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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Mandryk on Mandryk: A retrospective of 43 years of opinion at the Regina Leader-Post
Editorial note: Hallee Mandryk is a video journalist for CTV News, and the daughter of Murray Mandryk. Murray did not want to do this interview. But thanks to the fact that Hallee has spent the last 24 years practicing the art of the arguing with Murray, he has begrudgingly agreed to participate in this editorial. After 43 years of igniting debate and discourse with the people of Saskatchewan, Leader-Post columnist Murray Mandryk has arrived at his well-deserved retirement. This means that it's now time to share his worst kept secret: Murray didn't care if you agreed with the perspectives in his columns. His goal was to get you to be critical of the world around you. 'Politics is so important to Saskatchewan and Regina and it was just something I kind of gravitated towards for reasons I'm not sure,' he recalled. 'I wasn't a political animal or had the political bug or anything else. It just seemed an important thing to do, I guess that's kind of why I went in that direction, because it seemed to have the most purpose.' The youngest of six children, Murray was born to a pair of hard-working dairy farmers and grew up just outside of Grandview, a one-horse town on the road to Dauphin, Man. Murray admits he was no scholar (and still struggles with dyslexia) but he decided he'd try to make a career from his writing. 'I just always like to write, even if I wasn't all that s*** hot at it,' he said. Murray Mandryk (Courtesy: Hallee Mandryk) His first jobs bounced him from Winnipeg, to Fort McMurray, to Portage La Prairie, until he eventually landed at the Regina Leader-Post. 'That was all within basically a year and a half period,' he explained. 'I went to Regina thinking I'd be there for a couple of years, and then I met a girl.' That girl, Shawna, was out of Murray's league, and he knew it. For their first date, they went to see the film Romancing the Stone. However, Murray had secretly went to the theatre the day before, to ensure Shawna would like the movie, and the rest is history. Four eventful decades Throughout the 43 years he spent writing about provincial politics, Murray had a front row seat to some of Saskatchewan's most historic moments. When asked about the most notable topics, he cited his time covering the murder of JoAnn Wilson, the ex-wife of then MLA and Cabinet Minister Colin Thatcher in the early 1980's. 'Every newspaper literally in the country of consequence ... every TV station of consequence sent a reporter,' he said. Thatcher was eventually convicted of first-degree murder in Wilson's death. 'It was the last great thing where it was, from a journalistic standpoint, both competitive to cover and absolutely spellbinding and thrilling. So, I guess that would probably be the answer that everybody would expect to hear,' Murray said. Colin Thatcher Saskatchewan MLA Colin Thatcher is escourted by police into the Regina Provincial Courthouse June 25, 1984 for the preliminary hearing for the murder charge he faces. Thatcher was arrested May 7 for the murder of his ex-wife Joanne Wilson in 1983. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lorne McClinton The columnist went on to note that while that story shaped Saskatchewan's history, it wasn't necessarily his career highlight. 'It's the job itself. Its a million little things, a million little stories that you get to cover that just add up in time. It's a cumulative business as opposed to sort of one great event,' he added. Haters gonna hate Murray quickly got used to the backlash that comes along with professionally sharing his political opinions. It takes much more than the occasional death threat in the mail to frighten him, although he was far from oblivious to the criticism. 'We're human, negative feedback obviously irritates the hell out of people and probably irritates journalists more than they kind of let on,' Murray said. Over the years, many of his colleagues have found Murray's handling of hate mail to be a great source of entertainment. One of his favourite methods being to highlight all of the spelling and grammar mistakes and send the mail back to the disgruntled reader. Murray Mandryk (Courtesy: Hallee Mandryk) But contrary to popular belief, the 'Tin Man' does in fact have a heart – and this heart would occasionally make some days on the job more difficult than others. 'Where it kind of bothered me is when I was writing something crappy about somebody I truly liked, or truly thought was a good person or a good politician, and they just messed up or something happened where the circumstances got beyond their control,' Murray said. He went on to say that the responsibility of his position ultimately outweighed any personal feelings, but not without tugging on his heartstrings. 'You had to write that they screwed up and you had to live with the consequences that writing about them screwing up was going to be a big part of how they became defined ... sometimes that bothered me because it appears to me there was always a sense of unfairness about it,' Murray said. A tough old bird People as iron-willed as Murray are hard to come by. But he has kept writing through the deaths of many loved ones (including his beloved Shawna), and the difficult emotions that followed those losses. Throughout the seemingly never-ending chaos, journalism and the folks who dedicate their lives to it have remained the one constant in Murray's life. 'I'm pretty grateful that I've been able to work with all of them,' Murray said. While many arguments he ignited inside the walls of the Saskatchewan legislature were legendary, they paled in comparison to the debates within the walls of his home when another four legged creature was brought home. The stereotype of grumpy fathers falling in love with the pets they didn't want is supported by Murray's best friendship with a fluffy orange cat named Lola. Murray Mandryk Murray with the pets he didn't want but learned to love, Lola (Left) and Juno (Right). His desire to debate and talk about journalism extends far beyond ink on paper. It reaches his kitchen table, which is often occupied by an assortment of strays who show up for the promise of a home cooked meal – and who stay for the entertaining dinner conversation. 'I've always maintained the last few years of my life, I'm working with kids that are younger, smarter and more educated than I was when I started the business. But they're probably better technically at it than I am right now in a lot of aspects and they just don't know it,' he noted. The world keeps turning While Murray has witnessed a lot of change in the industry, the famously pessimistic old man has some optimism for the future of journalism. 'The people that are coming along now are really good. It's smaller, it's more condensed. And that's a problem' he said. 'But … I look at the people I worked with at the newspaper right now ... and I can't honestly say that I have anything to do with it, other than the fact that they're really talented people.' The political landscape has undoubtedly changed over the last four decades. Now, without Murray to spark the debates, it will fall to the public, to the people, to keep those conversations going. 'Your social media accounts … all you get is hits that basically reconfirm your own perspectives and biases. That's why I think, not only is it important to question your leadership, it's important to question all leaders,' Murray said. Murray Mandryk (Courtesy: Hallee Mandryk) 'No particular political party or government is ever 100 per cent wrong on 100 per cent of the things. Sometimes some of the things that that you think they're right about is not even in your best interest and is certainly not in the collective interests of what's going on in the world today.' Throughout his career, Murray's dedication to asking the hard questions remained as unchanged as his haircut. Now as he enters retirement, the path he has paved within the journalistic community is admired and followed by many, including the author of this article. 'Talented people just get into this business and they just grow. That's why it continues to survive and why it's needed, and there is some success to it. I just wish people would understand that better. I wish people understood how good these people really are,' Murray said. I've been lucky enough to learn many lessons from my dad. Watching his career has instilled a particular lesson that many journalists are already familiar with, but it's worth sharing to anyone who will listen. It can be scary to be disliked, but you should fear nothing more than the person you'll become if you let the unjust words and actions of others go unchecked.
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
The first-ever course on Punjabi music is coming to Canada
The TMU course will be mostly devoted to the Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh Students at Toronto Metropolitan University will have the chance to learn more about the growth of Punjabi music next fall. A new course will mainly focus on Diljit Dosanjh, an Indian singer, actor and film producer who works in Punjabi and Hindi cinema. He has more than 14 studio albums and 50 songs under his belt, and was the first Punjabi artist to play at Coachella in 2023. Last year, he broke a world record by giving the biggest concert by a Punjabi artist outside India, which was held in Vancouver, with over 55,000 tickets sold. This year, he became the first Punjabi artist to attend the Met Gala. Charlie Wall-Andrews, assistant professor in creative industries at TMU, says Dosanjh is a perfect case study for understanding the rise of Punjabi music worldwide. "He elevated the genre and the culture on a global scale. He's truly such a trailblazer for helping Punjabi music rise," said Wall-Andrews. In the course, students will explore the branding, marketing and touring strategies that led to Dosanjh's success. The course will also delve into the origins of Punjabi music. "Looking at things like oral traditions, post-colonial legacies, early icons. We'll also look at how music is a form of protest, resistance and how censorship has occurred," said Wall-Andrews. Embracing a different route to success Apart from studying Dosanjh's career, the course also aims to highlight the exponential growth of Punjabi music worldwide. "It's not unusual that universities offer elective courses pertaining to certain superstars. We've seen many schools in the U.S. offer courses on Taylor Swift or Beyoncé," said Wall-Andrews. "Given Canada's diversity, this seemed like a different take on a superstar that isn't from the Western world, per se." [Dosanjh] hasn't adapted to the industry, the industry has adapted to him. - Mo Ghoneim, Billboard Canada president Mo Ghoneim, president of Billboard Canada, thinks that by studying Dosanjh, students can learn more about alternative routes to success. "Diljit has really shifted the centre of gravity without diluting who he is. He built a global fan base rooted in his culture first, and then the West came to him. So, he hasn't adapted to the industry, the industry has adapted to him," said Ghoneim. Wall-Andrews hopes that students who take the class will learn to embrace their authenticity. "It should encourage people to tap into their own identity and their own community, because people want to be able to see themselves in the culture," said Wall-Andrews. "It can turn into sustainable business opportunities that have enormous cultural and economic impact." An accomplishment for the community Manveer Singh, a fourth-year professional music student at TMU and Punjabi music producer, feels inspired by the announcement of the new course. "It just feels like a big achievement. Our people are making it," said Singh, who plans to take the course next year if he has the opportunity. He also agrees with his school's choice to profile Dosanjh. "Every person that grew up in a Punjabi household knows him. When you think of a Punjabi artist, you think of Diljit Dosanjh. He is one of the greatest artists of all time," said Singh.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa officially opens today. Here's what you need to know
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa sign. The new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa on Albion Road opens to the public on Thursday. (Shaun Vardon/CTV News Ottawa) The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa officially opens to the public this afternoon, featuring a 150-room hotel, a performance venue and gaming space. The new facility on Albion Road in Ottawa's south end is Hard Rock's first 'fully integrated resort' in Canada with a hotel and gaming facility all in one place. In 2017, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation selected Hard Rock International to become the operator of the casino at Rideau Carleton Raceway. In June 2023, construction began on the new $350 million new hotel, casino and performance venue. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa will feature a 150-room hotel, with 22 luxury suites. The more than 150,000 sq. ft. of entertaining and gaming space includes the Hard Rock Live performance venue with the capacity for up to 2,200 people, 1,500 slot machines, up to 40 gaming tables, and a high-limit gaming area. There will be 10 restaurants and bars at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa, including the iconic Hard Rock Café. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa will officially open at 1 p.m. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa sign. (Shaun Vardon/CTV News Ottawa) There will also performances by three major Canadian artists to kick off the opening week. David Foster and Katharine McPhee will perform at the Hard Rock Live performance venue tonight, and Napanee's Avril Lavigne will perform on Saturday. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa is one of several hotels opening in Ottawa over the next year. The new AC Hotel by Marriott Ottawa Downtown opened on April 24, with 159 rooms, a pool, sauna, gym and meeting rooms. The Moxy Ottawa downtown is opening early in 2026, and a new hotel is scheduled to open at the Ottawa International Airport in late 2025 or early 2026. Here's what you need to know about the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa Opening date: July 3 at 1 p.m. 700 employees The Hard Rock Hotel will have 150 rooms, including 22 suites Expanded Hard Rock Casino with 1,500 slot machines, 40 live-action table games, high-limit gaming. Hard Rock Live – an 1,800-seat theatre with standing room for 2,200 guests More than 10 restaurants, bars and lounges, including the Hard Rock Café and Council Oak Steakhouse The Hard Rock shop
