted below.)

March 13: The Sarnia Works Department agreed to a request by the Board to maintain the road through Canatara Park.

April 17: The Board decided to have a sign erected at Canatara Park outlining the park regulations.

May 8: The Board chose Mrs. Jamieson to operate the Canatara refreshment booth in 1952.

June 12: The Board refused a request by Mr. St. Germain “to land a motorboat on Canatara Park beach for carrying passengers for rental.” The motion denying this request states,” Moved by Mayor Nelson, seconded by J.C. Barr that Mr. St. Germain be advised that the Board, in line with its policy of keeping the park free of commercialism, refuse this request.”

Note: Many of the long-time residents of Sarnia interviewed in the 1990 – 1992 period –including Harry Savage – believed that when Mayor Barr arranged for Mrs. Hanna to donate money toward the purchase of the park property in 1932, she requested that the future park be kept free of commercialism. The above motion by Barr would certainly support this belief, although as Harry savage stated, it was his understanding that her request was never recorded in any document.

September 12: The Board decided to place the following notice in one of the newly erected pillars at the park entrance. In 1952 the park contained 177.4 acres, not the 262 acres stated in the notice. An Observer article below, provides a history of these pillars.

September

12, 1952

These gate pillars were erected by the I.O.D.E. at the old City limits, corner of London Road and East Street. With the recent extension of the City limits to Murphy Road on the east it was felt by the City Council that the pillars should be moved, and it was finally decided that the entrance to Canatara Park at Christina Street, North would be a desirable location and they were so moved and re-erected in September of 1952.

Note: The above statement was posted on the north pillar at the Canatara Park entrance in 1952. The first Board of Parks Management for Sarnia was organized in 1888 with the following members:

Mayor: J.L. Symington

Messrs.: T.H. Nisbet

George Leys

J.C. Mahoney, Jr.

Wm. Steed

D. Barr

Dr. T.G. Johnston

At the present time the members of the Board are as follows, together with length of service:

Chairman: W.E. Germain Appointed 1924

Vice-Chairman J.C. Barr 1932

W.A. Watson 1926

E.L. Bedard 1935

N. Perry 1939

H. Savage 1950

Mayor W.C. Nelson by virtue of office.

Secretary Treasurer J. Newton appointed 1924

At this date the following parks are owned by the Board.

Canatara Park 262 acres on Lake Huron

Elgin Park 2 acres on Elgin Street

Athletic Park 9 acres on Exmouth Street

Victoria Park 3 acres on Wellington Street

Tecumseh Park 15 acres on Russell Street

Devine Street Park 7 acres on Devine Street

Hanna Playground 2 acres on Mitton Street

Russell Street 2 acres on Russell Street

House of Refuge ground, 50 acres on East Street just purchased.

Tourist Camp 9 acres north of Dual Highway

Waterworks Park 20 acres fronting on River St. Clair and Lake Huron

Total: 381 acres

LANDMARKS

THE STORIES BEHIND SARNIA-LAMBTON.S MOST INTERESTING SIGHTS

Park Gates Originally Built for a Birthday

Gates were a gift from the IODE Pro Patricia chapter for Canada’s 60th

By Cathy Dobson Of The Observer

A squad of militia and a colorful pipe band paraded down London Road with a crowd of local residents July 1, 1927, to ceremoniously present the mayor with the gates to the city.

The two stone monuments were erected at the corner of London Road and East Street, then the city’s boundary, in honour of Canada’s 60th birthday.

Today they mark the Christina Street entrance to Canatara Park.

The city gates were a gift from the Pro Patria chapter of the IODE (Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire), now one of the oldest chapters in the region. In the spring of 1927, each of the chapters 14 or so members donated $10 to help pay for the stone posts.

They had planned to raise money at a garden party but “owing to the lateness of the season and uncertain weather, the fundraiser was cancelled, and the rest of the money had to come from the chapter’s reserves.

The ladies – most of them from prominent Sarnia families – decided to build the city gates only two months before Canada’s birthday.

At an emergency meeting, the Pro Patria IODE discussed two estimates for the project. One was for $575 while the other was $700.

In the chapter’s 1927 minutes, there is no record of which estimate was accepted. But it’s clear the women met frequently and hurriedly planned to get their tribute built in time.

The chapter met May 9, 1927, and voted in favour of erecting two cut stone pillars four feet square at the base and 10 feet high, with a light on top of each.

Minutes of that meeting indicate that a tin box would be inserted into one of the pillars with a list of Pro Patria members.

A Sarnia Canadian Observer article dated July 1, 1927, says the time capsule also contained that day’s newspaper as well as “the stamps and coins of the latest issue”.

The IODE’s minutes suggest a great deal of community support made the pillars possible. The city’s board of works agreed to transport the stone to the building site and a local electrician volunteered to do the lighting for the lights.

The stone was supplied by the Central Canada Stone Company in Point Edward and the McMillan Granite Works in Sarnia was hired to do a granite panel and inscriptions. Sarnian Thomas Grace was the contractor.

When the pillars were complete and ready to present to Mayor James F. Newton, the Sarnia Canadian Observer recorded the event in detail: “Two grey stone pillars, standing like welcoming sentinels at the eastern boundary of the city, were formally dedicated”, it read. “The mayor expressed the thanks of the citizens at large for the splendid gift and tangible evidence of the interest of the women in the community and the Dominion.”

The pillars would stand, not only as a commemoration of Canada’s diamond jubilee, but also “as a reminder of the self-sacrifice and thoughtfulness of the ladies who made up the chapter,” Mayor Newton said.

For years, the gates to the city proudly marked the eastern boundary but annexation in 1951 meant the city grew to Murphy Road.

The following year, city fathers chose to move the pillars to the new entrance to Canatara Park. At the time, the city was building the park road that is familiar to Sarnians today. Prior to 1952, the entrance was north of the existing one.

Then in 1995, The St. Clair Chapter of the IODE was celebrating its 85th anniversary and its stature as the city’s oldest chapter.

The gates were rededicated, and a new plaque was placed on the north post indicating these are IODE’s gates.

On another side of the pillar is the plaque placed there in 1927. It bears the inscription: “Canada’s Jubilee of Confederation 1867 – 1927. Pro Patria Chapter, Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire – One Flag, One Throne, One Empire”.

Rose Gardens Remembered

The Observer, Saturday, October 24, 1998

By Jim Miller

In 1988, Dick and Elsie Rose attended a Rose Gardens reunion organized by former regulars from their roller-skating rink. They were astonished when one skater travelled from Alberta to attend.

The impact they played on the lives of young people in our community was colossal.

From 1952 until its closure in 1974, Rose Gardens was a great place to be for teenagers. The small rink located beside Canatara Park at 1275 Sandy Lane was home to skating, dances, contests and roller hockey. Young patrons would pay 40 cents and 10 cents for skate rental for three hours of leisure.

While most of the crowd was young, families and adults enjoyed skating, including a 74-year-old man from Lucan, who they only knew as Mr. Clark. He came every Sunday afternoon.

Dick, a World War II veteran and a retired firefighter from London and Elsie, a nurse, bought the outdoor skating rink known as Starlite Gardens. In 1961, they had a fully enclosed building.

The couple also ran a bakery out of the kitchen and their famous “spudnuts” – yeast-raised donuts – were sold around the city. The day began at 4:45 a.m., and they never vacated the premises until the final youngster was picked up from the rink.

Usually when a kid didn’t have enough money to get in, Dick silently slid a dime or a quarter.

Known by many as Mom & Dad, Dick recalls only once telling a youngster to never step foot in the rink again. He changed his mind, years later, when the same person returned for their closing night on a cold evening in October 1974.

Dick was also the disc jockey and personally previewed every 45 record at Mary’s Record Mart before he bought it, making sure it had a good beat. The song which best sticks out from the era is, naturally, Lynn Anderson’s Rose Garden.

The couple held numerous fund raisers for Muscular Dystrophy. Stars played there: Del Shannon (replacing the scheduled Roy Orbison), David Clayton Thomas (later of Blood, Sweat & Tears), Bobby Curtola, and Ronnie Hawkins. CHOK periodically held simulcasts.

Daughter Marilyn was a silver medalist at the U.S. championships and always lent a hand in the operation of the business. Regulars, Bob & Mary Round would years later roller skate at the grand opening of Toronto’s Skydome.

Bureaucratic red tape and escalating costs in insurance forced them to sell and they went into semi-retirement. The structure’s steel supports, roofing joints and roof decking can still be seen today at the Lambton Heritage Museum, near Grand Bend.

“Our best memories are of all the friendships,” recalls Dick.

“Still to this day, whenever we go to the mall, somebody comes up and recognizes us,” smiles Elsie. “They often tell us they wish there was a place like Rose Gardens for their children or grandchildren.”

Never forgotten, Rose Garden’s legacy is featured in Peter Young’s new book Lake Huron’s Summer Dance Pavilions.

Today the Roses reside on Sandy Lane in a building which Dick helped construct. They have two grandchildren, and their first great-grandchild is due any day now. The couples hobbies include antiques, woodworking and knitting but their greatest interest remains helping and visiting their friends.

As described in a June 3, 1939, Observer article provided in Volume 6, a dance floor and orchestra shell were constructed that year near the southeast corner of the Sarnia Cement Products Co. property, adjacent to Canatara park. From 1939 to 1950 the outdoor dance facility known as Starlite Gardens brought music and joy to thousands of area residents. Popular dance bands such as those led by Mickey MacDougall and Jack Kennedy performed here during those years.

Halloween Party 1970

Rose Gardens 1974, shortly before closure

As noted in the Observer article on the preceding page, in 1951 Dick & Elsie Rose bought Starlite Gardens and enlarged the dance floor so that it could be used for roller skating as well as dancing. In order to keep it open year-round they completely enclosed the facility in 1961. From 1952 – 1974, Rose Gardens, as it was known, was Sarnia’s most popular roller-skating rink and dance hall. Crowds of up to 1,800 were not unusual for an evening of roller skating & dancing afterwards. A memorial boulder to Dick & Elsie is located near the west entrance to Canatara park across the road from the former site of Rose Gardens where an apartment building now stands. The location of Rose gardens is shown on several aerial photos, and maps provided below.

Lake Chipican Photos: 1951 – 1955

This photo was taken in June 1951 and shows the view looking west across Lake Chipican from one of the houses being constructed on Lake Chipican Drive.

This photo was taken in January 1955 and shows the view looking across the lake from one of the houses on Lake Chipican Drive. Notice that there is no road through the dunes at the north end of Lake Chipican to the beach parking lots at this time.

Both photos show the large marsh of cattails & bullrushes that surrounded the lake in the 1950’s, see Volume 10.

Parks Board Minutes – 1953

March 26: The Board decided to obtain a price from the city engineer for grading & top dressing of the beach parking lot at Canatara Park. (This refers to the western portion of the current parking lot; the eastern section was not constructed until 1956.)

The Board requested that the city engineer provide a price for the construction of a new east entrance to Canatara Park. (The Board planned to move this entrance to the CNR right-of-way, which was almost 100 feet south of the original entrance. In 1953 the city had a lease from the CNR on this right-of-way, but it wasn’t purchased by the city until 1965.)

The Board decided to start spraying the poison ivy again since it still covered several areas in Canatara Park. (Most of the poison ivy had been eliminated on the picnic grounds in the 1930’s.)

April 16: The Board awarded the tender for operating the refreshment booth during 1953 to Mrs. G. Jamieson

The Board decided to purchase a boat for use of the lifeguards at Canatara Park.

June 16: The Board decided to place a barricade of large logs along the south side of the park road from Lake Chipican to the west boundary of the park. (A section of this log barricade is shown in the February 21, 1955 Observer photo below. )

The Board thanked the Board of Works for supplying surplus earth to fill in low areas of parkland. (Much of the earth was being used at this time to ‘reclaim” the marsh at the south end of the Canatara ballfield.)

September 10: The Board requested that the city construct a new entrance roadway from “Christina Street along the CNR right-of-way to connect with Lake Chipican Drive at the first curve.” (This new entrance was constructed in the 1953-1954 period. The two pillars had already been placed at this new entrance, where they are today, in September 1952. The Board requested that Sarnia Council, “start the necessary legal proceedings to have that area of Canatara Park bounded on the north by the old CNR right-of-way, on the east by Christina Street, on the south by Michigan Avenue and on the west by Sarnia Road, incorporated into the city of Sarnia.” (The land referred to is the 64-acre parcel obtained by Sarnia in 1938 that included both the Tarzanland & landfill sections of Canatara Park. Although Sarnia owns this property, it is in Point Edward. The reason why the Parks Board wanted to remove it from Point Edward is revealed at the next Board meeting.)

October 8: “A delegation from Point Edward council, consisting of Reeve Burr, William Boyd, and Mr. Lee were present. Reeve Burr stated that Point Edward wished to extend Ernest and Louisa Streets easterly to meet Christina Street. (The Point Edward officials wanted to have a residential subdivision built on the 64-acre parcel. This plan was rejected by both the Parks Board and Sarnia Council.)

December 17: The Board sent a letter of appreciation to H. Peden for his many years of assistance in Policing Canatara Park.

The Board appointed H.B. Savage as superintendent and secretary-treasurer of the Parks Board, to start duties on January 1, 1954.

The Board sent a letter of appreciation to J.F. Newton for his, “gratuitous service to the Parks Board during past years.” (Jack Newton had begun serving as superintendent & secretary-treasurer of the Parks Board in September 1927. Newton Park is named after him. A 1955 Observer article concerning his life is provided below.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF TIME

Don’t Blame Coach – Ex-Rugby Star

The Observer – March 19, 1955, p13

By E, G, Ahern

During a recent football season in which the Imperials were having their share of troubles, Jack Newton made the comment, “Don’t put all the blame on the coach”. He was speaking from experience since he played City League Rugby before going to the University of Toronto in 1905, where he promptly joined the Varsity Team, captaining it to a Grey Cup championship.

In 1911, 1912 & 1913 he was coach of the famed Toronto Argonauts, and then as an officer of the Canadian Field Artillery, coached a battery in the First World War. He returned home with a Military Cross.

While he and his brother Jim helped their father operate the Sarnia Woollen Mills on Front Street (now occupied by the Metropolitan Stores) Jack tutored the Sarnia Collegiate (London Road) team in the interscholastic series and brought home a raft of championships.

During World War Two, after the 26th Battery RCA had gone overseas, Jack organized the Reserved 26th , Battery RCA, recruiting and training men for war service and home defence.

As the first secretary – manager of the Board of Parks, Jack gave his services from 1928 until he retired in 1953.

May 1953 Aerial Photo: West section of Canatara Park

Map V1: West section of Canatara Park, 1953

Notes for Map V1: West Section of Canatara Park, 1953

Until the mid-1950’s most of the facilities were located in the western portion of the park. The city buses entered the park at the west entrance and stopped at the turn-around shown on Map V1, Once they left the buses, most people walked to the west beach along a trail that ran through the pit which had been excavated in 1943 to provide sand for construction purposes at the Polymer Rubber Plant. Several other trails converged on the washrooms in the southwest section of the picnic grounds. In addition, a number of short trails crossed the sand dunes from the beach parking lot to the central beach, which was the most popular section of the Canatara beach in the 1940 – 1955 period.

A concrete walkway ran from the road at the park office to the beach near the large picnic shelter, just as it does today. A short laneway also went from the park road to the west side of this shelter where the other park washrooms were located.

Two baseball diamonds were located at the north end of the ballfield while both the south end of the ballfield and the area where the Children’s Farm is today was a low, marshy wetland. A ditch had been cut through this wetland in 1947 to partially drain the area. Clay from excavation sites in Sarnia was being transported to the ballpark to both raise the elevation of the ballfield and fill the wet meadow to the north of the present Children’s Farm area.

Although in 1953, the dumping ground at Canatara was officially closed, the City Works Department still used the area marked on Map V1, for disposing of all the fallen trees and branches that had resulted from the May 1953 tornado. In fact, the aerial photo accompanying Map V1was taken in late May, soon after the tornado hit downtown Sarnia. Some of the dump trucks that were hauling this debris can be seen in the photo in the area where it was being dumped. The trucks reached this area by travelling down the dump road, where the road to the Children’s Farm is today.

Parks Board Minutes 1954

January 14: The Board received a letter from the Lambton Health Unit regarding the inadequacies of the toilet facilities at Canatara Park

March 25: The Board decided to “arrange with the city engineer for the use of certain lands north of Michigan Avenue for garbage disposal subject to regulations set down by the Parks Board as to the care of the property.” (The city engineer decided that after the “Agincourt dump” had been filled in early 1955, the dumping ground would move to the wetlands on the west side of Tarzanland.)

In early 1955, three deep trenches were dug in the southern portion of these wetlands, as shown in the 1955 aerial photo of the park. In April 1955 the city began dumping garbage into these trenches. In 1990 when Jack interviewed Harry Savage, he mentioned that this was the one decision he regretted during his time as parks superintendent since it resulted in the destruction of the rare wetland wildflowers and ferns that until then had been preserved at this location. (This is the same area referred to by Francis Flintoft in her June 27, 1935, letter quoted in Volume 6.)

May 13: The Board informed “Messrs. Rogers and Halton that the property north of Michigan Avenue and west of Christina Street was not for sale. (This refers to the Tarzanland woodlot.)

The Board permitted the city engineering department to remove sand from the Canatara beach in 1954. (The sand, which the Board allowed the city to remove throughout the 1950’s was used for sanding the slippery roads in the winter.)

The Board rejected a request by the Dow Social Club to have ponies in Canatara Park for the Dow picnic.

June 10: The Board refused permission “to use the east end of Canatara Park the first weekend of August for aquatic sports by the Sarnia Bruins Club as this would conflict with the policy of Canatara Park.”

June 24: The Board granted the request of the city council to construct a 30 inch water main along the western boundary of the dumping ground at Canatara Park. (This water main ran from the Sarnia Water Works at the river easterly along the CNR right-of-way, and then turned south down the western boundary of the landfill site. The excavations for the pipeline can be seen on the 1955 aerial photo of the park).

November 23: The Board directed the secretary to sign a lease with Mr. G.W. Jamieson for the concession in Canatara Park to expire on October 3, 1955.

December 29: This was the last meeting of the Parks Board and most members, including James Barr retired at this time. Only Bill Germain remained as a member of the new Parks & Recreation Board in 1955.

The photo below shows a typical summer scene in the central section of the Canatara beach in the 1950 – 1955 period. The central section was the most popular during this time since it was located adjacent to the beach parking lot, as shown on Map V1. After the eastern portion of the parking lot was opened in 1956 the west beach became the most popular.

Notice the two dark objects in Lake Huron. The one on the right is the Gladstone’s boiler and the other is a cluster of wooden piles that was used in securing the gravel boats to the Gladstone when it was used as a loading dock in the mid 1920’s, as described in Volume 4. The breakwater that Merlo, Merlo & Ray constructed in 1928 can be seen near the top left corner.

Parks & Recreation Board Minutes 1955

Note: Starting in January 1955 the Parks Board became the Parks & Recreation Board. This new board consisted of two city aldermen & five citizens. The Parks Superintendent and Director of Recreation also attended the board meetings.

In 1955 the members of the Board were:

o R. Dunlop - Chairman

o H.B. Savage – Parks Superintendent

o M. Linder – Director of recreation

o Alderman Gowland

o Alderman Matheson

o H.V. Page

o W.A. Atherton

o H. Byron

o W.E. Germain

February 23: Mr. Germain suggested that the Board should charge the city a fee for the use of the dumping grounds at Canatara Park. However, Mr. Savage stated that an agreement had already been signed regarding the use of this property.

March 16: A delegation from the Sarnia Citizen’s Band revealed that they wanted to build a band shell as a memorial to the late William Brush in a city park, preferably Canatara Park. The cost would be between ten and fifteen thousand dollars. In the meantime, they requested that the Board provide a portable platform as a stage for band concerts and the Board agreed to do so. (In the 1956 – 1961 period, before the Canatara Band Shell was built, the Sarnia Citizen’s Band used the portable platform for concerts at several locations in Canatara Park. The most popular spot was south of the park road just west of Lake Chipican. Mr. Brush had been the musical director of the Sarnia Citizen’s Band for over 40 years.

Mr. Savage noted that the “work of preparing the dumping ground at Canatara Park is now in progress.” (The three trenches dug at this time for garbage disposal appear in a1955 aerial photo shown on page 25.)

March 23: The Board received a letter from the Commissioner of Works asking for permission to remove sand from the Canatara beach in 1955. “However, some members of the Board felt that this practice was undesirable. The equipment was both unsightly & dangerous to the public and the act of removing sand might be injurious to the beach. Mr. Germain pointed out that the Board had permitted this in previous years and in return the city had always maintained the road through Canatara Park.” The Board decided to request that the Commissioner of Works find an alternative source for sand.

April 20: T.H. Dobbin, the Commissioner of Works stated that an alternative source was not available, and as a result, the Board granted permission to remove sand from Canatara in 1955.

August 17: The Board decided that additional spraying of the poison ivy at Canatara Park was necessary.

October 19: “Mr. Savage presented a plan of a proposed rerouting of the road through Canatara Park that would circle to the south of the ballfield thereby eliminating some of the traffic hazards that exist in the congested portion of the park & opening up new areas to the rear of the park for picnic grounds.” The Board approved this plan (This refers to the section of the current park road that loops around the south end of the ballfield, as shown on Map V3.)

November 16: The Board received a letter from E.B. Beno, “requesting permission to lease a portion of Canatara Park to operate a children’s zoo and amusement park.” After investigating the matter, the Board refused this request. Notice that in the Observer article on the page 24 Germain is quoted as saying: “The Terms of Endowment of the property from the Hanna estate prevented operating of an amusement park at any time in the area.”

November 23: Mr. Savage submitted the “wish list” of future projects at Canatara Park shown on page 24.

November 30: Mr. Savage stated that $5,000 had been set aside to construct a portable platform for the Sarnia Citizens Band.

This February 1955 view looks west along the section of the park road north of the Children’s Farm. The log barrier was placed on the south side of the road in 1953.

Nature Makes Winter Wonderland Out Of Summer Playground

Canatara Park, that summer playground for thousands of holiday makers, turned into a winter wonderland following Monday night’s surprise snowfall. Frosty patterns entwine the leafless trees like giant spider webs while on the ground Mother Nature has rolled out the white carpet. This naturally – framed photograph was taken by Observer staff photographer Don Henderson.

Dump Filled, Pick New Site

Sarnia Observer, April 7, 1955, p13

(This item refers to the closing of the dump where Agincourt Park is now and the opening of the dump in the southeast section of today’s Canatara landfill site.)

The city dump on Errol Road has been completely filled and the city is now dumping garbage on a new site between Michigan Ave. and Cathcart Road, west of Christina Street.

City engineers said the old dump will be covered with about two feet of soil and if proper arrangements are completed may eventually be converted into a park.

The garbage is already covered with about six inches of sand. The sand is laid over the garbage daily to prevent odors and to keep out rodents.

A similar method will be employed at the new site.

The July 19, 1955, Observer photo, shown below, looks south from the northwest corner of the ballfield. The view from this location is similar today except that both the anchors wooden crossbeam and the ball diamond’s backstop screen are gone.

Old “Mud Hook” May Be Windjammer’s

Although he doesn’t know the history of the old anchor, Jimmy Scarrow, 11, of Sarnia, finds that it is a perfect detour from the direct route to the bathing beach at Canatara Park. History of the anchor is sketchy. In 1942 a freighter lost its anchor in the St. Clair between Sarnia and Marysville. Ried Wrecking Company, hired by the captain to seek his lost anchor, were unsuccessful in retrieving the modern implement, but dredged this ancient “mud hook” from a watery resting place. Old-time mariners claim that the anchor is of the type used on old “windjammers’ a century ago, and the rough construction shows the lack of the polish of modern machinery. The chain attached to the ancient anchor is old, but not as old as the anchor. It was also found at the bottom of the St. Clair River, at a different location, and was welded to the anchor to complete the picture. Observer staff photo.

Canatara Park ‘Disneyland’ Suggested to Parks Board

Sarnia Observer – November 1955

Sarnia has been offered a small “Disneyland” of its own to be located in Canatara park.

The offer was made by a Bright’s Grove man in a letter presented to the Parks and Recreation Board at a meeting Wednesday night.

E.B. Beno asked permission to lease property in Canatara Park for the operation of a kiddie’s zoo and amusement area featuring small animals and mechanical rides.

A small electrical train to run around the zoo was mentioned as a later possibility. A silver collection would be taken as admission to the zoo with paid rides in the amusement area carrying main expenses of operation the letter said.

W.E, Germain said the terms of endowment of the property from the Hanna estate prevented operation of an amusement park at any time in the area.

The board agreed to make a decision one way or another after referring the matter to Parks Superintendent Harry Savage for a recommendation.

(4.) Canatara Mr. Savage had a long list of improvements that should be completed or proceeded with for this, Sarnia’s largest public park. Listed below are the improvements recommended along with a suggested schedule of completion of suggested improvements.

(a) New restrooms estimated cost $15,000 at new location south of cafeteria, if possible, should be proceeded with in 1956.

(b) Bathhouse to be erected in easterly portion of park existing bathhouse to be maintained with the thought of replacing under the roof of the shelter on the westerly portion of the beach recommended that plans of two new bathhouses be proceeded with in 1956 for possible start in 1957

(c) Parking Lot stoning and gravelling in 1956

(d) Street Lighting When new road completed new street lighting installed throughout the park on concrete or ornamental poles – since this road is a city street, the commission should endeavour to determine whether or not Sarnia Hydro would erect streetlights on the same basis as other streets – to be considered in 1956.

(e) Groin considerable engineering material required before proceeding with this project –recommended it not be considered in present plans.

(f) Water mains Christina entrance – suggested superintendent obtain estimate from engineering department for installation of water service under Christina at Cathcart Boulevard entrance – to be considered in 1956.

(h) Municipal golf course no expenditure in 1956 but obtain professional advice and initiate planning in 1956.

(i) Lake Chipican superintendent to obtain engineering report of methods and costs of removing rushes from east side of lake and general beautification of area,

(j) Operation of Concessions H. Byron volunteered to bring a report involving operation of concessions.

Canatara Park 1955

Map V2: Canatara Park 1955

Notes for V2: Canatara Park 1955

Concerning the western section of the park, the features shown on Map V2 are, with the following two exceptions, similar to those on Map V1. A third ball diamond was added to the ballfield in 1954 & in 1955 a water main was laid along the southwest boundary of the park and the west boundary of the landfill as shown on the 1955 aerial photo.

In 1955 the landfill included both the 1930 – 1952 city dump and the 1930 – 1944 sludge dump. The western section of the city dump extended into the triangular property owned by the CNR where the Works Department continued to dump branches and other debris from city trees. The dump trucks gained access to this area by going down the dump road, where the road to the Children’s Farm is today. A small amount of refuse was also being dumped into the marsh at the south end of the area covered with the incinerator ash. A short lane ran from the dump road across the ash deposit to this dumping location, as shown on Map V2.

In 1955 the western section of the present landfill site consisted of a flat, level field covered with weeds and a few shrubs. A large advertising billboard was located at the southeast corner of this field. The area covered by incinerator ash, however, was not level, rather it gradually sloped downward from the dump road at the north to the marsh on the south.

In early 1955 three deep trenches were dug by the city in the marsh at the west side of Tarzanland, as shown on Map V2. Since the bottom of these trenches were below the water table, they quickly filled with water, forming long narrow ponds. The sand that had been dug from the trenches was piled in berms around the edge of the ponds. In the 1955 – 1959 period these ponds were gradually filled with garbage and then covered with sand. An aerial photo taken in the 1960’s that shows a portion of the “sanitary fill area” after it was covered with sand, is provided below on page 55

The excavation and filling activities involved with this dump operation had an adverse effect on the adjacent trees in the low wet area on the west side of Tarzanland. This fact was mentioned in an October 1, 1958, park staff report to the Board concerning the removal of over 40 elm trees from Tarzanland.

“It must be realized that not all the elms that were removed are a direct result of Dutch Elm Disease, a good portion of the trees in the sanitary fill area were victims of earth filled around them and (55) eventually causing their death. The death of some of these trees could easily be attributed to the fact that the water table was changed when they were excavating in the area.”

The altered water table also eliminated many of the wildflowers and ferns in this wetland area of Tarzanland, as Harry Savage noted.

In 1960 a much larger, square shaped trench was dug just north of the first three as marked on Map V2. The pond in this trench was filled with garbage in the 1960 – 1963 period. Between 1964 & 1967 the refuse was deposited on top of the material that had been dumped into the landfill prior to 1955, as depicted on Map V4, which shows the park in 1965.

In 1955 the unused road at the original east entrance to the park had not yet been removed, as shown on Map V2. Many of the children who lived along Lake Chipican Drive at this time learned to ride their bicycles at this abandoned strip of roadway.

The twelve-foot laneway through the Phillips and MacDougall property, that had provided the only access to the park from the east on the 1933-1936 period, was not being used in 1955. Harry Savage mentioned that until the 1950’s, Germain made a point of driving through this lane to make sure the gate on it was kept open during the daytime in the summer months.

The short road that led to the east beach was used by the city Works Department trucks to haul sand from the beach.

In the 1950’s Lake Chipican was surrounded by a large marsh of cattails & rushes as shown in the 1951 & 1955 photos as on page 15. In the marsh at the south end of the lake was the ditch that had been dug to stop the oil in the sludge dump from spreading northward into Lake Chipican. By 1955 the small catch basin or pond connected to this ditch was filled with reeds and rushes, and therefore is not visible on the 1955 aerial photo of the park. On this photo also notice that the deepest part of Lake Chipican appears as a dark oval-shaped area.

Park staff planted a number of young pine trees in the open field near the northwest corner of Lake Chipican where the International Park Hotel and the Quarantine Station had been located. These pine trees, now fully grown, can be seen at this location today.

The laneway that ran from the park road to the southwest corner of lake Chipican was known as ‘Lovers Lane”. Today the south section is a nature trail, and the northern portion was removed in the 1970’s.

The section of the west meadow north of the present Children’s Farm site had been filled with earth and in 1955 this former wetland was a grass covered field. In the 1956 – 1960 period this filled section was gradually extended southward as more earth from city excavation sites became available.

On the 1955 aerial photo of the park accompanying Map V2, notice that the sandbar in lake Huron appears as a wavy white line off the Canatara beach. The wrecks of the A.W. Wright and the Gladstone are also visible off the west beach.

The old GTR main line runs diagonally across this photo separating the former Quarantine Grounds on the north from Point Edward to the south. In 1955 this rail line was still being used for moving material to and from the CNR freight sheds in Point Edward.

1955 Aerial Photo

The western portion of the former Quarantine Grounds and the northern fringe of Point Edward, ca. 1955

In the former Quarantine Grounds the following features can be seen.

The western portion of Canatara Park is at the bottom right.

Rose Gardens – coloured yellow – is located on the land used by the Sarnia Cement Products Company from 1920 – 1946. The former SCPC plant is coloured orange. In 1955 it was operated by Paul James.

The breakwater built by Merlo, Merlo & Ray in 1928 is on the Lake Huron shoreline. The strip of beach between the breakwater and the park was obtained by Sarnia in 1984 as an addition to Canatara Park, as recorded in Volume 9.

Reid’s Basin, or the Yacht Club Basin as it is now called, was dredged between 1928 & 1940, as described in Volume 4. In the 1881 – 1891 period this area was the site of the quarantine stock yards, as noted in Volume 3.

A wood-framed lighthouse – coloured red – is at the foot of Fort Street.

The two wireless towers of the Marconi Station near the river was the site of the ballfield known as Shamrocks Greens in the 1883 – 1891 period. Before that, in the 1840’s, John Robertson is said to have grown a crop of buckwheat and barley in this area.

The Sarnia Waterworks plant – coloured blue – was built in 1914.

The brick factory known as G & L Masonry Products Ltd. Can be seen just south of the rail line near the bottom right corner of the photo. It is located on the former site of Haynes Mill.

The freighter going into Lake Huron is the Cliff’s Victory, which in 1955 was one of the largest ships in the Great lakes.

Note: The entire quarantine grounds was in Sarnia Township until 1951 when it became part of the City of Sarnia.

In 1944 &1961 there was a proposal to extend Canatara Park westward across the former quarantine grounds shown in the photo to the river. In 1969 Point Edward officials recommended that Sarnia obtain the former SCPC property as an addition to the park.

Parks & Recreation Board Minutes – 1956

January 3: The Board received a letter from the Sarnia Golf Club “requesting permission to install a pumping station at the south end of Lake Chipican and an easement over the land to the south of the lake to provide water for watering the golf course.” The Board refused the request, as described in Volume 10.

January 30: The Board decided to have the architect N.B. Forbes produce plans for new washrooms at Canatara park.

Mr. Savage reported that park staff were beautifying the area along the park road near the beach picnic shelter by constructing a stone wall and installing new flower beds. This area is shown in a May 8, 1955, Observer photo below. He also mentioned that a small pond was recently dug near the southeast corner of Lake Chipican. (The large crane used in digging this pond can be seen in a photo provided in Volume 10.)

The Board passed the following motion: “That whereas the citizens of Point Edward freely enjoy the facilities and privileges of Canatara Park, that the village be requested to contribute to the Parks and Recreation Board an amount equal to 1/20th of the cost of the operation and maintenance of the park and of the

improvements therein constructed or installed, the amount to be based on the preceding years expenditure.”

Note: The rest of the Parks & Recreation Board minutes for 1956 are missing. However, when I interviewed Harry Savage in 1990, he mentioned the following projects that were undertaken in 1956 when he was parks superintendent.

In April the Sarnia Works Department constructed the eastern section of the beach parking lot. At the same time the fore dunes at the east beach were removed so that people sitting in their cars at this parking lot would have a view of Lake Huron. In addition, a new entrance to this lot was made by constructing a road through the dunes just north of lake Chipican. This short roadway, which today is the east entrance to the large beach parking lot, was known as Lake Huron Drive since it led to a spot where people could get a panoramic view of Lake Huron.

In May the first of three rose beds shown in the June 1958 photo below, were planted at the east entrance to the park. Park staff also planted the floral display shown in the July 12, 1956, Observer photo below.

In September and October, the Works Department laid the roadbed for the loop road around the south end of the ball field.

During 1956 parks staff devised the twenty-year plan for the park described below.

In August a locomotive was derailed as it travelled on the line from Point Edward to Sarnia. The derailment occurred on the western arm of the “Y” just north of Michigan Avenue, as shown on the August 23, 1956, Observer photo below.

This flower bed was located just east of the park office between the old park road and the beach parking lot. The photo shows the view looking north, so the parking lot would be just behind the bed. An August 2, 1957, Observer photo, provided below, shows the same bed with a different floral display.

Flowers Set The pattern For Canatara Name Crest

Lifeguards, Don Williams, Keith Thomson and Barbara McDonald form a backdrop for Canatara Park’s pride and joy. This crest contains six different types of plants. The letters are in a light green, enclosed by herbs of a deep red colour. Plants of a brighter red surround the whole emblem and the entire 24 feet by six feet area is bordered by purple and green alyssum. The plants were obtained from a local greenhouse, and it takes hours of weeding and clipping to keep them looking pretty. Visitors to the park have nothing but praise and indulgent looks for the work of park gardeners. Observer photo.

Train derailed on track just north of Michigan Avenue, Point Edward

Busy Season Ahead at Canatara Park

14, 1956 P17

Hot weather and Canatara Park are synonymous. The park with its hundreds of sturdy oak trees, provides summer shade for many thousands each year.

It is also a popular rendezvous during the summer for family picnics and reunions.

The Sarnia Parks Board has in recent months, done much to improve facilities. One of the many improvements is the circle drive which cuts off Chipican drive and cuts through the sand embankment. Further parking facilities have been planned for this area. The roadway then cuts back to the main road though the park.

An attractive rock garden has been installed, adding much to the appeal of the surrounding area.

Vandalism during the winter months caused hundreds of dollars of damage adding to the strain of the now overworked Parks budget. But despite all these handicaps, one thing is certain: Canatara will be as popular again this year as in the past.

Sarnia Observer – June

Map V3

This is how the park will look when present plans become reality in 1977.

Map V3

The 1957 Twenty Year Plan for Canatara Park

The above map shows how Canatara Park would have appeared in 1977 if the twentyyear plan approved by the Board in January 1957 had been fully implemented. The map depicts the following features, some of which, of course, were never implemented.

1. A children’s zoo is located near the west entrance to the park. (Coloured yellow)

2. A large parking lot and restaurant is just north of the zoo.

3. An open-air theatre is located where the bandshell & amphitheatre are located today. (Coloured orange)

4. A paved beach parking lot is shown that is very similar to the one today.

5. Three groynes are situated along the shoreline of lake Huron.

6. The park road loops around the south end of the ballfield as it does today – and the old road – coloured red – is a pedestrian walkway. (The old road was not permanently closed to cars until the early 1970’s)

7. The western section of the landfill site consists of sports fields and a large parking lot. Nothing is shown in the east side of the landfill where the city dump was located in the 1955 – 1967 period, but according to the plan, eventually a par three golf course would be established in the area. (Coloured green)

8. A road runs parallel to the CNR right-of-way between the east and west park entrances (coloured purple). (This feature was not approved at the January meeting).

No significant changes were planned for Tarzanland or the section of the park from Lake Chipican to the ballfield. Notice that the map shows the small pond which was dug in 1956 near the southeast corner of lake Chipican. (coloured blue).

Parks & Recreation Board Minutes: 1957

Note: Harry Savage resigned as parks superintendent in 1956 and was replaced by W. Palmer who was given the new title of Executive Secretary.

The members of the Board in 1957 were: H. Page – Chairman, Ald. J.R. Knox, Ald. H.B. Turnbull, W.A. Atherton, F.F. Dyer, E. Steward, and W.E. Germain.

January 16: the Board adopted in principle the Twenty-Year Plan for Canatara Park as described above; “provided that the road running parallel to the CNR right-of-way not be developed as a through road.”

March 6: the Board decided that J.A. Buchanan would construct the new washroom at Canatara Park. (This is the red brick washroom near the northeast corner of the ballfield. A photo of it under construction is provided below. It was opened on June 22.)

June 5: A report to the Board concerning recent work in Canatara Park states: Lake Huron Drive: This road out to the lake at the east end of the park has been built up with gravel and will soon be oiled.

Barbeques: The need for new barbeques is very great. This is perhaps the weakest point of the picnic area.

Beach Parking Lots: The Works Department has graded these lots twice this season but the surface which is clay is still very unsatisfactory. The area is in need of gravel and the surface oiled.

New Loop Road: The grading of this road has been completed and the Works Department will soon oil the surface. (This loop road around the south end of the ballfield was opened in May.)

Floral Displays: A new carpet bed has been designed to commemorate the Jubilee Year of Scouting. (See August 2, 1957, Observer photo below.)

The Board signed an agreement with the Industrial Food Services for the operation of the refreshment booths in Canatara Park. (The two booths in the park at this time were the one built in 1951 in the picnic grounds and a small one attached to the south side of the change house.)

July 3: W. Palmer mentioned that Canatara Park was exceptionally busy during the second and third weekends of June.

August 7: The Board refused a request by W. McLellan to hire out beach chairs at Canatara Park.

W. Palmer noted that Canatara Park was very busy in July as most of the (73) major industrial plants held their picnics at the park at this time. He also mentioned that the park was sprayed for poison ivy.

October 30: The Board granted permission to the Commissioner of Works to remove sand from the Canatara beach.

The Board was informed that “an old building from Jaycee Park had recently been moved to Canatara and a new floor and roof put into it.” (This building was used for storage purposes and was located in the area where the maintenance building is today.)

December 4: The Board rejected a request from G.A.M. Thomas to construct a camp site in Canatara Park.

W. Palmer mentioned that “an old horse trough was restored and put into the park alongside of the other interesting curiosities” (This trough, which Harry Savage said was originally from downtown Sarnia, was placed at the north end of the ballfield where a grindstone, mill stones and two anchors were located. Only the two anchors remain today.)

A report submitted to the Board on February 19, 1958, mentioned that in 1957, 125 pheasants were released in Canatara park.

Observer Photos – May 4, 1957

This photo shows the view looking west from the picnic grounds on the east side of the ballfield. In the background is the ballfield and the picnic grounds at the west side of the park.

This photo shows the view looking east from the east side of the park office. In the foreground is the flower bed also shown in the July 12, 1956, and August 2, 1957, Observer photos. On the right, just below the gardener’s head, is a small section of the old park road and the walkway that went from this road to the beach parking lot can be seen just beyond the flower bed. A small section of the loop road near its eastern end appears at the top right – coloured yellow.

This photo shows Bill Palmer looking at the construction of the red brick washroom near the northeast corner of the ballfield.

Parks & Recreation Board Minutes: 1958

January 8: Palmer noted that there was a parking problem at Lake Chipican on the weekends because of the large numbers of people using the lake for skating. (In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s park staff used a jeep and tractor to clean the snow off the lake and floodlights and music were provided at the north end of the lake. (This attracted a large number of skaters.)

January 15: The Board decided to close the old park road “at its points of intersection with the new loop road.” (The western portion of the old road was reopened in the summer to provide access to the refreshment booth in the picnic grounds.)

February 5: The Board sent “a letter of condolence to Mrs. Isom on the recent passing of her father, Thomas Knight.” (Mr. Knight was for many years the Boards head gardener who worked primarily at Bayview Park. In the 1930’s, when Canatara Park opened, he created the beautiful flower beds which many people remembered were once along the park road near the west entrance. Harry Savage mentioned that these beds were Mr. Knight’s pride and joy.)

February 19: The Board received a letter from the Canadian Girl Guides Association requesting that Tarzanland be kept in its natural (78) state. The Board reaffirmed its policy “to retain Tarzanland in Canatara Park in its natural state and further that it is available for nature study. “The Board also decided to erect “Nature Trail” signs at the north and south entrances to Tarzanland and identify the different types of trees with name plates. (A photo and report concerning this Tarzanland nature trail project is provided below.)

The Board decided to have a cement block maintenance building constructed at Canatara Park to be located adjacent to the storage shed moved to the park last year. (This 1958 structure forms part of the maintenance building in the park today.)

April 2: Palmer noted that the Works Department recently put more gravel on Lake Huron Drive and the new loop road,

May 7: The Board refused a request by the Canadian Oil Company to have pony rides and a merry-go-round in Canatara park for their annual picnic. The Board approved the Canatara Park pamphlet that the park staff produced for publicity purposes. (See below).

Canatara Park Popular As Summer Season Opens

Sarnia Observer – June 23, 1958, P9

Sun, sand and water beckon as Canatara Park is readied for summer fun.

Area residents have been using the park’s picnic facilities for several weeks, but this weekend was the first time this season swimmers have ventured into Lake Huron’s chilly waters by the dozens.

Debbie, three-year-old daughter of Eugene Shimko of 173 Euphemia south finds the water just right.

She can’t read the beach regulations but appears to be quite happy without beach balls or air floats to play with.

For those who don’t care to get sand in their shoes and don’t take to water, the green part of Canatara has been made especially attractive this year by gardener Henry Reidt and his staff under the supervision of park foreman Lawrence Wright.

They are currently putting finishing touches to a flower bed design with different colored sage plants.

Extensive roadwork this spring has opened up the back of the park and completely eliminated traffic on the promenade between the refreshment booth and the beach.

The Board decided “that the sand dunes at Canatara Park not be touched by the Board’s staff without special permission by the Board”. (This was to ensure that the dunes were preserved and thereby prevent sand from blowing from the beach into the park.)

May 2: Palmer stated that Canadian Food Products Sales Ltd will be operating the refreshment booths in Canatara park this year. Spraying for the Dutch Elm Disease, poison ivy, and mosquito control will also be undertaken in the park.

Palmer also reported that the wooden curbing for the islands at each end of the loop road were being installed. (These islands are shown in the 1965 aerial photo of the park seen on page 77.)

June 4: Palmer noted that a caretaker, patrolman, two women for the change house and three grounds men, as well as several lifeguards, would be hired for Canatara park.

August 6: The Board decided to purchase a new boat suitable for lifeguard purposes at Canatara park and that two paddleboards would also be obtained for the same purpose

The Board received “two payments from the Mrs. Maude Hanna Estate of $98.08 each, one towards the maintenance of Canatara Park and the other towards the maintenance & plating of trees.”

The Board decided to keep all signs in Canatara Park to a bare minimum to preserve the natural beauty of the landscape.

Palmer reported that a new parking lot was being constructed north of the bus turnaround near the beach at the west end of the park. It should accommodate one hundred cars when completed. (This is the southern portion of the current lot at this location.)

September 7: Palmer mentioned that about 7 acres of the old dumping ground at Canatara Park will be graded and seeded with grass this fall. (This refers to a section of the 1930-1952 dump that was located just south of where the Children’s Farm is today.)

The Board received a letter from the Commissioner of Works concerning, “the use of Lake Chipican as a storm sewer outlet for Sunset Crescent”. (This refers to a storm drain that was installed in 1958 from the Highbury Subdivision to Lake Chipican. A detailed account of this matter is provided in Volume #10.)

October 15: The Board refused a request by T. Ladanchuck to operate a rolling lunch during the winter to serve the skaters at Lake Chipican. (The Lambton Health Unit had informed the Board that a rolling lunch would not be allowed to operate in Canatara park, “unless there was adequate public washrooms available.”

The Board received a request from A.J. Lang to place a C.N. steam engine in Canatara Park, but the Board recommended that it should go to Bayview Park instead. (After spending several decades in Bayview Park, this engine was moved to the north end of Centennial Park, where it can be seen today,)

November 19: The Board approved a staff report concerning the Tarzanland nature trail. (A copy of this report is provided on page 41).

December 17: Palmer reported that music and lighting for the skating rink at lake Chipican will be provided this winter.

Germain Walks Out in Protest

September 4, 1958, P17

The Board of Parks and Recreation Wednesday voted to claim seven acres of the city dump for park purposes this year.

The seven acres lies just west of Lake Chipican and of late has been a repository for clay fill from city sewer installations.

When Bob Harrison, supervisor of Parks and Forestry, asked permission to do this work, since money for it was allocated for it in the 1958 budget, veteran board member W.E. Germain objected.

OTHER DEBRIS

He said Germain Park was still undeveloped after nine years and he could not see any reason for developing more park at Canatara. When the Board voted down his vote, Mr. Germain left the meeting.

Mr. Harrison pointed out that instead of just clay fill being dumped on the land in question, brush and other debris were being strewn over it.

When Ald. Harry Turnbull suggest that the Board may be better advised to put money into parks they already have rather than developing this particular acreage, Mr. Harrison disagreed.

BEST METHOD

“I’m afraid this attitude will persist, and the land will always be a dump area,” he said, noting also that the project had been included in the Canatara Park budget for this year.

“Well, it’s the cheapest way I know of to get seven acres of new park,” Ald. William Pearson said. Board members agreed, with the exception of Mr. Geramin.

Canatara Park Trees…….

48 Already Felled, Board Told October 2, 1958, P21

A suspected outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease in the Tarzanland area of Canatara Park has resulted in the felling of some 48 trees, Sarnia Board of Parks Commission heard Wednesday.

Parks Superintendent William Palmer said that the trees had first shown signs of the disease some weeks ago. ???????? gave further reasons to believe the trees were affected, and when cut down the disease carrying larva were found in great quantities.

ONLY PRESCRIPTION

Cutting the trees out of the area was the only possible step under the circumstances, he said as at the time most of the trees were between 60 and 100 per cent dead, and to leave them in the group would have meant the disease spreading to all other trees in the area.

The way the disease was spreading at present, he added there would not be a live elm tree left in Canatara within two years.

TIME FACTOR

Board member Harry Turnbull expressed concern over the news that the trees had been cut down without the Boards knowledge.

“It takes 40 years to grow them, and we can cut them down in four hours”, he said. “There hasn’t been a tree cut down in there for the past 50 years until now”, he added.

The Board asked for Parks Superintendent Bob Harrison to submit a report on the problem to the next meeting.

OK $500,000 Plan for Park Developing For Areas in Sarnia

London Free Press – November 22, 1958

Sarnia, Nov. 21, - A five-year capital expenditure program involving about $500,000 was approved in principle by the Board of Parks and Recreation at the last regular meeting, it was announced today.

Included in the program is provision for construction of a $200,000 swimming pool to be erected in Germain Park within two years.

Other items include washroom and refreshment booth in Canatara Park for 1960, bowling and tennis clubhouse and washrooms, both for $20, 900: tennis courts in 1961 for $16,000: Bathhouse and washrooms in Canatara for $27,000.

In 1962 the program provides for dressing rooms for a new park area at Errol road and Murphy road: greenhouses costing $18,000 and a small golf course with clubhouse are proposed for 1963. Cost of course and clubhouse is estimated at $80,000.

The schedule has been forwarded to City Treasurer W.W. Simpson so he can incorporate it into the overall five-year plan of financing for the city.

General Meeting No. 19: Nov. 19, 1958

WINTER PROJECT

Nature Trails in Canatara Park

This project was started during the summer with some degree of success; the existing trails cleaned and kept cut during the growing season. The Board has expressed their approval of such a project and the staff were given the authority to proceed with it. However, there is more to maintaining a natural area than just keeping trails open to the public. The trees and small plant life that make an area attractive must be protected the same as a tree in a cultivated situation. Nature trails must be safe where you are encouraging people to use them.

As well as being safe, there is the ever-increasing problem of insect and disease. Trees that are in an unhealthy condition, or an abundance of dead and decaying limbs, are very susceptible to insect attack, as well as being natural breeding places. By letting these conditions exist, we are not only shortening the life of the tree itself but are exposing all the trees in the area. The situation that exists now is one of a run-down condition, so that no one really appreciates what is actually there, and until we try in some way to clean it up, will go on in this manner. This is apparent by the fact that it is used frequently as a dumping ground for old garbage, etc.

In the past there has usually been a clean-up program during the winter months. The area is indicative that the results of this program fall short of what should be done. The trees in there have never been pruned to my knowledge and although they are certainly naturalistic enough, they are far from being in a good condition. We have taken a few photos which we will be displaying for the Board meeting to try and impress on you the importance of such a clean-up program. Some of the trails in the area should be cut bigger so the heavy spray equipment can be brought in.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Clean-up all unnecessary debris, garbage, etc.

2. Prune all dead wood from the trees that are dangerous.

3. Provide some nature trails wide enough for big equipment.

4. Spray along trails for poison ivy, etc.

5. Clear area back from Christina Street 60’, of all underbrush to clean up front. Keeping just the front 60’ clean will make the whole area look better.

6. Mark Nature Trails clearly with signs like the one submitted.

7. Eventually mark all trees and plant material of special interest with name plates as shown.

Respectfully submitted by

R.F. Harrison, Supervisor Park and Forestry

General Meeting No. 21 Dec. 17, 1958

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER

Supervisor of Parks and Forestry

Employees: The Parks Department is now operating with the permanent staff at nine; two foreman, two gardeners, three maintenance men, one equipment operator and one labourer.

Germain Park: Further work has been done on the drain that carried the water from the back of the park to the lake, brush has been disposed of making the drain more efficient in operation and also presents a better appearance. The small “hump & hollows” have been leveled out beside the ditch and seeded so it will be maintained with more ease next year, also more pleasing to the eye. On the wooded section side of the drainage ditch, iris plants that were acquired when renovating some of Tecumseh flower borders, where planted naturalistically along the banks of the ditch. It is hope that we will achieve some color there with little or no maintenance. The posts that run through Canatara beside the “old road” were removed and are ready to be installed along the roadway through the new grassed area, south of the road in the old dump.

There has also been some construction going on at the vistas in Canatara getting ready for next spring. We are constructing panel beds down each side of the vistas towards the lake. These beds are dug with the front-end loader to a depth of approximately 18” to be filled with manure, leaf mould, and clay in preparation for mum planting in the spring. Last spring when all mums were “pinched” the cuttings, instead of being thrown out, were planted and allowed to grow on. The program on the whole was successful although inconvenient to a certain extent, as the cuttings were in flats in the office. We realized almost 1200 cuttings from the procedure. During November a sight was picked in Canatara for a temporary cold frame to be constructed at no capital expense and we hope next year to grow 4 to 5 thousand cuttings to renovate Victoria, Tecumseh and new beds at Canatara Park.

Also, in Canatara the construction company has started the drain tile from the new subdivision to Little Lake. The overflow ditch from Little Lake to the existing ditch has been completed.

Coronation Park: The soil that was around the wading pool has been levelled out and ready for grading and seeding in the spring. A location has been set out for a skating rink, when weather permits.

This photo looks north down Christina Street and shows the sign that was placed at the southeast entrance to Tarzanland in 1958. The small bridge crosses the drainage ditch that then ran along the east side of Tarzanland.

This photo shows the view looking southwest across the east entrance to the park in 1958. Notice the circular flower bed in the foreground, as well as the rose beds - colored red – that flanked the east entrance road during the late 1950’s & 1960’s. The sandstone blocks that were used for curbing when the entrance was built in the 1953 – 1954 period can be seen along the edge of the roadway. According to Harry Savage, these blocks came from the roads around the old Sarnia city hall at the northeast corner of Lochiel and Christina Streets. Some of this curbing still exists at the first bend in the park road.

On the right of the photo is the area where to original road at the east entrance was located. On the left is the memorial boulder to Mrs. Hanna. The road that today leads to the Children’s Farm, then led to the city dump. Just to the right of the parked car a gate and sign – colored yellow –can be seen. The gate was only opened for the dump trucks and the sign stated, “No Unauthorized Dumping.”

This photo was taken in July 1959 and shows a portion of a parade that was associated with the visit of the Queen & Prince Philip to the park. The view looks southwest from a lawn in front of one of the houses along Lake Chipican Drive. Notice the lights that are strung on a line from the hydro poles. This string of colored lights that ran from the east entrance through the park to the north end of the ballfield was installed for the Queen’s visit to the park.

Parks & Recreation Board Minutes 1959

February 4: In his annual report, Palmer noted that the following facilities were located at Canatara Park: 24 swings, 3 slides, 4 drinking fountains, 3 ball diamonds, 4 picnic shelters (2 large & 2 small), 350 picnic tables, 4 barbeques, 3 washrooms and 1 change house.

April 1: Palmer stated that during January and February there were floodlights at the Lake Chipican skating rink every night and music twice a week. The floral display in the bed near the park office will feature the Crest of Ontario this year.

April 13: The Board rejected the request by W.J. Haddad to use mobile Wagons in Canatara Park for the dispensing of refreshments.

May 6: The Board continued the policy of not allowing boating on Lake Chipican and directed “that necessary signs be erected to enforce this resolution.”

May 20: The Board agreed that the old washroom at Canatara Park was in a deplorable condition and therefore should be demolished. (this was the 1933 washroom located in the picnic grounds near the western end of the park.)

June 24: Palmer reported that the Works Department were repairing the roads through Canatara park in payment for the sand that they removed from the beach last winter & that they were also oiling the parking lot to settle the dust.

Concerning the Royal visit in July, Palmer mentioned that the Board was reserving an area adjacent to the podium in Canatara park for its members. Additional washroom facilities would also be provided in the park for the large crowds expected during this

event. (Newspaper articles and photos concerning the Queen’s visit to Canatara Park are provided below.)

August 19: Palmer reported that the loop road in Canatara Park had recently been paved. He also “voiced concern over the oil drilling operation off Canatara park beach with particular regards to the contamination of the beach and that we had taken up this matter with the city manager.”

October 21: The Board permitted the Works Department to remove sand from the Canatara Park beach as in previous years.

November 4: The Board received a letter from the Canadian Food Products Sales Ltd. stating that the revenue for 1959 in Canatara Park was considerably below last years amount. In response the Board agreed to consider constructing a refreshment booth at Canatara’s east beach which had become very popular since the eastern section of the beach parking lot was opened in 1956.

The Board agreed that the cannon in Victoria Park could be relocated to a suitable place in Canatara Park.

The Queen Visits Canatara

The biggest event of 1959 occurred on Friday evening, July 3, 1959, when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip left the royal yacht Britannia and rode in a motorcade through Sarnia to Canatara Park. As the newspaper articles below note, over 100,000 people lined the route and another 30,000 jammed into Canatara - the largest crowd in the history of the park. At 10:00 p.m. the Queen’s car stopped at the north end of the Canatara ballfield where a specially prepared platform was located. Here, she and Prince Philip were welcomed to the city by Mayor Walker and introduced to a number of officials from the Sarnia – Lambton area. She was then presented with a bouquet of yellow roses and asked to sign the civic guest book. After thanking everyone for such a wonderful reception the Queen rode out of the park, and back through the city, and boarded the Britannia. The photos on the following pages capture some of the images from the memorable evening in Canatara park.

More Than 100,000 Turn Out To Cheer

Sarnia Observer – July 4, 1959

By KELVIN LACK Observer Staff Writer

A luminous Queen and a beaming Prince captured the hearts of more than 100,000 persons Friday night as they drove 11 miles through the heart of Sarnia.

Even the most optimistic observers couldn’t have expected the welcome that greeted the Royal couple as they drove through the flag-decked streets.

Virtually every person in the city turned out, from the elderly woman who sat in her rocking chair on one side of the street, to the three-weeks-old baby that went to sleep in its mothers’ arms even before the Queen appeared.

Five Deep

They came from as far away as Owen Sound and Cleveland, Ohio to welcome Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip.

They line the streets five deep in places, jammed the intersections, climbed into trees and on buildings.

Few, if any, had seen the Queen before. They knew her only from pictures, and yet the attractive young woman that sat in the rear of the plastic domed car could only have been a Queen. She is probably the most photographed woman in history.

The Royal couples first taste of welcome came as they drove out of the Imperial Oil gate where crowds massed solidly against the police barriers.

They cheered and waved and swayed as the car passed. Flags fluttered and children stood and gazed as the smiling pair waved first to one side then to the other.

It was the same story the length of the route. The crowd varied in density from a shouting, swaying mob to a handful of watchers standing quietly by the roadside.

Souvenir hats and buttons were dotted among the crowds. Spectators stood on the sidewalks, in store windows, on buildings and on hastily constructed stands.

Windsor

Star July 4, 1959

Originally the visit was slated to conclude at 10:30 p.m., but when the Royal couple returned to the yacht, their stay in Sarnia had extended to 90 minutes.

The additional half-hour to visit here marked the longest stay-over the original scheduled time for any city to date on the tour.

As the procession wound its way slowly from Imperial Oil to Christina Street the Royal couple was met with cheering throngs. All along the five-mile route, spectators were lined five and six deep.

Although darkness was quickly setting in, the Queen, despite a long tiring day which saw her visit London, Chatham, and Windsor was smiling graciously and waving to her followers.

Prince Philip greeted the cheering crowds with his usual friendly smile and hand wave. Throughout the entire trip the couple could be seen talking to each other.

As the Queen proceeded along Christina St. she remained inside a plastic covering. The spectators were able to receive a clear view of the Royal couple.

When the car entered Canatara Park where some 30,000 persons had gathered, many of them city school children, the top was lowered, and the Queen and Prince Philip stood waving to the crowd.

Pictures Capture Sarnia’s Greatest Day

Margarette Running 6 presents bouquet to Queen

Summary of Events

1960

– 1969

1960

Jan – Feb Lake Chipican storm drain controversy.

Apr. Cannon moved to Canatara.

May – June Fishpond constructed.

June Small refreshment booth opens at east beach.

1961

Apr. – June Red brick washroom on west side of Lake Chipican constructed.

Aug. Parks Board approves bandshell for Canatara.

Oct. Proposal to extend Canatara to river.

1962

Aug. Bandshell officially opened.

Nov. Parks Board approves Children’s Farm project.

1963

Feb. Site preparation for Children’s Farm begins.

June City purchases section of CNR right-of-way for lane to Children’s Farm

June Children’s Farm opens

Nov. Planning Board discusses zoning on land to west of Canatara.

1964

Jan. Plans for Canatara Centennial Project are outlined.

Mar – Apr Picnic permit system is approved by Parks Board

May Chair ride amusement proposed.

Children’s Farm officially opened

June Canatara map approved by Board.

Aug. Problems with Tarzanland Nature Trail outlined

1965

Feb. Parks Board sells small slice of park for roadway at west side of Canatara.

June City dump at Canatara rapidly filling up.

1966

Jan – Feb. Barn at Children’s Farm under construction

May City removes sand from Canatara beach for last time.

Sept. Condition at Canatara labelled “disgraceful”.

Dec. Construction of entrance building at Children’s Farm started

1967

May Offer made to locate Sherman tank in Canatara.

Power boat donated for patrolling Canatara beach.

July – Oct. Red brick concession booth at east beach under construction

Aug. Beach sweeper machine tried out on Canatara beach.

Oct. Landfill site closed.

Centennial caravan located at beach parking lot

Dec. Plans made for paving the beach parking lot.

1968

Jan. Parks Board approves plan for a golf course on former landfill site.

Mar. Small refreshment booth removed from east beach.

Apr. Parks Board asks city to acquire CNR triangular land.

June – July Parking lot, phase I, completed

May Board approves preparation of a Canatara Management Plan by Mitchell Associates

East beach concession stand officially opened

Aug. – Sept. Large amounts of fill dumped in landfill site in preparation for golf course.

1969

Jan. City to operate Canatara concessions.

Mar. Point Edward requests that apartment buildings not be built on land west of Canatara.

June – July Parking lot, phase II completed.

Sept. Channel dredged at south end of Lake Chipican

Nov. Mitchell report made public.

Note: With the exception of 1967 and part of 1968, all the Parks & Recreation Board minutes during the 1960’s are missing. Therefore, only the activities and issues concerning Canatara Park that are recorded in newspapers, photos, maps, and registry documents are provided for the years when the minutes are unavailable. In addition, the activities and issues concerning the Lake Chipican section of the park during the 1960’s are recorded in Volume 10.

Activities and Issues in Canatara – 1960

In February, McLaren Associates presented a report to Sarnia Council recommending that Lake Chipican be converted to a storm drain reservoir for the northern section of the city. This proposal, which was ultimately rejected, is described more fully in Volume 10.

In April, the cannon from Victoria Park was placed at the north end of the ballfield in front of the park office, as shown in the 1961 photo on page 57. Fifty-five years later, in November 2015, it was moved back to Victoria Park, which is now also known as Veteran’s park.

In the spring, park staff constructed the lily or fishpond at the north end of the ditch that had been dug in 1947along the west side of the present Children’s Farm site. This pond, which can be seen today along the park road north of the Children’s Farm, is shown in the May 3 Observer photo below (page 54).

In June a small wooden refreshment booth was placed adjacent to the east beach to serve the large number of people who were using this section of the Canatara beach. This booth is shown on the 1963 photo of the east beach provided below. (page 66). The February 1960 photo below, looks southeast across the area where the Children’s Farm is today. In the background, is the snow-covered berm that was on the west side of the large pond then being used for garbage disposal purposes. Behind the berm, the trees in Tarzanland can be seen. The wet meadow that then existed where the southern portion of the Children’s Farm is now, appears on the center right of the photo, and just behind it is the snow-covered seven-acre parcel that was referred to at the September 1958 Board meeting. In the fall of 1958, it had been seeded with grass.

Feb. 1960

May 3, 1960

This photo looks southwest with the picnic grounds on the east side of the ballfield in the background. On the right is the red-brick washroom that was built in 1957. Notice the log barrier adjacent to the park road.

The aerial photo shown above was taken in the early 1960’s and shows the view looking southwest across Point Edward from over the Canatara landfill site. In the foreground is the southern portion of the 1930-1952 city dump which in 1960 consisted of a level field covered with weeds and a few shrubs. Notice the large billboard adjacent to Michigan Avenue near the bottom left of the photo. Just behind the billboard, at the bottom of the photo, is a corner of the sanitary fill area that had been used in the 1955-1959 period, as shown on Map V2.

The May 26, 1961, Observer photo, shown above, shows the sign and flowerbed at the east entrance of the park. In the background are the trees at the north end of Tarzanland.

Activities and Issues in Canatara – 1961

As mentioned in a May 4 Observer item, the Board decided to have a new washroom built in 1961 at Canatara park near Lake Chipican. This is the red-brick structure to the west of Lake Chipican that is today only used for storage purposes.

In August, the Board approved a plan to construct a $12,000 bandshell and cultural centre in Canatara Park. The Board agreed to contribute $2,500 of the cost., with the city, industry & the public providing the remainder. As noted in the November 1961 Observer article on page 59, the centre was to be built under the city’s Winter Works Program. Also included, on page 58, is a 1961 Observer item that describes a typical park concert in the 1956-1961 period when the Sarnia Citizens Band used the portable platform for their performances. As recorded in the October 24, 1961, Observer article, on page 58, the Parks Board and Sarnia’s planning director both recommend that Canatara Park be extended westward to the river. This is similar to the plan presented by Germain to the Board in February 1944, as described in Volume #6. To implement these plans, Sarnia would have to acquire all the property in the former quarantine grounds shown in the 1955 aerial photo, including the Yacht Club basin.

This June 1, 1961 Observer photo shows the view looking northeast with the flower bed on the east side of the park office in the foreground and the beach parking lot in the background.

The June 1, 1961, Observer photo of the canon shows the view looking west across the north end of the ballfield with the picnic grounds in the western section of the park in the background. Behind the canon are the millstones – coloured yellow – from the Mooretown gristmill that were placed in the park in 1938, as recorded in Volume #6. In 1973 they were moved to the Mooretown Museum, as noted in Volume #8.

The Observer article below notes that a total of 5,836 tons of material was deposited in the city dump at Canatara in September 1961.

“City garbage continued to mount up during this month, necessitating in the removal of some 2,868 tons to the city dump. In addition, 950 tons was collected from Point Edward and local commerce & local industry contribute a further 2,018 tons.”

Taken For Granted

Cannon Pops A Poser

Sarnia Observer, June 1, 1961

An ancient artillery piece, its long black barrel polished by the breeches of innumerable young Sarnians, is carrying on its peaceful tradition at Canatara Park as it has done for at least 100 years. Where, how, why and when it came to the city property is not known, but it is believed to date back to the years of the Crimean War when the Charge of the Light Brigade and Florence Nightingale found immortality.

John Pettit, local historian, says he remembers as a boy clinging and sliding on the polished barrel. He also recalls that it had several spots of honor at Victoria Park before the new library building and relocation of the War memorial sent it packing to a new site.

Hidden in Mystery

The canon is now located at Canatara, in front of the First Aid field office along with other aging mementos.

Included are two old ships anchors dating back to the days of sailing vessels, an antique grindstone (hand powered), a horse watering trough that once was the pride of the main street and all but forgotten civic government.

Meanwhile, the origin of the canon is still somewhat of an enigma.

No one seems to know its historical significance, least of all, the moppets who daily include it in their mock battles.

Band to Play Sunday Night at Canatara

Sarnia Observer – July 15, 1961

Sarnia Citizens Band will present the third in their current summer concert series in Canatara park at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Conductor will be bandmaster John Gilbert, with master of ceremonies Kenneth Eyre. Sunday’s program will start “March”, followed by “Suite in E” by Holst and “Waltzing Winds” by Osterling. A selection of Victor Herbert’s Favorites, “Waggery for Woodura” will include the first part of the evening’s entertainment.

After intermission the overture, “Mountain Pieces” will preface three modern pieces: “Fascination”, “Pennsylvania Polka”, and “Night Train”.

“Waltzing Thro’ Old Vienna” will contrast with “The Diplomat March” by Souza and a selection “Colorama” will precede the “Chimes of Victory”.

The concerts, which have been well attended, are free and chairs are provided. Additional concerts will be held at 7:30 Tuesdays: July 25, August 1,8,15 and 29.

EXTEND CANATARA PARK, DRESS UP WATERFRONT

Discuss Future of City

Sarnia Observer – October 24, 1961 P9

A westerly extension of Canatara Park and the upgrading of the business district waterfront was discussed at a joint meeting of city council and the planning board Monday night, during the current series of informal meetings on the city’s proposed new official plan and zoning bylaw.

The prosed extension of Canatara Park would take in the area bounded by the northerly limit of Point Edward, the St. Claire River and Lake Huron.

TAKES IN PARK

This would include Sarnia Waterworks and its surrounding park area the Ordnance Reserve leased by the Parks Board, Sarnia Yacht Club, two houses, a gravel pit and a roller skating rink.

Explaining the Board’s recommendation, planning director John Legate said the Park extension could utilize existing natural facilities to provide a scenic parkway overlooking the Yacht Club basin and the junction of the lake and river.

Mr. Legate also recommended the waterfront area between Ferry Dock Hill and Imperial Oil winter dock be rezoned from commercial to open space to provide a scenic park.

WATEFRONT RUNDOWN

“The river is probably the greatest asset of the city”, he said, “and at the present time the waterfront is the most rundown section of the city”.

In the future, Mr. Legate continued, it might be possible to extend the parkway as far as the government dock.

IMPROVE CITY

“This improvement to the waterfront would enhance the possibility of private development along Front Street”, he suggested, “and give the people of Sarnia a waterfront they could be proud of, rather than a derelict of broken docks, pilings and rubble”.

Further discussion took place on desirable building setbacks in the downtown commercial area, and it was agreed that new building along the west side of Front Street should have a 10-foot setback.

Winter Works Program to Include Culture Centre

Sarnia Observer – November 11, 1962, P9

The proposed $12,000 band shell and cultural centre at Canatara Park will be constructed under the city’s winter works program.

The centre, designed by architect Lloyd Hillier is being built jointly by the board of parks and recreation and Sarnia Citizens band. It will be located just south of the beach pavilion.

Proposed uses of the centre are many. The band will hold its summer concerts there and the stage will also be used by drama and dancing groups.

The city, a number of local industries and the board of parks all have contributed to the costs.

Of the total estimated cost, a balance of $2,500 remained to be raised.

The committee overseeing construction is made up as follows: W.J. Miller, W.H. McKellar, Robert Harrison, Norman B. Foster and W.L. Manser.

Estimate Cost at $12,000

Sarnia Observer – August 31, 1961, P13

Estimates for a $12,000 Cultural Centre at Canatara park were approved by a special meeting of the parks board Wednesday night.

The board also agreed to participate in the project up to a maximum of $2,500.

SEEK FUNDS

The idea, which originally started with plans for a band shell, has been under study for some months by the Sarnia Citizens Band which hopes to raise the balance of the required funds from public subscription.

Site of the proposed Centre will be the northwest corner of the park where the land formation provides an almost natural amphitheatre.

It is hoped that, apart from being used as a band shell, the Centre will be put to good use by local drama groups and glee clubs.

3,000 CAPACITY

Although an eventual seating capacity of 3,000 is foreseen, initial seating will provide comfortable accommodation for some 200 people.

The board appointed its chairman, William Miller, board member William McKellar and supervisor of parks and forestry, Robert Harrison to a committee to work with Sarnia Citizens Band.

Board to Ask City Approval for $12,000 Canatara Centre

Sarnia Observer – October 17 1961, P2

Approval of the construction of a $12,000 Cultural Centre in Canatara Park will be sought from City Council tonight by Sarnia Citizens Band.

The city will also be asked to share in the project to the extent of 25 per cent of the total cost.

Approval of the centre has already been obtained from the parks board who has agreed to contribute $2,500 of the cost.

Although the main feature of the proposed centre will be a band shell, it is hoped that the facilities will be used by local drama groups, glee clubs and orchestras.

Sited in the northwest corner of the Park where the land formation provides an almost natural amphitheatre, the Centre will have an initial capacity of some 200 and eventually a seating capacity of 3,000 is foreseen.

Band Shell Contract is Awarded

London Free Press – March 6, 1962

Contract for the construction of a combined Cultural Centre and Band Shell in Canatara Park was awarded to Sarnia builders Van Reenen and Braaskma Wednesday by the board of parks and recreation.

Tendered price was $11,912 lowest of the four bids.

William Palmer, executive-secretary of the parks board said that, although construction will begin as soon as possible, some of the work originally planned will have to be deferred until more money is available.

This includes electrical, plumbing, painting work, and minimum landscaping requirements.

A total of $12, 592 has been donated to the project to date, some $3,000 short of overall requirements.

Industry and the city have each contributed $3,000 and public subscriptions amount to $1,092.

The Cultural Centre project was initiated by Sarnia Citizens Band.

Would Name Park After McKellar

London Free Press – March 19, 1962

SARNIA – Sarnia Board of Parks and Recreation went on record Wednesday night as being in favor of naming the prosed cultural centre to be built in Canatara Park after William McKellar, former board member, who died Tuesday in London.

Described by Alderman John Matheson, board chairman as “a highly respected citizen and board member” Mr. McKellar a prominent Sarnia florist originally initiated the cultural centre project.

As a member of the Sarnia Kiwanis Club, Mr. McKellar brought the idea to the board and was appointed to a committee which has handled the project to date.

Mr. McKellar had been active in many board projects and was also known for his work with the Kiwanis Club and Downtown Sarnia Business Club.

Canatara Centre to Open Tuesday

Sarnia Observer – August 27, 1962

The new open air culture centre at Canatara Park will be opened Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Walker.

The $12,000 Centre financed by public subscription, industry, City Council, and the board of parks and recreation will be named in honor of the late W.E. Brush, and will be known as the W.E. Brush Memorial Centre.

Mr. Brush was musical director of Sarnia Citizens Band for 40 years. He introduced music in the Sarnia high school system having one of the first high school bands in Canada, and as well began the first junior and senior high school orchestras.

He was also a former president of the Canadian Bandmasters Association.

The music program for the evening has been carefully planned and will feature a concert by the Citizens Band under the direction of John Gilbert. In addition, the chorus of the Sarnia chapter the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, will present a special sing-along program

The Barbershop Chorus will be under the direction of Maurice Siverns.

Introductions for the evening will be by bandmaster Kenneth Eyre.

New Bandshell Dedicated

Culture in Canatara

Sarnia Observer – August 29, 1962

Sarnia’s first amphitheatre recently built in Canatara Park was opened Tuesday evening and dedicated in the memory of the late W.E. Brush, a long-time director of Sarnia Citizen’s band.

It’s official name: W.E. Brush Memorial Culture Centre.

A brief history of the late Mr. Brush was given by Mayor Walker to the audience of 800 who attended the opening.

A one-minute silence was held for the late Mr. W.H. McKellar who was among the first to take an early interest and assisted in launching the project.

Other speakers included Norman Shipley, vice-chairman of parks board.

Chorus Too

Opening the program was the Citizens Band, directed by John Gilbert. They were followed by the Barbershoppers chorus under the direction of Pauline McGregor. The band returned later to conclude the event.

Construction on the amphitheatre began May 19. Organizer of the project and in charge of raising money for its completion is the Sarnia Cultural Committee formed in July and comprising members of the band and park board.

Last night’s performance was the sixth held in the new centre. Attendance at all programs has been reported as, “better than expected.”

Special Features

Special acoustical features were incorporated in the construction. The band stand or stage has two dressing rooms attached while arched laminated beams add to an outdoor effect. Benches now installed can seat 600 and initial landscaping of the centre is near completion.

Activities and Issues in Canatara: 1962

The bandshell and accompanying amphitheatre were constructed in the spring of 1962 and officially opened on August 28, as described in the Observer articles above.

In November the board agreed to establish a Children’s Zoo in the park with the financial aid of the Kiwanis Club. According to the November 22, 1962 Observer article, (page 63), the zoo was to be located “on a three and one-half acre site south of Lake Chipican”. However, the site was actually west of Lake Chipican, where the southeastern portion of the Children’s Farm is located today, as shown in both the 1965 aerial photo of the park & Map V4.

Work Begins For Children’s Farm

Sarnia Observer – February 22, 1963

“Work started Thursday on the excavation of a duck pond and the filling of a marshy section of Canatara park. This view looks east over what is now the southern section of the farm.”

Activities and Issues in Canatara: 1963

In June the city purchased the 4.3-acre section of the CNR right-of-way that runs from Christina Street to the CNR triangular property as shown on Map V. This is the section of the original GTR right-of-way that ran through the former Durand property, as shown on Map B2 in Volume #2, and where the railway embankment across the Canatara marsh was located, as depicted in Map C in Volume #2. Today the east park entrance and the road to the Children’s Farm is located in it. Also, in June the Children’s Farm opened, as described in the June 26 Sarnia Observer item. (below).

At a planning board meeting D. Paisley objected to the former Sarnia Cement Products Company property being zoned R3 – for apartments rather than 01 – for public open space, as described in the November 14 Sarnia Gazette article (page 65).

Parks Board Approves Children’s Zoo Project

Sarnia Observer – November 22, 1962

Sarnia Seaway Kiwanis Club project to build a children’s zoo in Canatara Park received the blessing of the parks board Wednesday.

Initial call for a pond and four animal paddocks on a three and one-half acre site south of Lake Chipican, off the Cathcart Boulevard extension.

Parks superintendent and Kiwanian William Palmer told the board $3,000 had been set aside by the club to make a start on the development this winter, ready for an early summer opening.

Eventually, he said, the club may expand the project to seven acres and establish a regular zoo, but for the time being, only small farm animals will be on show.

Canatara Farm Will Cost $3,000

Sarnia Observer – December 20, 1962, P14

The Seaway Kiwanis Club has agreed to spend $3,000 for a children’s farm scene at Canatara Park the parks board was told Wednesday.

Work on the erection of the farm scene is currently under way. Brushing and grading is expected to continue for about a week in preparing the ground.

When completed by next spring, a farmyard scene will have been created.

It will be stocked with farm animals. Later plans include the establishment of a zoo, at which some wild animals capable of surviving local winters will be stocked.

Canatara Park Zoo Is Big Hit

Sarnia Observer – June 26, 1963, P21

The farm zoo at Canatara Park developed in conjunction with the Seaway Kiwanis Club, is providing a popular attraction in its first year, Bill Palmer, parks board secretary said today.

For example, of 30 pupils who visited the zoo from a public school recently, 15 had not seen a duck before.

The zoo which now boasts several donkeys, goats, pigs, guinea pigs, squirrels and fowl is most popular on Sundays.

Located near the centre of the park, the zoo-farm is accessible from within the park or by going straight down Cathcart without entering the main park via a re-opened stretch of roadway.

ALSO A LAKE

The zoo is housed in a fenced-in area, has two buildings and two shelters facing on a man-made lake.

The Kiwanis Club donated $3,000 towards the forming of the zoo which is now being maintained by parks personnel.

Larger animals have been donated for summertime and will be returned to owners for winter. The animal population will be re-borrowed each year.

Mr. Palmer said the problems of housing and feeding the animals is being solved and new experience is gained with each addition.

SARNIA Nov. 2, 1963 – A $24,000 program to expand the popular Children’s Farm in Canatara Park four to five times as large was outlined last night to the board of parks and recreation.

Ray Curran, chairman of the Kiwanis Club of the Seaway, sponsor of the Farm and Kiddie’s project, requested a $12,000 grant from the city to finance cannot read parts of sentence. He said his club was prepared to raise $8,000.

The other $8,000 has been promised by the Sarnia Industrial Council – at the rate of $2,000 a year for three years – if the city will pick-up the $12.000 tab.

The board agreed to insert the amount in its budget and take it to city council.

Mr. Curran said the money will be used to build a barn, enlarge the animal population, put up new fences and enlarge the area to several times its present size.

The children’s farm project was begun three years ago by the Kiwanians who at first planned to spread its development over a 10 year period. However, the popularity of the farm caused them to accelerate the program.

Notes Relating to Map V

192255

CNR

Right-of-way to City of Sarnia

In consideration of other goods and valuable consideration and sum of $1.00 CNR grants to the City of Sarnia, subject to conditions hereinafter set forth certain lands (see attached plan) containing 4.3 acres of the 100’ CNR right-of-way, Excepting and reserving all mining rights, mines and minerals, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous already found or which hereafter be found be found to exist in, upon, or under the lands herein described.

In consideration of the sum of $1.00, the receipt whereof the city hereby acknowledges, the city agrees that if at any time within a period of 21 years from the date hereof the lands herein cease to be used for the purpose of park lands – which shall include the laying of water mains thereunder – the same shall revert to the CNR, subject only to the refund by the CNR of the consideration of $3,000 paid herein. June 30, 1963.

Public Had Words on Planning Act

The gazette, November 14, 1963, p9

Doug Paisley – George St.: As a citizen of Sarnia I find it a little short-sighted that the only open access to water in a city that has two sides bounded by water is the short step between Cromwell and George for the downtown area and on the north side toward the lake the two areas –Canatara Park – 01 for public open space and 02 – Sarnia Yacht Club for private open space. In the middle of this the Board has zoned two pieces R3 and R1. Half of this property is under water at the present time and the only way to service it is by septic tank which would be poor in this area. If Sarnia is to maintain its open space it would be incumbent on this Board and city

fathers to restrict the area along the lake and river. The property designated as R3 would create a large restriction of the public use of the lake, this being a large area open to the public. It is a zoning unnecessary and to the detriment of the public.

1963 Photos of East Beach

This aerial photo shows the view looking east over the east beach in 1963. During the 1961 –1965 period the water level in Lake Huron was at a very low stage, and consequently the beach, as can be seen, was very wide. The east beach became very popular after 1956 when the east section of the beach parking lot was opened. During the construction of this lot the foredunes at the east beach were removed by bulldozers to provide a view of Lake Huron for people sitting in their cars. The remaining foredunes, however, such as the ones at the bottom of the photo, remained covered with dune grass, which prevented sand from the beach blowing into interior areas of the park. Also notice that there are no groynes along the shore of Lake Huron.

This photo is shown looking east along the east beach in 1963. Near the top right corner is the red & yellow wooden refreshment booth that was located at this beach in the 1960 – 1967 period. The red brick building housing the lifeguard station & the east beach washrooms is located on this site today.

This 1963 aerial photo looks east down the parking lot with the bandshell, amphitheatre, beach picnic shelter and change house in the foreground. Notice that someone is standing at the small refreshment booth or snack bar on the south side of the change house where a washroom is now located. Notice also that this photo was taken at the same time as the aerial photo of the east beach shown on the previous page.

This 1963 aerial photo shows the view looking west down the beach parking lot with the northern portion of Lake Chipican and the east beach in the foreground. At the far end of the parking lot is the bandshell and near the upper left corner of the photo is the 1928 breakwater at the entrance to the Yacht Club basin.

Activities and Issues in Canatara: 1964

In January, James Bullbrook, the Chairman of the Parks & Recreation Board, recommended that Sarnia adopt a $500,000 development plan for Canatara Park as the city’s centennial project. This plan included the dredging of lake Chipican and the “refinement” of Tarzanland, as well as the establishment of the sports facilities in the landfill site as indicated on the 1957 park plan shown on Map V3. However, rather than implementing this Canatara plan, Sarnia Council decided to create a new park on land adjacent to Sarnia Bay as the city’s Centennial Project.

In February, Bill Germain was honored for his fourty (40) years of service on the Parks Board, as recorded in the February 13 Observer item, (page 69).

In March the Board decided that picnic permits costing two dollars would be issued in 1964 to groups of 50 or more, as noted in the following Sarnia Observer articles, (page 70).

In May the Children’s Farm was officially opened. Also in May, A. Thompson requested that he be permitted to set-up a “flying chair ride” in Canatara Park and in June the Board refused this request.

In June the Board decided to erect a large sign showing a map of Canatara Park at the east entrance. The Board also approved the use of ponies at the annual Prestolite picnic in the park.

An August 1, 1964, Observer article below describes the vandalism that had recently occurred along the nature trail in Tarzanland.

‘Nature Trail’ Becomes Garbage-Strewn Footpath

After Vandals Run Wild

Sarnia Observer – August 1, 1964

The Sarnia nature trail area south of Canatara Park, is a good place to see the works of nature but an even better place to study the folkways of modern man.

The park was established to give the citizens of Sarnia, especially young people, a chance to see nature within the boundaries of the city but this privilege has been abused.

The pathways are well worn, but not by nature lovers. Area children use the paths as freeways for their bicycles.

The Board of Parks and Recreation have placed plaques on a number of trees to identify them. Pellet guns and in one instance, a blunt tool have been used to destroy all the markers.

Several of the trees have been used as tributes to romance. Initials carved in trunks are as common as billboards on the highways.

Papers, chocolate bar wrappers and the like are to be found everywhere. Part of the blame for this situation can be placed with thoughtless passing motorists.

The scene is an unhappy one for those who would find better use for the park. It is perhaps not without reason that the sign, which once identified the area as a nature trail, has also been removed.

60 Hear Sarnia Centennial Project Outlined

London Free Press – January 21, 1964

Mr. Bullbrook, outlining plans for expansion and development of Canatara Park, observed that while the total project envisioned might cost in excess of $500,000, it had originally been looked upon as a 25-year program.

Therefore, he suggested, the degree of development acceleration could be geared to the amount of money available.

The parks board plans Mr. Bullbrook said fell into three phases:

First, the dredging, landscaping and development of Lake Chipican, at a cost of about $100,000, with a possible addition of a $75,00 restaurant in the area of the lake,

Second, refinement of what is known as “Tarzanland”, the heavily wooded area bordering on Christina Street, north of Michigan Avenue. At a cost of less than $20,000, this could be improved by deleting scrub area, layout of woodland paths and landscaping.

Third and major phase was the reclamation of the sanitary disposal area., north of Michigan Avenue to provide a complex of athletic facilities – six baseball diamonds, football field with bleachers and a second practice football field, cricket pitch and eventually a par-three golf course. Over-all cost of this Mr. Bullbrook said would be about $273,000.

Board Honors Long Service

William Germain, a member of Sarnia board of parks and recreation for the past 40 years was honored at the group’s annual meeting in the Riding Club Wednesday night. Mayor Ross presented Mr. Germain with a silver tray on behalf of the board, and a pair of city crest cufflinks on behalf of the municipality. Assistant recreation director Kitty Summers, who will be shortly leaving the city to get married, received a pole lamp from the board and a crystal vase from the staff, in recognition of her 12 years’ service. With Mr. & Mrs. Germain (left) and Miss Summers is parks board chairman, James E. Bullrook.

Fear of Commercialism Result of Park Fees

London Free Press – April 16, 1964

SARNIA – Warnings that commercialism may the result of the city parks and board’s recent step charging reservation fees for picnic privileges in Canatara Park were issued Wednesday.

The warning came from James Wales, 122 Gordon St., who approached the members of the board asking an explanation for the $2 fee recently set on reservations of picnic areas for groups of more than 50 persons.

The board recently started the system on a one-year probationary term because of heavy crowding of park picnic areas during the summer months.

Now, larger bodies of pleasure seekers at the Lake Huron park can reserve space and tables in three sections of the park beforehand for a fee of $2.00.

Mr. Wales said it was his understanding the park was donated to the city on a non-profit basis, and no charges for facilities could be made.

He said his compliant to the board was a “complaint of principles”, and he wanted an explanation for the boards recent action installing the fee system.

“I’ve seen these start out before – one dollar, two dollars, three dollars, and soon every car entering the park is taxes 25 cents,” said Mr. Wales.

Board chairman James Bullbrook assured Mr. Wales commercializing in the park was not the aim of the board.

He said city solicitors had investigated the agreement with the past owner of the land, Mrs. Hanna, and it was a “no strings attached” agreement.

In explanation, the chairman explained the new reservation system was started to fulfill one of the park’s board’s prime purposes, to make recreational park space more readily available to Sarnians.

Discussion among the board members revealed many people were arriving at the park early in the morning, grabbing a table, and holding for it all day.

Alderman George Parker said this was causing unnecessary trouble among park users, and it has gone as far as to the use of force to retain tables.

Mr. Bullbrook thanked Mr. Wales for his concerns about the policy and further assured him that the board was not unanimously behind the moves to charge fees for reservations and would review the scheme next year after giving it a year’s trial.

Note: As recorded in Volume 5, and contrary to what Mr. Bullbrook claimed, Mrs. Hanna never owned any of the land comprising Canatara Park.

One Year Trial Basis

Picnic Groups to Pay $2 Fee

London Free Press – March 25, 1964

SARNIA – Picnic permits will be issued this year on a trial basis at Sarnia’s Canatara Park. The permits will cost $2and will be given out to groups of 50 persons or larger. They will apply to three small areas of the park only.

Although several members of the Sarnia Board of Parks felt issuing permits would create administration problems as well as objectives from the city’s public, it was agreed a one year trial basis would not hurt.

William Palmer, parks supervisor, said his department received numerous complaints during summer months from residents regarding the congested park picnic facilities.

“Some people send their children to the park at 7 a.m. in the morning to sit on and reserve the tables,” said Mr. Palmer.

Jack McKee, board member, said the park’s facilities are being used more by outof-town residents than our own people. He also stated he knew of no other city which did not reserve picnic areas.

“Only three small areas of the park will be reserved, and the remaining facilities will be open hunting,” Mr. Palmer said.

In order to get a permit a representative of an organisation will have to contact city hall.

It would be the duty of patrolling park constables to suitably mark picnic areas that are reserved.

Mr. Palmer said such an operation would involve very little cost to the city.

This photo shows the view looking north over the duck pond at the Children’s farm: 1964

Goats, Donkies, Hens Liven Up Canatara’s Busy Animal Farm

Sarnia Gazette – May 28, 1964, P4

This year’s version of the animal farm at Canatara Park will feature a bigger and better variety of animals. To the goats, donkey, geese, guinea pigs, rabbits, hens and ponies have been added two jersey calves, two ewes with young lambs, a sow and her 10 piglets, another goat, species unknown. “I don’t know what breed he is,” Lawrence Wright, Canatara foreman, told us, “but that 32” horn spread of his sure is impressive.” The crooked-legged billy-goat and his wife have a family of three young kids this year. A squirrel monkey, new this year, adopted four young squirrels, and now they all live happily in the same cage.

Trees have been planted about the farm to give shade to the animals, and their visitors, “that is if the goats and donkeys don’t eat them all.” About 20 have already been consumed, with the help of the one-year-old pony that has joined the dappled original resident.

“It looks a lot more crowded this year,” Mr. Wright said. “we try to keep it as clean as possible”. Helping their efforts towards cleanliness, the park staff have added extra fencing and a water line with the assistance of the Seaway Kiwanis members.

Officially opened the holiday weekend, finishing touches were added last weekend, and all is now ready for visitors.

Kiwanis of the Seaway have put considerable effort into the development of the animal farm.

Chair Ride Suggested for Canatara

Sarnia Observer – May 21, 1964 – P5

Offer to provide a carnival type children’s ride in Canatara Park is to be considered by Sarnia board of parks and recreation.

Proposal was made to the board Wednesday night by Arnold Thompson of Petrolia, who offered to split proceeds from the venture 50 – 50.

Mr. Thompson said he owned a 24 or 48 seat flying chair ride which he would like to set up in the park on a permanent basis throughout each summer.

Board however deferred a decision to its next meeting pending further investigation of the proposal.

TREES PLANTED

In other business, the board heard that the forestry department planted more than 1,000 trees throughout the city during April, and that nearly 2,500 young trees were planted in the board’s nursery.

At the Children’s Farm in Canatara Park, the season’s first seven ducks have been released on the pond and some 75 chicks are being raised for the facility.

Map to Feature Canatara Park

June 18, 1964, P17

Erection of a large map showing the location of facilities in Canatara Park, was approved by the board of parks and recreation Wednesday night.

Map will be placed at the park entrance on Christina north, and will show locations of the Children’s Farm, refreshment booths, washrooms, nature trails, ball diamonds, parking and other points of interest.

Board also agreed to place individual directional signs to these facilities within the park.

New application to re-open the road past the main refreshment booth, submitted by concessionaire Mrs. Leonora Dunham, was again turned down by the board, on the grounds of pedestrian safety.

Board has also declined an offer from Arnold Thompson of Petrolia to set up a carnival-type chair ride in the park during the summer months.

In other business the parks board:

Set the official opening of the James Chaytor memorial Field House in Germain Park for 10:30 a.m., July 18.

Approved the use of small ponies at the Prestolite Limited annual picnic in Canatara Park July 11.

Renewed the rental fee of $80 per game for Sarnia Junior Knights’ games in Norman Perry Park next season, and a $100 per game rental for Sarnia Imperial Football Club.

Activities and Issues in Canatara: 1965

At the January meeting the Board decided to sell a small strip of Canatara property at the north end of Sandy lane as shown on Map V6. The February 1 Observer article, (page 75), describes the controversy this decision created.

At the February meeting the Board agreed to continue issuing $2 permits to large groups wanting to reserve picnic areas in Canatara Park. Palmer noted that last year 101 permits were issued, and it was estimated that some 20,000 persons took advantage of the reserved picnic facilities in the park.

As recorded in the June issue of the Gazette, (page 76), it describes the various issues concerning the dumping ground at Canatara Park.

At the October meeting the Board approved a $24,000 expansion program at the Children’s Farm. According to an October 19 Observer article, this program included the construction of both a 30’ x 30’ barn during the coming winter and a farm entrance building in the fall of 1966.

Notes For Map V5

Map V5 shows the former Sarnia Cement Products Co. property when it was surveyed in December 1975. As the map indicates, at that time the property had two buildings on it – a small concrete structure that had been used as an office and a steel-clad warehouse. By 1975 both the cement products play & Rose Gardens –

marked in pink – had been removed from this parcel. The property now contains three 12-storey apartment buildings.

The original west boundary of Canatara Park is marked in red and the small strip of park property that the city sold in 1965 at the foot of Sandy Lane is coloured green. In 1984 the city acquired the area along the Lake Huron shoreline –coloured yellow – for an addition to Canatara park, as recorded in Volume #9.

Council Rules ‘Useless Land’ Is Worth $800

Sarnia Observer – February 2, 1965, P9

Price of progress for Waverly Towers Limited, planning a $1,700,00 apartment project north of Sarnia Yacht Club, was set by City Council Monday nights at $800.

This was the value placed by council on a 160-foot by 35-foot section of Canatara Park land, needed by the company to put in an access road to its proposed apartment site.

Councils decision settled a dispute between the developers and the parks board over whether or not the piece property was to be given away to form part of the required city street.

CHANGE OF HEART

At its December meeting the board passed a resolution agreeing to “dedicate” the land for street purposes, but at a subsequent meeting it indicated it intended to sell it.

In an appeal for council’s decision on the question Monday night, Waverly President D.R. Freeman declared he was appearing “on a matter of principle.”

CIVIC INTERESTS

Ald. Paul Blundy, a member of the present parks board, admitted he was the one that brought up the question of payment at the boards last meeting.

“It was not the slightest intention of the board to hold up the development in any way”, he said. “We were merely looking after the interests of the city.”

Ald. Blundy said it was the established policy of the board to sell, and not give away its land, noting that in 1961, the city paid $6,000 for 1.2 acres of Canatara Park needed for widening Christina Street.

“It is also a city policy that developers provide land needed for streets,” he added.

Ald. James Bullbrook, parks board chairman in 1964, confirmed that no price was mentioned when the board originally agreed to dedicate the piece of property.

“I understood we were going to make no charge, but I have since been advised that we could not do this”, he stated.

JUST SCRUBLAND

Ald. Bullbrook went on to say that the subject property, “has no function” in Canatara Park and was “useless scrubland” with no value.

However, after further discussion, council decided Waverly could have the property at the assessed value of $800.

Balance of the land needed for the 66-foot access street and cul-de-sac for the nine-storey apartment building is being provided by the developers.

‘It’s Unbelievable’

Sarnia Observer – February 2, 1965, P9

Realtor Douglas Freeman confirmed today that despite what he termed the “city parks board run-around” the apartment project will go ahead.

He did note, however, that council’s decision must still be confirmed by the next meeting of the parks board.

“This of course means more delay on top of the vacillation that has already cost the developers a lot of money,” Mr. Freeman said.

“It is unbelievable that a project this size could be jeopardized by the inability of the parks board to make a valid and clear-cut decision on our original request.”

“If this is the way the city and its board carry on, it’s little wonder Sarnia has problems in encouraging new developers here.”

“I am completely unable to comprehend how the city can contemplate hiring an industrial commissioner at $25,000 a year, and at the same time, hold up a project that will bring in an additional $26,000 a year taxes,” Mr. Freeman stated.

City Running Short of Places to Dump Garbage

The Gazette – June 3, 1965, P2

Sarnia is running out of places to dump garbage. This was brought to the limelight this week as Ray Atkin of Imperial Insulation & Roofing on Exmouth Street complained that the city will not allow him (or anybody else) to dump building debris at the dump, nor will the city pick it up despite the fact that businesses pay a special garbage disposal tax. He told council in a letter that his company is not even allowed to use the dump despite the fact that a truck and a driver is provided.

This sparked a discussion in which it was disclosed that Sarnia’s present usage of a big dump on Michigan Avenue near Canatara Park is by agreement with Point Edward and that the land will be filled up completely in two or three years.

The city is preventing the dumping of building material primarily to slow up the filling up. A certain amount of wood is burned but much building materials is oil based and the smoke would be intolerable.

Ald. Bullbrook felt that taxpayers are “getting short changed” if they have no way of disposing of debris.

The Mayor felt that one solution would be building an incinerator, but he said the City Manager was out looking for land, and had been looking for some time for a new dump site.

How does industry dispose of its enormous piles of waste? This came out too that each industry looks after its own, either through its own dump or having Stan Goodfellow draw it to a dump east of Corunna.

Canatara Park 1965

Map V4: Canatara Park 1965

Notes for Map V4: Canatara Park 1965

Map V4 is based on the accompanying 1965 aerial photo and shows the changes that had occurred in the park over the ten-year period since the 1955 aerial photo and Map V2.

The buildings that had been constructed in the park since 1955 included the 1957 & 1961 washrooms, the maintenance building and the small refreshment booth at the east beach, as well as the bandshell and amphitheatre.

Several changes had also been made to the park road system. The loop road around the south end of the ballfield was opened in 1957 and paved in 1959. The old road at the north end of the ballfield was closed in 1958 but was reopened at various times to facilitate traffic flow through the park. A number of traffic islands were constructed at the junction of the old road and the loop road and two new short roads to the beach parking lot were created at this junction, which have since been removed. In 1963 the dump road was opened to the public and upgraded to provide access to the Children’s Farm.

Several parking lots had also been added to the park in the 1955 – 1965 period. In 1956 the eastern section of the beach lot and its east entrance road were built. In 1958 a new lot was established just north of the bus turnaround to serve the people using the west beach. A short road ran from this lot to the northwest corner of the park where the piles of beach sand that had been collected by the Works Department were stored. Another small lot was situated just southeast of the bus turnaround in the picnic grounds on the west side of the park. The lot at the Children’s Farm was located on a section of filled wetland just south of the farm. The marsh at the south end of the ballfield had been filled, as had the wet meadow around the Children’s Farm, which was a grass field in 1965. The farm was confined to a small plot at the southeast corner of this field. Earth had also been dumped into the marsh along the north side of the Children’s Farm road to in-fill the oil collecting ditch at this location.

Several ponds had also been created in the park during the 1955 – 1965 period. These included the 1956 pond near the southeast corner of Lake Chipican, the 1963 duck pond at the Children’s Farm and the 1960 fishpond at the north end of the 1947 ditch. Three small bridges were placed across this ditch in the early 1960’s. In 1960 a drainage ditch was dug from the southwest corner of Lake Chipican to the south end of the 1947 ditch, as recorded in Volume #10.

A lane ran from Michigan Avenue through the dump to the west end of the Children’s Farm road. This dump lane had a gate at both its north and south ends. The dump trucks normally entered the dump at the south gate and exited at the north one. Another lane that ran from Michigan Avenue along the west boundary of the landfill was used by people engaged in unauthorized dumping during times when the dump was closed.

The deep trenches that had been dug in the southeast section of the present landfill site were filled with garbage in the 1955 – 1963 period and then covered with sand. By 1965 the refuse was being dumped on top of the incinerator ash, oil-

saturated sludge and other waste material that had been deposited prior to 1955. When the accompanying aerial photo of the park was taken in 1965, the garbage was being dumped on top of the area marked “SD” on the map, which was a portion of the 1930 – 1944 sludge dump. A wire fence had been erected on the north side of the dump in order to prevent refuse from blowing into Lake Chipican and the Children’s farm.

Notice that a laneway extended westward along the railroad right-of-way from the Children’s Farm road to Alfred Street. By using this lane, cars could travel directly between the east and west park entrances.

Concerning the structures located just outside the park shown on Map V4, Rose Gardens had been enclosed in 1961 and from 1958 – 1968 the Cement Products plant was operated by Berg & Dam.

The December 27, 1965, Observer photo shown below, shows the view from the park road looking south over the fishpond and down the ditch that was dug in 1947 on the west side of the present Children’s Farm site. The small wooden bridge is one of the three that were placed across this ditch in the early 1960’s, as marked on Map V4.

Canatara Park Wears Its First Winter Mantle

Sarnia Observer, Dec. 27, 1965

Activities and Issues in Canatara: 1966

Park staff continued to clear the snow from the skating rink at Lake Chipican, as shown on the January 17 Sarnia Observer photo below

The barn at the Children’s Farm, shown in the February 14 Sarnia Observer photo page 81, was under construction between January & April.

The piles of sand and stone that had been removed from the beach by the Works Department are shown on the May 31 Observer photo, page 81. They were located at the northwest corner of the park, as marked on Map V4. This was the last year that the Board permitted the city to take sand from Canatara Beach.

In September, a report prepared by a Chamber of Commerce Committee charged that Canatara Park was being very poorly maintained, as described in the September 22 Observer article on page 82

In November construction started on the entrance building at the Children’s Farm.

This January 17, 1966, Sarnia Observer photo looks south from the north end of Lake Chipican.

Children’s Farm in Canatara Park has taken on a touch of New England this year with the erection of its new barn. Do for completion by months end, the 50 by 30-foot barn will enable the parks board to turn the farm into a yearround operation. Instead of getting rid of old stock at the end of each season, the parks board will now be able to house its animals and fowl in the barn during the winter months. It also planned to use the $9,000 building for a hatchery and rearing station for chickens, ducks and geese. Observer staff photo.

Canatara ‘Stockpiles’ Used for Parking Fill

Sarnia Observer – May 31, 1966, P9

Parks department is busy hauling away stone screenings and sand from Canatara Park to provide a base for the parking lot at the new swimming pool on East Street.

Parks officials said today the screenings have been stockpiled at the park’s western boundary for the past three years, and were left after the works department removed sand from the beach for use on city streets.

Earlier this month, the parks board charged a private property-owner with contributing to beach erosion, after he was seen removing gravel and sand from his land immediately to the west of Canatara Park.

CONDITIONS AT CANATARA LABELLED ‘DISGRACEFULL’

Report Issued By C Of C Trio After Tour

Sarnia Observer – September 23, 1966, P13

A charge of “disgraceful neglect” has been voiced against the city administration by E.L. Weldon, president of the Chamber of Commerce, after he recently completed a tour of Sarnia’s publicly owned properties.

At Canatara Park, once described as the finest recreation spot in the city, he found conditions he described as, “very poor”, “disgraceful”, and “depressing”.

Unless some improvements come soon, he said, he would call for a change in the administration.

MANY COMPLAINTS

Purpose behind the tour was to determine how well the Clean It Campaign had worked in the city, and he was accompanied by two members of the campaign committee. A report has been sent to Norman Shipley, chairman of the Sarnia Board of Parks and Recreation.

Mr. Weldon said there had been many complaints registered at the Chamber office about Canatara Park so the Committee concentrated in that area.

The report continues:

“The parking lot was found to be in very poor condition. The depressed area in the centre has been a hazard for years and spoils the whole appearance. Since the bathing facilities at the beach are one of the most popular attractions in the city, the parking lot should rate high on the priority list of items requiring attention.”

SAID DEPRESSING

It was also noted that there was no provision for refuse disposal in the west half of the beach. The bath house and the first aid building have not been painted for years.

Conditions around the park office and sheds are termed “depressing”. The area featured debris, litter and weeds. It was also noted that the equipment was in a low level of maintenance.

In the main pavilion the picnic tables had not been painted for years, and the same applied to the benches at the band shell.

“This lack of paint is probably going to cost the park system a lot of money in a short while if proper maintenance is not carried out now,” the report stated.

The Children’s Farm impressed the committee, but they noted the “disgraceful neglect” of the shrubs around the washroom building.

Small neighbourhood parks have also been neglected and many complaints were received about the weeds at these small public areas.

Parks and Recreation Minutes: 1967

Note: In 1967 the members of the Board were H.E. Quist (chairman), Ald. A. Bradley, Ald. L. Weldon, L.A. Kirk, L. Berger, E. McCaffrey, and D. MacKenzie. W.H. Palmer, superintendent of parks & G.N. Strickland, director of recreation, also attended.

In July 1967 Bill Palmer resigned and was replaced in September by Bob Harrison who was given the new title of Commissioner of Parks & Recreation.

From January to mid-March the skating area at Lake Chipican was cleaned after every snowfall. Floodlights and benches were also provided.

The farm entrance building was constructed between January & April and opened in June. A photo of this structure which contained a small storeroom and refreshment booth, is shown with the January 17, 1974, Observer article provided in Volume #8.

March 22: meeting the Board decided to have a building containing both a refreshment booth and washroom constructed at the east beach this year. W. Palmer mentioned that park staff were attempting to prevent loose paper from the dump blowing into the Children’s Farm.

May 17: meeting the Board accepted (170) the offer from A. O’Hagan of a fiberglas boat to be used by the lifeguards at Canatara beach for water safety patrol. The Board also decided that D.W. Rankin would build the east beach building and that a Sherman tank could be placed at the north end of the Canatara ballfield. (The tank was placed at the Sarnia Legion instead).

June 21: meeting W. Palmer mentioned that Mrs. Lenore Dunham would be in charge of operating the refreshment booths at Canatara Park in 1967, as she had during the previous four years. Palmer also announced his resignation as superintendent of parks, effective July 28. The Board discussed the recurring problem of speeding in Canatara Park and Palmer noted as soon as the second radar car is operating the police would be back in the park.

July 18: meeting B.E. Dungey, acting superintendent of parks, noted that because of the large number of swimmers at the Canatara beach, the Board should expand the beach protection force next year from 5 to 15 lifeguards.

August 16: meeting Dungey mentioned that the attendance at the Canatara beach had reached on average of 600 a day. He also commented about the demonstration on the Canatara beach of the “Beach Sanitizer” shown in the Observer photo on page 86. A cost survey should be done to determine the feasibility of this equipment for Canatara Park. (A cost benefit analysis showed that it was not feasible.)

September 21: R. Harrison, the new Commissioner of Parks & Recreation, reported that the dump at Canatara Park would be vacated by October 2. All fill from the projects in the city would then be used to cover these dumping grounds. He also noted that the Centennial Caravan would be at the Canatara beach parking lot in October and the parks financial situation would not permit lighting for skating at Lake Chipican this winter.

October 18: Harrison mentioned that the construction of the east beach building was almost complete.

November 15: Harrison stated the I.O.D.E. would be attaching a bronze plaque to one of the pillars at the east entrance to Canatara park, as recorded in the London Free Press article on page 86. In addition, he mentioned that the park staff would be removing the snow at the Lake Chipican skating rink this winter.

December 20: the Board decided to “appoint Mr. Letham as Engineering Consultant to prepare the design study of the work to be done on the Canatara parking lot.”

The following two Sarnia Observer items record the closing of the city dump at Canatara Park on October 2, 1967.

September 21, 1967: “An agreement has been drawn up between the City of Sarnia, Point Edward and Sarnia Township for use of the first co-operative new landfill area located on Confederation Street east of Modeland Road. Present plans call for the opening of the dump October 2.

It is also understood the city dump in Canatara Park will be closed on that date. Officials point out many persons using the dump at Canatara Park were careless about placement of garbage bags & other material and complaints were received on many occasions.”

September 30, 1967, page 10: “D.W. Sullivan, Commissioner of Works, has announced that starting Monday, October 2, the city sanitation department will be opening the new landfill area. The old landfill operation at Michigan Avenue, west of Christina Street will be closed from Monday onwards.”

POPULATION INCREASES

Children’s Farm To Open

Sarnia Observer – May 12, 1967, P21

The population has increased at the Canatara Park Children’s Farm –rabbits, ducks, chickens and pheasants – as everyone will be able to see this weekend when the Farm is officially opened for the summer.

On view also will be the new entrance to the Farm. With a solid appearance and a weathervane proudly doing its duty on the roof, the building is an important contribution to the popular visiting spot.

Laurie Wright, supervisor of horticulture, said not all of the animals will be on show next Sunday.

He is anticipating additions in the form of a team of Clydesdale horses and some more raccoons. The pigs will not be there yet – it’s still too cool for them to be outdoors all the time he said.

The barn will be open, and visitors will be able to see the completion of the work begun two years ago. During the winter months most of the smaller animals were kept in the barn.

DRAINING POND

Also announced is the possible draining of the duck pond in order to patch up the erosion of the bank and to make a more attractive viewing place on the side.

There has been some talk of a Japanese-like bridge spanning the water to the small island in the centre.

Canatara Park to Get Sherman

Sarnia Observer – May 18, 1967, P4

A Sherman tank will soon be placed in Canatara Park for children of all ages to view. The offer of such a 34-ton tank has been made to the city by the Department of National Defence through Major Cummings, officer commanding 1st Hussars.

At the last meeting of city Council, the matter was referred to the Board of Parks for location with the stipulation it was not to be placed in Centennial Park.

At Wednesday night’s meeting of the Board, it was decided to accept the tank and install it in Canatara Park.

It will rest on a heavy concrete pad and estimates of up to $250 have been made on costs. The tank will have the twin diesel motors removed and the hatches welded closed. Children will be free to climb onto it but at little or no danger, it was stressed.

Parks Board Given Power Boat For Canatara Beach Patrolling

Sarnia Observer – May 18, 1967, P4

A former chairman of the Board of Parks, Arthur O’Hagan appeared before the Board Wednesday night and offered at no cost, a fully equipped power boat to be used for constant safety patrol at Canatara beach this summer.

The Board accepted the offer with thanks.

The boat is a new 14-foot fiberglas run-about with a 75-horsepower motor. Mr. O’Hagan proposed it could be used by a senior lifeguard on fulltime patrol up and down the beach swimming area. It would be stored at the new Bridgeview Marina, although this matter was open for further discussion.

A similar boat was offered to the Sarnia Safety Council last year and made some 60 separate rescue operations.

The Board of Parks accepted the proposition of Mr. O’Hagan and the radio station CHOK.

Arrangements regarding handling of the boat and storage each evening will be worked out, it was decided.

August, 1967

Beach Sweeper Capable of Picking up Valuables

A $25,000 beach sanitizer - it can just be seen in the background – which is used on many U.S. beaches to keep them clean but has not been purchased by any resort area in Canada is proving to be a money maker elsewhere. City officials in New York claim that in jewelry, money, and other articles picked up by this machine it can almost pay for itself in operation. When the machine was demonstrated to municipal officials at Canatara Park Wednesday it gave some indication of its powers of money making when it dug up a 1967 quarter, a rusty old nickel and a pair of running shoes. The bathing beauties, it left alone, by the way. Their names: Nancy Stewart and Debbie Wilson.

Centennial Plaque Added at Park Gate

Free Press Sarnia Bureau

London Free Press – November 20, 1967

Sarnia Canadian Centennial Project

SARNIA – A bronze plaque, marking Canada’s 100th birthday, was attached Saturday to the stone gate posts erected here to mark the country’s diamond jubilee 40 years ago.

The ceremony attend by members of city council and representatives of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, was held at the entrance to Canatara Park.

The gate posts flanking the park entrance were first built at London Road and East Street, then the city’s east boundary, to mark Canada’s 60th birthday in 1927.

In 1951, annexation moved the city boundary out to Murphy Road and the posts were moved to Canatara Park.

Mrs. William Baldock, regent, Pro Patria Chapter, IODE, the organization which erected the gate posts 40 years ago, read a short history of the posts at Saturdays ceremony.

Mayor, Paul Blundy, Mrs. Norman Shipley, regent; Municipal Chapter IODE, participated in unveiling the plaque.

Parks & Recreation Board Minutes: 1968

January: Harrison presented his ambitious plan to establish “an executive parthree golf course” on the Canatara landfill site and western portions of Tarzanland, as shown on Map V7. A large parking lot, golf clubhouse, recreational center, miniature golf amusement playground, and tennis courts would be located along the north side of the course.

February: The Board approved the report submitted by Nisbet, Letham Ltd. for the design of the Canatara beach parking lot. (The introductory and summary pages of this report are provided below.

March: The Board approved of the tender to A. Cope & Son’s to construct the first stage of the beach parking lot. (This first stage involved the eastern section of the current lot.

In a March 30 Sarnia Observer article, Harrison stated that the first stage of his 5or 6-year plan to create a golf course in the Canatara landfill site would be carried out in 1968 for $12,000.

May: The Board requested that the Sarnia city manager negotiate with the CNR to acquire the triangular property just west of the Canatara landfill site. (This parcel was required to provide more room for the 18-hole golf course which had a very crowded layout when confined to the landfill site).

June: Harrison reported that the construction of the east beach building had been completed and it was now open. He also stated that he was working with Mitchell Associates, a Toronto area consulting firm, to create a Canatara Park Development Plan. The Board agreed to have this firm produce a report at a cost not to exceed $6.000. In addition, Harrison noted that the construction of the first section of the beach parking lot had begun and the road at the east entrance to Canatara Park was being widened.

A July 11 Gazette item provided below (page 89), notes that the parking lot construction was conflicting with the recreational activities at Canatara’s east beach.

August: Harrison reported that large amounts of fill were being dumped at the future golf course site. A bulldozer was shaping the earth into “small hills” to give contours for the area.

Note: the remainder of the 1968 Board minutes are missing, as are those for 1969 & 1970.

Nisbet, Letham Limited

Consulting Engineers

206 Water Street

Post Office Box 51, Telephone 519-337-5436

February 1968

The City of Sarnia Board of Parks and Recreation, Sarnia, Ontario

Gentlemen:

Re: Proposed Development of Canatara Park Parking Lot

As requested by Mr. R.F. Harrison, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, In his letter of December 27, 1967, we have prepared a design study on the proposed Canatara Park Parking Lot and hereby submit our completed report of findings and recommendations.

The report is divided into four sections, Section No. 1 contains the introduction, general considerations and background information of importance, Section No. 2 our recommendations, Section No.3 the estimate of cost and finally Section No. 4 a brief summary, conclusion drawn and acknowledgements.

Your truly,

MThomas / nks

R.D. Letham, P. Eng.

SECTION NO. 4 – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Summary 4.1

In the foregoing pages we have given our findings on the requirements for the development of the proposed Canatara Parking Lot and the resultant recommendations and estimates of cost.

The net result of these recommendations is a parking area of overall length of 1630 feet and width of 140 feet running parallel to the lakeshore and providing parking facilities for a total of approximately 550 – 650 vehicles, depending on the angle of parking decided on at a total cost of $120,500.00. This is equivalent to a cost of $0.53/sq.ft.

The construction of the parking lot may be divided into as many stages as considered necessary.

It has been assumed from information obtained from Mr. Harrison, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, that the Parks Board will have a total budget available this year for the parking lot of $54,000.00. On sheet 2 we have shown the project divided into three stages, Stage No.1 to be built this year at a total estimated cost of $54,000.00 and Stages No. 2 and No. 3 in the two subsequent years at a total estimated cost of $30,250.00 each.

Conclusion and Acknowledgements (4.2)

This report is the result of a detailed study of the requirements for the development of the Canatara Park Parking Lot and gives our recommendations as to how we consider that this development can be best achieved.

In concluding we wish to extend our thanks to Mr. R.F. Harrison, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and to all others who have assisted us in any way in this compilation of this report.

Gazette – July 11, 1968, p18

ON SWIMMING: Canatara Parking lot paving is nearing completion, and we hope by the first of next week we will see the end of bulldozers on the beach for this season at least. The newly paved parking lot is adjacent to the best swimming spot at Canatara Park, so it is nothing short of sickening to have this area torn up at this time of year. Surely our representatives on the Parks Board or whoever is responsible for programming theses needed improvements can more intelligently schedule the work in accordance with seasonal use of the Park by the public! Don’t expect much improvement though. Rankin Construction started the concession and change house in the same area exactly one year ago and at this writing it is still not completed. Now I see where Mr. Rankin has been appointed to the Parks Board. It sure does make you wonder.

Map V6 – Canatara Park: 1968

Notes For Map V6

This map, which shows Canatara Park in 1968, is from the Mitchell Associates report described below.

From 1938 – 1991 the area-colored yellow which contained 1.77 acres, was leased by the city from the CNR and therefore was not officially inside the park in 1968. As recorded in Volume #9, in 1991 the city acquired the eastern half of this yellow parcel and then in 2000 the city obtained the entire triangular property marked “Suggested Acquisition” on Map V6, including the western half of the yellow parcel.

The park buildings shown on this map are the same as those marked on Map V4 except for the farm barn and the east beach building. This building is the current red brick structure that contains the lifeguard station and washroom. In 1968 it had a refreshment booth instead of the lifeguard facility.

Notice that the five structures located outside the park that are marked on Map V1, are still there in 1968.

Notice that both the eastern section of the beach parking lot constructed in 1968 and half of the central section scheduled to be built in 1969, are shown on the map. The western section was constructed in 1970.

The colored portion of the landfill site indicates the approximate area covered with the material in the 1955 – 1968 period. Notice that the highest area – above 605 feet a.s.l. – corresponds to the location where the large trench / pond was situated in the 1960 – 1963 period, as shown on Map V2.

From 1968 – 1972 fill from city excavation sites was hauled to the landfill and formed into small hills, ridges, and swales to create the topography for the planned Canatara golf course. In 1980 the landfill landscape was changed again when huge amounts of clay from downtown Sarnia were used to form the large hills that currently exist on the site. Finally, in 2001 the portion the 1930 – 1952 city dump located on the southwestern section of the landfill was covered with several feet of clay, as was the eastern section of the triangular property, as shown on Map T3 in Volume #9.

This map also shows how the area of the Children’s Farm was expanded in 1966 from its original parcel depicted on Map V4.

Activities and Issues in Canatara: 1969

As recorded in the January 24 Observer article on page 92, the Board decided to have city staff operate the refreshment booths in Canatara Park in 1969. Harrison presented the Capital Budget Estimate of the Parks & Recreation Department for the 1969-1973 period as shown on page 93.

In 1969 the second phase of the beach parking lot project was completed, which involved the construction of the central section of the lot.

Throughout 1969 fill from city excavation sites was hauled to the park and spread over the future golf course site.

According to the May 21 Gazette article, Point Edward officials objected to the plan to build apartment buildings on the former Sarnia Cement Products Co. property and recommended that this area be added to Canatara Park instead.

In September a portion of the channel at the south end of Lake Chipican was dredged, as recorded in Volume 10.

In November the Canatara Park Development Plan proposed by Mitchell Associates was made public, as shown on Map V7.

Notes For Map V7

Map V7 shows the Canatara Park Development Plan produced for Harrison, by Mitchell Associates in August 1969. The “Overdevelopment Plan” may have been a more appropriate name for this 1.5-million-dollar extravaganza. As can be seen, this plan would have filled the park with nine parking lots and numerous buildings, including six beach shelters, three beach houses, seven other shelters and pavilions, five washrooms, two refreshment booths, a café, restaurant, golf clubhouse, recreation centre and gate house, as well as various playground and “amusement facilities” . With the exception of the “wildlife island” on the east side of Lake Chipican & the beach, the entire park grounds – including the “Arboretum” – would have consisted of manicured lawns and carefully trimmed trees.

Needless to say, most of this grandiose and high-priced vision never materialized, and as recorded in Volume 8, when David De Shane became Parks Commissioner in 1973, he guided the management of the park in a different direction – toward a “natural park concept” and away from the “amusement park concept” represented by this 1969 plan.

City to Run Canatara Concessions

Sarnia Observer – January 27, 1967, P20

Sarnia parks and recreation department this summer will take over operation of concessions booths at Canatara Park expanding its own concession business beyond the Sarnia Arena.

Commissioner Robert Harrison told the board that during the last six years, the department had realized between $265 and $389 as commissions annually from Canatara operations. They have been contracted out to a private operator.

Under the contract, he said, the board was responsible for the buildings, hydro, water, telephone and other utilities as well as the license to operate.

The arena, however, has shown an annual revenue of between $7,000 and $10,000 with between 24 and 26 per cent of that profit.

It has been under management of Ray Syrie, assistant manager of the arena.

The board approved a proposition to have Mr. Syrie take over the Canatara concessions using the staff of the arena during the winter.

Mr. Harrison said that when the contract was let for the Canatara operations, qualified personnel was not available within the department and it was difficult to get any tenders from private operators.

The agreement ended Dec. 1, 1968.

CAPITAL BUDGET PRESENTATION OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Parks Section

1969 – Canatara Beach Parking Lot

1969 – 73

$20,000

The first phase of the parking lot was completed last year. The effect of this improvement is clearly shown by the number of persons using the new parking area as opposed to the remainder of the parking lot. It is strongly recommended to carry on with Phase II. The Board are aware that we are receiving a 50% grant toward this project.

1970 – Canatara Land Development – Sanitary Land Fill Area

$20,000

As of October this year, the Works Department have moved to the new sanitary land fill area and it is now possible for the Parks and Recreation Department to start preliminary development of the Canatara Land Fill area. It will be many years for the settlement to stop in the land fill area, but it is reasonable to think that within a three-year period, some extensive development can be done. In view of this, it is hoped that during the next two years, we will be able to direct any fill in the area to this site so that in 1970 we would be in a position to do extensive development work having the base material there and sub graded. This, of course, would be done under current budget.

1970

Lake Chipican, at the time of Canatara Park acquisition, covered an area of approximately seven acres. In the ensuing years it has been gradually filling up around the edges basically by vegetation , and although the water level does fluctuate, it appears that there may be a steady recession of the water line, and to date the smallest area of water was recorded in 1963.The natural beauty of Lake Chipican is becoming obscured because of the recession of the water level and the vegetation encroachment becoming more the weeds and undesirable growth than rather natural marsh and swamp plants. It is intended in the long range plans to dredge Lake Chipican, leaving one or two small islands that could be planted and maintained as bird sanctuaries, and at the same time, the dredged material which would be used to make the islands, can be used to build the shoreline as well with some permanent type of curbing around the periphery.

Children’s Farm

May 16, 1969

Point City Planners Dialogue on Problem Areas

Gazette – May 21, 1969, P15

At a special meeting of the Sarnia Planning Board the chairman Douglas Paisley welcomed the members of the Point Edward Planning Board and suggested that although the meeting had been called to discuss the Taylor-Trusler application, the Sarnia board would welcome discussion on any other matters of mutual interest.

Point chairman Tom Higgins stated that the Point Board was blessed to have the opportunity to meet with the Sarnia Board.

Considerable discussion took place regarding the rezoning application adjacent to the Sarnia Yacht Club.

Deputy Reeve John Bichard stated that Albert Street has never been open over the CNR and will not be opened in the future. The applicants should not be allowed access to their lands from Albert Street. He stated that the Point Edward Board objects to the R3 zoning in this area. The construction of high-rise apartments would result in a violent increase in traffic. The regional park (Canatara) is presently too small and should add the area now zoned R3.

Eric Steward suggested that the City would have to be prepared to purchase the land if they were to rezone it from R3 to O1.

Mr. Huggins stated that in Point Edward’s new Official Plan now waiting for final approval, the high rise has been kept away from the lake. He stated that the people in Point Edward do not want to see buildings on this area.

The chairman pointed out the present Sarnia Board has inherited the R3 zoning and although they may not necessarily agree with it, it would be difficult to change now.

Mr. Bichard noted that the Point is presently undertaking an extensive program of street building and installation of new services. Next year the Village will have to make a decision regarding services and road capacity for the area adjacent to the R3 zone.

He stated that the R3 zone was set up for specific reasons several years ago. The reasons for zoning this area R3 may no longer be valid; for instance, the Village has terminated the agreement for services with the developers. He felt that dealing with the rezoning application should result in a review of the entire R3 zone. He felt the R3 zone should be rescinded.

194

IF THE MUKRATS WILL STOP eating up the water lilies the refurbished “fishpond” at Canatara will be more beautiful than ever. City Parks workmen this week are restructuring the entire pool (which really is the drainage basin for the entire park’s water flow). Here, Laurie Wright, Director of Parks and Forestry for the city and his crew begin the job. The overflow for the little pool flows into Lake Huron. A concrete retaining wall will contain the little reflecting pond. Meantime, work on dredging Lake Chipican is to begin shortly.

SAVE THE BEACH IS FIRST GOAL OF PARK PLAN

Sarnia Gazette – November 26, 1969, P2

Sarnia Parks and Recreation Commission got a close look at an experts plan to redevelop and make the best use of Canatara Park.

Whistles of reaction to $1,000,000 plan soon changed as item after item proposed to make the Park one of the most useful and attractive in the province, were discovered too fall into the “do it yourself” category using city workmen and Parks staff to carry them out.

Chief immediate cost would be the $120,000 in groynes to save the beach area and to expand it so that virtually every one of the 3,000 feet of beach frontage can be put to use.

Other than that, the new belt-line road through the big park can be set out by the Parks staff, the dredging of Lake Chipican has already begun, and two islands have already been determined. The marshy banks will be shored up, walkways installed and eventually a smart, year-round restaurant and chalet will be placed in the centre of a botanical garden at the south end of the lake.

An old farmhouse, complete with drive shed and various outbuildings will be set up to enhance the already highly popular Children’s Farm area. Parking sections with be carved out all over and a one-way road proposed as well to reduce the foul up of too many cars.

The belt-line road will lead around the park and from Cathcart – Christina to a proposed par-three golf course on land which was for years a garbage dump on Michigan Ave.

Paths and trails will criss-cross the park, again for maximum enjoyment by people in the welltimbered areas and lead as well to tiny playgrounds so kids can be within eyes reach while the old folks picnic.

It was suggested that the woods area near Christina St. be made into a bridle path for horse-back riding.

Several shelters, pavilions, beach houses, etc. are all in the blueprints too. Great accent is continued on the family recreation use of the present woodland atmosphere of Canatara. Price of the golf course has been set at $150,00 plus a clubhouse. It is expected that Point Edward Council will object bitterly to the golf course. They would like to own the city land and have it rezoned to a shopping centre and high-rise apt. sites. Whilst the Point thinks this the city has gone on for years planning on extension of the park into the dump.

The plan presented by the firm of Canadian Mitchell Associates spells out in great detail everything from the cost of a picnic table to a silver maple. The parks Board adopted the plan in principle feeling that it can convince the City Council that the park can be developed over the years at a minimum cost with the plan as the guide.

However, the mayor has been hinting broadly that the city is in for a belttightening time and the whole thing is now up in the air.