One of a Kind: Story of Canadian Businessman Georges Durst

By Billy Georgette

Any book about Georges Durst can hardly be accurate as volumes could be written about this multifaceted individual. I decided to undertake this work only because I feel that I owed a strong sense of debt to this man who has enriched so many of us with his creativity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984550125

Billy Georgette

Billy Georgette is a Montreal jazz pianist with a taste for historical matters

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Billy Georgette.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2018910254

ISBN:                  Hardcover                       978-1-9845-5014-9

                            Softcover                          978-1-9845-5013-2

                            eBook                               978-1-9845-5012-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/29/2018

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

784398

Miami Florida 2018

Letter to george alfred durst

Dear Mr. Durst

I am among the several people who are concerned about the state of your health.

In spite of your strong persona, you have recently experienced a close brush with death, surely a life-changing event… And something that will effect the many people who depend on you, including myself.

Notwithstanding the fact that you have kept me employed for a good thirty years,

I consider you a friend… Someone who has taken the time to look out for my interests and support my ambitions.

I am a jazz pianist, a shakey profession if there ever was one. And a non-essential activity that requires encouragement and support in order to survive, both of which you have given me in spades.

At a certain point in my career, i discovered a knack for writing, an activity based upon my experiences as an observer who enjoys a somewhat unique perspective on life.

Now, with seven published books and a musical comedy under my belt, i felt it was time to compose a bio-novel as a tribute to

A person that has opened more doors for jazz musicians in montreal than anyone else in the canadian music bizness.

In spite of the many sources of information available about you, as well as my own observations and contacts, nothing beats a direct interview…Like those in which you have been unusually candid with me, somewhat in contrast of you having a reputation for being reserved, bordering on shyness.

I think readers will appreciate and enjoy a true confessions, let it all hang out type assessment of your extraordinary career, but of course, that is up to you.

I can only offer you my complete discretion along with my creativity in these matters.

Please get back in shape as i look forward to complete writing your unique story.

Respectfully

Billy Georgette

Any book about georges durst can hardly be accurate as volumes could be written about this multi-faceted individual. That i decided to undertake this work is only because i feel that a strong sense of debt is owed to this man who has enriched so many of us with his creativity.

"

What did your father say when you told him you were going to go to canada?"

He was pissed off because i didn’t go to my ‘service militare’ and warned me that i might go to jail for refusing to serve.

I found it very interesting that your family is german but that you are citizens of france living in alsase \ lorraine close to the border with germany

We are of german blood but are loyal to france. My father enlisted in the french army in 1939, but was captured as a prisoner of war and placed in interment by the germans. He was released but on a later invasion toward the end of the war he was recaptured as an officer in the french army and subsequently sent to a concentration camp. Of course, my father having done all this military service expected me to do the same.

But you were determined to get to canada, how were you able to accomplish that?

One could not sail directly from france to canada at that time, so i made my way to ireland and then over to liverpool where i was soon able to get on board a ship named the saxsonia sailing to halifax, nova scotia… arriving in canada in 1957.

As a landed immigrant, i was supposed to have some money, at least 300 dollars but i told them that i only had six cents. They said to me ok, no problem, we send you back

So they put me in jail pending a return voyage. But when they discovered that i had a degree in forestry engineering, they contacted irving pulp and paper industries in new brunswick where there just happened to be an opening.

Meanwhile, i was released from jail during the day in halifax, but ordered to return each evening. Strange country this canada, they put you in jail, but let you out to roam the streets during the day… hmm…

Six weeks later, i was sent to work in the forests of new brunswick for six dollars a day. However, one day the company laid off some six hundred workers but in the meantime i had gotten the attention of jim irving who offered me a job logging on the river, riding the big trees downstream to st. Johns. Dangerous, but big time thrills and action in motion. I was tempted, but i passed opting to stay in the forest."

His eyes looked on in wonder at the immensity of it all… Just as his lungs breathed in the rich scent of the great pine forests of new brunswick.

Nothing here to compare with the manicured farmlands and tidy treed areas of his home in northern france

Here was a new untouched land… And it smelled opportunity.

He was young… He had just sailed across an ocean into a land that had no compulsory military service, a land with the added plus of people who spoke two of the three languages he’d grown up with or had learnt in school… Where as part of his education back home, he had co-incidentally earned a