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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Gerrard regrets glitch about GPHS invite
Liberal leader Dr. Jon Gerrard told me this morning that he regrets not taking part in a now-cancelled River Heights riding town hall at Grant Park High School.
Gerrard said that due to a ‘glitch’ in his campaign, he only heard about the request Wednesday night to take part in the all-candidates’ debate before senior students, weeks after a teacher had first started sending a series of invitations to Gerrard’s campaign.
"We dropped the ball on this one," said an aide to Gerrard.
Gerrard said he loves talking to students, and would certainly have gone had he been aware of it.
The teacher called it off, telling other candidates that he’d waited too long to hear back from Gerrard. Rosh Hashanah had arrived, and it was impossible to find a time that everyone could make.
In other election stuff, I got a call at home Wednesday evening, this time from a human being.
He wanted to tell me about Marty Morantz, the Tory candidate in River Heights. I know who Marty is, I interrupted, even though I’m not sure I’ve ever met him.
In that case, said my caller, can Marty count on your vote?
No, said I, in my job I never tell anyone which way I’m voting.
The campaign worker then named my wife, but said they don’t know who I am, and asked for my name to be added to their records.
Nope, I responded, if your list doesn’t have me (I’ve only lived in the house 23 years and voted in umpteen elections), then I’m not going to supply it.
Yes, I was cranky.
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About Nick Martin
Nick Martin is the old bearded guy at the back of the newsroom, the most experienced reporter at the Winnipeg Free Press, having started his career in Ontario in 1971.
He’s been covering education for the Free Press since the spring of 1997, after decades primarily covering municipal politics, including a four-year stint at the Ontario legislature for the London Free Press.
Nick moved to Manitoba in 1988 with his Winnipeg-born wife, who is a professor at the University of Manitoba. They have two kids, both of whom graduated from Grant Park High School: son Chris and daughter Gillian.
Nick has won a national journalism award from the Canadian Association of University Teachers, two Manitoba Human Rights Journalism awards, and the Ontario Reporters Association investigative award.
Nick is a long-distance runner, having finished and survived 18 marathons and 15 half-marathons and 30-kilometre races, and having (barely) survived 10 years as an outdoor and indoor soccer coach.
Nick became a soccer referee in 2007, delighting in his 60s in outrunning 16-year-olds and keeping his distance from obstreperous coaches and parents.
Nick and his wife have discovered a mutual love for kayaking at their Whiteshell cottage, and are both regulars at the Reh-Fit Centre. They hold season tickets to both the Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Warehouse, and as empty nesters, have rediscovered the joys of an active winter vacation.
A native of Jarrow-on-Tyne, England, Nick is a member of the Toon Army as a Newcastle United supporter, and a proud citizen of Leafs Nation.
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