Thanks to everyone for the generous response. I wasn't sure there'd be an appetite for this topic, or for me writing about me. But it was an important time for me, on top of being an important time in general.
What a read. On the referendum, on journalism, and on life.
Paul, j’ai une liste mentale de gens que je rêverais d’avoir à un barbecue pour entendre toutes leurs histoires : Chantal Hébert, Sébastien Bovet, feu Jean Lapierre. Vous venez de vous ajouter à cette liste. :)
Thank you Paul. This article rekindled memories of a very anxious October in my life watching with interest, concern and dread from Alberta.
And now your line from then . . . "Detailed arguments about political arrangements don’t go far here, because many Mercier residents, like many voters everywhere, have a shaky knowledge of politics and no patience for it." . . . . could unfortunately, and sadly, be applied across this great province of Alberta in many locations. Not only do the latent separatists/Republicans/APP/TBA Smith fans not know, they have no desire to explore any perspective other than the one our Premier feeds them regularly like fresh meat to hungry wolves.
Canada's unofficial poet laureate of politics at his best. Watching Quebec polls and wondering if we'll see another referendum before too long, how social media will affect its outcome, and whether foreign interference will become a factor...
Worth the price of admission: The girlfriend would dump me just after Christmas for the guy she ended up marrying. “I’m glad you focussed all that dark energy on the referendum instead of on me,” she said.
Paul Wells, master of dark energy.
What a great read. Try not to turn this into a book. I hear the ROI is horrifying.
Incredibly interesting piece. Thank for sharing all of this. For my part, I was involved with the ad agency Ouï-dire that managed the Yes campaign as the media strategist. You understand how I was sad by the end of the day. 55K votes ... I hope I will see another referendum soon, that I will be able to vote (I'm too old now to be actively involved) and that Québec will finally win its independance. Anyways, it has been a hell of ride and it was good to remember it while reading you. Thanks again.
Yes, among other things as well. The ad people involved in this project were all quite fond of politics, before, I believe, being nationalists. Still, as ad people we know our place and role. We can ask, dicuss and reflect on ad strategy but decisions on the politics are left to politicians. I also had the opportunity to be part of the leadership team for both 2018 and 2022 campaign for CAQ and again, we knew to keep our place. In all cases, we know perfectly well that the ad campaign plays only a role in the success (or not) of how voting results are obtained. Still, for the people I know, it remains a passion to mingle in this territory unlike anything else. I can only imagine it's the very same for you. Thanks again.
Le monde a changé. Le monde a nous laisse arrière. Aujourd'hui une voté pour le Oui où le Non, ne change pas les forcés qui dépasser le Monde. Aujourd'hui " The winds of change " est plus comme une Hurricane.
Je suis une Nationaliste Canadien puis a la meme temps une Nationaliste Québécois.
Petetre vous trouvé cette position absurde ou incompréhensible, mais pour une Anglais née a Little Burgundy, avec des racine Irlandais, et moitié de ma famille Quebecois, ca c'est ma réalité. La réalité de mes enfants, petite enfants( canadien grec et canadien salvadorien)
What I also remember is Chretien's horror at the close call and beating himself up for not understanding what was going on in his own province.
I think one of the great truths in your article is that most citizens vote based on emotion, and a modicum of information. Is that the base on which our democracy rests? I think the answers is 'yes'. However I also note that a small but growing segment of the population is taking an interest and saving the day.
If we could just put as much energy into political issues as we do researching batting statistics, we would be okay.
This is terrific! I was in Beijing for all of this, listening to the results on a shaky connection to the CBC, and freaking out at how close it was. It seemed all of Canada hung in the balance. This piece gives me a real sense of the campaign, and how worrisome it was for the NO side...something i was unable to tap into so far away in China's capital...
Hell of a read Paul. Just incredible writing. Thank you so much. My youngest daughter thinks she might want to be a journalist. My immediate reaction was, well, as you might expect. But I’ve forwarded her your post because there’s no better inspiration than this.
It was autumn of 1988 and I had just been to a speech at the University of Manitoba by then-private citizen Jean Chretien. Among us friends we all agreed that he would some day make a fine Prime Minister. The Referendum made me re-think that proposition. Chretien was never the same after that. He became a mere manager jumping from crisis to crisis to crisis (APEC, tainted-blood, debt crisis), handling each with varying degrees of success (or "not failure").
I see no parallels here today in Alberta. The separatist movement, if you could call it that, is represented by several groups, none with any serious name recognition. None have a leader with a household name (I don't consider Smith and her UCP to be separatists.) Things could change, but I suspect a young contemporary Alberta version of Paul Wells is currently not too worried about such things (he or she must surely be more worried about the health of their chosen profession).
Thanks to everyone for the generous response. I wasn't sure there'd be an appetite for this topic, or for me writing about me. But it was an important time for me, on top of being an important time in general.
Wow.
What a read. On the referendum, on journalism, and on life.
Paul, j’ai une liste mentale de gens que je rêverais d’avoir à un barbecue pour entendre toutes leurs histoires : Chantal Hébert, Sébastien Bovet, feu Jean Lapierre. Vous venez de vous ajouter à cette liste. :)
Keep up the good work.
One of your best, Paul.
Vacationed in Uzbekistan last year and feel the need to rise to the defense of its hotels.
Thank you Paul. This article rekindled memories of a very anxious October in my life watching with interest, concern and dread from Alberta.
And now your line from then . . . "Detailed arguments about political arrangements don’t go far here, because many Mercier residents, like many voters everywhere, have a shaky knowledge of politics and no patience for it." . . . . could unfortunately, and sadly, be applied across this great province of Alberta in many locations. Not only do the latent separatists/Republicans/APP/TBA Smith fans not know, they have no desire to explore any perspective other than the one our Premier feeds them regularly like fresh meat to hungry wolves.
I came to the comments to write something similar.
The "streeters" on Mount Royal can be found in Alberta today no doubt.
Canada's unofficial poet laureate of politics at his best. Watching Quebec polls and wondering if we'll see another referendum before too long, how social media will affect its outcome, and whether foreign interference will become a factor...
Lovely, Paul.
Worth the price of admission: The girlfriend would dump me just after Christmas for the guy she ended up marrying. “I’m glad you focussed all that dark energy on the referendum instead of on me,” she said.
Paul Wells, master of dark energy.
What a great read. Try not to turn this into a book. I hear the ROI is horrifying.
Incredibly interesting piece. Thank for sharing all of this. For my part, I was involved with the ad agency Ouï-dire that managed the Yes campaign as the media strategist. You understand how I was sad by the end of the day. 55K votes ... I hope I will see another referendum soon, that I will be able to vote (I'm too old now to be actively involved) and that Québec will finally win its independance. Anyways, it has been a hell of ride and it was good to remember it while reading you. Thanks again.
I've always wondered… were you influenced by the Chilean referendum campaign a few years earlier?
Yes, among other things as well. The ad people involved in this project were all quite fond of politics, before, I believe, being nationalists. Still, as ad people we know our place and role. We can ask, dicuss and reflect on ad strategy but decisions on the politics are left to politicians. I also had the opportunity to be part of the leadership team for both 2018 and 2022 campaign for CAQ and again, we knew to keep our place. In all cases, we know perfectly well that the ad campaign plays only a role in the success (or not) of how voting results are obtained. Still, for the people I know, it remains a passion to mingle in this territory unlike anything else. I can only imagine it's the very same for you. Thanks again.
Désolées Normand.
Not in your lifetime, or mine.
Le monde a changé. Le monde a nous laisse arrière. Aujourd'hui une voté pour le Oui où le Non, ne change pas les forcés qui dépasser le Monde. Aujourd'hui " The winds of change " est plus comme une Hurricane.
Je suis une Nationaliste Canadien puis a la meme temps une Nationaliste Québécois.
Petetre vous trouvé cette position absurde ou incompréhensible, mais pour une Anglais née a Little Burgundy, avec des racine Irlandais, et moitié de ma famille Quebecois, ca c'est ma réalité. La réalité de mes enfants, petite enfants( canadien grec et canadien salvadorien)
Cest notre réalité est vous aussi.
L'espoir demeure un moteur puissant dans la vie de plusieurs, dont la mienne. 🙂
Brilliant writing. I would love to read more memoir pieces.
What I also remember is Chretien's horror at the close call and beating himself up for not understanding what was going on in his own province.
I think one of the great truths in your article is that most citizens vote based on emotion, and a modicum of information. Is that the base on which our democracy rests? I think the answers is 'yes'. However I also note that a small but growing segment of the population is taking an interest and saving the day.
If we could just put as much energy into political issues as we do researching batting statistics, we would be okay.
Terry Patten
PS: Thank you for this article!!!
This is terrific! I was in Beijing for all of this, listening to the results on a shaky connection to the CBC, and freaking out at how close it was. It seemed all of Canada hung in the balance. This piece gives me a real sense of the campaign, and how worrisome it was for the NO side...something i was unable to tap into so far away in China's capital...
Hell of a read Paul. Just incredible writing. Thank you so much. My youngest daughter thinks she might want to be a journalist. My immediate reaction was, well, as you might expect. But I’ve forwarded her your post because there’s no better inspiration than this.
This was another piece of great work. Thanks, Paul.
It was autumn of 1988 and I had just been to a speech at the University of Manitoba by then-private citizen Jean Chretien. Among us friends we all agreed that he would some day make a fine Prime Minister. The Referendum made me re-think that proposition. Chretien was never the same after that. He became a mere manager jumping from crisis to crisis to crisis (APEC, tainted-blood, debt crisis), handling each with varying degrees of success (or "not failure").
I see no parallels here today in Alberta. The separatist movement, if you could call it that, is represented by several groups, none with any serious name recognition. None have a leader with a household name (I don't consider Smith and her UCP to be separatists.) Things could change, but I suspect a young contemporary Alberta version of Paul Wells is currently not too worried about such things (he or she must surely be more worried about the health of their chosen profession).
Thanks for the look inside.
Boy, what a read. Glad I resubscribed.