Calgary Sun Article: Idol dad bursting with pride

[spylogic3]

It took a while, but the Calgary Sun finally did a Melissa article:

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CANADIAN IDOL 3
Idol dad bursting with pride
Matthew Halladay
Calgary Sun
August 29, 2005

Calgary’s Tim O’Neil has been living out of a suitcase for the last two months, but it’s been worth it.

Tim is the proud father of 17-year-old Melissa O’Neil, who went from being a regular high school student, to a young woman shouldering the pride of Alberta, climbing the ranks to become one of the top four Canadian Idol hopefuls.

“How cool is it to be 17 and have a chance to do something like this?” asks O’Neil from the Toronto hotel room he’s been living in.

O’Neil is Melissa’s parental accompaniment in Toronto, but he doesn’t get to see her much more than the rest of the country does.

“Besides the occasional lunch, I see her Tuesdays and Wednesdays with everybody else,” he says. “They really live in a bubble, these kids. They’re going at it seven days a week.”

Melissa’s singing ability has consistently impressed the judges and she landed in the Idol top four last week.

Her success, though sudden, isn’t a surprise to those who know her best.

“I couldn’t believe the enthusiasm of this kid,” says Darren Dyck, her drama teacher at Calgary’s Lester B. Pearson high school, remembering the first time he met her at a drama workshop.

“I said to her then, ‘You’ve got everything the fine arts program at Pearson is looking for.’ ”

Dyck recalls her first theatre audition in Grade 9.

“She scared the Grade 12 kids,” he says. “I’ve been teaching for 16 years, and you run into kids who are talented, but they’ve usually had training, years of practice. Melissa just comes by it naturally.”

“It’s true,” says Tim. “I don’t know where it comes from. Her mother and I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

O’Neil is also impressed with Melissa’s maturity.

“You watch her deal with the fans on the street and in the theatre and she’s just a real grounded, cool individual,” says O’Neil.

“She doesn’t let it go to her head, doesn’t believe her own press. If she wasn’t my daughter, I’d still like her.”

Back in Calgary, Melissa’s family and friends will be gathering around the TV cheering her on.

But as Melissa’s grandmother, Sherri Fujimagari, says, “a family never has any doubt.”

Canadian Idol airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays on CTV.

[jayne]

Thanks for sharing! I loved reading it. I've been wondering where Melissa got her talent from...Mom or Dad? And I was surprised by Tim's remark that neither of them can carry a tune. I'm so proud of Melissa!

[Fall2Pieces]

Her father seems like a nice guy, he sure supports her and thats amazing!

[Cerraigh]

Her father seems like a really cool dad.

[Richard]

Tim has a lot of fans of his own.

[Lucky13]

Melissa's dad ROCKS!!! He's a really cool guy...down to earth, genuine and loves his children to no end!!! Their whole family is really cool, nice and great people to be around! Definitely the type of people I like to surround my son with!!! He is very proud of Melissa and supports her all the way!! Not just because she is her daughter but because he truly loves and believes in her...and so does her mom! Who wouldn't.....anyone that knows Melissa knows what a terrific girl she is!

[Darren Dyck]

Tim has been very dedicated camping out in the big TO for the entire summer. He has definately showed his support of Melissa and yes he does have his own fan club.

It was good to see the Calgary media finally get going. We need to make a real concerted effort these next to weeks to get to the media and force them to do more stuff for Melissa. Call the radio stations, the tv stations and the papers in your area. Put the pressure on them to back a winner. Do whatever you can to put Melissa's name and face out there wherever you are.

Monkey Power!!!!

Keep up the great work everyone!!!!!!!!