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Conrates Peter Truman on 50 years sober

August 10, 2021
Congratulations you were the only one of the Kingsmere Quebec cottage gang that took the leadership in joining A.A.Im sure my finding the program in California in 1990 ish was with your spiritual impetus some what the reason behind my surrendering to admitting to this chronic disease.I received  a two year chip at your speakers meeting in Toronto of which was the last time we met. Best man at our wedding, and the intervention you so kindly did for me near Kingston when I was being  bullied because of a controversial book called The Healer by David L.Keyston uncut  story of the life of teacher healer Mary Baker Eddy he Dave had just visited Prince Edward County.You kindly read the book afterwards. Rose Maureen McGee.

An Exceptional Canadian

July 29, 2021
I met Peter in 1951 when we both started our first year at UNB -- Peter was taking Arts courses and I was registered in Electrical Engineering. He joined the UNTD while I joined the COTC. He was very tall and I was somehat shorter. Two different young men. Peter's influence (as well as that of his father) was mainly responsible for me switching to Arts when I transferred to RMC in 1952.
I followed Peter's career from a distance  and admired his newspaper articles and his reporting on TV. In my view, he set the standard for all in his profession.
Eventually my wife, Marjorie, and I were delighted to meet Eleanor and to exchange the hosting of dinners: conversations were lively, fun and always interesting. Eleanor and Peter were a wonderful couple..
Marjorie and I join Peter's family and many friends in mourning his passing. Peter was an exceptional Canadian.
May he rest in peace.

Family mattered so much to Peter

July 28, 2021
Peter had a keen sense of history and the value of family. I am Peter's first cousin.  Not long ago he gave me a copy of a letter written by our joint  grandfather, John Main Trueman, hand written on University of Illinois letterhead, dated Dec.22, 1905, where John was a member of the Department of Dairy Husbandry. The letter was to John's brother George, and apparently was part of a discussion on their mutual religious beliefs and practices shared with their father Howard, (our great-grandfather) who was the author of a history of the Chignecto Isthmus (published in 1902) where the family farm had sat near the border between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick since the 1780's. Peter had found this letter among his father Albert's papers. Albert was my mother's brother.

In this letter John says: "it is very easy to write the commonplace views and ideas, and leave out anything that  belongs a little deeper in our nature, or is nearer to our real self. As I wrote father last week, we were cradled in argumentative Christianity and it comes naturally to us to set in order the arguments for and against both the beliefs and practices of our religion." He goes on to mention doubts about the doctrine of Christ's sacrifice as an atonement to God for mankind's sins "which I got from Father years ago while hoeing turnips in the field between the orchard and Richard Carter's."

Peter was fascinated by that last comment. We both had a pretty good idea what field that was, and wished we could have been hoeing turnips with them back in the late 18 hundreds to have heard our great grandfather's arguments. I suspect that Peter also saw in it a family origin for his own credo, for, with regard particularly to current events, if ever there was a man with an active curiosity, a talent for setting in order the evidence, and a tendency to healthy skepticism and frank, honest comment, it was Peter. Peter suspected that the reason why the letter was found among his father Albert's papers was that his father had found it among his grandfather John's papers, never mailed. Had it gone to George it would not likely have come into Albert's hands. Perhaps it had been a little too candid even for his father and his brother's ears. John went on to become the Principle of the Truro Agricultural College, and George to be the President of Mount Allison.
 
One of my best memories of Peter was of him and Eleanor hosting my mother's (his aunt's) 90th birthday party at their beautiful home on Amherst Island. It was quite a big affair, and was the sort of family occasion, and kind of effort, that Peter and his lovely wife Eleanor, deeply enjoyed and were happy to do. Mother lived to 99 and often recalled that day. It was definitely the highlight of her golden years. Thanks Peter and Eleanor. 

One last thing . . .

July 25, 2021
Peter and I became good friends after we conspired to have him leave what for him had become the manically unhinged executive-level newsroom atmosphere in Toronto to anchor a new 6:30 p.m. national newscast from our bureau in Ottawa. That was two or three years before he finally succumbed to the joyful relief of early retirement and, in 1988, left television news altogether. 

For the next 23 years, he and Eleanor settled on Amherst Island overlooking Lake Ontario, where he happily expounded the virtues of life after television, and to me, life after alcohol. 

Peter was 50 years sober last April 4. He was instrumental in the process that led me to follow his lead. He was an anchor for me and so many others in every sense of the word.
One last thing: Peter ended his first newscast for Global in 1974 with a short opinion piece and the sign-off: "That's not news, but that too is reality." It was a phrase his superiors loved, and it came to define him .  .  .  and to appall him. He heard it from old viewers far more often than he'd ever said it himself, on the street, in stores and restaurants, everywhere he went. He regretted saying it for the rest of his life. 

Beyond the News

July 25, 2021
I learned a great deal from Peter when I came to Global, about writing and presentation, certainly, but also about the power of 'calm'. And I'm sure it took a good dose of patience to guide this 'non-news' gal they'd brought into the news family back then. But our stronger  bond was formed traipsing across Canada, as we zeroed in on the essential stories and the lessons we were learning from our Great Canadian Parks. It was an honour and privilege to work with Peter for the five years of that series and I will always cherish the memories of our bird watching and whale watching; our fording of glacial streams, crossing scree slopes, balancing on the sides of inflated zodiacs, and marvelling at the wonders of this country, together. I could not have been in better company. Farewell, adventurous spirit!
July 25, 2021

Peter Trueman was a giant in Canadian journalism. 

He always delivered the events of the day with honesty and clarity, he saw beyond the 'noise' and delivered sage, thought provoking commentaries - created often in just minutes on his manual typewriter up at the anchor desk.

Peter embodied accuracy and integrity in journalism.
He didn't chase eyeballs. He chased the truth.

I was honored to write for his newscasts, to learn the craft -from a master.

My example.

July 25, 2021
I was twenty-three, in the back left and feeling like an imposter in this accomplished crowd. Peter, as he would my whole life, was helping guide me through his example. Right to near the end, with his ability to demonstrate his love of his family, the natural world, and comfort in his own skin, I learned by watching him.He told me once “life got sweeter” the longer he was fortunate to enjoy it. That helped me transition to retirement and have faith that a journalist’s curiosity survives forever in a gentler way. Thanks for always showing me the way, Peter. A life well lived

Stories

July 25, 2021
This section was created to help friends and family share memories of Peter. Whether you choose to write a life chapter or would simply like to say a few words - we encourage you to share your memories here.
July 24, 2021
I first met Peter in December 1973, 3 weeks before Global Television went on the air.As part of the Control Room team, we spent many hours rehearsing newscasts as we headed toward launch day, Jan.6, 1974.I was just in my early 20s and in only my second year of TV having moved to Global from my first job at CHEX TV in Peterborough.I was quite aware of who Peter was and was in awe that I was there working with this respected, “larger than life” journalist and personality.We were all very young and I’m sure he must have wondered during those rehearsals what he had gotten himself into and whether we would ever make it to air but his professionalism and calmness got us through and we excitedly launched that first newscast on Mon.Jan.7, 1974.Having Peter Trueman anchor our news gave this brand new station and news department well needed credibility and his newscast ending commentaries became an instant staple.

In February, 1974, Global was already in financial trouble but a steady Peter refused to let the uncertainty compromise his work and the newscasts continued. On the day new ownership took over and Global was saved, Peter ended the newscast with a short announcement that Global would continue and on the closing shot, an exuberant Peter threw his script into the air in celebration as staff came into the shot to shake his hand.When things calmed down, I went to the anchor desk and collected that script as a memento.I still have that script and cherish it to this day and it will mean even more to me as I remember Peter and the excitement and honour of working with him during his years at Global.

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