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From the mouths of dads: The best, and worst, advice prominent Winnipeggers remember

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 06/17/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

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Police Chief Keith McCaskill (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

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Steven Fletcher (CP)

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Mayor Sam Katz

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Steven Schipper with playwright Niki Landau

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Paul LaPolice at home with his family

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Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Philip S. Lee

FATHER knows best wasn't just a hit comedy show on radio and television back in the day.

It's also a phrase that sums up the paternal pearls of wisdom that come when a man gains entry in the dad club.

And so on this Father's Day, the Free Press asked a number of prominent Winnipeggers for the best bit of wisdom they ever got from their dad -- along with some advice they probably shouldn't have listened to:

KEITH MCCASKILL, WINNIPEG POLICE CHIEF

Best advice: "My father was a police officer, the chief of police of St. James-Assiniboia. Growing up, what he regularly preached to myself and my brother is you've always got to treat people with respect and get to know them as best as you possibly can, because, obviously, with co-operation and getting to know people you get a lot more things done. But the most important thing was to treat people with respect. And he drilled that into us regularly."

Bad advice: "I'm sure there was advice he gave me that was not good but I can't remember any of it -- it's all positive stuff now because of who he was. I can't think of anything negative. There probably was but I can't think of it."

STEVEN FLETCHER, TORY MP

Best advice: "My dad didn't provide advice. He demonstrated through his own actions and conduct on what one should do. He is an awesome father and good Canadian. He worked hard in his profession and when he is not doing that he is focused on his family. If I have the opportunity to be even a fraction of a father to my kids as my father has been to me and my siblings I will consider my life a success. Furthermore, I did not appreciate the silent advice until my late teens.

Worst advice: Dad and I used to go on wilderness canoe trips in the glorious Great Canadian Shield. We would often be on the water late looking for campsites because Dad would say "let's keep going, there is a better campsite around the bend." There was never a better campsite. I have spent many a night in beaver bog and muskeg. It was special and memorable because I was with my dad.

SAM KATZ, WINNIPEG MAYOR

Best advice: "Get an education and you can accomplish anything."

Worst advice: "My father never gave bad advice."

STEVEN SCHIPPER, ROYAL MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Best advice: "Treat women with respect."

Bad advice: "You can't go into the theatre; do you think we come from Hollywood?"

PAUL LAPOLICE, BLUE BOMBERS HEAD COACH:

Best advice: "I guess one of the best things was the time I was offered the Toronto Argonauts (quarterbacks coach) job and I remember talking to my dad about it and I was unsure whether I should take the job because I had a good gig going and was probably going to be the next head coach at the college I was at... And he said 'So what? You can always go back to Div III football'... And that was obviously great advice from my father."

Bad advice: "Bad advice? Not that I can think of. I probably just didn't listen."

PHILIP S. LEE, MANITOBA'S LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR

BEST ADVICE: Whatever you do, do a holistic job and do not leave anything unfinished.

BAD ADVICE: Everything my father told me was positive and for my well-being. I don't believe there was any bad advice given by him.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 17, 2012 A1

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