Tonight at the Ritz-Carlton in Montreal, we celebrate and pay tribute. Both for the 70th anniversary of the Jean-Talon hospital and also for the anniversary of its financial foundation which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Bow tie and new shoes, I will host this evening, the honorary president of which is Serge Savard. And as I often do in this type of celebration, I will suggest a text, a historical glance at the times. The hospital opened in 1954, the same year as the Heart Institute. The year Elvis Presley recorded That’s all right Mama for a whopping 4 dollars. You read that right. In Quebec, the average annual salary was $1,400.
But the most surprising year was 1984 when, in May, a foundation was established to help the hospital financially. Incredible everything that happened precisely in these 12 months. Do you remember? John Paul II came to Quebec and Céline, at 16, sang to him A dove. It was Trudeau, Lévesque and Drapeau who were in power. Guy Lafleur announced his first retirement, Gaétan Boucher won two gold medals and a bronze in Sarajevo. In August, Sylvie Bernier won gold at the Los Angeles Games. Corporal Lortie had 3 words, 13 wounded at the National Assembly. Michael Jackson launched Thrillerwhile Stevie Wonder was a hit with I Just Called to Say I Love You. At the Forum on April 20, everyone will remember the famous Good Friday. In 1984, Jacques Parizeau eliminated toll booths on highways, Apple released its very first MacIntosh and, for the first time, a Canadian, Marc Garneau, would go into space.
A WHIRLPOOL
Obviously, Serge Savard will be in the room and I will take the opportunity to remind you that in 84, the new administration of the great Serge had been smoking, particularly in the June draft where we had selected Petr Svoboda, Shayne Corson, Stéphane Richer and a certain Patrick Roy. Two years later, the team won the Cup. All the young people were freaking out on the film The War of the Tuques. The average annual salary in Quebec did not reach $30,000, while the price of gasoline was around 50 cents per liter and we found that very expensive.
To say, eh? For me, the most significant event of 1984 occurred on November 14 when Simon, my son, was born.
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