Customs hero hangs up badge
By TOM GODFREY, Toronto Sun
Last Updated: 23rd January 2010, 9:24pm
One of Canadas longest-serving immigration officers who stopped former U.S. labour leader Jimmy Hoffa and the Happy Hooker has flashed his badge for the last time.
Daniel Snow, 60, retired last week after 37 years of frontline duty at Pearson airport, which saw him stopping countless suspicious travellers from all over the world.
He loved the airport and stayed there for his entire career, said Janina Lebon, of the Customs and Immigration Union. He was one of our longer-serving members.
Snow is described as colourful and unique by co-workers.
He is credited with refusing entry into Canada of former Teamsters International union leader Jimmy Hoffa in the early 1970s due to a criminal record.
An unhappy Hoffa was on his way to talk to Canadian workers when he was sent back home, Snows co-workers said.
Snow also refused entry to Xaviera Hollander, aka The Happy Hooker, who was travelling to Toronto for a book appearance.
Hollander wrote The Happy Hooker in 1971 detailing her life as a New York City madame. The book sold more than 16 million copies.
Snow also detained and brought to justice Arthur Rudolph, 85, a former German rocket scientist, who arrived at Pearson in 1990 for a months vacation but was detained on suspicion of war crimes. He was sent packing to Germany.
