Torch Relay bad news for separatistsBy Mike Cohen Pauline Marois, Gilles Duceppe and Jacques Parizeau could not have been smiling last week while watching Quebecers in fertile separatist territory happily waving Canadian flags as the Olympic Torch Relay passed through our province’s many cities and towns. Let’s credit Coca Cola and RBC Royal Bank for sponsoring this tremendous activity, which I had the privilege of witnessing first hand. If only this had occurred during a provincial or federal election, the PQ and the Bloc would have been hurt at the polls for this was a tremendous boost for national unity. Just ask Montrealer Marty Croitoru, who has been part of the Coca Cola security detail for the past few months. “I have heard the Canadian national anthem sung in over 75 celebration communities, from the Martime provinces and throughout Quebec,” he told me. “It is so amazing coming from Quebec and hearing the singing of O Canada here. Canada is very much alive everywhere we go. The relay has ignited a spirit of unity all over this great country. Today I am so much more proud to be from Quebec, than when I left on this journey back in September.” Wealthiest Quebecers: A recent edition of Canadian Business Magazine identified Canada’s 100 wealthiest people, 18 of whom are from Quebec: Power Corporation’s Paul Desmarais Sr., $4.28 billion; property developer David J. Azrieli, $3.73 billion; the Saputo family, $2.76 billion; the Bombardier family, $1.9 billion; investor Stephen Jarislowsky, $1.85 billion; property developer Marcel Adams, $1.74 billion; the Cirque de Soleil’s Guy Laliberté, $1.5 billion; pharmacy magnate Jean Coutu, $1.21 billion; Future Electronics owner Robert Miller, $1.19 billion; pulp and paper magnates the Kruger family, $1.11 billion; Dollarama chain owner Larry Rossy, $930 million; telecommunications guru Charles Sirois, $810 million; the de Gaspé Beaubien family (Phillipe de Gaspé Beaubien was the head of Telemedia and ran Expo ‘67) $600 million; Videotron founder André Chagnon, $550 million; Michael Kors majority shareholder Lawrence Stroll, $540 million; shoe store magnate Aldo Bensadoun, $520 million; The Power Corporation’s Robert Gratton, $490 million; and the Molson family, $490 million. Curb Aaron’s Enthusiasm: Perhaps we have not heard the last of Aaron Rand, Tasso and Suzanne after all! Only a short time ago Tasso (Paul Zakaib) and Suzanne Desautels were shown the door as Rand’s co-hosts on the Q 92.5 FM’s morning show. Rand organized a soiree in their honour recently at the Mount Stephen’s Club. It was a virtual love-in and rumours have begun to circulate that the threesome will reunite — consider it Montreal’s version of the Seinfeld reunion on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm — for a stage play that would provide an inside look at how the live radio show worked. “We all had lunch recently,” said Rand. “Tasso is considering a couple of media projects, and Suzanne begins her next adventure when she gets married in January. Bottom line, they’re both doing fine. And, the idea of a stage play came up. That’s all I can tell you for now.” COHEN CHATTER: Chantal Desjardins leaves Virgin Radio’s The Rush drive home show next week and replaces Kim Rossi with “Bad Pete” Marier and Ted Bird on the CHOM FM morning show. Kim is off to Hamilton. That leaves interim program director Mark Bergman flying solo again and seeking a successor at Virgin…The latest Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) Personal People Meter (PPM) ratings for local radio were released last week. CJAD remains the king, with an overall share of 25.8 percent of the anglo listening audience. The big surprise was CBC Radio One (88.5 FM) which had an 11.7 percent share. Clearly the national broadcaster is benefitting from the PPM format.
Item of interest? e-mail mcohen@thesuburban.com, call 514-484-1107, ext. 307 or fax 514-483-7213. |
