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"What is the WEDNESDAY Night Salon?" Diana T. Nicholson Editor Wednesdays bring the world to Westmount Nicholsons celebrate their 900th weekly Salon By Wayne Larsen Curious residents of Rosemount Avenue probably noticed more parked cars on their street than usual on June 2. There was no cause for alarm, however, because this has happened every Wednesday night without fail for more than 18 years. That's how long David and Diana Thébaud Nicholson have been presiding over a Wednesday evening discussion in their dining room, and on June 2 they passed a momentous milestone-900 consecutive weeks-with over 70 guests dropping by to wish them well. "Here's to another 900," was the catch phrase of the evening as glasses were raised in unison to toast the dedicated hosts and thank them for their unflagging hospitality over the years. To highlight the round of congratulations, venerable Westmount artist and architect Harry Mayerovitch -who has attended more than half of the 900 evenings-presented the Nicholsons with a framed caricature of the most regular of regulars seated around the table. In what might be described as the Algonquin Round Table updated and transplanted to Westmount, the Nicholsons' Wednesday Night Salon has created and nurtured an informal environment where many of Canada's top financial, legal, political and creative minds can meet to discuss the stock market and international finance. While the focus remains primarily on these topics-the night of the 1987 stock market crash drew a full house-the spotlight can easily shift to anything from politics and health care to, more recently, Y2K and the threat of municipal amalgamation. But just about any subject can find its way into the Nicholsons' dining room. The hosts take great care to prepare specific topics for each Salon, sending e-mail invitations to the appropriate guests and editing video clips from newscasts and documentaries-shown on three TV monitors around the room-to introduce each discussion. You never know who might appear at the table. Over the years, more than 6,000 different people have sat in on the conversations. Montreal mayors Pierre Bourque and Jean Doré have dropped by, as have MP Lucienne Robillard, MNA Jacques Chagnon, former Quebec premier Pierre-Marc Johnson and Liberal leader Jean Charest. Senior officials such as the British High Commissioner and the managing director of the International Monetary Fund-not to mention a long litany of diplomats, doctors, judges and investors-have also accepted invitations to share their views. Each Wednesday Night Salon invariably begins anytime after 8 p.m., as people arrive, pop open bottles of wine and gather in small groups at the foot of the Nicholsons' staircase. This is where the conversation really flows-from general shop talk to current events-where new acquaintances are made and where old friends catch up on each other's latest endeavours. Ties and tongues are both loosened as lawyer rubs elbows with writer, banker with artist, professor with ambassador, and sworn adversaries in the political arena might find themselves in total agreement over the quality of a certain wine. At precisely 9 p.m., David reaches up and rings a bell above the bar-the not-so-subtle signal for everyone to start migrating toward the dining room for the formal discussion. Those who were just about to make a profound point have to speak quickly, for a few more impatient clangs of the bell cut off any further conversation and all attention is quickly focused on finding a choice seat for the evening's main event. Some nights it's standing room only, and latecomers are delegated to the adjoining living room where they might not be in the thick of the debate but can still pick up every word. Wayne Larsen But the work doesn't end once the last guests have found their coats and gone off into the night. Notes from the evening's discussions are edited down and the next day David goes to work on his computer, adding digital photos and a rundown of the previous night to the ever-expanding Wednesday Night Salon website. Not only has the Nicholsons' two-year-old website grown into somewhat of an institution among Westmount's cyber enthusiasts with its plethora of links, its extensive documentation of each Wednesday Night Salon serves as an effective way for non-regulars, transplanted Montrealers and the general public to keep up with the group's weekly discussions. Recently upgraded and given a brand new look, the site is now available at www.wednesday-night.com Imagine planning and hosting a party for anywhere from a dozen to 40 people every week for a year... for two years... for 18 years. This is what the David and Diana Nicholson have achieved, and they have no intention of stopping now. In fact they look forward to marking Wednesday Night number 1,000 in the spring of 2001. Although the topics for that milestone have yet to be decided, one thing is certain-parking space on Rosemount Avenue will be at an all-time premium that night. Wayne Larsen -30- see also "What is the WEDNESDAY Night Salon?" Wednesday June 2 #900 QUOTE OF THE EVENING: "Education is the process through which a person moves from cohesive ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty." The debate was abbreviated on June 2 1999, on the occasion of the nine hundredth consecutive Wednesday evening salon at the Nicholsons'. The seventy or so assorted guests included academics, architects, artists, authors, economists, bankers, business men, computer geniuses, film makers, journalists, lawyers, physicians,politicians, stockbrokers, various combinations of the above and others all of whom heaped praise on David and Diana Nicholson and explained how each, though a recognized leader in his or her own field, had learned about the world and how it worked at the Wednesday evening salons. They described the warm, comfortable environment in which to float and exchange unconventional ideas. They left no doubt as to the future of the weekly event as long as David and Diana agreed to host it. [Editor's note: for another view of this special Wednesday Night, please click here for Sam Totah's story THE 900th MEETING OF "WEDNESDAY NIGHT" JUNE 2nd 1999 Architect, Artist, Author, certified genius, Harry Mayerovitch presented to the Nicholsons, a framed coloured sketch humorously depicting the weekly salon. ] Me Margaret Cuddihy A brief discussion followed prior to an early break to "let them (the guests) eat cake(s)" provided by Me Margaret Cuddihy, to celebrate and socialize. 2 June 1999        “I AM concerned about the recent evident weakening of support for free trade in this country,” Greenspan said in a speech to an international business conference in Boston.        “Should we endeavor to freeze competitive progress in place, we will almost certainly slow economic growth overall,” Greenspan said in a text that was also released in Washington. 13:30h Wednesday, June 02, 1999        “Protecting markets from new technologies has never succeeded.        Adjustments to newer technologies have been delayed, but only at significant cost,” Greenspan said, sounding a warning he first made in April that the U.S. economy could be harmed if protectionist forces succeeded in erecting higher trade barriers.        In his prepared text, Greenspan made no mention about the state of the overall economy currently, or the central bank’s decision two weeks ago to change policy to favor increasing interest rates if the inflationary pressures start to mount.        Greenspan, repeating warnings he made in a speech in Dallas on April 16, said he was   concerned about increased protectionist pressures. These are a particular source of concern at a time when the U.S. trade deficit has soared to record levels because of the global financial crisis, which has cut sharply into U.S. export markets while increasing imports into this country.        Greenspan said the proper response was to support programs to retrain workers who lose jobs to global competition rather than erecting barriers to protect industries that are no longer competitive.        “It is clear that all economic progress rests on competition,” Greenspan said. “It would be a great tragedy were we to stop the wheels of progress because of an incapacity to assist the victims of progress.”                © 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.         Please tell Maude Barlow to read this and to get off the air! Susan Eyton-Jones FREE TRADE was viewed as a mixed blessing. It is the undisputed wave of the future, with electronic transfer facilitating trade emanating from anywhere in the globe. Electronic trade is viewed as an unstoppable genie, impossible to put back into the bottle, levelling the playing field between suppliers in disadvantaged and wealthy countries. The detractors of free trade see the diminution of real income and the creation of giant companies threatening the autonomy of democratically elected governments. (Editor's note: See links to coverage of the Montreal Conference and the June 4-5 conference of the 10th anniversary of NAFTA, organized by Dr. Des Morton) About FTA and NAFTA menu and by Guy Stanley Big Gains for Canada Two cheers for the FTA by John McCallum Royal Bank Monday, June 07, 1999 Free trade's architects hail their own legacy Terence Corcoran, Financial Post Editor National Post [so they should! DTN] AMALGAMATION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN QUÉBEC is seen as a bureaucratic attempt to solve problems by creating new structures rather than the more logical approach of applying ideas to existing structures. We should think very carefully before throwing cities that have existed and prospered for hundreds of years into the trash can. Greater Boston consists of 101 municipalities, Atlanta 92 and Minneapolis St. Paul, 189. Rather than solve Montréal's problems, the proposed amalgamation would merely paper them over. Diana & Misha ON NATO AND KOSOVO. The only way that the European countries could get together on Kosovo was to endure criticism for some time. Kosovo is not being destroyed by NATO bombing. It is being destroyed by other less obvious events. We appear to be much better at resolving external conflicts than we have proven to be at solving internal conflicts. THE ECONOMY looks good in Canada. This year should see Bank of Canada rates vary between two and three-quarters and four percent, three to four percent in the United States. The United States is likely to tighten policy only be 1/4% in June. Inflation should remain at two percent or less and unemployment drop to seven percent. The current account may end up in surplus. The Canadian dollar is undervalued and will climb to seventy cents U.S. Canada is heading for lower taxation. Mr. Landry is not credible in appearing to favour using the U.S. dollar as a common currency. His motivation in taking such an approach remains suspect. (Editor's note: see Montreal Conference for further discussion of monetary union) The stock market will remain volatile for five or six months, followed by a bull market. Notes by Herbert Bercovitz (In view of the subject, no editing was done other than suggesting links) Sam Totah click for Sam Totah's story Marcus Hope C.G. of Great Britain Harry Mayerovitch For coments and your letters click here

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David Oliver 900! Way back before our story begun David and Diana were having fun, The two of them did their arms entwine "A pot of pretzels, a jug of wine And thou beside me 'fore the fire, What else in the world could our hearts desire? A friend or two, even ten or twenty With opinions and knowledge to share aplenty. Some hormones to cause the slightest quiver, A frisson of scandal to make us shiver. A laugh, a joke, a rendez-vous Fourteen marriages and we're not through!" Says David, "I'll rule this tiny kingdom Find the thin white line that points to reason I'll decree what's outrageous or boring And which political hack is now awhoring. Not philosophy nor search for the pure, I seek something that will endure. Diana's desire is more diffuse, At times she finds David quite obtuse. "These people with money, brains and power They sit and pass with us many an hour. After nudges and gossip and insider tips "It's a rare education that we get," she quips An education, catholic and global It calls from each a desire more noble To serve this world and all its folk By understanding that it's no joke. These hours we pass, they have more meaning As we hear the world and all its keening 900 Wednesdays and nar' a dud, Our only wish is that if we could, We'd go back to each and every evening When round the table, the talk was weaving We saw the world in a different light. Faced Thursday morning, with headache slight, But also with conviction bright Together we have clearer sight. 900 Wednesdays - let's raise a glass And toast our hosts, the top o' the class. "Many hundreds more." we wish you both. "Faith, you are the most intriguing hosts." By Fr. David Oliver

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Vladimir Slivitzky Vladimir Slivitzky 1931-98 Do see his story © 1996 David T. Nicholson Please phone (514)934-0023 Please e-mail us your thoughts. Wed899 Misha Wed901 culture For coments and your letters click here . . . . .

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