Richard Lafreniere is retiring from court reporting by the end of the year after 49 years in a career that meant recording testimony from speeders, drug dealers, and murderers. Lafreniere was Windsors first male court reporter when he started in 1964 and over his career he has sat with 118 judges.
Although this is Lafrenieres second attempt at retiring, his first was thwarted when the City of Windsor took over the administration of traffic court and other provincial statute prosecutions.
The man who can type 110 words per minute, 40 words per minute is average, used a Dictaphone for several years and then a digital recording system which he says prolonged his stay. Upon the court closing, every hour of court testimony recorded meant into five hours of typing for Lafreniere.
Its been a great ride. He told The Windsor Star.
Greg Monforton & Partners lament Lafrenieres retiring saying that Richard was a true gentlemen and will be greatly missed. Congratulations on retirement Richard!