{"id":5929,"date":"2020-10-01T08:08:22","date_gmt":"2020-10-01T12:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5929"},"modified":"2020-10-01T08:12:36","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T12:12:36","slug":"addition-to-episode-129-pm-trudeau-visit-to-pci-first-he-had-to-take-a-leak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5929","title":{"rendered":"addition to: EPISODE 129 .PM TRUDEAU VISIT TO PCI…First he had to take a leak"},"content":{"rendered":"

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From: <\/b><\/span>ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Subject: <\/b><\/span>Fwd: EPISODE 129 I HAVE TO TAKE A LEAK…PM TRUDEAU VISIT TO PCI<\/b>
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Date: <\/b><\/span>September 30, 2020 at 11:29:52 PM EDT
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To: <\/b><\/span>Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>>, Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>, John Wardle <john.t.wardle@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Begin forwarded message:<\/div>\n


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From: <\/b><\/span>ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Subject: <\/b><\/span>EPISODE 129 I HAVE TO TAKE A LEAK…PM TRUDEAU VISIT TO PCI<\/b>
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Date: <\/b><\/span>September 29, 2020 at 9:24:33 AM EDT
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To: <\/b><\/span>Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>>, John Wardle <john.t.wardle@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Note\u2026I hope this story does not seem silly\u2026then again what if it does\u2026who cares?<\/div>\n
John\u2026take a look\u2026you do not need to send the story out if it seems off the wall.<\/div>\n


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EPISODE 129     PM PIERRE TRUDEAU VISITS PCI\u2026and has to take a leak

alan skeoch
Sept. 2020

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   The small convoy of cars pulled up in front of Parkdale C.I. and out popped<\/p><\/div>\n

Pierre Elliott Trudeau\u2026our Prime Minister.  His detail close behind.  But not<\/div>\n
fast enough.  A girl\u2026a  student in Grade 10 or 11\u2026launched herself like a rocket<\/div>\n
towards Trudeau.  Faster than the bodyguard detail could intervene.   She reached<\/div>\n
Trudeau and kissed  him.   He did  not flinch. Smiled and continued towards the front<\/div>\n
door of the school.  It was the peak of Trudeaumania in Canada.  Her action seemed<\/div>\n
significant to me.
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<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If the hat fits , wear it.  Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Green, Bloc\u2026.or no hat at al.   IN the long run Canadian political parties<\/div>\n
are not that different\u2026and that is something of which we should take pride.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Backwards!   We have not got our politics all backwards as in this picture.  Deep down we like each other.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In Canada, I believe we follow the Rodney King look  upon life.  Remember him?  Beaten up in California he asked the<\/div>\n
police, \u201cWhy can\u2019t we all get along?\u201d  The  difference between Bananas and peaches, between tomatoes and lemons is<\/div>\n
greater than the differences between Liberals, Conservatives, Greens and New Democrats.   We can \u2018all get along.\u2019  Let\u2019s keep<\/div>\n
it that way.  We can talk to each other.  Most of us do not even belong to a political party.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
TRUMP-  BIDEN DEBATE\u2026CHAOS, HATRED, VIOLENCE<\/div>\n


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We watched the Trump – Biden show  last night.  Shocked!  Made  me think about the<\/div>\n
day Pierre Elliott Trudeau visited Parkdale Collegiate many years ago.  that was <\/div>\n
a gentler time maybe.   But the more I thought about that visit the more I came to <\/div>\n
believe Canadian democracy has much to recommend.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
One quotation comes to mind about the  Trump – Biden fiasco\u2026.\u201dDemocracy is a troubled spirit whose dream<\/div>\n
if  it dream presents only visions of hell.\u201d  That sure was the case last night.  Visions of  hell\u201d<\/div>\n
Even subtle suggestions of civil war.  A debate that was Out of control presenting visions of <\/div>\n
hell.    I  would not invite President Trump to speak to my class.   But I did indirectly<\/div>\n
invite PM Pierre Trudeau to come \u2026 and he  came<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
SETTING THE SCENE<\/div>\n
(A Grade Ten class at Parkdale C.I, west end Toronto)<\/div>\n

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\u201cOK, gang, I have an idea.\u201d
The class hurly burly settled down and most of the grade ten
students at Parkdale Collegiate in Toronto seemed in a listening mood.
\u201cI think we can cajole the Prime Minister to join us.\u201d
\u201cIn person?\u201d
\u201cYes, in person,\u201d
\u201cWhy us?\u201d
\u201cBecause our riding is up for grabs in this election.\u201d
\u201cWhat\u2019s the plan, sir?\u201d
\u201cYou simply write him a note\u2026an invitation.\u201d
\u201cWould it not be better for you to write the note, sir?\u201d
\u201cNope.  Trudeau likes young people.   He loses  patience with older people\u2026particularly
teachers I believe.  Too pompous.\u201d
\u201cAny tips, sir?\u201d
\u201cKeep it simple.\u201d

So they wrote a letter.   Several letters as  I remember.  Written in Grade Ten language with
minimum of flattery.  Hand written\u2026straightforward, some spelling errors.   Most of the students did not expect
the Prime Minister would ever visit our class.   But they went along with the plan.

And then, about a week later, we got a note from the Prime Minister\u2026quite  personal.
The answer was a \u201cYes\u201d he would visit our school\u2026hopefully our class.

Then the whole adventure took on a life of its  own.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n


<\/div>\n

Unfortunately the visit was taken out of our hands as  the whole school  got excited.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWe will have to open the auditorium for everyone.  This is a great honour.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
So the visit was not to our classroom and, really, our Grade Ten students were sort<\/div>\n
of shouldered aside.  That did not bother them as much as I expected. It bothers me<\/div>\n
today.  Initially I thought One of the students<\/div>\n
would introduce the PM and another would  do the thank you.  That was the initial plan<\/div>\n
but staff changed it a bit.  Our staff of 60 teachers got excited.  The visit got to be<\/div>\n
teacher dominated which was partly my fault. Trudeau sent word that he would like to to a Q and A with <\/div>\n
the kids.  Insisting the meeting be student centred.  That much I liked.  There were other<\/div>\n
aspects of the planned visit that I did not like very much.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
A few teachers got really concerned that some of our outspoken and out of control students<\/div>\n
would make the visit into a disaster by rude questioning.  Like \u201cMr. Prime Minister you only<\/div>\n
came here to get votes.\u201d  etc.etc.   Wild, even rude, questions did not bother me as I believed<\/div>\n
Trudeau liked that kind of questioning from young people.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
No matter.  Some teachers  decided  to keep a close eye on our more outspoken students.<\/div>\n
And I was asked to chair the Q and  A from the stage.  The visit was getting goddamn pompous<\/div>\n
but I agreed.  In retrospect that was a mistake.  A student should have had that job.  We had  <\/div>\n
students that would have done a fine job sitting on stage with the PM.  A shy student would<\/div>\n
have been terrific.  The PM would have liked that I thought.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
In short , we over organized the visit.  Too much teacher input.  Very little student input.<\/div>\n
My Grade Ten class was not upset really.    None wanted the spotlight as I remember.<\/div>\n
Now, decades later, I wish I had not chaired the meeting.  Trudeau would have loved to see<\/div>\n
a student from the grade Ten class on stage.   He did meet some of them personally<\/div>\n
though and that was quite wonderful.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
As mentioned  the visit took a life of its own.  I was surprised when a day before<\/div>\n
the official visit an RCMP detachment arrived with a sniffer dog\u2026or maybe more than<\/div>\n
one sniffer dog.  They did  not announce their presence but searched and smelled<\/div>\n
the whole school  from basement even to the roof.  A search for bombs.  Wow!<\/div>\n
This visit was getting the full treatment.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Then, the next day, the PM arrived  with an escort of unmarked vehicles.  He had bodyguards<\/div>\n
and also  political people with him.  But it was Trudeau who led the group.  We greeted<\/div>\n
him at the front door.   Shook hands  He seemed a bit agitated.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cThanks  for coming\u2026(what should I call him?  I decided to use no special term)\u2026My<\/div>\n
class is very excited\u2026flattered.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
PM Trudeau stil seemed a bit agitated when he leaned closer to me saying:<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhere can  I take a leak?\u201d<\/div>\n

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\u201cThe principal\u2019s office over here.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
And so he disappeared for a leak.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
At this point one of our teachers sort of bulled through the crowd.  \u201cWhere is the<\/div>\n
Prime Minister?  I just love him.”<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I pointed to the Principal\u2019s office and she zipped away in that direction.  She went<\/div>\n
right into the office.   Trudeau  was taking a leak.  Apparently she stood  outside<\/div>\n
the washroom door and greeted him.  I think he took that rudeness in his stride.<\/div>\n
His bodyguards could not stop her.  I do not think a  CNR locomotive could have<\/div>\n
stopped her.  It was no big deal anyway.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
What is my point?  Not much.  It is just so human.  Nothing special\u2026a normal<\/div>\n
event.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Trudeau then took to the stage.  He stood with an open microphone taking<\/div>\n
questions from the kids just like any teacher wold have done in class.  it was<\/div>\n
very laid back.  I was not needed on the stage snd had the good sense to<\/div>\n
sit there and  keep my mouth shut.  Even when one  teacher moved in<\/div>\n
on a student who seemed bent on embarrassing the Prime Minister. The kid<\/div>\n
was removed.  Too bad.  Trudeau  would have liked a few sparks  flying.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
BACK TO THE TRUMP – BIDEN DEBATE<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Really our student experience  with political life in Canada was very relaxed\u2026friendly, honest,<\/div>\n
straight answers to questions.  The visit lacked pomposity.   It was so far<\/div>\n
distant from the Trump – Biden debate.   Polite. Maybe  even boring.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
What would  I do  if facing students today after the insult laden American Presidential <\/div>\n
debate?   How could I be impartial if I was an American teacher.  One thought <\/div>\n
came to mind.  \u201cDemocracy can  only work well if there are two political parties<\/div>\n
that are not distant from each other\u2026parties that we would  call centrists\u2026neither<\/div>\n
extreme left nor extreme right.   Parties not so filled with hate for each other that<\/div>\n
they welcome the prospect of  violence.\u201d   I read  something life that somewhere.<\/div>\n
Seemed sensible to me.  I am not a member of any political party and have voted<\/div>\n
for all three on different occasions.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Certainly I do not see the rift between parties as  deep and<\/div>\n
hostile … The Grand  Canyon.   Full hatred.  Fire and Brimstone.  And <\/div>\n
that has a fascination for sure.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Our political life cannot compare.   Boring.  Nice.  The Prime Minister<\/div>\n
has to take a leak.  The school staff worry he might be asked a rude<\/div>\n
question.  The  Prime  Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, responds to an invitation<\/div>\n
by Grade Ten students.   So ordinary.  So nice.  No apologies.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
You want to know something I suspected?  I do not think many of<\/div>\n
my students knew whether Trudeau was a Liberal or a Conservative.<\/div>\n
There was no big difference.  And that\u2026that makes all the difference.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
Sept. 29, 2020<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Begin forwarded message: From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> Subject: Fwd: EPISODE 129 I HAVE TO TAKE A LEAK…PM TRUDEAU VISIT TO PCI Date: September 30, 2020 at 11:29:52 PM EDT To: Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>, Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>, John Wardle <john.t.wardle@gmail.com> Begin forwarded message: From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> Subject: EPISODE 129 I HAVE TO TAKE A LEAK…PM […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5929\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}