Doug Collins Honored

Canadian journalist Doug Collins, who addressed the Tenth IHR Conference, has been honored with the Commemorative Medal for the 125th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation. He was given the award at a ceremony on January 20 by Member of Parliament Chuck Cook, who represents North Vancouver (British Columbia).

The medal honors Canadians “who have made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada,” Cook wrote in a letter notifying Collins of the award. “I believe I speak for all of North Vancouver,” Cook continued, “when I extend my sincerest congratulations to you on this honour and remind you that your dedication and commitment to your fellow Canadians is greatly appreciated.”

Medal recipients were chosen by a special non-partisan committee.

A native of the United Kingdom, Collins served with distinction in the British army during the Second World War. His career in journalism has included work in newspaper, television and radio, both as a reporter and commentator. For his work as a journalist, Collins has been honored with Canada’s National Newspaper Award and the MacMillan Bloedel Award. He is the author of several books.

Since 1983 Collins has written a popular and often controversial column for the (North Vancouver) North Shore News. (Two of his columns commenting on the Zündel and Irving cases in Canada were reprinted in the January–February 1993 Journal.)

Besides Collins, North Shore News publisher Peter Speck and News Associate Editor Noel Wright were honored with the Commemorative Medal. At the January 20 ceremony, Cook praised the North Shore News as “one of the outstanding newspapers of North America.” In its circulation area, he went on, “93 percent of us read at least part of the North Shore News.”

Collins presentation at the 1990 IHR Conference, which dealt with freedom of speech and the Zündel affair, was published in the Fall 1990 Journal.

“Unparalleled Brutality”

“The world can sigh in relief. The idol of communism, which spread everywhere social strife, animosity and unparalleled brutality, which instilled fear in humanity, has collapsed. It has collapsed, never to rise again.”—Russian President Boris Yeltsin, in his address to the US Congress, June 17, 1992.