A Montreal radio station traffic helicopter was pressed into the urgent parcel delivery business on April 25, 1975 when a bride’s wedding dress was still in a Montreal bridal shop hours before the big day in Cornwall.
Bride-to-be Betty Lapenna had made arrangements to have the custom-made dress shipped to Cornwall the day before the wedding but discovered the morning of the wedding it was still in the Montreal bridal shop.
Her future husband, Cornwall native Gerry Blanchard, sent out a plea to a friend at CJAD Radio for help. Within an hour the dress was picked up, put on the station traffic helicopter and on its way to Cornwall. It touched down on the St. Lawrence High School football field where the station’s Rick Leckner handed over the package to the couple and uncorked a bottle of champagne. Two hours later the couple tied the knot.
ALSO IN 1975 – The first step on the national path to metrication was taken on April 1, 1975 when the country switched to Celsius from Fahrenheit. … The annual Cornwall Police Department report showed an increase in most crime categories in 1974. Assaults, robberies, break-ins and motor vehicle thefts led the increases. The department investigated 2,295 motor vehicle accidents. This was when police investigated all traffic accidents. There was one murder investigation. Chief Earl Landry noted that his 61 member force needed more officers. … Orval Tessier was signed to a two-year contract to coach the Cornwall Royals. … When illness forced Henry Tracey to step down as manager of the Cornwall Rams of the Inter-provincial Junior Lacrosse League, trainer Steve Ouderkirk was handed the job. … Three St. Lawrence High School graduates – Tilton Donihee, Rick Parisien and Stephen Renner – were called to the Ontario Bar. All returned to Cornwall to practise law. … The city announced that the Athletic Grounds would be re-named Joe St. Denis Field. … Architect Robert Laplante told city council that the new $7.2 million civic complex would be able to have ice 10-months of the year. … Sixteen city teens became the first female members of the local Sea Cadets. … 20,000 trees were planted by 500 Boy Scouts on a 42-acre parcel of property three miles east of Summerstown. It was part of the ‘Trees for Canada’ project. … A survey carried out by MPP George Samis showed that 90% of his Cornwall Riding constituents didn’t think the provincial Conservative government was doing enough to fight inflation. (There was no mention of the federal government). The survey also showed that 64% favoured rent controls, 44% wanted the sales tax replaced by a graduated tax and 51% said teachers and civil servants should have the right to strike. The survey mailed to 15,000 households had 726 responses. … Meanwhile, a national Gallup Poll showed that 69% of Canadians favoured the death penalty for first-degree murder and 79% supported the death penalty when a police officer or prison guard was murdered. … Year-end honours were handed out at the JOC Broomball League banquet. Butch Bouchard was named MVP, Gerry Bruyere scoring champion, Bob Kennedy top defenceman, Ron Crowder top goaltender and Dave McDonald rookie of the year. … The number of persons in the city receiving social services benefits in April increase to 1,176 from 951 in the same month in 1974. … The Ontario Lottery Corporation announced that its second Wintario draw with a grand prize of $100,000 would be held in Cornwall. The draw, with TV personality Fred Davis as host, would be televised by Global TV. … The Ponderosa Steak House on Brookdale Avenue had a chopped steak dinner for 99 cents. … George O’Dair was named Cornwall Kinsmen of the year. … In a less than flattering story, the Ottawa Journal labelled Alexandria the “worst town in Ontario.” … Nancy Eadie and Linda Lee Rempel were grand trophy winners at the Kinsmen Music Festival. … An Ontario medical consultant claimed that there was no link between asbestos fibre in drinking water and cancer. Cornwall had Ontario’s fourth highest level of asbestos fibres in its drinking water.
THIS AND THAT – David Branch, commissioner the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for 43 years is retiring. He was instrumental in moving the Royals to the OHL. To ‘facilitate’ the transfer from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Royals were given a franchise, while at the same time Belleville paid $250,000 for its franchise. … Talk about community spirit. A one-day fundraiser to help get Akwesasne Thunder to the Canadian junior B lacrosse championship tournament – Founders Cup – in British Columbia, raised $25,000. Thunder brought back the silver. Shout-out to Dennis Chaussi for his great coverage on CKON Radio. … Ex-porn star Stormy Daniels on Trump arrest booking report (which he filled out) that claimed he is 6-foot-3 and weighs 220 pounds (Muhammad Ali in his prime had the same vital stats), down from 244 pounds and an inch taller than when he was president: “Ya, and I’m a virgin.” … Recent Canadian Medical Association (CMA) survey shows only 23% of Canadians feel the national health care system is in good condition, down from 48% eight years ago. Meanwhile, 26% say the have given up trying to find a family doctor and 38% have been trying to find one for the last 12 months. Sad fact is, it is easier to find a vet for your pet.
TRIVIA ANSWER – St. Lawrence High School, opened in 1950, became the first Ontario public high school to have a course in agriculture.
TRIVIA – This weather event on May 10, 1963 was a first for Cornwall: 1) The temperature hit 101F, 2) A rain storm dumped over 18 inches of water on the city in a two-hour period, 3) A snow storm dumped eight centimeters of snow on the city causing large leaf-covered tree limbs to snap downing power lines, 4) The sun was unable to penetrate a thick cover of smog that lasted for two days, 5) A storm produced golf-size hail.
QUOTED – “The darkest hour in a man’s life is when he sits down to plan how to get money without earning it.” – Horace Greeley
ONE FINAL THING – If the Ontario lieutenant governor plays such an important role why is it that 99.9% of residents can’t name her, or know what she does?
