Story of the Week

June17, 2013

This week, we have a story written by T. Wilson, from Halifax, Nova Scotia. This gentleman is enrolled in in literacy classes at Dartmouth Learning Network (DLN), a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to improving literacy levels in the community. It offers training for adults in language, mathematics, computers and life skills.

Spending time with Stomping Tom Connors

by T. Wilson

It was during the late 1970’s on a Wednesday, later in the afternoon in a small village in Saskatchewan which was about 40-50 miles from Saskatoon. I can’t remember the name of the unique village, but I do remember the name of the Hotel we were at, which was called Red Deer Hotel. Sitting across from me was Stompin’ Tom Connors. I felt happy that he was there, and that I could meet him.

While I was eating my supper in the booth across from Tom Connors, there were two guys going up to Tom and asking him for autographs for this person and that person every two minutes. When I finished my supper I asked Tom Connors if I could come over to sit with him and his bodyguard to talk. When I went over to talk to them the two guys stopped harassing him for autographs, and he was very grateful for it.

Well after awhile talking to Stomping Tom Connors and his bodyguard, I felt like I knew him for all my life time. Tom was a very down to earth person; he asked me if I was going to the concert that he was doing on Friday night which was across the street.

I said to Tom “that the welfare paid for Wednesday night;” well he said, “I will pay for you until Saturday morning.” When Friday night came along Tom took me back stage were I stayed until the concert was over. I felt great being back stage and being the only one that did get in for free. I had a wonderful time.

All of Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning we talked about where we lived and how both places where we were from were unique and beautiful. Stomping Tom Connors and I become very good friends, after all that talking. That’s the only time I met him in person and I consider myself lucky. After that I learned that he was a very nice guy that would give the shirt off his back to somebody in need. I learned from the Halifax Metro newspaper that he was brought up by foster parents just like me. That’s why we got along so well.