Memories of Fenelon Falls Village and Secondary School with Bill Bain

Originally published in 1984

When speaking with Bill Bain one recalls the dictum of Henry Adams that “A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops.”

For 32 years, from 1946 to 1978, Bill Bain was paid for doing what he loved most in life—teaching.

When Bill first arrived in Fenelon Falls, the Continuation School consisted of about four teachers and 100 students, and when he retired the student and teacher population had increased almost tenfold. In those first few years, a teacher’s job was varied. Although Bill was a specialist in history, students from throughout the county learned English composition and Literature, Botany, Zoology and History from him and he eventually became the head of the English Department.

Through the school’s growth from a Continuation to a District Education Centre, Bill enjoyed the vast opportunities supplied to him by the school and its students, from teaching Physical Education indirectly by participating in track and field meets to cooperatively producing a play each year. “The school was closely knit then,” says Bill, “as you knew the hopes and aspirations of each and everyone.”

When not actively engaged in his students’ intimate teachings and future plans, Bill was, and is an active participant in the community. For a number of years, he served both the Village’s Board of Water, Light and Power and its Library Board. He served with the latter until the county library system developed.

A member of the local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, since its inception about five years ago, Bill has been able to amalgamate his love for History and English by compiling historical reports on numerous buildings in the village.

A member of the congregation for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bill has served as an Elder since 1956 and still serves on the Board of Management, which he once chaired. A former church treasurer, he now performs the tasks of assistant treasurer.

If you are one of the many villagers who regularly utilize the Rotary Ball Park [Russ Baptiste Park] you can thank Bill Bain. Around 1948-49 Bill attended a Rotary Club meeting to encourage the Club to purchase the ball park as a recreational field. Following his speech, Bill soon became a member of the club and the purchase of the ball park property took place.

Fond of music, Bill is a former organizer of the community concerts held in Lindsay during the 1950s and 1960s. These concerts symbolize his love for education as he enjoyed the wider view of the world, which the concerts supplied to adults and to those students who chose to become members.

Although now retired and performing the role of co-chairman of the Village’s Homecoming Committee, Bill is still involved in the world of education and history. The antique buff, who terms himself a junk collector, has written a 60-page book, complete with pictures, which tells the school’s history from 1989 to 1978. Presently at the printers, it is hoped this book will be ready for the village’s Homecoming Celebrations the first week of June.

Bill Bain’s history of Fenelon Falls Secondary School is available online: