Dubin Remembered For Johnson Inquiry
TORONTO — Charles Dubin, the former chief justice of Ontario who headed a royal commission into drug use in amateur sports in the wake of the Ben Johnson scandal, died Oct. 27 of pneumonia in Toronto. He was 87.
The Hamilton-born Dubin, who was renowned as one of the country’s top lawyers, was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal, the province’s top court, in 1973. He became chief justice in 1990, staying on until 1996, when he rejoined his old law firm, Torys. He was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 1997.
Dubin also headed a 1981 royal commission into airline safety that recommended more stringent safety measures, and he headed one of two inquiries into baby deaths at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.
But he is perhaps best remembered for heading the 1989 royal commission on doping in amateur sports – known as the Dubin Inquiry – which was convened after Johnson lost his Olympic gold medal in the 100-metre sprint at the 1988 Seoul games when he tested positive for steroids.
In 1944, he married his wife, Anne, who was also a lawyer. She died last year. The couple had no children.
Kent In Cabinet
TORONTO — Former broadcast journalist Peter Kent, the newly elected Tory MP in what is believed to be Canada’s most Jewish riding, was named to a junior cabinet post last week. The MP from suburban Thornhill – which has an estimated 32,000 Jews, comprising one-third of the riding – was named minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas) in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s new cabinet. In the Oct. 14 election, Kent beat Liberal Susan Kadis, who had been the riding’s MP since 2004.
Quebecer Woos Livni
MONTREAL — A Quebec man tried to woo Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni with an 18-carat gold diamond ring, Ynetnews reported. Laurent Belanger couriered the ring, along with a photo of himself, to Livni with a note written on personal stationery that read, “I am aware of what I’m doing.” Livni’s security opened the package cautiously, fearing a bomb. Livni, 50, who is married with two adult sons, told her staff to send the gift back with thanks.
Israeli Firm Gets $
WATERLOO, Ont. — An Israeli software maker is one of three firms to receive the first major investments from the $150-million BlackBerry Partners Fund, a venture capital pool that helps developers create software for smart phones like the BlackBerry. Lod-based WorldMate Inc. – which was formed in 2000 and makes travel software that lets people check weather and book hotels on their Blackberry – will get $8 million. Two U.S. firms, Buzzd and Digby, will get $3.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively. The fund was set up last May by RBC Venture Partners, Thomson Reuters, JLA Ventures, and Research in Motion, which makes the Blackberry.
Oldest Rockette Dies
TORONTO — The world’s oldest living Rockette, a Jewish woman from Paris, Ont., died Oct. 16 in Toronto at age 97. Jeanette Heller moved to New York in the early 1930s to join the troupe at Radio City Music Hall that became the Rockettes. After 11 years, the 5-foot, 4-inch dancer came back to Toronto to care for her mother during World War II. She later returned to New York, where she was a dancer and producer. She came back to Canada in 1975. She never married or had children, the Toronto Star reported.