Chattin' with Ellis Hall

On Sunday night, singer Ellis Hall will join the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable tribute to Ray Charles as part of Wood Buffalo Alive with Culture activities planned for the weekend.  I had the honour to chat with Ellis on the phone this morning from his home in Los Angeles, California.  It wasn't a long conversation, maybe 12 minutes from start to finish, but in that short time I got a sense of the man and his music.

Born in Savannah, Georgia, Ellis grew up in the community of Claxton, the self-declared fruitcake capital of the world about 50 miles inland.

His laugh is Ray Charles-esque - robust, soulful, sincere - as he fondly recalled the claim to fame of the town of his youth.

I asked him what his earliest memory was of hearing a song on the radio or on record that made him stand up and take notice.

"Harry Belafonte," he answered immediately.  "I remember the Banana Boat Song drifting through the air on day from the vicinity of my parent's bedroom.  That stands out for me.  Sam Cooke, too."

He was 8 years old when he discovered that maybe something was special with his voice.  He was standing on a street corner with some friends just singing for the sake of singing, when passersby started to throw money.  But it was at the age of 14 when he snuck into a Savannah club and started singing with the band.  It was the looks of the musicians - he still had some sight at this point - not the audience, that signaled to him that he had a gift.

By 18 he was completely blind thanks to the ravages of glaucoma.

Determined to give music a serious run, he moved to the Boston area - Watertown to be precise - where he attended the Perkins School for the Blind.  "That's the same place that Helen Keller went," he shared.

I didn't have a chance to ask how Ray Charles came into the picture, but it was clear that the two of them were very close, before the death of the R & B legend in 2004.

"I spent hours talking to Ray about great lyrics," he said.  "We had a common love for music that brought us together.  Of course, listing to Papa Ray was like listening to church on the radio."

There is no question that his love of music and performing runs deep, into a life filled with deep-southern roots, a north-eastern coming of age, and a current comfortable base of operations on the west coast.  Excited to perform in our community, Ellis knows a little about Fort McMurray, from what his life-partner Karen has shared with him from her research on the computer.

"She tells me that Fort McMurray is a boomtown," he said.  "That you have lots of oil, and that you love your music."

Scratch out boomtown and replace it with hometown, and Karen got it exactly right.

Alive with Culture

My band teacher from high school retired a couple of days ago.  Mr. Wenner posted the news on Facebook and stories and memories began pouring in from his former students stretching back to the early 1980s.  So, music ensembles had already been on my mind as Theresa Wells and I met with Arndis Bildfell from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to talk about the celebration of culture coming up this weekend.

We found out that the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) would be coming north a few months ago at a Council meeting, thanks to the generosity of a number of different companies including City Lumber, Enbridge, Syncrude and Worley Parsons.  They would be joined by an amazing traveling exhibit from the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) at an event planned for June 3rd at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre on MacDonald Island.

It has been a long, long time since the ESO played in our community; several decades of water has flowed under that particular musical bridge.  This is a BIG deal.  We've enjoyed the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra on a couple of occasions in more recent times, including a performance of the music of Harry Potter, complete with a special visit by Hagrid and a few of the other characters at Keyano Theatre.  That event was packed and an amazing experience.

This performance of the ESO is a pops concerts devoted to the music of Ray Charles featuring that legend's protégé Ellis Hall (who I get to interview later this week).  Starting at 7 pm on the Nexen Field House, this performance is going to be peppered with some of the greatest songs of all-time: Georgia on My Mind, Hit the Road Jack, Let the Good Times Roll, and Unchain My Heart, to name but a few. It's going to be amazing!

Tickets for this once-in-a-generation event are a ridiculously low price of $20, with children under 12 getting in absolutely free.  All ticket proceeds are going to be donated to the Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society. There will also be a cool local touch to the concert as dancers from Generation Dance Studio will be making a guest appearance.

As part of this cultural celebration, AGA is in town with their About Face art exhibition, featuring 17 two-dimensional framed works that "examine questions of identity from the perspective of First Nations artists."  Drawn from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts collection, About Face shines the spotlight on First Nations artists Terrance Houle, Alex Janvier, Duane Linklater, George Littlechild, Frederick McDonald, April Mercredi, Henry Nanooch, and Pat Nokomis.

AGA staff will also be on hand to host art workshops and guide the creation of a collaborative community art piece.  Take-away projects will explore portraiture, place and identity.  The exhibition opening and community celebration is absolutely free for everyone and running from 1 pm to 4 pm in the MacDonald Island Community Art Gallery.

My only regret is that I won't be here on Sunday.  I'm traveling with Councillors Flett, Stroud and Vinni to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities national conference in Saskatoon.  My solace is that my family will be able to enjoy this wonderful day of art and culture.  I'll be thinking of them in my room at the Bessborough Hotel looking out at the North Saskatchewan River.

Get tickets for you and your family right here.

Abasand walk

In 16 years of living here, I had never taken any of the historic walks in Abasand, an area of Fort McMurray perched on a plateau between valleys formed by the Clearwater and Horse rivers.  In my mind, the system of rough trails leading to the historic site of the former Abasand Oils Limited facility championed by a pair of American promoters named Max Ball and B.O. Jones, meandered through thick bush and challenging terrain.  I certainly didn't expect a fully maintained road leading right down to the warren of roads and clearings perched along the Horse River.

We left the car on the top and walked down to the bottom, a dusty hike, as things have been pretty dry in recent days, but completely accessible, even to those who might have some mobility issues.  Exposed oil sand deposits are evident on the left side of the road, jutting out of steep cliffs.  Ben jumped across the ditch and with his rubber boots began scaling the face, wanting to grab another sample of black gold, already wearing his plastic gloves to protect his hands from the tarry deposits.

Heather and Ben had joined the cub scouts troupe on this same hike just a few days earlier and were given an excellent historical narrative by Scouter Andrew.  I wish I could have joined in on that adventure as history comes alive when you have a tour guide who knows what they are talking about.

At the bottom of the road is a large open expanse, the site of the original Abasand plant that began producing oil on May 19, 1941.  A fire in November of that year led to a rebuild which expanded the size of the plant and a return to full operations in June 1942.  The feds took over things in 1943, but a disastrous explosion and fire brought things to a permanent halt in 1945.

The open spot, several acres in sizes, is comprised of a black surface, soft, almost springy, with little globules of tar bubbling up in the heat of mid-afternoon sun.

"Scouter Andrew was saying that he was once down here on a hot summer day," said Heather.  "He ruined his shoes."

The Horse River loops around the property and is easily accessible in a number of spots.  It's a gorgeous stretch of nature, especially on this bright sunny day with just a few clouds in the sky.

The only troubling thing about this adventure is seeing the level of disrespect and abuse that is heaped upon this historic spot, obviously a favourite bush party location as empty beer cans and bottles have been orphaned by the hundreds around remnants of bonfires.

We walked back to the top wondering what it would take to turn this wonderful asset into a protected area, perhaps a semi-managed historic site.

"I don't understand how anyone can toss garbage in the bush willy nilly and feel fine about it," I said to Heather.  "I've never been able to wrap my brain around it."

We'll return soon with garbage bags and spend some time cleaning up at least a portion of the mess, while enjoying what is a great spot to engage with nature and history.

Leaders launch

The largest graduating class in the history of Leadership Wood Buffalo arrived at both an end and a beginning on Thursday night.  On the one hand, it was the end of a 240-day community leadership journey that began with a retreat at Christina Lake Lodge.

"240 days since we tentatively came together as strangers to explore the meaning of leadership," said Michelle Landsiedel in her valedictory address.  "240 days since we became part of something bigger than us."

I love the use of "240 days" as it captures the breadth and scope of the experience in a way that "8 months" does not.

"In the last 240 days, we have all changed a little bit; life has thrown everything that it has at us: we've had babies, learned we were going to; our babies have had babies," said Landsiedel.  "We've changed jobs, departments, careers, companies. We've gotten amazing news about our health, and we've gotten scary news that has changed what the future looks like for us.  We've lost loved ones, we've rediscovered ourselves, said goodbye to relationships, and made life-long friends."

That's a whole lot of life to pack into 240 days, but this group of 25 leaders embraced it all and delivered positive change in our community and in themselves along every mile of this incredible journey.

I feel honoured that I had the opportunity to engage with these community leaders several times throughout the year.  I was a celebrity judge at one of their first learning day activities which used the Celebrity Apprentice format to get them working together in groups.

With the support of media friends like Nolan Haukeness, Bianca Jade, Chandra Rempel, Morgan Modjeski, we took the class of leaders through a media training session that was both challenging (hard-hitting questions) and hilarious (thinking of Bianca banging Chad Penney with her microphone while he tried to answer questions from the other reporters).

Eleven of us became intimately familiar with one of the case study groups as we went through the TEDx Fort McMurray adventure.  Starting with a nerve-wracking audition and ending with an intense and incredible presentation day in March, this experience was one of the most impactful that I've ever been through.

I attended a breakfast meeting with several of my Council colleagues that turned out to be a launch event for the new branding for the Centre of Hope, engineering in large part by yet another case study group going through the program.  As they unveiled the new look, I watched as then Councillor Scott asked "Are these Leadership Wood Buffalo alumni?"

"No," I said.  "These are members of the current class."

He was gobsmacked.

Another of the groups presented on the good work that's happening with the Social Prosperity project, bringing together multiple nonprofit organizations for a day of learning and sharing.

"Where do you want to go?" asked Landsiedel as the closing query in her address.

It's a great question with the unsaid, unfettered, unbelievable answer of "anywhere!"

"Now that we have the tools, the contacts and the credibility, what are we going to do to keep the momentum alive?" she asked.

"We need to show future Leadership Wood Buffalo graduates that the real work starts after we graduate. Because this isn't a high school graduation; we're not off to discover what we want to do with our lives, or what we want to be when we grow up.  Each and every one of us has a vision for the future of this community and it is up to us to make sure that dreaming big isn't all we're doing."

Inspiring words, delivered with intent, purpose and complete conviction, marking the transition of the Class of 2011-2012 from students to alumni.

Take note of these names, because there is no doubt in my mind that if they haven't already, they will come into your atmosphere in the near future: Abdul Razak Kabadeh, Chad Penney, Conrad Newton, Gaurav Gupta, Jennifer Lamontagne, Jude Groves, June White, Karen Puga, Kelsey Stefanizyn, Krystal Ralph, Lena Abbasi Brujeni, Lisa Beaudry, Mariko Kerr, Mark Budd, Matt Youens, Matthew Creighton, Megan Megan Steiestøl, Michael Reid, Michelle Landsiedel, Moriam Sadiq, Myra Ross, Funmi Baiyewun, Regina Oppon, Rochelle Maitripala, and Trevor Boe.

Congratulations! And welcome to the growing alumni of over 100 graduates of the Leadership Wood Buffalo program.

The Best Day

It is a good feeling when you can look back on a day at the office and be able to say that it was "the best day!"  We had one of those on Thursday as the Keyano College faculty and staff gathered for our second full day of strategic planning and team-building.

We started the day being divided into random teams, 16 in total, made up of about ten people from different departments throughout the college.  There was a concerted effort to ensure that we didn't end up in a group with the same old gang.  Shaking it up was key to the success of the day.

Standing behind tables that stretched from one end of the gymnasium to the other, about 200 of us listened intently to instructions for a series of minute-to-win-it challenges.

Organized hilarity followed as we blew Styrofoam cups off a table using the air from a balloon, sucked up M+Ms and transferred them to straws taped up vertically on the edge of a table (see pic above), retrieved pennies from the legs of pantyhose, and tried to balance three golf balls on top of one another.

One of the organizers had predicted that people would be disappointed when this phase of the day was over and they were exactly right.  The sense of fun and friendly competition was inebriating, infectious - we just wanted it to go on and on, smiles and positive energy flooded the space.

We followed up the exuberant physical fun with some activity for the grey matter between our ears. Facilitator Mark Bosworth from Kesa, Inc. playing a TEDx video about change by Nate Jarvis.

What was most exciting was the small group conversations that erupted in the Recital Theatre about what we took from that short presentation.  I was sitting next to a bunch from the Sport and Wellness department and we launched into a rich conversation about how we can lead "Above the Line."  The content in the video was a catalyst for great ideas about our own organization, its challenges and opportunities.  Seeing a full theatre of about 200 colleagues animatedly engaged in deep and meaningful dialogue about our passion for what we do every day was amazing.

Probably the most powerful moment of the two days was when Margo Vermillion, Chair of our Fort Chipewyan Campus, rose to share the observation of the values reminder that we have staring at us everywhere we turn.

"The word Keyano - which she said in three distinct syllables: key AN oh - means in our Cree language yours, mine (as she gestured to her heart) and ours (as she spread her welcoming arms)," said Margo.  Reverential silence was followed by tumultuous applause as she had eloquently distilled everything we had been talking about down into three incredible syllables that form the name of our school - a reminder of the "Above the Line" approach we strive to take in everything we do.

Time to break bread together, we gathered in the front park, as the day proved lovely enough to enjoy a barbecue and some fresh air fellowship.  There was a slight mix up in terms of time, which gave us another great opportunity to meet some more of our colleagues while standing in line waiting for the food to arrive.

I particularly enjoyed visiting with a young instructor in our academic upgrading area.  Originally from Newfoundland, she is starting to get the hang of Fort McMurray.  She just wishes there were more things to do.

"Can I dig into that comment a little bit?" I asked.  "Because as a family guy who is also a politician, I have the exact opposite feeling - that there is too much to do.  I can't keep up."

"I guess I just mean that I hate having to go all the way to Edmonton to do my shopping.  You have much smaller cities in other parts of the province that have way more options that we do."

It was a fair observation and a concern that we hear (and feel) often.  I'm glad that I can say that that will change.  More offerings, more amenities are on the way.  With new neighborhoods, the city centre revitalization, and additional lands coming on stream, we should be in a position to give our citizens the shopping experiences they long for right here at home within the next couple of years.  We'll also be able to keep more of those precious dollars in our local economy which is equally important to the feeling of satisfaction you'll get when you're a five minute drive from a major power centre (big box stores).

Had we not been standing in line at the team-building experience, I would likely have not had this great conversation with this colleague.

Teams intact from the morning -- my team being Team #12 THE BOB TEAM - The times they are a changin' -- we returned to the Sport and Wellness Centre for a fun volleyball tournament.  Eight courts had been set-up to allow the 16 teams to rotate every ten minutes.  And apart from a couple of sprains and an unfortunate dive that required a call to 9-1-1, it was an amazing 90 minutes of fun and physical activity in that post-lunch period that is often the most difficult during these strategic planning days.

"That was the most fun I've had in a year," enthused Dr. Nagel as we closed out the day back in the Recital Theatre, sweat rolling off the brows of many of us.

I finished up some things back at the office, drove home to the other end of Franklin Avenue, walked in the door and said hello to my wife Heather.

"How was your day?" she asked.

"That was the BEST day," I said without hesitation.  It tumbled out of me, without hesitation or forethought, but captured it perfectly.  No other set of words could come close to describing what had been a most incredible day at work.

Above the Line

Over the past week or so, we've been working with Mark Bosworth of Kesa, Inc. preparing for a couple of days of strategic planning and team-building at Keyano College.  Mark joined us last year for a similar process and introduced us to a concept called "Leading Above the Line."  It's a simple way of framing our attitudes, behaviors, and actions.

"Above the Line" on my mind, I came home from work the other day, a little tired, perhaps a little on edge, and sat down to relax before dinner.  In the middle of the conversation, Dylan casually mentioned that his notebook computer was no longer charging.

Some background: said notebook computer's original power cord went missing, bought $100 power adapter kit, $100 power adapter pieces broke, original power cord got found, original power cord got left in Fort McKay at his mom's, original power cord finally came home and said notebook computer got charged up and was working 100 percent.

"What did you say?" I asked.

"It's not charging," he repeated.

"Let's go have a look," I said, as we went downstairs into his teenage lair to diagnose the problem.

There was said notebook computer, with the broken $100 power adapter hanging off the machine, plugged into the power bar.

"Where is the original power cord?"

"That's the cord that's been plugged in for days."

"That's the broken adapter cord, where's the original."

"I don't know."

I was ready to LOSE MY MIND!  I was on the brink, a moment away from letting loose with both guns blazing, the anxiety rising up through my body as I tried to wrap my brain around how this cord went missing...again.

"Did you take the cord out to your mom's?  Is it at school?"

"I don't know," he replied, as his anxiety began to rise as quickly as mine.

We've been really struggling with getting him to take responsibility for his "stuff" and while this exchange was happening I was thinking of the suggestion I had made to Heather a few days earlier that I needed to do a better job being a mentor, to give him the tools to be better organized.

In the end we found the original power cord in a multi-use shopping bag that had come back from his latest visit to his mom's.  The unit got plugged in and all was right with the world.

"Let's talk about a couple of things," I calmly said.

"First of all, can we both agree that this cord needs to be your number one concern, your best friend?  You need to know where it is at all times."

He shook his head in the affirmative.

"Let's go one step further.  I'd like you to work between now and the end of the week to untangle your cords, and separate them into piles based on what game system to which they belong.  Do you think that is a reasonable challenge?"

"Yes," he said.

Does this image look familiar: piles of multi-coloured cords, boxes and controllers all tangled together so that when you pick up one piece, everything else comes with it?  Whew! It's an incredibly daunting sight for an anally retentive guy like me.

So, in this case, I took an "Above the Line" approach, remained calm and turned a pressure-filled moment into a teaching opportunity - a missing cord was found, and a long-ignored task was embraced.

Had I taken the "Below the Line" approach this would have been a very different blog post.  It would have been a story of anger, frustration, tears, and regret.  Instead, I'd like to think that together, Dylan and I turned what started out as a negative into a positive.

Now, whether he'll be able to untangle his electronic life, that's a blog post for another day.

500

What's in a number?  This - the 500th blog post since I started this writing practice on December 26, 2009 - is, in the great scheme of things, just another series of thoughts threaded together by an idea or theme.  Does it need to be anything more special or different than the 499 that came before?

As I often do when faced with a question for which I don't have an answer, I took to Facebook to see what suggestions would pop up.  There seemed to be an interest in exploring how much things have changed since I started the blog, or since I arrived in Fort McMurray in February of 1996.

When I drove down Beacon Hill for the first time on that dreadfully cold day in January on my way to an interview at the OK Radio Group with community luminaries like Kelly Boyd, Brian Blackburn, Andy Carlson, Mark Stiles and Rod MacDonald,  Fort McMurray was on the cusp of emerging from a rather dark period.  The population, which had been on a slow decline since the mid 1980s, was sitting at just over 33,000 souls.

The oil price that month was around $19 per barrel.  Can you imagine?  At the time, it seemed normal as the price had been in and around the $20 mark for five years.  The viability of oil sands was very much in doubt, the community was reeling from the massive Klein cutbacks, and the dead streets in Timberlea were still being used for teaching teenagers how to drive.

Young radio announcers were being hired for $1,000 per month.  Four bedroom condos were selling for $60,000 complete with all new appliances.  Rents were reasonable, though getting by was still difficult by any measure if you weren't working at site.  The interPLAY Festival was on life support and we were still in the first full year of amalgamation under the leadership of Guy Boutilier as CEO (Mayor) and Glen Laubenstein as CAO.  The venerable Doug MacRae was President at Keyano College and much-loved Eric Newell and Jim Carter were leading Syncrude as they envisioned securing Canada's energy future.

A drive down Franklin Avenue in early 1996 would be a very different experience from a similar trip taken today.  There were large patches of land left undeveloped, soon to be filled with new shopping centres and businesses.  On the northwest side of Confederation Way, development came to an end at Cartier Park, a small collection of trailers.  From the entrance to the mobile home neighborhood to Highway 63, it was impenetrable forest.

We didn't have email at the office when I first started with CJOK and KYX98.  Back in those days we printed memos and letters out on those dot matrix printers on paper with the perforated edges.  Music was played from CDs - playing tunes directly from computers was still a few years away.  The Internet was in its infancy with dial-up connectivity the norm - high speed was still something you read about in the technology magazines.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge in this stretch of time, from 1996 to now. People have come, gone, recycled and remained in numbers too vast to fully understand.  The amount of construction and change would stagger the imagination of someone who has not been here in a decade.  Imagine the impact a few years from now when the renewed city centre begins to take shape, interchanges and bridges are complete, and MacDonald Island has added its new amenities, from outdoor performance field to community plaza.  If they would be gobsmacked today, they would be hyperventilating by the time we welcome thousands of athletes for the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games.

We live in a community where change is constant.  All you have to do is blink and something or someone new will be in front of you as Fort McMurray continues to evolve, expand and explode in its role as the economic epicenter of the province, country and continent.

I have had a lot of fun trying to capture elements of this change in this blog.  I appreciate each and every person who has taken the time to read some of these 500 vignettes about our northern life. Thank you for dropping in.

Digit dilemma

Unaccustomed to having time on my hands, I began to get fidgety yesterday afternoon, mid-way through a long weekend.  So, despite the pelting rain, I threw on a coat, got into the Escape and made a beeline to Chow's Varieties to grab my minnows.  Rain or no rain, time on my hands meant a fishing opportunity.

It's a little more difficult to get to our spot on the Athabasca River these days, as the left turn that used to be in place before the start of road construction has long since vanished, replaced with an impenetrable concrete wall.  Now, we have to drive all the way up Thickwood Boulevard just to flip around and get on the right side of the Highway 63 to turn down the water treatment plant road.

Going down the hill past the water reservoir to Fisherman's Beach (not a real name by the way, just one that I made up) is a little dicey in the pouring rain, and while I started sliding a little bit, I made it safely to the bottom with no problem.  I backed up and got my rear end as close to the water as possible so I could stay relatively dry under the elevated hatch.

The tip of my rod began dancing almost immediately as unseen goldeye began sampling the merchandise.  They are a little tricky to catch as their mouths are pretty small and they tend to only nibble.  Once in awhile they gobble up the minnow is just the right way allowing the hook to find a spot that sticks and I reel it in.  After catching and releasing two small ones, waiting for another to come along with hands firmly embedded in my jacket pockets to keep warm, I woke up to the fact that something wasn't quite right.

My ring finger felt odd, slightly numb and tingly.  I pulled it out of the warm embrace of the pocket and discovered that it was several shades of blue and quite a bit larger than its brother on the other hand.  I tried to remove my wedding ring but to no avail as the swelling was too pronounced.

My brain tried to process what was happening and the only thought I could come up with was that I needed to pack up, get home and think about heading over to the hospital.  For some random, unexplained reason, my finger had either been injured, infected or bitten by something.

I raced home, darted into the bathroom to both wash up and warm up the finger, as it was laden with fish scales.  Lathered up with soap, I was thankfully able to slip the ring off and head over to the emergency room.  By this point, both of the inside joints were a blueish purple and throbbing - so I felt justified in getting in the line-up to see a doctor.

The triage nurse was very understanding and offered me a warm blanket to see if some sustained heat would help reduce the swelling.  By the time the emerg doc saw me an hour later, things had improved to the point that I was ready to make my escape and head home.  I'm glad I stayed though, if only to get his opinion and a prescription for an antibiotic in case it turned out to be an infection.

I'm still at a loss as to what happened.  In my panic, I had flashes of thought about what it would be like to lose that digit.  Typing would be a bit more challenging as that finger manages the letters S, W, X and the number 2.

This morning, said finger is still a little off colour, though less so than it was yesterday.  I still can't bend it enough to touch my palm and it is still too swollen to return the wedding to its rightful place.  A part of me wonders if I injured it by gripping on to my rod too hard?  Get your mind out of the gutter.....gripping my fishing rod too hard.  Outside of a mysterious spider bite or getting poked by a goldeye fin, I can't imagine what else might have happened.

Fodder for an episode of House, I think not, but a digit dilemma worth writing home about.

Something happening here

"There's something happening here," sang the members of Buffalo Springfield when they recorded For What It's Worth on December 5, 1966.

"What it is ain't exactly clear," they continued.

That lyric kept repeating itself in my mind as a third candidate under 30 (though I'm completely guessing on their ages) announced his intention to run in the municipal by-election on June 25th in Fort McMurray.  That is not to suggest for a moment that candidates of the younger variety have not run in the past; they absolutely have.  Ross Jacobs, as an example, has run several times.  But let's face it, the predominant number of names on the ballot belonged to the 40+ crown, of which I am a proud member.

James Anthony - radio personality and entrepreneur (www.everythingfortmac.com and Epic Productions) - has declared his plan to fill out a nomination form and join the three previously announced folks on the ballot vying for two seat around the Council horseshoe vacated by our new MLAs Don Scott and Mike Allen.

I keep hearing rumours of candidates-yet-to-be-announced, many of whom are in the "younger than me" category. Let me state categorically that the possibility that Sheldon Germain and I would no longer be the "young ones" on Council is one that excites me greatly.  In a community where the average age is 32, there is no question that we need representation for that group.

I'm trying to figure out what has changed or what has happened to inspire this renewed level of engagement in the political realm.  I think of Theresa Wells and the difference that she has made through her McMurray Musings blog.  I think of the YMM Podcast and the night that everyone tuned in to a live streamed conversation about Highway 63.  I think of the role that social media has played in inspiring discussion and debate about the hot topics of the day.  I think of Arab Spring and the young people who created revolution and change in countries where those two things were thought to be impossible.  Perhaps some or all of these things have contributed to the surge of younger candidates.

To be honest, I'm looking forward to the anticipated forum, Chamber Talking Stick and video interviews because the people who have declared so far are all excellent.  Christine Burton, Tyran Ault, Matt Youens, and James Anthony are respected, informed and passionate community leaders - each in their own unique way.  They-who-shall-not-be-named (yet) also promise to be tremendously strong candidates.

My fear, and that of many of my colleagues on Council, is that voter turnout is going to be dismal.  A recent unscientific poll conducted by one of our local media outlets suggested a higher than normal level of apathy about this by-election.  Happening hot on the heels of a provincial election campaign that inundated our lives (and our home phones thanks to the pollsters and politicians) for a series of weeks that seemed to go on forever, I can understand the reticence.  However, let me be absolutely clear - this is going to be an IMPORTANT vote.

 In the almost two years since we were elected, this group of civic leaders, with tremendous municipal staff and leadership, has been effective.  Who you select to replace Mr. Scott and Mr. Allen is critically important to the future of this region.  Taking it lightly, or ignoring the inherent responsibility that you have to participate in the public process of civic leader selection, really shouldn't be an option.  We need you to participate fully and encourage everyone in your sphere of influence to do the same.  It matters.  Your vote is vital.

Butt out the window - BAD

It drives me crazy when people in vehicles toss cigarettes out the window.  I have this moment of complete disgust and anger, then have an internal debate with myself as to whether or not to call it in.  Unfortunately, it happens all too often, and I'm at a loss as to how to curb the behavior.

A few minutes ago, Mayor Blake asked if I could help share the following public awareness message that was released by the folks at RCMP 'K' Division in Edmonton.  I absolutely concur with Her Worship that this is a message worth sharing far and wide on this long weekend.

Edmonton, Alberta | May 18, 2012

Did you know you could be responsible and liable for causing a grass or wildfire?

We all know littering is both wrong and illegal, but discarding your lit cigarette outside your vehicle window at any time, especially while you are driving is just plain careless and dangerous. Most Albertans know littering is wrong, but it appears many motorists do not consider the significant potential risk to everyone's safety when choosing to throw their lit cigarette out the car window.

If you think the cigarette puts itself out, think again.

• cigarettes burn for a while;
• they have been known to fly into other peoples' windows and into vehicles ; and
• they typically get carried by the wind into the grass or near a structure.

Police are very aware of cases where a lit cigarette has blown back into the smoker's vehicle (through the same window or an open back window) or into another and the vehicle has caught fire.

Of provincial importance is the very real risk to public safety and property.

Doris Stapleton, spokesperson for the RCMP 'K' Division, wishes to remind the public that given the current weather, mixed with the dry ground and strong wind, this type of behaviour is not only irresponsible, it's a recipe for trouble.

The registered owner of the vehicle can be held responsible and charged under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.

Don't be lazy. If you choose to smoke while operating your motor vehicle, dispose of your cigarette in the vehicle, or pull over and dispose of it in an appropriate ashtray.

- 30 -

Doris Stapleton
RCMP 'K' Division
Media Relations Specialist
780-412-5260

Running for Council Tips

Now that Matt Youens has announced his intention to run for Council in the upcoming by-election, it means we have the minimum three names on the ballot required to have a vote.  Not that I was expecting that Christine Burton and Tyran Ault would get acclaimed, but things had become strangely quiet over the past seven days since our first two candidates declared.  In fact, I kept bumping into people who were rumoured to be running who said they were not.

With Nomination Day - May 28th - fast approaching, I suspect that more names will quickly emerge, as candidates vie for media attention and public notoriety. If you are still on the fence, or if you feel like you need more information, the great folks in our legislative branch are hosting two Candidate Information Sessions on May 16th (tonight) and May 26th.

They will pass along vital information about the process of running, some of the legal things you need to know, and the placement of election signs.  Take the time to attend; it'll make the start to your political life so much easier.

In no particular order, here are some tips on running for Council:

1. Signs are expensive and a pain in the posterior region of your anatomy - These are two realities that you're just going to have to accept, unless you choose to run sign-less.  First of all, the bulk of your budget will be spent getting signs produced and erected.  They will also become the bane of your existence for the four weeks they are up, then down, then up, then down.....you get the picture.  Wind, vandals, acts of God - they all come into play with your lawn signs.  I keep thinking that if we outlawed election signs, it would make things so much easier and force candidates to get out and meet people.  Hmmmmmm?
2. Design matters - if you're going to do election signs, pamphlets, postcards and a website, do it right. Engage the services of a professional designer.  They will help you look good.
3. Watch Council - anyone who runs for Council yet hasn't watched a Council meeting needs to give their head a shake.  You need to know - from top to bottom - what it is you're signing up for.  Can't physically get out for a meeting?  You can watch them all online here.
4. Get the inside story - what is it really like to serve on Council?  I believe that part of our job is to encourage participation in elections.  I'm guessing that any one of us would be happy to sit down and answer any questions you might have about life as a municipal councillor.
5. Use social media - former Minister Murray Smith said "If you want to go duck hunting, go where the ducks are."  Where do voters spend most of their time? They are online, on Facebook, and on Twitter - not to mention LinkedIn, Pinterest, and myriad other social media sites.  I'm of the mind that being active in social media is no longer an option, but a necessity.
6. Websites are important - while there are ways around having to have an election website, you need to have a presence online where people can read about your platform, experience and passions.  The website that I had during the 2010 election got the most hits (hundreds) in the final hour that the polls were open.  The spike in activity blew my mind.  Voters expect to access your information in the online environment - end of story.
7. Engage in every opportunity that comes your way - when the Chamber of Commerce invites you to a public forum, or to do a video interview, it needs to be a priority.  When a multi-cultural group or nonprofit group invites you to their special event or meeting, jump at the chance.  Where people are gathering is where you want to be.
8. Be a positive voice - this is only a personal opinion, but I believe that voters are more inclined to support a positive, constructive, innovative, collaborative voice than one that drones on in the negative.  
9. Read formative documents - it is absolutely critical that you have a sense of major documents that have been developed thanks to our citizens in the past few years: Municipal Development Plan, City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan, etc.  These accessible plans contain the voices and ideas of the voters, the element of any election that really counts.
10. Have fun and smile - taking the personal leap to put your name on a ballot - though intensely frightening - should be fun.  The more that people see the joy that the thought of public service inspires in you, the better.  Smile.  It's important.

So, there you are - some tips that hopefully help seal the deal as to whether you'll end up at Council Chambers on the morning of May 28th with nomination papers and your $100 deposit in hand.

Meeting Wayne Gretzky

We were escorted to a back stairwell at the Sport and Wellness Centre to meet Wayne Gretzky and his posse of colleagues and protectors, guests of honour at the inaugural One on One Banquet being hosted by the Keyano College Foundation on May 11.  A new addition to its already impressive list of mega fundraising events - Golf Classic, Gala, Curtain Raiser - the banquet with The Great One sold out in less than two days despite the average ticket price being $500.  In fact, single tickets were never made available as the entire inventory of tables were sold to sponsors - over 50 in all - that jumped at the chance to support students through the Huskies Athletics Endowment and meet one of the most revered sports personalities of all time.

The limousine was to arrive around 4:15 pm, at the back of the building so we could usher the stars of the show into the facility unhindered by crowds of guests who had already started to arrive. It would also add an element of surprise and heighten the anticipation if they appeared at only the appointed time.  The plan was well thought out and focused on delivering the best possible experience for the 650 friends of the Foundation who would be in attendance.

4:15 rolled into 4:30 which quickly became 4:45.  We had no direct connection to the car, or an eye-in-the-sky camera that would tell us if they had run into traffic problems - a rare occurrence in this community (tongue planted firmly in cheek). So we waited.  I read my Twitter feed. Bob and his team of security guards stood on alert, ready to escort the stars through the building to their first stop which would be a visit with some young athletes who had been selected for an afternoon of dry land training with the opportunity to meet Gretz and the gang.

They finally arrived, pouring out of the stretched white limo, into the back stairwell, up the stairs, across the divide that splits the Alberta Building Trades field and Shell field.  They meandered slowly, soaking in the elevated view of the set-up - banquet tables and stage on the right, silent auction and memorabilia collection on the left.

Off in the distance, the double doors of the aerobic studio were propped open, kids assembled, ready to meet a legend that they had likely never seen play, only heard about from their parents and grandparents - much like my generation heard stories of Maurice Richard and Gordie Howe - though I have vague memories of seeing Howe play with the Houston Aeros of the now defunct WHA (World Hockey Association) in the mid 1970s when he was in the late-autumn of his distinguished hockey career.

Many smiles, photographs, and handshakes later, Gretzky was ushered off by his agent or manager - I'm not sure which - to the next item on the itinerary, a series of VIP visits with guests of the major sponsors of the One on One Banquet complete with many more smiles, photographs, handshakes and oodles of autographs.

I felt awful because the media scrum that we had planned got cast aside, a victim of a schedule that was at this point 40 minutes behind.  Our media friends, who had been promised a brief few moments with the guest of honour, were left disappointed and forced to settle for pictures that they were able to snap while the entourage visited with the young athletes.

While the VIPs had their private encounters with Gretzky and his friends that included Kelly Chase, Bryan Trottier, Dave Semenko, Marty McSorley, and Darren Langdon, I took the opportunity to tour through the incredible collection of silent auction items.  It was an alluring variety of autographed posters, balls, sticks and myriad other collectibles that were already inspiring bids in the hundreds of dollars.

A book on the life of Wayne Gretzky written by John Davidson had been donated to the cause by a fellow that I played basketball and volleyball with in high school and had not seen since 1985.  Now living in Florida, Terry Callaghan saw what we were doing and why we were doing it on Facebook, and offered up this new book for Gretzky to autograph and then sell to raise money for the endowment.  I think that is extraordinary.

One of the distinct highlights of the One on One Banquet was the chance to view the world's largest collection of Wayne Gretzky game-worn memorabilia owned by local contractor, Keyano alum, and chair of the event's organizing committee, Shawn Chaulk.  He was the brainchild for this athletics endowment fundraiser, getting the idea after sharing his impressive collection of jerseys, sticks, gloves and cups at a similar event in Edmonton the previous year.

While I was busy browsing, one of the Foundation staff came over to tell me that the media could now have their scrum.  Some had already left, as over an hour had passed, but I managed to find a few lingering around.  Some had tickets to the banquet and were waiting for things to start, and several others had hung back hoping for an opportunity to emerge.

I had a great visit with Darren, the agent/manager, a well-dressed fellow of 40 who looked younger than his years.  He slipped into the business at a young age and now has a stable of aging sports legends that he delivers to speaking engagements around the globe.

"I like to work with the ones that get it," he said.  "These guys are great to work with. To them, it's all about the fans. Gretzky is among the best."

Based on that conversation and one I had had earlier in the day with one of our local media personalities, other star athletes are not-so-great to work with, and in fact, can be draconian in doing the bare minimum based on the details laid out in their respective contracts.  It was clear, from the very beginning to the very end, that Gretzky gives 100%, and then some, to every engagement that he does.  His Keyano College visit proved that out as he and his guests delivered what one person described as "the best event I have ever attended - bar none."

According to Nick Lees of the Edmonton Journal - who was apparently sitting at my table, though we were never formally introduced - "Wayne Gretzky was given a four minute standing ovation," after he was introduced to the room.  You can read Nick's complete account of the evening here.

I was also sitting at the table with Keyano College President and CEO Kevin Nagel, who shared tales of his hockey playing days, along with specific memories of having played against several of the guys on the stage during his Regina Pats period a few decades ago.  One of my favourite pictures is of Kevin reminiscing with Bryan Trottier, a WHL contemporary who played with the Lethbridge Broncos at the time and went on to a long and successful career that included several Stanley Cup wins with the New York Islanders.

Sitting directly next to me, as we waited for the banquet to begin, was Shawn McClure, the Aboriginal artist who had not only created a stunning soapstone carving of Wayne Gretzky, one of the featured live auction items that sold for $6,750, but also the gifts that were handed out to the special guests at the end of the evening.  As each of the guys held up their carvings representing the animals of our region, gasps of admiration and respect could be heard undulating through the crowd.  This young man has an incredible future. I would encourage you to visit his website at www.deneceltic.com.

Across the table, just beyond my reach, was Sam Abouhassan - a great friend of many a celebrity and of the Keyano College Foundation.  A distinguished tailor from Edmonton, he has made custom suits for Wayne Gretzky, Premiers Getty and Stelmach, Syncrude presidents, and many others.  An absolute gentleman, Sam exudes class and expressed great enthusiasm for being able to contribute to the One on One Banquet.  His donation of a custom made suit ended up selling for $6,200.

An outstanding meal, prepared by our caterers at Keyano and delivered by many theatre friends of mine who had been enlisted for the endeavour, was followed by some auction action and a hotstove that ended up being the true highlight of the evening.

Hosted by Kelly Chase, whose comic talents almost equal his on-ice enforcement skills, the conversation was light, authentic, reflective, and absolutely memorable.  Not the world's biggest sports fan, I still found myself completely entranced by the stories about winning the Stanley Cup and the dreaded trade to L.A. from Edmonton in 1988, along with several profound observations about the great Canadian game of hockey.

Let me say with certainty that the magic of an event like this doesn't just happen.  There was an incredible amount of forethought and planning that went into its successful execution.  Melane Leblanc and her team, the event's organizing committee, production staff, caterers, servers, and over 100 volunteers took the One on One Banquet from a concept on paper to a runaway sensation.  Smiles were in abundance.  Pictures flooded social media.  Memories were implanted that will be there for all time.

The images that emerged are indelible and many.  They serve to tell a story of excellence, dedication, and determination.  They remind us, once again, that greatness is possible, and that it is worth celebrating and sharing.

Thanks for the memories

After the lights have gone off, the set dismantled and the costumes packed away, all we are left with of The Farnsworth Invention are memories...and pictures.  For over a decade Photomagic in the River City Centre has been donating their photographic services to capture the magic of live theatre at Keyano College.  From a participant's point of view, I can't thank them enough, because years from now these images (located here if you'd like to look at them) will be all that are left, apart from whispers of almost forgotten lines, faces and voices.

I thought it would be fun to pick five (out of the hundreds) that rise to the top for me.  I'm certain that every single cast member would pick a different set of five, based on the moments that mattered to them, and their unique positions within each of the scenes.  But here are mine...in no particular order.

"Mathematics is what music does on a Saturday night."  It's one of my favourite lines from the play and certainly, one of the most lovely moments as Farnsworth (played by Michael Beamish) contemplates failure "with a glass and a bottle of Bushmills".  Pem (played by Elaine Bevans) looks radiant in the blue light of the distant moon.

"Handy Hand Saws, 24 inches: Two-dollars, thirty-five cents.." said the radio announcer (played by Anthony Wall) as he droned on with "ten minutes of information about a hardware store." I love this photo and I don't think I'll ever forget the deadpan delivery of A-Wall.

"Radio stations should be run like public libraries," declares David Sarnoff at the height of RCA's success.  It was a great moment in the show, and it's so cool to see the animated expressions on everyone's faces in the scene.

One of the emotional threads for me was the death of Farnsworth's son Kenny. This is a gorgeous shot of a scene I didn't get to see.  The look of terror in his eyes is haunting. Powerful.

I couldn't leave this one out of the top five as it will always remind me of how fun it was to work with Humberly Gonzales in the role of Mrs. Lizette Sarnoff.  Apparently, one night she almost had a wardrobe malfunction wearing this stunning dress.  Thankfully, David Oulton, playing the page, arrived just in time with a coat.

So, three cheers for memory, and the incredible gift of digital photography and its ability to capture rich, authentic, and artistic images of the live theatre experience.  Photomagic has been a great friend to hundreds of actors, designers and directors over the years.  We can't thank you enough.

Not part of the top five, but worthy of an honourable mention.  This photo from my scene with Pem Farnsworth is absolutely intriguing.  My father-in-law thinks I need to print this one out and get it framed. I might just do that as I look perfectly sinister.