The Guest House
In the 70s, a study called The Marshmallow Test occurred where psychologists convinced school-aged children to resist a marshmallow placed in front of them by asking them to hold out for a larger reward later on. Within the lines of this story rests an old-world realism of proof that children waiting for the second marshmallow fared better in life through self-control and motivation.
The Ambassador Hotel in Sudbury, Ontario was a 51 year old landmark for the Halman family.
Dianne Lavoie met her husband Bill Halman Sr. in high school. At 17, she began waitressing while working her way up into a management position at the hotel. In her natural drive to serve and organize people, Dianne could remember the tiniest details to disarm situations and along the way became the hotel’s right hand woman.
Working as a Bouncer on weekends in the nightclub portion of the Ambassador, Bill had a keen interest in all kinds of music.
At 16, he worked his way up at Inco as a hard-rock miner, towards a nice pension with 30 years under his belt. A naturally funny character, Bill was a good time Charlie to friends. He always had music playing in the house. Donna Sommer was a favourite.
His son Bill Jr. remembers listening to a lot of comedy tapes in the car. With the two finishing each other’s sentences, it was hard to tell them apart. When his parents separated, Bill Jr. lived with his dad. As a youngster, he and his sister spent most weekends at their paternal grandmothers while their parents continued to work at the hotel. In the years before college, Bill was forced to grow up hard and fast. The hero in his life, gone for much of the time: he did not like being alone.
After attending courses at Humber College in Toronto, Bill’s ideals fell flat. In his own words; ‘he was not a good student’. In the 90s he moved to Vancouver with dreams of becoming a TV actor but was soon back in Toronto working for an audio visual company. Making good money amid long hours and no prospects towards a creative outlet, Bill felt change was in the air.
As a guide from beyond, the guest house embraces adversity. Finding meaning in life’s challenges, Bill at 31- met his life-partner Kristin Davey while taking courses in Radio Broadcasting at Loyalist College in Belleville. Graduating top of his class, the couple moved to Cornwall in 2011 with their son, where Bill held a 13 year career as station manager with Corus Entertainment.
From his parent’s high ideals, Bill’s public speaking at student council meetings, acting roles in hometown plays, talent shows in grade school, and after hour jobs umpiring little league baseball through his growing up years at The Ambassador Hotel back in Sudbury, all contributed to an influential voice enmeshed in world culture. Was it only two years ago when Bill’s work on the Corus Cares Annual Radio-thon broke all records?
When Bill was 11 or 12, his dad taught him to drive the car 7 miles to the family cottage in Little Current on Manitoulin Island, white knuckling it all the way. Four years later, he was driving the 401 to Mississauga -along the GTA in winter. Like Rainman in the movies, it should be said that in his day, Bill Sr. was an excellent driver.
In the versatility of a Harrison Ford type stood a man who could put his own grief aside. Honouring his son’s deep affection in the recent loss of his grandmother is more than a dependable hero. As out of the house on that time-stamped day when the world stood still, rose qualities not easily missed that bubble up and pop like so much popcorn.
In second generational stories like this one, putting forth the same amount of energy everywhere he goes is like reigning in a wild horse. And yet, Bill’s quiet refusal to let circumstance define him came as an unexpected visitor making his mark in a child’s world, of some 4300 square feet.
As anyone who’s served the public good, there comes a fearless confidence in sharing stories. Outgoing and comfortable, we draw listeners with ideas on everything from JFK to marshmallows.
Beyond financial success and the hard work of making ends meet, lays the gratitude and excitement for whatever comes. Call them gifts from the universe or believing the world to have your back: everything looks different in your bare feet.
Lisa Gray – Copyright May © 2025
