Christmas Luncheon

Head Table Guests

Larry Stout, CTV Broadcaster and Journalist, a Director, The Empire Club of Canada and Co-chair of this Christmas luncheon; Thera Ip, OAC student, Monarch Park Collegiate; Dr. Ming Cheung, Chairman, the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association of Canada; Robert Pilon, from the Toronto productions of “Les Miserables” and “Phantom of the Opera,” with his award-winning television variety special, and now his two recently released CDs, entitled “Given The Chance” and “A Christmas Night”; Dr. Owens Wiwa, Nigerian Civil Rights Activist (Dr. Wiwa’s brother, the writer and environmentalist, Ken Saro Wiwa, was executed last year by Nigeria’s military government for his human rights activities on behalf of the Ogoni people. Dr. Wiwa and his wife, who is also with us today, were helped out of Nigeria by the Canadian Embassy, and now live in Toronto where they continue their work for human rights); Douglas Derry, Partner, Price Waterhouse, Past President, The Empire Club of Canada and President, The Empire Club Foundation; Mrs. P. Hannaford, business woman, and mother of the President of The Empire Club of Canada; The Hon. William G. Davis, P.C., C.C., Q.C., of Tory, Tory, DesLauriers & Binnington and Honorary Solicitor, The Empire Club of Canada; Maria Roman-Bricknell, Consultant, Fleishman Hillard, Co-chair, Christmas luncheon and a Director, The Empire Club of Canada; Don Harron, Actor, Comedian, Storyteller; Charlie Farquarson, a member of the Order of Canada; J. Steve Dupre, President and CEO, The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; Daryl Sittler, Special Consultant to the President, Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club, Former Captain, Toronto Maple Leafs, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989. (His record of 10 points, 4 goals, and 4 assists in one hockey game, achieved on February 7, 1976 still stands as an NHL record. That record notwithstanding, Mr. Sittler continues to be best remembered for his winning overtime goal in the Canada Cup Series in 1976.); Andrew McLeod, Recipient of Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for fight against racism and Founder of the Scarboro Multi-cultural and Race Relations Committee; The Rev. Canon Harold Roberts, Rector, St. Timothy’s Church Agincourt and a Past President, The Empire Club of Canada; and George Cooke, President and CEO, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company.

Introduction by Julie Hannaford

it is a great pleasure to have His Honour with us today. As many of you know, the term for the Lieutenant-Governor has now come to an end. As a Past President of The Empire Club of Canada, His Honour distinguishes The Empire Club of Canada and his distinguished service as Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Ontario makes this occasion particularly special.

The Honourable Henry N.R. Jackman, Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Ontario, brings greetings from the Queen.

Lieutenant-Governor Jackman

Thank you very much, Julie. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a pleasure for me.

You are right. My term as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario is rapidly coming to an end. I think it is very significant to note that I was sworn in as Lieutenant-Governor on December 11, 1991. Today is December 12, 1996 so this particular function, the Empire Club Christmas Dinner, which always comes at the same time of the year, the day or two days after I was sworn in, was my very first event. I came here and I brought you greetings from Her Majesty the Queen. Now that I am about to retire this is my last event. It’s at the same place and in the same room with many of the same people, so I think the circle has come around and closed.

I was President of this Club in 1971. My very first speaker was a young politician who had just come off a bruising leadership convention and knew that he was going to be forced into an election. Right from this platform, my very first speaker, Julie, was Bill Davis. Now here you are sitting next to me, so the circle has closed twice.

At any rate I have certainly enjoyed being Lieutenant-Governor. I see very many friends here. Julie, I will not be at your lunch as Lieutenant-Governor next Christmas, but I assure you I will be at your lunch. I wish you all the best on behalf of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen whom I have had the distinct privilege and honour to represent. I bring you her greetings and the very best for the Christmas season and the new year.

Introduction of the choir by Julie Hannaford

The Empire Club of Canada’s Annual Xmas Luncheon is made very special by the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir. Both the Choir and their Conductor, Mr. Bob Cooper are a tribute to the City of Toronto, and it is their performance today which provides the special festive quality that continues the tradition of our Annual Christmas Lunch.

This is a special season, marked by the phrase “peace on earth, goodwill towards men.” To borrow from Charles Dickens: “Who can be insensible to the outpourings of good feeling and the honest interchange of affection and attachment which abound at this season of the year. Petty jealousies and discourse are forgotten. Social feelings are awakened in hearts where they have long been strangers.

Father and son, or brother and sister, who for months before have met and passed with averted gaze or a look of cold recognition, proffer and returned a cordial embrace and bury their past animosities in their present happiness. Kindly hearts that have yearned toward each other, but have been withheld by false notions of pride and self-dignity are again re-united and all is kindness and benevolence. Would that this season lasted the whole year through. And that the prejudices and passions that deform our better nature were never called into action amongst those to whom they should ever be strangers.”

Ladies and gentlemen, to usher in the festive season as no other group could, please welcome the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir.

The appreciation of the meeting was expressed by Larry Stout, CTV Broadcaster and Journalist, a Director, The Empire Club of Canada and Co-chair of this Christmas Luncheon.