Pierre Berton Dies

[Lautremont]

The Last Spike has truly been driven now.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2004/11/30/Arts/PierreBerton041130.html

[nine23]

1. There's already a tribute-style thread...

Is it possible to get that one as well moved over here in it's proper place? (Country: Canada). I'm sure more Canadian DUer's will want to pay tribute over the next few days.

[Lautremont]

2. Oops!

I assumed it would be in Country: Canada. Should have looked farther afield.

[HEyHEY]

3. It was something

I announced his death on the radio with much sorrow. I'm sure that'll be something I'll always remember as a Canadian.

Well, at least we had him.

[FlatJack]

4. Berton or Burton?

Pierre Berton's passing is like the end of an era. He's definitely one amazing writer and commentator.

He did a book that was made into a show on the Dionne Quintuplets. I'm not sure what it's called. But the documentary that ensued had a lot of footage from the neighborhood I used to live in. I lived in Corbiel ON near Calendar. For the show they interviewed Leo Voyeur, his family owns the local General Store/Gas station. On the documentary he was telling a humorous anecdote about selling "Dionne Quint" rocks. He and friends, back when the Quints were big news and celebrities were traveling up to see the babies, would gather rocks from the side of the road and sell them as "Dionne Quintuplet rocks". Kind of predecessor to the "pet rock" I guess. It was funny. He's sitting on his porch as he tells the story, it's a short walk to the house I lived in as a kid.

Just my closest Pierre Berton memory, I don't know if he was actually in town doing those interviews, I haven't seen that documentary in a long time.

[Lisa]

5. I'm sitting here in my office at Berton's alma mater

One of them, anyway. He attended Victoria College here on Vancouver Island prior to moving to UBC! This campus is now home to Camosun College (since the University of Victoria moved to a new set of buildings) -- but I can open the door and look at the same clock tower he did.

Remember that "how to roll a joint" that he did for 22 Minutes a while back? Well, judging by the smell emanating from one particular group of students here, as I was entering the building -- they're lighting up in Pierre's honour, I like to think!