Wide-ranging talents chosen to become the newest inductees into Canada's Walk of Fame, now in its fifth year on King St. W
Monty Hall, who hosted the game show Let's Make A Deal for an impressive 23 years, yesterday recalled how discussions began 10 years ago on creating Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto's theatre district.
"I am glad they got it going," said Hall, one of the newest inductees, on the phone from Los Angeles. "It's a great way to show visitors and people who live in Canada some of our famous people."
Peter Soumalias, chairman of the Walk of Fame, now in its fifth year, announced the 11 inductees for 2002 at a press conference yesterday at the Princess of Wales Theatre on King St. W.
The other honourees are actor Dan Aykroyd, Cirque du Soleil, artist Alex Colville, author Timothy Findley, music producer David Foster, hockey star Wayne Gretzky, film director Arthur Hiller, SCTV and The Tragically Hip, with a posthumous spot awarded to big band leader Guy Lombardo. Renée-Claude Ménard, PR director of Cirque du Soleil, talked about being recognized on home turf. "(Cirque du Soleil) is an artist company that is recognized worldwide," he said. "We are proud of that. But it's nice to be recognized as a Canadian talent."
While the other inductees weren't present for the announcement, more than half have already confirmed their attendance at the gala to be held on May 28, Soumalias said. "This isn't just a knock-off of the American version," he pointed out.
Inductees such as Findley, who will not be able to make it to the gala, will be accommodated later according to their schedules.
Hiller, director of such movies as Love Story and The In-Laws, will also be the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards this year. "I've had a few other honours, shall we say, but when you're being honoured by your home country it's your family," he said on the phone from L.A.
Colville spoke of his surprise at getting a phone call at his residence in Wolfville, N.S. "I have to admit, I didn't even know there was such a thing. It makes the pleasure perhaps even greater. I think it's a laudable idea to have many people from different walks of life."
To be chosen, each nominee must have a career spanning at least 10 years. They have to be born in Canada or have spent several formative years here. They also have to have a definitive body of work. "Someone who's just made a movie will not do," Soumalias explained. "(The Walk of Fame) is a celebration of a career."