Februrary 15, 1965, was the day I reported for work as a reporter on Parliament Hill. It happened to be the day that the new Canadian Maple Leaf flag flew for the first time. I recalled those times in my 2018 book, “Power, Prime Ministers and the Press,” Dundurn. It Read more…
Geoff died this week, shortly after filing his last column. He had been hobbled by Parkinson’s, but at 83 he carried on stoically to the end, offering a fresh weekly take on the passing scene. We had been colleagues in the Ottawa press gallery in the 1960s and 70s, partners Read more…
Notes from a lunch with Lester Pearson, two months before his death 50 years ago In October 1972, my friend Dick O’Hagan invited me to a small lunch at the U of T faculty club with former prime minister Lester Pearson. Accompanied by Maryon Pearson, he was in his usual Read more…
My review of books about the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey Super Summit — and what it was like being there, from Montreal to Moscow. OCTOBER 2022 The Bear and the Beaver Eight games, one goal Robert Lewis Most Canadians in their late fifties and beyond remember where they were when it Read more…
Our story went to press two days after the final game see a repeat of the Team Canada-Soviet format in a couple of years, but the N.H.L. already has other plans. In an end-run around Eagleson, N.H.L. President Clarence Campbell struck a deal in Moscow that may have the Soviet Read more…
A win, if not victory, with 34 seconds left in Game 8 September 28 Game 8 (filing from Moscow) My original report for TIME [Sixteen million Canadians and 100 million Russians tuned in for Game 8 in the aptly named Super Series. They were not disappointed. It had all the Read more…
The Team Behind The “Must” Win My original report to TIME magazine September 26 Game 7 (filing from Moscow) The Cold War on ice comes down to the final 60 minutes of play after tonight’s game. On the strength of their lucky 4-3 victory Tuesday night, the Canadians not only Read more…
Facing Elimination, Canada Digs Deep September 24, 1972 Game 6 (filing from Moscow) When Phil Esposito was introduced Sunday night, he clutched the side boards with mock fear as he skated forward to accept the warm applause, homage to his spill in game 5. His teammates showed similar attention to Read more…