Noted in Passing: Pierre Berton

Pierre Berton (1920-2004)

Pierre Berton is dead at the age of 84. Though I wasn't necessarily a huge fan it is hard to let his death go by without comment. I first remember him from the early days of "Front Page Challenge." (He was a permanent panelist on TV's longest continuously-runing panel show which aired on the CBC from 1957-1995.) He was not only comfortable on camera, he was made for the medium. Consequently, he appeared on a whole variety of TV public affairs programs and history specials through the years. If people didn't know him by name they certainly recognized his bushy white sideburns and ever present bow tie.

A journalist and prolific writer, he did much to make Canadian history popular and accessible to Canadians during the past fifty years. He authored at least 50 books in his lifetime. He was the winner of three Governor General Awards for Non fiction and was also awarded the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. His contribution to Canadian life and culture was acknowledged in his being named as a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Unfailingly outspoken, Pierre Berton was always provocative. In contrast with many Candian public personalities he was skilled at self promotion. Nevertheless, despite his national profile, he seemed to struggle with the reality that not everyone acclaimed him and he attributed a certain amount of this to religious bigotry. At the time of the release of his book Marching As To War in 2002 he is quoted as having said, "I was hated you know. I made no secret of the fact that I was an atheist." Personally, though I did not applaud his atheism, it certainly didn't provoke me to hatred. It was his apparent egotism that dampened my enthusiasm for his public persona.

Controversial to the last, only weeks before his death he acknowedged in a Toronto Star interview that he had been an occasional marijuana user since the 1960s. Never missing an opportunity to make his point, an obviously frail, though slyly smiling, Pierre Berton made a cameo appearance on Rick Mercer's Monday Report on CBC TV to demonstrate how to roll a joint. In response to those who suggested that all this might somehow tarnish his reputation he is reported to have quipped, "... I've reached the stage in life where I don't give a damn what I say or what people think."