Mr. Fife Goes to Washington: Watch Out Mr. President, Bob is on the Premises

As the official visit of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  was getting underway, Alexander Panetta, the Washington correspondent of the Canadian Press issued a "warning" to President Barack Obama on Twitter.

It read: "Warning, Mr. President - @RobertFife is on the premises." Gerald Butts, the principal secretary to the prime minister "liked" it.

Actually it was high praise for Bob, and a mark of respect for his reporting abilities from one of his fellow journalists. Bob, as Chapleau folks know him, was in Washington as Ottawa Bureau Chief of The Globe and Mail to report on the prime minister's visit. Bob joined the Globe in January this year but remains host of CTV's Question Period.

Mr. Panetta was likely warning Mr. Obama that he best watch out as he may be in danger of getting "Fifed" by Bob -- a term I was not aware of until now, even though I have followed Bob's journalism career since 1978 when it began.

Although others may have used the term, I discovered an article on Buzzfeed by Craig Silverman, the Founding Editor Canada, from August 2015 entitled "Why Getting Fifed by CTV Reporter Robert Fife is the Worst Thing That Can Happen to You".

Mr. Silverman also provides a definition: "Fifed. (v.) to strike terror into the hearts of Canadian politicians by Robert Fife." He goes on to provide examples mostly centred on the Senate scandal surrounding Senator Mike Duffy.

It was Bob who broke the scandal wide open, and when I saw the tweet that once again Robert Fife had proven why he is simply the best, it immediately captured my attention. Kevin Newman, was retweeting a comment by Rosa Hwang, senior broadcast producer with CTV National News. "Once again Robert Fife proves why he's simply the best." Bob has received several awards for his reporting.

Bob on Bantam team

"What had Fife done now?  I wrote in my Cranbrook Guardian column that Bob had broken the story that Nigel Wright, the chief of staff to Stephen Harper, then the prime minister, had written a personal cheque to Mike Duffy, the senator appointed by Harper,  for $90,172 to pay back expenses to which the senator was not entitled. 

The Duffy scandal was placed squarely in the office of the prime minister by Bob Fife,

In November 2008, Deborah Howell, the ombudsperson at the Washington Post wrote that "good reporters are the heart of news gathering. If it's news, they have to know it. Without them, the public wouldn't have the news and information essential to running a democracy -- or our lives. Whether the story is local, national or foreign, it has to be gathered on the ground by a reporter." 

Ms Powell added in answering the question about what makes a good reporter, "Endless curiosity and a deep need to know what is happening. Then, the ability to hear a small clue and follow it."

Bob Pres of CHS Student Council seated 2nd on right

That's Bob.

Bob is one of those reporters who certainly fits the comment by former Washington Post Post executive editor Ben Bradlee who thought that a reporter's most important quality is energy: "They've got to love what they're doing; they've got to be serious about turning over rocks, opening doors. The story drives you. It's part of your soul."

In the interests of full disclosure Bob was in Grade Nine when I arrived  to teach at Chapleau High School in 1969, and once he learned I had been a daily newspaper reporter, he never stopped asking me questions throughout his high school years. And when he was attending the University of Toronto, he challenged me on every issue when he came home on vacation or to spend the summers. Maybe I was one of  the first people to to be "Fifed". 

Happy St. Patrick's Day. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

NAMES  CHS Student Council of 1972-73 when Bob Fife was president. Front row from left Jamie Doyle, Eileen McCrea, Tom Tangie, Bob, Patty Desbois. Middle row from left Rusty Deluce, Joan Lapointe, Walter Sonego, Dan Plouffe, Michael Dillon, Mary Ann Morris, Doris Delaney. Back row Robert Doyle, Gary Legros, Leslie Doig, Maurice Blais, Pat Connelly, Keith Marsh

Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts stresses hard work, dedication and education in cover story feature with Wabun Sun

Dakotah Woods from Chapleau, playing for Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is featured as cover story in the Wabun Sun.

The Wabun Sun is published by the Wabun Tribal Council online and in print with stories and features from its seven First Nations members: Beaverhouse, Brunswick House, Chapleau Ojibwe, Flying Post, Matachewan, Mattagami and Wahgoshig.

I have touched on some of the highlights of Dakotah's interview but you can read it in its entirety at http://wabunsun.com or obtain a print version from Wabun Tribal Council. 

“Playing my first major game for a team like the Remparts was an amazing experience and something that every kid dreams of. As an Aboriginal person and someone from a small northern community this has been an exciting and unbelievable journey,” Dakotah told the Wabun Sun.

Born in Chapleau, Dakotah, who is a member of Brunswick House First Nation. first played in the Chapleau Minor Hockey Association, and his career continued after the family moved to North Bay. He is the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods.

His mother Isabelle told the magazine that the move, to advance her son's hockey career, was also a chance for her to continue her training and education in the medical field. 

“I feel that Dakotah and I went on a journey together with the family to North Bay to further our opportunities and to live our dreams. He was excelling in hockey and I was also doing my best to complete my training and education in nursing. He was always a dedicated individual and it was never hard to get him to those early morning games, through long days of training or enduring late night road trips. He has worked very hard for what he has achieved and knowing that makes us all very proud of his accomplishments,” said Isabelle. to the Wabun Sun.

My congratulations to Isabelle on completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Nipissing University in 2015

Dakotah's father Gordon commented: “We are so proud of what Dakotah has accomplished these past few years. There have been plenty of sacrifices on his part and for our family as well but we are grateful for the success he has achieved. I have so much pride in his hockey career but I am also happy to have watched him grow from a dedicated boy in hockey to the mature independent man that he has become."

The magazine noted that "Dakotah Woods, a member of Brunswick House FirstN ation, has become a positive role model for the Aboriginal community by achieving the ranks of semi professional hockey with the Quebec Remparts. "

 The article mentioned that his family went to visit him in Quebec City where he now resides, to celebrate his 1 8th birthday this January."He stays in constant touch with his family in Ontario including his older sister Cedar, who recently completed her secondary school education and his younger brother Hunter, who is following in his brothers footsteps and is involved in the Little Native Hockey League in northern Ontario.

 "In terms of his education, Dakotah Woods makes his studies a priority during his regular schedule and hopes to some day follow in his mother's path and develop a career in the medical field. He wants to give other young Aboriginal people the message he learned from his family that hard work and dedication to sports is important but that education should also be prominent.

 “I make myself available to speak to other young people, especially in First Nation communities. I want to share the same teachings I learned from others along my path, that no matter where you are from or what walk of life, if you work hard, keep focused, make good choices and don't allow others to bring you down, anything is possible. It is also at times necessary to make sacrifices to achieve your goals and that means choosing your friends well and being aware of the danger or pitfalls of drugs and alcohol,” commented Dakotah who has a strong connection to his community and its history. 

Wabun Sun noted that his mother Isabelle is the daughter of legendary Chief Joe Saunders and Chief Francis Saunders. Both of Dakotah's grandparents were instrumental in creating positive developments for their community and Chief Joe Saunders was also a founding member of the Wabun Tribal Council.

“My biggest thanks are to my parents for everything they've done for me and to my sister Cedar and my younger brother Hunter, for all their support. There have been so many people who have helped me on my path and I wish I could list them all but that would take a book,” said Dakotah in his interview.

During the off season of hockey, mainly from June to August, Dakotah makes himself available to speak to First Nation youth at public events in workshops or motivational speaking.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts shares details on importance of finding good hockey stick

Dakotah Woods, who is playing for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, joins our series on finding your good stick with his comments on its importance to success as a hockey player.

Dakotah, from Chapleau, who is also a member of Brunswick House First Nation, took time to do a texting interview on how he decides on his hockey stick.

Dakotah commented that finding the right stick is "pretty important. It's the thing you use most as a hockey player other than our skates."

He explained that the process in selecting a hockey stick depends on a player's preference - by the curve, the flex, the roundedness of the shaft.

"The way I pick my sticks is by talking with one of the stick reps and tell him where I like my kick point in my sticks, my curve, the flex and length. Then you look to grip. See how you like your grip.

"I like a grippy stick with a tarsal pattern. You gotta make sure you get the one that's right for you. One you like.

Dakotah's favorite stick is a "Bauer apx. It's light and has a nice kick point, the blade is strong so my shot doesn't fumble."

After texting with Dakotah, I realized how out of touch with the game I am since coaching my last game in 1987 at the Mrs A.W. Moore Arena at the Chapleau Recreation Centre --- Chapleau All Stars versus NHL All Stars with Guy Lafleur.

With all respect to the awesome players on the teams I coached at the Midget and Intermediate A level when I did hockey in Chapleau between 1970 and 1987, I doubt if any of us could have provided the detailed explanation on selecting the "good stick' that Dakotah did.

Dakotah's hockey career started in Chapleau minor hockey, continued in North Bay for one season ,then on to Sudbury for three seasons, two with Nickel City Suns and one with  Sudbury Wolves, bantam team, and then with the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. This is his first season with the Remparts at the major junior level.

He is the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods.... thanks again Gordie for your help.

And, thanks Dakotah for being part of the finding your good stick series. All the best!!!!