Harry Stemp was born in Uxbridge in 1934. He started his career with the Uxbridge Times-Journal as an apprentice typesetter at age 14. He soon began writing sports for the Times-Journal and eventually owned 10 community newspapers in central Ontario including the Times-Journal. He started writing his award-winning Stemp’s Stew in 1965. The column came to an end shortly after he sold his newspaper chain in 1989, but was rejuvenated in 2006 when Harry became a regular contributor to The Cosmos.
Keep up the good work
It often puzzles me how people can get their shorts in a knot over what seems like a simple matter and then completely ignore happenings that are very serious and in many cases against the law. A perfect example happened a few days ago in Toronto. A Toronto TTC driver was in obvious pain needing a bathroom break. Rather than have an 'accident' he quickly walked over to the wall of a bus station and, with his back towards any onlookers, relieved himself.
Agree that this was not proper etiquette in public, but in cases of an emergency it is excusable in my view.
Well, all hell has broken loose. There have been calls to the TTC to have this man fired. Calls to radio phone-in shows and letters to editors called for severe disciplinary action. There was no end to the anger that was demonstrated by these people. The question begs to be asked - where were these self-righteous people when the Gay Pride Parade was held in Toronto a short time ago?
In that parade several men walked along in their birthday suits, except for a few thin straps of leather around their arms and legs, in full view of members of the Toronto Police Force and in front of men, women and children watching the parade. Not a peep of objection that I am aware of. Nor were there any arrests as nudity in public is against the law in Ontario. In fact, there is a case before the courts at this very instant by a man who operates a nudist colony testing the nudity law that he claims goes against our civil rights.
Such is life, and strange things happen in the noonday sun and in the small minds of many people. -------------------------
Congratulations to Sandra Will on being named Citizen of the Year. Sandra has been a tireless volunteer for so many years and for so many worthwhile endeavours. She certainly deserves this prestigious award.
Everyone owes a tremendous debt to the countless volunteers across Canada. If each of them were to suddenly decide to take a year off it would cripple this country. And a little known fact to me about the generosity of Canadians came recently when I had the pleasure to hear our Governor-General David Johnston address a room full of volunteers.
He informed the gathering that Canada is the only country in the world where you are not paid for donating blood - and you are not charged for receiving blood. Something that I just assumed happened in every country. Not so.
So to all our wonderful volunteers in Uxbridge - keep up the good work. I know this is not the reason for your generous volunteerism but maybe one day your name will join that of Sandra and many others who have received this important award.
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Most right-thinking Canadians were thoroughly disgusted with the happenings in Vancouver following the final Stanley Cup playoff game. It was a classic example of the goon mentality that can take over in a matter of seconds and bring out the worst in people.
But it is an ill wind that blows no good, and the huge crowds that turned up the next day to clean up the mess were unbelievable. And that wasn't all. Police officers found one of their cruisers completely covered in sticky notes when they arrived at work one morning following the riots.
Citizens wanting to express gratitude for police efforts in trying to quell the riots had placed them there. One lady couldn't put her feelings into words so she covered her sticky note with kisses.
“This show of support really says a lot about Vancouver,” said one police officer. “For the most part, people are truly proud of their city and the spirit that has shown through following the tragic events after the game proves that”.
We may have a lot of goons living amongst us, but for every one of those there are thousands of good people who love their community and their country and are not afraid to show it. ------------------
Many residents, and visitors, were disappointed when it was announced that the Legion would not be holding a RibFest this year. They were looking forward to a fun weekend and a good feed of delicious ribs. Well, you have a great chance to entertain your taste buds this weekend when Legion members hold a Summerfest in the large parking lot behind the Legion featuring a ribber who has been popular in Elgin Park in the past.
But there is much more than ribs. Friday night will see a return of one half of “The Inn Crowd” which was a popular weekly dance many years ago in Uxbridge. This will bring back a lot of teenage memories for many Uxbridge residents.
Bill Ballinger will be the DJ that evening and, who knows, maybe he will talk his buddy Peter Hvidsten, to show up for a fun Inn Crowd reunion.
Also there will be a band entertaining Saturday afternoon and another band Saturday night. Besides this, lots of fun and games for the kids and admission is free.
So pack up the family and head to the Legion on Franklin Street. Activities run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday.
Hope I see you there.
