A father decides to take his seven-year-old daughter to ‘Take a Kid to Work Day’. They arrive and everything is going well for about 10 minutes before the little girl starts to cry.
“What’s wrong,” asks the gathering crowd trying to comfort her.
“Daddy,” she wails. “Where are all the clowns you said you worked with?”
Fifty years! Wow! Seems like yesterday!
On this day (March 26) in 1975, Larry Shaben began a long and illustrious career in provincial politics when he won the Lesser Slave Lake nomination for the Progressive Conservatives.
Born in Hanna, AB March 20, 1935, his claim to fame was he was the first Muslim cabinet minister in Canada, and one of the first in North America. He held a seat in the Alberta Legislature from 1975-89, serving in many high-profile portfolios under the ruling governments of Peter Lougheed and Don Getty.
Shaben, who began his career in politics after being elected to High Prairie town council in 1970, was Minister of Utilities and Telephones and later, Minister of Housing, and Minster of Economic Development and Trade.
Shaben was also in the same aircraft that killed NDP provincial leader Grant Notley and five others Oct. 19, 1984 south of Joussard, AB. He was also the victim of a brutal assault in 1986 when he stopped to lend aid to stranded motorists.
Many, not only in High Prairie but all of Alberta, have memories of Shaben.
Shaben left us on Sept. 6. 2008.
Never let it be said the voters of Lesser Slave Lake are prejudiced!
As noted above, the riding elected a Muslim, then later the first Metis woman (Pearl Calahasen) in Alberta.
Together, they served from 1975 until 2015. Forty years, count ‘em, 40 years!
Dennis Barton, Shaben, Calahasen, Larivee, Scott Sinclair! All good people. The jury is still out on Pat Rehn, who had more than his share of controversy during his term.
Federal Conservative Leader Piere Poilievre is sliding faster in the polls than The Page used to on his Super Slider Sno-skates! Wow! Is the Page dating himself with that tidbit!
Poilievre has built his entire federal election campaign on an anti-Justin Trudeau message. Problem is, Trudeau isn’t there any longer! He faded from public view faster than a rainbow after a rain shower.
The Page has told numerous acquaintances the old political strategy is to oust its inept and bumbling leader, elect a new one, and blame all the past troubles on the old leader, claiming they have a new, fresh approach.
Voters are buying it. Yes, voters are that stupid!
And, to worsen matters, the enemy is now American President Donald Trump. It seems to make Canadians forget very quickly about the past deeds of the ruling Liberals.
Oh, how soon we forget!
And a perfect political storm for Poilievre!
A recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies, says Canadian pride is on the rise in almost every Canadian province since American President Donald Trump introduced his tariffs.
In short, 86 per cent of Canucks says they are proud to be Canadian, compared to “only” 80 per cent the previous month. Hmmm, 80 per cent is still pretty good, we’d say!
But . . . almost every province?
It seems Canadian pride took the biggest dip in Alberta (to 74 per cent from 84 per cent) and in Atlantic Canada (to 89 per cent from 91 per cent). To the west of us, in Bee Cee, pride jumped to 90 per cent from 70 per cent, and in Quebec it rose to 86 per cent from 81 per cent.
The Page has no idea why the numbers changed except it has brought more attention to Canadian products. Why the dip in Alberta but the surge in Bee Cee is interesting, except we all know they think different over in the republic.
The Page says it is still pretty good to be a Canuck!
One last item on Trump. It seems he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin discussed the idea of an American – Soviet hockey series.
This would be a huge financial success. Yankees would tune in by the millions to battle the Soviets. Money to be made by everyone, especially Trump’s pals in Manhattan.
Isn’t going to happen. With the war in Ukraine, and the world political climate barring Russia from sporting events, the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation would never sign off on this dream.
Nice try, Mr. Trump!
What did the green grape tell the purple grape?
“Breathe, you idiot!”
Kangaroos do not like it when it rains because they have to let their babies play inside!
Every 10 years, monks in the monastery were allowed to break their vows of silence. They were allowed to speak only two words. Ten years have passed since a young monk was allowed to speak.
“Food bad!” he said.
Ten years later he speaks again.
“Bed hard!”
Ten years later he speaks for a third time.
“I quit!” he tells the head monk.
“I’m not surprised,” replies the head monk. “You’ve been complaining ever since you got here!”
Have a great week!