Jul
4
Voices from the Past
By Jim Gerwing
As I make my way through some of the old issues of the James Bay News, I see how much some things have changed since 1976.
James Bay Square has seen its tenants change drastically since then. The only business still open today is Hairtrends. The Safeway store has given way to Thrifty’s. Gone are a bath boutique, a bakery, a smoke shop, a film shop, among others.
Parliament Mews has also lost most of the old businesses, including a hardware store, a bakery, a ladies wear, a goldsmith, a pizza joint, and a meat shop. The pharmacy has changed hands, but the Bank of Montreal is still there.
One of the interesting features that the Beacon has continued is the forerunner of “Peekin’ at the Beacon.” In 1976 the question was, “Who is reading the James Bay News?” Would you believe that a rabbit was doing just? The proof is in the April, 1978 issue.