We have a pair of important birthdays to celebrate on Art’s History today. The first birthday greeting goes out to a special woman who has long honoured me with her friendship. Geills Turner, wife of my fallen friend, the Right Honourable John Turner. She is celebrating her special day today. Born on this date in 1937, she went on to graduate from Harvard in an era when few women did; introduced computers to riding campaigns in federal elections while campaigning for her future husband in Montreal in 1962, and, became an accomplished photographer in her own right. Happy birthday from Kingston Mrs. Turner!
It is also the birthday of one of the most accomplished journalists of his generation, the Globe and Mail’s Andrew Coyne. A commentator on politics and public affairs respected by those from all party views, Mr. Coyne is turning 64.
Happy birthday from Art’s History to both these distinguished Canadians.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.