Publicity at Caledonia's expense

By John Hardy, Tuned In
The Sachem

Columns

Feb 29, 2008

The wacky world of media is a trusty target for people and groups who want publicity. Some are worthy. Some aren't. Some are legit and truly deserving. Some are contrived and opportunistic.

It's sometimes called "shameless plugs and mentions, getting ink and airtime, photo ops" and other kinds of exposure.

By contrast, there were two, recent but juicy hometown examples.

Last week, The Sachem and The Spectator featured a fitting tribute to a remarkable hometown couple--Elaine Elliotte and Richard Carr-- the volunteer fire fighter heroes who sprang into action and rescued the nine year old girl who accidentally fell into a well, near York. The hometown couple deserved lots of credit.

Also last week, on a sunny Wednesday morning in Caledonia, The Sachem and The Spectator 'just happened' to be at the same quiet and nothing's-happening Argyle Street roadside where embattled Ontario PC leader John Tory was standing, as the story said, "with his back to a native barricade at the edge of the former Douglas Creek Estates subdivision," babbling about "lawlessness, arson, extortion, barricades and mob violence."

Unfortunately, this time the lame publicity stunt was at Caledonia's expense.

It was an ordinary, kinda nice morning in Caledonia. Absolutely no "lawlessness, arson, barricades mob violence."

Of course John Tory routinely strolls Caledonia, probably stopping-in for a trim at Don's Barber Shop, picking up some butter tarts from Jones Bakery and kibitzing with Donna over a latte and a muffin at Café Amore, doesn't he?

No? Just a coincidence that the man was at the side of the road, three publicity-grabbing days before he had to fight for his political life at the party's nasty leadership review?

Besides, if he did make a habit of dropping in to Don's, Jones Bakery or Café Amore, he (and his PR handlers) would have known that opportunistically re-hashing Caledonia's past is a pointless, hollow stunt.

The community has moved on. Life is good or, at least, getting better.

Maybe he should next consider standing in the middle of a field in Walkerton, spewing eight year old worries about toxic water.

Or stand at the end of the Pearson runway, regurgitating three year old worries about skidding off runways and airline safety.

Or stand with his back to the Plains of Abraham, ranting about bilingualism because "300 years ago, the English won."

Too bad. Some politicians limp through careers never grasping the concept that...publicity, like respect, must be earned!

John Hardy has good mornings with you on The Moose 92.9 FM