One particular experience of my nephew’s gave me a good insight into the kind of person Graham was. When campaigning for office, it makes sense to go where crowds are, so Chris had taken a position outside a subway station north of Bloor Street (probably Rosedale), where the sidewalk was always busy. A car pulled up and Bill Graham got out and came over to chat with Chris and ask how he was doing. Suddenly, quite a few pedestrians stopped and came over, having recognized Graham. He immediately indicated that it was Chris with whom they should speak, that he had just stopped to say hello to a fellow candidate.
I was remembering this incident when I finally met Bill Graham. My wife and I were in the Maritimes and were staying overnight at a hotel in PEI. Going into the hotel dining room for breakfast, I saw Graham seated in the corner, along with a couple of prominent provincial politicians. To my wife’s dismay and disapproval, I jumped up and went over to their table. I apologized for the intrusion but said that I just wanted to say hello on behalf of my nephew, Chris Tindal. Graham immediately got out of his chair and gave me a smile and a warm handshake. He remarked on what a fine young fellow Chris was and how he had enjoyed getting to know him. He remarked that he wished that his wife had been here, since she was quite impressed with Chris, adding with a smile that he thought that she might even have voted for him!
When Bill Graham retired, there was a farewell party for him in his Toronto riding. I remember reading about the fellow who had been Graham’s chauffeur when he was in the federal Cabinet. This chap travelled to the party in Toronto, at his own expense. He was quoted as saying that he wouldn’t have missed the party for any reason. He explained that when he drove for Graham, if a meeting ran late, when Graham came out he would apologize to the driver for keeping him waiting!
We live in a world of increasingly polarized politics, where personal attacks replace respectful discussion of varying views. But as Bill Graham remarked in his farewell speech to Parliament, “surely we owe it to ourselves to disagree without being disagreeable.” He ran for office to give back to his country and he certainly did. Getting to know him, even a little, is a memory that I will treasure.