Rumours and things

Listed as one of the most influential advertising people of the century in 1983, Jerry Della Femina wrote the book all of us starting out had to read, "From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor." When asked the question, "does TVs Mad Men exaggerate?" His answer "nope."

For three seasons we have been watching hard-drinking, chain-smoking casual –sex-in-the-office lifestyle for top agency executives in the 1960s.

The rest of his answer “ if anything, it’s underplayed.”



Congratulations to Jack Whyte and his one-millionth sale in his Arthurian legend and his popular Templar Triology. His newest and final book in the Templar series is available now for Christmas giving “Order In Chaos.” The Kelowna resident has been so successful with the series and he is one of the great guys.



Ironman Penticton wants to expand its marketing for next year and they are about raise $150,000 to do so. Calgary, with its new Ironman race this past year, is the first real competition in the west for the name and the participants. It certainly seems like a good investment for the city with the people who over the year are attracted to Penticton from training time in the city to the actual race weekend. The numbers are staggering.



There are seven aircraft on the production line in Calgary as Viking Air of Victoria moves ahead with their remake of the 1966 de Havilland Twin Otter
Seaplane design. It has taken a few years to put it all together but they expect over the next few months to deliver their first plane to a long line up of customers waiting to get the new Otter in their service. These companies all over the world have the older Otter’s still flying and doing their job from people moving to freight.

Some of you won’t remember this or were not here ten years ago or simply don’t care but in a round about way that could have been happening here if you could have believed the promoter at that time. He wanted to build the de Havilland Beaver here in the old Western Star factory and although it was never explained to me how they would take the planes out to the airport for testing. We even hear stories that the company could make a runway on the back lot where they used to test trucks.

The promoters wanted the government help with staffing and training funds. It was one of those deals that had you shaking your head and wondering because in the 80s we went through the same thing with a former member of the Piper Aircraft Company who had talked some people into believing that Piper wanted to build planes here. I was at a press conference at the Eldorado Hotel as the promoters were being introduced by the politicians of the day and standing beside me in the tent was Barry LaPointe the bossman at Kelowna Flightcraft and I asked him “Can this possibly be true?” and he replied, “No way.”

But back to the real thing. Viking Series 400 Twin Otter certification work has entered the final phase towards the goal of achieving Transport Canada and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, expected in the next 90 days. David Curtis the President and CEO of the Victoria company said that the company expects to build twelve planes a year and doubling that in the future.

Viking Air owned by money people in Toronto is a real credit to Victoria and this province and the Canadian Aero Industry in general. Curtis is one solid citizen who is employing 400 in both the Victoria and Calgary plants of Viking Air.



I just noticed that today’s Sun-Rype Products have brought back an old favorite to the shelves as they repackage fresh press opalescent apple juice. The bottles brought back many memories of the product that was introduced I believe in 1947. It was packed in 48 oz tins and that had a distinct look on the store shelves. I had friends back then who were having trouble buying the product in the early 80s because it wasn’t packed in great quantities. How can you get me a case was the question? One man who wouldn’t let go until I got him two cases and that was the president of Sony Canada. He loved that juice.

I started buying it again, very healthy and a good taste.