In this issue...
• NL volunteer fire department scores coup by partnering with Archie Comics for fundraiser
• Efforts by language extremists fail
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• Royal Canadian Mint releases new $1 coin to commemorate 150th anniversary of Supreme Court of Canada
• CBC Radio's Under the Influence: Seizing pop culture moments
• Available now: The Hump Day Collection - Volume 1
• Buy them now! Acadian Recipes and More - Volumes 1, 2 & 3, and Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1
• The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night will be held on Monday, May 5
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed in the news
• Mother's Day is Sunday, May 11
• Enjoy the outdoors this winter with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
... and trivia, quotes and more!
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NL volunteer fire department scores coup by partnering with Archie Comics for fundraiser
Wow! Who would have thought that Archie Comics actually partnered with organizations for fundraising purposes - especially Canadian ones? As someone who's been involved with volunteering and fundraising for more than 30 years, I tip my hat to them!
Article excerpt: "A volunteer fire department in Newfoundland is hosting a telethon to help raise funds for new equipment over the next year. It's also getting a boost from an iconic cast of comic book characters.
The Harbour Breton Volunteer Fire Department, located on the south coast of the island, has partnered with Archie Comics to release a special edition.
'Harbour Breton just happens to be one of the most beautiful towns that I've seen here on the island. [It's] beautiful scenery down here on the south coast [and a] perfect place for Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica to visit,' Kevin Hickey, a member of the fire department, told CBC Radio's On The Go on Thursday.
The cover of the comic shows Archie, Betty and Veronica watching Jughead get rescued by local firefighters. Jughead got stuck in a tree while trying to avoid kissing a cod fish - a classic part of Newfoundland's screech-in ceremony.
'It turns out that Jughead, though his appetite is usually quite strong, didn't quite have the appetite for this,' Hickey said with a laugh."
With that said, the huge typo on the cover - should be "happened" and not "happenned" - drives me crazy. I find it hard to believe no one caught that. (Hey, it happens... but someone at Archie Comics should have caught that. Regardless, I'm still impressed.) Also, that drawing of Archie seems a bit off, too.
Read: Archie, Jughead and friends are helping raise money for a Newfoundland fire department.
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Efforts by language extremists fail
Oh for the love of God, this is why we can't have nice things - especially when bureaucrats start dictating that public expressions of pleasure at sporting events must adhere to some sort of government regulations. In this case, someone in Quebec decided that the "Go Habs Go!" (or "Go Canadiens Go!") expression needed to be purified in order to adhere to language laws if it appeared on Montreal buses.
I mean, seriously. If the word "go" sends you into bureaucratic seizures so intense that a death rattle ensues, you need to start yoga or something. Deep breaths, bureaucrats! Deep breaths!
Article excerpt: "The Quebec government has stepped in to defend the phrase “Go Habs Go!” as the provincial language watchdog takes heat for objecting to the English word “go.”
In a statement Friday, Quebec’s French-language minister said the slogan is part of 'our DNA, our identity,' and has been used for decades to support the Montreal Canadiens NHL hockey team.
'It’s a unifying expression, rooted in our history, and part of our cultural and historical specificity,' Jean-François Roberge said on the X platform. 'It’s a Québécisme and we’re proud of it!'
Roberge’s statement was meant to quell the uproar in Quebec over the Montreal transit agency’s decision to remove the expression 'Go! Canadiens Go!' from electronic signs on city buses and replace it with 'Allez! Canadiens Allez!' to show support for the hockey team’s NHL playoff run.
The change was made because Quebec’s French-language watchdog received a complaint last year about buses displaying the words 'Go! CF Mtl Go!' - a reference to Montreal’s professional soccer club. In response, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) decided to remove the word 'go' from all of its messaging."
Bureaucratic silliness at its best. Don't these people have anything better to do? Like I said... yoga!
Read: Quebec government says "Go Habs Go!" is part of province’s identity.
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Royal Canadian Mint releases new $1 coin to commemorate 150th anniversary of Supreme Court of Canada
The newest version of the Canadian $1 coin that you'll soon be finding in your pockets will be a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Article excerpt: "150 years after the Supreme Court of Canada's founding as Canada's general court of appeal, the Royal Canadian Mint has issued a $1 circulation coin commemorating this vital institution's independent role in upholding and interpreting our nation's laws and constitution, and protecting the rights and freedoms of Canadians. This coin featuring the elegant exterior of the landmark building housing the only bijural and bilingual apex court in the world, was unveiled at a ceremony held within the Supreme Court in Ottawa. It will begin circulating as of today.
'The Supreme Court of Canada is a strong pillar of Canada's democracy. Its nine independent judges decide the country's most important legal questions with fairness and integrity,' said The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada. 'We are gratified to know that as these beautiful $1 coins circulate across the country, Canadians may develop a deeper appreciation of the Supreme Court's role as guardian of our Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.'"
There's one thing I like about the Royal Canadian Mint, they're always ready to issue interesting new $1 and $2 coins. Canadian money is very aesthetically pleasing - from our banknotes to our coins. Kudos to those who make these design and commemoration decisions.
Read: The Royal Canadian Mint helps commemorate the Supreme Court of Canada's 150 years of public service with a new $1 circulation coin.
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CBC Radio's Under the Influence: Seizing pop culture moments
Last week's episode of CBC Radio's Under the Influence series with host Terry O'Reilly looked at how some brands have taken advantage of special moments in pop culture in order to market themselves in some unexpected ways.
• May 1, 2025 - Seizing The Moment. Synopsis: "This week, we look at how the marketing industry seizes pop culture moments. We’ll talk about a website that got national attention by making a bold prediction about a TV show. How A1 Steak Sauce caught the funniest - and luckiest - break. And how Pepsi grabbed a hilarious opportunity by following pizza delivery drivers." Click here to listen to the episode and click here to read the episode's website post.
Click here for the show's website and here for the show's podcast archive.
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Available now: The Hump Day Collection - Volume 1
I'm thrilled to announce that The Hump Day Collection - Volume 1 is now available for purchase through Amazon in ebook or paperback (300+ pages) format. The book contains 75 updated and revised Hump Day stories that ran for many years in a local newspaper. I've been asked many times to put these in book format, so I'm hoping you'll like it! For ebook lovers, the book is part of the Kindle Unlimited subscription-based program from Amazon. To purchase today:
• Chapters (Dieppe NB location)
• Amazon Canada: amzn.to/4gckiQX
• Amazon USA: amzn.to/3CnKfiF
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Buy them now! Acadian Recipes and More - Volumes 1, 2 & 3, and Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1
My three volumes of Acadian recipe books (English and French) and Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1 are out now and make a great addition to your recipe book library or a gift for someone else! They are available on Amazon Canada, Amazon USA and in some local retail outlets in Southeastern New Brunswick:
• Chapters (Dieppe) (Volumes 1-3, Forgotten Recipes)
• Le P'tit Coin Acadien Poutine Râpée (Bouctouche) (Volumes 1-3)
• Jean Coutu Pharmacy (Champlain Street, Dieppe) (Volumes 1-3)
• Monument-Lefebvre (Memramcook) (Volumes 1-2)
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The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night will be held on Monday, May 5
The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night of the 2024-2025 season will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, May 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only). Facebook event listing: bit.ly/3Eb41yL.
Participants may play as teams or individuals. The winning team gets 50% of the door receipts as their prize.
It is strongly suggested that participants arrive by 5:15-5:30 p.m. for a seat. Trivia begins at 6:30 p.m. sharp and is usually over by 8 p.m. Everyone welcome!
Please note that restaurant reservations are NOT available for this event. First come, first served. Limited seating of approximately 50 guests.
Participants may bring an optional non-perishable food item (box of granola bars, Kraft Dinner, cereal, etc.) for distribution at Krista Richard's Community Sports Program events, of which the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club is a sponsor. Any donations will be gratefully received and provided to Krista for distribution to her program participants (school-aged children from Moncton-area schools).
Since Rotary Trivia Nights began in 2016, the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club has donated more than $20,000 to Atlantic Wellness, Karing Kitchen, Ray of Hope Kitchen, Salvus Clinic, The Humanity Project, BGC Moncton (Moncton Boys & Girls Club), Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Project Linus - Moncton Chapter, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Children's Wish Canada and Krista Richard's Community Sports Program, among others.
The Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club gratefully acknowledges the kind and generous sponsorship of our restaurant partner, St. Louis Bar & Grill.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a no telephone rule at these events. The answers cannot be researched except among discussion with your team members.
The remaining Trivia Night schedule for 2024-2025 is as follows:
• Monday, May 26
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Trivia: Did you know?
Before Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's new Prime Minister on March 14, there was a one-hour period when there was no Prime Minister between Justin Trudeau's official resignation and the swearing-in. During that time, should it have been required, the duties of Prime Minister would have been fulfilled by the Rt. Hon. Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
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Quotes of note
• 1. "Sure, losing an election hurts, but I’ve experienced worse. And at an age when every day is precious, brooding over what might have been is self-defeating. In conceding the 1996 election, I remarked that 'tomorrow will be the first time in my life I don’t have anything to do.' I was wrong. Seventy-two hours after conceding the election, I was swapping wisecracks with David Letterman on his late-night show."
- Bob Dole (1923-2021), former U.S. senator and Republican presidential candidate in 1996 (shown in photo)
• 2. "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."
- Theodore Roosevelt
• 3. "Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters."
- Abraham Lincoln
• 4. "Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever."
- Roy T. Bennett
• 5. "Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness."
- Pearl S. Buck
• 6. "When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes."
- Erasmus
• 7. "If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'You know, we're alright. We are dang near royalty."
- Jeff Foxworthy
• 8. "When she started to play, Steinway came down personally and rubbed his name off the piano. "
- Bob Hope
• 9. "When you feel neglected, think of the female salmon, who lays 3,000,000 eggs but no one remembers her on Mother's Day."
- Sam Ewing
• 10. "Scratch a dog and you’ll find a permanent job."
- Franklin Jones
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Enjoy the outdoors this winter with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
In May, the group is walking on the Dobson Trail in Riverview with meet-up in the parking lot on Quinn Court.
In June, the walking group moves to Mapleton Park with meet-up in the Rotary Lodge parking lot off Mapleton Road.
The group meets for walks every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. New participants are always welcome! For more information, please contact Wayne Harrigan at 506-386-2187 or via email.
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About this newsletter
Brian Cormier's Weekly Update is distributed weekly from September to June. If you're reading this newsletter online and want to subscribe, please email me, fill out the subscription form on my website, or subscribe via the "Join Our Email List" button at the top of the newsletter (if you're viewing this in a browser.) This newsletter is not published in July and August and on holidays.
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