By Mary MacKay
The Guardian
A father is a man who answers to many names.
But whether it's pop, pa, dad, daddy or any other term of paternal endearment, his impact on his child's life is profound, sometimes more than even he could imagine.
In honour of this Father's Day, The Guardian asked a number of well-known Prince Edward Islanders to talk about their fathers - the biggest influence he had on their lives, the most valuable lesson he taught them and their most treasured memory of dear old dad.
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Daughter: Barbara Hagerman, P.E.I.'s lieutenant-governor.
Father: The late Harvey Oliver of Hartland, N.B., former newspaper linotype operator.
Biggest influence/most valuable lesson: "I think it had to do with integrity. He was a person that didn't believe in gossip and things like that. There were other people who were gossipy and my father would always say, 'Do you know that for sure?' "
Most treasured memory: "There are so many but I think the most treasured one was in our church there was a junior choir and a senior choir. And if you were a really good singer you were allowed to go into the senior choir early. When I was 13 I was allowed to go into senior choir and my dad sang in the senior choir, too. So then we could go to choir together and we ended up singing duets. That was really nice."
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Son: Lennie Gallant, award-winning P.E.I. songwriter/performer.
Father: George Gallant of Rustico, truck driver and self-taught carpenter.
Biggest influence: "When I was growing up . . . Mom and Dad and a bunch of their friends would be rehearsing concerts, skits and small plays that my mother would write. And they would be putting on these shows in various community halls all around to raise money for some charity or cause. That's where I first got on stage . . . playing guitar at these benefit concerts."
Most valuable lesson: "I would say, just by example, to be honest and to keep your word. To be straight with people is probably the thing that I learned best from him."
Most treasured memory: "(At age 11) sitting in a small pond in the middle of Prince Edward Island at six o'clock on the morning with the sun coming up fishing trout, just us there, and the mosquitoes. And remembering that as probably being the most peaceful, most comforting time I can remember. And then frying up the trout on an open fire afterwards, I still remember the taste and how amazing that was and I don't think I've ever tasted anything that good since."
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Son: Pat Binns, former P.E.I. premier, leader of the opposition.
Father: Stan Binns, retired businessman from Lloydminster, Alta.
Biggest influence: "He was just a solid example for me, he worked hard, he was community-minded, he was good family man. He provided a strong role model and that was important to me."
Most valuable lesson: "Respect for others - that everyone should be listened to and appreciated."
Most treasured memory: "I can't think (of just) one time but it was the fishing trips - camping and fishing out on the lake (in Northern Saskatchewan). Just time together when there weren't other distractions. That was time we had together.
Son: Brad Richards, NHL superstar.
Father: Glen Richards, lobster fisherman, Murray Harbour
Biggest influence: "My life obviously revolves around hockey right now, and my dad taught me the game and basically played hockey with me every chance he could. Obviously pretty much everything I have in life is owed to how he taught me the game of hockey because this is what I do now."
Most valuable lesson: "He's still teaching me lessons today and they're all valuable. I know growing up everything that I did and my sister (Paige) did had to be done with a proper work ethic, there was never any horsing around. If it was going to be done, if you were going to do anything, you were going to do it right. He never put pressure on us to be the best at anything, but it was just going to be done with all we had to give. He still brings that out in me today."
Most treasured memory: "Having my dad and my mom (Delite) on the ice when I won the Stanley Cup was the greatest thrill I could probably ever imagine with my parents."
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Daughter: Teresa Doyle, Island entertainer
Father: The late Jimmy Doyle, mixed farmer, Alberry Plains.
Biggest influence: "As I heard Arlo Guthrie say one time in an interview 'Most of your musical education happens before the age of five,' and that certainly would have been the case with me. (My father) did mouth music, which is singing fiddle tunes, 'jigging,' or 'lilting' as they like to call it in Ireland. He sang fiddle tunes. . . He called that jigging, and in Ireland they call it 'lilting.' He was kind of a repository of fiddle tunes. All the fiddlers knew and respected him for the wealth of tunes that he knew. "
Most valuable lesson: "Not to be judgmental. He was probably the most non-judgmental person I've ever met. It didn't matter who I brought home, everybody got treated the same.
Most treasured memory: "I had already moved out. I was spending my summers in the Yukon but one summer I was very late going . . . , he had a mare that was about to foal. I stayed home till his birthday, July 11, and he came and got me out of bed because the mare had had the foal. He was so pleased that this foal was born. He loved music, he loved people and he loved horses."
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Son: Wade MacLauchlan, UPEI president.
Father: The late Harry MacLauchlan, legendary Island businessman.
Biggest influence: "My father's greatest influence on me was his optimism. He was well known for his trademark expression: 'It's a Great Day.' This was not just a greeting, or a point of view. It was a creed. He truly believed that every single thing in life, and every moment, was a gift. He even believed in embracing setbacks, including another trademark expression: 'Every knock is a boost.' "
Most valuable lesson: "My cousin and I peddled newspapers from the age of 10, selling papers to tourists and summer residents at Stanhope. It was a fair-sized operation, selling several hundred papers per day and handling on order of $200/week, which is amazing when you consider that we were selling The Guardian for seven cents and The Patriot for five. Dad's only intervention was his advice to read the paper before selling it. In other words, the most important thing in business was to know what you're talking about.
Most treasured memory: "There are lots of 'Harry' stories. But the moments that stand out are the simple times talking with Dad at home in the kitchen or driving around in his truck. He was an uncomplicated, smart, exceptionally happy human being. What always came through in those times together were his extraordinary knowledge of Prince Edward Island, and his passionate, good-humoured sense of people and place."
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Daughter: Sen. Catherine Callbeck, former P.E.I. premier.
Father: The late Ralph Callbeck, businessman, community leader
Biggest influence: "Dad's biggest influence was his dedication and service to his family, community and church. He participated in all that was going on in the surrounding areas, and always contributed his talents. His work ethic and good example served as a role model to me."
Most valuable lesson: "Dad's most valuable lesson to me could be summed up in saying 'Do your best where ever you are and in whatever you do.' He was a man of courage and uplifting spirit, and he lived by his faith."
Most treasured memory: "Some of my most treasured memories of Dad are the Sunday afternoon drives when we visited our extended family."
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Son: Dave "Eli" MacEachern, Olympic gold medal bobsledder.
Father: J.J. MacEachern, retired Canada post worker.
Biggest influence: "I learned from my status in my family, being the baby of 11, that I was going to be on my own. The one thing my father taught me was he was going to feed me and the rest was up to me. And it turned out to be not a bad lesson because I consider that self-reliance was my key to success in my three Olympics."
Most valuable lesson: The best lesson I learned from both my parents was that nothing in life is free and you have to go out and fight for everything. That's pretty much what I do every day and I teach my children the same thing.
Most treasured memory: "I guess because I lived away for so long when I won my Olympic gold medal I actually saw video footage of my dad watching my Olympic gold medal (win) . . . . (The look on his face) wasn't because 'Hey, my son just won a gold medal!' It was more like 'Holy s**t, that's my son!' "
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Son: Regis Duffy, P.E.I. businessman.
Father: The late Earl Duffy, First World War veteran, Kinkora farmer.
Biggest influence: "He didn't have much education but he had kind of a multi-skill set in terms of doing things around the farm. . . . (And) he was kind of amenable to discussion with his kids, which was kind of unusual back in those days. He would at least sit down and discuss things. We always thought that we could influence him - that was a kid's point of view of course."
Most valuable lesson: "I think the importance of community service because he was actively involved in that himself. Kinkora was kind of a special community because the church and schools were a very high priority."
Most treasured memory: "He was very fond of Irish literature, actually, even though he didn't have much education. Of course being in England during the First World War. He and his brother (Clair Duffy) went to Ireland every chance they got. It was unclear whether it was the Irish women or the landscape or just what the main attraction to the country was. It was just a love of Irish literature probably."
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Daughter: Shelley Ward, president of UPSE, P.E.I.'s largest union.
Father: Tom King, North River, general manager of Sherwood BMR.
Biggest influence: "The biggest influence that my father has bestowed on me is that I can achieve anything that I set my mind to and never let anything step in my way. Everyone has barriers in life when trying to achieve their goals but from my father I have learned that (with) patience, perseverance and determination you can achieve anything in life."
Most valuable lesson: "The biggest lesson (my father taught) me is to be open and honest. By instilling this in me I believe that I have been able to gain reciprocal respect from others. I have learned that if you tell people the truth, although it may not be what one wants to hear, you will have gain more respect from people than you would by giving people false hope."
Most treasured moment: "I really do not have just one most treasured moment because I feel that I am extremely blessed to have such a caring and patient father . . . I cherish each and every day that I spend with him."
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Daughter: Kara Grant, Olympian pentathlete.
Father: Danny Grant, Stratford, teacher.
Biggest influence: "My dad always encouraged me to work toward different things. He always believed that school was really important and he basically gave me a feeling that I had the tools to succeed at whatever I wanted to do."
Most valuable lesson: "My dad always taught us not to waste our money and that the value of a dollar was very important. . . . (Because of that) I've always been careful with my money and my time and . . . I've had the opportunity to do a lot of different things in my life because I was able to plan to be able to do these things."
Most treasured memory: "Seeing (my father and family) in Athens (Summer Olympics 2004), if I had to pick one,
it would probably be that.
I've travelled all over the world to dozens of countries and they were never able to come with me . . . . Athens was only the second time they'd ever seen me compete in pentathalon."
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Daughter: Rose Cousins, Island singer/songwriter.
Father: Winston Cousins, farmer, Park Corner.
Biggest influence: "He is a well-educated, hard working man and set a good example for me. He has a passion for what he loves and a love for this Island. He has influenced me to work to my potential and be strong and independent."
Most valuable lesson: "He has taught me the value of hard work and responsibility and he also has taught me how to belly laugh and travel and that life needs a lot of all of these things."
Most treasured memory: "I have a million amazing memories with my Dad . . . and who knows if my 'fave' one has happened yet. I adore all of the memories I have of swimming with him at Cousins' Shore. We still do that and I hope we always will."
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Daughter: LPGA player Lorie Kane.
Father: Jack Kane, golf consultant, Charlottetown.
Biggest influence: "The biggest influence my dad has had on me would be the introduction into golf. Dad took up the game later in his life. Had Dad not played I'm not sure I would have."
Most valuable lesson: "My dad always expressed to us as kids and even as adults that you finish what you start and to leave what ever you were doing better than you found it. For me that was sports and not just golf, all the teams I played on in school."
Most treasured memory: "What's a lot of fun for me seeing him as a grandfather! When we were growing up he was very busy with UPEI hockey. Dad is spending the time he missed with myself and my sisters, with his grandkids, teaching them how to play the games and respect what life gives you. That says it all - my father instilled in us the value of respect."
