Fonds 2020.03 - Chantler family fonds

Ruth Chantler was born Ruth Baillie in York Township, Ontario to Annie May and Fred Baillie. Fred Baillie worked most of his life as a core maker at Grinnell's foundry on Dundas St. near Bloor, while Annie May mostly focused on taking care of the children - Irene, Ron, and Ruth - at their home on Eileen Ave.

Ruth attended Lambton Park Public School and later Runnymede Collegiate where she completed her grade 10 before leaving school. While she enjoyed school and showed an aptitude for mathematics, there were times when she wasn't able to attend due to bouts of rheumatic fever. After leaving school, she got a job the next day working for Maclean-Hunter Publishing Company Limited in the Credit Department. She also worked nights at the Humberway Grill on Scarlett Rd. It was here that she met her future husband, Doug Chantler. He asked her to the policeman's ball at the Palace Pier for their first date. She continued working for a few years, before focusing on raising their three children; Ray, Glen, and Russell.

Ruth and Doug married in 1952. Doug worked most of his life as a tool and die maker at King Plastics on Eileen Ave, but was in the Royal Canadian Navy for three years prior to this time where he served in the North Atlantic. The pair lived on Ellins Ave. in Lambton before moving with their first two children to their home on Magwood Ct in the Warren Park area on June 2, 1955. The development of Warren Park offered the opportunity to own a reasonably priced home to raise their young family. To acquire the mortgage for the house, Doug had to have his employer write a letter falsely claiming that Doug's salary was higher than it was. The bank required that the family make a certain amount, but refused to figure in a woman's salary when determining household income.

In Warren Park, Ruth and Doug were very active in the Warren Park Minor Sports Association (WPMSA). The WPMSA offered the local kids the chance to participate in various sports such as baseball and hockey. They both served on the executive; Doug joining as early as 1962; and Ruth joining as early as 1963 serving as both Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary during her time. In the early days, Ruth registered all the neighbourhood kids for sports out of her basement. It took a whole Saturday and registration. For the families that couldn't afford it, Ruth registered them anyway. She recalls Doug always saying that she must have registered 600 kids on those Saturday. Ruth never disputed the number.

Ruth returned to work after Doug took sick. During this time, she primarily worked for the Social Planning Council as a secretary and switchboard operator until retiring. Ruth has always enjoyed working with numbers, so she continued doing a bit of accounting work for the Council after retiring.

Doug Chantler died on Aug 23, 2008. The pair were married for 56 years. Ruth Chantler continues to live at her Magwood Court home in Warren Park, now one of the many neighbourhoods of the City of Toronto.