Irving critics go on the record

The following commentary kicked off the June 4 edition of the ‘Serf City’ radio show. The full podcast, which includes interviews with street performer Evans McGee and singer-songwriter Andy Brown, can be heard here.

By Mark Leger

A couple of years ago, a cheeky critic of the Irving empire placed stickers in public places around the uptown – on things like telephone poles, mailboxes, garbage cans. On the stickers, the Irving name on the company logos was replaced with words like Greed, Power and Control. 

The stickers got their 15 minutes of fame in a CBC television story. The author of this subversive prank remained anonymous.

The stickers provided a news hook for the enduring question about the members of Saint John’s all-powerful First Family – are they are a good thing for the city or not?

There was also a debate about the sticker campaign itself. Some people thought it was cowardly and unfair. Others believed it was a legitimate expression of free speech.

I understood where the critics were coming from; after all, I’m a journalist who believes people should stand behind their opinions. Nonetheless, I thought the sticker campaign was ultimately a good thing, because it gave life to a crucial debate, here in Saint John and everywhere else in the world – the pros and cons of the pervasive power of corporations.

It didn’t keep the debate going for very long, though – a few weeks maybe and then it died down. Then, one afternoon last spring, I wandered into the Third Space Gallery to check out the Second Annual Artists on Vinyl exhibit – a fundraiser for your very own CFMH.

Local artists – and some wannabes having some fun – had created artworks out of old records that were being sold in a silent auction. In the backroom of the gallery, suspended from the ceiling, was a record with the Irving stickers on one side. On the other side was a sticker of a man with bandana covering his mouth – a bandit, I guessed he must be, judging by the theme of the anti-Irving campaign.

I couldn’t resist. I marked my name down for $25, and went home with the record a few weeks later because I was the only one to place a bid. To this day, there is still no record of who made the stickers themselves, or the piece of artwork.

What’s the hook for my story, you may well ask. Well, the Third Annual Artists on Vinyl is now upon us. This year, Beans and Books on Germain Street is hosting the exhibit.

The opening is on Saturday June 6th, from 2-5 pm at Bean Books, 122 Germain Street. You can place your bids throughout the week during store hours (Monday and Wednesday, 12 – 5:30PM, and Thursday and Friday, 12pm to late evening).

The closing night will be on Saturday June 13th at 7pm and will feature Savoury Foods and Sweets by Janine VanWinssen and the Fat Walrus Catering Co.; and DJ Hawk, the CFMH DJ voted Best DJ in Saint John.

And remember, bid high and bid often. All of the proceeds go to CFMH.