The Brussels Post, 1976-07-14, Page 6Sugar and Spice
by Bill Smiley
Canada's the greatest
On a recent evening I watched on
television two elderly •gentlemen being
interviewed. In both cases, the result was
an excellent testimony to the human spirit.
And in both cases, the old-timers echoed
something I've believed for years — that
Canada is the greatest country in the world
in which to live.
First of these indomitable elders was
Conn Smythe, widely known for years in
this country as the irascible, out-spoken
manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, when
that hockey team was a by-word in
Canada.
Smythe is 81, and he hasn't lost much of
the tough, blunt attitude that made him
respected by many, hated by some, and
almost revered by others.
He detests winers and layabouts, as
most of us do, but he doesn't mind saying
so in public. He doesn't like a lot of things
that are going on in this country, and
makes no bones about it.
But when he was asked whether he
thought Canada, as such, would endure, he
just laughed, and said, in effect, that of
course it would. It was too great a country,
and we had too many fine people (although
there are a lot of "skunks") for it to
disintegrate or disappear.
What a refreshing change from the
purveyors of woe who fill so many columns
of our newspapers and magazines,and so
much air time, snivelling about Canada's
loss of identity, or search for it, or attempt
to retain it, or something.
These' are the same snivellers who have
been with us since Confederation, warning
us that the big bogey to the south is taking
us over, and that we'll wind up as a banana
republic, or a satellite of the U.S.
These carpers wouldn't know the
Canadian identity if it sneaked up and bit
them on the backside. They'd think it was
an American yellow-jacket, or at least a
CIA plot.
One of the most persistent critics of
Canadian manners and mores is yours
truly, but I sure don't go around worrying
about, or losing any sleep over, the
Canadian identity.
Nor does anyone else who really knows
anything about this country, or who has
fought in one of the two big wars. The
Canadian identity is just as real, and
present, and prickly, as thorns on a rose.
I haven't much of a punch any more, but
if anyone suggested I was a Yank, or a
Limey , or an Australian, I would be
inclined, to give h im a punch on the nose.
And 1 think most Canadians feel that way,
whether their background is Anglo-Saxon,
or Japanese,, or Ukrainian or whatever.
We're not less boisterous Americans, or
less obnoxious Englishmen, or less
excitable Italians, or less phlegmatic
Germans. We're Canadians, warts and all.
There's nothing I'd rather be, and there's
no country in which I'd rather live. And if
that sounds like chauvinism, so be it.
We have our faults, and we bicker like
hell among ourselves, and we may be a
mongrel race, but ask 99 per cent of us if
we'd like to be something else and live
somewhere else, and you'd get a
resounding "NO '!"
Second old-tinier I mentioned was
"Jackrabbit Johansen". So named
because at nearly 100 years old, he was still
cross-country ski-ing, living alone, proud
and independent. He's a Norwegian who
came to this country as a youth, and loves it
deeply.'
He was asked what were the most
important things in life. At 100, you aren't
too much worried about what people will
think of your opinions. His answer was,
more or less, clean air, clean water, nature,
feeling good by keeping fit.
Nothing deeply original. But he added
that Canada was the most wonderful
country in the world. That our young
people, on the whole, don't know it. That
the big cities — Montreal, Toronto,
Vancouver — were not Canada.
couldn't agree with rim more. Our
cities are carbon copies of other big cities,
or of each other. Don't expect to find the
Canadian identity in them.
Don't huddle in a highrise, fight traffic,
fence yourself in with television and
concrete, and expect to get the feel of this
country. If you do, and aside from the
language, you might as well be living in
Tokyo or Frankfurt Or Glasgow.
Get out into that clean air, and that clean
water. Breathe Canada -in (not, please,
while you are under water).
My kids could hardly wait to get away
from the small town and off to the city.
Now the phone rings only once before it is
snatched up as they hope for an invitation
to come "up north," away from the city.
Why not be like my wife and me? Stop
relying on the plastic life, and get back to
nature.
McKillop starts drain work .
LET US MAKE YOUR OLD FURNITURE:
BETTER THAN NEW !
For a free estimate and a look at
our newest samples of materials
•-•- CALL
3 COOK UPHOLSTERY,
523,4272 R Cook; Prop,.
Myth'. piit.
WE HAVE FREE PICK=UP AND DELIVERY SERVICE. . . , ....„.,.... ..........
*it
is yr Malik"
BRUSSELS POST, JULY 14 i 1976
Hi Kidsi
I'M GIVING
AWAY
FREE
SIKES
and other
prizes!
•
NOW PAYING
A HIGH RATE OF
0 1/2 Guaranteed
Trust
Certificates for 5 year term
a member of the Canada Deposit
Insurance Corporation
Ronnenberg
Insurance Agent)/
Brussels openTuesdays and Fridays
Phone 887-6663
MONKTON PHONE 347-2241
Monday to Friday
4110101.1•MINI
rrt
cs. Come in and see our
the Ministry of Culture and
Recreation for capital grant for
floodlights at Walton Community
Park. The grant will be for 25 per
cent of the estimated cost of
$13,000.00.
Road superintendent Bill
Campbell was presented with his
certificate from the Ontario Good
Roads Association for his
attendance at the three-day roads
school at the University of Guelph
Cronbrook
P eople visit
match 16, my Safety Contest
in th-A. newodpek"
(By Wilma Oke)
McKillop Council appointed
Engineer H. M. Gibson of London
as drainage engineer to prepare a
report for the necessary repairs to
the Buchanan Drain at a council
session in Winthrop Monday
night.
A petition for the repairs to
the Smillie drain was accepted.
Council endorsed a resolution
from the Town of Trenton
concerned with the increase of
crime and vandalism and
dissatisfied with the punishment
handed out by the courts.
A land severence for agri-
cultural purposes was
recommended for the Squire
Herdman estate of 131 acres on
Lot 1, Con. 14 N.
Building permit applications
were approved for Ray
Devereaux, R.R.4, Seaforth,
implement shed; Neil McNichol,
R.R.4, Walton, pig barn; and Van
Den Hengel Brothers, R.R.5,
Seaforth, implement shed.
Passed for payment were road
accounts of $37,784.52 and
general accounts of $10,088.70.
Council approved the
application of intent to be se nt to
, Correspondent
Mrs. Mac Engel
Mrs. Calvin Cameron, spent
several days with friends in.
Windsor.
Mrs, George McDonald,
Molesworth and her daughter
Mrs. George Barr, Kemptville,
visited recently with Mr. and
Mrs. Earl Dulm.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mostowy and
About twenty-four Rebekahs
gathered at the farm home of
Marguerite Crawford_ on Wed-
nesday afternoon, July 7, for their
annual picnic and to celebrate the
,--90th birthday of Cora McGill.
During the' afternoon, euchre
was played. Top scorers were:
Vera Hastings, Grace Sholdice
and Elsie Evans. Low prize was
taken by Jean Bridge. The prize
given for the birthday closest to
July 31 was won by Annie
Gemmel.
Barb McCutcheon, on behalf of
Morning Star Lodge, presented
Sister McGill with a corsage and a
pot of golden mums. Sister
family and Mr. and Mrs. Russ
Playford and family, all of Thor.
old, visited with Mr. and Mrs,
Howard Mitchell.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Dunn visited
with Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Wood,
Mitchell, on. Sunday,
Winston MeEachetn,
Cambridge (Galt) spent the
weekend with his parents Mr. and
Mrs. Wes McEachern,
McGill thanked the ladies for all
their kindnesses.
A pot luck smorgasbord supper
was served including birthday
cake which had been baked and
decorated by Dolores Wheeler,
Florence Webb thanked the
hostess for her hospitality. Sister
Crawford made a fitting reply,
The streets are for the
people.
Exercise your rights!
Take a walk.
po„,,,,„a„,0„
%Valk a Illovk,Tochy,
Rebekahs mark
C. McGill's 90th
Selection of
Jewellery
and Jewel. Cases
Don't forget - for July only -
• you can have your
Rings and Charm Braclets cleaned
free of charge while you wait.
You are under no obligation to
buy while this is being done for you.
Mayer's Jewellery
& Gif ts Where Personal ServicO
is Still Important.
Britissels. 887,9000
Audrey & Lloyd