It was an honour to be chosen Doorman of the Year at a fete at the Fairmont Hotel Downtown. The ballroom was filled with family and friends and it was truly a night to remember. The concept of an honorary doorman came about 21 years ago and has grown to great heights. This concept came about as a tourism initiative and about 5 years into the concept they decided to donate proceeds to a worthy charity. That charity today is the CH.I.L.D. Foundation, something dear to my heart as I lost my son to Crohn’s disease when he was 33 years old. Bruce Allen did my induction and it was so memorable that I asked for a written copy of his speech. Thanks to Howard Blank for acting as auctioneer, Peter Legge for being a great emcee and of course Grace McCarthy for thinking of me for this honour.
Some of the past recipients have been Bobby Ackles, former President of the B.C. Lions football club, philanthropist and former SFU Chancellor Joe Segal, Jimmy Pattison, Rocky Mountaineer president Peter Armstrong, and the late Rick Honey. The biggest laugh came when they presented me with a doorman’s hat. I look ridiculous in hats and it brought forth gales of laughter.
I had two speaking engagements in the past week. I was emcee for the 100th Anniversary of BOMA, the building management association. It was a grand affair and attended by some of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Later in the week I was invited to host the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress at the Vancouver Club. It was also a great evening. I only do a few of these each year but always enjoy acting as emcee.
It looks like roasts are back. I will be one of the roasters for Rafe Mair November 24 at the Wise Hall at 1882 Adanac Street in Vancouver. It is Rafe’s 80th birthday and as the ad says “Rafe Mair is 80 and still kicking ass.”
I am happy to hear that my friend Howard White of Harbour Publishing and others have completed the late Chuck Davis book. The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver is now complete and published. Join me and many others at the Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street December 6 at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Congratulations extended to all who worked and completed this project.
November 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre is the launch event for the Jersey Boys musical. The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons won Tony awards on Broadway a few years back. I will have more on this down the road.
Two books that are, in my opinion, must reads this winter: Mulligan’s Stew — My Life So Far with Terry David Mulligan and Glen Schaefer. Mully tells all, well almost all. The other great read is Boy From Nowhere by Allan Fotheringham. He tells all about the newspaper business, particularly the Vancouver Sun, back in those halcyon days. In one revealing story he tells the story of the late Bob Ackles punching out assistant sports director Merv Peters all the way down the Commodore’s celebrated long set of stairs. Those were the days.