Words R us

In 1966, Walter Cronkite made the cover of Time magazine. But he still couldn’t pronounce “February.” Photo Robert Vickrey.

I know Walter Cronkite did it and that made it OK. Walter Cronkite, the CBS TV news anchor from the early 1960s until 1981, was once considered “the most trusted man in America.” But just because he was most trusted didn’t make him the most correct. He still couldn’t pronounce the name of the second month on the calendar. All those years ago he still closed his show this way:

“And that’s the way it is, this Thursday, Febuary 7, 1963,” he’d say in his sign-off. “This is Walter Cronkite for CBS Evening News. Good night.”

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Life on the death beat

Sandra Martin, the obit Queen. Photo by Nigel Dickson.

I had a visit with the Queen this past week. Not Elizabeth II. No one with any royal blood really. But she has certainly worn a crown, of sorts, as the best at what she does. In fact, she has won gold and silver recognition in her profession. She is a writer, a writer of one of the oldest forms of journalism and among the most actively followed sections of published newspapers – the obituary.

“Her subjects (are) the famous as well as the unknown,” said a press release promoting her most recent book. “Sandra Martin is the obit Queen of Canada.”

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Send in the lip synchers

Beyonce sort of singing the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Photo Spin.com

Monday’s inauguration of the U.S. president seemed quite a success. Barak Obama had come from behind to win the November election. He had survived the fiscal cliff debacle. Now all he had to do was put his hand on a Bible and repeat the oath of office to begin his second term. And unlike the flub of the oath line during the 2008 inauguration, it seemed to go flawlessly. Then, Kristin duBois, a master sergeant from the U.S. Marine Band, spilled the beans.

“We all know Beyonce can sing,” she told ABC News, “We all know the Marine Corps can play (the anthem.) We do not know why she decided to go with the pre-recorded music.”

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Idle voice no more

Elmer Ghostkeeper lived the “Idle No More” philosophy before it was official. Photo by Cliff Skarstedt.

It’s about 30 years ago now that I met Elmer. Born in 1947, he was about my age. Like me he’d grown up searching for a place in the world to make a difference. He’d gone to elementary school in the Canadian North, to college to become an engineer and to university to study anthropology and political science. In the 1960s, he poked around Europe hoping to figure things out. Then he found his calling.

“My dad had taken sick and nearly died,” he said. “I decided it was time I returned home to get to know my parents.”

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Tour of Cold War era submarine HMCS Ojibwa

Checking out the damaged port side of HMCS Ojibwa. Prior to its transport from Halifax to Port Burwell, Ont., the Royal Canadian Navy conducted shock tests on Ojibwa’s hull; despite the heavy indentation, her hull withstood the concussion.

On Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, Ted Barris received an advance tour of the Cold War era Royal Canadian Navy submarine HMCS Ojibwa. He is a member of the Project Ojibwa Honorary Board which in 2012 assisted in the salvage and transport of the sub from Halifax to Port Burwell, Ontario, on Lake Erie.

 

Barris receives Diamond Jubilee Medal

Ted Barris received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton. Photograph by Quenby Massey.

During an awards ceremony at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Oct. 14, 2012, Sen. Joseph Day presented Ted Barris with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. The announcement issued with the award said, in part, “the medal is a visible and tangible way to recognize outstanding Canadians … who have built and continue to build this caring society and country through their service and achievements.”

Barris was nominated for the award by the Air Force Association of Canada. (more…)

Credit from a mentor

Ned Powers, as editor of the Star-Phoenix, taught that people and community make the best stories. Photo courtesy Thistledown Press.

January was particularly cold in 1972, the year I arrived in Saskatoon. On average it was minus-30 that month. Nonetheless, that was the month I made an important career-altering phone call. For the previous three years I had worked feverishly as a student at Ryerson training myself to become a gainfully employed broadcaster. I had landed my first post-diploma job in Saskatoon, working in educational TV. But, to stretch my writing skills (and make a few extra bucks), I had also pitched a few ideas to the Saskatoon city newspaper, The Star-Phoenix.

“We’ll give you a try,” the pleasant voice on the other end of the phone said. “Cover the University of Saskatchewan appearance of Mitch Ryder. We’ll see how it goes.”

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Pursuits group in Midland features Barris talk on Vimy

Ted Barris speaking in Orillia at the Stephen Leacock Festival.

“Pursuits,” a non-profit group based in Midland, Ontario, will feature a visit from Ted Barris on April 8, 2013. Ted Barris has been invited to deliver one of his most sought-after talks – his recounting of the “Victory at Vimy.” It’s a unique telling of the famous WWI battle at Vimy Ridge, that, he says, gave birth to Canada’s nationhood. Barris will offer insights and images gleaned from some of the individual accounts – old interviews, memoirs, letters and diaries of the Canadian Corps troops – he assembled in the research/writing of his book “Victory at Vimy: Canada Comes of Age, April 9-12, 1917.”Copies of a number of Ted’s books will be on hand for sale and autographing.

When: 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 8, 2013.

Where: Midland Public Library, Midland, Ontario

Contact: Jennifer Lawton, 705-245-0202, jennyhillstudio@gmail.com

Barris brings Great Escape story to Beaverton 100 Years event

As part of its fall 2013 program, entitled “Beaverton 100 Years, 100 Stories,” Ted Barris speak at the Brock Township Public Library in Beaverton, Ontario, on Thursday, October 24, 2013. For this special occasion, Ted brings a talk and visual presentation about his brand new book, The Great Escape: A Canadian Story. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Great Escape, (with Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, etc.). But as Ted will demonstrate from his book, the most famous WWII POW escape was not a story of British heroes and Yankee know-how. The Great Escape was very much a story of Canadian leadership and courage. It’s more exciting than the Hollywood movie. And it’s all true!.

When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013.

Where: Beaverton Public Library, Beaverton, Ontario.

Contact: Vicki Bruce, 705-426-9283, vickibruce@brocklibraries.ca

Getting involved

Columbine High School shooting survivor, Craig Scott, talks about the cultural issue facing his generation of 20-somethngs. Photo Reading Eagle.

The other night after my teammates and I finished our hockey game up at the arena, several of us changed and gathered at the bar for a Christmas drink. It’s that once-a-year moment when most of us, who have little to do with each other except share Sunday night adult recreational hockey, sit down in the lead up to Dec. 25. We hadn’t been sitting more than a few minutes when the talk shifted to the topic that’s been on everybody’s mind all week.

“Unbelievable, eh, that shooting in Connecticut,” one of the guys said.

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