Canada indeed ROCKS

One of my all-time favourite outdoor concert venues is being utilized for the upcoming YMM Canada Day celebrations.  Located on Hardin Street, the soccer field behind the Clearwater Education Centre - in days of yon, the Clearwater School - played host to the first iteration of SummersEnd a number of years ago.  The performance of The Road Hammers was extraordinary; the site was perfect for an outdoor music experience.

I remember scoping out the location when we were desperately looking for a spot to put our stage and tents that year.  Two blocks from my back door, it was almost too good to be true in terms of its dimension, location and character.

The field, often a hotbed for massive spontaneous soccer games between talented players who have moved here from countries like Somolia, Sudan, Ethiopia and other places, is bordered on the east by boreal forest, on the north by Snye Park, on the west by Hardin Street, and on the south by a sloping hill that goes up to the former school turned administrative centre for the public school district.  An easy 5 - 10 minute walk from any number of parking areas in the city centre, access to the festival site will be exceptional. And should the northern lights chose to come out and dance, like they did when The Road Hammers were in town, there is no better place to experience outstanding music in an outdoor concert environment.

The line-up hits a number of targets that I'm still trying to figure out.  I loved this quote from a 20-something about the opportunity to see Simple Plan.

"My 14-year-old self is very excited!" she said, blushing at the thought of seeing several of her former crushes in the flesh.

When I mentioned that Mother Mother was playing at CanadaROCKS to a colleague of mine, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Mother Mother is actually playing?" he asked.  "You got to be kidding me. They are awesome."

"I'm totally stoked to see Dan Mangan," shared yet another colleague, as we sipped our coffee and anticipated the eclectic and electric line-up for Nexen CanadaROCKS that also includes three local acts that have strong followings: Friends of Jack, Destranged and The Sentimental Gentlemen ( Mackenzie Walas and Joe Howes).

The gates of the YMM CanadaROCKS  will open on Sunday, June 30th at 4 pm with the music starting shortly after and going right up to when the Syncrude Firework Spectacular lights up the northern sky at the conclusion of the singing of our national anthem at midnight.

It's a sweet package of entertainment, complete with tasty food and beverages served up by the Wood Buffalo Brewing Company.  Tickets for the 8 hours of fun are only $65 (plus service charges) each and available online or in person at Keyano Box Office.

A little grey between the ears, and long in the tooth, I'm a wee bit out of the sweet spot when it comes to the demographic that this line-up speaks to.  However, thanks to the wonders of iTunes and the free song streaming website Songza, I'm giving the music a try and liking what I'm hearing. On June 30th I'll be willing and ready to sample some world-class Canadian music, locally brewed suds and a fireworks show that will highlight Canada's 146th birthday. How about you?

Summer Camp

In what feels like a wisp of memory, Dylan has gone from a tiny living being cradled in my palms, to  a young man heading off to camp with his classmates from Dr. Clark.  He is wrapping up nine years in this school, and I can't imagine the things he must be feeling and thinking with the final day in sight.

For the next five days, this collection of teenagers will get a healthy dose of independence, adventure, sleep deprivation, unexpected surprises, and all the shades of grey between exuberant fun and abject misery.  Summer camp is a rite of passage, the demarcation line between getting older and growing up. In a way, I'm envious and intrigued by what he'll experience at the Circle Square Ranch near Halkirk in Central Alberta.  In another way, I'm comfortable in the ignorance, happy that he will be able to create his own toolkit of secrets, misadventures, and stories to recall in the decades to come.

I was around Dylan's age when I went on my first "camp" adventure.  It was to Fort San, near Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan. A former sanatorium, the idyllic spot nestled in the Qu'Appelle Valley was home to the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts for 36 years, before it closed in 1991 due to lack of funding.

All that remains of that week are fragments of memory, of being woken up every morning by incredibly loud jazz music, discovering white cream soda, and exploring the bizarre world of Fort San, a self-contained community, reputed to be the most haunted piece of real estate in the province.

Of course, those days spawned an essential boyhood crush, though the object of my affections remains elusive.  I can't remember her name or see her face, but I seem to recall she was from Regina.

It was a big deal to be away from home on my own.  All of a sudden, I was responsible for everything: getting up, getting fed, figuring out my schedule, filling free time, and everything in between.  I find it interesting that the bookends of the experience are completely lost.  There is no memory of how I got there or how I got home.  Those memories are much clearer for the trips that came later, to Toronto for the International Band Festival, to Quebec for my cultural exchange, and to Manitoba for a weeklong trail ride.

Most of us have these recollections, tucked away in the recesses of our minds, kindled by faded mementoes in our box of memories, and inspired by the adventures our own children get to experience. They are precious, and part of the matrix of things that define our character.  I'm excited for Dylan, and look forward to hearing a few stories when I next get to see him, a week from tomorrow.

Weekend Re-charge

On a clear weekend, I can see forever.  The hours pass by, slowly and languidly, two days of bliss that just seem to stretch on and on.  I needed this weekend.

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourite things to do on a weekend that is truly mine and ours.

Low and slow

If Claude Giroux has taught me anything, it is the simple elegance of cooking big chunks of meat low and slow.  Whether in the slow cooker or in a roasting pan in the oven, cooking something at a low temperature all day long is sinfully easy and produces delightfully tasty results.  I had picked up a pork butt roast at Safeway yesterday, marinated it overnight with some spices and three chopped up onions, and got it started first thing this morning in the slow cooker on the low setting.  It will produced stunningly tender pulled pork around supper time.

Laundry

There are those who loathe dealing with the weekly dose of lights, brights and darks, but I quite like it.  On a weekend like this, the task is accomplished over both days, with the ultimate objective being to have one heaping basket of clean and folded clothes for each member of the family after dinner on Sunday.  That piece of productivity always feels great.

Reading

We get a couple of periodicals that pile up - National Geographic, Maclean's, SUCCESS, Alberta Views, and Vanity Fair among them - and I never seem to find and/or make the time to properly dive into the stories in a way that I should.  A blank weekend gives me ample time to find a comfortable spot, and enjoy the full breadth of a well-written narrative or investigative piece.

Cutting the Lawn

After the deluge of rain that we've received, there are strands of grass poking up in our front yard begging to be chopped down and trimmed.  I enjoy sparking up the old mower and seeing those finished back and forth patterns of the lawn.  It makes the world seem right.

Music

A weekend wouldn't be the same without music.  I always find that music sounds better when there is time to enjoy it.  I also find it sounds better when I'm surrounded by family.  Recently, I was made aware of a beautiful things called Songza, a website where you can listen to music that fits your mood or flavour, absolutely for free.  Because nothing is being downloaded, there is no cost to enjoy music playlists created by people who know what the hell they are doing.  Now that I'm in the Mac environment, I don't even mind using iTunes, as it turns on instantly.  On my former computer, a PC, it took several minutes to get the program up and running.

Naps

I come from a long line of nappers on the Thomas side of the family.  My grandfather, my father, and several of my brothers have this innate ability to get horizontal and snooze almost anywhere.  There is nothing better than a quick nap after a good midday meal.  A blank weekend provides the best scenario for the best cat naps.

Cleaning

I know it's not terribly sexy, but I like to do cleaning chores when time allows. Whether it is sweeping the floor, straightening up the living room, or bringing my home study back to a state of tidiness, there is great therapeutic value in cleaning.  In professional roles that demand a lot of mental work, being able to shut the brain down to do something physical is absolutely refreshing, and fundamentally necessary (for me).

Fishing

I couldn't let a blog post about idyllic weekends go by without mentioning fishing.  However, this year has been a complete anomaly on the angling side of life.  It is June 16th and I have not caught a single fish, though not for lack of trying.  Spring was late, the rivers have been high, and now huge amounts of debris litter the Clearwater, making fishing an impossibility.  Normally, fishing is what I do on Father's Day as my indulgent treat.  I fear that is not going to happen this time around, unless I venture out to Gregoire Lake to toss a line off the boat dock.

I hope you're getting recharged this weekend, and enjoying some quality time with your friends and family.  My sense is that much of our community could really use a break after a tumultuous and wet week.  Happy Father's Day!

Sandbagging - Fort McMurray Flood

I was about to settled into the bathtub when I saw the tweet calling for more volunteers for sandbagging at Keyano College.  I looked at the nice warm water; I looked at the tweet. I looked at the nice warm water; I looked at the tweet again.  I dropped my pants - the good jeans I had been wearing - and grabbed an old grubby pair, told Ben where I was going, and headed down Franklin Avenue to join the effort.

The next three hours demonstrated for me what true citizenship is all about.  A baseball team (Fort McMurray Oil Giants), a college President (Dr. Kevin Nagel), new Canadians, young Canadians, long-time Canadians gravitated to these two massive piles and a sandbag assembly station staged between the Bob Lamb building and the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre.  When one group left, another magically appeared.

Strangers were helping strangers, talking, smiling, connecting, giving.  It was a beautiful thing to see and be a part of.

One little girl was determined to help out, diving right into the middle of the cacophony of shovels and sandbags.  We were careful not to run over her or accidentally hit her with our swinging shovels; she was careful to fill up her bag and contribute to this unparalleled effort to protect heritage buildings (Heritage Park), a residential neighborhood (Grayling Terrace) and a vital institution (Keyano College).

She took a well-deserved break with her dad, and offered up the most amazing smile I've ever seen.

One amazing helper, Lloyd, had put in 17 hours of volunteer service since the flooding began.  He was there when I arrived and he was there when I left, and long into the night.  Your McMurray Magazine publisher Krista Balsom took this picture and tweeted it out around midnight.

In charge of the institution that took a direct hit from the first wave of the Hangingstone River on Tuesday morning, Kevin Nagel spent hours on sandbagging duty.  You can imagine how much is on his mind as we prepare for a possible 100 mm of additional rain between now and Saturday.

"What happened on Monday night?" I asked.

"I got the call about 2 am," he said.  "The water came up all of a sudden, in about twenty minutes.  There was nothing we could do."

His staff and contractors have been fully engaged in the clean-up effort of the Sport and Wellness Centre since the water receded.  Meanwhile, a wall of sandbags line the back end of the facility in anticipation of another onslaught of water.  Even the back entrances of the Arts Centre have a line of protection, in case the level ends up exceeding the high water mark of Tuesday morning.

So, with the sun shining on Thursday morning after an overnight downpour, we wait, for the forecasted rain and how the Hangingstone and Clearwater Rivers will respond.

TEDx Fort McMurray - a WINNING formula

The gang of volunteers who put together TEDx Fort McMurray got it right.  They built on the success of their inaugural event in 2012 and stepped it up more than several notches in 2013.  I've written a couple of posts about the actual presentations, but haven't said much about the event as whole, the process of selecting speakers, the build-up to the event, and the day itself.  I'll do that now.

As a caveat to my comments, I will admit that I am not overly familiar with the nuances of what the TED organization demands in terms of organizational and operational requirements.  It is quite possible that suggestions I offer are impossible to do based on the rules of engagement.

The Selection Process

If you're not intimately involved with TEDx, you may not know that there is an application and audition process that all candidates have to go through.  The selection panel spends hours of personal time meeting potential speakers (in person and via Skype), hearing early iterations of their presentations, and debating who should be invited to participate.  They consider a lot of things, including content balance, alignment with the theme, and the ability of the presenter.  Yes, some people don't make the cut.

The incredible flow of presenters and topics that we experienced on Saturday is largely due to the diligence of this committee.

Mentorship

Once selections were made, each presenter was teamed up with a coach.  I was honoured to be one of those and had the good fortune to assist artist Lucie Bause with her InTER-CoNNecTion talk.  I'm not sure how it worked with the other folks, but I felt this was a valuable process.  My only criticism would be that I wish I could have been out front to watch Lucie's presentation.  From my vantage point in the wing, I couldn't really see anything.

Rehearsals

Based on comments from a number of the presenters, they appreciated having two full days of rehearsal in the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts.  This coveted time in the space not only gave them familiarity with the technology, it gave them quality time with each other.  Relationships have been formed through the TEDx process, and that's really cool.

Attendance

I've gone back and forth on this one, worrying that the two step process may have stifled attendance.  We had room for an additional 150 people in the house, and I heard first-hand reports from people who got frustrated with the application phase of the process and just bailed.  On the other hand, the people that did go through with it were highly motivated and made for an excellent audience.  The price of $50 is absolutely nothing for the quantity and quality of what we experienced.  I'd have happily paid several hundred dollars for the privilege of seeing those 11 presentations.

One way or another, TEDx Fort McMurray deserves a full house.  Something needs to change to make this happen in 2014.  Whether the application process gets dropped, or a stronger marketing push happens. a shift in thought needs to happen to get bums in seats.

Photo Booth

This was a HOME RUN!  Set up in the office area at Holy Trinity, I got my picture taken with Lucie, gave the young fellow my email address, and they sent the beautiful shot immediately.  I had the high resolution image on my iPhone and ready to share within one minute.

That wonderful system enabled me to post my picture with Lucie and Baby X to Facebook and Twitter during the event, which added way more value to the brand of TEDx than if they had been posted later that day or the next.  Great job.

Video Box

Ashley Laurenson (@ashcakequiggles) created a marvellous cardboard box/video experience.  Guests walked in, pressed a button on the camera, and got to say whatever was on their mind about the TEDx experience.  Too fun!  Watch for a this collection of observations and video interactions coming soon.

Ball Pit

I didn't try the ball pit located at the far end of the hall, but Heather did, and she loved it.  Two strangers crawl into this pit filled with plastic balls, at which time they are given a set of random questions to explore with each other.  By the end of the process, you are strangers no more.

The Lunch

We were seated with random people based on a number that had been placed on the back of our name tags.  In this way, we got to sit and chat with people who we would probably not instinctively gravitate toward.  Lunch was contained within a reusable picnic basket filled with an awesome potato salad, fried chicken, and fruit salad for dessert.

Highlighting the sustainability piece, Loraine Humphrey explained the significance of the meal and how it was being served.  Everything was made with natural ingredients, packed in reusable containers and eaten with biodegradable utensils.  This is a great example of how to make the narrative of the event stronger.  Had nothing been said, that story thread may not have been appreciated or shared.

The Length

We were bagged by the end of the day - absolutely nothing left.  For us, the length seemed to be an issue.  As we talked about the experience after getting home, we wondered if you are mandated to have videos between each presentation?  If you are, then it might be advantageous to pick ones that are slightly shorter.  Had everything neatly wrapped up by 4 pm, the length of the day would have been perfect.

The Emcee

Matt Youens did a brilliant job of personalizing the experience, of moving things along, and of allowing the presenters to bask in the adoration of their fans for just the right amount of time after they were done.

The Organizing Committee

While Matt has become of the face of TEDx Fort McMurray, there are many others who were equally outstanding in their organizations efforts.  Let's see if I can name them without checking: Rolando, Loraine, Renee, Jude, Michelle, Karen, Ken, Jeanettte, Stephen and Zayal.....did I miss anyone?

The Volunteers

The helping hands who made TEDx a success were awesome.  Friendly, engaging, informative, they elevated the experience and can't be thanked enough.

The Buzz

I can think of four or five individuals who are actively planning to apply to present next year.  At the end of the day, that has to be one of the more important measures of success.  Another measure of effectiveness will be the video versions of the 2013 presentations and how often they get shared and viewed.  That's where you will come in, and you, and you, and you!

Closing Thoughts

Outside of working on growing attendance and shortening the length of the experience, I'm not sure how the organizing committee can make the 2014 event better.  That said, I'm sure they will find a way to top themselves; they always do.

Coffee Klatch #1

I'm not sure why the term "klatch" popped into my head as I started thinking of a community engagement strategy related to Arts Council Wood Buffalo (ACWB).  Starting with a gathering characterized usually by informal conversation (Merriam-Webster), seemed like a good first step to answer the many questions that we know are out there, floating on the breeze about ACWB, and capturing your ideas, needs and dreams.

There are some things we know and many things we don't.  This organization is really in its early stages, though our intention is to move forward with mindful haste and careful abandon.  Having an open and ongoing dialogue with citizens who are passionate about arts and culture is vital.

We will gather for our first Coffee Klatch in the lobby at Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre on Friday, June 14th between 3 pm and 5 pm.  No agenda. No pre-ordained talking points.  No pressure.  Drop in whenever it's convenient.

The only thing we're going to ask of you is to fill out a quick form so that we can connect beyond the Klatch.  I'm also excited to pass out my temporary business cards so you can connect with me in my new role.  You get to pick between one of five cards featuring some of my portraits.  Which one is your favourite?

See you on Friday.

TEDxYMM, Acts 3 & 4

TEDx Fort McMurray was such a huge experience, that I had to break up the telling of what happened into two parts.  It seemed logical to use the lunch break as a natural dividing line.

Amie Dawe, a municipal engineer working for the Regional Muncipality of Wood Buffalo, was first up in the afternoon, offering us a bright and shiny tool for our Life Kit: Wide Angle Pro-Activity.  She grew up in Malaysia, studied in Vancouver, and worked in Australia, gathering along the way new ideas on how to create, respond to, and maximize opportunities.

She suggested four tactics to open up our field of vision and enable our field of dreams: 1) Be aware of available resources, 2) Anticipate roadblocks - they will pop up, 3) Be alert for alternatives - there's more than one way to skin a cat, and 4) Be poised to seize new opportunities.  It's an age old adage, but essentially, Amie was compelling us to not think about it, but to "just do it!"

I had never met Brent Hughes, save for the brief introduction back stage at the start of the day.  Reading his bio in the virtual program, I'm a little unclear as to whether he lives in Wood Buffalo, or if he was another import sharing his amazing ideas with the over 200 people gathered for a full day of learning and exploration.  It doesn't really matter though.  What does, is that he delivered an outstanding presentation - The Perpetual Change - and earned a rousing response.

Spending over 9 years in Hiroshima, Brent became very familiar with Japanese culture and a leader in lean manufacturing concepts. We are all 19 clicks away from all the information available on the Internet, he said -- I think.  I've italicized the quote as I'm not 100 percent sure I remember it correctly, but I believe the essence is intact.  He suggested that we need to shift our understanding of that ubiquitous corporate rallying cry - ROI - and transform it from Return on Investment to Return on IDEAS!

"We are all God in embryo," he said.

From encouraging failure, to colouring outside the line, we need to turn ASK into ACTION.  Sentences that start with "Wouldn't it be great if..." need to be encouraged, not discouraged.

I'll never forget the time that Theresa Wells sent me a note asking if she attend the CanadaROCKS announcement press conference.  If my memory is right, it was the day Claude Giroux (TEDx presenter from Act 1) strode into the atrium at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre dressed as Gene Simmons to announce that one of the world's great rock bands was going to play in Fort McMurray.  It was a shift in thought for me, catalyzed by Theresa's ask, that bloggers needed to be added to the media mix in a mindful and consistent way.

Theresa has gone on to be our region's most prolific and most read blogger via www.mcmurraymusings.com. Her voice, both written and spoken, has grown in stature and influence here in Wood Buffalo and across the province.  In many ways, she is that unfiltered, unfettered, uncontrolled, unstoppable voice of the people that was, and is, so desperately needed.

I'm so glad that the Intrepid Junior Blogger (Sam) was there to watch her mother's TEDx presentation, Scared to Live.  Theresa left it all out on the stage, going to her most vulnerable places and how she went from being scared to live, to waiting to live, to wanting to live, to being ready to live.  A single mom, a working professional, an accomplished writer, and Fort McMurray's most widely known lover of shoes, Theresa is embracing life's possibilities and helping to change to world.

She was in tears when it was all over, as she stood there on that little carpet waiting for Matt Youens to come out and rescue her from the deafening standing ovation.  If that isn't living, I don't know what is.

To be honest, I'm at a loss as to what to say about Katie Long's Sisterhood presentation.  With each previous presenter, my pen really started working at about the 5 minute mark.  So, when Katie wrapped things up after about 6 minutes, I had only begun drawing.  Despite that, I got the sense that getting out on that stage was a big deal for this 20 year old family support worker, originally from Thunder Bay.  She had prepared dozens of versions of what she would say before coming out from behind the curtains and delivering the one that mattered.

I wrote down one phrase: "authentic pieces of you!" I really look forward to watching this video when it comes out.  While it was the shortest of the 11, I get the sense that it was packed with meaning, wisdom and a whole lot of bravery.

TEDx Fort McMurray came to a close with Jenny Berube's Change Me / Change Everything.  "Born into privilege," Jenny thought that moving across the ocean would help chart a new path for herself. However, she came to a shocking realization.

"I changed location, but found out that I brought ME with me."

In the new world, she settled into existence; she was "circumstances breathing".  What an incredible term to describe a life in neutral.

At some point she realized that she had to take matters into her own hands.

"My boss became Future Me," she shared.

I'm sure there is a whole lot more to it, but today Jenny is a vibrant, ebullient, glass-is-half-full, comfortable-in-her-own-skin, mother, wife, financial success coach, writer and arts advocate.  She is no longer circumstances breathing, she is the captain of her ship, the master of her soul.

In respect of our 25,000 precious days, she offered five tips to become the architect of your life: 1) Set goals, 2) Pre-plan your day, 3) Create a system of accountability, 4) Move forward every day, and 5) Find others who can encourage you along the way.

We stood, we clapped, we cheered, in celebration of Jenny and 10 other outstanding presenters that comprised the 2013 TEDx Fort McMurray.  It was a day that provided inspiring shifts in thought and created much anticipation for who will come forward to speak in 2014.

My wife is determined to go down that path and asked me to take a picture of her on the TEDx carpet, so she can add that image to her visioning board.

She is not alone.  I heard two or three others expressing a desire to embrace their fears and share their stories.  I can't wait for next year.