MICHAËLLE JEAN AND DESTINY

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
The fate of Michaëlle Jean definitely seems to be favored by the gods... 
The former Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, was chosen from among the five candidates vying to lead the global Francophonie. The former Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin will certainly be happy with this decision to his favorite... 
If the former Prime Minister Paul Martin had not watched TV a 2005 night in his Ottawa office, eating his meal sitting on his couch and he had not fixed the television reception on RDI, it would not have noticed the host Michaëlle Jean and the fate of the former journalist would have been very different. A chance also that the personal secretary to the Prime Minister liked the style of Michaëlle because as urban legend go, Martin asked her what she thought of his idea to appoint Michaëlle Jean the vacant post of Governor General. The secretary would have said yes that it was an interesting idea... Paul Martin then would have said! "Ok! Call her immediately and I will talk to her..." Recall that Jean Béliveau had refused the previous invitation of Paul Martin and the Canadian Prime Minister had to find someone fast... 
The path of Michaëlle Jean always made me think of another former CBC journalist, Bernard Drainville. Unfortunately for him, the gods seem less favorable and if he could have had legitimate ambitions of one day becoming Premier of Quebec, the emergence of Pierre-Karl Peladeau changed the destiny of Drainville to another direction out from the glory that knows his professional namesake Michaëlle Jean. 
Who said that fate did not matter... 
Photos 1 and 4: Michaëlle Jean;
Photos 1 and 2: Paul Martin;
Photo 3: Bernard Drainville;
SEE APPOINTMENT MICHAËLLE JEAN ; 
SEE BIOGRAPHY JEAN MICHAËLLE ;

MONTREAL FRENCH BOOK FAIR 2014

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
This is the weekend of the MONTREAL FRENCH BOOK FAIR 2014 and thousands of readers will meet their favorite authors. 
Thoses authors includes international stars as Kathy Reichs and Ken Follett as well as Quebec stars such Denis Monette, Roxanne Bouchard, Jacques Languirand or leading journalists like Jean-Francois Lepine, Fabrice De Pierrebourg and Chantal Hébert or politicians like Justin Trudeau and Mélanie Joly. There are also several artists including Edith Butler. 
Of the thousands of authors at the Montreal Book Fair 2014, dozens will have lineup of hundreds of readers who would want a signature. But for others, it's a humbling experience described by journalist Marie Claude Ducas in a text published in Le Journal de Montreal (Saturday, November 22 "in Author Book Fair ... it look like?"). 
But all authors have one thing in common: a passion for their work and writing. 
Among the less stars authors, I chose to photograph Catherine Bourgault, a young writer mother of three who publishes a series like "Cheek Lit." She has two books at the 2014 Fair: Le Club des Girls et Sortie de filles.
All major media are also present and several will present live discussion tables. 
In all, more than 100,000 visitors are expected and more than 1,000 publishers and 1,500 authors francophones are on site. This is the 37th edition of this annual Montreal event, which runs from November 19 to 24 at Place Bonaventure. A privileged and unique opportunity to select Christmas gifts, an event that will be here in less than a month... 
Unfortunately my friend Gérard Depardieu did not make the trip to Montreal for the Salon but I continue to adore his book and I consider it to be the best book of 2014! This is the book that I will offer for Christmas and it is available at the show (booth XO Editions - ADP section).
Have a good Book Fair and happy reading! 
Photo 1: Poster Montreal Book Fair 2014;
Photo 2: Bernard Bujold at Book Fair;
Photo 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7: Montreal Book Fair 2014;
SEE PHOTOS ALBUM ;

BOWVEMBER AND MY FRIEND GASPARD...

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
In a former life, I was in all galas, special events, evening fundraising, opening night at theater, museum, book launch or music albums, exhibitions, music concerts, variety shows, etc! My agenda was filled 7 on 7. I wanted to please and seduce and I did not believe in the virtues of solitude or individual and discrete gestures. 
It was once my life but today I automatically refuse all invitations from three categories: 
1. I will never participate in wedding ceremonies (large gathering of family, friends and acquaintances). I prefer intimate gatherings and for me a dinner attended by more than 4 people is a crowd....; 
2. I did not attend any funeral! The person is dead and, she or he, will not hear me tell that I loved her or him. I prefer a living person...; 
3. I will not participate in any campaign to raise public funds, like United Way. I prefer to help my entourage on an individual basis. 
Of course there are exceptions. So this friend (Facebook), Gaspard Fauteux, invited me to publish a picture of me, a kind of Selfie with a bow tie for the campaign BOWVEMBRE (the Association PROCURE against cancer of the prostate in men). Since I love to take photos, I agreed. If he had asked me to participate to a Gala, I would have refused... 
Here is my picture! Have a nice BOWVEMBER campaign, my dear Gaspard! 
Photo 1: Bernard Bujold;
Photo 2: Gaspard Fauteux;
SEE SITE PROCURE ;

SAVE CBC RADIO-CANADA

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) -
The event presented in Montreal this Sunday, November 16, 2014 to support safeguarding CBC gathered around 25,000 people, according to organizers and police officials. 
A very well structured walk that lasted only two hours but has bring together several personalities from both the public and the employees of the CBC. Several french journalists, tv or radio hosts including Joël Le Bigot, Jean-François Lépine, Anne-Marie Dussault, Marc Laurendeau, Simon Durivage, Claude Deschênes, Gabriel Nadeau Dubois and many others. Among the artists we noticed Marc Hervieux, Dan Bigras and Vincent Bilodeau as well as some politicians like the former head of the Parti Québécois André Boisclair .. Buses had been chartered especially from Gatineau and we noted the presence of Louise Poirier, co-chair of the movement "CBC Makeover CBC / I Care." 
It is obvious that this is not this event that will change the directions of management at CBC and only the adoption of CBC as electoral issue by a political party leader opposing Stephen Harper could give back to the public corporation his leadership role in the country. 
But who knows, maybe the event will contribute to convince Justin or Thomas. The next federal election is scheduled for October 2015! 
To be continued...
Photo 1: Bernard Bujold with protesters;
Photo 2 and 5: Protest of 16 November 2014;
Photo 3: Joel Le Bigot; Photo 4: Marc Hervieux;
SEE PHOTOS;

GÉRARD DEPARDIEU - ÇA S'EST FAIT COMME ÇA! - THE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014

Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
Gerard Depardieu's autobiography is available in bookstores in Quebec and it is a wonderful book for three reasons! 
1. Gerard talks about himself in the simplest way but very openly. He tells us why his friendship with Vladimir Putin, his vision of the life of actor and businessman, his passion for the land, his love for his children and especially his love of freedom. 
2. Gerard and I got the same philosophy of life and we are from the same generation. If I wrote a book about my life, I would like to send the same message conveyed by Gerard for his children and friendsé In one sentence: "We must live and be happy!" 
3. This book arrives in bookstores just before Christmas and New Year. It is an excellent choice of gift for friends. For me, this is the gift I will offer it because I consider this book to be an exceptional book and the "Book of the Year 2014 '. 
Happy reading and thank you to Gerard for the offer.
PHOTO 1: COVER OF THE BOOK;
PHOTO 2 AND 3: Gérard Depardieu;
SEE STORY ABOUR THE BOOK IN PARIS MATCH;

PIERRE KARL PÉLADEAU AT WAR ...

By Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
The war is launched in the race for the leadership of the Parti Québécois and Pierre-Karl Peladeau will fire any ammunition. As the English say, it will be a "No-Hold-Barred" match! You could also say that it will be like son, like father... 
Indeed PKP attacks head-on the ancient enemies of his father. A prime example is the text that he wrote directly on his Facebook about the former press tycoon Conrad Black calling him "tôlard" following an editorial by Black in the National Post on the Canadian Constitution and Philippe Couilllard. 
When I was an assistant to his father, Pierre Peladeau, the latter often shared with me his hatred and contempt for Conrad Black that he hated just as much as he hated Pierre E. Trudeau and Paul Desmarais Sr. Me, I tried to deflect the conversation because I liked and admired the three men. I also came close to working for Conrad Black who I knew by Peter G. White, partner of the magnate and former chief of staff to Brian Mulroney. 
PKP also use old friendships with his father like the one with Bernard Landry who the father Peladeau liked... 
There will be war victims and victory is far from assured for PKP if he continues to attack too broad. 
One question that arises is: "What will Brian Mulroney do? He is currently Chairman of Quebecor and he is a friend of PKP but also a close friend of his enemies ranging from Desmarais, Trudeau (son) and Conrad Black.
As I have already said several times in the past: "The worst enemy in a war is yourself. And the worst enemy of PKP is PKP himself! " 
To be continued! 
Photos 1 and 3: Pierre-Karl Peladeau;
Photo 2: Conrad Black;
Photo 4: Brian Mulroney;
SEE FACEBOOK PIERRE KARL PÉLADEAU;

THE BERLIN WALL / Die Berliner Mauer

Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
It was in the evening of 9 November 1989, 25 years ago, the beginning of the end for the Berlin Wall (Die Berliner Mauer). 
A piece of the famous wall was offered to Montreal and it is exposed at the World Trade Center. 
The wall was erected on August 12, 1961 for a distance of over 170 km and was protected by 231 posts and 132 fortified bunkers. At first the wall was composed only of barbed son but it was reinforced by cement blocks in the late 60s in two stages and in 1976 a fourth step of solidification was built with reinforced concrete. Several artists have benefited from these walls to graffiti and write texts of protest. 
The piece exhibited in Montreal comes from walls erected during construction in 1976. 
Photo 1: Bernard Bujold in front of the Montreal's piece of the Berlin Wall;
Photos 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6: Piece of the Berlin Wall exposed in Montreal;
SEE PHOTOS: 
SEE STORY THE BERLIN WALL;

CANADIAN PARLIAMENT AND DOWNTOWN ABBEY...

Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
One could compare the buildings of the Canadian Parliament Hill castles Downtown Abbey. Full of small private rooms with nooks and crannies. One member has even been found half-naked in his underpants there several years in the corridors while playing with his secretary in his office. They had heard the noise and came out of the office to see if there was anyone but the door closed on them... 
Parliament is like a rustic hotel but a hundred times bigger! To access you need the employee identification card, which then becomes a sort of catch-all hotel key... 
Speaking of Downtown Abbey, the rape scene in season 4 is much like what is currently debated in various media about women remaining silent over the abuse they suffered. Anna the maid in Downtown Abbey was raped by a butler and the first thing she asked from the woman who found her was a promise to secrecy and especially to cover the event while there are tens of guests at the castle. We know of course later in the season 5, that the rapist will be judged according to the law of retaliation. The action in Downtown Abbey is around 1922. 
Here in Canada real life, the year 1929 was famous for the rape occurred in the office of the Canadian Parliament by MP Auger of a young girl Franco-Ontarian of 17 who had come to meet him to request a job. There was trial and the MP was sentenced to two years in prison... Photos 1 and 2: Canadian Parliament;
Photos 3 and 4: Downtown Abbey;
SEE HISTORICAL CANADIAN PARLIAMENT; 
SEE DOWNTOWN ABBEY;

JUSTIN TRUDEAU AND COURAGE ...

Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1) - 
Thomas Mulcair accused Justin Trudeau to have unveiled to the public the harassment situation and sent out the two Liberal members for unacceptable action with no respect for the two female NDP Members! Mulcair's accusations could easily turn against him... 
Indeed, we learn that the NDP leader was well aware for some time of the alleged acts, but he preferred not to get involved out of respect for the victims... 
According to me, "Silence in front of the abuse is never the solution! Justin also speaks about it in his autobiography when he recalls the time he was a student and he was trying to fight against abuse. He tells how the institutions are shy in front of abuse.
In my book, either it is a Justin, a Thomas or another person; anyone who stand up and confront those who abuse is a hero is the one who is silent is a coward! " 
Congratulations to Justin for his courage to speak!
Photo 1: Justin Trudeau, Thomas Mulcair et Jian Ghomeshi ;
Photo 2: Entrance at Parlement ;
SEE STORY ON HARASSEMENT IN OTTAWA:

THE FUTURE OF RADIO-CANADA - AN ELECTION ISSUE FOR 2015

Bernard Bujold (LeStudio1.com) - 
One solution to save the CBC from closure: make an election issue in the next federal election on October 2015! 
It is clear that if Stephen Harper is re-elected that the transformation of Radio-Canada will continue according to the game plan of the current prime minister. To break this plan would require another politician, as Justin Trudeau (I'm pro-Justin ...) or Thomas Mulcair, to be elected Prime Minister and that the latter is firmly committed during the campaign to restore more money and a new direction to the state society. 
CBC would benefit greatly from a new president with ideas like a Jean-François Lépine rather than the current president as Hubert Lacroix. But no such action could be applied nor possible if there is not an election issue around the CBC. No election issue; no survival... 
To be continued! 
Photo 1 and 3: Radio-Canada;
Photo 2: Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau, Thomas Mulcair, Hubert Lacroix and Jean-François Lépine;
SEE STORY ON CBC UNION ASSOCIATIONS ;