Pierre and family when they made a trip from Whitehorse down north to Dawson by small boat in 1972. Photo is from a Berton family Christmas card.

PIERRE BERTON PASSES INTO YUKON HISTORY

WHITEHORSE (December 1, 2004) - The Government of Yukon is saddened to learn of the passing of Pierre Berton yesterday.

ìMr. Berton will long be remembered for his literary works depicting the life and times of historical Yukon,Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor said.

In addition, Berton was instrumental in starting the Berton House Retreat, allowing his childhood home in Dawson City to be used in the pursuit of literary excellence.

The program, initiated by Berton, is organized in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts by the Berton House Writerís Retreat Society in Whitehorse, and the Klondike Visitorsí Association and the Dawson City Library Board in Dawson City.

The retreat, launched in 1996 with Toronto writer, Russell Smith, was enthusiastically supported by Berton who promoted the program, carried out fundraising campaigns and took an active role in selecting its writers.

ìOver the years, a number of professional writers have lived and worked in Dawson,Taylor said. ìTheir benefactor graciously gave his time and expertise to writers, editors and publishers throughout Canada.

During his career, Berton published more than 40 books. He worked as a newspaper columnist, a magazine editor with Macleanís and as a broadcast personality.

Canadians will long remember him for his quick wit and engaging smile on the long-running Front Page Challenge television program.

In addition to his prestigious career, he received numerous honourary degrees and served as the first Chancellor of Yukon College.

ìOn behalf of the Government of Yukon, I offer our sincerest condolences to Mr. Bertonís family,Taylor said. ìWe hope they receive comfort knowing that this Canadian cultural icon will be remembered as a true gentleman and statesman by all who were touched by his creativity and generosity.

Pierre Francis deMerigny Berton

July 12, 1920 - November 30, 2004

Pierre passed away on November 30, 2004 at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, seven children and 13 grand children.

Pierre was born in Whitehorse July 12,1920 and lived in Dawson from about a year later until 1932, when the family moved to Victoria.

Pierre and I were good buddies when we were in school in Dawson. There was also Alec McCarter, Pierreís sister, Lucy and Helen McCarter.

We had good times sledding on the streets; skating, either in the skating rink in town or if it was busy with hockey we were out at a dredge pond where the new ball diamond is today. We would clear the snow off the ice and spend the day there. Usually there was a bon fire going and occasionally wieners or marsh mallows to roast.

The cold winter weather did not seem to bother us to much. If it was 60 below (Fahrenheit) we stayed in the house a good part of the time. The only Gym that was available was the old Methodist Church on the corner of 5th Ave. and Church street, where the Alexander McDonald Lodge is to day.

In the spring and fall before winter arrived there was baseball in the school yard or Minto park. We always had something to do. We had to make much of our own fun. There was no TV, or radio. Once in a while we went to a show at one of the two theaters if we had two bits, the price of the show.

Our homes did not have running water, only electricity. There was an out house at the back of the lot, and we didnít spend any more time there than was necessary.

But life was good in Dawson. There was a scout and cub troop in town that we were members of. A hall across the slough from St. Paulís church was used by the cub and scouts. The minister of St. Paulís was scout master. I believe the hall was once the Bank of Commerce Building

In the spring of the year when there was lots of water many of us youngsters would build rafts in the slough and float from 5th Ave. to Front street. In those days there were many empty buildings in Dawson, most of them wide open. One was the Kaiser Hardware next door to the black smith shop. There was all kinds of hardware still in the building, including hundreds of small tin boxes with small prospectorís gold scales in them. We often stood at the door of the Black Smith shop and watched Billy Biggs while he was shoeing horses. You could hear the ring of the hammer on the anvil all over town.

An Old Timer, Jan Wetzel, had a shop on Harper Street. In there he had machinery which he was always working on, trying to invent perpetual motion. Some of us youngsters would go and visit him. He would talk about his machine. One of us would go around and get it started and yell, ìJan your machine is running!That was the end of him talking to us. He had to see what was making it run. That was when we would leave

My family moved to Burnaby, B.C., in the fall of 1933. I didnít see Pierre until 1943 when I was inÇ the R.C.A.F. in Toronto during my training. He was working at McLeanís Magazine and I went and visited him.

The next time we met was in 1962 during the Goldrush Festival and the Play, ìFoxyî, was on the stage of the Palace Grand. From them on we kept in touch one way or another.

Pierre was a great writer and historian. The books he wrote on Canadian history are wonderful. I have several of them in my library.

Berton Remembered ion CBC Website

To the CBC:

Thanks you so very much for your piece on Pierre Berton's life. I think I am probably his oldest living friend.

I have known him since he was four and I was six years old in Dawson. He and I were the best of friends then and have remained so for all the years.

I think your coverage was so warm and affectionate. The rather abrasive style and arrogance which some accused him of having were not a part of the Pierre Berton that I knew and know. He was shy, gentle, honest, trustworthy, kind, generous, witty, very intelligent, vigorous, clear-headed, fun-loving, could tolerate no nonsense unless it was in fun, spoke up for what needed to be said.

The world is a better place because he lived. Certainly my world is better. It was a great privilege to know him and I am sorry for his wife, Janet, and sister, Lucy and his family in their loss. I share it profoundly.

Alec McCarter

Ed Note: Mr. McCarter, mentioned by John Gould in his memorial piece, posted this letter on the CBC website the day after Pierre Berton's death. Other reflections can be found at "http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/yourspace/berton_death.html"