Phantom-Memoir of the legendary Jack Couture
Just who was the legendary Jack Couture? Yes, we refer of course to the eponymous figure whose name titles page 5 of the Aylmer Bullerin each week (La page de Jack Couture – Lettres à l’éditeur/Letters to the Editor).
Truth be told, I’ve always wanted to know more about this activist columnist, a larger than life character I qualify as “phantom”. (You will excuse the somewhat spooky reference, but let me explain).
I first learned of the existence of the celebrated Jack Couture from my college chum Marc Guertin in the late 60s when we were students in communication in Montreal. (It bears mentioning that Marc was the son of Roland Guertin, Chief of the Aylmer Fire Department, himself also legendary yet known for his extreme modesty).
So it was that Marc, on his return from weekends in Aylmer, would constantly chatter away to me about this Jack Couture, making intriguing faces the while that were at times wryly sardonic, then by turns showing wild admiration for his hero.
The picture he painted was of a funny, vitriolic, eccentric scribe, who also ran the town’s poolroom and didn’t mind toasting himself to the odd shot of whiskey. Also he was an inveterate writer of letters to the editor and redoubtable critic of the establishment, which earned him getting tossed out of town council meetings.
Alas, I never had the pleasure of meeting the man, this adding to his aura. I learned of his quirky sense of humour as the founder of the Cow Watchers’ Society, formed “as a means to advocate the quiet contemplation of cows to relieve those caught up in post WW II society”.
He died in 1973 yet not forgotten as overdue poetic justice was visited upon him in 2012 with the publication of his biography, Poolroom and Politics by Michael P. MacDonald.
No doubt some of our readers have stories about the memorable Jack and we invite you to send them along. This could serve to refresh the memory and spirit of Jack thus informing a younger readership of the importance of maintaining vigorous dialogue on the issues of the day so essential to a healthy democracy as provided by this your local press and platform.
