LaRonde Roller Coaster #1 in North America

 

 

                                                                                                        

MONTREAL – It’s official – Montreal is home to the best roller coaster in North America.

The Monster, the wooden double-track coaster built on Île Ste. Hélène between 1985 and 1986, took the top prize in the Six Flags Tournament of Thrills on Monday. It racked up a stunning 10,565 online votes, trouncing New Jersey’s Nitro coaster, which earned only 4,322 votes.

The Tournament of Thrills pitted 16 nausea-inducing competitors against each other in an effort to find the "holy rail" of coasters, with online votes determining the winners of each round.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

 

                                   

Firefighters had to help 28 passengers off the Monster roller coaster at La Ronde amusement park yesterday afternoon after one of its cars stalled on an incline.

Passengers reported rolling backward down part of the ride after the car stalled.

No injuries were reported.

The passengers, wearing safety harnesses provided by firefighters, were escorted along a safety walkway that stretches the length of the 24-year-old wooden coaster, said Michel Bourgeois, a Montreal fire department chief of operations. There was no need for ladders, he said.

The car became stuck about 2 p.m., and firefighters got all the stranded riders off the roller coaster by 3 p.m., La Ronde spokesperson Martin Roy said.

An adjustment problem caused the ride to stop.

"The car didn't pick up enough speed to reach the top, of the incline, so it stalled," Bourgeois explained.

The point at which the stall took place was about midway up the structure, which is 12 storeys tall, he added.

Four seven-tonne trains run on two tracks, two trains at a time. The tracks function simultaneously and the trains cross 18 times, with speeds reaching 95 kilometres an hour.

The trains rely on momentum from their first acceleration to make it to the end of the ride. Roy said he didn't know why the train didn't pick up enough speed.

The ride was being tested last night and is expected to be functioning normally by the time the park reopens Saturday.

The stranded riders were given free food, and a free return visit to the park.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

                                                                          .....HF&RV.....

Verdun High School Yearbooks 1964-65

Here are a couple of pages from the 1964-65 VHS yearbooks. Perhaps some members might recognize themselves, relatives or friends.

Guy 

Griffintown Project Ok'd to the tune of $760M

MONTREAL – Demolition of the old Canada Post facility in Griffintown is well under way to make room for a major residential development, but the promoters of the Bassins du Nouveau Havre project prefer the word "deconstruction" to describe the process.

That's because 94 per cent of the materials from the old building will be reused or recycled, rather than landfilled.

This is just one of 40 sustainable development criteria the project's developer, the Canada Lands Company (CLC), must meet according to the development agreement approved Aug. 25th by Montreal city council.

At a news conference called to outline the next steps in the project's evolution, Mayor Gérald Tremblay described the $760-million plan as "exemplary" because of its many green components, its family-friendly design, and its respect for the history of the nearby Lachine Canal.

The mayor also welcomed the $12 million per year in property taxes the project is expected to rake into city coffers.

The project, which should be ready for residents by spring 2012, will consist of 2,000 residential units, of which 400 must be reserved for subsidized housing and 200 must be "affordable." About one-third of the units must be designed for families with children.

Mark Laroche, president and CEO of the CLC, said the deconstruction work should be completed by next summer, and the first lots should go up for sale in spring 2011.

Among the green components of the project are a system to recover storm run-off and planted vegetation, or green roofs, on most of the buildings. About 20 per cent of the site will be green space.

Residents who agree to forego a parking space will be given a discount on public transit passes and the site will be well-served by public transit, a car-sharing service and the city's new BIXI short-term bike rental program.

Before the wrecking balls started swinging this summer, the CLC began selling off doors, light fixtures, electrical panels, insulation, neon lighting and other materials from the postal sorting centre to buyers in Montreal and around the province.

For example, a brewery located right across the street from the project bought steel railings and a rolling extension ladder.

Alimex, a Montreal restaurant equipment and supply wholesaler, bought kitchen and cafeteria equipment.

While materials like asphalt, concrete and roofing gravel will be recycled, other components of the station, like plumbing materials, roofing insulation, metal cladding, and roofing insulation will be reused .

The Canada Lands Company is a federal crown corporation that manages, redevelops and sells federal lands that are no longer required for government use. In 2007, the federal government announced the CLC would redevelop 40 hectares on five properties in the Old Port and along the Lachine Canal. Les Bassins du Nouveau Havre is the first of these projects, referred to collectively as Montreal's New Harbourfront.

The basins referred to in the project's name are four offshoots of the Lachine Canal dug in the 1870s. These were used by shipping companies for loading and unloading cargo. In the 1960s, these waterways were filled in and the postal centre was erected over them.

The development will "evoke" these historical basins by installing reflecting pools and green space (playing fields, playgrounds, a rain garden to treat storm run-off) where they once were.

Laroche said the CLC is now developing plans for the redevelopment of the Grain Elevator No. 5 site in the Old Port. Laroche called on Montreal's business community, all levels of government, and community groups to participate in the development of the historic property.

For more information on the Les Bassins du Nouveau Havre project, go to www.lesbassins.ca

For more on the other CLC harbour projects, go to www.nouveauhavredemontreal.ca

Roots Beneath the Pavement

I have borrowed the book "Roots Beneath the Pavement" by Laurel Buck from the Verdun Library (above the SHGV) corner Bannantyne and Brown Blvd. The book is about her life in Verdun in the 30s and 40s. I heard so much about this book on this site that I had to read it. I only read the first pages and  I am sure to enjoy it as Laurel is from Claude Street wich is just around the corner from Galt where I lived and we seemingly are from the same era. I will let you know my impression after reading the complete book.

Guy

P.N. The library number is 923.7714 BUCK and may be available from your local library or can be purchased from a local bookstore.

unlimited access.

"Je Me Souviens" I prefer "La Belle Province" as a slogan

It's almost 50 years since Duplessis checked off the planet,and from most accounts in the response area of the Gazette story,it was more a feeling of 'Good Riddance' than missing the likes of a corrupt power &money hungry tyrant,..........

MONTREAL – "Je me souviens." I remember. So say our licence plates. But how much do we recall, really, of the era when Premier Maurice Duplessis ruled Quebec with an iron fist and a conspiratorial wink to big capital and the Roman Catholic hierarchy? Fifty years ago on Monday, Le Chef - premier from 1936 to 1959, except for a Liberal interregnum from 1939-1944 - died in office at age 69. The following year, Liberal Jean Lesage's Équipe de Tonnerre (team of thunder) rode to victory on the slogan: "It's time for a change."

The Quiet Revolution of the 1960s wrested education and social services from the hands of the Catholic clergy, nationalized electricity, founded state-owned mining, forestry and energy companies and created the Quebec Pension Plan. Churches emptied, the birth rate plummeted and La Grande Noirceur - as critics later dubbed the Duplessis years - was over.

Today's secular, multicultural Quebec seems worlds away from Duplessis's Belle Province - a time of large families and small farms, when nuns in medieval habits ran schools and hospitals, and village curés urged the faithful to vote "bleu" - the colour of the conservative Union Nationale. "Hell is red, while heaven is blue," often quipped Duplessis, a skilled orator whose speeches, peppered with puns, touted rural values and castigated communists.

That past seems so distant. Yet for many, Duplessis's shadow still looms large. Some remember him as a corrupt politician whose infamous Padlock Law and persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses rode roughshod over civil rights.

Others recall the staunch defender of Quebec autonomy who gave Quebec its official fleur-de-lys flag in 1948 and instituted separate provincial income tax in 1952.

"In most people's minds, Duplessis was a conservative who was responsible for preventing Quebec from keeping up with the times," says Jacques Rouillard, a professor of history at the Université de Montréal. "It was a dark period, a negative time, a period to which we would not want to return."

 

Padlock Law and the Roncarelli Case

The 1937 Padlock Law gave police powers to lock up any premises used to promote communism. In 1957, the Supreme Court struck down the law, which denied presumption of innocence and freedom of expression.

Communists were not Duplessis's only targets. Police also rounded up hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses for distributing leaflets. Frank Roncarelli, the owner of an upscale Crescent St. Italian restaurant who was also a Witness, posted bail for those arrested. In response, Duplessis yanked Roncarelli's liquor licence in December 1946.

After six months, his business ruined, Roncarelli sold the restaurant. He sued Duplessis and won the case in a 1959 landmark ruling, by the Supreme Court of Canada, which awarded the former restaurateur $33,000 plus interest.

Lawyer Alan Stein, 72, is the son of lawyer Albert Louis Stein, who represented Roncarelli with McGill law professor Frank Scott:

My father was a David against Goliath. His mother ran a dry-goods store on Hutchison Ave. The family lived upstairs. My father ran a dress business with his brother and he studied law at the Université de Montréal at the same time.

He loved the law. He used to work day and night. He was tough. It was his cross-examination of Duplessis that won the Roncarelli case. My father kept on coming back to the same question: "Did you give the order to cancel the liquor licence?" Duplessis wouldn't give a direct answer. Finally, Duplessis was so upset he said, "Oui, c'est moi qui a donné l'ordre."

That answer won the case. Duplessis gave the order, so the Supreme Court said he was responsible.

My father tried to engage learned counsel from the big law firms to act with him.

Every one of them turned him down. Frank Scott was the only one who would agree.

Scott taught me constitutional law. I was in his class on the day of the ruling. Scott got an urgent call. He went to his office to take it. He got on the phone and my father gave him the wonderful news.

He came back into the class all smiling. He said, "We've won, 6 to 3." He asked one of the students to get a bottle of champagne. He raised the bottle and said, "Mum's the word!"

Later, Scott had a party at his house on Victoria Ave. All kinds of people came. (Future prime minister) Pierre Elliott Trudeau was there. So was Maxwell Cohen, the dean of the McGill law school.

 

A common touch

With lively brown eyes and a well-worn pun for every occasion, Duplessis was a consummate political organizer. Some have seen echoes of his folksy manner in former Prime Minster Jean Chrétien and Action Démocratique founder Mario Dumont.

René Ferron, a retired television producer and Internet radio broadcaster from Duplessis's hometown of Trois Rivières, remembers:

My father was a friend of Duplessis. Every year, he would come to my school, the Séminaire de Trois-Rivières, which was his alma mater.

He always made the same jokes, like "Education is like alcohol: some people just can't handle it," and "The Union Nationale helps those who help themselves."

Duplessis was the most honest man in the world compared to politicians today. He would give someone $10 to buy a refrigerator. It's small potatoes compared to what goes on now.

Duplessis appointed my father as superintendent of public instruction. He also named him to a committee in charge of maintaining roads in winter. When my father complained to Duplessis that the committee never actually did anything, Duplessis told him not to worry. In those days, rural roads weren't cleared in winter. People got around by sleigh. Just like now, committees were a way to keep people quiet.

Duplessis had a gift for disarming his critics. He was a man of the people. He always started his speeches with a joke. Unlike (former premiers Louis-Alexandre) Taschereau and (Adélard) Godbout, he didn't play the aristocrat.

He had an incredible memory. He remembered my mother's maiden name. He could scan a document rapidly and absorb it. He was a superior being.

He wasn't perfect. But it was another era. He did many good things for Quebec.

 

1949 Asbestos Strike

At midnight on Feb. 14, 1949, 5,000 asbestos miners in the Eastern Townships walked off the job. The strike would become a rallying cry for opponents of the Duplessis regime. Led by Jean Marchand, whose long association with Trudeau began during the strike, the union demanded a wage increase of 15 cents per hour; measures to eliminate asbestos dust; pay for overtime and holidays; and the Rand formula, under which the employer deducts union dues from wages. Duplessis dispatched provincial police, who broke up picket lines and beat strikers. Many members of the clergy supported the strikers, including Montreal archbishop Joseph Charbonneau, who resigned afterward. On July 1, the strike ended, with few gains for the workers.

Benoît Côté, 87, is a retired asbestos miner living in Thetford Mines:

I started at the Bell Mine on Jan. 5, 1939. I was 16 years old. My starting salary was $2 a day. I was one of five brothers who worked in the mine. My father worked there for 54 years.

A month before I started, on Dec. 7, 1938, there was an accident. Sixteen men were buried. Seven died. It took 21/2 days to dig them out.

I had many close calls myself, but I was always lucky.

In October 1940, I went to work in the pit. I made 40 cents an hour.

We worked six days a week, eight hours a day in summer and 10 hours a day in winter. The union dues were 25 cents a month.

We were in a different union from the other mines. We went on strike in 1949, but we were not out as long as long as the other mines.

The miners didn't like Duplessis one bit. He thought that we were paid well enough already. He said if we made too much money, we'd spend it on beer. The Duplessis regime was a reign of terror.

A lot of people got asbestosis. There was so much dust. In the morning, you opened the window and the dust came into the house. In our family, nobody got sick. But there were others who died of it, including some of our neighbours.

Working conditions improved 100 per cent in later years.

Le Chef and the press

The mainstream media had a cosy relationship with Duplessis, whose weekly press conferences were known as the Friday monologue. Asking questions was ... out of the question. Duplessis, a close friend of the publishers of both The Gazette and the Montreal Star, kept a lid on the price of newsprint. In return, the papers printed favourable coverage.

Former Gazette staffers tell tales of envelopes of money - even cars - Duplessis awarded to political reporters.

Only Le Devoir - and the spunky tabloid the Montreal Herald, in the Roncarelli case - dared to criticize Duplessis.

In 1958, Pierre Laporte, then le Devoir's Quebec correspondent, (later a provincial cabinet minister murdered in the 1970 October crisis) broke a story of insider trading by several provincial ministers in a newly privatized natural gas company. Duplessis suspended his weekly press conference. Two weeks later, with Laporte on vacation, Duplessis reinstated the Friday rencontre with the press. But he didn't bargain for the presence of a substitute Le Devoir reporter, then 23 years old.

Guy Lamarche, now 74, recalls:

They told me, "Hey kid: you're going to cover Mr. Duplessis's press conference.

I wasn't a political reporter. I covered the universities and stories about dogs getting run over.

I went to Quebec City. Duplessis always invited the reporters into his office one by one. When I walked in, he asked: "Who do you represent?"

I said: "You don't know me, Mr. Duplessis. I'm Guy Lamarche of Le Devoir."

Duplessis's expression changed. He shouted: "Out! Now!"

A big, burly guard dragged me outside.

The other journalists were watching it like a story unfolding, taking notes. The next day, most of the newspapers ignored the story.

My eviction was the spark that led André Laurendeau to write an editorial in Le Devoir. Laurendeau was trying to understand why the Anglophones remained silent while Duplessis abused civil rights. He compared Duplessis to the king of a colonized country. The colonial rulers tolerate the king, despite his brutality, because he is useful to them.

Another time, Duplessis gave a speech in Montreal. Afterward, I was in the entranceway with the other journalists. A big burly fellow showed up. He put a hand into his vest pocket and looked around. He said: "So, Le Devoir isn't here? "

I said, "In one minute, Le Devoir won't be here."

I walked away, but I kept watching. I saw him hand out envelopes of cash to the reporters.

Journalists were all very badly paid at the time. There was a kind of resignation about accepting payments.

In 1960, I covered the Quebec election in Montreal-Laurier riding for La Presse. René Lévesque was running for the Liberals.

Duplessis was dead. But the Union Nationale machine was still operating in Montreal-Laurier on June 22, 1960.

The Montreal police arrested six members of the provincial liquor police. Their pockets were stuffed with ballots.

They were arrested on the orders of (Mayor) Jean Drapeau.

If they hadn't been arrested, Lévesque would not have won. It changed history.

'Électeurs, électrices, électricité!'

That was one of Duplessis's favourite lines when speaking in rural ridings. His campaign of connecting villages and farms to the grid was one of the UN premier's most popular policies - ensuring the continued support of rural Quebecers, his most faithful constituency.

Duplessis's conservative, agrarian philosophy glorified the values of faith, family and farm. A third of Quebecers lived in rural areas in 1951, compared to 25 per cent today.

From 1945 to 1955, the proportion of farms with electricity increased from 19 per cent to 90 per cent.

Jacques Croteau, 89, of St. Fortunat, two hours east of Montreal, remembers when the lights came on:

We got electricity in 1947. On the range roads, it took another few years.

It was a big change. Before that, there was no refrigerator, no electric stove, no lights. It completely changed your life.

In the old days, you used to look at the stars. You would see signs in the sky.

Everything was done with horses. Nobody had a car.

I went up to third grade. Once you knew the catechism, you had enough education.

People always voted for the same party in those days. When a family was blue, everyone in the family voted blue. When a family was red, they voted red. We were blue, but we weren't very partisan. If Duplessis hadn't been there, it would have been someone similar.

Since those days, I've voted for all kinds of parties.

When I was growing up we had six cows. We had 50 acres of land.

From about 1954, you couldn't get by with just six cows. I did other jobs off the farm. There were men who repaired the roads for the Department of Transportation. When the party changed, it was a different bunch who maintained the roads. There was a lot of patronage in those days.

Artists' Manifesto

In the 1940s, a group of young artists felt stifled by Quebec's pious conformity. Books on contemporary art were banned from libraries and the École des Beaux Arts clung to classical traditions. In 1948, Paul-Émile Borduas and 15 others signed a manifesto called Le Refus Global (Total Refusal). It criticized a Quebec society "huddled to the skirts of a priesthood" and called for freedom from convention.

Artist Françoise Sullivan, 84, remembers:

Among intellectuals and artists there was a very great discontent with Maurice Duplessis's very narrow-minded attitude. There was no freedom. It was like a fascist regime. We were very young and full of enthusiasm. But everything around us felt very dead, conventional and boring. We had to make a gesture. We had to show the world.

The hardest thing about signing the Refus Global was thinking about my parents. I knew I was hurting them. But I felt, "I cannot deny this." I had to do it.

When Borduas writes, "Make place for magic! Make place for love!" that was for everyone. We wanted everyone to be up to their capacities. When people are not, it makes for a very frustrated life. It was really a generous move, but it wasn't taken as that.

When the Refus Global came out, it had the effect of a bomb. Duplessis saw to it that Borduas lost his job, saying he wasn't (fit) to teach young people. All of a sudden, he had no income. It was terrible.

He was left with nothing, so he went to New York.

Yesterday, I said to my son, "Did you know that Duplessis died on the 7th of September?"

He said, "We shouldn't talk against the dead. Duplessis's gone.

"Good."

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

This is not for everyone

The Bixi Bike

A few bugs to be ironed out but all and all it seems to be catching on .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3mZlztEIzY

http://montreal.bixi.com/rolling-with-bixi/how-it-works

Pauline

Just Looking for Family (maybe You can Help ?)

Surfing around for Verdun stuff to post pics & stories whatever,I came across this site that reminded me of one of our members from the old Verdun connections site who was in search of his birth parents,and everyone tried to help,by suggesting where to look and such, I don't know if they had success in the end,but I thought I'd post this site ,and maybe if you have the inclination or time to look through some of these responses,Maybe just Maybe you can help someone,or maybe even find an old friend ? I cannot believe how many people are out there 'still looking' for their roots. and these are just some of the posts all pertaining to Montreal/Verdun or thereabouts.....

Here's just the responses for 2009 : I will post the web address at the end of this post too,(where you can read all the other responses going further back in years)Who Knows maybe we can Make a Connection for someone..........

Posted July 8, 2009
Searching for info about my grandmother's maternal mother who gave her up for adoption in Quebec. My grandmother's name on her birth cert was Marie Celine Terese Nobert born Apr 5th, 1927. She was adopted from the Creche D'youville orphanage on July 17, 1929. Apparently her biological mother married later on in life and had a son. Any info would be great. Please contact Kat or Sacha.

Posted July 8, 2009
Looking for baby girl was born Dec 1/1967 in Quebec. Her name was lauria ann. Mothers name was peggy. Not sure of the last name it was something like cornford of cornforth. Any info would help thank you. Please contact Kitty.

Posted July 8, 2009
Larocquebrune/Larocque: Ursule and Smith: William. Married around 1867 but I'm looking for marriage records for their daughter Mary Ellen (Ellen or Nellie) to Charles Ellsworth Snider either a catholic or methodist wedding in Point Gatineau Quebec. Please contact Faye.

Posted July 8, 2009
Trying to find any of my remaining former high school classmates below. They were probably born somewhere near Montreal around 1963-65: David Auclair, Nancy Bergeron, Claire Boulanger, Linda Brown, Lisa Brown (last heard from in England), David Carleton, Eric Fortin, Chantal Gadouas, Bryan Jones (out West?), Rose Kyriakatos, Brock Martin (still in the South Shore somewhere), Debi McCarthy (was in BC for awhile, so I heard), Scott McKelvie, Kevin Mertick (still in the South Shore somewhere), Kevin Morin (last whereabouts-Ottawa), Shirley Ann Mosher (still in Chateauguay, so I heard), Josee Parenteau (maybe a nurse in Sherbrooke), Cathy Paschalis (last heard from in Vancouver), Dave Perras, Lisa Pitman (last heard from in Vancouver), Lisa Smith, Ronni Speed, Uko Tan (possibly back in Singapore with his folks, my guess), Daniel Venne, Kim Wood (last heard from in Ottawa). Anybody have any leads, including relatives still living in the immediate area, please contact me ASAP. Please contact Frank Krumme, former 1982 Richelieu Valley Regional High School (McMasterville, P.Q.) classmate of the above.

Posted July 8, 2009
I am a male born 20 June 1962 in Montreal. I was briefly in foster care and then adopted through the Red Feather Agency, which at the time was a service run by the Salvation Army. The adoption was finalized (I believe in Montreal, but possibly the Eastern Townships area) in late 1962 or very early 1963. I have very little background information, and what I do have has not been verified. There is a possibility that my birth name was John Lawrence (or Laurence) Birth mother may be of Scottish or Irish heritage and father French-Canadian (again, none of this is known for sure). I have a distinguishing birthmark on the back of one hand. Not looking to be a burden in anyones life, just want to know something about where I came from. Please contact Chuck.

Posted July 8, 2009
Does anyone remember Doreen Prior from Gravesend England had a daughter Ann born May 1941. Father Pilot. Please contact Julia.

Posted July 8, 2009
Je cherche le mariage de Joseph Corriveau et de Caroline Poudrette-Lavigne. Leur fils Joseph Corriveau s'est marié à Vinton (Pontiac) Québec le 14 juillet 1903, à Mathilda Lafleur, fille de Alphonse Lafleur et de Anne Dubeau. Je ne suis pas sûr mais je crois qu'ils se seraient mariés dans la région de Fort-Coulonge, mais j'ai cherché dans ce coin-là sans aucun succès. Please contact Hector.

Posted July 8, 2009
Looking for info regarding international adoptions to Cuban adoptive parents through the Catholic Church in Quebec City, Quebec-some time in 1955 - adoptions took place in a Catholic Convent - perhaps the Urulines or Crech Saint Vincent de Paul. Please contact LOUPICASSO@aol.com.

Posted July 8, 2009
Searching for the deaths of Robert Currie and his wife Marion Alexander who arrived in Megantic County about 1830. I believe that Robert died in the 1840's but I wonder where and I am also wondering if Marion remarried after the death of her husband which means I should be looking for her with a new surname. Please contact Evelyn.

Posted July 8, 2009
Looking for info on my mother's father. His name is Jean-Claude Barras. We believe he is from the Riviere-du-Loup area. My mother has met him once 20+ years ago but lost contact. He was born approx late 1920s or early 1930s. He is between 5'5" and 5'7" tall. The only other info we have on him is that he was in the construction business when dating my grand-mother (in the 60's). He may have resided in or travelled a lot to Cornwall Ontario for a while in the 1960's. He was to be married to Beatrice Payette (my grand mother) of Cornwall Ontario. We know that he has at least 2 other children, probably in their late 40's or early 50's in age. My mother was born Feb 1964. My grand-mother always said that he always owned the nicest cars and was very well dressed. My mother always wonders about her siblings. Please contact Melissa.

Posted July 8, 2009
Looking for the marriage of Francois-Xavier Desbiens and Elisabeth Boyer. Their daughter Blanche Desbiens was married in Montréal (Ste-Cunégonde) on 3 March 1924. Please contact Hector.

Posted July 8, 2009
I was adopted from Quebec, at La Sauvegarde de La Enfance, my date of birth is Nov 12 1969, and I am also looing for my biological relatives, mother, sister, brothers, etc. The priests gave me a name in Quebec as Marie Helene Josee Gosselin, any info I will really appreciate it. Please contact Albany.

Posted July 8, 2009
Born Catherine Booth Memorial Hospital in Montreal in June 1958 and searching for family or simply some information about the circumstances of my birth. Given the name Michael by my mother who was in her early twenties. Private adoption arranged by a GP and adopted by an English couple. Please contact John.

Posted July 8, 2009
Looking for Birth Parents and/or Siblings, my birth name was John Gosse, my Mother's name Sarah Gosse. I was born Nov 30, 1964 at Catherine Booth Hospital, Montreal, PQ. Please contact Phillip.

Posted July 8, 2009
Looking for my sister. My dad was in the army and had a daughter they named her Laurie Ann. She was born Dec 1967 in Quebec City. Her mothers name was Peggy. Any info would help. Please contact Catherine.

Posted May 14, 2009
Looking for my half sister; she was born at the St. Foy, Quebec (Quebec city area) catholique Crèche spring/summer of 1951, in Quebec city (St. Foy area). Her (our) Biological mothers name is Lillian Morin, who was from Dalhousie, New Brunswick (Lillian was 15 years old at the time of birth. If anyone has any possible info please contact me. Please contact Otto.

Posted May 14, 2009
Birth daughter looking for birthmother or relatives. I was born on the 6th of April 1978, in Montreal, giving name at birth was Brenna. Please contact Miriam.

Posted May 14, 2009
I'm Thomas Dostie currently living in labrador. i am looking for info on some of my ancestors. i would like to know where to get a coppy of the registration of marriage of louis aubin and adelaide gagne married on august 30 1870 in malbaie quebec. also on his parrents francois aubin born about 1808 and ursule adee born about 1819 thanks for your help. Please contact Thomas.

Posted May 14, 2009
My birth mother was named Deborah. She was Jewish and came from Alberta. She gave birth to me at the Salvation Army Catherine Booth Hospital in Montreal on Nov 21, 1959. She named me Michael Joseph at birth. There was a Jewish Adoption agency that handled my adoption. I have an old letter that records that she inquired about me for over a year after my birth, that she was depressed. Then one day she stopped writing. I assume she had moved on. I am 49 years old now and have always wondered what happened. At my age, I may not be able to actually meet or be given the chance to know her. I fully understand this. Some additional info was that she sang in the Jewish Choir in Edmonton or Calgary and that she worked in the dental field. I too sing, am a concert pianist and have been musical all of my life; something I believe she gave me. Please contact Ian.

Posted May 14, 2009
I was born Oct 18, 1957 in Montreal. As "Phillip". Looking for my biological father. You are Jaques Guay. I've met my B-Mom, her name was Robertha. You guess her last name & you're the winner! We're all getting older & we should meet while we still can. No grudges, all good! Please contact Rob.

Posted May 14, 2009
Baby boy born in Canada in Jan 1967 and adopted in Apr 1967. Given name at birth was Jeffrey, mothers name at birth Vera Haines and fathers name Victor Simmonds. Birthparents and siblings are very anxious to know you! Please contact birthmother: Please contact Victoria.

Posted May 14, 2009
Helping my father to find birth family. He was born Sept 1953, I think in Hull, Quebec and transferred to the Orphanage Val-Tetrault or St. Therese and adopted with the help of St. Joseph Parish in Hull, PQ via an Ontario adoption. His birth name was Serge, this is all the details known. Any info welcome and/or people also adopted via these orphanages. Please contact Karen.

Posted May 14, 2009
I am looking for my brother who was born on July 23rd 1959. He was born at the Catherine Booth Hospital In Montreal Quebec. He was born to Cheryl Nina Chanter (mother) and Peter Robert Burns (father). Please contact Jennifer.

Posted May 14, 2009
looking for my uncles: hormidas dubeau-adrien dubeau- my aunt donalda. last known address: in 1911 was at 635 lasalle ave. x street corner ste catherine east, maisonneuve district, montreal. hormidas born dec. 1904..adrien born mar. 1908...donalda born jun 1905 my father is leopold dubeau b jan 1907 d nov 10 1967 antoinette born sept. 1900... blanche born 1912. i am actually looking for any children or grand children of hormidas,adrien. donalda. i do not know if any of the three lived beyond the 1911 census. Please contact Jerry or Linda.

Posted May 14, 2009
Looking for the marriage of François Cyr and Marie Côté. Their son Daniel Cyr married Ursule Huard at Grande-Rivière (Gaspé) Québec on June 15, 1857. Please contact Hector.

Posted May 14, 2009
Looking for info on 2 families. #1 Herbert Cooper who married Elizabeth Belle Doyen 12 Mar. 1890 Elizabeth died 8 Jan 1945. Looking for living relative.
#2. William Alfred Davis married Hattie Julia Doyen on 18 Sept. 1895. Also looking for living relative. Both: families were from the Stanstead, Quebec area. Please contact Glenys.

Posted May 14, 2009
Looking for my birth parents, I belive my birth name was Andre Joseph. I was born 12/30/63 in a catholic orphanage in Quebec. Please contact Emil.

Posted May 14, 2009
I am a male and was born in Montreal PQ Feb. 16, 1943 and my name was Wilfred Joseph Delisle. My biological mother put me up for adoption where I was at Crech D'Youville in Montreal. I was adopted later and now I am looking for relatives. I understand that my biological mother at time of birth was working in a department store in Montreal. Please contact John.

Posted Mar 17, 2009
I am a male and was adopted in Feb 1945 in Trois Rivieres, PQ. I was adopted in the Paroisse St. Cecile. Looking for my biological parents. Any info would be appreciated. Please contact Joe.

Posted Mar 11, 2009
My birth name was Jean Francois my last name was Gagne (I think), On July 1, 1967 at the Crèche de la Misericorde in Montreal. I was in a foster home and was adopted by a new York family around 1970. My mother was a cooks helper and she would now be approx 65 years old. My father was a laborer and would now be approx 64 years old. I am looking for parents and any related family members or info that might help in my search. Please contact John.

Posted Mar 11, 2009
Montreal - I was born July 18, 1956 in Montreal; papers say I was baptized in Verdun. Adopted in 1958 by parents from New York. I seek info on my birth family for historical purposes and do not wish to intrude. Please contact John.

Posted Mar 11, 2009
Looking for my father I was born in Montreal Feb 1, 1967. His name is Gaetan Dumas, he dated my mother in 1966 in Beauharnois, Quebec he lived on the second floor appt over a small business in Beauharnois and for a while he worked in Ontario while he dated my mother I think he had one brother and two sister. In 1967 he got married. Please contact Pascal.

Posted Feb 25, 2009
I am looking to find my father’s birth family. He was born on August 24, 1947 at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Please contact Alyson.

Posted Feb 25, 2009
Adoptee searching birth family. Baby girl born Apr 1967 at Catherine Booth Hospital, possibly named Julia is looking for any family members interested in making contact, limited info available, but very anxious to connect with potential relatives. Please contact Patricia.

Posted Feb 25, 2009
Looking for info on John and Jane Langford. The Langford's came from Wales to Montreal in the late 1800's. John worked as the groundskeeper at Mount Royal Cemetery. I believe they may have lived in a property on the cemetery grounds (probably around 1904). The Langford's raised Jane's nephew, Stanley Davies, who was my father. I have a certificate from a school in Outremont (called Strathcona) in 1903 when Stanley graduated from primer school. Both John and Stanley were members of a Masonic Lodge in Quebec. I think sometime in the late 1920's Stanley left Canada to work as a landscaper in the Detroit Michigan area. Jane at some time suffered from melancholy depression and lived at the Verdum Protestant Hospital until her death in 1940. I'm not sure when she went there, but she was 83 when she died. I also believe she had other relatives from Wales living in the Montreal area. I believe John died around 1950 somewhere around Ontario. I know jane is buried in Mount Royal Cemetery and I believe John may be there, as well. Please contact David.

Posted Feb 25, 2009
Looking for info on Louison Beaudry Abt 1775 -1795 who married Josepthe Letourneau and their son Amable Beaudry b. 1815 who married Catherine Ellen Stoqua, b.1824 Renfrew County, Ontario, 09 Jan 1852 in Chapeau - Pontiac County, Quebec. Also looking for info on Francois Lefebvre who married Marguerite Bergeron and had a daughter (My Grandmother) Florence Victoria Lefebvre born 1896 in Massey, Ontario, who married Frank Dennis Beaudry (My Grandfather) 01 Feb 1915, in Algoma District, his father being Denis James Beaudry, Grandfather Amable Beaudry, Gr Grandfather Louison Beaudry. I have gathered a great deal of info over the years on the family but have hit a "brick wall" on any other info concerning Louison Beaudry and Josepthe Letourneau other than their names and have been unable to find info on their siblings or ancestors. I have been unable to find the birthplace of Amable Beaudry or any info about his siblings as well. I believe that Francois Lefebvre who married Marguerite Bergeron may be from the Glengarry area, I have been unable to find any further info on them other than their names. Please contact Wayne.

Posted Feb 25, 2009
Looking for anyone relate to Antoine Proulx his wife was Annie Trudeau. Please contact Nicole.

Posted Jan 31, 2009
Seeking any info for the surname LUPIEN. I was born in 1952 my name was Benoite Mary Lupien at birth. I was adopted from La Sauvergarde L' Enfance 43 Rue D'auteuil Quebec. My birth mother was 19 & my father 21. I was baptised at ST Patricks cathedral Quebec. I dont want to be a burden in anyones life its just my daughter looks so much like me I often wonder if I look like my mother. I would be so happy with just a picture. Please if anyone has info help me. Please contact Benoite Mary Lupien.

Posted Jan 31, 2009
Looking for descendants of William Campbell, born Montreal about 1895 and ancestors of his father Thomas Samuel Young, born about 1864 in Quebec province. Please contact Brenda.

Posted Jan 31, 2009
Looking for info regarding the parents of Eli Gill, born April 1822 in Trois Rivieres, PQ. One or both of his parents may be native. I have earlier history amongst the Abenaki but there is a gap prior to Eli. Please contact Earl.

Posted Jan 31, 2009
Looking for Stephen James Macpolin born May 1958 at the Old Grace Hospital Toronto Canada. Mother attended Bethel Home for Girls on the Old Kennedy Road run by the Hutchinsons. Your sister Louella is looking for you. Please contact Louella.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for family members and info on the following people: my Grandmother Alice Azilda Cusson, baptized in Aylmer Quebec, family from Fort Coulonge, Amos; my Grandfather Antoine Theriault from Montreal? Or Hull? Was raised in the Orphanage Ste. Therese which burned down. Other relatives include: Clemente Cusson, and Annie Moore, also Cliff__ Theriault and Blanche? Lived in and around Quyon, Onslow and Pontiac. Since some of these relatives are Native, much of the info has been hidden or denied by previous generations. I would be eternally greatful for any info. Please contact Dionne.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for birth mother and/or family members. I was born Dec 9, 1961 at Misericorde Hospital, and given the name Maria Lucia Jacintha Gauthier. I was adopted Mar 12, 1963, to an American couple through Catholic Charities. My mother was 16 at the time of my birth and a seamstress. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Please contact Mary.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Searching for birth family of male born Aug 1964 in Montréal Quebec. Birth name Sylvain Landry. He was adopted by a good family in the US when he was about 2 - 4 years old. He was in a Catholic Charities orphanage. He spoke a few words of French at the time of his adoption. He has been told that he was French/Canadian. Please contact Ellen.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for siblings of my uncles: hormidas dubeau...adrien dubeau.. donalda dubeau: their father and mother are my grandparents, leon dubeau and rose anna couvrette;my uncles were born about 1904-1908 my aunt was born in 1905. my father leopold dubeau was born in 1907. they grew up on lasalle ave., in the maisonneuve district corner of ste catherine st. Please contact Gerard.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for family of my bdaughter, she was born in 1968 may 14th at the Royal Victoria Hospital. She was placed with a Danish Canadian family Mar 17th 1969 they had one other child at the time of placement. Mother was 28 father was 38. In 2004 she was looking for me and I for her. In 2005 I was told by Batshaw that she had passed away Dec 04. would like to know if she had any family of her own. Her family did not want any contact with me in 05 but I need some closure. Please contact Hummer.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
My father whose name is Merrill Charles Oxner was sent to his grandparents, Charles & ? Oxner in Lunenburg, Canada around 1939. His father, Merrill Giles Oxner, from Lunenburg (living in Boston at time of death) passed at age 31 from TB. Dad's mom, Gertrude passed a few years later. Given the age of his grandparents in Lunenburg, he was sent to an orphanage/boarding school called The School of Saint Hubert, I believe in Quebec. He shares fond memories of the nuns (perhaps the Sister's of Charity) that ran this school. Any info on this school is greatly appreciated. Please contact Susan.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for a dear friends dad for closure - Richard Stanbra approx. 75 yrs old resided in Montreal, Qc. last known address was Ville St. Laurent. Please contact Lynne.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for birth parents and/or family, I was born 12/22/54. I was adopted from Quebec City, Quebec--Sister James Philip handled the adoption, her last address was 1190, residence Mgr-Lemay, Quebec City, Quebec. My loving parents have past away. My parents were from Cincinnati, OH and I grew up there. My married last name is now Case, if you think you might be who I'm looking for and would like to respond please email me. Please contact JoAnn.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
I was born in Maniwaki, PQ on March 29 [maybe 26] 1962. Mother's last name of GILBERT. I was adopted through Ste. Therese's Orphanage in Hull in 1963. Looking for any info. Please contact Paul.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
LaFlamme Genealogy: I recently found more info on the LaFlamme family from Quebec. Tracing from my gr grandmother Helena F. (Nellie) LaFlamme - her father was Louis Adolphus LaFlamme b. abt 1848 in Dorchester, Quebec. He died Mar 23, 1904. He was married to a Priscilla Hynick or Hynish who was born 1857 in Grafton, NY. Louis and Priscilla had 4 children: Israel Adolphe (b. 1887), Catharine May (b. 1889), Paul (b.1893), and my gr grandmother Helena or 'Nellie.' Israel Adolphe married Florence Louise Waite 8/15/1911. Then he married a second time to Genevieve Warren b11/24/1920. Catharine May married a Mr. William Clayton 11/10/1910. Paul married Guily Putnam 2/20/1927. Louis Adolphus LaFlamme's father was Andre LaFlamme who married Ursule Breton. Andre's father was Louis LaFlamme who married twice. First to Marie Marguerite Chartier and secondly to Marie Josephite Lemieux. Louis's father was also Louis (Sr.) LaFlamme (b. 1750 St. F-du-s) and he married Marie Francoise Mercier. Louis LaFlamme Sr.'s father was Francois LaFlamme who married Marie Madeline Chambreland. Francois was the original emigrant - son of Herve Quemeneur and Francois Joseph. Francois was the first to use the dit.nom. LaFlamme. He was born in the 1660's and was from Ploudaniel near Brest, Bretagne, France. They married at St. Francois, Ile d'Orleans, Quebec around 1700. If anyone knows of any more info on Helena LaFlamme (my grandmother) please let me know! I know very little about the LaFlamme's other than reading a tidbit here and there. Please contact Susan.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for birth parents for baby born Apr 23, 1970 born with name John Butler adopted from LA SAUVEGARDE DE L'ENFRANCE 43, RUE D'AUTEUIL C.P.129 (H.V.) QUEBEC mother was 21 catholic maybe a student nurse she had blond hair blue eyes candian english Father was 24 candian english brown hair blue eyes maybe taught at a high school this is info on pages given during adoption he was actually adopted around July 1970. Does anyone have info about where the record went after the fire or anything they think is helpful or have found along the way of their own search maybe beneficial? Please let us know thanks. Please contact Melissa.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for a baby boy born July 14, 1956 at the Miséricorde Hospital in Montreal, maybe named William. Please contact Nancy.

Posted Jan 9, 2009
Looking for a baby girl born May 8, 1961 (?) at the Miséricorde Hospital in Montreal, maybe named Louise. Mother called Suzanne or Denise Bray. Please contact Nancy.

         .It's called the Quebec Query Board,......

             http://www.waynecook.com/quebec.html

                              ...maybe we'll have some luck                 HF&RV

STOP LaPRESSE'S (Ok a bit weak,but it's newspaper related) lol

The Largest French Language Newspaper in North America,is threatening to Stop the Press's for good.....on Dec 1st,if they don't get large concessions by the Union........

 here's the story that appears in today's online Gazette:

MONTREAL - La Presse, North America’s largest French-language broadsheet, will stop publication Dec. 1 if its 700 employees don’t give up $13 million in concessions between now and that date.

Caroline Jamet, the 125-year-old newspaper’s vice-president of communications, confirmed publisher Guy Crevier sent the staff an email yesterday informing the workers they have three months to reach an agreement to avoid suspension of both the paper and its website, cyberpresse.ca.

In acknowledging La Presse’s current business model “has no chance of surviving,” Crevier noted how management has cut its share of the $26 million needed to be reduced this year to continue operations and that contract negotiations must be sped up to get the other half from the 600 unionized workers.

“We have to reduce our cost structure and the only missing link is the contribution of the employees,” Jamet told The Gazette.

She said the main issue is the 32-hour, four-day work week that the company wants changed to 35 hours over five days because of the expense of extra staff for that fifth day.

That move would likely result in the loss of about 100 jobs, but Jamet added retirements and voluntary departures could reduce the number of layoffs.

Crevier, also president of Gesca Ltée – the Power Corp. of Canada subsidiary that owns and publishes La Presse and other French-language papers in the province and Ontario – listed what was done to cut $13 million:

• Ceased publication of its Sunday paper June 28

• Reduced the size of the paper to reduce paper costs

• Put a voluntary departure program in place

• Concluded agreements with financial institutions for new financing, including to cover the “seriously underfunded” pension plan.

He first announced to employees in June that, facing an anticipated $215 million deficit by 2013, the paper was seeking to cut costs by $26 million annually over the next five years.

It was at that meeting the decision on the Sunday paper was made known.

Union leader Hélène De Guise said the longer work week is one of the items being negotiated as well as the possibility of trimming employees’ vacation time.

But she added the bargaining team wants to further analyze Crevier’s pronouncement before making any further comments.

The last collective agreement expired Dec. 31.

Crevier ended his missive stating: “The future of La Presse, you future, is in your hands. It’s up to you to decide.”

Jamet, also spokesperson for Gesca, said the measures being taken at La Presse presently have no effect on the chain’s other dailies: Le Soleil in Quebec City, La Tribune in Sherbrooke, Le Nouvelliste in Trois-Rivières, La Voix de l’Est in Granby, Le Quotidien in Saguenay and Le Droit in Ottawa.

It is up to the publishers at each of those papers to identify how to cut their costs, she added.

In July, the Boston Globe’s union approved a package of $10 million in wage and benefits cuts after owner The New York Times had threatened earliler this year to close New England’s biggest paper unless major concessions were made.

The same thing happened at the San Francisco Chronicle in March in order to avoid being closed by the Hearst Corp.

Wildfires----even famous Hollywood Sign in Danger

Although BC has been fighting numerous fires all summer,there's many wildfires going on all over the place ,just last week Athens Greece was being threatened, and this week the famous Hollywood sign may be in danger,.......Sadly two fire fighters were killed yesterday,when their truck rolled over a steep hill,.....here's a CBS story from this morning 's paper....telling a story of the fire & 5 people who are trapped in a smoky canyon............cause they didn't heed the warning to evacuate two days ago... deadly wildfire that has blackened a wide swath of tinder-dry forest around Los Angeles took another menacing turn Monday as five people became hopelessly trapped inside a smoky canyon and thousands of suburban homes and a vital mountaintop broadcasting complex grew dangerously close to being devoured by explosive, towering flames. The five trapped people refused to evacuate threatened areas and reported they were stranded at a ranch near Gold Creek, Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. A sheriff's helicopter was unable to immediately reach them because of intense fire activity, but would try after the flames passed, he said. "What this says is, 'Listen, listen, listen,"' Whitmore said. "Those people were told to get out two days ago, and now we are putting our people in danger to get them out." Fire crews battling the blaze in the Angeles National Forest tried desperately to beat back the flames and prayed for weather conditions to ease. The fire was the largest of at least eight burning across California after days of triple-digit temperatures and low humidity. The fire scorched 164 square miles of brush and threatened more than 12,000 homes, but the lack of wind kept them from driving stormily into the hearts of the dense suburbs northeast of Los Angeles. Columns of smoke billowed high into the air before dispersing into a gauzy white haze that burned eyes and prompted warnings of unhealthy air throughout the Los Angeles area. Smoke could be seen billowing around the fabled Hollywood sign.  "It's burning everywhere," U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Dianne Cahir said. "When it gets into canyons that haven't burned in numerous years, it takes off. If you have any insight into the good Lord upstairs, put in a request." The exact number of people injured or threatened by the fire was still not clear. Over the weekend, three people who refused to evacuate were burned when they were overrun by flames, including a couple who had sought refuge in a hot tub, authorities said. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday issued emergency declarations for the counties of Placer, Monterey, Los Angeles and Mariposa. On the blaze's northwestern front, color two firefighters were killed Sunday when their truck drove off the side of a road on Mount Gleason near the city of Acton The victims were fire Capt. Tedmund Hall, 47, of San Bernardino County, and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, 35, of Palmdale. Hall was a 26-year veteran, and Quinones had been a county firefighter for eight years. Quinones' wife is expecting and due to give birth to their first child in the next few weeks. Hall and his wife have two boys, ages 20 and 21, and was described as a family-oriented man who loved riding motorcycles. Our hearts are heavy as we are tragically reminded of the sacrifices our firefighters and their families make daily to keep us safe," Schwarzenegger said. Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mike Brown said the three adults also suffered third-degree burns on Saturday in the Tujunga area. He said they were taken to local hospitals but he had no word on their conditions Monday. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported the three included a couple who sought shelter in a hot tub and a person burned in an evacuation area near Mount Wilson. Brown could not confirm those details. With flames about a half-mile away from the communications and astronomy centers on Mount Wilson, crews planned to set more backfires and planes dropped fire retardant around the mountaintop complex CBS News correspondent Hattie Kauffman reports the complex houses transmitters for 22 television stations along with many radio stations and cell phone providers. Fire crews set backfires and sprayed fire retardant at Mount Wilson, home to at least 20 television transmission towers, radio and cellphone antennas, and the century-old Mount Wilson Observatory. The observatory also houses two giant telescopes and several multimillion-dollar university programs. It is both a landmark for its historic discoveries and a thriving modern centre for astronomy. The fire about a half-mile away was expected to reach the mountaintop sometime Monday night, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mark Whaling. If the flames hit the mountain, cellphone service and TV and radio transmissions would be disrupted, but the extent was unclear. The blaze has destroyed at least 21 homes and forced thousands of evacuations. The firefighters died when their truck drove off the side of a road with flames all around them.Hall and Quinones died fighting a fire that showed no signs of subsiding Monday. People who fled returned to find their homes gone.It's the worst roller coaster of my life, and I hate roller coasters," said Adi Ellad, who lost his home in Big Tujunga Canyon over the weekend. "One second I'm crying, one second I'm guilty, the next moment I'm angry, and then I just want to drink tequila and forget." Ellad left behind a family heirloom Persian rug and a photo album he put together after his father died. "I'm going to have to figure out a new philosophy: how to live without loving stuff," he said.The blaze in the Los Angeles foothills is the biggest but not most destructive of California's wildfires. Northeast of Sacramento, a wind-driven fire destroyed 60 structures over the weekend, many of them homes in the town of Auburn. The 275-acre blaze was 50 per cent contained Monday afternoon and full containment was expected Tuesday. It wiped out an entire cul-de-sac, leaving only smouldering ruins, a handful of chimneys and burned cars. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the Auburn area, where only charred remnants of homes remained on Monday. At some houses, the only things left on the foundation are metal cabinets and washers and dryers. It was embers travelling in the wind, landing on the roofs, landing on attics, getting into that home and burning the home on fire," said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Some mandatory evacuation orders were lifted, but most residents are still being told to stay away while crews work to restore electricity and hose down embers. East of Los Angeles, a 1,000-acre fire threatened 2,000 homes and forced the evacuation of a scenic community of apple orchards in an oak-studded area of San Bernardino County. Brush in the area had not burned for a century, fire officials said. Flames burning like huge candles erupted between rocky slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains and the neat farmhouses below.With highs topping 100 degrees in some areas and humidity remaining low, the National Weather Service extended a weekend warning of extreme fire conditions in the central and Southern California mountains.Winds were light, which prevented the flames from roaring at furious speed into towns. In 2003, a wind-whipped blaze tore through neighbourhoods in San Diego County, killing 15 people and destroying more than 2,400 homes. That fire burned 273,000 acres - or 427 square miles - the largest in state history. Overall, more than 2,500 firefighters were on the line. More than 20 helicopters and air tankers were preparing to dump water and retardant over the flames. Two Canadian Super Scoopers, giant craft that can pull thousands of gallons of water from lakes and reservoirs, were expected to join the fight later in the day. In La Crescenta, where the San Gabriel Mountains descend steeply into the bedroom suburb a dozen miles from downtown Los Angeles, 57-year-old Mary Wilson was experiencing her first wildfire after nine years of living in a canyon. Her family was evacuated twice in the past five days, she said. We saw the flames. My daughter got really scared," she said. But she was philosophical: "You have to surrender to the natural forces when you choose to live up here. It's about nature doing its thing." Also in La Crescenta, dispatchers overnight activated a system that sent a recorded evacuation warning to people, but it turned out to be a mistake.Whaling, the L.A. County fire captain, says the message applied to only a small number of residents closest to the fire but instead a large number got the sleep-shattering calls. He said he does not know how many people were involved in the call. They pushed the wrong button," he said.Terry Crews, an actor promoting the new movie "Gamer" on KTLA-TV, talked about being forced to flee two days ago from his home in Altadena, in the foothills above Pasadena. He saw 40-foot flames, grabbed his dog and fled. "I've never seen anything like it," he said. "I'm from Michigan. I'm used to tornadoes ... but to see this thing, you feel helpless." This is like 'The Ten Commandments,"' he said, referring to the movie. "You go, 'holy God, the end of the world."'An animal sanctuary called the Roar Foundation Shambala Preserve, six miles east of Acton, was in the mandatory evacuation zone, but fire officials decided removing the animals would be "a logistical nightmare," said Chris Gallucci, vice-president of operations."We have 64 big cats, leopards, lions, tigers, cougars. ... The animals are just walking around, not being affected by this at all," Gallucci said. "But if we panic, they panic. But we are not in panic mode yet." In Mariposa County, a nearly 7-square-mile fire burned in Yosemite National Park and forced the evacuation of about 50 homes. The blaze was 50 percent contained Sunday, said park spokeswoman Vickie Mates. Two people suffered minor injuries, she said. Hot, dry and windy conditions also helped fan a monthlong wildfire in rural Utah, where residents in the town of New Harmony were told to leave their homes as the blaze flared up over the weekend. The lightning-sparked fire has already destroyed three houses and blackened more than 12 square miles in the Pine Valley Wilderness