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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1977-05-25, Page 66—THE BRUSSELS. POST, MAY 25, 1977 Sugar and Spice by Bill Smiley Canada Day For years I'd been hearing about Canada Day, an annual event at which Canadian writers come out of the woods or from under stones and allow themselves to be pestered for autographs, lauded to the skies and otherwise tortured by hordes of: starry-eyed students and eager English teachers. It was Jim Foley, a leprechaunish slip of a man, who spawned the idea originally, when he taught high school English in Port Colborne. Why shouldn't students have a chance to meet some real, live writers? - First year it was done on a shoe-string. Foley's students raised money by collecting beer bottles and other nefarious means. A few authors and poets turned up and talked to the kids. It was a great success. Since then, it has grown in both scope and ambition, and is now a singular annual event in Canadian literature circles, with hundreds of students busing hundreds of miles, and a pretty good accounting of . Canadian writers, good, bad and indifferent, turning urfor their accolades. Foley, who is no dummy when it comes to raising money, got publishers, a notably reluctant lot when it comes to spending money, to set up displays. He tapped every possible cultural well,from departments of education to Canada Council. This year I attended, along with a young colleague who is a budding poet, and we had a good time and came home dropping names all over the place and buffing our cultural fingernails all over ourselves very ostensibly. "Well, after Margaret Laurence gave me a big kiss," I noted, "the whole weekend was just one mad whirl." This made my students sit up. "Michael Ondaatje's beard is neater than Mine," contributed my friend Roger, " but I'm a better poet, and I told him so." "At least half the writers there are regular readers of my column," I commented smugly. Three or five of them actually are, but wotthehell. "We had breakfast with Mayor Moore and drove him to his seminar," Roger tossed in. And so we went on. As a matter of fact, some of those things did happen, and some others that. I have no intention of revealing. Some rather interesting contrasts popped up. For example, the novelists seem to be rather a steady lot, in comparison to the poets, who had a tendency to get into grape. Age seems to . have little to do with ability. Leslie MacFarlane, the grand old man who wrote the Hardy Boy books (and received about $50 each for them as total royalties) away back when,' was honored at the same time as young Jack H odgins from Vancouver Island, who h as just published his first novel. There's close to sixty years difference in their ages. And by 'the way, there's a young fellow to watch - Hodgins. He was exhausted from a combination of jet lag and too many interviews in too short a time. But he gave it everything he had, in panels and quiz sessions. He's very handsome, very eloquent, and very enthusiastic, and I imagine the teenagers were swoon; ing over him. Let's hope he doesn't get caught up in the snarling and back-biting that too often stains the Canadian culture scene. Canadian, publishers, on the whole, showed their usual uninventiveness, coming out of what seemed a deep lassitude only when John Roberts of the Federal cabinet said something about more help for publishers. That's the only thing that seems to stir them. Exceptions are a few small publishers, who show some verve and imagination in design and quality of books. Farley Mowat's beard is almost as long as he is, but: he has a nice wife. Pierre Berton is still combing his sideburns over his bald spot, but looks healthy and self-satisfied as ever. Suave Hugh Maclennan makes most of the other writers sound as though they'd just left Hayfork Centre. Yves Therriault, a popular Quebec writer, has a new charming second 'wife who:seems to like him. Lloyd Person, Saskatchewan novelist, still thinks I should devote a column to a review of his book if he sends me a copy. Mayor Moore doesn't comb his sideburns over his bald spot and looks fine just as he is. Poet John Newlove has eyes like two boiled eggs at a certain point in his progress. Some of the young fellows from Newfoundland put on the liveliest show of the weekend, with music and poems. Max Braithwaite and charming wife, fit and tanned, are just back from California, and they're making movie) of a couple of his books. Uh, let's see. Irving Layton is getting old, just as he threatens in his poems. I don't know why Mrs. Jim Foley doesn't go out of her nut, running interference for Jim. Politicians, about , eight of them, insisted 'on welcoming everybody, to everybody's dismay. Al Purdy looks as though ne needs a week in a rest home. Poet Don Gutteridge's wife, Anne, enjoyed driving us back to the motel when my. driver ran out of steam. There you are. Just a few notes from the literary scene by a non-hero-worshipping weekly columnist who knows that when you peek behind the talent, the writer is just a dogsbody, like the rest of us. ELEC/PROHOLVIE Complete dispersol of all 1977 colour TV's at Dealer Cost plus 10% to cover carrying and shipping costs Hnvoice shown upon request. Full 3 year warranty. This is a one shot deal and will not b repeated. Hurry while supply is good. Sorry no TRADE INS Radio & TV Sales & Service Hamilton St. Blyth 523.9640 I HAYWARO'S Discount --Variety )a Cosmetics Tobacco Patent Medicines Groceries and Stationery. Weekdays 9-9 Holidays 8 Sundays 1 THE COMMISSION ON Freedom of Information and Individual Privacy The Commission on Freedom of Information and Indi- vidual Privacy by authority vested in it by the Govern-. ment of Ontario will undertake an enquiry to examine: Public information practices of Other, jurisdictions in order to consider possible changes which are compatible with the parliamentary traditions of the Government of Ontario and complementary to the mechanisms that presently exist for the protection of the rights of individuals; 'The individual's right of access and appeal in relation to the use of Government information; The categories of Government information which should be treated as confidential in order to protect the public interest; The effectiveness of present procedures for the dissemination of Government information to the public; The protection of individual privacy and the right of recourse in regard to the use of Government records. One aspect of the Study will include the acceptance of written Briefs and the Receipt of Submissiohs as well as a series of public meetings throughout the Province. Persons or groups wishing to make representations to the ComMission on any aspect of the Study are re- quested to write to the Counsel, Commission of Freedom of Information and Individual Privacy, 444 Waterloo Street, London, Ontario N6B 2P3 or to submit written Briefs with th,e undersigned not later than August1,197Z Public hearings will be held at times and places in Ontario to be announced later and those filing Briefs or letters who wish to appear personally will be advised as to the time and place when they will be heard. Please address all correspondence to: Counsel, Commission on Freedom of Information and Individual Privacy, 444 Waterloo Street, London, Ontario N6B2P3, Chairman R, Poole, a( Counsel • Dt.,WillianitiPhO4,'LLA Huronview Aux plans bake sale B of E tries (Continued from Page 1)' board say "that's it" to the teachers. Board Vice chairman Marian Zinn said she felt not all the teachers could be branded with the same stick. She said 85 percent of them don't know what the contract offers are until its time to vote on them,. explaining that only a few, most of whom are on the negotiating tcamke aware of the requests. She asked if politicians and ratepayers would support the board in a strike situation. Reduce Staff Several officials conceded that the board could do nothing about this yearls budget but said that it certainly could do something about next year's. The bulk of the budget, about 70 percent, is used, for wages and the board could give some serious thought to evaluating its administrative and instructional staff with the intention of perhaps reducing the amount of staff. 'co May ,Fresh VV,M, Churl 'Rest Whits Mri organ numb The Robes follov Brass, read medil limes! pray M addr Th were. Mac Mrs. treas Mrs. A and much Ho ce Mrs. Geor Mole Robe Mac Mrs. than Mr Fran work orga He today etc., seeki must stron religi Holl) whicl youn the I Ama film, Mi Lln N the Gibs Steel Mun Mart very Th pray Bel gives Kinc prov 4. Corn c. Whi with Don Devc Luck Mrs Mrs Mrs, weic sess choi Kay enc thro Whi The Huronview Auxiliary met on Monday, with President, Mrs. W. Colclough in the chair. Secre tary Mrs. Ann McNichol read the minutes and. Mrs. Leona Lockhart gave the Treasurers report in the absence of Mrs. Mary Robinson, who has moved from Londestioro. Eleven members answered the roll call. Plans were made for the Bazaar, Bake Sale and. Tea to be held June 1 at 2-4p.m. Mrs. McNichol gave a report of her visit to th eht —hit Rnl eedernig,vii ti6ddon: V do t, to gi as. ve a fi r nva edt Mississauga and brought back Treat themrsse:smidee et ahn ts ogr aimfa: sr w in life, do not try to force people to move into a home but encourage them to do so on their own. Some articles were brought in for the bazaar and these were priced. After the close of the meeting, Mrs. Aldington served tea and cookies.