and, my father was born no more than a few miles from where he died, in ottawa - the city he spent his whole life in. he grew up in the ritchie street projects, of mixed ancestry, but of deep francophone catholic upbringing. middle names are william & joseph, and i'm lucky i escaped that, really. christened as an infant. spoke french as a first language. went to church every week. played hockey - for the 67's, even. so, he looked like an italian jew, but he was as french canadian as can possibly be...