Despite flashes of good journalism coming from writers such as Andrew Waugh, John Chilibeck or Adam Huras, the editorial stance of the Telegraph-Journal is every bit as stodgy as it was when that newspaper was part of the Irving press.

Many persons of a certain age experienced a time of Sixties-style youthful radicalism that evolved over the years as they looked for other, more immediate and personal ways to work for the common good. 

Such was the case for Ferne Cristall, an amazing woman who died of cancer last spring and who engaged in an incredible life of kindness in the community through her large family, immigrants, students or simply people in need of her help.

This writer had the privilege of attending the warm and grateful Celebration of Life for Ferne in Peterborough, Ontario last Saturday. 

At the celebration, a young Syrian immigrant to Canada, Sidra Abdullah, summed up Cristall’s approach to living and helping others: “From the very first day we arrived in Canada, Ferne was there. She stepped into our lives with open arms and a heart full of warmth, ready to help with anything and everything we needed.

“No matter what it was, Ferne showed up, ready to lend a hand, offer love, and make life in Canada easier for my family and me. 

“She became so close to us that even a day or two without seeing or hearing from her felt like something was missing. That is how deeply she mattered to us,” said Sidra.

The winner of six Stanley Cups for the Montreal Canadiens, Dryden, 78, died of cancer on Sept. 5. In his first memorable season in the NHL, he was called up to the team and won his first Cup before he had even completed his rookie year.
 
Then, before he had to and at the peak of his game, Dryden retired from paying hockey in in his early thirties.
 
All those of a certain age can remember the 1972 Russia-Canada Summit Series. Nervous nationals of this country were on edge because Canada’s dominance of “our game” was being challenged by nations like Russia, with their fast-skating and ingenious passing of the puck.
 
This writer was in second year at Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. at the time of the Summit series. Students crowded into the unlit gloom of a basement common room to watch the games on a back-and-white television. Like most Canadians we were disgusted by the domination of the Canadian team by the Russians in the games in Canada.
 
This prompted the great centre, Phil Esposito, to scold the booing fans and the sceptical media for their response to those early games. “I am completely disappointed…we play because we love our country,” Esposito said in a passionate speech which ignited the whole country and turned the series around.

In a world filled with self-interest, hatred, greed and billionaire-worship, Come From Away is a wonderful interlude of kindness, generosity, modesty, joie-de- vivre and deep artistic talent.

This was not the Broadway production. It was at the impressive Kira amphitheatre in Saint Andrews, N.B. with an almost completely all-New Brunswick cast.

Thunderstorms had hit the local area earlier in the day and it appeared that the evening show on August 30 could not go ahead. But then, by a miraculous transformation, the heavens cleared, and the show was on with a lucky double rainbow overhead.

Just about everyone knows the real events on which Come From Away is based. The 911 attacks in New York had occurred and all flights were grounded. As the first available airport in North America, flights from Europe and beyond were obliged to land in Gander, Newfoundland and there the hearts and homes of the citizens of this small community opened, along with every available school, community centre and warehouse. Everything from food to diapers were provided to passengers, with no one holding out a hand for money.

Setting the mood, the packed audience at Kira was serenaded with the familiar refrains of the Nfld. band Great Big Sea. All hands were on deck, including Brad Henderson, Managing Director of Kingsbrae Gardens and former Mayor of Saint Andrews, who was squeegeeing the stage after the recent rain.

The performance began with an emotional and fast-paced number, the actors successfully speaking and singing with authentic Newfoundland accents, despite the fact that no members of the cast are Newfoundlanders.