Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to a special Canadian music legend. Many will recognize the name Wilf Carter, but perhaps he was best known to his fans as Montana Slim.
Wilf Carter was born December 18, 1904 in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia and died one week ago at the age of 91.
Wilf Carter was inspired at an early age by a yodeller who was passing through town. Wilf developed his own unique three in one or echo yodel, which became his trademark in the music industry.
His famous yodel sparked his career, a career that spanned six decades and kept him on the road well into his eighties.
Wilf began his career while working in the grain fields of Alberta, singing at local dances, bunkhouses and parties.
Wilf was such a hit in the prairies that the Canadian Pacific Railway hired him to entertain trail riders on their summer packing trips through the Rockies.
One of his songs that I recall is "It makes no difference now". The truth is his career made a difference, for Wilf Carter was a legend in his own time.
On behalf of all Canadians and all those who knew him, we offer his family our deepest condolences. Gone but never forgotten.