PIERRE BERTON

Like many I have turned to my library looking to re-read, or read, books that I have acquired over time. One such that popped out was by Pierre Berton called “Fast Fast Fast Relief”. I believe at one time I had collected and read most, if not all, of Berton’s books. As a child I recall him on the television show Front Page Challenge with the moderator Fred Davis. Davis was a neighbor and although I never met him he used to be our neighbourhood’s Victoria Day Weekend moderator at the annual fireworks display. I recall that our parents purchased tickets to support this fundraiser and we received a hot dog, beverage and ice cream bar in exchange. Betty Kennedy and Gordon Sinclair from radio station CFRB were regular members of that show as well.  Sinclair had a cottage in Muskoka on Acton Island and as young impudents we referred to it as ‘Action Island’ for all the white hairs who resided there.

In this book Berton rambled to include columns that first appeared in the Toronto Star. Reflecting upon his move to live in the country at Kleinberg he became fascinated and self-educated regarding the local flora and fauna and discussed a variety of topics including composting and wildflowers. At that time, circa 1962, the elms were dying. Berton talked of Amos Baker, a fifth generation Dunkard, who tapped 3000 maples and although Baker had no television or modern conveniences, he did have what we would call ‘state of the art syruping equipment. His underground storage tanks had a 7000 gallon capacity and they produced 3000 quarts of maple syrup a year and “the supply has yet to exceed the demand.”

Dunkards, by the way, were a protestant group of German origin whose movement began in 1708. They were noted for baptizing new members by immersing, or dunking.

One might wonder at Berton’s reaction if he could see his home site at Kleinberg to-day where the City of Vaughan has developed. When I think of Vaughan I see Canada’s Wonderland and Bass Pro. The McMichael Art Gallery is known for its Group of Seven presentations. I recall one visit when the last surviving member of this famous group, A.Y. Jackson, I believe, was present. As he sat there and people approached him I could only think of that birthday party scene in John Candy’s ‘The Great Outdoors’ during which the aging guest of honour died.

Fast Relief was an interesting reflective read as it was a first hand insight into a bygone era.

Photo – Wikipedia.