Can a president be a good teacher (and vice versa)

Established in 1951, Soochow University (Taiwan) my father's alma mater, a graduate in International Law. As one of the very first bank executive sponsored by Bank of Taiwan to attend 東吳大學. The campus is home to prominent politician and diplomat. 

At the time, my father was the only French speaking employee at the bank where he held a managerial position in its international banking division. He was selected to intern at the Societe Generale in France. After his assignment was completed in Paris, our family moved from 愛國西路 to 中山北路二段 behind Ambassador Hotel. (台北國賓大飯) 

Coincidentally, 中山北路二段 is the same neighborhood where Tsai Ing-wen was raised in Taipei, before she became the President of Taiwan.

UN Ban Ki-moon turned away Taiwanese students

"I have learned that people from Taiwan who were in New York and visiting the UN building -- they simply wanted to take a tour -- were turned away, because they were showing their ROC, Republic of China passport," says Bonnie Glaser, director of CSIS, China Power Project

My take:

In 1956, the Dalai Lama met with Mao Zedong, chairman of the People's Republic of China, in an attempt to establish deplomatic relations.  After that fateful meeting, Tibetan Government was no more.  The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is expected to rule on territorial dispute with Philippines.  China has said they won't recognize Hague arbitration.

Behaving like a spoiled brat.  China has been getting their way for a long time.  Our planet of seven billion people, why are we allowing these communist dictators of 1.4 billion people nation to blackmail our friends in the U.S., a tech giant, Apple (not a micky mouse operation) on a patent and trademark issue.  Sounds familiar?

In 2006, China Unicom brazenly attempted to cash in on Blackberry's global fame, launched Redberry a month before Blackberry, deliberately staged to allow for its domestic brand a competition advantage.  Blackberry caved.  Look where Blackberry is today. 

Taiwan, a nation of 23 million people has become Asia's big traders and one of world's top producers of computer techology haven't got a chance.  China is flexing its muscles at one of its top AIIB members, South Korean, Ban Ki-moon of United Nations.  His term ends a year before the next presidential election in South Korea.  He intends to run for the top job.

So, was Dalai Lama duped?  Today, Tibetan sovereignty debate the questions, is Tibet a country?

Answer: Taiwanese people wont't be duped.  

China's Attempts To Muzzle Taiwan

For the first time, China has felt the push back from the most powerful military might on this planet.

Spoiled rotten by big daddy and some G-20 nations who have followed the path of U.S. parenting styles.  In 20 years, China's economy have outperformed its benefactors by blatantly devalued and openly manipulated its currency, yuan.  To be competitive, some of the G-20, including Canada have spoiled China even more to gain a piece of very huge and competitive consumer market against the bigger players.  In fact, Canada is easily the biggest cheerleader for China.  Second to our newly elected prime minister, an Ontario cabinet minister Michael Chan has launched a libel suit against CSIS, Canada's spy agency and Canadian national newspaper, GlobeandMail.      

Can you blame China for building a man-made island without consulting anyone.  So spoiled, so accustom to getting everything they wanted and getting countries to kowtow to their every desire, namely, Canada and many other nations.  

Making things worse, last January, Taiwan elected a new DPP president, not China's preferred party, defeated KMT, whose values and beliefs for the Taiwanese people are slightly different than the pro-Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen.

To retaliate against the United States' push back, we have seen China's growing influence over countries in the African continent. Last week, Government of Kenya deported Taiwanese nationals back to China instead of Taiwan. This week, Lt. Cmdr. Edward C. Lin, a Taiwanese-born flight officer charged with four counts of a violation of a Lawful General Order by “wrongfully transporting material classified as SECRET." And, of course, he has to be patronizing a prostitute. We do not know if the case will move to a trial.

They say, if you do not stand up against aggression you condone it.  I guess, this is what CSIS and the GlobeandMail are doing.

However, the story posted via Brantford Expositor should shed some light on China's favorite secret spies weapon. Brian McAdam is one of my very first "whistleblower" hero. Lust is Chinese spies' favoured weapon | Brantford Expositor. Enjoy the read.

The Police Have Failed My Mother

 

In Toronto, we also have a Benjamin Wey. A connected businessman who likes to brag about his connections in high places. This Hong Kong-Canadian businessman is well connected with another Hong Kong-Canadian, who was (or still is) the highest ranking auxiliary police officer in The Toronto Police. The businessman was awarded The Queen's Jubilee Medal some years ago, he proudly wore and has posted on his immigration translation services' homepage. This is not his only business. He has a travel agency catering to primarily mainlander tourists.

In March 2010, I reported this Jubilee award recipient to the police, the chief of police via email and cc'd his five deputies. Within weeks, by May, my life changed, my home too.

I decided to share my experience of threats. After reading about Benjamin Wey's attacks against Ms. Francine McKenna @retheauditors.

The difference between Francine McKenna's approach and my approach have produced very different results. She tweeted her response to Benjamin Wey's threats, I didn't. What a mistake.

This is my story.    

In April 2014, I didn't have access to Twitter. The reason was, for a totaling of 129 days, (from December 9, 2013 to April 16, 2014) I didn't have access to the news or Twitter.

The truth of the matter, I was arrested, charged and incarcerated for voting for the former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

The police decided to charge me based on a false statement made by my aging father. During a visit to our home, the police officers have encouraged my father to sign a restraining order against me. My mother and I looked on in disbelieve.

My mother wanted me to stay with her. She did not trust my father. The police didn't believe me. They never took me serious. They never took my mother serious. They didn't listen to me or my mother. My mother was ignored. I believe the police officers took advantage of my parents' senior age and their situation.

I was charged with an assault charge, this is a criminal offense.

During my ride to the police station, the police asked me if I was employed. I told the police, I am not employed. However, I have sent numerous resumes including the one I have personally dropped off to Mayor Rob Ford's office, a few days prior, at the Toronto City Hall.

I also told the police, the day after I delivered the resume to his office, our Mayor's power was removed. Councillor Norm Kelly, his deputy, assumed full power as Mayor.

The officers asked me, after the crack cocaine incident, would I still vote for him. I told the police, I do not condone crack-cocaine but I like Rob Ford's fiscal policy. I told them, yes, I would still vote for him. Our conversation inside the police cruiser was all recorded on the dashcam.

I was punished. By the police.

During my incarceration, the police wanted me to reach out to my family for bail. I refused. I told them, they should release me and drop the charge. Like the dashcam in the cruiser, check the nanny cam in the house. I am not guilty.

The police cruisers that have visited our home have come from various division 33, 31, 13, 14, 41. When they show-up, it was always in threes. Three police officers for each visit. I was charged at 33 police division and was transported to the old city hall located in the heart of downtown Toronto next to the current city hall in ward 27.

After the crown realized that I was not going to meet the bail, they transferred my case file to 1000 Finch Avenue courthouse in ward 8 and my new resident for the next 129 days was at Vanier Women's Correctional Facility in Milton.

I never wavered. The assault charge was withdrawn. The crown pleaded habeas corpus. At the time, I didn't know what habeas corpus means. I didn't know why the police all of sudden have a change of heart.

Now, I do.

After being incarcerated for 129 days, I was released on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. The following week, I had to return to court to sign some papers. I never agreed to a restraining order. I was told, either sign or go back to jail. I didn't have any good choices.

The crown announced my mother, 張秋月 Luna Chen, a RBC Royal Bank diamond-pin retiree has died of sudden death. Three days after my release, on Saturday, April 19, 2014. I didn't know how she died, because I was forbidden to return to my family home, the same home I have lived since 1973. The first thing I did was to order a sudden death report. The report have since been switched with added content, more pages, and new letter head.

I absolutely believe my arrest was the police's way to tarnish my reputation and to prevent me from running for city councillor in ward 33.

My experience at Vanier, has given me perspective. I can speak with some authority about their operation and delivery management support system from key staff such as deputy warden, doctors, nurses, correctional guards, case workers and social workers. I learned, why they call a van, Paddy Wagon. A derogatory term against Irish people. Irish Cops.

I suspect what was happening to me in ward 33 and my email to the chief of police was very likely happening to my parents in Taipei. We were being targeted, being hazed or hazing, simultaneously in Toronto and in Taipei. By now, my parents have lived in Taipei for eight years, (from May 2004 to September 2012) They have gone back and forth many times. However, this last time, was the longest, an eight-year stay.

I am not sure at the time, my father has grasped the situation, but my mother knew. My parents were fighting against a corrupted KMT government for their properties in Taiwan. They wanted to sell the properties. They were unsuccessful due to a political road block. My parents were telling me how corrupted the elected government officials were. My parents’ properties in Taipei were being trashed by 流氓 intruders. The KMT government would hire gangs to do the dirty work.

At this point, I know our phone calls and all communications were compromised, including emails. Especially, after I emailed to the chief of police and his deputies about Mr. Jubilee. I am absolutely sure my family home has also being compromised in ward 33. The same goes to my parent’s properties in Taiwan.

In the meantime, our neighborhood has seen an influx of renters than owners. Seneca College is about 15 minutes away from my family home by car, the surrounding neighborhoods were full of home owners who rents out to students from China.

I knew my neighbors, being a conservative in a liberal neighborhood for as long as I have. They were mostly teachers, school principals, firefighters, correctional officers, security guards, nurses and social workers. Our neighbors have come and gone. They may claim they were conservatives, they were not.

Ward 33, once considered an affluent neighborhood, until For Rent signs started to pop up in the front lawns of several houses or six cars parked on a double car driveway. Our family never rented out our home to anyone.

When my parents were not in Taiwan, we were always targeted by the Chinese real estate agents who wants to list our home. They were told by our neighbors that we wanted to move. My mother was not happy.

We were also targeted by the driving school cars, circling around our streets. Almost all were Chinese from the mainland. On most days, the company signage on top of driving school car appears to have the same company address as Mr. Jubilee's business address building in Scarborough.  

My mother was once confronted by one of the driving school instructor, who came up to our driveway where my mom was standing and slammed his fist on the car next to her. Miraculously, the instructor was pulled away by a postman who happens to appear out of nowhere. My father was in the house calling the police.

I was so happy to receive my parents at Pearson International Airport, until my mother came out in a wheelchair. I was shocked.

To see my mother in a wheelchair. My father, my siblings, my family never told me. My mother never told me. I gathered my father have forbidden my mother to say anything to me. My mother looked like someone who just being released from Auschwitz concentration camp.

She was all bones.

The only thing that stuck out was her stomach, as hard as a basketball. Her mucus was as thick as chewing gum. She has to sleep in an angle or she would cough uncontrollably.

Later on, to wash her body, I saw a huge ugly scare on her back. It looks like a shape of a huge spider or the size of someone's hand. She has a broken bone on her upper arm, you can see the bone broken apart, not connected as one bone. Her toe nails on both feet were "severely" deformed by fungal infection. There were dirt underneath her fingernails. She has trouble walking, her feet was very swollen near the ankles. Her cloth smelled like urine.

My mother was broken.

Except for his teeth, dark, which requires a well overdue cleaning. My father, on the other hand was perfectly fine. No marks, no fungal infections. Very mobile. He was on the phone to his friends ready to play golf within days of his return from Taiwan. My father has no intention to care for my mother. He sees my mother as burden. He is too ashamed to be next to her.

By October 2012, After a month living with my parents, I noticed for the first time, how my father and mother's roles have changed. Instead of usual husband and wife quarrels, my father would have the upper hand on all matters. He would ignored my mother when she needs to go and ready to leave the bathroom. He was abusive towards my mother. When one parent is in a wheelchair, the relationship is no longer equal.

There were well over ten calls made by my father to the police about me defending my mother. Of course, when the calls got through, his version of sequence of events to the police were how uncooperative I was. I am thinking, how many times my father has made these type of calls to the police in Taipei, for whatever the reason. I wanted to know if my parents' neighbors have heard my father abusing my mother. I wanted to know how often my father left my mother unattended. I wanted to know, why my father pulled the telephone plug when mother was telling me about an incident that happened a day before, where a neighbor on the third floor in her building threw a bucket of water over my mom while my parents were going up to their home on the fourth, the top floor. My father scolded my mother for 亂講話 speaking nonsense. Pulling the phone plugs happens a lot. My father’s excuse, being frugal.

My father started to call the police whenever I defended my mother. He wanted me to leave the house against my mother's wishes. My father would threaten my mother if she disagrees with him in front of the police. He would threatened not to give her money, I saw how my mother begged my father to take her to the bank, my father refused. Now, I understand why my mother never send pictures. My father's favorite name for my mother was useless.

Within a month of their arrival from Taiwan, I was homeless.

I have stayed at eight different homeless shelters in GTA. Again, I can speak with some authority about the operational side and my first-hand experience dealing with case workers and social workers.

By February 2013, my mother was being cared for by personal support workers (PSW) from Circle of Care. My siblings didn’t care for the PSW nor did my mother. But, my siblings never offered to care for my mother, not one sibling. They are too busy. Knowing how unreliable my father was. I suspect my siblings have installed nanny cams to keep an eye on my parents. The police knew my father was abusing my mother, but sided with my father. The police says it was my father's house. Although, my mother confirmed with the police it was under a joint name.

Many times my mother wanted to stay with me but my father refused. My mother begged me to take her with me, she says she rather stay in the homeless shelter with me. the police watched. The police chose to ignore my mother. When she asked the police officers to remove their shoes before coming into our home. That's our custom. They ignored her.

Two reasons for the restraining order, initially, it was not to attend within 500 meters, then the judge reduced to 250 meters, so I can use highway 404 and 401, see map above. Absolutely no contact to my family home forever:

1. The Toronto Police Association supports ward 33 incumbent, Shelley Carroll. Their office building was within minutes from my family home at 180 Yorkland Blvd. See map above upper right corner of my picture.
2. To prevent "yours truly" from running October 2014 municipal election against the incumbent. I would be the first Taiwanese-Canadian conservative leaning candidate.

In ward 33, our voting location is at Muirhead Elementary School. See map above.

In June 23, 2014, The Toronto Police Association moved to the same office building as JPMorgan Chase, Chase Card at 2075 Kennedy Road, in Scarborough. That's ward 40 councillor, Norm Kelly. He was the former deputy mayor who assumed full power from former mayor Rob Ford. It was no secret, I started canvassing in ward 33 neighborhoods long before Toronto's municipal election VOTE2014.

My mother would still be alive today, if I wasn't taken away from her. My mother wanted to be with me, because she wanted to live. She was getting better. My father didn't like that because he would have to entertain my mother.

She believes she would live to 97. I believed her. I believed she can. I really do.

The police have failed my mother.

What I like to do…

 I like to travel, I like to read, I like to eat, I like to talk, but, what I like the most, is to be myself.  I cannot pinpoint one particular thing, if I did, it wouldn’t be accurate.  I love to explore, to see what is possible.  I like everything life offers.  I love to live to a hundred and twenty.  I love life.  I am happy knowing I can make a difference.  That is more than enough for me.

I like having good friends, authentic friends, brave friends, friends who have courage, you know it when you meet them.  I have.  Those friends will always be there, no matter what.  I can’t explain it, I guess the best way to describe it, winning a lottery.  Even though I have never won a lottery, I would say the feeling would equal to that.  Having great friends in your life is as valuable as gold, in my view.  No faking it. 

What is the most attractive characteristic traits I like in a person?  Well, this trait is rare, almost none existing, it is called honesty.  Again, I would say, if you ever come across someone who exhibits this quality, do not let them go, hang on to them, like your life depends on it, seriously.  They are a rarity, almost extinct.  Another thing, do not brag about it, you will be laughed at, for having a friend who is honest.  You will be bullied, for having a friend who is honest.  Simply put, keep quiet.  Basically, you will be viewed as an idiot.  I am being kind, when I use the word idiot.  One more thing, please do not simply take my word, try it, and see it for yourself.  

So, what does Jenny really like to do.  So much so, after reading this fabulous blog, you would be compelled to try it immediately.  I would suggest trying something really different, boring even, you see, I was told once, in our society, we no longer value honesty.  One must lie and cheat to get ahead.  Naturally, I beg to differ.  So, if you are like me, just be yourself, value yourself, of course, there will be moments of doubts, but do not give-up.  Watch your life being transformed right before your eyes.  That, I can promise you.

 

 

 

Canada Goose

Parka Maker Canada Goose Opens 96,000-sq.ft. Toronto Plant

Summary

Canada Goose has opened a new global headquarters doubled its floor space to 96,000 sq.ft. in Toronto.  The high-end parka makers added another 57,000-sq.ft. floor space to a new location in Winnipeg.  This year, they have hired 200 workers for both locations.  Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss deliberately chose Canada over better profit margin overseas to reignite a once vibrant manufacturing industry at home.  He is prepared to take the risk and show the world that Made-in-Canada brand will succeed.  The biggest challenge Canada Goose faces is finding skilled sewers.  Mr. Reiss is working with the government to make that change.  In a statement released to the company, Canada Finance Minister Joe Oliver praised Mr. Reiss' accomplishment for transforming a small warehouse his family started in 1957 into an international recognized brand in over 50 years -- a true Canadian treasure.  As of today, Canada Goose employs six percent of cut sew labour industry and has witnessed a four-thousand percent growth.  In the same statement, Mr. Oliver congratulated Reiss for the new headquarters and the factory expansion which will create new jobs and will benefit to the entire country.  Dani Reiss’ high quality jacket made for extreme weather has sold over 50 countries. 

Canada Goose’s new headquarters was originally built in the 1940s for school and office supply firm Hilroy, now owned by ACCO Brands Corp.  The Canada Goose facility in Winnipeg was first built in 1916 for the Stovel Printing Co. and features leading-edge technology in fabric cutting, down-filling and sewing.

Opinion

What more can I say.  Mr. Reiss is one out of a million.  He made a strategic move when he chose Bain Capital.  He knew Bain’s approach for doing business.  He knew what he had to give-up in order to fulfill his dream.  To gain a leg-up by forfeiting a majority stake in Canada Goose to compete in an already over saturated high-end retail market in Canada – let alone the world.  That didn’t stop him.  Instead, he went after the Asian market.  It looks like he has all the ducks lined-up with the support of Bain Capital and the Government of Canada.  What happens next, is anybody’s guess.  I’m just glad I have a front-row seat.  “Dani, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Humphrey Bogart would say about now.  You’ve got to give Mr. Reiss chutzpah.

Questions and Feedback

Name a Canadian business (in retail) that did not go bust?  Will Mr. Reiss be bought out?

References

Canadian Manufacturing Staff. (2014, October 15). Parka maker Canada Goose opens 96,000-sq.ft. Toronto plant.  Retrieved from URL: [Online Newswire] http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/parka-maker-canada-goose-opens-96000-sq-ft-toronto-plant-141682/

Canada Goose

PFSweb Partners with Canada Goose to Provide a Comprehensive eCommerce Solution

Summary

One of Canada’s most famous manufacturer known for luxury outdoor jacket (completely Made-in-Canada) has partnered with another global player.  Their specialty is to provide an end-to-end eCommerce solution.  Canada Goose has chosen PFSweb to provide the expertise to expand and enhance their entire on-line operations.  The person to do it is Mike Willoughby, CEO of PFSweb, headquartered in Allen, Texas.  Mr. Willoughby believes his company has the right people to introduce a seamless on-line shopping experience for Canada Goose.  They will provide technology services, development and operational support.  PFSweb is as famous in the industry as the clients they serve, the list includes Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal, LEGO, Columbia Sportswear, Ricoh, Roots Canada Ltd., Diageo, T.J. Maxx, and the United States Mint.  Jacob Pat, Vice President of IT, Canada Goose said what impresses him the most about PFSweb was their track record and their ability to customized solution to Canada Goose. 

Opinion

Canada Goose is getting ready to take the leap into the most competitive market in Asia.  Armed with Bain Capital on one arm and PFSweb on the other.  They are prepared to enter the biggest market on the planet, China.  There is a lot at stake for all parties involved.  First, Bain Capital former co-founder, Mitt Romney is rumoured to be running for 2016 Presidential Election.  Second, Canada is also up for an election next year.  Canada Goose is Canada’s pride and joy, can’t afford to have a bad launch in Asia, can we?  This maybe the litmus test for the newly inked US-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) which takes effect October 1, 2014.

Questions and Feedback

Do you believe Canada Goose and Bain Capital are the right fit?  Do you think BIT will make a difference on the success of Canada Goose in Asia?  If so, how?

References

MarketWired. (2014, September 17). PFSweb Partners with Canada Goose to Provide a Comprehensive eCommerce Solution.  Retrieved from URL: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/pfsweb-partners-with-canada-goose-to-provide-a-comprehensive-ecommerce-solution-nasdaq-pfsw-1948106.htm

 

Canada Goose

Canada Goose applauds passage of Combating Counterfeit Products Act in Canadian House of Commons
 

Summary

Canada Goose, a manufacturer of luxury outdoor jackets welcomes the new Combating Counterfeit Products Act.  The new legislation was passed in Canada's House of Commons.  The Member of Parliament across the party lines stands united to vote for the new anti-counterfeit measures to stop counterfeit products from entering Canada.  Soon, the new law will protect consumers, businesses and Canadian jobs.  Kevin Spreekmeester of Canada Goose believes the new law will soon benefit all Canadians. Counterfeiting is a $650 billion a year global problem. In Canada, counterfeit goods are in every industry from over-the-counter drugs to computer devices, including but not limited to alcohol, contact lenses and cosmetics, to smart phones, medicine, toys and batteries.  According to RCMP, counterfeit products are becoming a threat to the health and safety to Canadians.

Opinion

Have you ever had a friend who will point out to you a counterfeit item on another person?  What were your thoughts?  How about what else on him/her were fake. I've known people who have purchased counterfeit products.  In fact, they would tell me only idiots pay retail.  They believe buying a knockoff item is harmless.  The thought of owning anything fake has never appeal to me.  The only way for me to purchase a counterfeit product -- is being duped.  Personally, I’d rather pick a no-name over a knock-off.  Don’t get me wrong, I love quality brands.  But not enough to own a fake.  What worries me the most, is products appears to be real even with a trained eye you cannot tell the difference.  The way I see it, the phrase 'fake-it-till-you-make-it,' is way overrated.         

Questions and Feedback

Do you believe counterfeit products are here to stay?  Can you tell a fake from an original?  What do you think, Can a $650 billion counterfeit industry be too-big-to-stop?

References:

CNW PR newswire company (2014, October 2), Canada Goose applauds passage of Combating Counterfeit Products Act in Canadian House of Commons.  Retrieved from URL: [Online Newswire] http://cnw.ca/m4U6X
 

 

Canada Goose

You’ll never guess who owns Canada Goose now

Summary

Bain Capital, a private-equity firm co-founded by Mitt Romney, who became famous for losing 2012 presidential election to Obama, is making a bid for a majority stake in Canada's retail darling Canada Goose, a maker of high-end winter jackets.  Bain is known to squeeze profits out of companies they acquired by stripping off parts deemed non-performing non-profitable.  Most of which will be oblivious to most consumers.  Dani Reiss will continues to run his company with a minority stake.

Opinion

In his recent video, Dani Reiss talks about his greatest lesson ever learned was 'trust'.  He says he has been too trusting in his business.  Dani then chose Bain Capital to expand Canada Goose in Asia, specifically, China.  By charging as much as a thousand dollars for a ‘Made-in-Canada’ winter jacket, Canada Goose has moved into the luxury market.  Reiss needed a company with business connections, deep pockets and a reputation to boot to tackle China market.  Canada Goose is completely made in Canada.  Reiss often describe his business motto using the word authentic.  Not surprisingly, Canada Goose sued Sears for copycat their trademark jacket.  China loves luxury brand.  How long do you think China, a mecca for knockoffs to target Canada Goose? (If not already?)  I believe Reiss made an excellent choice by selecting Bain Capital to shoulder most of weight, allowing Reiss to concentrate on what he does best, creating the brand.  A brand that has made his company a household name.  Not too shabby, when one of Canada's most powerful cabinet minister invites Reiss to sit on his economic advisory council.  When the Prime Minister of Canada posted the tour he took at your Toronto factory, Dani, you have arrived!

Questions and Feedback

Do you believe Dani Reiss made the right choice by signing with Bain Capital?  If yes, what would you think his challenges would be in his fight against counterfeits in China?

 

References:

1. Steve Kupferman (2014, December 10), You'll never guess who owns Canada Goose now, Toronto Life, Column: RADOM STUFF, Associate Editor at Toronto Life.com Twitter @SteveKupf, “Tags” Bain Capital, Canada Goose, Dani Reiss, Mitt Romney, RADOM STUFF, Toronto Life.  Retrieved from URL: [Online Magazine] http://www.torontolife.com/style/random-stuff-goods/2013/12/10/bain-capital-canada-goose/
2. Amina Ligaya (2013, December 10), MADE-IN-CANADA still key for Canada Goose after sell to U.S. private-equity firm Bain, CEO says, Financial Post, Column: Retail & Marketing, Reporter at Financial Post, Twitter @arminaligaya, “Tags” Investing, Retail, Marketing, Bain Capital, Canada Goose, Dani Reiss, Retrieved from URL: [Online Newspaper] http://natpo.st/1fhdb6P
3. Department of Finance Canada (2014, July 16), Harper Government remains committed to strengthening the economy for all Canadians, Finance Department: Minister Oliver Announces his Economic Advisory Council, Retrieved from URL: http://www.fin.gc.ca/n14/14-093-eng.asp

Video/Images:

4. johnr a.k.a. John Richardson (2013, March 1), In-Text Citation: Goose Goose: Everyone in T. Dot wears the same dame coat, Toronto Life, Column: RADOM STUFF, Retrieved from URL: [Video file] http://youtu.be/2_tBxsXVlhs Twitter @johnrvideo 
5. Matthew Sherwood (2013, December 10), In-Text Citation: Dani Reiss will remain president and chief executive of the company that started in a small warehouse in Toronto 55 years ago, National Post, embedded on Financial Post Column: Retail & Marketing, Retrieved from URL: [Online Images] http://natpo.st/1fhdb6P
6. Peter J. Thompson (2013, December 10), In-Text Citation: None. (Hand full of Canada Goose circular patches) Financial Post, Column: Retail & Marketing, National Post, embedded on Financial Post Column: Retail & Marketing, Retrieved from URL: [Online Images] http://natpo.st/1fhdb6P
7. Peter J. Thompson (2013, December 10), Financial Post, Column: Retail & Marketing, In-Text Citation: Canada Goose parkas on display, National Post, embedded on Financial Post Column: Retail & Marketing, Retrieved from URL: [Online Images] http://natpo.st/1fhdb6P
8. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada (2013, November 8), In-Text Citation: Prime Minister Stephen Harper tours the Canada Goose Inc. manufacturing facility, Retrieved from URL: [Online Images] http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media/prime-minister-stephen-harper-tours-canada-goose-inc-manufacturing-facility

 

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Bully?

When I first signed-up for Twitter, I thought about the different types of people I would follow, one of the names that came to mind was Anderson Cooper, anchor of CNN news program, AC 360, his interview with Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana during 2005 Katrina crisis left a deep impression. In the interview, Anderson asked Senator Landrieu, should the federal government bear responsibility for what happened. This was before the Katrina victims were evacuated from New Orleans to the Astrodome. At the time the people that chose to stay were still at the Superdome. Clearly, the Senator was so removed from what was happening on the ground thanked Presidents Clinton and Bush and a list of others for passing an unprecedented $10 billion supplemental bill to keep FEMA and the Red Cross up and operating. Anderson was clearly incensed from her response cuts her off and said “…I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi and to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated.” As Cooper said later in an interview with New York Magazine, “Yeah, I would prefer not to be emotional and I would prefer not to get upset, but it’s hard not to when you’re surrounded by brave people who are suffering and in need.”

So, it’s not surprising when AC 360 tweeted about a teen suicide on Twitter - it got people’s attention. A tragic story of a 15 year-old student who was stalked and harassed by her bullies from September until she killed herself on January 14. Phoebe Prince emigrated to the U.S. from County Clare, Ireland with her mother and three sisters on September 2009, settled in a small New England town near Springfield, Massachusetts about 95 miles west of Boston. Phoebe’s mother moved to South Hadley to be close to her side of family and Phoebe’s father stayed behind in Ireland for his job.

According to a classmate who knew Phoebe agreed to speak on TV, but fearing retribution from the same bullies and becoming a victim himself, requested his face be silhouetted. He held back tears when he said Phoebe was a kind and beautiful friend who tried very hard to fit in. She took her life after she was constantly bullied by her nine school classmates. They have threatened her in person, via internet and over text messages. Her bully started right after the school’s football quarterback stopped dating her, he then went back to his previous girlfriend, it was at that time the girlfriend enlisted others to taunt Phoebe everyday, threatened to beat her. Witnesses said at one point she was reduced to tears in Latin class. Phoebe reached out to school administrators for help telling them she was scared and wanted to go home, but she was turned away. She told her friend the administrators would do nothing, left with few options and no protection from school, she resorted to hide in school washroom to avoid being beaten and she would ask to walk between friends to avoid being surprise attacked by her bullies. On her last day, she was subject to more verbal attacks by her bullies who yelled out derogatory names at her in front of school administrators inside school library.

School officials said they didn’t know about the bullying - no warning signs. But, it turned out there were plenty of warning signs, inside the school many knew about the bullies, it was common knowledge among Phoebe’s friends, other students, and faculty members. They knew, but no one reported it. Three former students came forward after Phoebe’s death. They said the bullying inside the school was so prevalent that they had to ask for transfer to another school to avoid being bullied. Sometime, they saw good kids had to tolerate bad kids’ bullying in order to fit in.

In an interview with AC 360, South Hadley Superintendent, Gus Sayer continues to defend the school. At times, he even contradicted himself. When a school is led by a person like Superintendent Gus Sayer, who blames the victim for other students nasty behavior, is not only irresponsible but obviously lacks the sensitivity to hold such an important position. However, based on what we’ve seen in the past and if the past is any indication, Guy Sayer was simply marching to the beat of the same drum as Senator Mary Landrieu during Katrina crisis, he was as clueless as Senator Mary Landrieu – by thanking the teachers and administrators at South Hadley for doing a great job.

We don’t have to look very far to find companies or organizations that have chose “not” to address critical matters quickly. Just look at the way Vatican has handled the latest priest sex abuse scandals, as the Church comes under scrutiny over widespread pedophile priest. There are still people out there who are from a generation where they were raised to respect “not” question the people who are entrusted to uphold the highest standard of integrity and fairness in an organization - including priests, and look where it got us. There are good and nasty people in every profession. We have seen news reports covering people who behave badly in good professions. So why, is it still a “taboo” to have an opinion that is critical of teachers? When a bully sees his or her behavior bears no consequences, they take it as permission to bully some more.

The bullies at South Hadley High School thought they can get away with bullying good kids should absolutely be punished. The way I see it, if you arrest the bullies, then the teachers must bear responsibility. Our children are in school to learn from their teachers not the other way around. So, if a teacher can’t find a way to protect and prevent a kid from bullies, then they are not fit to teach. Bystanders who stood and watched others being bullied are just as guilty as those who bullies. When Haiti’s most devastating earthquake erupted on January 12, no one outside of South Hadley knew in just two more days an eruption of a different kind was about to put South Hadley on the map. The school bullies never thought they would be arrested, generating sympathy for Phoebe, and made her name synonymous to anti-bullying. Her death has brought calls for more stringent anti-bullying laws in Massachusetts and a state anti-bullying task force was set up as a result of her death. Phoebe was still wearing her school cloths when she was found hanging from a stairwell at her home by her younger sister. I hope she didn’t die in vain.

Last year, a university student from Ireland drowned after going for a swim with friends. Paraic McKeown was in a group of 10 friends who had camped overnight at Toronto Island’s Hanlan's Point, one of the two nudist beach in Canada, (the other in Vancouver) He and two friends went for a swim in an unsupervised area near the observation pier in the morning at 7am. According to the police the water was about 30 to 50 feet deep at side of the pier, they camped overnight on the island and decided to cool off with a dip in the lake. Paraic was found in about eight feet of water and was in the water close to 45 minutes to an hour before he drowned. Three men were all friends but two of the men made it back to shore and then realized their friend was missing. They were about 32 feet from the shore when Mckeown failed to surface. Lifeguards wouldn’t be on duty until 11am. His father in an interview said his son was a "strong swimmer" and he didn't know what caused his son to drown. Police investigation revealed nothing suspicious about the drowning but was (at the time) still investigating the circumstances.

Pat McKeown 57, said his son had never been to Canada before arriving in June in Toronto, on a SWAP Working Holidays, known as the Student Work Abroad Program (period ranging 3 -6 months) working as security guard at a popular patio bar Splash near the lake on Queens Quay area. Studying law, economics and politics at Dublin City University, McKeown 20, was about to enter his final year. Heartbroken and devastated, Pat, in a telephone interview from his home near Dundalk, Ireland, where Paraic grew up said "Journalism was something he had in mind, and writing, that was always a strong point," Paraic was scheduled to return to Ireland on Aug. 25th less than a week from the day of his fateful swim.

Though empty beer cans were clearly visible at the camp site, police say they don't believe alcohol played a factor in the drowning. Splash is owned and operated by one of Canada’s top nightlife and entertainment companies in the industry. Founded in 1987, Liberty Entertainment Group has been in the food service industry for over 20 years, a stable of most exclusive nightclubs, restaurants and banquet hall in Toronto. Their restaurants and clubs are located in some of Toronto’s prime business and tourist area, including Splash. Their patrons on Bay Street (equivalent of Wall St.) are listed in the who’s who among top executives. After McKeown’s death, Liberty and other businesses including Molson Coors made a one-time $85,000 corporate donation to support Toronto Transit Commission 2009 New Year’s Celebrations, a fare-free service to those who wanted to make the responsible choice and arrive home safely by using public transit after ringing in the New Year.

To most people, Paraic was just a security guard at Splash, but to his family, Paraic was a treasure. Just three weeks before his unfortunate death, Pat McKeown visited his son in Toronto and spent 10 days with him, treating his son to dinners every night and checking out Niagara Falls with him. "He loved it here," said a friend, who declined to provide his name. "He loved Canada."

Late 1995, Lehman Brother’s top two deputies had a major fallen out, a hot-tempered fixed-income head, Joseph Gregory, and a devout Roman Catholic president, Christopher Pettit. The fallout begins when Pettit, who has championed moral values to the senior executives with words like “our word is our honor”, began an affair with a woman at the firm. It didn’t sit well with Gregory, who distanced himself from Pettit, holds secret meetings with senior staff behind Pettit’s back, then conspired with others to oust him. At the end, his closest allies at the firm deserted him including Tom Tucker (head of sales), his best friend since kindergarten. On November 1996, without company CEO Dick Fuld’s support, he left Lehman.

Three months after he was pushed out, Pettit who had been drinking, took a snowmobile onto a frozen lake in Maine hit a stump and was thrown out of his seat. On February 15, 1997, a day after Valentine’s Day, he died en route to the hospital from trauma wounds to his head. Pettit, a decorated Vietnam War hero and West Point graduate was adored by the Lehman rank and file. In April’s issue of Vanity Fair promoting her first book, Devil’s Casino, Vicky Ward, journalist and author described Lehman’s top executives, especially, Fuld’s longtime deputies have paid a high price to live a life of isolation, backstabbing, and hypocrisy. Most Lehman insiders wouldn’t talk on record until CEO Richard Fuld is out. Some would say Pettit was the real captain not Fuld, others would say he died intoxicated in despair not alcohol, but Ward said the firm was both a fishbowl and a shark tank - they own you.

When ever I read about leaders who are morally challenged and integrity deficient, I am reminded of Dorothy Parker’s quote: "Whenever I want to know what God thinks of money, I just look at the people he gave it to." Well, I think she pretty much sums-up everything for us.

This month’s ‘A-must-read' is on the failure of Lehman Brothers A Colossal Failure of Common Sense by insider, Lawrence McDonald.  He said it takes just one phrase to understand the failure of Lehman Brothers "24,992 people striving hard, making money, and about eight guys losing it" in a interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep.  McDonald, a Vice President traded high yield bonds for Lehman Brothers from 2004 to early 2008.  During the time he was there McDonald never met CEO Dick Fuld, nor have his bosses. He left Lehman, shortly after his mentor, Larry McCarthy had resigned in March 2008.  The Quants, written by Scott Patterson of WSJ details the near collapse of the financial system a year before the one in September 2008, and why the mathematical formulas written by the Quants didn't anticipated the collapse of Wall Street. Third book, Corrupt to the Core: Memoirs of a Health Canada Whistleblower written by Dr Shiv Chopra recounts events where he and two other Scientists were pressured by their bosses at Health Canada, who were bribed by multinational manufacturer to approve cattle drug in 1998.  They accused Monsanto of bribery in bid to OK questionable product, including Bovine Growth Hormone.  Prior to the mad cow disease crisis in Canada, Chopra warned the government that the current handling of feed to cows was inadequate. He was one of the first Whistleblowers in Canadian public service.  Within a week of Paul Martin (former PM) narrowly winning the 2004 general election, Dr. Chopra and two other Health Canada colleagues, Dr. Margaret Haydon and Dr. Gerard Lambert, were fired after decades of opposing the use of antibiotics and hormones in food production. He has written Corrupt to the Core as the result. [A must read]

Last week, I saw two great documentary films - Food, Inc. and The world according to Monsanto. In Food, Inc., a film by Robert Kenner, it examines a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad. The documentary is narrated by experts, Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma). You will look at food differently after you watch Food, Inc. In The world according to Monsanto a film by French journalist Marie-Monique Robin, originally aired on French television that you won’t see on American television. It looks at the devastating cost of Monsanto’s race over the last decade to genetically engineer and patent the world’s crops. It captures the human toll of Monsanto’s drive for GMO market domination. [What's up, Doc.]

In January, a Swiss research firm Covalence released a list of  the world’s least ethical companies, not surprising these  companies are all big multi-billion dollar (mostly) oil and mining  corporations.  The list got me thinking, why are these companies  continues to show-up on the list, year after year? Shouldn’t somebody be  knocking on their doors asking questions?  Then again, maybe not, maybe we'll  wait - until an irreversible tragedy happens - like what South Hadley  teachers and administrators did. [Did you know]

On a lighter note, I welcome people like Chef Peter X Kelly, who walk the talk.  In a recently interview with The Valley Table, he spoke openly and passionately about his philosophy for success, he shares his views on hospitality, service, staff training, and how a customer in his restaurant should be served.  He said, the customer is always right.  He quotes from Danny Meyer:  “The road to success is paved by mistakes well handled.”  For some, one measure of successful hospitality is how well the disasters are managed.  I couldn’t agree with him more.  If you are in NYC neighborhood, try Freelance in Piemont, NY. [My picks]