TORONTO – A former colleague, now deceased, friend of mine would come to Toronto, often. Because, in his words, for business reasons “if it did not exist, we would have to invent it”. The city is a meeting place for people who “make things happen”, who report the outcomes, distinguish between what is desirable or not and who promote the positives as a natural outcome of human engagement – economic and cultural. It is a true “hub”. The city once had a reputation as “Toronto the Good”, and it was not simply because of the number of churches.
In the spirit of noblesse oblige, the Toronto-based organization Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) hosted its annual fundraising gala, featuring a live interview by the inimitable Lisa La Flamme with former Prime Minister the Right Honourable Jean Chretien. At ninety-two, Mr. Chretien was his usual incomparable self: folksy, unvarnished and to the point.
A classy touch for a programme purposed with seeking accountability, accuracy, transparency from decision makers world-wide whose conduct impacts on civil and human rights, as we see them. I served with Mr. Chretien for twelve years. His “corporate memory” of the facts was consistent with my own and the narrative that emerged provided an informative blend of “entertainment” and “lessons” – people got their money’s worth.
Other intervenors and presentations concentrated on the mandate of the JHR: lifting the veil cast over abuses, where they occur, and, what trained journalists do to mitigate them. Be it in Central/South America, Africa, the Greater Middle East, Asia or indeed among North America’s Indigenous communities, the Fifth Estate can play a positive role. That it does so is not without risk; last year, 112 journalists paid the ultimate price.
The event, in part, served to acknowledge the service they, and their colleagues among the guests, provide to the overall goal of improving the human condition. The presence of several high-profile political personalities from all three levels of government showed support for such initiatives as well as underlined the significance of political (nonpartisan) involvement. In that regard, the attendance of Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont underscored the value that Political Institutions lend to such noble initiatives.
The room was filled with individuals who embodied corporate heft and others whose talent lies with keeping the flicker of hope alive with their “power of the pen”. Thanks to Paul Deegan, a consummate former government relations executive for BMO, the Corriere Canadese was also invited. Mr. Deegan is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of News Media Canada, on the board of directors of Journalists for Human Rights and chairs its gala committee.
