Canadian Christopher Plummer wins Oscar

The proudest moment for me during last night's great Oscars telecast: Canadian Christopher Plummer winning Best Supporting Actor for his terrific performance in 'Beginners.'

Richly deserved, the 82-year-old Toronto native who now makes his home in Connecticut becomes the oldest person to win an acting Oscar ever. And to win for such a beautiful film and character, it's icing on the cake. Plummer played a 75-year-old father who comes out of the closet as a gay man following the death of his wife of 44 years.

"You're only two years older than me, darling," Plummer said during his acceptance speech last night, holding up the famous golden statue that resembles a well-formed male, perhaps a humorous reference his character's homosexuality. "Where have you been all my life?"

It's wonderful we are living in a time when a conservative organization like the Academy feels comfortable awarding an actor for playing such a role. [Not that all the Academy's choices are beyond criticism, but still it's nice when they get it oh so right.] The lessons re-affirmed by his character's life - it's never too late to be true to yourself - are most welcome.

Bravo to a great Canadian actor! Congrats, Mr. Plummer!

Horrifying: 'Alta. doctors bill province for treating homosexuality'

Alberta, why must you always disappoint us?...

Thumbs up for XTRA editorial: 'Drummond's glaring omission'

I heartily agree with Xtra's Andrea Houston about Don Drummond's glaring omission in his report last week, which could be nicknamed 'How to cut inefficiencies and duplications in the Ontario government except those inefficiencies and duplications that might require a constitutional amendment and a little fortitude to take on historic inequities.'

It's offensive that Drummond could argue that class sizes should be increased, education workers be fired, and other major cutbacks be endured by all systems rather than address this obvious inequity of funding one religion's public schools, but not others.

I'm sure there were some issues that Drummond was ordered not to even touch (ie. private health care delivery perhaps?) I truly hope he didn't get his marching orders from the McGuinty Liberals to steer clear from taking on the duplication of public school systems in Ontario.