A Standing Ovation in the House of Commons
by Lee Hunt
All MPs from every party stood on November 23, 2023, to give Brentwood’s Member of Parliament Len Webber a standing ovation.
The occasion was news that approximately 2.4 million residents of Ontario and Nunavut have ticked a box on their tax forms to indicate that they wish to be organ and/or tissue donors. This is the result of Webber’s private member’s Bill C-210, which passed with all-party support in 2022.
Webber’s hope now is that other provinces will follow suit to allow their taxpayers to sign up on their tax forms to be organ donors.
Condolences
by Lee Hunt
A recent Calgary obituary read, “He loved gymnastics… as a young man he was able to walk on his hands at the Stampede Parade.” That was quite a claim to fame for long-time Brentwood resident Jim Nielsen who passed away on October 27, 2023.
Besides walking on his hands, Jim was talented at playing the piano, ballroom dancing, cross country skiing, travelling, doing carpentry, and biking.
Jim and his wife Christine (who died in 1984) purchased one of the earliest homes in Brentwood. I recall Jim once showing me a photo of their home – a single house surrounded by nothing but prairie and clay.
Jim’s career as a guidance counsellor took him to Crescent Heights, Queen Elizabeth, and Lord Beaverbrook.
Victor Wong, who grew up next door to Jim and Christine, recalls Jim as “very friendly” and “always willing to lend a hand”. Jim and Victor often had a “contest” to see who could get both walks shovelled first – and “Jim generally won”. Victor and his wife Marie recall Jim’s determination in singlehandedly cutting down a large poplar tree in his yard. Marie remembers, too, Jim’s great love of chocolate – and how generously he shared it with others.
We at The Bugle extend our condolences to Jim’s daughters Alison, Lisa, Sarah, their families, the extended family, plus his social companion Jean Richards-Carter.
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