My mother-in-law's unforgettable encounter with the Prime Minister
'I don't think she washed her cheek for a week.'
In 2003, Ernie Olivo wanted to give his mother-in-law Hattie a memorable Canada Day. With a bit of hope and luck, the day became more than memorable moment — it was magical.
Throughout 2017, we're asking Canadians, "What's your story?" Olivo shares his.
My mother-in-law, Hattie Leblanc, had been visiting with us here in Delta, Ontario, and was scheduled to fly home to East Margaree in Cape Breton on July 2, 2003. She had always wanted to celebrate Canada Day on Parliament Hill, so we booked a hotel room at the Courtyard Marriot and drove up in the morning.
The hotel kindly provided a wheelchair. Hattie was, although still feisty at 84, somewhat frail, so I pushed her up to the Hill for the Guess Who concert and stayed there to hear the addresses from Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.
Following the speeches, Hattie asked me to place her up close to the west exit from the Hill, so she could wave at Adrienne as her limo rolled out. Unfortunately, the GG's limo turned east.
To her dying day I think she believed that I had somehow arranged that magic moment.- Ernie Olivo
Hattie was disappointed, but I assured her that something good could still happen, and I rolled her back across Wellington Street, through the crowds, and parked her near the curb. The festive crowds were huge, and the noise level rose as the PM decided to do a walkabout. I could see anxiety on the faces of his security agents. Suddenly he looked our way and spotted Hattie. He came right through the crowd to her chair and planted a big kiss on her cheek, wishing her a Happy Canada Day, and off he went.
I don't think she washed her cheek for a week, and to her dying day I think she believed that I had somehow arranged that magic moment, on Canada Day, 2003.
I was prompted to share this story by none other than the Honourable Peter MacKay, who I met in Halifax Airport in April 2014 while returning from Hattie's funeral. She had lived in Foyer Père Fiset in Cheticamp and had passed peacefully at 95. He offered his sincere condolences, and gave me his card, asking me to send him this story.
Hattie gave us so many stories to share, but this, our Canada Day story, is my favourite.
What's your story?
What defines Canada for you? Is there a time that you were proud to be Canadian, or perhaps a time you felt disappointed? Is there a place, person, or event in your life that sums up what being Canadian is to you?
Email us your story at 2017@cbc.ca.