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During the course of their lives Wilf and Elsie met numerous notable people. A few of these are profiled below.2
Pope Pius Xii (Pope from 1939-1958) sent a Papal Blessing to Wilf in 1946 for his work at St.Ignace II, and in 1954 arranged to have a message sent to Wilf and Elsie to say he had received and read their book on Sainte-Marie I.3
Pope John Paul VI (Pope from 1963 to 1978) granted Wilf and Elsie an audience in December 1964 and sent a taped message for the May 15, 1971 opening of the musem at Sainte-Marie I at which time he said "we extend our congratualtions to those who have promoted the restoration of this famous site".4
Pope Paul VI and Wilfrid JuryDecember 30, 1964
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Museum of Ontario Archaeology
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Very Rev. Guy Fortier, Wilf, Father Arrupe and Rev. A.J. MacDougall at Sainte-Marie IMay 2, 1967
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Museum of Ontario Archaeology
6
Very Reverend Pedro Arrupe, Superior-General of the Society of Jesus first met Wilf and Elsie at the Vatican in 1964 (before he was Superior-General). In his capacity as Superior-General, Arrupe toured Huronia in 1967, visiting the site of St.Ignace II before going to Sainte-Marie I to bless the reconstructed church there and pay tribute to all those involved including Wilf and Elsie. Arrupe later took part in a telephone conversation from Lima, Peru for the May 15, 1971 opening of the Musuem at Sainte-Marie I at which time he again paid tribute to "Mr. and Mrs. Jury" for their efforts in the reconstruction.7
His Royal Highness, The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh toured the Museum of Indian Archaeology on June 30, 1983 and greeted the Museum's staff and Board members, including Elsie.8
Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King (Prime Minister of Canada, 1921-1926, 1926-1930 and 1935-1948). He met and talked to Wilf at the Centennial Dinner at the Bell Homestead in Brantford in March 1947. Later, King offered Elsie a job in Ottawa to curate his papers, which she declined in favour of continuing her work at the University of Western Ontario.9
Eugene Mailloux (Head Carpenter at Sainte-Marie I) Hon. John Diefenbaker and Wilf at Sainte Marie ISeptember 7, 1968
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Museum of Ontario Archaeology
10
Hon. John Diefenbaker (Prime Minister of Canada, 1957-1963) visited Sainte-Marie I in 1968 at which time Wilf and Elsie gave him and his wife a special tour. Wilf and Elsie met him again when they were on vacation in Vancouver in 1971: "When we came back from the Victoria Museum, met Diefenbaker, and shook hands with him. He knew us, said he read our book" (Wilfrid Jury).11
Wilf and Premier John Robarts in the office at Sainte-Marie I1966
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Museum of Ontario Archaeology
12
Hon. John Robarts (Premier of Ontario, 1961-1971) was a student at the University of Western Ontario and volunteered at Museum of Indian Archaeology, helping Wilf clean the Jury gun collection. Wilf and Elsie utilized Robarts' law firm in London to handle real estate transactions and other legal matters. As Minister of Education, Robarts had continued the government's support of Wilf's Summer School in Archaeology and other work in Huronia. The Robarts government announced and funded the Huronia project. Robarts visited Wilf and Elsie at the Sainte-Marie I reconstruction in 1966. Robarts sent a tribute of Wilf to Elsie when Wilf passed away in 1981.13
Prof. Shervill (UWO), Father MacDougall, Bill Cranston & Premier William Davis at Wilfrid's tributeMay 15,1971
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Museum of Ontario Archaeology
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Hon. William Davis (Premier of Ontario, 1971-1985) served first as Minister of Education in the government of John Robarts, and Davis supported the reconstruction of Sainte-Marie I as a valuable provinicial and national educational facility. He visited Sainte-Marie I himself and revamped the provincial education curriculum to place greater emphasis on history and encourage class trips to facilities such as Sainte-Marie I. He unveiled a plaque at Sainte-Marie I in June 1968, at which time he paid tribute to Wilf. In 1965 he had unveiled a plaque near Penetanguishene to commemorate Champlain, based on research Elsie had completed. As Premier he officially opened the new museum at Sainte-Marie I in May 1971 and again paid tribute to Wilf. As both Minister of Education and Premier, Davis attended certain historic plaque unveilings at which Wilf and Elsie were also present. |
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