children. They also operated a lunch bar and gift shop on the University Ave. and . An interesting observation is that this corner is where the Guardian operated. It was destroyed by fire in 1923 and Nemir put up a new building in 1927. It seems that if there was a store on a corner, it was likely operated by a Lebanese family. When my son came home from law school one year, he asked me if I knew why there were very few, if any Lebanese in the National Hockey League. When I told him I didn't know, he said that it was because when they found themselves in a corner they wanted to start up a grocery store. Like all kids, I wanted to have friends, be accepted and be treated as an equal. This is often difficult for someone who speaks a different language, has a different skin tone or is considered "from away". Having a name starting with " Z " did not help. The only other listing in the phone book under " Z " at that time was Zion Presbyterian Church. Today there are 35 listings. I always felt that I had to be twice as good at whatever I did just to be equal. This might have contributed to my lack of confidence in school. I was not a bright student and had to work very hard just to get by. However, our parents taught us to always do our very best and be satisfied with the results. I think this is what kept me going through school until I got to university. It was at university that I began to develop more self-esteem. University opened up a whole new world of opportunity and gave me the confidence to take on any challenge. I credit three people, other than my mother and father, on having a very positive influence on me during my early years. The first was Leo F. MacDonald who was Principal and grade ten teacher at Queen Square School. He taught me the importance of education and taking responsibility for ones actions. The next person was Harry Pineau , my Boy Scout Leader . I think he was one of the best leaders the Scout movement ever had. He allowed us to develop and grow in leadership and organization skills by developing programs that brought out the best in his Scouts. The third person was Fr. Vince Murnaghan, business professor at University. When I was searching for a topic for my thesis, he suggested I do a comparative analysis of the cost of living and salaries in Charlottetown . I did the thesis and the several meetings we had to discuss the progress, gave me a deep appreciation of how unique an individual he was. To me he was an ideal priest and his words and actions gave me a better understanding that we all have a responsibility to make this world a better place to live in. 28