I think the first time I can really recall having met Jill Halliday was when I met her in February of 1992 while dining with Klaus and Marilyn Linnenbruegger at their lovely home on Mitcheson Street. in Almonte. Jill was one of six dinner guests that evening. I distinctly remember being quite taken by her beautiful and extraordinary appearance. She was not “run-of-the-mill” by any means! There was something positively unique about Jill Halliday.
It was not, however, for many years that I would come to know Jill. Jill is involved in the animation business. My perception is that she is very successful at her job, and it is no doubt for this reason that I was asked to incorporate her business, on the advice of her Accountant, Robert C. Wilson, C.A. That undertaking brought me and Jill into contact with one another, and it turned out that we got together for a few dining occasions. One particular time stands out. It was the Sunday in the Fall of the year that I customarily invited John Fitchett, his mother (Diana) and his step-father (Cyril Garrett) for lunch. John and the Garretts had been exceptionally kind to me over the years, including especially putting me up in Naples, Florida one year over the Christmas holidays. This particular year, however, Cyril cancelled out at the very last minute (at 10:30 that morning) due to ill health. John and Diana would, however, come along. It is a bit of an offence to me to have an empty chair at table, so I called up Jill on the spur of the moment and asked her if she would, at this late hour, care to join us for lunch. In Jill's typical style, she accepted in a flash! It turned out that Jill was the hit of the party. After John and Diana had left late in the afternoon (around 5:00 p.m.), Jill, Denis and I were sitting around the fireplace, sipping a last drink and chatting. It was then that she mentioned she would be having a visitor on the following Wednesday. A gentleman would be flying in from Spain en route to New York City. They would be meeting at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. This gentleman, it turns out, was a fellow whom she had only “met” on the telephone. Weeks or months earlier, she had had occasion to call the Walt Disney organization in New York City, and when the person whom she was calling was unavailable, she ended up speaking with a chap named Julio Velasquez, who also worked in the animation industry. After their business call had come to an end, Julio asked if he might call Jill after work that evening, to which she agreed. That was the beginning of the rise in value of telephone stock! They talked practically all night, non-stop. And on many more occasions. It was for this, if no other, reason that they finally agreed that they should meet in person.
As Jill's lawyer, I can tell you that I found this scenario not a little disturbing. But it was apparent from the stars in her eyes, as she sat there before us on that wintry day, that nothing would change her mind.
Frankly, after that luncheon, I just forgot about the whole affair, probably thinking that it was just too fantastic to ever happen anyway. It did not, however, go away. In fact, Julio arrived, they stayed together in a suite at the Chateau Laurier Hotel that night, and he has never gone home! But more than that, they have been married twice to one another since that fateful day of arrival. The first time they were married (more as a formality), they decked themselves out in Titanic-style regalia, and held court with Jill's father and step-mother, me and Denis at Zoe's in the Chateau Laurier (where, by total coincidence - enacted by the cleverness of the Chateau's staff - they had the same suite which they had had the night of their first meeting!). Their second wedding (which was “for the family”
It was not, however, for many years that I would come to know Jill. Jill is involved in the animation business. My perception is that she is very successful at her job, and it is no doubt for this reason that I was asked to incorporate her business, on the advice of her Accountant, Robert C. Wilson, C.A. That undertaking brought me and Jill into contact with one another, and it turned out that we got together for a few dining occasions. One particular time stands out. It was the Sunday in the Fall of the year that I customarily invited John Fitchett, his mother (Diana) and his step-father (Cyril Garrett) for lunch. John and the Garretts had been exceptionally kind to me over the years, including especially putting me up in Naples, Florida one year over the Christmas holidays. This particular year, however, Cyril cancelled out at the very last minute (at 10:30 that morning) due to ill health. John and Diana would, however, come along. It is a bit of an offence to me to have an empty chair at table, so I called up Jill on the spur of the moment and asked her if she would, at this late hour, care to join us for lunch. In Jill's typical style, she accepted in a flash! It turned out that Jill was the hit of the party. After John and Diana had left late in the afternoon (around 5:00 p.m.), Jill, Denis and I were sitting around the fireplace, sipping a last drink and chatting. It was then that she mentioned she would be having a visitor on the following Wednesday. A gentleman would be flying in from Spain en route to New York City. They would be meeting at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. This gentleman, it turns out, was a fellow whom she had only “met” on the telephone. Weeks or months earlier, she had had occasion to call the Walt Disney organization in New York City, and when the person whom she was calling was unavailable, she ended up speaking with a chap named Julio Velasquez, who also worked in the animation industry. After their business call had come to an end, Julio asked if he might call Jill after work that evening, to which she agreed. That was the beginning of the rise in value of telephone stock! They talked practically all night, non-stop. And on many more occasions. It was for this, if no other, reason that they finally agreed that they should meet in person.
As Jill's lawyer, I can tell you that I found this scenario not a little disturbing. But it was apparent from the stars in her eyes, as she sat there before us on that wintry day, that nothing would change her mind.
Frankly, after that luncheon, I just forgot about the whole affair, probably thinking that it was just too fantastic to ever happen anyway. It did not, however, go away. In fact, Julio arrived, they stayed together in a suite at the Chateau Laurier Hotel that night, and he has never gone home! But more than that, they have been married twice to one another since that fateful day of arrival. The first time they were married (more as a formality), they decked themselves out in Titanic-style regalia, and held court with Jill's father and step-mother, me and Denis at Zoe's in the Chateau Laurier (where, by total coincidence - enacted by the cleverness of the Chateau's staff - they had the same suite which they had had the night of their first meeting!). Their second wedding (which was “for the family”
so to speak) was a much larger and grander affair, held upon the estate of Jill's father (Mike) outside Perth. The wedding couple was piped in across the glen, with beautifully dressed young girls throwing flowers in their path. The ceremony took place out-of-doors, and was followed by a large and delicious catered meal under a huge marquis. Our meal was comforted by a professional guitarist. Then followed the more raucous music which appealed to the many younger people who came to share the day with Jill and Julio from all over Canada, and of course from New York City. The combination of animators, young people, New Yorkers and all the mad people they attract, made for an incredibly vibrant crowd. And the weather was perfect for the entire affair.
Jill and Julio have now managed to calm down the pace of their existence somewhat, as they have slipped into a semblance of normalcy at their charming home on Coleman's Island in Almonte, overlooking the basin of the Mississippi River below the falls. But they continue to delight their numerous friends with excellent meals and entertainment at not infrequent social gatherings. The two of them are so obviously in love and compatible. And their artistic energy just brings life to anyone who may have left some of the old days behind.
Jill and Julio have now managed to calm down the pace of their existence somewhat, as they have slipped into a semblance of normalcy at their charming home on Coleman's Island in Almonte, overlooking the basin of the Mississippi River below the falls. But they continue to delight their numerous friends with excellent meals and entertainment at not infrequent social gatherings. The two of them are so obviously in love and compatible. And their artistic energy just brings life to anyone who may have left some of the old days behind.
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