They're Walking Tall
Leslie Nielsen, The Guess Who Among Canadians Inducted Into Walk of Fame
| Source: |
Toronto Sun |
| Date: |
June 2, 2001 |
| Author: |
Claire Bickley |
Copyright 2001 Sun Media Corporation
Walter Ostanek brought 45 years of polka history. The Guess Who
boasted a renewed youthful enthusiasm. And Leslie Nielsen regretted
forgetting his rude, regular sidekick.
This year's inductees into Canada's Walk of Fame spent a
high-spirited afternoon congratulating each other -- and considering
the honour -- prior to last night's formal ceremonies.
In between media interviews at the Four Seasons Hotel, they
kibbitzed and congratulated their own favourites on this year's list.
Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins wanted to meet The
Guess Who. The Guess Who's Bill Wallace was particularly thrilled by
the presence of NHL great Jean Beliveau. Skating star Kurt Browning
planted an impromptu kiss on Walk of Fame Chairman Peter Soumalias'
cheek during a TV interview.
This year's complete list of honourees is: The Guess Who; Ostanek;
Nielsen; Jenkins; Browning; Beliveau; novelist Margaret Atwood;
director Robert Lepage (The Confessional); director Ivan Reitman
(Meatballs); Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak; opera singer Teresa
Stratas; prima ballerina Veronica Tennant; and the late track star and
activist Harry Jerome.
Nielsen, who just finished work here on the Canadian curling movie
comedy Men With Brooms, arrived without his usually-present fart
cushion. It was an oversight, not an attempt at good behaviour because
of the gravity of the occasion.
"Yeah. Well. I don't really acknowledge good behaviour. I think
good behaviour is bad anyway," Nielsen said. "When I forget it -- the
machine -- I always regret it ... I should sew it to my body so I'll
never leave it at home again."
He was considering retrieving it so he could carry it along to
last night's unveiling of the Walk's sidewalk stars, followed by a
formal gala at Roy Thomson Hall.
The Guess Who's star in the entertainment district will bear the
signatures of Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Bill Wallace, Gary
Peterson and Donnie McDougall. Walk of Fame rules require members of
ensembles, such as musical groups or comedy troupes, to have served at
least 10 years to be included in the honour.
"Is every one of Jean Beliveau's teammates listed on his star? You
know what I mean?" Bachman said. "I think they're recognizing the name
and the music. We're the current guys in the band. So we're the
fortunate ones at this moment."
Bachman did seem pleased that when the band received honorary
doctorates of music from the University of Brandon last week, original
bass player Jim Kale was included.
But the veteran rockers, who will play the Molson Amphitheatre
with Joe Cocker Aug. 30, were feeling like it was the early days again
in another regard.
"We're kind of like a young new band that's gotten together, and
we're playing someone else's hits," Bachman said, laughing. "It's
almost that way, that we're playing hits from another band."
Well, not that young.
Cummings was sleeping off an overnight bus ride from a corporate
job in Montreal and missed most of the press sessions.
St. Catharine's Ostanek, who already has the Order of Canada and
who suggested he be called "Uncle Walter," said he never expected to
be included.
"I'm really honoured because I read about it last year when
(others) were inducted, and I said to myself, 'Boy, this would really
be nice,' and I said to myself, 'But with between 30,000 and 40,000
applications, I don't think I have much of a chance.' "
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