My encounter with Conrad Black

Photos

Lobby of the Opera House

see larger image

uploaded by alfred ng

• 

  uploaded by alfred ng | add comment

• 

  uploaded by alfred ng | add comment

• 

  uploaded by alfred ng | add comment

• 

  uploaded by alfred ng | add comment

I also have a personal encounter with Conrad Black; it was early this year, a couple of months before he was to stand trial in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Chicago. I was given a ticket to attend the opera at the new opera house here in Toronto. As I was pushing the glass door to enter the lobby, a rather large figure on my right also entered at the same time. I was surprise to found it was Conrad Black former media baron, the Lord of Crossharbour to open the door himself just like I!

 As he entered the lobby with me follow on his heel, it was a rather surreal and interesting experience. He never made eye contact with anyone and just walk straight ahead even it was a crowded lobby everywhere he went there was a three bodies space around him. Later, as I followed his trial in Chicago I had no idea he was such an opera buff, with company jet to Bora Bora and stop in Seattle just to attended “The Ring” (a three days opera) which cost of $560,000 and billed to the company. $15,000 to get on the benefit committee of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The half million donation to the Canadian opera company, there were even talks he will make president of the board of director if he acquitted.

 Many of the patrons all steal a glance of him and right away went back to whatever they were engaged in before he arrived.

As I followed him to the second floor, turned out Barbara Amiel was there to meet him. The same thing happens, there were that invisible space around them.

 Later, I was told by a season ticket holder at the members lounge during the intermission the same thing happened everyone just turn their backs on them.