Profile of ROBERT GOVAN

After a successful trading career for McLeod in Montreal, Bob moved to the Toronto area so he could trade for McLeod on the TSE floor at 234 Bay Street.

Bob is well known for his caring heart that was open to anyone that needed a sympathetic ear.

Bob was also well know for his sense of fair play and would back it with his unrelenting passion, particularly when it came to those "fading" quotes in Montreal. Ask Bob Maher, McLeod's Montreal Head Trader, his ears are probably still ringing.

Bob passed away this past year and is missed.

Rothmans Listing - April 10, 1961

From left to right: Mike Delgrande, John Huckstep, Ron Steers, Rothmans lady

Photo contributed by John Huckstep

TSE Traders Archive Surpasses 2000 Hits

Thank you to all contributors and readers!

The TSE Traders Archive has surpassed 2000 hits since its release at the beginning of August!

Give us your comments about what you like or would like to see here in the future. Click on the COMMENTS link at the bottom of this posting to submit your feedback.

And remember, the more you contribute in sharing pictures, stories or anything related to the TSE trade floor, the better this blog will be!

Happy Retirement, Bob!

After several decades, Bob Point calls it quits.

Bob's customized keyboard.

Bob's Take on the Markets - Early 80s

Bob Point: This is what I think of the markets today.



Bob Point (to photographer): Why the hell are you still here?

To Bob's left is Smokey, who's gearing to party.





Photos contributed by Owen Ritchie

Wall St. versus Bay St.

David Sears as Bud Fox and Mike Morrison as Gordon Gekko

© Wall Street, Amercent Films

Profile of JAMES (JIMMY) DIMSON

My Stock Market career began in 1955 when I was hired by Ross Knowles & Co. Limited as a Clearing Clerk at their Adelaide Street Office. In December 1957, I was fortunate to fill a Phone Clerk vacancy on the Floor where I remained under the watchful eye and careful guidance of John (Steamer) Lucas. He was well respected on the Floor and he became my mentor for many years to come. Other traders that I remember working with at Ross Knowles were Bob Hamilton, Harold Mayne and Jerry Popplestone. Ross Knowles later merged with Pitfield MacKay and the firm became Pitfiled MacKay Ross, aka PMR. At Pitfield, I remember Frank Dunbar, Walter Summerhill, Don Woods and Don Walker. Other old-timers that I remember working with over the years included Don (Bulgy) Miller, Bob Miller, Jim Moran and Dennis Cannon. Some time later, PMR merged with Dominion Securities Ames and became Dominion Securities Pitfield. When I left DS in 1985, I traded for First Canada Securities until my retirement in 1989.

I continue to miss my daily contact, fellowship and camaraderie I shared with my colleagues and which I continue to miss to this day, some eighteen years later.

Nice Sunroof!

One great passtime on the trading floor was pulling gags on fellow traders. One of the best that I remember involved Doug Scott, the best gagster on the floor and Jim Ackers, one of the most mercurial traders working on the floor.

One Monday, Jim showed up late for work and told many traders that he was getting a sun roof put on his new Cadillac and he was very excited about it. Unfortunately, the word got to Doug Scott, who was exceptional with telephone gags. Sometime in the early afternoon, Doug, with a disguised voice called Jim to tell him the sun roof job was completed and that he was very satisfied with the job he had done and that Jim could come and pick it up anytime. The prankster Doug then told Jim that he must be one of the nicest men in the whole world, which took the mercurial Jim by surprise and Jim wanted to know why he said that. Prankster Doug told him that he had put hundreds of sun roofs on cars and this was the first time a request had come in for a sun roof for the passengers in the back seat.

Needless to say, after a few expletives, the telephone receiver went flying into the air.

Profile of DIANE LEWER

Diane joined the TSE as a post clerk in 1981. In 1982 she decided that she did not want to make the move to the TSE's new premises and quit.


After the TSE Diane had a successful career bringing up two other Lewers, Samantha and Shayne.


Unfortunately, she is still married to Chris.

Profile of JOHN HUCKSTEP

Joined Bongard and Co. October 1955 with Ken & Dennis Cannon, Don Clarkson, Tony Lill, & John McCuaig. Later went to Barclay and Crawford, E H Pooler, and in '68 joined Gardiner Watson, which was later acquired by Dean Witter.

Retired in 1991. A member of Hugh Clelands trader instruction group and much later a Floor Governor, Chairman and member of the Floor Procedure Committee.

"There is no other profession like it. You had to be part of it."

Profile of RICK CRAIG

I entered the business like most of us from high school in 1961 with James Richardson & Sons and traded under Neil Potter from 1965. Next stop was Burns to 1971 and then spent 35 years with 3 Macs (MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier Inc.), retiring November 2005. Colin O'Handley and Dave Dotzko were with me most of that time and are still there today.

Memories include the summer of 1974 when some daily TSE total volumes were well under 1 million shares! And of the course 2 floor closures. Perhaps showing my age, the floors were certainly more fun , but grant the move to trading with computers was more productive and profitable.

Profile of FRED KETCHEN

During my high school years (Port Credit High School) I worked three summers as a post clerk on the trading floor at 234 Bay Street. Posts 2, 3 and 9 is where I was told to "behave like I knew what was going on." Unfortunately, I didn't earn enough to allow me to spend more that one year in a journalism course at Carleton College in Ottawa (before it became Carleton University).

I joined McLeod Young Weir & Company Limited on September 17, 1957, traded half the floor with Laurie Williams doing the other half.

In 1988 Bank of Nova Scotia purchased MYW, renamed it ScotiaMcLeod. I'm still there. No, I'm not in a rut! I happen to like it. I even like working with Kenny Assgrabber.

Fred's quote: "Don't Screw Up!"

Profile of JOHN MANNA

I started on the floor with Andras Hatch and Hetherington on November 15, 1965 and stayed with the firm until February 1986 when I joined the TSE as head floor official and finally retired at the end of 2003.

"I can't imagine missing the experiences of working on the floor of the TSE. Virtually everybody wanted to go to work everyday. It was just a constant experience that you didn't want to miss."
_______________

On the Floor, the Exchange carries out its supervisory function through three Floor Officials empowered, similarly to Floor Governors, to administer trading ruels and to settle disputes that may arise between traders as to their interpretation. They also report to Market Surveillance any unusual trading situations that come to their attention. - extracted from 1984 TSE Brochure

TSE Floor in the 50s

TSE Fact: In 1955, the price of Toronto Stock Exchange membership was $100,000 and a record 1 billion shares traded worth $2.6 billion.

The Salvation Army band playing at the TSE during Christmas.

Photos contributed by John Huckstep

Mr. Big's Day in the Dumps

Mr. Big, the trader with the highest nose on the TSE, was excited to be driving his best friend's Rolls Royce that day. Big parked his vehicle in the executive spot reserved especially for this occassion.

At 4:00PM the bell rang and the day was done. Big and his friend may have gone to the Cork Room (trader's bar) for a couple of libations & caviar. Possibly a few drinks later, they left. As they pulled out of the parking lot, the sky was dark and the street lights were dim. The car though, was a smooth ride and Big couldn't wait to push it into high gear. Foot on pedal, the car roared like a lion hungry for power. In the dark, Big didn't notice the construction zone of the new Royal building across the street. The car roared and roared and alas, they swerved into the hole 35 feet below ground. The Rolls Royce was shiny no more. And the friend? He was not impressed.

Bay Street Insight

Traders Sally & Marty getting Fred's bullish forecast on recent market activity.

Traders is copyright Atlantis/Alliance
Photos contributed by Fred Ketchen

Last Floor Trade - April 23rd, 1997

Tell us your memories of that day...

Photo contributed by Steve Kee

United Way 1989

In no particular order: Jim Bagshaw, Brian MacKinroy, Jeff Kowal, Kal Bhegani, Dave Stephens, Ken Rathgeber, Barb Kovell, John Beck, Peter Bowers, Brad Lowry, Dale Patterson, Red Ferguson, Jason Whieler, Iain Davies, Dave Sears


Click on picture to enlarge

Scotia Teddy Bear Drive for the Hospital For Sick Children 1989

From left to right: Sam Bianco, Dave Stephens, Ian Reston, Ken Rathgeber, Bob Govan, Peter Szydlowski, Peter Bowers, Red Ferguson, Iain Davies, Jim Bagshaw, John Beck, David Sears