Tributes are pouring in for beloved Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, with friends and fans recalling his playful humour and creative spirit.
The Newfoundland native and award-winning star of the film “Away From Her” died Saturday at age 92.
Admirers from actors and directors to politicians and everyday Canadians mourned and honoured Pinsent in the wake of his passing, calling him a national treasure, a charming storyteller and an icon of the arts.
Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley, who directed the 2006 drama “Away From Her” in which Pinsent turned in his best-known and most highly acclaimed performance, said he had “an enormous capacity for joy in absolutely everything he did.”
“It was infectious and educational,” she said on Twitter. “There wasn’t a moment without a twinkle of mischief and a determination to enjoy the moment.”
Comedian and fellow Newfoundlander Rick Mercer says Pinsent was “a true renaissance man,” adding the actor, writer, director, painter and one-time dance instructor was the “epitome of class and one hell of a funny guy.”
Similar reflections came from Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey.
“he made us laugh. He made us cry. He brought our province to the world stage. He represented us in a way like no other,” he said on Twitter. “Thank you, Gordon Pinsent, for all you did for the arts, for Newfoundland and Labrador, and for our country.”
Jonathan Torrens of Trailer Park Boys and Street Cents fame recounted an amusing tale from the filming of “The Shipping News,” a major Hollywood production starring Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett.
When the film was being shot in Newfoundland, “so the story goes, Kevin Spacey arrived in town with several security guards in tow,” he said on Twitter.
“If you’ve ever been to Newfoundland, you would know that the people there wouldn’t care who he was,” Torrens said. “They would care more about what he was.”
Most of the guards were sent home, and eventually a barricade set up to keep “curious people away” was taken down, he said.
“What they didn’t see coming was that people would walk onto the set right past Kevin Spacey and over to Gordon Pinsent,” Torrens said. “The real star of the movie. A local boy. Who remembered everyone’s name and kept disappearing to play crib and have a cuppa with locals. Legend.”
He added: “No one can ever act as well as Mr. Pinsent but we should all aspire to act like him. A true gentleman and Canadian Star if ever there was one.”
Gordon Pinsent was one of Canada’s most iconic actors. He was passionate, captivating, and endlessly talented. His family has said that he “loved this country and its people, purpose, and culture to his last breath” – and I hope he knew that we felt the same about him.
“He was my hero. My friend. My family. And easily the funniest man on earth,” Dunn, creator of the Queer As Folk reboot, said on Twitter. “Eternally grateful to have known you.”
Canadian film critic Richard Crouse said he was in awe of Pinsent’s talent and even more so his “ability to be a true gentlemen, always ready with a story and a laugh.”
“Everything you’ve heard about him is true, he was one of a kind,” he said on Twitter.
Even Canadians that had never met Pinsent offered short but heartfelt eulogies on social media, like one Twitter user who simply said: “I didn’t know Gordon Pinsent but it sure feels like we’ve been friends my entire life.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2023.
Gordon had an enormous capacity for joy in absolutely everything he did. It was infectious and educational. There wasn’t a moment without a twinkle of mischief and a determination to enjoy the moment. pic.twitter.com/xEATSy4kZd
Gordon Pinsent was our North Star. A true renaissance man. Actor, writer, director, painter and one time dance instructor. Gordon beat the path and made it possible for all that followed. The epitome of class & one hell of a funny guy. The Rowdy Man is gone but never forgotten. pic.twitter.com/TRpCCvK9mQ
The Rowdyman. Gordon Pinsent was a legend that paved the way for all of us working in entertainment. He was my hero. My friend. My family. And easily the funniest man on earth. Eternally grateful to have known you. pic.twitter.com/nEdP5aYsLR
We lost a legend yesterday. Gordon Pinsent. I’ll never forget our times together. True red blooded proud Canadian. He was adored the world over. Loved hearing tales from my pal @kbruce237 .. ????. They adored each other .. gonna miss you pal. What a life you had Gordon ???? pic.twitter.com/Jp0fT7QkoP
TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.
The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.
It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.
The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.
That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.
Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.
