The Stories

Don Cherry is as famous for his outspoken hockey commentary as he is for his unique fashion sense. He has been hosting CBC's Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada for over twenty-four years. A former player and long-time coach, Don made a name for himself as the feisty champion of some of the scrappiest hockey players in the sport. He is also a fierce supporter of Canada's military troops. Don begins his journey into his ancestry wondering if his support of the military just might run in his blood.

Don starts his exploration into his family's history in Kingston, Ontario, where he was born and raised. Looking at photographs of Don's father, Delmar (Del) Cherry, it is clear where Don inherited his sense of fashion. Del was a snappy dresser. But the family never spoke about Del's father, John (Jack) T. Cherry, so Don knows very little about him and doesn't even know what he looked like, since no photos of the man exist. Don does know, however, that Jack was a Great Lakes steamer Captain.

Don heads to the Kingston Central Library, where librarian Jo Stanbridge has found Jack Cherry's obituary in the Daily British Whig (10 April 1920). It states that Jack died of a stroke in the spring of 1920, three days before heading out for another season on the Great Lakes. Jack is described as one of the best-known mariners in the district, who throughout his marine career, never had a wreck, collision or lost a vessel (Kingston Frontenac Public Library). Don is surprised and fascinated to also learn that, as a young man, Jack had been a member of the North West Mounted Police.

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