Town Crier’s Opportunities to Promote Brantford Abroad

My good wife, Betty Jean and I travel in full regalia.  She, in an 18th century Polonaise gown and I, in my Town Crier uniform.  At border crossings and in airports, our dress creates quite a stir.  (Ask Mayor Chris Friel, with whom I travelled to the Nations in Bloom World Championship.)  Questions are asked by children, adults joke around with us, airline staff give us special consideration and sometimes announce our presence on the plane; and with each and every opportunity, souvenirs of Brantford are handed out

Aside from the interest generated by looking as though we just stepped out of a time warp, the following are specific occasions, other than during competitions, at which we were able to tout Brantford’s virtues audibly and laudably:

During the summer of 1994, CBC Radio had Bill Richardson host a summer replacement series for Vickie Gabereau.  I called on their phone-in line and cried an invitation to all Canada to visit Brantford.

When I travelled to Bedford, England, in 1996, with Mayor Friel and Hans Loewig to attend the Nations In Bloom World Championship, I was invited by the Town Criers of Peterborough and Market Deeping, England to tour Peterborough and to have tea with the Lord Mayor.  I was able to bring greetings from Brantford at four historic locations and, of course, tea with the Lord Mayor became it’s own special event.

During the Nations in Bloom event, as well as being part of the Brantford presentation, I manned the Brantford booth and called on all delegates to see what was special about Brantford.

In 1997, we went, in regalia, on a walking tour of Victoria, B.C. guided by some old friends.  Our friends were frustrated that the tour was taking so long because tourists were stopping us every few meters for photos.  “That’s my job.” 

In 1999, we were invited on board the replica of Captain Cook’s ship The Enterprise.  The occasion garnered front page publicity for both the ship and us.

In 2000, after the Millennium Town Crier Championship in Ghent, Betty Jean and I went to Paris, where we rode to the top of the Eiffel Tower and bade all in Paris and yea, the World, to visit Brantford.

In 2001, we were asked to appear on the news (in the studio) in Flint, Michigan to promote a competition in Holland, Michigan.  Of course, I proclaimed that I am from Brantford and held up the scroll with our city logo on it while Betty Jean gave souvenir pins to the news casters.

Also, in 2001, I came 2nd at the Lord Mayor of Chester’s Invitational World Tournament.  Local press was out in full force, but, for me, it was great thrill to have been interviewed live on the BBC.

That same year, following the World’s in Anacortes, Washington, we visited my sister in Whitehorse, Yukon.  I was asked to proclaim underway a refurbished narrow gauge railway for tourists.  I exchanged gifts with the Yukon Minister of Tourism and was covered in two Whitehorse newspapers and on both CBC Radio and Television.  I also introduced the Yukon regional evening news for CBC Television.

In August, 2001, TVO covered the Provincial’s in Ingersoll.  Because I won the event, Betty Jean and I were featured considerably during the broadcast.  Also, Frank Burtch, of the Brantford Film Club, video-taped the whole event and submitted it in a video competition.

In 2002, the North American Championship was held in Philadelphia.  My photo was used in 3 local newspapers and I was quoted in 2.  One paper reprinted one of my cries in its entirety!  I was also seen on ABC, NBC, FOX and CNN. 

Later in 2002, following my 5th Provincial Championship win, I was featured in the newspapers of St. Thomas and London as well as on a London radio station.

In September of 2002, I was interviewed, with Town Criers, John Webster and Betty Kading, on Municipal Insight, a talk show hosted by Ann Mulvale, Mayor of Oakville.

In 2003, Betty Jean and I added colour and pageantry to two of Britain’s largest tourist sites: The Eden Project and Land’s End, both in Cornwall.  We were photographed extensively and handed out lots of Brantford souvenirs.

In 2004, once again we attended the Lord Mayor of Chester’s World Invitational Town Crier Tournament - this time placing 3rd overall and 3rd in the Grosvenor World Tournament.  I was interviewed for an hour on an ITV morning radio show and by an ITV lead in to the Euro Cup coverage of the game between England and Switzerland.  As well, we were featured on Sky TV, BBC 1 and several local newspapers.  I almost ran out of Brantford souvenirs while covering venues such as the Chester Town Hall, the Grosvenor Mall, the Duke of Westminster’s estate and MBNA Britain’s head quarters.