Allan Fotheringham
Encyclopedia
Allan Fotheringham is a Canadian
newspaper and magazine journalist. He is widely known by the nickname Dr. Foth and styles himself as, "Always controversial... never at a loss for words" and also as "the Great Gatheringfroth".
Secondary School, where he was active in student leadership. Upon graduation he studied English and Political Science at the University of British Columbia
and worked at a variety of media outlets during his career. He was best known as a columnist, originally at the The Ubyssey, a still-operating student newspaper noted for its "biting" reporters and editors. He was hired straight out of university by the Vancouver Sun during the heady times of the late '60s, the final days of the old Bennett Socreds
provincially and the advent of Pierre Trudeau
federally. Fotheringham's columns and commentaries brought him national attention as well as wider syndication and a broader subject base. He was one of the leading specialists in explaining the twisted world of British Columbia politics during his time at the Sun.
He later wrote for Maclean's
, where his column appeared on the back page of the magazine for 27 years. Fotheringham's column was so widely read and so influential that he is said to have made Maclean's "the magazine people read from back to front". Some of his more memorable political nicknames include "the brogue that walks and talks like a man" (for Jack Webster
) and its offspring, "the jaw that walks and talks like a man" (for Brian Mulroney
). He is credited with coining the terms Natural Governing Party for the federal Liberals, and the Holy Mother Corporation for the CBC in the course of writing his column.
In 2001, Maclean's underwent an editorial revamp, and Fotheringham's column was moved to an inside page to make room for a guest column. Soon afterward, Fotheringham left Maclean's, and became a columnist for The Globe and Mail
. He had a national syndicated column that is in 20 newspapers but retired from regular contributions in 2007 due to illness. He still writes for the Globe and also for the National Post
and a Calgary magazine called The Roughneck. He has also written material for Fifty Plus magazine, Readers Digest and Nuvo
magazines.
For 10 years, Fotheringham was a regular panelist in the latter years of the CBC Television
program Front Page Challenge
, replacing the deceased Gordon Sinclair
.
Fotheringham has honorary degrees from the University of New Brunswick
and the University of Saskatchewan
.
Fotheringham was of a generation and an era in journalism in British Columbia that, in retrospect, have both historical importance and a luminary air and all of whom were part of Fotheringham's regular social and professional milieu, and all of whom he knew:
"The Tories are like cream --- rich, thick and full of clots." - LOOK MA...NO HANDS (1983)
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
newspaper and magazine journalist. He is widely known by the nickname Dr. Foth and styles himself as, "Always controversial... never at a loss for words" and also as "the Great Gatheringfroth".
Life
Fotheringham attended ChilliwackChilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
Secondary School, where he was active in student leadership. Upon graduation he studied English and Political Science at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
and worked at a variety of media outlets during his career. He was best known as a columnist, originally at the The Ubyssey, a still-operating student newspaper noted for its "biting" reporters and editors. He was hired straight out of university by the Vancouver Sun during the heady times of the late '60s, the final days of the old Bennett Socreds
British Columbia Social Credit Party
The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...
provincially and the advent of Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
federally. Fotheringham's columns and commentaries brought him national attention as well as wider syndication and a broader subject base. He was one of the leading specialists in explaining the twisted world of British Columbia politics during his time at the Sun.
He later wrote for Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
, where his column appeared on the back page of the magazine for 27 years. Fotheringham's column was so widely read and so influential that he is said to have made Maclean's "the magazine people read from back to front". Some of his more memorable political nicknames include "the brogue that walks and talks like a man" (for Jack Webster
Jack Webster
John Edgar "Jack" Webster, CM was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, radio and television personality.-Life in the United Kingdom:...
) and its offspring, "the jaw that walks and talks like a man" (for Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
). He is credited with coining the terms Natural Governing Party for the federal Liberals, and the Holy Mother Corporation for the CBC in the course of writing his column.
In 2001, Maclean's underwent an editorial revamp, and Fotheringham's column was moved to an inside page to make room for a guest column. Soon afterward, Fotheringham left Maclean's, and became a columnist for The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
. He had a national syndicated column that is in 20 newspapers but retired from regular contributions in 2007 due to illness. He still writes for the Globe and also for the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
and a Calgary magazine called The Roughneck. He has also written material for Fifty Plus magazine, Readers Digest and Nuvo
Nuvo
Nuvo may also refer to:*NUVO , a newspaper in Indiana*NUVO , a Canadian lifestyle magazine*Nuvo , a liqueur.*NUVO , Network Unaffiliated Virtual Operator...
magazines.
For 10 years, Fotheringham was a regular panelist in the latter years of the CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
program Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge was a long-running Canadian panel game about current events and history. Created by comedy writer/performer John Aylesworth and produced and aired by CBC Television, the series ran from 1957 to 1995.-Synopsis:The series featured notable journalists attempting to guess the...
, replacing the deceased Gordon Sinclair
Gordon Sinclair
Allan Gordon Sinclair, OC, FRGS was a Canadian journalist, writer and commentator.-Early life:Sinclair was born in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. In 1916, before finishing his first year of high school, Sinclair dropped out to take a job with the Bank of Nova Scotia...
.
Fotheringham has honorary degrees from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
and the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
.
Fotheringhamisms
Affectionately known as "Foth" as well as "Dr. Foth", he dubbed himself "the Great Gatheringfroth" and coined some well-known terms in BC political history:- Lotusland -- British Columbia, particularly Victoria
- the Granite Curtain -- the Rocky Mountains
- the Tweed Curtain -- the Oak Bay, British ColumbiaOak Bay, British ColumbiaOak Bay is a municipality located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian Province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Capital Regional District, it is a community east of and adjacent to the City of Victoria...
-VictoriaVictoria, British ColumbiaVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
border, referring to the former's deep conservative British flavour - "the Brogue that walks and talks like a man" -- journalist and broadcaster Jack WebsterJack WebsterJohn Edgar "Jack" Webster, CM was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, radio and television personality.-Life in the United Kingdom:...
) (who had many nicknames, not all of them Foth's. Foth later adapted this phrase to "the Jaw that walks and talks like a man" for Brian MulroneyBrian MulroneyMartin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S... - the Natural Governing Party -- the federal Liberals
- the Holy Mother Corporation -- the CBCCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
- Jurassic Clark -- former prime minister Joe ClarkJoe ClarkCharles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
- Coma City -- Ottawa
- Narcissus on the edge of the rainforst - VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
- VANCOUVER, THE NARCISSUS of the West Cost
Fotheringham was of a generation and an era in journalism in British Columbia that, in retrospect, have both historical importance and a luminary air and all of whom were part of Fotheringham's regular social and professional milieu, and all of whom he knew:
- Bruce HutchisonBruce HutchisonWilliam Bruce Hutchison, was a Canadian author and journalist.Born in Prescott, Ontario, Hutchison was educated in public schools in Victoria, British Columbia. He married Dorothy Kidd McDiarmid in 1925, around the same time that he began his journalism career as a political reporter in Ottawa...
-- editor/writer and historian, publisher and editor for many years of the Vancouver Sun, author of several books on BC history and geography, notably The Fraser, concerning that river - Len NorrisLen NorrisLeonard Matheson Norris, better known as Len Norris , was a longtime editorial cartoonist for the Canadian newspaper Vancouver Sun from 1950 to 1988...
-- influential political cartoonist. - Paddy Sherman -- editor/writer and political commentator, also an editor at the Vancouver Province and known for his histories and biographies
- Jack WassermanJack WassermanJack Wasserman was a nightlife and celebrity columnist for the Vancouver Sun newspaper from 1949 on. He also had a radio program on the Vancouver talk-radio station CJOR ....
-- society and celebrity columnist and occasional political commentator for the Vancouver Sun during the wild heyday, glitter and sleaziness of the Vancouver nightlife and society whirl (and scandal) in the 1950s and 1960s - Paul St. Pierre -- columnist, author and MP for Coast-Chilcotin. St. Pierre's writings on the ChilcotinChilcotin DistrictThe Chilcotin District of British Columbia is usually known simply as "the Chilcotin", and also in speech commonly as "the Chilcotin Country" or simply Chilcotin. It is a plateau and mountain region in British Columbia on the inland lea of the Coast Mountains on the west side of the Fraser River....
and CaribooCaribooThe Cariboo is an intermontane region of British Columbia along a plateau stretching from the Fraser Canyon to the Cariboo Mountains. The name is a reference to the woodland caribou that were once abundant in the region...
districts as well as his profile in -- and, when not serving as MP, editorial columnist and commentator on -- the arcane backroom politics of provincial politics and big business. An educated scholar as well as crafty politician, now retired in Mexico and writing from there on occasion - Margaret Lally "Ma" Murray -- editor/writer and wife of publisher and MLA George Murray and Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
recipient. A Kansas farm girl come to Canada to find a man and make good, she became famous for her spicy wit and backcountry, down-to-earth style, "Ma" was co-founder with her husband of Bridge River-Lillooet News and the Alaska Highway News, and both had a high profile in provincial politics - Jack WebsterJack WebsterJohn Edgar "Jack" Webster, CM was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, radio and television personality.-Life in the United Kingdom:...
-- pioneering talk radio host who eventually launched a TV interview program that became the nerve center of British Columbia, and sometimes national, politics. - Pierre BertonPierre BertonPierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
-- KlondikeKlondike, YukonThe Klondike is a region of the Yukon in northwest Canada, east of the Alaska border. It lies around the Klondike River, a small river that enters the Yukon from the east at Dawson....
-born historian and commentator, prominent in Canadian politics and popular historical writing, a "character" who, late in life endorsed marijuana legalization and rolled a joint of marijuana on television, on the CBC comedy program Rick Mercer Report - and more, plus the artistic and entertainment and business cocktail-party crowd of the era, and various colourful shady characters, some of whose careers Fotheringham is noted for profiling and covering in the course of his columns
Books by Allan Fotheringham
- Collected and Bound (1972)
- The World According to Roy Peterson with Gospel According to Allan Fotheringham (1979)
- Malice in Blunderland (1982)
- Look Ma...No Hands (1983)
- Capitol Offences (1986)
- Birds of a Feather: The Press and the Politicians (1989)
- Last Page First (1999)
- Fotheringham's Fictionary of Facts and Follies (2001)
- Boy From Nowhere - A Life in Ninety-One Countries (2011) - Memoirs
Quotes by Allan Fotheringham
"In the Maritimes, politics is a disease, in Quebec a religion, in Ontario a business, on the Prairies a protest and in British Columbia - entertainment." - Malice in Blunderland (1982)"The Tories are like cream --- rich, thick and full of clots." - LOOK MA...NO HANDS (1983)
Awards
- Southam Fellowship in Journalism, 1964
- National Magazine Award for Humor, 1980
- National Newspaper Award for Column-writing, 1980
- Inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame, 1999
- Bruce Hutchinson Lifetime Achievement Award, 2002