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Proceeds of Larche biography to benefit TDH FoundationJohn Larche subject of biography by award-winning local writer

Posted By CHELSEY ROMAIN THE DAILY PRESS

Seated side by side Monday afternoon, Larche and award-winning author and journalist Richard Buell share just how the book "On the Rocks: John Larche and the Pursuit of the Dreamfields" came to be.

"It took a whole pile of us years to convince him this book should be written," said Larche's fishing pal Dave McGirr. "'On the Rocks' is a book about leadership, it's about entrepreneurship, adventure and it's about legends."

"But most importantly it's about inspiration."

Buell, who once worked on the mining beat atThe Daily Press,was lined up to be the book's author once Larche was finally on board.

When presented with the idea in 2004, Buell said he realized how little he actually knew about Larche.

"I take no responsibility for creating hundreds of jobs and great wealth, but John has done those things," Buell said. "I have found that John has done all these things that mere mortals just don't accomplish and felt almost inadequate to tell that story."

The book tells the tales of Larche's early years in the Blind River area, through his time selling newspapers and working in the logging industry in Ontario and British Columbia, and finally into his heydays of mining and prospecting in some of the most remote regions of the North.

With a team, Larche helped discover an ore body that continues to create new wealth and jobs for Canada to this day.

While Googling Larche's name might turn up results such as diamond discovery, the Order of Canada and his contributions to the Timmins and District Hospital, McGirr said one can find out a lot more about the man by turning off the computer.

"He's a leader, family man, father, grandfather and friend," McGirr said. "He's a friend and a legend and an incredible man for Northern Ontario, Ontario and Canada. We have all benefited from John's humble leadership."

In order to get a true sense of what it was like to live a life like Larche's, Buell flew to some of the country's most remote areas, learning how to survive in the bush with nothing but his dog.

He learned how the prospectors would eat a frozen, solid bologna sandwich and how to camp out with a tent.

"We live in an area of the country that's pretty ignored by the rest of North America, and people have no concept of all the great things that have happened in this part of the country," Buell said.

"When I was given the opportunity to write about the life and times, the success and failure of John, I realized it was a story that had to be told," Buell said.

For Larche, launching the book Monday was a bit awkward, not being the type of man to flaunt his accomplishments. At his insistence, all proceeds from the book are being donated to the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation's Give ... for the Health of it! campaign.

"Because of the hospital, I'm glad I'm doing this," Larche said. "I've had some obstacles in my life I've had to overcome, and I did reasonably well at overcoming the odds, but I was lucky too."

Having read Buell's book, Larche said he did a good job and that the book only includes parts of his life. Much more could have been added, but Larche said it would have been too much.

In fighting against the odds, Larche said it was all about remaining positive and dealing with things the best he could.

"John has faced death 11 times," said McGirr, as Larche quipped in about beating a cat's nine lives. "He's a hero, survivor and a legend.

"If just a few people are inspired by this legend, it will have a profound impact on Northern Ontario and Canada."

The proceeds of the book will go to the purchase of a $1.1-million nuclear medicine camera for the John P. Larche Medical Imaging and Cardiopulmonary Department.

Copies of the book can be purchased at Alfie's Cigar Store, Mike's Restaurant, the Timmins Square customer service booth, Shania Twain Centre, Timmins and District Hospital's switchboard and foundation office and at NAPA's in Kirkland Lake for $45 each. Copies can also be ordered online at www.tadhfoundation.com.

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