The Queen in Canada
Sir: You may be tired of the subject by now, but I would like to express the anger of Canadians and especially Ontarioans, at the outrageous reports in the British press, especially the Daily Express, of Canada's rudeness to the Queen. As an old, old newspaperman Who has covered all the royal tours of
Canada from the early twenties by the Prince of Wales up to the present, I have never seen a more warm and truly joyous reception of royalty than the one just concluded. On all royal tours of Canada there invariably accompanied the British press delegation a fair number of pretentious and decidedly snooty Englishmen of the type who unquestionably contributed to the decay of the British Empire and the Commonwealth. But Miss, Mrs, or Ms Jean Rook's incredible performance beats all. If I were a younger man, I would suggest that her publishers send her over to Toronto dressed in Wimbledon shorts; and give me a tennis raquet; and I would beat her ass all the way from our waterfront to the farthest environs of our great and exuberant city, to the tumultuous cheers of the multitude lining the streets.
It was utterly unforgiveable.
Gregory Mirk Room 683, King Edward Hotel, Toronto, Canada
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