Real Talk!

If you've read any of my previous blogs, you will know that I have a penchant for history and I love to research... I stumbled upon an advertisement the other day... and I thought I would share it with you.

The following ad appeared in the classified section of the Toronto Daily Star - Sep 12, 1945:

"737 acres in Faraday township, on good gravel road, 12 miles from Coe Hill, 10 miles from Bancroft, 100 acres under cultivation, level, 100 acres pasture, balance timber, poplar, spruce, balsam, hardwood; navigable stream crosses property, 2 separate lakes, good house and barns, never-failing well, will sell part or whole, or timber separately, or will sell land, stock and implements as going concern. Interested parties invited to inspect property. Melville Vader, Bancroft, Ontario."

There’s no price mentioned, but in the same edition, there is an ad for a 50X324 waterfront lot with “Splendid beach, partly wooded. Bowmanville, Near Oshawa” that is listed for $195, $50 down and $3 per month.

And a dairy farm, “Sutton area, 167 acres, all cleared, brick house, bank barn, well watered, full price $3800.”

Another "Archive" search uncovered the following article: The Sarnia Observer- May 23, 1884

"A letter published in the Belleville Intelligencer, and charging the Ontario Government with corrupt conduct in making the sale of a large block of land in North Hastings to Mr. Wm. Coe, of Madoc, is seized upon by the Toronto Mai as the suitable text for an attack upon the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The correspondent says that the Government was dishonest and corrupt, and that Mr. Coe practiced the wiles of a trickster in order to succeed with his purchase, and to place the settlers of the region at the mercy of a monopoly. The Toronto Mail goes further than the correspondent, and asserts that the Governement has sold to Mr. Coe 100,000 acres of land in the townships of Wollaston, Limerick and Faraday, with timber thereon, at 75 cents, or less, per acre; while the price to ordinary settlers, without the timber. Is $1 per acre. And then the Mail proceeds to say:

“Mr. William Coe is a grit: he is in fact a bright and shining grit. Mr Coe opposed the Minister of Customs in North Hastings in the general election of 1882, and was beaten by a majority of 351. Mr. Coe has now received his solatium at the hands of the Ontario Government through this disgraceful job, which is, moreover, a gross injustice to the settlers of that part of the country.”

No other evidence is needed to prove that the Mail views the transaction in a partisan light, nor that the only object in referring to it at all is tom make capital for its party. Not only does that journal assume that the sale was a job, but it declares the settlers of North Hastings have suffered a great wrong “by means of this barefaced and indefensible transaction.”

Before referring to that transaction, or the object of it, we may inform the Mail that had it examined the returns of lands sold to Mr. Coe, and to which reference is made it its article, it would discover that the extent of the sale was some 50,000 acres instead of 100,000. We may also inform the Mail that the sale was not made at “75 per cent, or less per acre;” that the pine timber was not sold with the land’ that, in a word the sale was made in strict accordance with the provisions of the Mining Act.

Now let us inquire into the object for which this land was acquired by Mr. Coe from the Government; and let us see whether it has been “a disgraceful job,” or whether “a gross injustice” has been done to the settlers of that part of the country.

Mr. Coe is a practical miner of large means in Madoc. He was engaged for several years in exploring the townships of North Hastings, and succeeded in discovering several deposits of iron ore of a quality that is eagerly sought for by the iron and steel master of the United States. A number of wealthy American capitalists procured an interest in those mines with Mr. Coe, but development of them was retarded by the want of railway communication. The Belleville & Madoc Railway could not serve the purpose, and it was found necessary to build a new road. Mr. Coe and his friends obtained a charter for the Central Ontario Railway, extending a distance of 90 miles from Weller’s Bay to the township of Wollaston. The have built a first-class road throughout, at a cost of about $2,000,000 and without receiving a dollar of aid from the governments or municipalities.

The primary object of the company was of course, to provide an outlet for the shipment of ores and materials; but the road cannot fail to be a boon to farmers, lumbermen and other settlers in bringing in supplies and forwarding the produce of their industry to market. Neither can it fail to promote settlement, and to enhance the value of lands belonging to the Crown.

But the company was not content with an enterprise which was limited to working the mines and shipping the ore to the United States to be smelted there. They were anxious to build charcoal furnaces of their own in the neighborhood of the mines, and for this purpose application was made to the Government for the purchase of 100,000 acres of Crown lands. It would never do, they said, to depend for supplies of charcoal outside of their own property, for command of this article is a much a necessity as having the iron ore itself. The land they sought to buy was almost worthless for farming purposes as was shown by the fact that although two of the townships had been open for settlement for a period of 21 years the sales to settlers did not reach 7,000 acres, and its only value to the company consisted in the supply of hardwood timber upon it. In the application to the Government it was set forth-

“That the building of this road and erection of a charcoal furnace, and running the same, will bring a hundred-fold more people into these townships than any increase that will take place by actual acceptance of the lots in question by individual settlers.

That this railway will act as a colonization road, and save the Government a large amount annually which would have to be spent for colonization purposes in this section.

That a great number of hands will be kept in constant employment in the cutting of wood and hauling the same to the ovens or heaps to be prepared into charcoal, as enormous quantities of charcoal will be required for smelting purpose. And that

The working of the mines now opened up will also employ quite a number of people, thus bringing about a market for labor in the back country, and distributing a large amount of capital in the shape of wages and otherwise which without this enterprise, would never find its way into these scattered and northern settlements. “

The Commissioner of Crown lands dealt with the application of the company upon it merits and like a sensible man he decided to entertain it. An inspector in the employ of the department was instructed to examine the lands applied for by the company and to report on their suitability for settlement. The schedule of his report shows that out of the total of 100,000 acres in the three townships there were 16, 919 acres in Wollaston, 11,231 in Faraday and 23, 388 in Limerick- a total of 51, 538 acres- that were almost worthless for agricultural purposes, and the Commissioner recommended that these lands be sold to the company on the conditions laid down in the act respecting mining.

Now these are the facts of the transaction, and we leave it to any fair minded Tory to say whether it has been “a disgraceful job,” or whether a “gross injustice has been done to the settlers of that part of the country.” If we were called upon to express an opinion upon it, we should say that the Commissioner of Crown Lands could not do less than he did, and be worthy of the position her fills. Nay, we think that under all the circumstances, he would have been amply justified in making the Company a free grant of the lands which they have obtained by purchase."

Some things never change.

June 25th: Plazacorp Retail Properties Ltd. (PLZ:TSX
Venture) announced today that it will develop five new retail properties. These development projects are located in Shediac and Miramichi, New Brunswick, Alexandria, Almonte and Bancroft, Ontario.

In all, the Corporation will be investing approximately $10 million for its share of these five new developments and will add approximately 130,000 square feet to Plazacorp's portfolio of retail properties. All five(5)projects are 100% leased to national retailers.

The travelling exhibition ‘From Crystals to Gems’ produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature. Over 100 mineral and gem specimens from our national collection are on display revealing their beauty, rarity and durability. This exhibit has been made possible through support from Celebrate Ontario 2009, and is brought to you by the Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce.

The exhibit can be seen at 12 Flint Avenue Regular hours will be Wednesday to Friday 11 a.m to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Bancroft/Barry's Bay areas cover immense country, of indescribable beauty, and the perfect way to explore little known wild territories is by ATV.

With thousands of kilometerss of trails, close to fuel, food and accommodations, that will challenge and inspire trail riders of every level, ATVOntario, established in 2002 as a public/private initiative between the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) and the five founding communities of Elliot Lake, Mattawa, Eastern Ontario (Tweed), Cochrane and Georgian Bay (Parry Sound), offers over 2,000 kilometres of legal, well-managed trails, thanks to their many partnerships with landowners.

The surface of the abandoned rail line remains intact and is generally in excellent condition. You might come across minor flooding due to beaver activity. The surface along the trail is generally granular and earth. There are a number of historical sites associated with the railway, as well as other areas of cultural or historical interest.

Under Ontario’s Off-Road Vehicle Act, ATVs must be registered with the Ministry of Transportation and drivers must be 16 years of age or older. Upon registration the owner will be supplied with a vehicle permit and a license plate. Persons under the age of 12 are not permitted to drive an ATV, except on land owned or occupied by the vehicle owner, or under close supervision of an adult. A helmet is mandatory for all ATV drivers. ATVs are not to be driven on or along a highway (some specific exceptions under the Act) and riders must have a valid driver’s license to cross a highway. You will also need a valid ATVOntario Powerpass available at www.powerpass.ca, which now also gives you access to all FQCQ trails in Québec. Of course, FQCQ members can also use their pass in Ontario.

The Art Gallery of Bancroft is highlighting work of Moses Amik Beaver (a self-taught Canadian Aboriginal artist from the fly-in reserve of Summer Beaver, Nibinamik, Ontario) in its July show-"Whispers of the Ancients".

His work is distinct for its multi-layered approach, utilizing the embedded images of spirits, human faces and animals in the and the natural environment. Amik Beavers’ work depicts stories, often representative of the ancient teaching of his people and reminds us that we are one with the earth.

The official opening of the exhibit, on July 3 at 7:30 p.m.- everyone is welcome. This exhibit runs from July 1 to July 26 at the gallery- 10 Flint Avenue and is open Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Also on July 3rd, it's "New Years in July" at the Wilberforce Legion from 8 p.m. to midnight outside and from midnight to close inside. Admission is $10.00 per person. DJ Marcel will supply the music. The legion branch is located on Hwy #121 between Wilberforce and Harcourt.

Jul 4, 2009 is the kids Rock Bass Derby at the Anchorage Resort on Paudash Lake from 9:00AM to 3:30PM registration starts at 8:00- for details call 613-339-2675 (The derby is in support of the local food bank)

The Brady Brother's will appear on July 4th at Papa's Pub & Gramma's Restaurant @ 141 Hastings St. North. Show starts at 8:30

July 4th the Bancroft Royal Canadian Legion will hold a dance with music by Farron Brown, in support of Canadian Troops. 9:00PM to 1:00AM

It's Bancroft Antique Week: Jul 4, 2009 to Jul 11, 2009

July 4 & 5th Halladay's Equine (Paudash) is hosting a Reining Clinic with Darren Bilyea. Limited spaces. 613-339-2395

Concerts at the Millenium Park in Bancroft are Wednesday evenings.

Horse and Wagon Rides July 11th at the Post Office Parking Lot on Station Street.

Bancroft's Flying Club Annual Pancake Breakfast July 12th at the airport.

July 15th Nurture Nature Series-Species at Risk is presented by the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council. Free of charge. At the Bancroft Fish & Game Club 27602 Hwy. 62 South 7 p.m.-8:30 613-332-3940 ext. 260

July 17-19th Bancroft Area Lifestyle Expo Bancroft Curling Club
Phone: (613) 332-3397

46th Annual Rockhound Gemboree Jul 30, 2009 to Aug 2, 2009 North Hastings Community Centre & Bancroft Curling Club Canada's Largest Gem and Mineral Show

The 2009 summer playbill at the Bancroft Village Playhouse features two contemporary Canadian comedies, an old-time classic farce, and a musical revue.

June 30 to July 11, a charming comedy Having Hope at Home by David S. Craig.

July 21 to August 1, the high-speed farce See How They Run by Philip King.

August 11 to 22, another great comedy The Foursome by Norm Foster.

August 25 to 27, a light-hearted musical revue The Un-Scene Story.

All tickets are reserved seating and cost just $18.50 each (including GST).Remember that seating is limited to 192 guests per performance so order your tickets early! Tickets are available by calling 613-332-6141. Payment by VISA, Mastercard or AMEX.

Tickets ordered by phone will be held at the Box Office pick up window in The Village Playhouse. Tickets should be picked up by one-half hour before curtain.

The Village Playhouse is located at 5 Hastings St. South, Bancroft.
The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and until 7:30 p.m. on performance nights.

Aug 1, 2009 to Aug 2, 2009 is set for 28th Annual Art and Craft Show at the Millenium Park Bancroft and the Coe Hill Wild West Weekend at the Coe Hill fairgrounds.

First off... I would like to wish all Canadians a happy Canada Day!

I feel very fortunate to have been born in Canada... and, since working on my family tree, I have learned a lot more about being Canadian.

Many native cultures share a reverence for "ancestors"... and many carry a common belief that each of us is affected by the 7 generations that came before us- which translates into our own responsibility for the seven generations that will follow us.

I certainly have discovered anecdotal stories (during my quest for information related to my family tree) that are astonishingly connected to the family as it exists today.

& from this work,also, I have a new and greater understanding of the history of North America, the people and politics... culture and philosophy... spirituality and character... and so much more...

Today, I thought I'd share the names that I have (and the gaps, too) going back 7 generations in my own family tree... it is very indicative, I think, that I am quite a typical Canadian citizen of today... with roots that run deep into the history of North America, a number of them back to Europe.

In sharing these names, I'm hoping that I might inspire others.. perhaps connect with relatives... truthfully, I sometimes believe that I will connect us all...

to date, I have 10314 individuals in my family tree and almost 800 stories and some 1500 photos- all relating to these folks and their families.

Some people are quite celebrated and some are not... however, I have no doubt that each one had their lessons, struggles and happiness, all of which has contributed to the world in which I live.

From my father’s paternal side:

Jean Didier 1795-1820 Savoie, Rhone-Alps, France
Perrone Guillermin 1794-1954

Pierre Gaillard France
Jeanne Damesin

Pierre M Goudreau 1764-1838 Quebec
Marie Ann Pilon 1770-1828 Quebec

Pierre Botineau 1793-1870
Madeleine Charron de Ducharme 1800- abt 1825

I Theodore Seguin 1775-1858 Quebec
Marie Reine Anne Leduc 1782-1823

Pierre Vallee 1773-1848 Quebec
Elisabeth Robillard 1774-1844

Missing 4 Grandparents of Marie Zephirin Villineuve 1855-unknown Quebec

From my father’s maternal side:

Missing 4 Grandparents of Richard Hynes 1825-1917 Ireland-Ontario
And missing 4 Grandparents of Richard Hynes’ wife Margaret Farrell 1843-1902 Ireland-Ontario

Unknown Parents of Timothy Sheehan 1803-Ireland
And Unknown Parents of Timothy Sheehan’s wife Catherine Hanlon 1808 Ireland

John Baptiste Reaume 1772-1829 Ontario
Suzanne Trudelle 1781-1829 Ontario

The parents of Charles Reaume’s wife- Sophia

From my mother's maternal side

William Hanning 1776-1871 Scotland
Catherine Lorimer 1781-1856 Scotland

James Carlyle 1758-1832 Scotland
Margaret Aitkin 1771-1853 Scotland

James Amit Morden 1762 Pennsylvania-1740 Ontario
Margaret Parliament 1771 New York-1868 Ontario

Lewis Davis <1763 New York-1823 Ontario
Miriam Lawrence 1764 New York-1840 Ontario

Francis Vandervoort 1763 New York-1836 Ontario
Hanna Acker 1765 New York-1850Ontario

Francis Hogle 1773 New York-1840 Ontario
Margaret Hartman 1777 New York-1855 Ontario

Jacob Franklin 1754- England
Jane Bull

William Lewis 1786 Wales
Mary

From my mother's paternal side:

Unkown Parents of Richard G Clingan born 1820 Ireland

And Unknown Parents of Mrs. Richard Clingan (Rebecca Walmsley)born 1822 Ireland

John Hewitt born 1779 England
Deborah Clark born 1777

Unknown Parents of wife of Mrs. John Hewitt Jr. (Elizabeth) born 1813 Wales

John Hughes 1795-1883 Wales/England
Ann Sarah Jones 1799-1832

Joseph Chadwick born England
Ann

James Cunion 1800-1883 England
Jane 1801-1880

William Symmonds 1811-1886 England
Margaret 1811-unknown

Yup, it's all around the mulberry bush... with other surnames like DeMille, Bogart, Pepin, Herrington, Carlyle, Bishop, McCrae, Vanderbilt, White, Molyneux, Quesnel, Palmer,Bergen, Atherton,Morrow, Eaton, Cole, Vernon, Redner, Munro, Durham, Bowerman, Babcock, Hawley, Mainwaring, Lake, Joly, Baldwin, Cleveland, Doig, Miteouamegoukoue, Meyers, Glossop, Lindbergh, Putnam, Ruttan, Cotton, Hickock,Trico, Young, Clapp, Pickford, Snelling, Ashcroft, Earhart, Chrysler, Abel, Rapalje, Blundell, Douglas, Wilde, Pettit, Raizenne, Apps, Quackenbush, Robinson, Burden, Quinn, Bergen, Hinsdale, Nims, Smead, Machequayzaince, Bailey, and Lawrence, among others.

Oh... and St Clair... or St Clair-Hughes, but I've verified that the St Clair part was first just a stage name.

Yup. Who knew?

Tangled into all the stories (of all of these people)is the truth about being a Canadian...

There's a lot to it. We're not just Red Rose tea, Hockey, Maple Syrup, beavers, Mounties, donuts, Pablum, toques, newfie screech, canoes, timbits, toboggans, back bacon and poutine, eh!

This morning, the Canadian Press released the findings of a recent Harris-Decima survey, confirming the majority of us are planning a summer vacation this year. Harris-Decima senior vice-president Jeff Walker says, "It's going to be the kind of vacation where you go to visit a cottage or friend's cottage or maybe a family's cottage, or maybe you go for a long weekend to a resort in whatever part of the country you live."

It shouldn’t surprise us, then, that visits to Algonquin Park are up 14%.

Located in the eastern section of Ontario about 2.5 hours from Ottawa, 4.5 hours from Montreal or 3.5 hours from Toronto- Highway 60 is the main corridor of Algonquin Park.

With over 7000 square kilometres of forests, maple hills, rocky ridges, thousands of rivers and more than 2000 fresh water lakes, Algonquin Park is the very essence of Ontario wilderness.

Archaeologists estimate the Algonquin First Nation peoples inhabited the area for some 8,000 years, prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century. Relying heavily on hunting, trapping and fishing for their food and would gather in the park area for fishing and socializing during the summer. In the late autumn, the group would separate into small hunting camps.

With the arrival of French and British colonists, the area grew into a flourishing market area and fur-bearing animals became quite a commodity. In the 17th century the waters of Algonquin Park served as the main fur trade route to the west.

Loyalist settlers began encroaching on Algonquin lands shortly after the American Revolution. In the coming years, the lumber industry began to move up the Ottawa valley and the native people were relegated to a string of reserves.

In 1893, Algonquin was established as the first provincial park in Ontario. The park was named a national historic site in 1992.

According to the Algonquin Park website: The Park is home to 53 species of mammals, 272 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles and amphibians, 54 species of fish, 1000+ species of plants, more than a thousand species of fungi and approximately 7000 species of insects.

During a typical trip, you may see beaver, mink, otter, eastern wolves, foxes, osprey, raccoons, birds and waterfowl- in addition to deer, bear and moose. You will almost be certain to see a moose in June, July or early August. Park visitors regularly see Moose standing or feeding along the roadsides.

Moose are year-round residents of Algonquin Park. Park Authorities estimate some three thousand moose call Algonquin Park home. In the summer, moose can be found feeding on aquatic vegetation in beaver ponds, rivers, and shallow areas of lakes. They love to graze.

Moose are about the size of a horse, with a long brownish-black head and snout, large ears, and a dewlap (or bell) hanging from the throat. Moose have legs that are about 200 centimetres long, humped shoulders, and a short stubby tail.

A male Moose weigh an average of 500 kilograms, and females average 425 kilograms. Moose eat 50 kilograms of green vegetation in one summer's day.

The Black Bear is Algonquin's second largest mammal, next to the Moose. Female Black Bears in Algonquin Park weigh between 45 and 70 kilograms. Males are usually larger, weighing between 70 and 150 kilograms.

Black Bears typically do not vocalize. The most common bear sounds are grunts, used when playing, and loud blowing, indicating the Black Bear is nervous or afraid. The Black Bear uses a resonant voice to exhibit strong emotions and most often used by cubs. Adults will use their resonant voice when they are in pain or are frightened.

When camping in bear country, which includes Algonquin Park, remember the three simple bear safety rules.

1. Never feed or approach a bear.
2. Store all your food and garbage in the trunk of your car (or suspended high up between two trees if you are camping in Algonquin's Interior).
3. Keep a clean campsite and pack out all garbage.

Many White-tailed Deer call the Park home, too. The best chances for seeing deer would be during the early morning, along Highway 60.

In the park, itself, the Visitor Centre is a must see. This world-class, interpretive facility depicts Algonquin's natural and human history through a series of exhibits, dioramas, and video presentation.

The ALGONQUIN ART CENTRE (at km 20) is open daily from June 20 to September 6 [10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.] and from September 7 to October 17 [10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.]. It features original artwork by world-renowned artists depicting Algonquin's rugged landscapes.

On most summer afternoons (no formal schedule), get up-close-and-personal with a Park Naturalist at the Visitor Centre (at km 43) as they discuss different natural or cultural history topics using mounted animal specimens, pelts, bones, artifacts, and other items. Naturalists may also be found, roving throughout the park and they’re enthusiastic about answering questions.

You’re bound to hear stories of Gertie Baskerville, a true woman of the wilderness, who lived alone- amongst the animals and birds of Algonquin Park for years. A year round resident from 1941 until 1969, Gertie became a seasonal resident (from early spring until the first snows) for another decade.

Living in a 20’ by 20’ three room cabin by the shores of South Teal Lake, with no more than a wood stove to keep the fall and winter chill away. The area had no electricity until the mid-1950’s. A great naturalist and an expert canoeist, Gertie thought nothing of paddling 10 miles, or more, a day. She knew all about the wildflowers, mushrooms and types of fungus on the trees.

There is also the romantic legend and mystery of Tom Thomson, the influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century, who first visited Algonquin Park in Ontario in 1912 with other members of the famous Group of Seven.

Taking up residence on Canoe Lake, in the park in 1914, Thomson worked on and off, as a fire fighter, ranger, and guide in Algonquin Park, but found that such work did not allow enough time for painting. During the next three years he produced many of his most famous works, including The Jack Pine, The West Wind and The Northern River.

Thomson disappeared at Canoe Lake on July 8, 1917- his body was discovered in the lake eight days later. The official cause of death was accidental drowning, but many still question this.

It has been said that Thomson’s body had fishing line wrapped around a leg- seventeen times and there were signs of a head injury (possibly post mortem). It may be that Thomson was murdered by his neighbour, Martin Blecher, Jr or that he fell and struck his head on a fire grate during a drunken brawl with the owner of Canoe Lake’s Mowat Lodge (allegedly over an money the man owed Thomson for canoes).

Rumours has it that Thomson needed money to purchase a new suit to marry Winnifred Trainor, whose parents had a cottage at Canoe Lake. Following his drowning, folk said that Winnifred, pregnant with Thomson's child, went away for a while, with her mother.

When she returned to Canoe Lake, Trainor never spoke about her relationship with Thomson- although her nephew, upon inheriting the estate, said it included more than a dozen small Thomson paintings and letters that confirm they had been engaged.

Others believe that Thomson suffered severe depression and drowned himself. He was buried at Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park on July 17, 1917, without any of his family members having seen the body. Thomson’s older brother had the body exhumed and re-interred in the family plot beside the Leith Presbyterian Church on July 21.

There is a memorial for Thomson- at Canoe Lake, in Algonquin Park.

Visiting the interior portions of the park really isn’t for sissies- in fact; it’s best left to those with experience in canoeing and backcountry camping.

For more information:
Algonquin Provincial Park
Box 219
Whitney, Ontario
K0J 2M0
705-633-5572

Summer holiday tip: Include your children in planning of day trips. It may be a good time to have them help with packing lunches. Helping in the kitchen, over the summer, is a great way to keep kids thinking… reading and arithmetic- like fractions- all come into play!

I have been trying to blog for the past two days... but I couldn't settle on a topic...my mind has wandered from… well… if you been watching the news… you understand.

North Korea used the 59th anniversary of the start of the Korean war to step up threats against the US.

Jon and Kate announced their separation and eminent divorce.

Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Jacko have left us.

The Manitoba Propety Register is warning folks to beware of lending scams… probably a good idea for everyone to note… don’t sign any kind of agreement without running it past a trusted lawyer…

Hmmmmm.

Also in the news- Vancouver lawyer Martin Wirick was sentenced to seven years in prison for perpetrating the largest legal fraud in Canadian history.

In July 2002, Wirick confessed his part in the fraud and subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of forgery in 107 real estate transactions connected a real estate developer, client, a Mr. Tarsem Singh Gill.

The total value of the fraud- about $30 million (reportedly the B.C. Law Society has fully compensated all of the victims). Now, apparently, Wirick was simply the facilitator and simply following the instructions of Mr. Gill.

Hmmmm. I know that Realtors are to follow all LAWFUL instructions of their principal clients. Surely it’s the same for lawyers?

Gill has also been charged, however, he has pleaded not guilty and he is not cooperating with authorities. In fact, he’s still developing properties. His preliminary hearing has been set for March of next year.

Brings back memories of Brian Slobogian and Frank Biller- manipulators of the scam-ridden Eron Mortgage Corp. Slobogian was the president of Enron and Biller the vice-president and chief mortgage broker.

Regulators began scrutinizing the Enron accounting practices in 1996 and pulled their license in October of 1997. Charges of theft and fraud charges followed. The pair were charged with bilking $175 million, affecting some 3,500 mostly unsophisticated investors. It was, at the time, the biggest fraud in B.C. history. The two were tried in 2005.

The B.C. Securities Commission fined both Slobogian and Biller $300,000 each. Slobogian received a lifetime trading ban and Biller a 10-year ban. Both declared bankruptcy.

In 2005, Slobogian plead guilty and made a deal. He was sentenced to four concurrent six-year terms for theft counts and a three-year sentence for fraud (to be served at the same time). A few months later, Biller was sentenced to three years in prison, after pleading guilty to one charge of theft and four counts of fraud.

Then, there’s Vancouverite, Bryan Tickell, who (earlier this month) was sentenced to six years for fraud related to his dirty dealings of 2007. After falsifying his credentials on an application, Tickell was hired as a caseworker at the offices of the B.C. Public Guardian and Trustee’s Office. There, he defrauded an elderly client, who had been deemed mentally incompetent, paying $1 plus love and affection for her property and flipping it for $1 million. Tickell defrauded another elderly client, naming himself a 20% beneficiary in the man’s $1.3 million estate.

Tickell had to donate a DNA sample, through which he will be easier to connect to any future crimes he may commit.

Seems to be a trend.

There are other strange trends, too.

Howard K Stern, and doctors Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich were charged back in the spring… for conspiracy to supply drugs to former Playboy playmate, Anna Nicole Smith, before she died of an overdose in 2007.

At that time, reports swirled about her estate- speculating that it may not be worth much — possibly as little as $100,000 and no more than $1 million. Horace Cooper, an assistant professor of law at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, said that Smith filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and had borrowed money. Apparently, she was banking on a settlement from the decade long battle she was having against the family of her late husband, J. Howard Marshall.

Dr Cyril Wecht, former president of the American Academy of Forensic Science, inteviewd by CNN today, said death from a prescription drug overdose was a major killer in America.

``This is something that is killing somebody every hour, if not every minute, in America, but we only come to learn about them when they involve Anna Nicole Smith or Heath Ledger

or Michael Jackson. But, everywhere in America somebody is taking two, three, four drugs.''

Yes, reports say that Michael Jackson's personal doctor is to be questioned (for a second time) by police. There are allegations that the singer was being fed a daily cocktail of painkillers that contributed to his death.

Actress-singer Liza Minnelli, told reporters yesterday "all hell would break loose" when the results of Jackson's autopsy are released.

& there’s a lot of talk about who left more debt, Ed McMahon or Jacko.

it's a sad sort of contest

Foreclosure problems started for Jackson, when in October of 2007, reports of possible foreclosure on Neverland Rand began to circulate. A spokesman for the singer claimed that it was simply a matter of some refinancing arrangements.

In Feb. of ’08, Jackson got word from trustee, Financial Title Company, that unless he paid off $24,525,906.61 by March 19, the property would go up for public auction. In May of ’08, the foreclosure action was circumvented when Colony Capital purchased the loan. At the time, Jackson was in default several months on the $24.5 million owed on Neverland. Finally, in November of ’08, Jackson transferred title to an investment company, saying he no longer felt at home in the ranch.

Jackson died, this week, in a rented Holmby Hills house... autopsy results await toxicology reports.

In June 2008, McMahon revealed he was fighting foreclosure after falling $644,000 behind on mortgage payments on $4.8 million in mortgage loans attached to his Beverly Hills home.

Also, in June 2008, the nypost.com reported that Farrah Fawcett was making millions off her battle with cancer, working out lucrative deals with Entertainment tonight and selling video footage.

Just a month prior, the Los Angeles Times had published an interview with Ms Fawcett in which she discussed the media frenzy over her health.

She told the Times she would have preferred to have kept details of her illness private. "It's much easier to go through something and deal with it without being under a microscope," she said.
I can’t even begin to imagine.

Diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, in May of this past year, NBC aired Farrah Fawcett’s self-narrated video diary “Farrah’s Story”. Filmed with the assistance of her long time partner, Ryan O’Neill and her closest friend, Alana Stewart, Fawcett shared details of her poignant battle, raising global awareness of the disease, the need for alternative approaches to treatment and questioned patients’ privacy rights.

Ms Fawcett left us, quietly and with dignity. A private funeral, at the “Cathedral of Our Lady of The Angels” is scheduled for the 30th.

One can’t begin to imagine what kind of memorial extravaganza will be planned by or for the King of Pop.

Oh, & yes, I twitter.