By Larry Powell
During his long and meaningful time here on Earth, Clare came to mean many things to many people. His life embraced family, journalism, broadcasting, activism, trade unionism and a dash of politics.
Clare’s maternal grandmother, Addy Gardner - a midwife - brought Clare into the world in her little house in Deepdale, Manitoba in 1934 - and me in 1940. The home doubled as the Deepdale Post Office, giving a whole new meaning to the term, “special delivery.”
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Clare and I pose in front of our |
birth-house in Deepdale, now crumbling into ruin.
A steam train rumbles through Deepdale in the
early days (circa 1955.) Photo by Larry.
Clare and I grew up on the small, family farm near Deepdale, where we tried to help our parents make it through some tough post-depression years.
After graduating from Grade 12, Clare worked for three broadcast outlets in Manitoba - CKX Brandon TV/radio, CJOB radio in Winnipeg and CFAR in Flin Flon.
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Clare hosts "The Mailbag Program" on CFAR. 1959.
Photo by Dana Powell. |
He would later became the part owner of a weekly newspaper in Lanigan, Saskatchewan.
Surviving family members include Clare’s son Dana, his wife Anna, Clare’s daughter Sherri Valentin, myself, my wife Rowena and Clare's former wife, Gail (with whom he maintained a unique connection 'til the end). We were shocked at his passing, of course, but perhaps not that surprised.
Clare resisted suggestions which might have helped improve his health and living conditions. After he and Gail parted, he lived and died alone in his own home, the way he obviously wanted it. With increasing degrees of difficulty, he got his own groceries and made meals, not just for himself but often for family or friends who came to visit. (His barbequed chicken and omellettes were always delicious!) He tended to his garden as best he could, and watched his beloved Blue Jays faithfully on TV. Mercifully, the Jays were on a tear when he died!
No seniors home or emergency wards for Clare! “I did it my way,” might have been a fitting theme song for him.
While being stubborn and opinionated may have sometimes tried the patience of those around him, it also served him well in his role as a “thorn in the side” of the establishment.
As a member of a local environmental group called "Clean, Green Regina," Clare once ruffled the stern decorum of city council chambers. After listening to an apologist for the chemical industry oppose a plan to ban cosmetic pesticides, he shouted from the gallery, “Don’t forget to pick up your cheque from Monsanto on your way out!”
Many years ago, he actually left a good job with Allan Blakeney's NDP government as a protest over the Premier's wage and price controls and pro-nuclear policies.
The fact Clare did not have another job to go to, did not deter him. Some may look askance at such a decision as hasty and irresponsible. I sees it differently. Clare had more integrity in his little finger than most politicians have in their entire bodies!
While failure was no stranger to him, it never deterred him, either when it came to causes which he believed in. He backed several people running for elected positions who did not win. He also defied the “old boys club” by supporting female candidates.
One was Nettie Wiebe, a former leader in the National Farmers' Union. Clare helped in her (unsuccessful) campaign to become NDP Leader in Saskatchewan. Ms. Wiebe would tell me just recently, "I have, of course, very fond memories of your brother Clare. Wonderful, smart, progressive activist and friend - and a key organizer during my run for the NDP leadership here in Saskatchewan some 25 years ago. I remember him with great fondness! He was so intelligent and progressive - a great person to have on side!!"
He also knew which side he was on in an issue which split the labour movement for years. He had no time for a political party which, while in opposition, claimed to support working people but, once elected, acted quite differently. This often found him at odds with the NDP, whether it was in Opposition, or in government.
His daughter Sherri remembers her dad as “One of the cheapest people you would ever meet – when it came to himself.” (No new clothes when used ones would do.) “But, when it came to others, he was among the most generous.”
His supported several progressive causes financially for years. They ranged from “The Suzuki Foundation” to “Clean, Green Regina” to “Briarpatch.” It's an alternative magazine which has, for years, championed the rights of the poor, the downtrodden and minorities. He devoted an amazing four decades of his life to Briarpatch, serving there as a writer, editor, board member and envelope-stuffer.
Clare also served for several of his retirement years as a volunteer disc-jockey with Regina’s community radio station, CJTR. He loved a wide variety of music, as reflected in the name of his show, Eclectic Café and in his huge collection of CDs, which he bought himself. He used to joke, “If you don’t like this song, stick around. You’re sure to like the next one better!” He worked there until about a year before he died.
Clare’s family would like to especially thank our cousin Barrie Rink, his friends Don and Carol Anderson and Ingrid Alesych for their selfless help on that fateful and very stressful day we learned of his death.
And a parting word of thanks should also go to Barb Byers and Pat Gorius…..just for being Clare’s friends and fellow football fans (the Roughriders, of course)!
If Clare is in Heaven now – if agnostics can go to heaven - I can only imagine what he’d be up to - possibly helping the angels win better wages and working conditions - maybe even leading them out on strike!
Rest in peace Dear Clare - Dad - Bro – Brother-in-Law - Uncle – Cousin - friend. We love you.
L.P.
Another tribute
Please also read this tribute in Briarpatch:
