Mont Apica, QC

1 Dec 52

Small fire in Airmen’s barracks. Mattress, sheet and pillow slip burnt up. Stocktaking. Sabre jets put an exhibition on overhead. Commence flooding skating rink. Cold.

Clear and mild. Flood skating rink.

Mild. French classes and show. A Major of the RCAMC and F/O Hatly of ADC/Med here on TD.

CO’s Inspection of barracks. All in order. Heavy snow.

Snow again. Skating rink cleared.

LAC Kirker under close arrest for insubordination. Fire orders placed up in Messes and Institutes and Living Quarters.

LAC Kirker sentenced 14 days detention in Bagotville. Accounts and Station Orderly Room moved from Station HQ to PMQ 4 and 5. CO and CAdO to move on Wednesday to PMQ #6.

OO advises that at 0430 he was advised that Operation Turkey Trot cancelled. He advised as many as possible. Clear and mild. About 5-7 inches of snow on the level. CO said CAdO to remain in combined mess bldg. Till tomorrow when phones should be installed. F/L Saunders, AMC/Telecom, here on TD for 24 hours. Women’s Auxiliary Bazaar held in Protestant School from 1900 to 2200 hours. Weather mild and raining.

F/L McKergown, ADC Messing Officer, here. Mild and raining. CO, CAdO, and SWO move from Combined Mess to PMQ #6. The move will provide these personnel with a proper office in which to do business instead of being subject to a constant flow of visitors, due to the proximity of their offices to the Combined Mess Building. WO2 Brydon, MTelSupt, reported in today complete with wife and 2 children. The PMQ previously allocated to him is unsuitable since he had just adopted an additional child. The only other PMQ available is #21, a 4-bedroom place which was allotted to him.

Almost all of the 7 ½ to 8 inches of snow which we had received to date has disappeared due to the mild weather of yesterday and continuous warmth at night. The move of the MIR from PMQ #17 to the hospital was carried out. The new hospital is the most elaborate building on the Station. Has space for 10 beds, dental operating rooms, reception rooms. However, not all of the space will be utilized at once. Mild and rainy.

Mild. All snow has gone. CO’s Inspection of barracks and section heads meeting. Bus from Fournier Autobus Ltee, Quebec, arrives here for a load. No load since we hadn’t received their letter warning of an impending trip. Meeting, chaired by CO, to discuss formation of a Corporal’s Club in the Combined Mess. Agreed to meet again on Monday night and have married LAC’s present.

Liberty run to Chicoutimi and Arvida. Leaves at 0930 hours returns 2030 hours. All okay. A "Come as You are" party held in officers Mess and Sgts. Mess. Successful. The floor of the Recreation Hall has received its first coat of varnish. It looks too nice to be true.

Much cooler today. Sunday School held.

RCAF assumes responsibility of guarding Ops Bldg. Four watchmen at Byers taken on our strength. Billeting arranged at Byers. Ground Defencemen here from Bagotville to discuss ground defence. S/L GT Durrel, AMC/CE here to discuss CE and take over Drill Hall and look at PMQs etc. Lines on Drill Hall floor being painted.

Colder. Snowflurries. Post Officer moves from basement of Combined Mess to old Orderly Room and Accounts Section for Xmas Season.

Snowy at night.

Colder 10 degrees above. Canteen Fund Meeting. Glass placed in Recreation Hall windows. Floor completely varnished and marked out. The local District Boy Scout Commissioner, Mr. Snell, and Local Scout Leader Mr. Roy Sangster together with Guide Commissioner, Mrs. Berry, all from Riverbend visited this unit to meet our Station Committee and discuss formation of local Brownie, Guide and Cub packs. The Committee and our Station Committee attended a dinner in the Officers Mess and held a later meeting. A special bus will take personnel to Quebec City on the night of 23^rd December and 30^th December for holiday period.

The Rec. Hall is not drying. The main entrance and women’s washroom being fitted up rapidly to enable it to be ready for the New Year’s Dance. Station Fund Meeting held. Weather clear and cold. Already the Xmas exodus is starting. Personnel will leave tonight on trains for their homes. A round of Section Parties held this late afternoon and at night, Supply Section, Station HQ, followed by Tower Section at night. All parties held in domestic site. Weather clear and cold. Zero degrees.

Saturday. Clear and cold. Liberty Run to Chicoutimi shopping by RCAF bus. F/L Williams, Protestant Chaplain from ADC, visits us for Xmas season.

Clear and sunny. 20 degrees above. Skating on the rink again. A party of volunteers from the Ladies Auxiliary help to decorate the various messes and to fill stockings for children party. At night a concert of Xmas Carols, including solos and a reading by the CO was held by the Glee Club. This was well attended.

Non-arrival of Xmas gifts from Eaton’s in Montreal forces postponement of Children’s Xmas party till December 23^rd. News that Recreation Hall is ready for use.

Clear and mild. 30 degrees above. The Christmas spirit is taking hold. Special busses will leave tonight for Quebec City with airmen and airwomen. At 2:30 p.m. the Christmas party will be held for children in the Combined Mess. The Rec. Hall is partly open for limited sports such as badminton, etc. No smoking can be allowed since we have not officially taken it over. At 1430 hours the Children’s Xmas party commenced in the Airmen’s Mess. Several reels of children’s pictures were shown and promptly at 1520 the wail of a siren announced Santa’s arrival in an ambulance. He was forces to leave his reindeer with hoof trouble at LaPasse (10 miles south of here). Santa Claus (Cpl. George Proux) distributed gifts and stocking to all children and ice cream and candy followed. F/O Higgins acted as MC in an able manner. Airmen’s Dance last night. OK. Heavy snow, mild, 30 degrees above.

Still snowing heavily. All bars closed early tonight while RC services (midnight mass) were held in the Officer’s Mess ante-room and Protestant Church Services and Communion were held in the Protestant School. About 30 personnel were present including a portion of the Glee Club which sang carol selections and solo parts.

The snow storm continues. About 10 – 12 inches of fine powdery snow has fallen. At 1200 hours the NCOs acted as hosts to the Officers and at 1330 hours all Officers and NCO’s served dinner to the airmen and airwomen. One of the youngest airwomen, AW1 Gilmar, became CO for the occasion complete with W/C tunic. Many other temporary reversions took place. F/O Higgins acted as MC complete with PA system. The dinner which included as always free beer and cigarettes was enlivened by songs and ended up with comedy routines and community carol singing. Many airwomen and airmen were guests at evening Xmas dinner of married personnel.

Colder and still snowing. About 10 inches of snow now. Our 5-ton plow does a good job.

Still snowing. Temperature at 8 am 10 degrees above. Personnel are beginning to ski in our winter wonderland in a big way.

Clearing about 15 inches of snow on the level. Many people out clearing rink and skiing. Bus returns from Quebec at 2300 hours with our people who had been on leave. Church Service – Sgt. Wade’s baby baptized by F/L Williams, Protestant Padre.

Colder – plus 8 degrees this am. S/L Bishop, Senior Controller, returned from course at Tyndall, AFB, Florida. Preparations underway to open our new Recreation Hall for the New Years Dance. Temporary cloakrooms, bar, etc are needed.

Very cold – minus 8 degrees at 8 am. Clear. Houses seem very warm – however, enormous icicles reaching from 2^nd floor to within 6 feet of ground form on the eves of PMQs. These had to be knocked down by airmen on ladders – a slow tedious business. These icicles must indicate poor insulation – at zero temperatures one day they were dripping. There are no roofs on porches over most of PMQs and these icicles present a real hazard – the snow and ice drips over the porch and builds up sheets of ice. Construction of temporary porches, removable in summer, may be the solution. All day spent readying Drill Hall for our big dance. F/O Higgins, Entertainment Officer, and a crew spent all day installing PA system and decorating. A CE crew installed the sink and all waste plumbing and others put up tables etc. Very cold and clear – minus 8 degrees tonight at 6 p.m. CO addresses muster parade of airmen to warn them of their conduct at forthcoming New Years Dance.

Weather clear – milder plus 10 degrees. Feverish preparations for our New Years Dance. Orchestra arrives from Bal Tabourin, Quebec City and were staggered at the size and type of buildings here. Prior to the dance CO entertained officers and ladies at a cocktail party. Dance under way at 2130 hours after some small hitches that occur in any organization. Everything finally readied thanks to efforts of F/O Higgins and Cpl. Proux, who have worked very hard on this. Dance concluded at 0200 hours – consensus of opinion – perfect. No incidents whatsoever and from first reports a financial success indeed!. Our new Recreation Hall is well and truly opened.

Thursday – Weather very clear and moderate temperature – plus 10 degrees. To date we have been fortunate in having good weather for our New Years Season. Sergeants hold at home to airmen and officers.

Friday – mild, overcast. Stocktaking everywhere at all institutes. Big cleanup in Rec. Hall.

Saturday – mild, plus 32 degrees. Overcast. First game of badminton held in Rec. Hall. Many people out skating, skiing etc.

Sunday – Slightly colder and snowing. Protestant Sunday School.

Monday – Cold. minus 10 degrees last night. Two new Fighter Controllers Officers arrive. F/O Monty and F/O McCrank on posting. Additional 5 airwomen arrive.

Tuesday – Clear and cold. Snow at night.

Wednesday – Clear and cold – Temperature at 0800 hours minus 8 degrees. CO holds Section Heads meeting. CO departs on TD to ADC to discuss recreation and related problems.

Thursday – Cold – minus 8 degrees last night. S/L GH Graham, SOMS, W/C Lawlor, SORep, S/L Bracken, SOCE/CEI, S/L Smith STelO. Staff all of ADCHQ pay this unit brief visit today to discuss medical, CE and Telecom matters. F/L Purdwell, Protestant Chaplain, 12 AC&WS Mont Apica, reports in for 6 month period. 23254 F/S GE Latulippe and 12654 Cpl. JD Stewart proceed on TD for course on CPS-6B Radar commencing 19 Jan 53 at McChord Field, USA. Mr. Gauthier, local MP and Mr. Collard visit this unit to discuss Civil Personnel matters. Whilst they are here they were shown the Drill Hall by the CAdO. A/CO was busy showing other officers from ADC the station.

Friday – milder. Officers Mess meeting. Sunday School meeting at 1900 hours.

Saturday – mild, plus 20 degrees at 0800 hours. Routine.

Sunday – routine. Drill.

Monday – CO returns from TD at ADCHQ and holds Section head’s conference. S/L Bishop relinquishes command.

CO together with Padre (P) on TD at Quebec City. Junior promotion board held for NCO’s. Composition – President – CAdO, Member – F/L Whately, Specialist Officer – F/O Eddy. 333744 F/L DB Biggs Tele on TD here from #1 ADCC, Lac St. Denis.

Wednesday – overcast, plus 20 degrees. The Contractor (Byers Construction Company) has had gangs of men working on the roofs of the PMQs, clearing off the snow and then knocking off frozen ice and icicles which hang over the eaves. Some of these blocks are 8 to 10 inches square. The men work without any rope to hold on to – it is a mystery why some haven’t fallen off yet.

Mild – snowy at first changing to rain later.

Rained all night. The weather at Mont Apica seems milder than at other towns near here. At Hebertville yesterday (40 miles away) freezing rain and quite cold – the cars covered with ice – as we neared this unit the ice fell off the cars and later a full nights rain set in. The roads are all rutted from rain – a sample of what we can expect in the spring break up. About 1200 hours the driving rain changed to snow with high winds and a sharp drop in temperature. The visit of the Reserves is cancelled due to poor weather and roads. News of an ME accident to one of our vehicles and a car driven by F/S Campbell – about 20 miles from here on the glare ice of pavement. F/O McCrank appointed investigating officer. The bus was unable to climb the mountain and personnel were forced to walk a distance.

Temperature minus 10 degrees. A drop of 45 degrees from yesterday morning. Clear and sunny.

Sunday – Temperature up again to plus 32 degrees – snowy.

Flying Officers Promotions Exams. Presiding Officer 143 F/L SS Woods – 4 candidates. Reaction of the candidates is that examinations are too finicky = and not nearly enough time for certain technical papers.

An Officer of Canadian Dental Corps has been engaged in setting up the equipment for a dental clinic in our new station hospital. Two dental chairs and an X-ray – all new equipment – it would delight any practitioner’s heart.

Mild again – plus 35 degrees – overcast. Automatic telephones going in which will permit all messes and certain PMQs etc intercommunication.

0833 hours – alarm from mess hall – false – trouble in wiring – Clear and cold – minus 10 degrees last night. F/L Promotion examinations start. S/L RT Keill – Presiding Officer. One candidate. F/L D Whately.

Capt. JW Small, CDC, from Station Bagotville arrives here for a weeks TD to open our new dental clinic, c/w his assistant.

Minus 10 degrees last night. F/O K Struger, ADC Accounts here to check cash.

12 AC&WS, Mont Apica, held its first Mess Dinner. Guests included Capt. JV Small, CDC, and F/L Arsenault, Chaplain (P) from Bagotville. F/O GA Smith, who had worked at Kitimat Project in BC, gave us an interesting talk on this project. Heavy snow last night. 121995 F/O HM Compton, reported in on return from the Controllers course at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

Message PM228 28 Jan from AFHQ informs that 202996 LAC BD Walker selected for training in Special List Fighter Controller Branch. Successful completion of which entails a short service commission. LAC Walker is ex-aircrew and holder of AFC. Flying Officers Page and Crowther report in on conclusion of the Controllers Course at Tyndall AFB, Florida. During the afternoon the temperature rose, with heavy snow and high wind. My midnight temperature plus 34 degrees and melting. Bus with chains on unable to climb mountain – our snow plow became stuck. 30728 F/O Smith, Construction Engineering Branch, reports in on TD from Chatham for one month to assist Sgt. Mondoux of CE Section in compilation of reports. The CGE personnel act as hosts to the Officers and Sergeants in preparing a Kosher Supper which was much enjoyed by all in the Officers and Sergeants Messes.

Temperature drops rapidly and at 0800 hours it was zero degrees with drifting snow. Snow plow finally clears the road to the mountain to allow busses through – but the going is tough. Temperature continued to drop all day till it was minus 25 degrees with high winds. During the height of this storm four officers, 210024 F/O R Cross, 43042 F/O MA Shaw, 209624 F/O RW Tate and 202386 F/O Huston arrive on posting; all three-quarters frozen. All were given a meal and hot coffee. Lacking winter protective clothing they were not prepared for the bitter weather. People visiting this unit in winter should take a good look at the map and dress accordingly – it can be grim.

Monday – clear and cold – minus 30 degrees last night. (Note later events proved that this was about as cold as it got here this winter, but the Canadian Winter this year was of course remarkable for its unheard of mildness). A bus was rented from the Sagenuay Bus Lines at Chicoutimi for two or three days – whilst our bus is being repaired.

Meeting of Station Fund Committee. Clear and milder – plus 20 degrees.

Clear – 10 degrees below. Inspection by CAdO and CE Staffs of PMQs.

Friday – clear and mild – plus 30 degrees. Sixteen Reserve officers from 2452 AC&WU Three Rivers, visited out unit for week end training.

Cold. 911 G/C HC Ledoux, DFC, 40644W F/O JO Poole, Admin, visit this unit on TD staff visit. A blizzard develops which delayed their arrival from Bagotville. Party finally arrives at 2210 and CO and senior officers dine with them in the Officers Mess. A round table discussion was held after the dinner and personnel matters affecting this unit were discussed. Tonight a station sleigh ride was held despite the storm. Sleighs were pulled not by horses, but by Snowmobiles. The Snowmobiles were operated by men from Price Brothers Lumber Camp near here and they seem to have amazing climbing ability and get away over these rough roads. (We could use one here). Following the sleigh ride, an old-time dance and bean feed was held in the Recreation Hall. This was most enjoyable. As the winter progresses one gets the impressions that the winter in this country can be very enjoyable and that by real participation in winter sports (most all of which are available here) we will have no morale problems at all. It certainly seems that way.

Wednesday – Our hockey team goes to Hebertville to play. Looses 10-5. Bus gets two flats on the way home.

Mild and overcast. Six members of Three Rivers AC&WU visit this unit for weekend training – S/L Dumas is their accompanying CO.

Saturday – LAC Edward Somerton George and AW1 Doreen Perkins married here in an impressive Anglican Church Ceremony in the Rec. Hall. Protestant Chaplain F/L ADD Pudwell officiating. CO, W/C CE Briese, gave the bride away – a reception followed in the Airwomen’s Lounge. At the conclusion of the reception a Valentines Dance at which the bride and groom were guests of honour was held. The dance was a huge success.

Heavy snow storm all day. Capt. Small, ADC, from Station Bagotville, reports in for one weeks operating. P/O Shirley Verner reports from Station Bagotville to assume the duties of Adjutant vice P/O Chapman, absent on leave. The Cpls. Club informally opened in the combined mess. Cpl. Flett, president, Cpl. Ellis, Secretary. Honourary president – F/O Robinson.

36010 LAC C McKibbon, on TD here from North Bay, placed under close arrest for wounding AC Manning with a fork in the Airman’s Barracks last night. Manning admitted to the hospital, not seriously injured. Next-of-kin, ADC and Station North Bay advised.

Overcast – temperature plus 20 degrees. F/O Wright, provost Branch, ADC, here in connection with above incident. LAC McKibbon taken by F/O Wright to Bagotville. F/O Wright interviewed Manning in Chicoutimi hospital. Manning now up and about. As usual, first accounts of the incident are inclined to be lurid and overdone. Protestant Chapel Committee, consisting of F/O RA Taylor, Cpl. Dawson, AC Dishart, AC Heppner, AW Dixon, and AW Graham meets following Ash Wednesday service. Service was well attended.

Thursday. Clear and moderately cold last night – minus 10 degrees. Mr. Parker, the Civilian Personnel Officer from ADC here to talk Civil personnel business, cleaners, messmen, watchmen etc. Full details of our needs were given to Mr. Parker. CO departs with Chaplain (P) and Mr. Parker on TD to Bagotville.

Reserves from Three Rivers due here. Finally arrived at 0110 hours, 2^nd group 0400 hours after we sent a vehicle looking for them.

Sunday. Protestant Church Brownies Parade – offerings are accepted for relief of Flood Victims in UK. CO, Padre (P) and hockey team depart for St. Joseph D’Alma for a hockey game.

P/O DE Collis, a native of Southern Ireland reports in on transfer. The MO, F/L Horne, and two other personnel are ill with mumps. The MO had previously been treating personnel on camp for mumps. Ten beds have been set up in the hospital – the MO is isolated there and another MO requested from ADC. In the event of an epidemic of mumps starts, those AW’s and Airmen on the Station with nursing experience have given their names in to be of service if need be. Fire drill for 6 PMQ occupants – all PMQ occupants are to be covered with this drill. W/C DY Jackson, W/C HF Marcoux and F/L Biggs of Lac St. Denis arrive on a liaison visit.

Overcast – plus 20 degrees. Panel driven by F/S Fuller, NCO i/c Kitchen, hits Price Brothers truck which was parked on a hill putting on chains. No casualties but our panel damaged on door. 27605 F/L Yelland, of Station Chatham, a Medical Officer, reports in on TD replacing F/L WI Horne, our MO who is ill with the mumps. F/L Yelland states he has never had mumps. We hope he doesn’t get them too.

S/L Sarty, Command Education Officer, on TD here to discuss education matters with Education Officer. Two airwomen with nursing experience report to Hospital to assist where we now have 7 patients.

CO, W/C Briese, accompanied by W/C Jackson, W/C Marcoux proceed to Lac St. Denis. CO will be returning W/C Jackson’s visit. C/L W Abra of DECS/AFHQ here on TD re Armco huts which the Contractor has used.

Friday – mild – overcast. W/C JH Morton, SOAF/ADC here on inspection.

Large bus unserviceable again. Bus hired from Sagenuay Bus Lines at Chicoutimi in meantime.

Emergency Mess Meeting re Officers Bar Cards. CO returns from Lac St. Denis.

CO has Section Heads meeting to make recommendations for Coronation Contingent.

CO’s Inspection of Barracks, etc. Finishing work in new Snack Bar and Grocery Store in Recreation Hall.

CO and CAdO discuss operation of Grocery Store with the operators, Messrs. Fillion, operation has not proven very satisfactory to RCAF to date.

Cold, clear, 10 degrees below last night. RC Chapel Committee elected. F/O Jules Legare is president.

Cold – blustery and clear in alternating spells. Offices Mess Dinner, guests – F/L Millage of this unit who is transferred to HQ Fort Pepperrell Nfld. as RCAF Liaison officer, and Major Graham, RCASC Reserve, also guest. During the Mess Dinner, the Officers wives gave a house party for Mrs. Millage.

Minus 12 degrees last night and blowing. The Air Force Protestant Mission starts. LAC JAV Gravel selected from this unit to represent Mont Apica on the Coronation Contingent – a popular choice.

CO’s Section Heads Meeting re the spring break up period to discuss the measure to alleviate our isolation during that period. Sgt. O’Leary, Command Hygiene NCO, here on inspection visit. Protestant Air Force Mission service.

F/L Millage leaves on transfer to NEAC, Fort Pepperrell, Nfld. Station hockey team plays St. Coeur de Marie Hockey team on our rink – we lose 4 to 1. Final night of Air Force Mission. Our visiting Missioner, F/L Wilkins, returns to his home unit, Station North Bay.

Mild, plus 20 degrees, snow. A broken water main causes trouble just outside PMQ 6. Repair crew starts but in meantime 5 PMQs are without water and they have to be supplies with water in tubs and pails. At 2115 hours, the break in the water line was located near a hydrant shut-off and water service resumed, although water is dirty. Sleet and rain tonight with heavy drifting snow. ME unable to return from town.

Station Dance – A St. Patrick’s affair – well attended and orderly. We notice water creeping in on new Recreation Hall floor on the end nearest the broken sewer – this is causing the boards to buckle and spoiling our floor.

Mild and clear, plus 35 degrees. Looks like signs of the dreaded spring break up. His Grace, Archbishop Philip Carrington, Metropolitan of Quebec and Archbishop of Anglican Diocese of Quebec, arrives to confirm two airwomen, 4 airmen, 2 wives, 1 officer and two children. A dinner was held for the Archbishop in the Officers Mess, attended by Senior Officers and all candidates for confirmation. The confirmation was followed by Holy Communion. Reception was held at CO’s house attended by members of the Chapel Committee following the confirmation service.

CO, W/C Briese, departs on annual leave. S/L WA Bishop assumes command. Mild – plus 27 degrees and overcast. Archbishop Carrington goes on tour of the station with A/CO. In the afternoon and again in the evening his Grace showed coloured films of trips to Europe and various parts of his enormous Diocese which stretches from Newfoundland to a point north of Ottawa.

Mild, plus 30 degrees. Light snow. The Archbishop leaves Station. The RC School which up to now has been housed in the Combines Mess moves to its proper location in the new RC school.

S/L KW Muir, Supply Officer, on TD here from AFHQ.

Clear and mild. No sign of immediate break-up yet.

Mild – overcast – CO’s Inspection of Barracks etc.

Mild – partially clear – temperature plus 20 degrees. Nine Reserve officers arrived last night for week-end training – no prior notification. S/L MW Williams, Chaplain (P), arrives on TD to relieve F/L Pudwell whilst the latter is conducting the Air Force Mission at Falconbridge. A visiting badminton team from Chicoutimi here to play us. At the conclusion of the game a Station dance was held in the Recreation Hall.

Sunday – clear and mild – plus 45 degrees. There are signs of the commencement of the spring break-up – a bogy which has assumed unwarranted importance in our eyes according to the "locals" at any rate. Normally such a break-up doesn’t occur until the middle of April. However, everything is different this year. This morning S/L Williams baptized several children into the United Church faith. Communion followed.

Mild, clear, plus 45 degrees. Snow on roads is starting to break-up. Three USAF Officers, 2 NCO’s and one enlisted man report in from USAF, Rome NY for calibration duties. F/O Austin and F/O F Babcock, Fighter Controllers, report in on posting.

Mild – overcast – plus 40 degrees. Turning to rain – the roads are really breaking up.

Rain yesterday evening and last night. Temperature plus 45 degrees. Cloudy and clear in patches. News of Queen Mother, Queen Mary’s death.

Mild – plus 40 degrees. Overcast and rainy. Roads immediately outside the station proper are breaking up. Highway 54A to Hebertville has many bad stretches. Officers Mess meeting – new PMC – F/L Horne, vice PMC F/L Whately, Bar Officer – F/O Crowther, Entertainment, F/O Glines.

Overcast – colder – roads are "grim".

US Officers and S/L Yarnell of ADC complete calibration duties and return to their units. Official opening of Cpls. Club in Combined Mess by CO, CAdO and other Officers as guests.

Tuesday – mild, plus 40 degrees. Overcast and foggy. Memorial services for the late Queen Mother – 1030 for tower personnel and 1430 for townsite personnel in Rec. Hall – F/L Pudwell, Chaplain (P), officiating.

Rain and snow – Roads have deteriorated considerably. Voisine Transport to bring in our Rations from Bagotville as our trucks not heavy enough for the trip.

Good Friday. Clear – plus 32 degrees. Sharp north wind. RC and Protestant Church Services. Roads are drying.

Easter Sunday Communion at Protestant Church at 1900 hours and 2100 hours etc.

Roads are improving north of camp.

Still snow in gullies and ditches of camp proper. In the road slides where trees protect the snow there is quite a bit of snow but the road north is passable.

Clear and sunny. North wind. Truly amazing weather in a country where we had counted on roads being impassable for two weeks or more and where we heard tales of snow in June.

F/O RW Chisholm and P/O Schneider, AS/FtrC, reported in on posting. P/O Schneider, a female officer, will be of help in looking after the airwomen. The Recreation Hall is slowly nearing completion.

Snow around camp proper has disappeared – there is however, lots of it in the bush and the lakes are still frozen.

Clear and mild – plus 40 degrees. A general clean-up around camp by the Contractor’s men. A certain amount of concrete laid late last fall crumbled this spring. The contractor is engaged in re-laying this poor concrete by chipping off the poor portion and putting on a new top dressing.

Friday – overcast and rainy. The break-up is almost over it seems. Cpl. Gravel departs on Coronation Contingent.

Saturday – Last night 3 to 4 inches of wet snow fell and still snowing. Winter is not yet over. S/L Williams, Protestant Chaplain from ADC, arrived for services tomorrow.

More snow. Winter has returned to this country. The roof of the Store and Snack Bar portions of the new Recreation Hall are still leaking. This has caused a certain amount of spreading in the laminated wooden ceiling beams. To counteract this, the contractor is putting in scores of 14 inch bolts to bind the laminated beams together. The finishing work is proceeding on the post office and grocery store.

Clear and sunny. Station Standing Orders in course of distribution.

Snowy and cold. W/C J Munroe, DMS (Air) AFHQ, arrives on medical inspection trip.

Dining-In night at Officers Mess. Guests were Mr. Fred Byers of Byers Construction, the company which build this station and Major C Graham, Chief catering officer for Byers. Dinner also commemorated the departure of several Controllers to other units.

On May 1^st, the RCAF is to assume the responsibility for feeding 61 men of Byers Construction Company. Messrs. Byers and Buchanan, Chief Foreman, called to discuss certain aspects of this matter with CO and CAdO.

The gas tank previously located at Byers Construction Company is being relocated between the RC and Protestant Schools at no cost to us, for Station Fund use.

RCAF takes over responsibility of feeding 61 Byers and CMHC personnel in the Airmen’s Mess by staggered meals. CO’s Inspection of barracks. F/O Talbot new CEO reports in on transfer. The south end of our new Rec. Hall floor has buckled up to 8 inches for a distance of approximately 6 feet due to the water which came in under the boards when the hydrant leaked or broke. Muster parade of all Corporals and below. Ladies Auxiliary of the unit holds a bazaar in Protestant School.

Clear and warm. Liberty bus to Chicoutimi for station personnel.

Monday. Clear and warm. Representatives from National Employment Service office in St. Joseph D’Alma visit us. This office supplies all our civilian employees on the station and their visit was to get a better idea of our buildings and civilian personnel needs.

W/C Briese on TD to Quebec City – S/L Keill Acting CO.

CO’s Inspection of barracks. Reserve personnel from AC&WU Three Rivers visit us again for a weekend training period. F/O Rynoski and Symington report in on transfer.

Temperature plus 80 degrees. Exceptionally warm.

A drop of 50 degrees. Now plus 30 degrees – overcast, rain at night. NPF gas pump now operational. Rev. John Franklin of Anglican Church at Arvida and Archdeacon Reed of the Anglican Diocese of Quebec visit this unit on a courtesy call. The Protestant Chaplain entertained at dinner for these visitors and CO and members of the Protestant Chapel Committee. The first Town Council was elected tonight in the Rec. Hall. They are:

The Mayor and Council to hold office for 6 months.

12 May 53

Messrs. Fillion start move from old Grocery Store under Protestant School to new Recreation hall. Mr. Oliver Fillion visit CO and CAdO to discuss draft contract for Snack Bar and Grocery Store operating.

Station Fund Meeting – 4 new members elected. Three representatives from CMHC here re landscaping of station.

F/O JA Gordon, Command Welfare Officer, here on TD and liaison visit. He conducted several interviews and should be of help to us.

Saturday. The new grocery store and snack bar in Recreation Hall formally opened. Both of these institutes will be under contract to Mr. JL Fillion. Snack bar has most modern equipment and capacity for 20 persons. Grocery Store has a large walk-in Frig. And cold meat counter but not other equipment.

Warm and clear. Rev. Butcher, Presbyterian Minister, here from Quebec City to relieve F/L Pudwell who is on duty at Cathedral in Quebec City.

Holiday for Queen’s birthday.

Friday. Rainy. The long awaited play which the Station Glee Club has been practicing – The Black and White Review – was staged in the Recreation Hall tonight. It was an unqualified success. $143.00 taken in. All concerned in this "effort" are to be congratulated.

Overcast. A liberty run was sent to Chicoutimi for the benefit of the airmen and airwomen.

Sunday – Very high winds and blowing dust from the portion of the station still not landscaped.

The Commanding Officer, F/L Pudwell and F/O Legare were at Quebec City to arrange details of parade on Coronation Day.

Clear. News of promotion of 1 Service Police and 1 Discip. And 3 FCO’s (Airwomen) to A/Corporal has arrived. Mr. Belleville, of the Federal Dept. of Health arrived on an inspection of sewage system etc.

Clear, warm and very dusty.

Mr. J Leroreux of the Bureau of Current Affairs arrived. He brought with him several films of an educational and news interest which were shown to children and adults in the Station Theatre. S/L Scott of ADC visited the unit on inspection duties.

Mr. Buchan and Mr. Anderson of AMC visited this unit on CE matters connected with the new Recreation Hall. Preparations going ahead for station wedding and dance to be held on Saturday 31 May 53.

LAW P Elderkin and LAC D Dorion were married at 1800 hours in the Station Recreation Centre by F/L Arsenault of RCAF Station Bagotville. The Coronation Ball held after the dance was very successful.

The Commanding Officer’s Church Parade was held at 1600 hours in Station Recreation Centre and Station Theatre.

Signed by:
(EC Briese) W/C
CO 12 AC&WS Mont Apica Que.