It Happened in Rawdon

Robert Stanfield (1914 11 04 – 2003 12 16), ‘The Prime Minister Who Never Was’.

The following event, accompanied by photos to verify it was told to me many years ago by Miss C. Being two sides to every story I approached Mrs. L for her version but was brushed off rather brisquely.

Knowing the cast of players not only did I find it comical, I realized it reflected the highly competitive and frantic atmosphere of election time in Rawdon. For the duration of the election period families and friends, usually very close, were suddenly completely disasociated.

For a short period after an election people celebrated or mourned their win or loss and ent back to their usual relationships.

So let us get back to the story at hand.

Although the characters involved are long gone, in respect I prefer not to use names. There is always more than one side to every story.

After reading this version, if anyone would like to share another side, or add to this story, please use the contact provided For this site.

The office of prime minister in the Federal 1968 election in was hotly contested by the highly flamboyant Pierre Trudeau and the very low key Robert Stanfield.

Polls were predicting a tight race and both Liberal and Conservative committees in Rawdon were busily pushing their local candidates. In Rawdon the highly charged atmosphere in committee rooms was no less so, bravado, loud and clear, was sprouting loudly from both sides.

Towards the end of the election period the Liberal committee announced a big rally to celebrate the imminent arrival of their candidate.

To counteract this event, desperate measures were taken by a strong, and very vocal, supporter of Robert Stanfield (who we will call Miss C).

Much to her chagrin this Conservative supporter lived next door to the head of the local Liberal committee whose wife was a very succesful and efficient organizer for the committee.

After much thought, and apparently little consideration, Miss C devised a plan to rival, even surpass the Liberal event.

All day she kept a careful watch on the house next door. When the wife, (who we will call Mrs. L) the organiser of the Liberal Party appeared, a determined Miss C rushed out and called her over to the fence.

After prodding her a bit on the expected arrival of the local Liberal candidate in order to verify the announcement, Miss C announced the Conservative committee would be hosting not merely a local candidate, but the head of the Conservative Party, Mr. Robert Stanfield!

Creating a furious Miss C, Mrs. L pooh-hood the boast stating that it was only bluff. 

This was enough to set Miss C into immediate action.

On realizing what she had threatened Miss C rushed over to the Conservative committee room in hysterics telling them Mr. Stanfield must make a stop in Rawdon or her reputation, and theirs, would forever be tarnished. They would all become the laughing stock of the Township. You can imagine the reaction to this prediction!

Resolved not to leave until the top brass of the local election committee was called Miss C stood her ground.

Promptly, in a great state agitation he appeared attempt to undo the damage. In desperation they called the main Conservative committee in Ottawa to explain the local Conserative detail faced certain defeat and a long term reputaion of deliberate deception.

The situation explained the local committee anxiously waited for the resonse from Ottawa. When ithe response came, to their utter astonishment, the local committee was notified that Mr. Stanfield would be arriving in two days by helicopter.

They were now obliged to prepare a recepton for Mr. Stanfield as well as a suitable landing place for the helicopter.

Luckily the mayor was a relation of Miss C and a supporter of the Conservative Party, getting a landing place at Dorwin Falls was not a problem.

The welcome committee was another story. No one believed Robert Stanfield, the Conservative canditate for Prime Minister, was actually coming to Rawdon.

It was not possible; it had never happened before, etc.. When requested to join the welcoming committee no one was interested. They were not at all interested in becoming party to a no-show event and a laughing stock of all.

To welcome this important visitor the children of Rawdon Consolidated School were bussed down to the landing area to bolster the very limited welcome party.

Much to every one’s surprise, and the Liberal Committee’s dismay, at the appointed time a helicopter hovered over the town, and descended into the area above the Dorwin Falls.

None other than Mr. Stanfield stepped out to a very small crowd. There were no security people, no advisors, only the pilot and Mr. Stanfield stepped off the helicopter.

From there he was taken up to the steps of city hall where another small group had gathered.

Shortly after a short presentation Mr. Stanfield was ushered back to Dorwin Falls and be whisked up and away to continue on his tight agenda of planned stops. 

Many were left to mull over the fact thay had missed a would have been an interesting opportunity and others wailed at being outdone by their opponents.

Although Miss C’s face was saved as well as the reputation of the committee, she strongly resented not being given credit for initiating the great event. 

Whatever your political convictions, one must give this man credit for disrupting his previously scheduled appointments to save face for a small local committee.

There is always more than one side to every story. After reading this version, if anyone would like to share another side, or add to this story, please do.