End of an era: Van Dusen signs off with a song

It can be hard to put into words the impact that Peter Van Dusen’s career has had on not only CPAC for the past 21 years, but on Canadian journalism as a whole for nearly the past half-century, which is most likely why he chose to sign off with a song. If “a man is known by the company he keeps,” the assorted members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, past and present CPAC colleagues, strategists and politicians, and yours indeed, Party Central, who gathered at the Métropolitain Brasserie on Oct. 26 to celebrate his career–five days after Nerd Prom–then Van Dusen was indeed the king of the Parliament Hill nerds. A busy Métropolitain Brasserie during Peter Van Dusen's retirement party on Oct. 26. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Münster As usually happens at most Hill-related parties Party Central attends, there is at least a half hour before things get underway. But by 10 minutes past the scheduled 6 p.m. start time, the backroom of the Metro was already packed, and blank space to sign the giant novelty card to congratulate Van Dusen on his retirement was already running scarce. CPAC's Andrew Thomson, Esprit de Corps publisher and Hill Times columnist Scott Taylor, and Greg MacEachern of Proof Strategies attend the Peter Van Dusen Signs Off from CPAC shindig at the Métropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa on Oct. 26. The Hill Times photograph by Stuart Benson John Ivison, Peter Van Dusen, and Ottawa mayor-elect Mark Sutcliffe. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Münster After being reminded by veteran Esprit de Corps publisher and The Hill Times columnist Scott Taylor that there were drink tickets; catching up with Hill social scene regular and Senior Vice-President of Proof Strategies Greg MacEachern who took offence when Party Central sided with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on who had the better dance moves at the Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner on Oct. 22-and making introductions to Ottawa’s new mayor-elect Mark Sutcliffe, it was time to gather round and listen to Van Dusen in front of the microphone for the “100-million” and possibly last hour. Proof Strategies' Greg MacEachern, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, and Brian Clow, PMO deputy chief of staff, pose for a picture at Peter Van Dusen Signs Off from CPAC at the Métropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa on Oct. 26. The Hill Times photograph by Stuart Benson But first, CPAC host and producer Glenn McInnis took to the stage to honour Van Dusen’s over two decades on the CPAC anchor throne and a career in journalism spanning nine prime ministers that began in 1976 when he was 21. Peter, left, his wife Ana, and son Alex Van Dusen pose for a family photo at the Peter Van Dusen Signs Off from CPAC at the Métropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa on Oct. 26. The Hill Times photograph by Stuart Benson “That was during the disco era,” McInnis said, to give “more perspective” on what the world was like at the time, adding that, the same year Margaret Thatcher was first elected as British prime minister, and “Skylab fell out of the sky.” The Sony Walkman also began selling for $200 per unit or “$750 in today’s money,” according to McInnis’ calculations on the “Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator.” While the reign of Van Dusen may have been long, the House of Van Dusen is an even more long-standing institution on Parliament Hill. Five of Van Dusen’s six siblings were at the shindig—Julie, Lisa, Mark, Tom, and Tina Van Dusen—but at one time all six out of seven siblings worked as journalists covering Parliament Hill. When combined with the career of their father Thomas Van Dusen Sr., who began his in 1947, until Peter’s retirement, there has been a Van Dusen reporting on federal politics for the last 75 years. To put that in perspective, that was about five years longer than Queen Elizabeth II sat on the British throne. McInnis said Van Dusen could take “significant credit” for helping transform CPAC and congratulated him on his impressive record and achievements “besides cutting and dying his own hair during the pandemic lockdowns.” “When Peter came on board we began to take this channel to places it never went before,” McInnis said. “Peter inspired us all to, as he likes to say, ‘Punch above our weight,' and that is exactly what we have done with Peter’s expertise and guidance.” Van Dusen’s former boss and the woman who hired him back in the summer of 2001, former president of CPAC and current President of Rogers Sports Media Colette Watson, added that even from his first days with the channel, Van Dusen was also good at rolling with the punches, specifically when his first broadcast took place six days ahead of schedule. CPAC host Glen McInnis and President of Rogers Sports Media Colette Watson honour Peter Van Dusen. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Münster “We were ready to launch on Sept. 17, and then something happened,” Watson recalled, referring to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. “I remember it was like , and we’re all in shock, walking around the office kind of dumbfounded.” That’s when she said Van Dusen sprang into action, and out came the milk crates. “They figured out how to put him on the air, and he went live,” Watson said of the “inaugural birth” of CPAC as it is today. “Over the past 20 years, I had the unbelievable privilege of working with Peter, and I got to learn that he was way more than the face of CPAC … he was the conscience…the heart and soul,” Watson said. “I could not let today go by without saying you were everything to CPAC and CPAC owes you everything.” When Van Dusen finally took to the microphone, he was less interested in the contributions he has made but more in the role his colleagues at CPAC, the Press Gallery and his friends and family in attendance have played in giving him “the chance to live out a dream for 47 years, to come to the job every day that I've loved, almost with no exception.” Is that the CPAC Power Rangers? No it's one of Canada's original 'Power Panels,' Tim Powers, Chairman of Summa Strategies, left, Susan Smith, principal at Bluesky Strategy Group, Peter Van Dusen, Kathleen Monk, Principal owner of Monk and Associates, and NDP National Director Anne McGrath, reuniting to celebrate Dusen's sign-off from CPAC at the Métropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa on Oct. 26. The Hill Times photograph by Stuart Benson Peter Van Dusen Signs Off from CPAC with a song at the Métropolitain Brasserie in Ottawa on Oct. 26. The Hill Times photograph by Stuart Benson “The last 21 years at CPAC, in particular, have gone by like 21 minutes, and you all had a role to play,” Van Dusen added. “You'll forgive me if I'm a big believer in fate. I'm not sure exactly what it is. My dad used to call it the work of the Holy Spirit, ‘looking after those who desperately need help'... in any case, fate has treated me very kindly over the years. In love, my family and my friendships, and on the job. And it's done so again tonight because I'm here surrounded by all of you.” While Van Dusen failed to ensure his speech lasted “at least six hours,” as he noted was CPAC tradition, he treated the audience to an original song in honour of his beloved channel and favourite four-letter word: CPAC. While Van Dusen’s sign off from CPAC was a roaring celebration of the mans distinguished career, it was hard not to feel a sense of sadness as Party Central heard more than a few attendees remark his retirement was the ‘end of an era,’ McInnis noted that Van Dusen might not be content with playing golf and practicing his B7-chord for long. “As many of us are profoundly aware, Peter is also known for quickly changing his mind on the fly. So he might be back at CPAC,” McInnis joked. “Stay tuned.” sbenson@hilltimes.com The Hill Times