Christmas Luncheon

Head Table Guests

Ed Badovinac, Professor, Department of Telecommunications, George Brown College and a Director, The Empire Club of Canada; Dilnaz Panjwani, OAC Student, Branksome Hall; Brig. Gen. John Hayter, Ontario Council and President, St. John Ambulance; Sandy Hawley, Sports Legend, Ontario Jockey Club; Norm Gardner, Councillor, City of Toronto and Chair, Toronto Police Services Board; Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, Artistic Director and Conductor, Nathaniel Dett Chorale; Tony van Straubenzee, Partner, Russell Reynolds Associates, President, Rockhaven Consulting and a Past President, The Empire Club of Canada; Mary Lou Fallis, Soprano-comedienne; His Eminence Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto; Erin Davis, Radio Personality, CHFI FM and Spokesperson, Children's Wish Foundation; Col. William Ratcliffe,

Territorial Community Relations Secretary, The Salvation Army; The Hon. Vivien Poy, Senator, Senate of Canada; Albert Schultz, Co-Founder, Soul Pepper Theatre Group and Award-Winning Actor of Stage and Screen; Gwen Boniface, Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police; Lt. Col. Robert Chapman, Deputy Commander, 32 Brigade; and Duncan N.R. Jackman, Managing Director, Fulcrum Investment Company and a Director, The Empire Club of Canada.

Introduction by George L. Cooke

It is my pleasure to introduce to you The Honourable Henry N.R. Jackman who will offer wishes to the Club at this time of year.

Henry Jackman

I have had the pleasure of being at the Empire Club Christmas luncheon every year for over 30 years. This is always a wonderful occasion. We get away from talking about what's wrong with the government or bank mergers or these more trivial things and we concentrate on what brings us all together, what is really important in our lives. Let's just call it the spirit of Christmas. I'm looking out and I see these wonderful young artists facing me. Maybe you and the audience can't see them. All I can say is I'm looking forward to hearing their music and as we listen to them we will think very much about Christmas and everything it means. Thank you very much.

George Cooke

Your Honour, thank you. Before introducing the choir I have an official communiqué from Her Majesty the Queen, which I would like to read.

Dear Mr. Cooke,

The Queen was pleased to receive your kind expression of loyalty sent on behalf of the members of The Empire Club of Canada on the occasion of their annual Christmas luncheon which is being held in Toronto, Ontario on the 17th December, 1998. Her Majesty sends her best wishes to all those attending for a successful and enjoyable afternoon.

And I have as well a written expression from the Governor General, Romeo LeBlanc which I again would like to read to you.

We are sure that the Huron language gave us the name Toronto but there is some debate about its meaning. Of the possible choices many agree the place of meeting is the most apt. It certainly fits the bill as a definition of The Empire Club of Canada. This Club is a meeting place for any interested Canadian to hear the opinions of distinguished men and women from around the world. For 95 years a diverse group of prominent speakers from Indira Ghandi to Her Majesty the Queen Mother to David Rockefeller have entertained and instructed their audiences. It is little wonder that these regular luncheons have a reputation of one of the most prestigious speaker forums in North America. As Governor General and Patron I send my Season's Greetings and congratulations to The Empire Club of Canada. You have provided a place for people from every background to present and discuss a wide range of viewpoints and that is a definition of Canada at its best.

Now the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, recently formed on the 23rd September, 1998 was named for Nathaniel Dett, who was a second-generation Canadian, a musical pioneer born in Niagara Falls. It has a focus on Afrocentric musical forms. It has 20 members forming a professional chamber choir. They did their first self-presentation concert in Toronto last evening at Convocation Hall. It was sold out and has received rave reviews today in the Toronto Star. We are very thrilled to have you with us today. I turn it over to you.

The appreciation of the meeting was expressed by Tony van Straubenzee, Partner, Russell Reynolds Associates, President, Rockhaven Consulting and a Past President, The Empire Club of Canada.