Hardball with Chris
Matthews - the 2005 Churchill Society Dinner
By Charles Anderson
Volume
18 Issue 1 Spring 2006
The 2005 Churchill Society Annual Dinner was a glittering
and glamorous affair at Toronto's Four Seasons hotel. In his nationally
syndicated column, journalist Allan Fotheringham commented that the
dinner was one of the two highlights of the fall social calendar in
Toronto. It was also a dinner of firsts: the first at the splendid Four
Seasons Hotel, the first on a Saturday evening and the first to be
telecast on Rogers Cable television and on CPAC. Many attendees enjoyed
the evening so much that they watched it again over one of the
rebroadcasts.
The Society's guest speaker was Chris
Matthews, the world-reknowned TV journalist and political analyst. He
addressed the "The Ten Winning Principles of Winston
Churchill" and the lessons they hold for today's political leaders.
His comments were both entertaining and insightful.
We were also fortunate to have the CBC's
chief correspondent, Peter Mansbridge, introduce Chris Matthews.
Mansbridge shared insights about the relationship between television
journalists and his great respect for Matthews. To the audience's
delight, Mansbridge also spoke about his father's wartime service,
including the late-night telephone enquiries the elder Mansbridge would
receive from Prime Minister Churchill about casualty reports from Bomber
Command. The personal anecdotes had a profound impact on the audience.
The 2005 recipient of the Churchill
Society Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy was
the Hon. Allan Lawrence. Lawrence was introduced by John O'Toole, the
M.P.P. for Durham, who commented on the honouree's inspirational
dedication to his community and country. Lawrence then spoke of his
great love of Parliament and the parliamentary system. His career serves
as a sterling example to the next generation of political leadership in
Canada.
Hundreds of Churchill Society members,
guests and friends took in the annual dinner, including former
lieutenant-governor Hal Jackman, author Ron Cohen, television journalist
Kathleen Matthews, MPP Adam Zimmer and noted pundit Allan Fotheringham.
