Pauline and Steve at one of the many charity fundraisers they supported.

by Joy Metcalfe

A FOND FAREWELL …

If you ever saw her or met her, you would never forget her. Slim, statuesque, wild untamed red hair, and the biggest smile in the world – that was Pauline Halliday. She was born Pauline Mazzucco, one of four children of Mary and Fred Mazzucco, in Vancouver on August 8, 1946. She attended Our Lady of Sorrows for seven years before Moscrop Junior High, followed by Burnaby Central for grades 10, 11, and 12.

Pauline was so dedicated to helping others that, following her R.N. graduation, she joined the nursing staff at Burnaby General where she nursed for several years.

She met Steve Halliday at The Fifth Day Club, which was a dance venue operated every Friday night in various hotel ballrooms run by one of the best in the business, the late Drew Burns. Stephen was director of sales at the thriving Bayshore Inn at that time.

After dating for two years they married on July 12, 1969, and flew to Hawaii for their honeymoon. Their first daughter, Karla, was born four years later while her sister, Gina, arrived in 1975.

Pauline loved life! With that red hair and wide smile, she lit up the room wherever she went. She loved to entertain, welcoming family and friends, and creating fabulous Italian feasts. No one ever went home hungry after dining at the Halliday’s.

Stephen’s career took them all over the world, including stops in Toronto, Edmonton, Costa Mesa, Singapore, and Vancouver. He opened the Pan Pacific in 1986 in dazzling fashion and later opened the new Rosewood Hotel Georgia in downtown Vancouver.

And Pauline was always there, smiling proudly beside her successful hotelier-husband.

It was in 2016 that she battled the early stages of Parkinson’s and found strength and courage two years later to face the diagnosis of the cruel and crippling ALS. Over the past two years while battling that dreaded disease, she patiently taught Steve how to make many of her signature dishes. He now loves to cook, bringing back fond memories of his loving wife.

Family was always first for Pauline and she adored her five grandsons. They were everything to her.

As Steve said, “On April 1 I lost my beautiful wife of 52 years. She was the rock of my life with her kindness, generosity, glamour, and vivacious personality. She will shine in our hearts forever.”

To Steve, Karla, Gina, and their families, my deepest condolences. I’m sure that Heaven will gladly welcome such a kind and loving redheaded beauty …

OZZIE WAS THE MAN WHO GOT THINGS DONE …

As Trevor Carroll has asked, “What do Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Sophia Lauren, Sammy Davis Junior, Charlton Heston, the Aga Khan, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Goldie Hawn, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers have in common? They are few of the celebrities who put their trust and their very lives into the hands of a great man, Orest “Ozzie” Kaban.”

You may never have heard of Ozzie, but he was the owner and operator of Kaban Security Services, the best security system in Canada – and anyone who needed that extra special help got it from the best.

Ozzie was born in Weasel Creek, Alberta, and raised in a loving home with his two siblings. He began his career in his 20s, working door to door for Revlon and doing their security work.

That’s where he got the first taste of his true passion – protective services. This led to a career in law enforcement where he worked with the RCMP and the Vancouver Police Department and ultimately, to opening his own firm on Nanaimo Street. He was the face of security and investigations during the 1980s and ’90s, the man who could get things done.

It took years of hard work and sacrifice to reach the level of success he attained. His early work as head of security at the Westin Bayshore led to his award as Honourary Doorman of the Year from the Greater Vancouver Doormen’s Association.

Ozzie was something of a bomb expert and was a member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators .

Besides working with some of the most affluent individuals, Ozzie also became very well travelled as his reach extended not only nationally but internationally as his career took him around the world to Asia, Europe, South and Central America. Nearly every major law enforcement agency in the world knew his name. I have a collection of his funniest postcards that I received over the years from his worldwide travels.

His work and support of the VPD was invaluable and he was named “Hon. President of the Vancouver Superannuated Police Officers’ Association” which he served with pride.

Ozzie was also honoured several times by The World Investigators Network. He was a licensed hypnotherapist, an accomplished pilot and avid boater. – and a very good friend.

When I was the first in-house public relations director for the Westin Bayshore in the late ’70s, Ozzie would pop by with some flowers, candy or a drink or take me for a drive around Stanley Park, if it had been a particularly stressful day. Because he trusted me, we’d chat about the cases he was working on and the people involved.

But we did argue about one of his cases.

Nick and Lisa Masse vanished from their North Vancouver home in 1994.

I vividly recall the sudden and mysterious 1994 disappearance of Nick Masee, a top executive with the Bank of Montreal and his wife, Lisa. Nick was not only a financial whiz who had been at the bank for a long time, but also a wine expert who loved going to the launch of new wines, gala dinners and hanging out with such characters as Harry Moll, Herb Capozzi and Basil Pantages. Nick and Lisa lived in North Vancouver and were very popular.

It was Nick’s son who discovered their disappearance and called the RCMP. Everything was gone, only their cat remained. They were never seen again.

Ozzie and I argued over that case.

He thought they had been “done in” by some motorcycle gang while I thought they had just scooted as fast as they could for whatever reason and were living in hiding in either China or Mexico.

Lisa was a talented hairdresser and she could have dyed Nick’s curly red hair black and no one would recognize them.

After I left the Bayshore, Ozzie and I lost touch as my media career was taking up all my time – The Vancouver Courier, The Province (“Joy in the Morning”) and “Joy’s Journal” twice a day live on CKNW, on air and on the website.

The last time I saw Ozzie was at the Celebration of Life for CKNW’s Neil Macrae at the Hyatt. He was standing alone quietly at the back of the room. I knew he had beaten cancer and had lost his hair, but he was determined to overcome any odds. As Trevor reminded me, the sign in his office read “Never Give Up”.

It was a motto that Ozzie lived by to the very end. Wish I had had a chance to say goodbye.

Ozzie passed away on February 26 in the compassionate care of the staff at Haro Park Centre in the West End. He was a lovely, warm-hearted, caring gentleman whom I admired greatly.

Thanks to his good friend, Trevor Carroll, for the get-together tribute and for his invaluable input.

Again my thoughts and prayers are with Ozzie’s son, Allan, granddaughter Krystina and great-granddaughter, Hazel.

Blessings on you all …

Cancer survivor Tina Schomburg and Mi-Jung Lee at the Daffodil Ball.

THE 2022 DAFFODIL BALL

On Saturday, April 23 the 26th annual Daffodil Ball was held in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Young Adults Fund. This “reimagined” Daffodil Ball included both in-person and at-home experiences. Hosting the evening was CTV news anchor Mi-Jung Lee

Since 1996, Daffodil Ball attendees have raised $20 million for the cancer cause. Working directly with young adults, as well as partners in BC and across the country, we are leading research, building a national young adult cancer strategy with tailored tools, and creating a support system to improve their unique cancer experience. 

“What a privilege to be part of a special evening that raised $1,004,200 to help young adults facing cancer,” said Lee.

FROM MY NOTEBOOK …

RETURN OF A GREAT FUNDRAISER … Thank goodness for so many kind and caring folk out there who are so willing to help out worthy causes. Folk like Kevin England, president and founder of The England Group, who brought dozens of priceless automobiles, new and ancient, to West Vancouver last fall as a spectacular fundraiser for the children’s hospice Canuck Place. This inaugural deluxe car event was so successful that he’s doing it again!

The Classic and Contemporary Car Show Invitational will be held in West Van in June. More details later.” …

The Archer kitchen team: Chef Mike Linshits, Chef Clement Chan and Sous Chef Fermin Colasi Jr.

RESTAURANT NEWS … And watch for the newest restaurant in town to open shortly. Archer will be located at 1152 Alberni and the menu will take dining guests on a culinary tour of the Pacific Northwest …

TRY A TASTE OF SECHELT … And don’t miss the first Taste of Sechelt Festival in that quaint little village. There will be unique items for sale, wines to sip and delectable taste treats to munch.

It all happens Saturday, May 28. Make your BC Ferry reservation now…