1967 Fredericton Encaenia
Alumni Oration
Delivered by: Lynch, Charles
Content
"Charlie Lynch Says: Maritimes No Longer Nation’s Brain" Telegraph Journal (15 May 1967): Extract. (UA Case 67a, Box 2)
Charles Lynch, former chief correspondent at the Nuremburg War Crimes Trials and now chief of Southam News Service, doubts that the Maritimes any longer hold the reserve on brains in Canada as they did a generation ago.
Speaking to 300 alumnus of the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton Saturday, Mr. Lynch said he doubts whether the Maritimes are producing people of the same caliber of business and intellectual acumen as they once did. Does it still hold, he said, that this area is the home of the true intelligence of Canada? He suggested that it is the new Canadians – the immigrants – who have brought the present liveliness spirit, intellect and hot blood into Canadian life.
In an address entitled "My Life and Sinful Times in the Maritimes Provinces", Mr. Lynch described his 30 years in the newspaper business, from the time he began a $7 a week job on the now defunct Saint John Citizen.
In his introductory remarks, W.Y. Smith, a colleague of Mr. Lynch’s on the Citizen, described him as a man right off the front page, one who it was evident from the beginning would go to the top of his field, and one of the top rank interpreters of Canadian to Canadians.
Mr. Lynch recalled the days during the Edward VIII Abdication crises when Saint John’s two newspapers printed 13 extra editions above their regular run in a day. Such he said was the thirst for news in those days. He recalled the day Winston Churchill visited Niagara Falls during the war, his second visit in 40 years, and replied to a question as to whether the falls had changed much since his last visit: "The principle remains the same."
After five months of reporting the Nuremburg War Trials Mr. Lynch left the post because, in his words, "I found myself getting fonder of Hermann Goering than the prosecution because he was the only one in that somber room who showed any sense of humor."
During his address Mr. Lynch made references to the Canadian political scene, and the cast of politicians since Duplessis’ days in Quebec. He expressed great admiration for Prime Minister Pearson for what he called Pearson’s "fantastic" diplomatic operation during the Suez Crisis. For his suggestion that a UN peace force should step in at Suez, Mr. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. After Mr. Pearson’s entry into politics, nobody in diplomacy has ever taken his place or had the capacity to work as effectively for peace, said Mr. Lynch.
Mr. Lynch admitted that his appreciation of the Canadian political scene is far from authoritative, for he has predicted Liberal sweeps in York-Sunbury in New Brunswick and in the entire Province of Nova Scotia. One of his major boners, he said, was a prediction after J.C. Van Horne left federal politics that he would never be heard of again. That, he said, has made from realize how deeply out of touch he has allowed himself to be with Canadian political life.
Charles Lynch, former chief correspondent at the Nuremburg War Crimes Trials and now chief of Southam News Service, doubts that the Maritimes any longer hold the reserve on brains in Canada as they did a generation ago.
Speaking to 300 alumnus of the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton Saturday, Mr. Lynch said he doubts whether the Maritimes are producing people of the same caliber of business and intellectual acumen as they once did. Does it still hold, he said, that this area is the home of the true intelligence of Canada? He suggested that it is the new Canadians – the immigrants – who have brought the present liveliness spirit, intellect and hot blood into Canadian life.
In an address entitled "My Life and Sinful Times in the Maritimes Provinces", Mr. Lynch described his 30 years in the newspaper business, from the time he began a $7 a week job on the now defunct Saint John Citizen.
In his introductory remarks, W.Y. Smith, a colleague of Mr. Lynch’s on the Citizen, described him as a man right off the front page, one who it was evident from the beginning would go to the top of his field, and one of the top rank interpreters of Canadian to Canadians.
Mr. Lynch recalled the days during the Edward VIII Abdication crises when Saint John’s two newspapers printed 13 extra editions above their regular run in a day. Such he said was the thirst for news in those days. He recalled the day Winston Churchill visited Niagara Falls during the war, his second visit in 40 years, and replied to a question as to whether the falls had changed much since his last visit: "The principle remains the same."
After five months of reporting the Nuremburg War Trials Mr. Lynch left the post because, in his words, "I found myself getting fonder of Hermann Goering than the prosecution because he was the only one in that somber room who showed any sense of humor."
During his address Mr. Lynch made references to the Canadian political scene, and the cast of politicians since Duplessis’ days in Quebec. He expressed great admiration for Prime Minister Pearson for what he called Pearson’s "fantastic" diplomatic operation during the Suez Crisis. For his suggestion that a UN peace force should step in at Suez, Mr. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. After Mr. Pearson’s entry into politics, nobody in diplomacy has ever taken his place or had the capacity to work as effectively for peace, said Mr. Lynch.
Mr. Lynch admitted that his appreciation of the Canadian political scene is far from authoritative, for he has predicted Liberal sweeps in York-Sunbury in New Brunswick and in the entire Province of Nova Scotia. One of his major boners, he said, was a prediction after J.C. Van Horne left federal politics that he would never be heard of again. That, he said, has made from realize how deeply out of touch he has allowed himself to be with Canadian political life.
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