A President’s Farewell

Alan Findlay departed as Queen’s Park Press Gallery president more than a month ago, but things move slowly at the pink palace so he will not be feted at the traditional "mugging" ceremony until this Friday, May 5.

The Toronto Sun reporter is now ensconced at the paper’s Parliament Hill bureau covering the neophyte Stephen Harper administration.

He will take a well-deserved break and head back down to civilization to enjoy $2 beers in his new custom-engraved pewter mug with his former provincialist cronies in the third-floor press gallery lounge. Come one, come all.

Also being mugged is Canadian Press reporter Gillian Livingston. Gill won’t be taking advantage of the cheap suds -- she’s heading to CP’s head office for a few months before going on maternity leave.

Rumour has it there are plans for a tiki-bar theme at the party, so expect sightings of grass skirts and leis Friday afternoon in the Legislature.

Except of course in the Toronto Star office where reporters will be toiling over 2004 Hansard transcripts, researching the history of equalization, and working on witty items for future blog postings in between mentoring impressionable young journalism students.