If Gate Lepine ever becomes famous, it will be for many reasons. His accomplishments are impressive in scope and volume. There's little doubt however that at the top of that list is his close friendship with Stompin' Tom Connors. Much has been made of this and that remains true for the tomorrows that follow. It's full of twists and turns that peaks the interest of many.
That doesn't diminish the importance of the other many items on that list. There is much in this story that speaks to the hearts and heads of Canadians.
The thread that connects everything is his family. Unlike his pal Tom Connors, Gate's forgiving and loving heart enveloped his parents and siblings and the survivors remain part of his life to this day.
The tragic nature of his upbringing doesn't begin and end with his younger brother Ray but it certainly takes centre stage. Through all of the turbulence that made up their childhoods, either of the sons could of ended up on the wrong side of the law, but it was Ray who ran with that option.
After his first stint in prison, Ray returned home, sullen and looking for a better way. Gate describes what follows.
"I got him a job at Hollinger Mine and we work the same shifts. He lives with my folks and we live next door. We walk to work. We work on the same level, close to one another. We play pool. Go to the movies at night. We drink only on Friday nights (day shift done) and Saturdays (when we’re on the afternoon shift). Sundays we take drives, have supper with the folks. Ray is doing alrught - until his pay comes in (it takes a whole month to get your first pay). On that day, Dad is waiting. ‘Hope in’ he says for the fist time. He never offered rides before, even in blizzards. But today he timed it real good. As we walked out with our lunch pails he’s pretending to be taking show off the car and getting ready to go to work on Taxi.
Ray says, “what the fuck is up?”
We should have caught on. We should have walked. We jumped in the car and when we arrived at the mine, he drives to the pay office (pay day, he knows it). “Get your pay Ray. Sign it over to me. You’ll blow it on booze or some damn thing. I’ll pay your debts. You owe me Room and Board. Then you got some miner’s clothes and other clothes. I’ll pay all that.”
What a slap in the face that was. Never gave Ray a chance to make it. It happened so fast. We were like in a trance. Of course the Old Man had it all well rehearsed. Ray blindly hands over his hard earned pay, his first big cheque. And now he must go back underground and wait two weeks for his next pay!
Silence in the car as he drives us to the Main Gate and change house by the shaft up the hill. Ray slams the door. I give my Dad a long dirty stare…and I spit on the ground. Ray is ahead of me and as we change not a word is said. But I can tell….
And sure enough, as we reach the station on the 5000 foot level, we step off the cage and Ray is in a rage. Shatters his lunch pail against the rock and says, “I won’t be needing this bucket any more, and the first guy that tries to get me to work I’ll flip the fucker down the shaft.” Everyone heads for work while I stay behind to talk to Ray. He’s in a crying rage and says WHY??? Gates? WHY???. The old fucker. FUCK”
"Hang on Ray, I’ll talk to him when we get home. He caught us off guard. I’ll tell him to give you back at least half your pay and maybe one month free Room & Board”.
“Are you fuckin’ nuts Gate? Fuck him. It’s always about money. I don’t know how you took his shit way back when we were young. He sure made you work for nothing. Fuck it. I’m gone.”
Just as Ray said that, the Shift Boss hops out of the Cage. Shit, Ray and I have been talking for an hour or so. “Whats wrong boys?”. Rays says “fuck you too”. After we tell him we want to be left alone, he tells Ray “get to work and I’ll show you who fucks who here”.
Ray picks up a shovel that was standing beside the bench and swings it an inch from this guys face. So fast, so close. He would have killed him. The guy is white and shitting his pants.
“You’re fired now!” he tells Ray. Ray says “too fuckin’ late asshole. I quit” and he did.
Two months later, Ray was in a penitentiary in BC. Armed robbery (a bank). Alone. Ray got seven years this time.