Over 200 party with Chapple Reeve

At 79 years old, the Rainy River District’s oldest reeve was roasted and toasted by friends, family and fellow politicians Friday night.
Wilson, a veteran of municipal politics, has been an employee of the Chapple municipal office for 25 years–first 14 years as a hired clerk and then 11 years as the elected reeve.
Friday night’s party at the Barwick Hall, held to celebrate Wilson’s 25 years of service with the municipality had most of the over 200 guests laughing throughout the evening.
Friends from across the district, and even as far away as Dryden, came to take their shot at roasting the good-natured, and always comedic, Wilson mixed with just as many deep-felt compliments.
“I sat three-and-a-half hours to get my hair cut just to be here with you,” noted Emo resident Gary Judson. “I’ve got to say Cecil, you’ve been a lifesaver for me. Sometimes I didn’t have to tell him anything was wrong.”
A number of residents recalled how Wilson has affected their lives over the past, including current clerk Doris Dyson who was hired by Wilson.
“It was one of the toughest interviews I’d ever experienced,” said Dyson.
“He said, ‘Can you type?’”
“I said yup.”
“He said ‘You’re hired’,” she recalled. “It’s been a great experience working with you.”
Before making his mark in municipal politics, Wilson piled a number of job experiences onto his resume, including the military, working at a brewery, managing Gill’s store in Barwick, managing a peat moss plant and running the Barwick Husky Station.
Now, even at 79, he remains on the ball and a prominent member of the Rainy River District’s political scene.
“For a budding municipal politician like myself you’ve set the standard very high,” noted Emo Reeve Russ Fortier.
“Cecil, I’m not sure if I was here two years ago for your 100th birthday or Chapple centennial,” said Fort Frances Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
“For you to change and change and change is a credit to you,” he added. “I think you have the only town in the Rainy River district where every street is paved.”
“At Cecil’s age he’s seen it all, he’s done it all and he hardly remembers any of it,” said former Dryden administrator John Callan. “Of all the politicians I’ve known in my life, and I’ve known a lot of them, you’re up there with the best of them.”
Manitou First Nations Chief Jim Leonard also thanked Wilson and presented him with a plaque showing a pioneer shaking hands with an Indian chief, a sign of mutual trust, respect and friendship.
“I’m very, very proud to have known Cecil for many, many years,” said Chief Leonard.
Wilson’s baseball feats were also highlighted during the evening including a spectacular year after recovering from a bout with polio only to be named most valuable player, hit the most home runs and be awarded most sportsmen-like player award.
“I’m telling you he could bat the ball further and harder than you would believe,” said his friend Bill Clink. “How may home runs did you hit?”
“Oh three or four,” Wilson answered with a grin.
“The ability of Cecil Wilson in the 40s and 50s would put him in the major leagues today,” noted Mayor Witherspoon.
Wilson received numerous gifts, plaques, complements and even a song, “the Ballad of Cecil Wilson,” in his honour during the evening which featured a meal cooked by the Barwick women.
“I know tonight you’ve given me a lot of credit but a lot of credit goes to other municipal workers,” said Wilson. “I enjoyed every minute of it and I couldn’t have done it without your help.”