Richard Robert Gordon "Rick" Chaplin

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-49560

Notes:

Chaplin continued family legacy

CAMBRIDGE '97 When Jim Chaplin was forced to step back from the company he built into a $300-million enterprise, the late Cambridge industrialist turned to the one person he could trust most '97 his son.

Rick Chaplin had been a part of Canadian General-Tower his whole adult life, and as the fifth generation in his family to manage the company, it seemed the big factory and the vinyl products it produced just ran in his blood.

Chaplin, who passed away suddenly last week, is remembered for shepherding the family business through a difficult transition, ending in its eventual sale in 2012 when he was the CEO.

"He had dad's confidence," said Jan Chaplin, one of his three sisters. "It was really important when he took the helm, because our father was really challenged by his Parkinson's disease. He really needed someone he could trust by his side. And he chose Rick."

Chaplin, 58, will be mourned Thursday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Anglican Church in Cambridge, as friends, family and former employees say goodbye.

As the only son to Jim and Janet Chaplin, Chaplin was kept busy running his family's affairs after Canadian General-Tower was sold, while tending to his ailing father and mother. Selling the business was one of the most difficult things he ever had to do.

"It was excruciating," his sister said. "All the wolves were out and everybody had an agenda. But Rick was very savvy to navigate around all that stuff. He did an amazing job."

The company Chaplin ran had been around since the early 1900s, but his family's industrial roots go back to William Chaplin, who in the 1800s got into tool and wooden wheel manufacturing......

Mercer, G. (2017). Chaplin continued family legacy | TheRecord.com. TheRecord.com. Retrieved 21 September 2017, from https://www.therecord.com/news-story/7567959-chaplin-continued-family-legacy/

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CHAPLIN, Richard Robert Gordon January 12, 1959 - September 13, 2017 Dear Rick, There must have been a very good reason for your unexpected passing. Perhaps it was because you had fulfilled your life's purpose, you had mastered 'devotion' as loving son, brother and friend, you honoured your family, you spoke your truth, you found peace. Perhaps it was because you had learned what you were meant to learn. It may not be for us to know 'Why?; perhaps it's enough to know your memory is heartfelt. Thank you for being such a beautiful person. Thank you for giving us a legacy of laughter, compassion, love, courage, calm, and cuisine. Dear son of Janet Chaplin Young and the late James Dhu Chaplin. Beloved brother of Elizabeth Chaplin (Gord McCulloch), Jan Chaplin (Jean Rablat) and Diana Chaplin Leitl. Beloved uncle of Hinson, Wilks and Brechin Chaplin; Alex and Garnet Shuker; Sophia Leitl. He was a graduate of Ridley College and Bath University; a former director of the Chaplin Family YMCA, and dedicated his life to the service of his family, friends and motto: Orna Verum. We love you, Rick. Now and forever. The Chaplin family invites Rick's friends to a service at Trinity Anglican Church in Galt, Cambridge Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 2 p.m. followed by a reception at Langdon Hall at 4 p.m. For those planning to attend or to send condolences, please email elizabeth@wrec.com.

Chaplin Richard Robert Gordon | lifenews.ca . (2017). Lifenews.ca. Retrieved 21 September 2017, from https://www.lifenews.ca/announcement/7563803-chaplin-richard-robert-gordon

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-53292
• Elected Office: 1963, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Galt City Council
• Elected Office: 1968, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Deputy Mayor

Notes:

Jim passed away peacefully at his home in North Dumfries. Beloved husband to Daisy Mae Chaplin (nee Nisbet) for 38 years. He was predeceased by his parents, James Elliot Gordon and Helen Elizabeth Chaplin (nee Goring.) He is survived by his brother Gordon Chaplin (Celia).
He was the dear father to Elizabeth Chaplin, Rick Chaplin, Jan Chaplin (Jean), Diana Chaplin, beloved stepfather to Ann Cochren (Tom), Joan Fisk (Bryan), Nancy Garrett (Stephen), Jim Warnock (Celia), Martha Turner (Walter), Andrew Warnock (Mary). He was beloved Uncle to Jim, Bill and Mara Chaplin and Alex Tuescher. He was loved by 20 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Jim attended Ridley College for 10 years (1941-1951) and McGill University. Jim spent his life as President, CEO and Chairman of the Canadian-General Tower Limited, Cambridge, Ontario for 57 years until the company was sold in 2012. He was a member of the Boards, of the Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada, Woodbridge Foam Corporation, A.G. Simpson Co. Ltd., and Commercial Financial Corporation Ltd.

Jim was President of the Cambridge YMCA from 1964-1974. In 2005 he was a recipient of YMCA Canada's Fellowship of Honour, their highest award.

Among many of his community accomplishments, Jim served as a member of the Galt City Council, from 1963-1969, including his role as Deputy Mayor 1968-1969. He was Chairman of the United Way Campaign 1968-1970. He was the Chairman of the Industrial Development Committee of the Galt Council, Chair of the Finance Committee of the Galt Council and Chair of the City of Galt Planning Board. He was a Member of the Board of Trustees and a Lifetime Patron of the Fraser Institute.

Jim was a Mel Osborne Fellow awarded by the Kiwanis Club of Cambridge for Outstanding Service to the Community, in 1996.

He had a lifelong love for his time spent at the cottage on Longford Reserve, where he spent time hiking, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing and in the winter he and Daisy enjoyed cross-country skiing. Their love of the outdoors continued in Vail for many years where they made lifelong friends. Here skiing wasn't the only passion. Playing cribbage, entertaining friends and family all encompassed by his infectious laughter made the time spent here very special.

Jim will be remembered as a gentleman of the world, who believed in giving back to his community.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to The Chaplin Family YMCA or The Bridges-Cambridge Shelter.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the team at Warm Embrace Elder Care, We Care, Saint Elizabeth, CCAC, ParaMed Nursing, Dr. Skillman, and all his doctors and staff at Cambridge Memorial Hospital for their excellent care.

A private family service was held at Trinity Anglican Church. There will be a celebration of his life November 29, 2015 at the Galt Country Club (750 Coronation Blvd., Cambridge) from 1: 00 to 5: 00pm. All are welcome.

James — Janet Young. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Gordon Chaplin
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-99586
• Residence: 1936, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Elected Office: 1945, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; MPP - Waterloo South
• Elected Office: 1962, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; MP - Waterloo South

Notes:

Chaplin family sells Canadian General-Tower business
Nov 30, 2012

CAMBRIDGE It is the end of an era for Canadian General-Tower, a Cambridge plant that has been in the Chaplin family since the early 1900s.

Rick Chaplin, chief executive of Canadian General-Tower and part of a fifth generation of Chaplin family industrialists in Cambridge, announced on Friday that the company was sold to Holcan Investments of Burlington.

Canadian General-Tower on Middleton Street in Cambridge is a major producer of coated fabrics and flexible polyvinyl chloride films, used in everything from vinyl trim for the auto industry and swimming pool liners to roofing membranes and environmental containment products. It is one of the oldest operating industries in Cambridge.

... The Chaplain family industrial roots go back to William Chaplin, who in the 1800s got into tool and wooden wheel manufacturing. His son, J.D. Chaplin, took over the Victoria Wheel Works factory in Galt and renamed it to Canadian General Rubber Company in 1927.

The company then passed to Gordon Chaplin, who was also a one-time member of Parliament for Waterloo South. When he died, his son Jim took over and led the company for decades, growing it from $3 million in annual sales to $300 million and establishing the company's presence throughout Canada and in the United States.

Jim's son Rick took over as executive chair of the company about two years ago. Jim's daughter, Jan Chaplin, had also been involved in the business as president and chief executive officer but stepped down in 2009.

During the war years, the company was a major supplier of coated fabrics including rain wear, and then got into consumer products such as shower curtains, wall coverings and table cloths....rsimone@therecord.com

Waterloo Region Record 30 Nov 2012

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The village of Ayr, along with the rest of South Waterloo, was saddened on Saturday by the death of the constituency's member of parliament, Gordon Chaplin of Galt. Mr. Chaplin, 57, who held the seat for the Progressive Conservatives, had been in poor health for several months, but his condition became critical only three weeks ago. A resident of Galt since 1936, Mr. Chaplin was a prominent industrialist, holding the position of president and general manager of Canadian General Tower. He resigned the latter position in 1962 to devote more time to his political responsibilities. He began his political career in 1945 when he was elected as Conservative member for this riding to the Ontario Legislature, where he served until 1948. He was first elected to the Commons in 1961 and had held the seat since. The funeral at Trinity Anglican Church, Galt, on Monday was largely attended by friends and associates. Among the dignitaries present was Rt. Hon. John Diefenbaker. Leader of the Opposition.

The Ayr News Jul 2 1964 pg 1

James — Helen Elizabeth Goring. Helen was born 17 Jan 1907; died 2 Jan 1999; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Helen Elizabeth Chaplin
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-82472

Other Events:

• Business: Victoria Wheel Works, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Name: J. D. Chaplin
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-125662

James — Edna Elizabeth Burgess. Edna was born 22 Apr 1865; died 7 Sep 1959; was buried , Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Lincoln Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Edna Elizabeth Chaplin
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-125668