Some of the good, bad and ugly as we bounce into spring.
When he was a wanna-be prime minister wanting to follow in daddy’s footsteps, J. Trudeau took Conservative cabinet minister Bev Oda to task for spending $16 of taxpayers’ money on a glass of orange juice while in London on government business.
He even launched an on-line petition calling for Oda to resign over her “lavish” spending.
So, here we are in 2023 and we learn that Trudeau the Younger stayed in a $6,000-a-night (five nights) hotel room – complete with butler service – while in London for the Queen’s funeral.
No, he is not resigning.
_______
Don McGowan, a Montreal television icon who launched his TV career with CJSS TV in Cornwall, died last month at age 85.
He left Cornwall in 1962 to join CFCF in his native Montreal where he wore several hats – weatherman, anchor and travel show host. He retired in 1998 and moved to Brockville where he became involved in establishing the Brockville Arts Centre.
McGowan’s first broadcasting gig was with a radio station in Brandon, Man. He was just 19. From there he went to Quebec City and then to Cornwall.
In a conversation several years ago, McGowan told me that he and Barry Dunsmore would get together in Washington (Dunsmore worked for ABC) once a year for dinner and drinks and recall, with much fondness, their greenhorn days in Cornwall and learning the business.
“Our wives would say “Guys, no more Cornwall stories.’ ‘’
“It was a great place to be,” he said. “A lot of great memories.”
HERE AND THERE Hard to understand The Donald’s overwhelming support from two groups of Americans: Veterans and evangelicals. He jumped through legal hoops to avoid being drafted and sent to Vietnam. The support of evangelicals is more mindboggling. He is every thing they preach against. …. Canada is one of the few democracies where a government can be elected with 32% of the popular vote thanks to its multi-party system.
AROUND AND ABOUT The National Hockey League has two regular season races: The playoff race and the race to the bottom (and a shot at junior superstar Connor Bedard). … Right-wing extremists want to protect unborn children but when it comes to the assault weapon struggle and school shootings, kids are on their own. … According to the U.S. Energy Department, 2020 was the first year in America when more heat pumps were sold than natural gas furnaces. … With all the pessimism out there it might be time to bring back Smile Day. … So, when is a “near miss” not a “near hit” in reporting close calls in the airline industry? Fact is they are the same. A “near miss” just sounds better.
A LOOK BACK AT …
In what was described as the first step in Cornwall acquiring a university, the University of Ottawa in March 1971 said it would launch a first-year program leading to a bachelor of arts degree.
U of O had been offering part-time and summer courses to local students.
Jeannine Poirier, the driving force behind the bid for expanded university courses in the city, said second and third-year programs would be added in the following years. It never happened.
_______
When customer Bruce Stewart left Henry Laflamme’s Ingleside barber shop in April 1971, the veteran barber turned out the lights and locked the door for the last time.
Over a career that started with a three-year apprenticeship at Joe Seguin’s three-chair shop in Cornwall in 1912, Laflamme figured he had performed 150,000 haircuts. He opened his first shop in the village of Wales.
Laflamme, 78, noted that in the early days of his career, he did almost as many shaves as haircuts.
ALSO MARCH/APRIL 1971 – The city was negotiating with St. Lawrence Seaway Authority for the purchase of surplus canal lands. The city’s nine-point plan included filling in the canal. … Dr. Donal Conway joined the new Char-Lan Medical Clinic in Lancaster. A native of Ireland, he came to the clinic from Saskatchewan. … Lucide Lamesse received a 50-year pin at the Domtar Paper Mill long-service employees’ dinner. Arnold Pitts and Bazil Tilton were given 45-year pins. … The city planned to hire 90 students for its summer parks and recreation programs. … Cornwall Police Traffic Sergeant Harry Levere was promoted to traffic inspector. Detectives Herb Raymond and Calvin Scott were promoted to detective sergeants. … Eaton’s opened its new catalogue clearance centre at 155 Pitt St. … Robert Gravel, 15-year-old General Vanier student, won the Optimist Club oratorical contest. Steven McDonell, 15, of CCVS, was runner-up. … The city purchased 3.2 acres for the extension of Sydney Street from Ninth to Fourteenth streets. … Si Miller was re-elected president of the Ottawa and District Hockey Association. … Roger Paquette was elected president of Cornwall Minor Lacrosse Association. … Cornwall Royals’ forward Bob Murphy was Quebec Junior Hockey League rookie-of-the-year. He had 54 goals and 34 assists for 88 points. … There were 255 motorcycles registered with the Cornwall licence bureau. … Toronto lawyer David Lewis was elected leader of the federal NDP, defeating Queen’s University lecturer James Laxer who was seen as being too far left even for the NDP. Other candidates were John Harney, Frank Howard and Ed Broadbent. … Cost of a first-class letter increased to eight cents from six cents.
TRIVIA This member of the 1972 Memorial Cup champion Royals was born in Pincher Creek, Alta.: 1) Ron Smith, 2) Al Sims, 3) John Wensink, 4) Dave Johnson, 5) Brian Bowles.
TRIVIA ANSWER A 1974 study showed that Cornwall’s water supply had the fourth highest level of asbestos in the province.
QUOTED – “You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wager payer.” – Abraham Lincoln
