Cleghorn gets PIP award

By Mike Cohen, September 26th, 2012

BRIEFING ON IRAN: One of the world's foremost authorities on Iran, and the director for Quebec of Honest Reporting Canada, will share the podium on Sunday, October 14 at an invitation-only briefing organized by the Montreal Jewish Publication Society. Reginald Weiser is chairman of the Society and Dr. Thomas Otto Hecht, head of its Advisory Council, will chair the meeting. It will feature presentations by Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Michelle Whiteman, director of Honest Reporting Canada, in Quebec. The meeting will also see the release of a limited edition handbook entitled “Mideast Deception,” researched and written by the ageless Joe King.  The Publication Society organized the meeting to make the public more aware of work being done by Honest Reporting Canada in challenging media bias. Ms. Whiteman will provide actual case histories where Quebec media distorted their reporting on the Middle East, and were forced to acknowledge their errors. Dr. Dubowitz has extensive knowledge about Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and is frequently asked to comment on developments in that region. He has been published by the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, and the Los Angeles Times, has appeared on major media and been invited to testify to Congressional Committees. Info: Joe.King@videotron.ca
CLEGHORN GETS PIP AWARD: John Cleghorn, a former Camp Kanawana camper, counselor and leader recently received the 2012 “Pip” award at YMCA Kanawana. Cleghorn, the former CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada, is the fifth alumnus of the camp to receive the award, established to recognize the contributions of distinguished alumni to the world outside. Previous recipients have been Richard “Itche” Kerr, a Montreal volunteer with the physically challenged; Richard Patten, former Ontario MPP; Stuart McLean, broadcaster and author; and Bruce Netherwood, YMCA leader and author. The award was presented at the Kanawana alumni and family weekend on Sept. 8.  Cleghorn was born and raised in Montreal and graduated from Westmount High School and McGill University. He was a camper, counsellor and leader at Kamp Kanawana in the 1950s. He joined the Royal Bank in 1974 and became president in 1986 and CEO in 1994. He holds honourary degrees from several universities and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He has also been involved in many philanthropic and community works.
COHEN CHATTER: Real estate powerhouse Edward Stern, who passed away last week,   established what is today the largest industrial real estate holder in Eastern Canada. Olymbec was launched in 1975, a year before the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal. He cleverly  combined the words “Olympic” and “Quebec” to read Olymbec. His two sons, Derek and Richard, run the day to day operations of  Olymbec  these days. ..No I am not a labour lawyer. The  Michael Cohen who represented the National Hockey League Players Association and 16Canadiens players before the Quebec Labour Relations Board  is with the firm of Melançon, Marceau, Grenier & Sciortino. Take a look in the phone book and you will find many Michael and Mike Cohens'. There were two others in my own high school.
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