ENTER “THE DUKE”

Of all the stars who visited Vancouver in the distant past, one of the biggest, in every sense of the word, was Hollywood’s John Wayne aka the Duke. At 6 foot 4 inches and brawny to boot, Wayne, whose real name was Marion Robert Morrison, was the most popular movie actor of the 20th century. He was born May 26, 1907, and began his movie career in the John Ford-directed western, Stagecoach, in 1939, playing a youthful cowboy. His way to stardom was set.

He played cops and cowboys, sailors and soldiers, young lotharios and hardened oldsters - always the lover, always the hero. He was a very proud American patriot.

He passed away on June 11, 1979 at the age of 72, converting to Catholicism on his deathbed.

Wayne was married three times, had several children and numerous lady loves. His favourite was his frequent co-star, Maureen O’Hara, who matched his strength and toughness.

When he was not starring in movies, (True Grit, The Alamo, Reap the Wild Wind, Back to Bataan, Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Rio Bravo and The Quiet Man with Maureen again) he loved sailing the West Coast and, in 1962, bought a former WW2 minesweeper, reconditioned, refurbished and renamed it Grey Goose.

One of his favourite stops along the coast every year was at the Bayshore Resort and Marina where the entire staff of the beloved Trader Vic’s, especially Stan Yip and Larry Wong, (who were awarded the Lifetime Award for Service at the hotel’s 40th anniversary) waited in anticipation. He was one big swaggering fella.

Off he’d come, happy, happy, happy, two bottles of tequila in hand, along with his celeb pals, for several days of dining (especially Green Goddess Chicken Salad) and drinking before sailing off into the sunshine.

What brought John Wayne to mind was the recent 60th anniversary of the beautiful Bayshore and the fact that his former Grey Goose yacht was found drifting in the San Juans a couple of weeks ago, according to CHEK News. I wish I could tell you more but it’s been a fruitless search to find out what happened to that boat.

But I can tell you that the famed and beloved Trader Vic’s opened in 1961 and attracted such notables as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, as well as Hal Halbrook, Rosemary Clooney, Mitzi Gaynor, Ringo Starr, Bill Gates and Canadian Prime Ministers Pearson, Trudeau, Turner, Mulroney and Chretien.

In 1999, after 38 wildly successful years, Trader Vic’s closed, was sold and floated away - just like John Wayne’s Grey Goose. Kinda sad...

AWARD-WINNING CHEF AND CONSERVATIONIST ROBERT CLARK.

NOTES FROM ALL AROUND TOWN

NEW GIG FOR AWARD-WINNING CHEF — Kudos today to acclaimed chef, author, Murray A. Newman Award winner, Order of Canada recipient and renowned conservation advocate, Robert Clark, on his new job. He’s joining Organic Ocean Seafood, the supplier of sustainably harvested all-natural seafood to chefs, retailers and consumers around the world.

Rob will become their Chief Culinary Officer. His trailblazing efforts and, as co-founder of the Ocean Wise program, has made him a pioneer in the sustainable seafood movement.

He’s a real humble hero!...

REPORTER EARNS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD — Couldn’t be happier about CKNW’s top news reporter, Janet Brown. She has just won the prestigious B.C. Association of Broadcaster’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Janet has been at the Top Dog station for 35 years, always on top of everything newsworthy.

She’s not only the best broadcaster, she leads the way in news reporting with her controlled measured tones. She is blessed with a beautiful voice - actually, all of her is beautiful!

I once said she should retire from the ‘NW newsroom and give lessons to newbies on how to present the all-important news headlines without raising their voices to screech level. Heartiest congratulations, Ms. Brown …

NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF FOR GLOWBAL — And still with new appointments, Emad Yacoub’s acclaimed Glowbal Restaurant, located in Vancouver’s Telus Gardens, will have a new face hovering over the restaurant’s hot stoves.

The talented Alex Kim, formerly chef de cuisine at Market at the Shangri-la Hotel, has been appointed Glowbal’s new executive chef. Watch for his new and very creative summer menu …

A VIRTUAL GALA FUNDRAISER — And popular humanitarian Mel Zajac and his team are ecstatic today.

Their recent Zajac Night’s virtual gala fundraiser a couple of weeks ago, managed to raise $246,5000 which means that they will be able to help and assist more children with disabilities and serious medical conditions to be able to enjoy summer at the spacious and healthful Zajac ranch …

NEW HORIZONS FOR MIKE KILLEEN — Following newsman Mike Killeen’s departure from the anchor news desk at CBC TV, all sorts of rumours have been flying around - all of them wrong.

While Michael has no firm plans at the moment, he wants to venture into the entrepreneurial realm to try and determine what needs are coming out of the pandemic - a very big question.

PR wife Jill thinks a few rounds of golf will clear his brain. He’ll be on the golf course this morning! What a sharp cookie she is! ...

A RUMOURED RETURN — And another rumour floating about is that the Hostess with the Mostess, Madame Jacqui Cohen might possibly host a small fundraising event for the Face the World Foundation in the fall.

Nothing firm on a 2021 “party with a purpose” with everything contingent on the state of COVID and the Public Health orders. Stay tuned …

A MAN ON THE MOVE — And the gentleman who launched Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, Philip Barnes is travelling again. He had left the Pac Rim to become the general manager of the tony Savoy Hotel in London a few years ago. He’s now back on the West Coast from London and the Savoy to take over the GMship of the new and exciting Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

The actual opening had been delayed due to the pandemic, but the grand launch is imminent!..

Back in Vancouver, the same Fairmont Pacific Rim has just appointed Kate Siegel as their new Executive Pastry Chef. Congrats! ...

A HOME FOR WOMEN - BY WOMEN — My spies whisper in my ear that a dedicated, determined and ambitious group of women have a building that they are redeveloping near City Hall. Vancouver’s oldest club, the dynamic Soroptimist Club, will have affordable housing for women - by women.

It will have affordable housing for single moms with families, workforce women, senior women and possibly foster teens. From totally subsidized to market rentals - a full range, according to salary and/or income. It’s so needed and necessary!

Brilliant, ladies!...Lots more on this later…

AND DON’T FORGET — Remember, as Will Rogers once opined, “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” ...

Cheers!