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On Friday morning
the lovely Hilary Saltzman personally welcomed us in the hotel
reception and then guided us to the 10am opening press conference
for ‘Vue sur Bond 007’ at the Galeries de la Capitale with Sir Roger
Moore, Guy Hamilton, Richard Kiel and Britt Ekland in attendance.
The combined aim of the event was to raise funds for UNICEF, the ‘3
Americas Film Festival’ and recognition of Harry Saltzman’s legacy
to the world of entertainment. We were given full access to the
press area for what turned out to be a lively affair with local and
national TV, Radio and newspapers in attendance. Nigel Fisher,
chairman and CEO of UNICEF Canada, welcomed Sir Roger, there in his
capacity at goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, and the other
celebrities. Sir Roger pointed out that he wanted to raise awareness
and financial assistance, for HIV Aids in Guatemala and hoped
everyone would enjoy the event.
Shortly afterwards
there was a Prestige Lunch at the Resto-Club Largo for 50 guests
with all the guest stars in attendance. We returned to the Chateau
and prepared for the Meeting at the Summit which started at 6pm.
Held in the Salon Rose we were welcomed by Hilary Saltzman, Nigel
Fisher and Elizabeth Guindon (UNICEF) and introduced to Sir Roger
and Lady Moore, Nic Raine, Guy Hamilton, Britt Ekland, Richard Kiel
and Michel Bell. However, Dame Shirley Bassey failed to attend. With
only 25 people in attendance including the celebrities it was,
without doubt, a very intimate affair. Sir Roger, ever the gentleman
and gentle man spent the hours saying yes. Yes to autographs, yes to
photographs and yes to meeting and talking with everyone – he made
us all feel more than welcome! The meal turned out to be a
gastronomic feast, prepared by one of Canada’s top culinary wizards,
Chef Soulard – it exceeded our expectations by far.
During the dinner
my attention was drawn when I heard a man say, “I cannot see any
more pain in my lifetime.” I did not know him. I looked into his
eyes and saw a screaming emptiness only found in someone who has
suffered a life-changing traumatic experience. I later learnt that
man was none other than Canadian General Roméo Dallaire, who took
charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda in 1993.
Dallaire’s mission was to help both sides implement the agreed-upon
Arusha peace accords and transition to a new government. But on
April 6, 1994, after the Rwandan president’s plane was shot down,
extremists within the Hutu population began assassinating moderate
government officials and set in motion the vicious genocide that
would ultimately claim the lives of more than 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis
and moderate Hutus in 100 days. Dallaire wrote in the introduction
to his recent book Shake Hands With the Devil, “Almost fifty
years to the day that my father and father-in-law helped to liberate
Europe – when the extermination camps were uncovered and when, in
one voice, humanity said, ‘Never again,’ – we once again sat back
and permitted this unspeakable horror to occur.” On his return to
Canada, and as a direct result of the horrors he witnessed, he
suffered Post Traumatic Stress, almost drank himself to death and
contemplated suicide on many occasions.
Toward the end of
the evening Hilary Saltzman offered her thanks and unveiled a
painting, by Michel Bell, of Sir Roger Moore with Britt Ekland in
one of the most iconic scenes from the The Man With The Golden
Gun. |
