Thirty grade 5 and 6 students from elementary schools in Lac-des-Aigles and Esprit-Saint spent last week in the Shawville community, learning what life is like 400 miles from home.

Located near Rimouski, these two municipalities have populations of 400 and 350 respectively. Last month, a group of students from Dr. S.E. McDowell school in Shawville spent four days there, living in the homes of their guests and getting to know the people of that part of the province.

This exchange program with other Quebec communities has become an annual feature of the French language program at McDowell organized by teacher Charlene Graham.

New law makes guns harder to get: On the first of January of this year, Article 106 (2) (c) (1) of the Canadian Criminal Code came into effect. It says that in order to obtain a Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) one must first pass a written and practical exam.

In the past, as long as an applicant had passed the provincial hunter’s safety course and had no criminal record, he could obtain an FAC.

Now, one must also have an FAC before he can take the hunter’s safety course required to get a new hunting license.

June 4, 1969

50 Years Ago

Children admitted free to meet Stanley Cup champions Saturday: The great annual Pontiac hockey banquet will be taking place Saturday at the Community Centre.

Terry Harper and Mickey Redmond will be arriving in Pontiac on Friday. The two will visit local stores Saturday morning to meet with the children in the afternoon.

On the poster it states that admission will be 25 cents for the children. This has been changed and children will actually be allowed to get autographs and meet the champs with no admission being charged. This will take place at the arena after a parade through town escorted by Shawville Saddle and Pony Club riders.

Commission studying Ottawa River pollution: The Ottawa River will be the scene of intensive anti-pollution activity again this summer as a comprehensive study of the river basin enters its second year.

The study, a joint project of the Ontario Water Resources Commission and the Quebec Water Board has as its objective, the development of a detailed plan for the control of water quality in the basin.

To date, investigations have been concentrated on the eastern reaches of the watershed, from Ottawa-Hull downstream to Oka. Last year intensive studies in this area were conducted, including investigation of paper mills along the river between Ottawa-Hull and Oka.

The summery report, scheduled for release in 1970, will include detailed information on the existing water quality in he basin and present recommendations for controlling water uses in the future in order to minimized water use pollution and co-ordinating conflicts.

June 1, 1944

75 Years Ago

Local news: On the day of the invasion, (known as “D” Day) a prayer service is to be held at the Shawville Memorial Park; weather permitting at 3 p.m. If the weather does not permit, an outdoor service, prayers will be offered in the Shawville United Church.

Should the invasion take place on a Saturday, special prayers will be offered in all the churches on Sunday and the special prayer service will be held on Monday at the stated hour.

John Leach of Sandy Creek was fatally injured when flames from a smashed oil lamp he was carrying exploded a gasolene drum and destroyed a garage and blacksmith shop 35 miles north of Shawville on Friday night. Mr. Leach died six hours later at Pontiac Community Hospital in Shawville, from severe burns from the waist up.

Mr. Leach, owner of the blacksmith shop and garage, ran from the building with his clothes a mass of flames after he was sprayed with the contents of the exploding gasolene drum. Friends and relatives rushed to his aid and extinguished the flames. He was then taken by automobile 35 miles to hospital where he was treated by Dr. S.E. McDowell.

Mr. George Prendergast has received word that his nephew, P.O. “Bud” Findlay, 87th Pathfinder Squadron has completed his second tour of operational flights overseas.

United Nations and Axis struggle for supremacy in southern Italy. The mighty Allied offensive opening in southern Italy two weeks ago, differs from previous attacks of the Eighth Army. Our task now is to assault and break through in turn a series of natural defensive positions strongly held and long prepared, each of which the Germans will cling to until forced out.

The most impressive aspect of the whole offensive is the wide variety of troops participating in the struggle. There are Americans, Frenchmen, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders and South Africans, Poles and Indian Empire troops, Italians and to the north around Trieste, even Yugoslav partisans.

May 29, 1919

100 Years Ago

Local news: On Tuesday evening last the ladies of Shawville H.M. Club honoured the boys of Shawville and immediate vicinity who up to that date had returned home after playing their part in the greatest world struggle of all ages. Each soldier had the privilege of bringing one or two relatives or friends and this courtesy in most cases being taken advantage of the gathering all told numbered over eighty persons.

THE EQUITY regrets to report that Mr. W.F. Drum is laid up with an attack of typhoid fever. Mr. Gascon of Laurentides, Que. is relieving him as manager of the bank.

Mr. Wm. F. Smith who has had charge of Ferguson and Findlay’s drive of pulpwood on the Quyon this spring, informed THE EQUITY that the timber was now floating on the bosom of the Ottawa River, which at present is very high.

Gr. Willie Thomson (brother of Mrs. P.E. Smiley) and Dr. Claude E. Shaw are among the latest of our boys to receive the “welcome home.” Both were attached to artillery units in playing the Big Game and have come through the ordeal in good form.

June 7, 1894

125 Years Ago

Local News: The past few days have been marked by very wet weather. Thursday, Friday and Saturday the downpour was almost ceaseless while Sunday ended with showers. Again on Tuesday, rain fell almost without intercession. The success of the P.I. picnic at Radford and the opening of the Green Lake camp meeting was in consequence greatly interfered with.

The foresters of Quyon village will give a grand celebration on June 14. The corporation of Quyon are to have the sidewalks repaired so as to have them in good condition for the big day. Tickets to Quyon and return via the P.P.J. Railway at all stations on the line will be sold at one single first class fare on June 14. At this event, the champion baseball team of the County of Pontiac will be presented with a set of silver medals at the Grand Demonstation in Quyon.

The duty has been reduced on grey cotton. G. Fred Hodgins has just received three bales, 120 pieces at the new prices.

Among other announcements made by Archdeacon Naylor last Sunday, was one to the effect that the opinion of a competent party had been obtained regarding the condition of the church tower and that it had been pronounced decidedly unsafe.

A session of the Peace was held in the Court House in the village of Bryson on Friday last, W. Rimer, Esqr., and George Carswell, Esqr. Justices of the peace, presiding.

The complaint for being disorderly and causing disturbance on the public highway: four men pleaded guilty to the charge and were condemned to a fine of one dollar each and costs of suit or one month in gaol.

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