Names and numbers
Vars
date unknown
Structures
History
62 facts
| Date | Statement | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1883-01-16 | A Canada Atlantic train did not arrive until near midnight, three cars having left the track near Bearbrook -- the rear truck of the tender was derailed. The cause was not definitely ascertained but was supposed to be a broken rail; no one was seriously injured. Merges the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Free Press reports of the same derailment, both dated 1883-01-16. | Ottawa Citizen 1883-01-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1883-01-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1885-06-05 | A station is to be built on the Canada Atlantic line at Bear Creek Crossing. This will give the booming little town more chance of development, of which it will not be slow to take advantage. The article names the place 'Bear Creek Crossing'. Bear Creek crosses line between Vars and South Indian, but there was no known station at the location. It is likely a reference to Vars or South Indian.. | Ottawa Free Press 1885-06-05(Tagged 'Bearbrook' by Churcher. Transcribed by Col...) | |
| 1886-11-17 | Mr. J.F. Wilson of Bearbrook was in town yesterday. Some one thousand dollars have been raised by the residents and property owners of that locality towards the erection of a railway station shed, and it is understood that the Canada Atlantic authorities have consented to make it a stopping place. | Ottawa Citizen 1886-11-17(Operator directed this Bearbrook item be filed on ...) | |
| 1887-05-11 | An accident which might have been of a serious nature but in which, fortunately, no loss of life occurred, took place on the Canada Atlantic line yesterday about twenty miles from the city. The New York Express, due here at 10.30 a.m., was flagged to stop, a freight train consisting of forty-one cars being in front. This train had run into a hand car, the engine going off the line and being buried deep in the ditch. A general smash-up of the freight cars was the result, the engineer and fireman having a miraculous escape and being uninjured although much shaken. The passengers on the express were delayed nearly four hours awaiting a train from the city. | Ottawa Citizen 1887-05-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) | |
| 1888-05-03 | The Canada Atlantic Railway have a gang of men engaged reballasting their tracks down about Bearbrook where a portion of the track was washed out by spring rains. | Ottawa Journal 1888-05-03(Filed on Vars per the operator's earlier ruling on...) | |
| 1889-05-27≤ | Vars: in consideration of the increasing business at the station, the Canada Atlantic Railway Company will put in a new siding connecting with the different mills. | Ottawa Journal 1889-05-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1889-06-22 | A 'flying gang' of the Canada Atlantic are now putting in new ties in this section. The want of a suitable station yard is much felt. | Ottawa Journal 1889-06-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1889-10-15 | After many changes the Canada Atlantic Railway company have appointed a permanent agent here in the person of Mr. T. Asselin. If they would now put in the long promised siding and level the station yard the public would be greatly benefited. | Ottawa Journal 1889-10-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1889-11-16 | Vars, November 16 — a large gang of men are at work grading for the new siding here. Mr. A. Snyder is in charge of the work. | Ottawa Journal 1889-11-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1892-04-02 | There was quite a stir at the Vars railway station recently, when Mr. R. A. Nelson and Mr. J. Armstrong of Bearbrook were loading a car of settlers' effects for Manitoba, where they were going to make their home in future. | Ottawa Journal 1892-04-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1894-04-06 | COUPLED HIS LAST CAR. J. CROTEAU CRUSHED TO DEATH ON THE C.A.R. AT BEARBROOK. J. Croteau, a brakeman on the Canada Atlantic Ry., while coupling cars early this morning at Bearbrook, was fatally crushed and died of his injuries on reaching the city shortly after 8 o'clock. After the accident the injured man was promptly brought to the city where at the station doctor R.W. Bell was waiting. It was seen, however, that medical aid was of no avail and the victim had hardly made a statement to Dr. Bell when he passed away. The Remains were taken to his home at Archville and Coroner Mark notified. At the request of General Manager Chamberlain he decided to hold an inquest. The source names the place as 'Bearbrook', not Vars; filed here per operator instruction. | Ottawa Journal 1894-04-06(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1894-04-07(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1894-07-13 | Vars, July 13. - A fatal accident occurred on the C.A.R. near this place last night. An old man who was walking on the track was struck by the Montreal express and instantly killed. He was unknown here, but papers found on his body show his name to be John ?ton. Dated to the correspondent's own dateline (Vars, July 13), not the Eastern Ontario Review's issue date of July 20. | Eastern Ontario Review 1894-07-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1897-01-30 | Vars. It has been reported that an attempt was made on Saturday night to burglarize the station house here but the station master interrupted the burglars. As he entered at one door three men escaped at the other door, which they had broken in. Saturday night is relative to the issue date (a Saturday), so the event was at or before 1897-01-30. | Ottawa Journal 1897-01-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1897-10-09 | Bearbrook is threatened to-day with fire, and the villagers are momentarily expecting to be burned out. All are out doing their best to fight the flames, but the wind is blowing straight down upon the village, and it seems certain that unless the wind changes the fire will be upon them. The train due in the city at 11.20 a.m. did not arrive until half-past 12. ... A large number of cars were upon the siding, and it was thought advisable to move these for fear the fire should reach them. The engine from the passenger train was taken off, and it pulled the freight cars to a place of temporary safety. Bearbrook has no entity; filed on Vars at the maintainer's direction. | Ottawa Journal 1897-10-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1897-10-11 | On Friday the fire also approached very close to Bearbrook, and, although the rain of that evening checked it somewhat, it came very close again on Saturday. Indeed, but for the prompt efforts of some vigilant fire stampers and men of the C.A.R. it would have been upon the village. Twenty-five men were sent down to Bearbrook on Saturday by the C.A.R. and spent most of the day fighting the fire. A trench was dug about the village, on the side open to danger. The freight cars standing on the sidings at the village were brought to the city for safety by the Boston train in the evening. Bearbrook has no entity; filed on Vars at the maintainer's direction. Headline: 'Bearbrook all right but the C.A.R. men had to work hard to save it'. The Ottawa Free Press of 1897-10-12 also reports the salvage train stopping at Bearbrook to help the villagers. | Ottawa Citizen 1897-10-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1898-08-27 | Vars. August 25. The first car load of oats of the season were shipped Tuesday by Mr. W.G. Gourley. | Ottawa Journal 1898-08-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1910-08-19 | Dr. W.A. Empey of Vars was shot by a laborer. For two hours after the accident he was without medical aid; Dr. Chevrier of Embrun and Dr. Woods arrived about 2:30 in the afternoon. Arrangements were also made for a special train from Ottawa, on which travelled Dr. Webster and Dr. Graham of the Protestant General Hospital; the trip was made in seventeen minutes. On the physicians' arrival it was arranged to bring the wounded man back to Ottawa; he showed some anxiety on this point, for just before dying he asked about the departure of the train. | Ottawa Journal 1910-08-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1917-09-10 | The Montreal-Ottawa express, due at Vars at 10:40 p.m. and on time, crashed into a Dodge automobile at the Main street crossing, instantly killing Rev. Dr. John Mavety of Ottawa West Methodist Church, Mrs. John Orr, Mrs. J.O. Hodgson and Miss Florence Orr, all of Carlsbad Springs; Mr. John Orr died shortly after at St. Luke's hospital in Ottawa. The party had been driven from an anniversary service at the Vars Methodist Church toward Carlsbad Springs when the car attempted the crossing at a moderate speed and was struck broadside. Freight cars on a siding obstructed the crossing's view, and the automobile's own headlight beams, joined with the train's searchlight, brilliantly illuminated the crossing in a way that apparently masked the train's approach. Engineer F. Ferguson reported he had sounded the whistle a mile from Vars and at each crossing, and did not see the car's lights until the engine was practically on the crossing, when he applied the emergency brake; G.T.R. officials called the crossing a known dangerous one, with the line of sight obstructed by buildings and no gates or alarm gong installed. | Ottawa Journal 1917-09-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1917-09-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, same collection,...) | |
| 1917-09-15 | The coroner's jury returned a verdict that the death of Rev. Dr. John Mavety and four friends at the Vars crossing was accidental, finding the crossing dangerous and recommending it be protected because the east view was obstructed by box cars usually or often placed on the siding close to the crossing. Engineer Fred Ferguson and Fireman Charles Gorr swore the whistle had been sounded and the bell ringing before the crossing; other witnesses said they heard no warning but would not swear none was given. Ferguson testified the train was travelling 45 miles an hour, two minutes late, and that he had sounded the whistle at each of the three Vars crossings within a mile; he saw a horse clear the tracks, then a flash of light he took for an approaching automobile, and applied the brakes too late. The verdict exonerated G.T.R. employees of blame. | Ottawa Journal 1917-09-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1918-04-19 | Actions against the Grand Trunk Railway Company for the killing of Rev. J.E. Mavety and four other persons at Vars on September 10, 1917, were settled between the parties, damages being adjudged in Cornwall. | Morrisburg Leader 1918-04-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1927-03-04 | "The C.N.R. line between Ottawa and Montreal was blocked at Vars this morning, owing to the derailment of a freight train, and the Transcontinental was routed via Hawkesbury to Montreal, after being held in Ottawa for some time." At about 6 a.m. one car of an east-bound freight jumped the tracks and several others were derailed. | Ottawa Journal 1927-03-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1927-08-01 | The Montreal-bound C.N.R. passenger train No. 2, which left Ottawa at 5:25, "sideswiped a freight train" at Vars station at about 6 a.m.: the freight, bound for Ottawa, was pulling into the siding with six cars still on the main line, and in heavy fog the passenger engine hit a gondola coal car, climbed it and was derailed. Engineer P. Lalonde and fireman W. Little jumped and were slightly hurt; passengers were not injured; trains were re-routed via Rockland and the line was cleared that afternoon. | Ottawa Journal 1927-08-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1927-08-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1927-08-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1927-08-27≥ | By 27 August 1927 (the issue date), the paper reported: Helen Leroux, aged 20, "ran in front of a Montreal-Ottawa freight train near Vars station yesterday afternoon" and was gravely injured: a compound fracture of the right leg, a fractured left arm and a deep forehead wound. She was brought on the train to the Bank street yards and taken by ambulance to hospital. | Ottawa Citizen 1927-08-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1946-04-12 | "Speedy work by a railway repair crew was responsible for the arrival of the Governor General in Ottawa on schedule this morning, in spite of a series of minor breakdowns." The Vice-Regal train was held up first by the breakdown of a Montreal-bound train at Vars, about 18 miles east of Ottawa, and its engine was used to put the other train on a siding; later a draw-bar coupling broke and was repaired in nine minutes. Viscount Alexander took a morning walk at Vars station. | Ottawa Journal 1946-04-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1947-05-02≥ | By 2 May 1947 (the issue date), the paper reported: The "Parson" Parmalee, a bank swindler with $17,400, was arrested by Ottawa police "while he waited in the railway station at Vars, 35 miles south east of here, while waiting for the Montreal-bound train yesterday afternoon." | Ottawa Journal 1947-05-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1952-04-11 | Gisele Charbonneau, 11, died and six other children of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Charbonneau of Vars were injured when their panel truck was struck by a speeding westbound C.N.R. freight at the Vars crossing on Good Friday, 11 April; they were on the way to mass at Vars from the family farm 1 1/2 miles away. The picture caption of 12 April says the truck and "a train", where the inquest item names the C.N.R. freight. | Ottawa Citizen 1952-04-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1952-05-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1952-05-16≥ | By 16 May 1952 (the issue date), the paper reported: A coroner's jury at Rockland found "the failure of truck driver Bernard Charbonneau, 22, to take proper precautions was the reason for a crash at the Canadian National Railways crossing at Vars on April 11". The driver said he was watching an idle freight on a spur line west of the crossing and did not look to the right; the section foreman and station agent said the crossing signal light was working. The verdict was given "last night". Follows the crossing accident of 11 April 1952. | Ottawa Citizen 1952-05-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1956-11-17 | More than 1,000 children and adults left Union Station at 8.30 a.m. on an 18-coach C.N.R. special, the "Freiman Special", to a "mystery rendezvous" at Vars on the C.N.R. main line to Montreal, where Santa Claus arrived by helicopter and rode back to Ottawa through the coaches, the train reaching Union Station at 10.40. It was the first time in Ottawa's history that a special train had been chartered for such a purpose; the C.N.R. had 16 railway police and traffic staff aboard. The Citizen of 19 November counts 1,400 children. | Ottawa Citizen 1956-11-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1956-11-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1957-11-18≥ | By 18 November 1957 (the issue date), the paper reported: About 2,000 adults and children travelled on "the special CNR train to Vars" on Saturday morning to welcome Santa Claus, who arrived by Spartan Air Services helicopter; the C.N.R. ran a 20-coach train and it was back at Union Station at 10.30 for the official welcome. By coincidence Governor-General Vincent Massey's private cars arrived on a regular train at the same moment. G. T. Dunn was in charge of the train. | Ottawa Citizen 1957-11-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1957-11-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1958-01-09 | Aurele Surprenant, 25, "leaped from his 1950 auto seconds before it skidded into the side of the fast-moving CNR Continental in the heart of Vars, 20 mile east of Ottawa"; the train did not stop, and chunks of the car's engine were carried almost half a mile. | Ottawa Citizen 1958-01-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1958-11-17≥ | By 17 November 1958 (the issue date), the paper reported: More than 1,500 children and about 500 adults "boarded a special train which took them to Vars to welcome the jolly old saint" on Saturday; "Pulling the long train was engine No. 6206 a big, ancient steam locomotive like those which have hauled the Santa Claus Special the past two years." Nearly 5,000 cookies and 2,500 soft drinks were served aboard, and Santa walked through the 21 coaches on the way back. The Citizen of 14 November announced the special, 18 cars, leaving Union Station at 8.45 a.m. | Ottawa Citizen 1958-11-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1958-11-14(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1958-12-08≥ | By 8 December 1958 (the issue date), the paper reported: Four cars of a Montreal-Ottawa train "roaring into the Capital at 70 miles an hour" left the rails at 11.17 a.m. on Saturday "a mile and a half east of the village" of Vars, injuring 10 persons; the derailment cut the main line for nearly 16 hours, destroying 310 feet of track and badly damaging another 2,700, from mile 116.4 to 117.1. Officials suspected a chipped rail damaged by an earlier train in near-zero temperatures; the three coaches and the parlor-dining car plowed a half-mile furrow but stayed upright, and the train would otherwise have reached the Vars station. A way-freight from Coteau Junction was used to carry the injured to ambulances. | Ottawa Citizen 1958-12-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1959-11-14 | About 2,000 children and parents "clambered aboard a special 18-car train at Union Station" and rode the 18 miles to Vars "to meet Santa Claus on his way from the North Pole" and to see him land by helicopter; "on the return to Union Station, the biggest single crowd to get off a train there all year helped Mayor Nelms to officially welcome Santa to Ottawa." | Ottawa Citizen 1959-11-14(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1959-11-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1960-11-13≥ | By 13 November 1960 (the issue date), the paper reported: Santa Claus "flew from the North Pole to Vars by helicopter" at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday and made "the 20-mile trip from Vars to Ottawa by train": some 2,500 children and parents rode the 19-coach special, and he walked through all 19 coaches before the train reached Union Station and Mayor Nelms. The Citizen of 11 November said about 1,500 children would go. | Ottawa Citizen 1960-11-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1960-11-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1961-11-20≥ | By 20 November 1961 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The longest passenger train ever to leave Ottawa in peacetime chugged out to a Vars rendezvous with Santa Claus on Saturday", a 20-car train carrying 2,100 children; it reached Vars at 9.25 a.m., where Santa had arrived by helicopter, and returned to Union Station and Mayor Whitton. The train was the annual Santa Claus parade sponsored by A.J. Freiman, Ltd. | Ottawa Citizen 1961-11-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1962-08-01≥ | By 1 August 1962 (the issue date), the paper reported: Alexander MacKenzie, 65, "CNR station agent at Vars since 1941, retired after 46 years as an agent Tuesday". He had been "an agent on the Renfrew-Eganville line for more than 20 years"; "When he moved to Vars there were four passenger trains daily. Now there is one on his shift." | Ottawa Journal 1962-08-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1962-11-12≥ | By 12 November 1962 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Santa Claus is in town. He arrived amid Saturday morning's downpour" and "was met at Vars by the flying A. J. Freiman Limited 19-coach CNR Santa Special loaded down with 2,000 good little girls and boys." He came to Vars by car, not helicopter, "the weather was blamed for the change in plan". The Citizen of 9 November announced that the 19-car train would leave Union Station at 8.45 a.m. and return from Vars at 10.30. | Ottawa Journal 1962-11-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1962-11-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1962-12-10≥ | By 10 December 1962 (the issue date), the paper reported: Marcel Lefebvre, 20, and Yvon Charbonneau, 19, both of Hammond, "narrowly escaped death during a snowstorm late Sunday afternoon when their car crashed into the side of the speeding Canadian National Super Continental at a road crossing near Vars", at about 5 p.m. on County Road 17; the train's fourth car was damaged to about $200 and its departure was delayed 45 minutes. | Ottawa Citizen 1962-12-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1963-09-13 | Mrs. Gilberte Trudeau, 34, "missed death at 8.15 this morning when the school bus she was driving was demolished by a fast passenger train at a crossing just east of the Vars CNR station", jumping clear into a ditch; the train was Ottawa to Montreal No. 48 and no children were aboard. | Ottawa Citizen 1963-09-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1965-01-15≥ | By 15 January 1965 (the issue date), the paper reported: Marcel Gladu, 32, of Embrun, "cheated death by a split-second at the Vars CNR level crossing yesterday afternoon when a fast Montreal-Ottawa freight train demolished his car", at 4.45 p.m.; he said a house near the crossing blocked his view and "I heard no whistle blowing." | Ottawa Citizen 1965-01-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1965-11-15≥ | By 15 November 1965 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The special Freiman's 20-car train carried 2,054 people out to Vars to greet" Santa Claus on Saturday, and carried them back with Santa aboard; he "arrived by train after a flight from the North Pole by helicopter" which landed at the rear of the train, and Mayor Don Reid welcomed him at Union Station. | Ottawa Citizen 1965-11-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1966-11-14≥ | By 14 November 1966 (the issue date), the paper reported: "More than 2,000 children and their parents boarded a 19-car special train at the new Ottawa station and rode out to meet" Santa Claus at Vars on Saturday, "where he landed in a helicopter"; during "the half-hour trip back to the city, Santa toured the train". The event was sponsored by A. J. Freiman, Limited, whose officials called it "the most successful in many years". The Citizen of 11 November announced that a 19-car train would carry an estimated 2,000 children. | Ottawa Citizen 1966-11-14(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1966-11-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1967-11-20≥ | By 20 November 1967 (the issue date), the paper reported: "More than 2,200 Ottawa children and their parents travelled to Vars Saturday in a special excursion train to greet Santa Claus as he flew in from the North Pole by helicopter", and Controller Ernie Jones welcomed him at Ottawa Station. The Citizen of 16 November announced that the train would arrive at Union Station at 10.45 a.m. | Ottawa Citizen 1967-11-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1967-11-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1968-11-08≤ | From 8 November 1968 (the issue date), the paper announced: Santa Claus would land by helicopter at Vars on Saturday, "to be greeted by 2,000 children and adults. Then he will board the 19-car CNR train to mingle with the children on the return trip"; tickets for the Ottawa-Vars return ride were handed out at Freiman's downtown store. Ald. Harold Waddell would welcome him at Ottawa Union Station at 10.45 a.m. | Ottawa Citizen 1968-11-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1969-11-10≥ | By 10 November 1969 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Amid children's cheers and steady drizzle, Santa Claus arrived in town Saturday. Youngsters braved wet weather and awaited his arrival by helicopter in Vars. Others travelled the special train with him to Ottawa and more lined his parade route." The Citizen of 7 November announced that "a special train bearing a special visitor pulls into Ottawa Station Saturday morning", the A. J. Freiman Special. | Ottawa Citizen 1969-11-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1969-11-07(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1970-11-07 | Santa Claus "flew in from the North Pole by helicopter to Vars, where he was greeted by about 2,000 children and a sprinkling of adults. The children went to Vars on a special 19-car Canadian National Railway train that left Ottawa early Saturday to pick up Santa and escort him back to Ottawa." The Citizen of 5 November announced that he would touch down at Vars at 8 a.m.; the Journal of 30 October announced free tickets for the Freiman Train Special leaving Ottawa Station on 7 November at 8.00 a.m. | Ottawa Journal 1970-11-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1970-11-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1970-10-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1970-11-21≥ | By 21 November 1970 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Canadian National Railways has been given permission by the Canadian Transport Commisson to remove agents from seven stations in Ontario and Quebec"; "The points affected are St. Anne de bellevue and Pointe Claire in Quebec and the Ontario stations in Maxville, Casselman, Vars, Renfrew and Eganville." The commission noted that each station, as long as it is serviced by passenger trains, "shall be 'kept clean, heated and lighted.'" One item about several stations; filed once for each of the five Ontario stations it names. | Ottawa Journal 1970-11-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1971-11-08≥ | By 8 November 1971 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Some 2,000 children and adults boarded the special Santa express and rode to Vars to meet his helicopter when it landed from the North Pole. Santa then rode back on the train and received a royal welcome at the station", Controller Pierre Benoit welcoming him for the City of Ottawa. The Citizen of 5 November announced that Freiman's Santa Train Special would leave Ottawa at 8.05 a.m. to meet Santa's helicopter. | Ottawa Journal 1971-11-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1971-11-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1971-10-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1972-11-06≥ | By 6 November 1972 (the issue date), the paper reported: "About 2,000 of them rode the special Saturday train from Vars to Ottawa. With Santa." Santa drove from the station by automobile to the Santa Claus Parade. The Citizen of 3 November announced that Freiman's Santa Train would leave Ottawa at 8.00 a.m. to meet him when he arrived from the North Pole by helicopter. | Ottawa Journal 1972-11-06(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1972-11-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1973-10-09≥ | By 9 October 1973 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Two sisters killed when their car was hit broadside by a Canadian National train Saturday near Navan were among 13 accidental deaths in the area over the holiday weekend." Diane McWilliams, 23, and Dale Rivington, 18, both of Navan, "died at a railroad crossing on the Cumberland township road. Their car was dragged three-quarters of a mile down the tracks before the east-bound passenger train could come to a stop". Filed on Vars at the operator's direction; the item names a crossing on a Cumberland township road near Navan, which the site has no entity for. | Ottawa Citizen 1973-10-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1975-03-11≥ | By 11 March 1975 (the issue date), the paper reported: Alphonse Sauve, 27, of Vars, "is in Ottawa General Hospital with undetermined injuries following a car-train collision Monday", at "an unprotected railway crossing, one mile west of Vars, when a westbound passenger train hit Mr. Sauve's car"; the car was demolished. | Ottawa Journal 1975-03-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1978-10-06≥ | By 6 October 1978 (the issue date), the paper reported: Michel Martin, 14, of Hammond, and Michelle Anne Dupuis, 13, of Vars, "die in car-train crash" on Thursday night when the car they were riding in was struck by a westbound Via Rail passenger train at "a railroad crossing without controls near Vars": "The crossing, on Concession Road 6 less than a kilometre east of Vars, is marked only with the traditional 'crossbucks' sign." Residents said other accidents at uncontrolled crossings near Vars and Navan had caused three deaths. | Ottawa Citizen 1978-10-06(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1984-04-23≥ | By 23 April 1984 (the issue date), the paper reported: John Picard, 39, "was returning home from dropping his mother off after a family dinner when his car was broadsided by a Montreal-bound passenger train at a rural crossing in Cumberland Township" at 5:20 p.m. on Easter Sunday; the car was flipped and dragged 36 metres down the tracks and he suffered a broken hand and bruises. "The level crossing, on Dunning Road in Cumberland Township, is marked by a sign, but has no signal light." Filed on Vars, since the later items place the Dunning Road crossing near Vars. | Ottawa Citizen 1984-04-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1985-10-28≥ | By 28 October 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: Pierre D'Aoust, 17, of Sarsfield, "was driving south on Dunning Road near Vars Saturday about 7:30 a.m." when his car collided with an eastbound VIA Rail train; he died. "The Canadian National crossing near Vars is not equipped with signals, but has a railroad crossing sign." The engineers sounded the horn and applied the emergency brakes; the Montreal-Ottawa train was delayed one hour 15 minutes. Filed on Vars, since the later items place the Dunning Road crossing near Vars. | Ottawa Citizen 1985-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1985-11-01≥ | By 1 November 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Canadian National Railways is giving top-priority treatment to a request for flashing lights and bells at a level crossing near Vars where a teenager was killed on the weekend", said John Brayne, regional engineer, on Thursday: the railway had established the Dunning Road automatic signals as its top priority and "the signals could be installed by spring". "The Canadian Transport Commission recommended automatic signals for the crossing in a letter to CN and Cumberland Township Council a year ago", and followed with four reminders this year; CN did not reply. Filed on Vars, since the later items place the Dunning Road crossing near Vars. Follows the crossing death of 26 October 1985. | Ottawa Citizen 1985-11-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1989-11-20≥ | By 20 November 1989 (the issue date), the paper reported: Keith MacIsaac, 27, of Gloucester, "was travelling southbound alone on Rockdale Road at John Street and Division Street at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning when he saw railway crossing lights flashing", braked on wet snow and ice and "slam[med] into the side of the train" at Vars. "The front of MacIsaac's 1987 Chevrolet sedan was sheared in half at the dashboard"; he suffered a severe head cut and knee injuries. The firefighters who responded remembered the July 23 death of Gloucester fireman Cashman "at Vars", and "Both train collisions happened only a couple of concessions apart on the same line of track at Vars." | The Star 1989-11-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1991-02-25≥ | By 25 February 1991 (the issue date), the paper reported: A mentally handicapped woman, Carol Louise Greene, 51, of the Gregoire Residence in Vars, "was hit and killed Sunday by a passenger train in Vars", about noon; the residence manager said she and another resident "were walking along the tracks... and became confused when they heard the approaching train's whistle". The tracks run about 70 metres from the residence. | Ottawa Citizen 1991-02-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1991-02-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1996-07-03≥ | By 3 July 1996 (the issue date), the paper reported: Joey MacRillo, 37, "a resident of a nursing home in the hamlet of Vars, died after being hit by a westbound VIA train at about 7:30 p.m." on Tuesday, in Cumberland Township; "At the time he was standing on the tracks, apparently aware of the oncoming train, police said." | Ottawa Citizen 1996-07-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 1997-07-13≥ | By 13 July 1997 (the issue date), the paper reported: The Ontario Provincial Police sought help in a shooting at a CN Rail freight train in Vars on Wednesday evening: "someone shot at a Montreal-bound train between Main Street and Devine Road at about 8:30 p.m. A bullet fired from south of the train entered the locomotive, narrowly missing the engineer's head. There were no injuries." | Ottawa Citizen 1997-07-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 2000-12-18≥ | By 18 December 2000 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A 39-year-old Vars woman is dead after being struck by a Montreal-bound VIA Rail train, yesterday": the incident "happened in a wooded area several hundred metres from any road or crossing, between Frank Kenny Road and Bearbrook Road in Vars". "Town residents assumed the warning bells on the tracks were stuck again, until police and firefighters arrived." The train continued its journey at about 5:55 p.m. | Ottawa Citizen 2000-12-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 2002-06-05≥ | By 5 June 2002 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A resident of the Vars area in her 40s died early yesterday morning when she was hit by a freight train." "Ottawa police say the woman was walking on the railway right of way when she was struck by the train at about 2:55 a.m." Foul play was not suspected. | Ottawa Citizen 2002-06-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) | |
| 2007-08-15≥ | By 15 August 2007 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A man was killed after being struck by a train in east rural Ottawa yesterday." Ottawa police said he was struck by a Montreal-bound VIA train "between Rockland and Devine roads just after 7 a.m."; the train, with 96 passengers, was held on the single-track corridor and a second train from Montreal was stopped. Filed on Vars, since the 1997 item places Devine Road in Vars. | Ottawa Citizen 2007-08-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
Practices
1 fact
| Date | Statement | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917-09-17 | Sir Henry Drayton, chairman of the Board of Railway Commissioners, instituted an inquiry into the Vars railway crossing tragedy. Until a decision has been reached regarding the cause of the accident, trains crossing the highway at Vars will only travel at a speed of ten miles an hour. | Ottawa Journal 1917-09-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |