Hello there and welcome to the January 24th edition of Hangin’ in the Hammer; where we do our best to make each and every day a little like Canada Day.
It’s nice to have you here as we get set to run through another of our collected lists of the people and events from Canadian history, sports and entertainment associated with this day’s date.
And here as always to deliver all the info in a smooth, velvety tome is our own chief spokesperson, Gordie Cornforsale.
On this day in 1848, the Reformers led by Robert Baldwin and Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine sweep the elections in both Canada East and Canada West. Both Wolfred Nelson and Louis-Joseph Papineau, who had been forced to flee Canada during the Rebellion, also win seats in the legislature. This session will be forced to move to Toronto, when Tory supporters enraged over the Rebellion Losses Bill, burn the parliament buildings in Montreal in 1849.
On this day in 1885, the CPR telegraph finally reaches the Pacific when Vancouver is added to the network. The CPR telegraph is now operating from coast to coast in Canada.
On this day in 1903, Britain and the US refer the Alaskan boundary dispute to a commission which will sit from September 3 to October 2 of that year. The result of the Anglo-American Convention will be largely in favor of American interests, enraging the Canadian public and forcing the new nation to take a greater interest and have greater involvement in international matters by establishing our own Foreign Affairs Ministry.
On this day in 1952, Charles Vincent Massey was appointed Canadian Governor General, becoming the first Canadian-born person to serve in the vice-regal position. Massey will remain in the roll from February 1952 to September of 1959. While in office, Massey had a hand in establishing the National Library of Canada and the Canadian Council of the Arts. His grandfather, Hart Massey, was the cofounder of the Massey Ferguson Company.
On this day in 1973, Canada joins the International Commission for Control and Supervision in Vietnam for a 60-day period. The ICCS was a truce-observance commission along with Hungary, Poland and Indonesia.
On this day in 1978, a nuclear-powered USSR satellite (Cosmos 954) re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrates over the Northwest Territories, scattering radiation and debris across a wide area. The Canadian Armed Forces were forced to launch a large operation to recover the dangerous space junk.
From the world of sports, it was on this day in 1984, that ABC TV network agreed to pay $386 million for the US TV rights to the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, which was a record sum to that date.
Some notable Canadians who were born on this day include actor/poet Michael Ontkean, who was Ned Braden in the movie Slap Shot; Amelie Goulet-Nadon, who won a bronze medal in short track speed skating at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics; Michael Forgeron, who won a silver in rowing at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and Colin Finlayson, who won a silver medal in rowing at the 1924 Olympics in Paris.
Our Juno Moldy Oldy today comes from The Tea Party who were nominees in 1998 with Heaven Coming Down.
Born on this day in 1941, Mr Neil Diamond, whose song Sweet Caroline, has become a hockey game phenomenon.
Also born on this day in 1955, Julian ‘Jools’ Holland from Squeeze. When was the last time you heard Another Nail In My Heart?
Our musical title for today, Send Lawyers, Guns And Money, took some inspiration from the late Warren Zevon, who was born on this day in 1947.
And that is where I am duty-bound to abandon this post to my superior officer so he can finish the gig. Later people.
We wanted to mention that today was the birthday of Jake Blues, better known as the late John Belushi.
And we had to mention a man who has a habit of coming up with goofy songs we all love was also born today, Mr Ray Stevens.
Thanks for coming by to share a small part of your day. It sure makes our day when you are here.
We will see you again tomorrow right here. Until then have fun and be safe.
Send lawyers, guns and money…
