The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 3

CANADA THE OTTAWA CITIZEN THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1998 A3 Reform official caught 1 Pulitzer prize-winning author Carol Shields, above, former boxer George Chuvalo, top right, and retired Tory strongman John Crosbie, right, are among 72 Canadians named yesterday to the Order of Canada. Canadian giants awarded 'i 7 '1 it'. A 1 ttiioii' miim mki 1W1 A 1 ,) 4. I 4 v. i i in lie Fib about identity to get on talk show 'harmless bit of fun senior operative says By Sheldon Alberts She identified herself as "Betty from London." But her real name was Nancy, from Peterborough-Nancy Branscombe, a senior Reform party official, admits she gave the false name during a telephone call-in program on CBC Newsworld in order to criticize former Tory cabinet minister John Crosbie on the airwaves.

"I thought it was a harmless bit of fun but obviously, in hindsight, it wasn't," Ms. Branscombe, manager of Reform's "United Alternative" campaign, said yesterday in an interview. "I did say I was 'Betty from I wouldn't do it again. I'm sorry it happened, but I don't know what else I can say." The call came June 27 during CBC Newsworld's On The Line, an hour-long current affairs program which had Mr. Crosbie on as a guest.

Ms. Branscombe, who lives in Peterborough, felt she had to publicly challenge Mr. Crosbie for his on-air criticism of Reform. She explained that she didn't feel the news network would let her on the air to talk to Mr. Crosbie if producers knew her real name.

Her ruse was exposed when an anonymous caller phoned the local media to tip them off about the real identity of "Betty." The lie has drawn a rebuke, but no formal discipline, from Reform Leader Preston Manning. "Nancy's actions were clearly unacceptable," said Mr. Manning's press secretary, Jim Armour. "She understands that, and we're confident that it will not happen again. No further action will be taken on this matter." Ms.

Branscombe's job is among the most senior staff positions within Reform. She and Calgary-Southeast MP Jason Kenney head the party's attempt to create a new political coalition, primarily with Conservatives, to fight the federal Liberals. Ms. Branscombe is a member of the Ontario Tory party. An executive with the federal Conservatives in Peterborough said the incident shows Reform is desperate.

"She got caught in an out-and-out lie," Mary Rogers told the Peterborough Examiner. Ruth-Ellen Soles, a spokeswoman for CBC in Toronto, told the paper that Newsworld tries to screen out calls suspected to be "political plants" and said the network "takes these things very seriously." It's common practice for political strategists to instruct supporters to flood radio or television talk shows with calls in an attempt to demonstrate support for, or against, particular issues. But Ms. Branscombe said she has never lied about her identity in the past. "No, believe me," she said I 1 J.

1 nation iiumesi iiuiiour Carol Shields, George Chuvalo, John Crosbie, Robert Homme named to Order of Canada RV HaWN WdlTON A giant of literature, a giant among sports figures and a 1 ii true giant 01 television are among me laiesi recipient 01 the most coveted award Canada can bestow on its citizens. Author Parol Shields, hoxine ereat Georee Chuvalo and Robert Homme, the host of the long-running children's television series 1 ne tnenaiy uiani nave Deen appointed 10 the Order of Canada, the governor general's office announced yesterday. The trio are among 72 Canadians who will be installed to the Order at a ceremony at Rideau Hall this fall. The Order of Canada recognizes Canadians for outstanding contributions to the eountrv or internationally. Ms.

Shields of Winnipeg, revered around the globe for her richly detailed and moving novels, has been appointed an Officer of the Order. She has already been awarded the DnlifTaf Diio irA Clnxiamrw enpral'c itiarartr AwprH for named an Officer of the Order. "I'm not exactly bowed under with honours, so I have nothing to complain about but it's very nice to know that you've been found worthy of this recognition," the always-frank Mr. Crosbie said in an interview. "It's difficult to comment about.

It's very nice to be recognized, I suppose. I don't know who put me in for it or what they said," he added. "It's difficult for me to know why I was included, but I'm very pleased to be included of course." The former Tory politician is famous for his enormous sense of humour and his incredible skills as an orator and his passionate pleas in favour of preserving federalism. Now retired, Mr. Crosbie described his 27 years of political experiences the controversial as well as colourful in the recent book No Holds Barred, My Life in Politics.

Also named a Member of the Order is baseball guru Paul Beeston. Now president of Major League Baseball, the highest-ranking Canadian in major league history, Mr. Beeston help build the Toronto Blue Jays into one of baseball's most successful teams, winning back-to-back World Series championships earlier this decade. Ottawa physician John Earl Wynands has been named an Officer for his work at the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Civic Hospital's Heart Institute. Nepean's Deanna Marie Brasseur has been named a Member of the Order for her groundbreaking work as a jet fighter pilot with the Canadian Armed Forces.

Margaret Norrie McCain has been honoured as an Officer of the Order for her tireless work in the interests of the family and the health care system. The former lieutenant governor of New Brunswick has selflessly served the public interest through her efforts to raise funds to research the causes and effects of family violence, the governor general's office said. Promoted to Companion, the most prestigious honour within the Order, is neurosurgeon Charles George Drake. As an international authority on brain aneurysms, Dr. Drake "has pushed medical boundaries by finding ways to operate on areas of the brain that were previously considered unreachable," the governor general's office said.

Also promoted to Companion is Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice (Rocket) Richard and fellow hockey icon Jean Beliveau. Vancouver-based rocker Bryan Adams has been promoted to Officer. More than 3,500 Canadians have been named to the Order since the award's inception in 1967. The Stone Diaries, and recently captured the Orange Prize, Britain's richest literary award for fiction, for Larry's Party. The governor general's office said the 63-year-old writer is "ranked among the best English writers today." The office added that she is "Known for her impressive historical range, impeccable detail and elegant prose, she has the power to enthral readers with her stories, immers- inotKpm in th livpc anH timAC of" thp rharartprs" m6 u.wu Decades of Canadian children grew up watching Mr.

Homme and his puppet friends Rusty the rooster and Jerome the giraffe. In naming the entertainer and educator with a Member of the Order, the governor general's office 1 r. x-i 1 i aescriDeo. tne oration, resident as an icon 01 cnnu-hood." Toronto resident Mr. Chuvalo has been named a Member of the Order both for his athletic prowess and his emotional fortitude.

He was Canada's heavyweight boxing champi- 1 Robert (Friendly Giant) Homme, top, has been named to the Order of Canada. Hockey legend Maurice Richard and internationally popular rock star Bryan Adams were promoted within the Order. on ior 11 consecutive years ana is now an lmpassioneu speaker against drug abuse, which killed three of Mr. Chu-valo's sons. He now speaks to students and teachers about the dangers of narcotics.

John Crosbie, a fighter from the political ring, has been Alcohol fuelled Reena Virk attack VICTORIA Alcohol helped touch off a brutal assault on Reena Virk before her death last year, one of the teenagers involved in the attack said Tuesday as she was released from jail. "It was a bunch of teens drinking and partying and, like, I think some of i 1, 1 1 1 y.Hi 1 1 ft 1 Sheldon Kennedy gets key to Toronto TORONTO A hockey hero on a crusade to help sex-abuse victims was given the key to the city of Toronto yesterday. "Awesome," said Sheldon Kennedy when Mayor Mel Lastman made the announcement at City Hall. The former National League Hockey player, who was sexually abused by a junior hockey coach, has been inline skating across Canada to raise funds for a healing centre in rural B.C. The gesture comes a day after Mr.

Lastman backed down on his commitment to give the Spice Girls a key to the city during their upcoming visit. He said he changed his mind after they broke their commitment to play a free concert the day after Saturday's sold-out show. -n aicuiiui, uic 13-ycai-uiu gui saiu. HTl 1 1 We had nothing to do with that." At trial, court heard that two other girls lured Reena out that night, planning to beat her up. They met another group of teens, including the 15-year-old, and the group ended up under the bridge where the two girls started the fight with and several others joined in as Reena tried to run away.

The 15-year-old was released on community supervision because of her behaviour and progress while in jail. She took all the programs available along with counselling. "I've matured a lot and learned from my mistakes and I want to move on," she said. "It's going to be with me forever." Special to the Citizen away from that beating under a bridge over a suburban waterway. She drowned later that night after a separate assault.

The 15-year-old, who spoke clearly and calmly as her mother sat nearby, looked like a typical teenager hanging out at a mall. She said she had met Reena only once before, had nothing against her and didn't know many of the other people hanging out under the bridge that night. She said she didn't know why she threw punches at Reena before yelling at the group to stop. "It was just a mess. It happened so quickly." she said.

"It was just something I got caught up in," she said. "It wasn't like people thought it was. We weren't murderers. mere were 101s 01 people uruns and they didn't know what they were getting themselves into, including me. I don't think I would have been around or done it if I'd been sober." The girl, who cannot be identified because she is a juvenile, was released after serving half of a five-month sentence for assaulting Reena, 14, last Nov.

14. She was one of six convicted One of the teenagers convicted of assaulting Reena Virk, above, blamed the attack on alcohol. 01 assault causing Doaiiy narm. Reena, dazed and bloodied, walked COMING IN THE OTTAWA CITIZEN -3 TOMORROW Small trucks, big changes Nearly every compact pickup truck has been redesigned in the past year or two. We SUNDAY Killer virus on death row The last known living specimens of smallpox, one of the oldest viruses haunting mankind, are to be destroyed.

THE CITIZEN'S WEEKLY SATURDAY Hop on the Ale Trail Move over wine lovers, six breweries in Waterloo, Guelph and Elora have started their own tasting tours for the suds lovers out there. TRAVEL 7 compare price and features. WHEELS i. fc-4if I TOMORROW: Small Soldiers is coming to a theatre near you, and a fast food restaurant, and a toy and Movies.