I am a proud Canadian and an even prouder Winnipeger. Winnipeg a city with small town charm and big city feel. A city of extremes, we go from 30 above C in summer to 30 below C in winter. We are guaranteed to have a white Christmas and this year snow fell the latest in sometime November 20.
Our country and city lost some great people last year from atheletes, musicians, authors, politicians, actors, newsman, business leaders and activists. They all were proud Canadians.
Morley Safer got his start on TV in small town Ontario and went on to be one of the most respected journalists in the United States with a long career on 60 minutes. WP Kinsella brought the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson to life and was one of the inspirations for one of my favorite movies Field Of Dreams.
Two of Canada's brightest business lights were extinguished this year, Ross Johnson CEO of Nabisco and Winnipeg legend Phil Kives who made K-Tel products into household names. Canadian indigenous rights advocate Don Marks who was instrumental in getting laws passed to protect and support indigenous people.
The political arena lost a number of people this year including Rod Zimmer a senator from Manitoba who's significant claim to fame was creating an air rage incident with his much younger wife. Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice died in a plane crash. Two former Canadian Football League players turned political figures. Don Getty played for Edmonton Eskimoes and was premier of Alberta. Norman Kwong also played for Edmonton and served as the queens representative Lt Governor of Alberta.
The former mayor of Saint John New Brunswick who was elected as one of 2 Conservative members of Parliament in 1993 Elsie Wayne. Controversial and polarizing mayor of Toronto Rob Ford died of cancer at 46. I hope he caught on that when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel he was the brunt of all his jokes. Love him or hate him, he put Toronto on the map.
In addition to Gordie Howe Canada lost other prominent atheletes. Hockey players Andy Bathgate, Tom Lysiak and Rick MacLeish. The first Canadian female LPGA winner Dawn Coe-Jones and gruff aloof curler Vic Peters. He won Provincial and National championships and his kids are making their own mark on the game.
Other notables passed away this year. Shimon Peres and Fidel Castro were at opposites ends of the political spectrum in leading their countries. Or were they. Antonio Scalia left his mark on the fabric of the United States as Supreme Court justice. His seat is still unfilled.
John Glenn flew in space on 2 occasions and was a long time senator from Ohio. He definitely had the right stuff. Vera Rubin made many great scientific discoveries. We can all save people from choking because of Henry Heimlich. The patriarch of the Mars chocolate family Forrest Mars left us and his Las Vegas compound. Ellie Wiesel never let us forget the Holocust because he survived it.
Roscoe Brown one of the last members of the famous world war pilots the Tuskegee Airman. Joanne Lauer better known by her wrestling name Chyna was considered the strongest women in the world.
As my generation ages we will encounter more years like 2016. The people we grew up admiring are dying and we are so much richer for experiencing their creativity and talents. Whatever road life leads us down it will be memorable and remembered by those around us.
A few I didn't know about. Great article! Thanks Andrew.
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