Book Launch: "The Ontario Bond Scandal of 1924 Re-Examined"
At the Toronto launch, hosted by the Osgoode Society, I was delighted to meet and chat with John Pepall, a relative of A. Harvey Pepall. Harvey was found innocent in his own subsequent Ontario Bond Scandal trial, but regardless has also wrongfully been considered guilty for all these years, as has been Aemilius Jarvis. Kyer's book finally sets the record straight, 99 years later - both men were innocent (as was United Farmers of Ontario (U.F.O.) Treasurer/Finance Minister Peter Smith).
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| Ian Kyer speaking at Toronto launch of his book, "The Ontario Bond Scandal of 1924 Re-examined" (Nov. 7, 2023). |
While the book title belies the academic nature of the work, the tale is riveting - it's part Queen's Park/political intrigue, and part courtroom drama. Add Bay St. high finance, and stir.
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| Ian Kyer speaking at Toronto launch of his book, "The Ontario Bond Scandal of 1924 Re-examined" (Nov. 7, 2023). |
I was fortunate enough to be able to contribute some of my research on Aemilius Jarvis to the book, and also fact-checked it on items related to Jarvis' biography.
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| Ashley Newall (left) and Ian Cruickshank, book launch afterparty at C'est What (Nov. 7, 2023). |
Further to his yacht racing exploits, which are legion, Jarvis was also a leading industrialist (Stelco, Clover Leaf, Canadian Locomotive Co., etc.), and was Canada's lead Navy recruiter in WWI. He also co-founded Toronto's King Edward Hotel, which still stands.
Although famous in his day, the celebrated yachtsman has been all but erased from history books due to the wrongful conviction in what was a political trial: charges were brought by a newly governing party against the Finance Minister of the previous one (i.e. Peter Smith) as political payback, and Jarvis got caught in the crossfire.
You can order the book here: "The Ontario Bond Scandal of 1924 Re-examined", by Ian Kyer.
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