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Millie Baird

Millie Baird, a vibrant energetic member of this community, was born on February 5th 1917 to Irishman Paddy Doyle and Mildred Hamilton Doyle in Haileybury, Ontario. She came to this community with her family in 1929 and resided here until her death in 2009 at the age of 93. She attended Central Public School and graduated from the first commercial class at KLCVI.

Millie was the bookkeeper at the Golden Gate Gas Station, owned by Art Command, in Chaput Hughes. She was probably the first woman in town to check her own oil and pump gas. This was very popular with the men and, in a newspaper article she is quoted as saying that "It was a bit of a novelty back in those days. They had me check the oil whether it needed it or not". She enjoyed the work even with the black fingernails and smell of gas.
She became the first female manager of a Credit Bureau in Ontario and possibly the country. When the men went to war she stepped into the position of reporting and collections manager. Although she lacked experience, management gave her a chance and, remembering this, she took a chance hiring employees and had few regrets in doing so.

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Millie Baird
Circa 1940
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Image loaned from the MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake Exhibit 2012)
Image loaned from Millie Biard Family

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Millie served on town council for 20 years and during that time championed the needs of all constituents. She was a particularly strong voice for the people of Chaput Hughes and was instrumental in cutting red tape to get decent water and sewer service to that part of town. She championed the need for a bus service, day care and a second ice surface in the town.

Millie was the president of the Associated Mining Municipalities of Ontario. This organization worked to maintain and enhance the rights of mining areas. Her major objective was for the development of a provincial department of mines. In 1984 the focus of the Ministry of Natural Resources was forestry.

Millie Baird was President of the local Chamber of Commerce and belonged to the Business and Professional Women's Club. She and her husband Elmer Baird were members of the Kirkland Lake Curling Club and Chaput Hughes Lions Club. She held various positions on the board of the Chaput Hughes Lionettes.

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Millie Baird
Circa 2000
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Image loaned from the MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake Exhibit 2012)
Image loaned from Millie Biard Family

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Millie was the well loved and respected mother of her son Dale Trafford, his wife, and her two grandsons. They enjoyed many happy hours at their Round Lake getaway. The grandsons admit that she had a very positive influence on their lives.

Millie will be remembered for her vision, her strength and her desire to better the lives of others. Her story telling ability and her ready smile endeared her to many residents of this town. She was extremely proud of her connection with the Chaput Hughes community.