Normally keynote speakers at public events are just fine with their speech being recorded. By virtue of agreeing to give a public speech, it generally follows that the speaker believes what they have to say is worthy of accurate dissemination.
And so, it was strange that Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the prime minister’s estranged wife, came to Surrey as guest speaker at the 2024 Surrey Women in Business Awards in Guildford on April 12 with the caveat that no recording be allowed, leaving us to wonder why a former journalist and television host would at the least brook such an edict – especially one trying to sell a book.
It’s a mystery unsolved on account of her not taking media interviews, either.
The awards event was sponsored by the Surrey Board of Trade. Prior to it, the board’s CEO Anita Huberman issued a media invitation including a “please note” that “no recording of her (Trudeau’s) talk is allowed, and no media interviews will take place with the speaker.”
To underline this, a notice was also posted at the entrance of the event: “We kindly ask that no recording be made during Sophie Trudeau’s talk,” leaving people to construe of that what they will – you know, the whos and whys behind the edict.
“It’s a request by the speaker and, well, the speaker’s agency,” Huberman divulged.
“So it’s not a Board of Trade decision, but, so we have to abide by that.”
Was it a request by the federal government? “Not the federal government, no no, the government has nothing to do with this event or her…it’s just something that was requested and we have to abide by it.”
“It’s interesting,” Huberman offered. “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Kind of like Van Halen’s famous contract rider banning brown M&Ms in their dressing room. One supposes.
All considered, the purpose behind the event was to celebrate the achievements of Surrey business women and their contributions to the community.
It’s a shame television crews didn’t show up to give these women their due.
But can you blame them?
After all, the silent film era ended in 1927.
– Now-Leader