The body checking debate in minor hockey
Monday 27 May 2013
May 27 - Cam 'n Eggs — Tait@nait
The doors to
the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology will open countless times today
just off Kingsway Avenue in Edmonton at the main campus. Students in pursuit of
careers will be going through those doors. They may not realize now, but,
later, they could very well reflect on their time at NAIT as some of the best
times of their lives.
I make these comments, celebrating 50 years ago today
since NAIT's doors first opened. Personally, NAIT was one of the best years of
my life.
I was a student of the Radio and Television Arts
program in 1977. My dream: to write for radio first perhaps, writing
commercials, and then, maybe, documentaries. Yet, NAIT gave me an education I
never thought of — how to build and maintain relationships with people. The
Glenrose School Hospital was my junior high and high school because I have
cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair. I found myself in a culture shock my first
few months of NAIT. Clearly, I was a minority. Yet, my fellow classmates slowly
helped me become one of the gang.
They showed me the value of humor to bridge gaps and
so many things not on the curriculum. NAIT gave me lifetime friendships with
people I still am in contact with today: Gary Chomyn, Lance Brown and Pat
Petersen, to name a few. I would not be the person I am without going through
the doors of NAIT.
May they swing mightily for the next 50 years.
Happy
Birthday!
Tait Text Twitter @camtait Email camtait@telus.net
Sunday 26 May 2013
Friday 24 May 2013
Cam ''n Eggs — May 25 — Memo to Dave Rutherford: What do you mean by "these people?"
Perhaps
the most practical thing to do is send Dave Rutherford an email. Sometimes,
though, practicality goes out the door. This is one of those times.
Rutherford is a talk show host on the Corus Radio
network, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. On Wednesday, he interviewed
Frank Oberle, associate minister of Services for Persons with
Disabilities about the provincial government’s cutbacks to Persons with
Developmental Disabilities. Rutherford is to be congratulated for bringing the
issue to the air waves. But only to an extent.
Before I go any further I must preface my comments: I
have cerebral palsy, use a wheelchair and began in the news business as a
reporter with the Edmonton Journal in 1979. In covering issues and great human
interest stories about disabilities, I tried to choose my words carefully to
promote inclusion. That’s why I found it hard to hear Rutherford calling people
with developmental disabilities as “these people.”
More concerning is the story itself: the provincial
government is moving towards moving people with developmental disabilities into
living in the community. They are going to go shopping, to movies, to work, to
church and many other activites They are sons, daughters, husbands, wives, aunts
and uncles. Not “these people.”
They have hopes and dreams. They fail, too.
But they a chance to try again.
Just like everyone else.
The media has a fundamental right to treat citizens
equally. Rutherford missed the point: instead of welcoming new community
members, he built barriers by calling them “these people.” They are, most
certainly, Albertans first. And disability second. I could have emailed him.
But, given his previous comment, he might consider me as “these people.”
And I refuse to accept that.
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today's timely tune - May 23
(We love music. We love news. We hope, put together.)
Embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford fired his chief of staff Thursday.
THE NEWS
Now, the tune ...
Or ... your suggestions! Please email camtait@telus.net
Embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford fired his chief of staff Thursday.
THE NEWS
Now, the tune ...
Or ... your suggestions! Please email camtait@telus.net
Cam 'n Eggs: May 22 — Chair Leaders Friday: I am hoping for snow!
I don’t get it.
In fact, I haven’t got it for 25 years. And as a
person with a disability, it offends me. Let me tell you what “it” is: the
Canadian Paraplegic Association is having Chair Leaders Friday in Edmonton.
Taking a page from the 1970’s — timely, eh? — CPA is asking able-bodied people
to spend a day in a wheelchair. The event is to raise awareness about
accessibility and people with disabilities.
I think it’s nothing more than a circus.
And I have questions:
*why does CPA hold this event in May, rather than
January, when there’s 15 feet of snow, a 87-km wind, a wind chill of minus 38,
when wheeling a wheelchair — trust me — is damn hard. If they want to make it a
challenge…
*what kind of a message does this send to the people
CPA serves — people with spinal cord injuries? Does it signal people with
disabilities are not really listened to?
•why can’t CPA promote people with disabilities,
doing their own thing, living their daily lives with ease, dignity and
creativity — not to mention blood, sweat and tears? Why are they silenced for
the day, when their story could be so powerful?
•What tangible legislation for accessibility has been
created because of previous years?
•Why not have someone without a disability shadow a
CPA client for a day and learn how to help someone in a wheelchair up curbs,
down steps, in and out of vehicles, threw crowds? Wouldn’t that be a better
method of working together?
•Why is CPA digging into the past for an event rather
than having one to reflect 2013?
I could go on and on. I don’t want to rain on the CPA
Chair Leaders parade. I just hope it snows in Edmonton Friday.
Facebook comment from Braden Hirsch
Very good comments Cam! It is a big leap to think
that awareness and understanding is enhanced by having able bodied persons ride
wheelchairs for a period of time during one day. In my opinion it was
marginally useful 40 years ago-- so why would it work today? I am also
disappointed that CPA is involved with this.
----------
Another comment from Renee Laporte ...
Hear hear! They held this same sort of
"event" at MacEwan a few months ago. As an able-bodied person
supporting a student who uses a wheelchair there, it made me frustrated to see
the participants laughing and having fun wheeling around the campus (though with
the best intentions of getting a glimpse of life in a wheelchair) while my
student and I struggle to reach the automatic door button placed behind garbage
cans and having to walk to the next building to find a washroom we can both
enter. Consulting those who are "living it" would be more meaningful
and productive.
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Rene Laporte
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A Facebook comment from Mel Tauber
here"s my thought: if they really
have to put "able bodied people in wheelchairs, why make it so easy for
them??? tie one of their hands on their back and make them sit on one of their
lower legs (of course opposite one of the tied hand) AND THEN let them wheel
down an ice covered ramp ... give them at least ONE of the challenges
"disabled" people have to go through every day ... let them set up a
DATS pickup, let them ride the ETS all by themselves, let them roam through the
streets without a companion who will nicely open every door for them ... to
just put someone in a wheelchair for a day in a building with people who will
assist them because they know about the event ain't gonna bring change ... try
to walk blind for a day or be deaf, or try to come around only with one leg orm
arm functioning ... for heavens be creative and give us "able bodied"
a challenge and don't cater to us so that we maybe maybe one day would
understand, because the majority never will, because most people in our days
lack one major thing: COMPASSION AND IMAGINATION!
What do you think about this? Please let me know!
camtait@telus.net
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Great Scott! Sterling is the winner
Sterling
Scott’s smile was unquestionably the biggest Tuesday just after 9:30 p.m. when
he was the finalist in The Funniest Person With a Day job at the Comic Strip.
Scott
was crowned the winner. He had a giant cardboard cheque for $1,000 and will be
the opening act for a Comic Strip concert series in the fall.
Scott
has a great laugh when he is on stage and uses it well. His material, timing
and delivery contributed to his conquer.
And he
has tried winning the competition before. Four times.
But this
year’s contest, which began back on April 9 with 41 enteries, was his.
The six
contestants in the final Tuesday night didn’t know what order they were appearing.
MC Terry Evans drew names out of a glass vase.
Scott
was the sixth and final act of the night, following David Dempsey, Matt Labucki,
Brandon Franson, Brett McCrindle and Dan Taylor.
Demspey
placed second, while Labucki was named third-place winner.
It was a
great night of comedy, making it especially hard for the judges: Global’s Gord
Steinke and Carol Anne Devaney, CTV’s Joel Gotlib, Comic Strip owner Rick
Bronson and yours truly. Thanks for including me.
Scott
probably enjoyed the evening. But he’s back to work: Scott and his infectious
laugh will be appearing at the Comic Strip the week of June 12.
Cam 'n Eggs: Mike Duffy and Rob Ford ***UPDATE WITH TORONTO STAR STORY AT 1 P.M.
(Ford and CTV reporter story)
Mike Duffy and Rob Ford deserve each other — and, for all we know, they could be hiding out together somewhere in an undisclosed location.
MIKE DUFFY |
Duffy is
in hot water for the $90,000 cheque he received from, maybe, the prime
minister’s office. Such a spicy situation for a senator.
Ford,
the embattled mayor of Toronto, is under allegations he was with a few chums
having a puff or two on the crack pipe.
Their
situations deserve questioning on many levels. But perhaps the most compelling
is they are both public servants. Their paycheques come from bank accounts
that get deposits from taxpayers: in Duffy’s case federal taxpayers are paying
the freight; in Ford’s case, it’s the taxpayers of Toronto.
They
won. But now they are being accused of wrongdoing and are avoiding reporters at
all costs. Interestingly, Duffy has been on the other side of the camera many
times chasing subjects who don’t want to talk.
That,
clearly, isn’t fair. And the longer they remain in silent, the more questions
will be raised.
We’ve
seen it before. We’ll se it again.
But,
somewhere, somehow, we should all learn from the disgrace others.
This
time Mike Duffy and Rob Ford took the fall. The sooner they stand up and move
forward, they can move on with their lives. And, sadly, ours too.
CHRISTIE BLATCHFORD'S NATIONAL POST COLUMN (May 22)
CHRISTIE BLATCHFORD'S NATIONAL POST COLUMN (May 22)
A sign of a great day!
Friends,
Enjoy the day!
Please check back soon for neat stuff, including what makes Sterling Scott so funny.
Enjoy the day!
Please check back soon for neat stuff, including what makes Sterling Scott so funny.
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Tait@noon - a parting gift for Mayor Mandel - UPDATED WITH PICTURES
Stephen Mandel announced just seconds after 11 a.m. Tuesday he will not run for a fourth term. Now, the downtown arena project is set in stone, thanks to last week’s city council
ratifying the agreement, Mandel feels it’s time to retire.
Maybe,
he doesn’t have the strength — physically and mentally — for another monumental
project, namely the downtown arena project.
But
he’s 67. It’s time, perhaps, for him to share some time with his family. Maybe
travel. Or walk in Edmonton’s river valley, look all around him, and feel the
pride of the city help build.
Mandel
goes out on top, with many wanting him to run for another term — one he’d
probably win.
The
big question now is who will guide Edmonton come fall when the next civic election
rolls around.
But
let’s not worry about that today.
Let’s
celebrate and honor a man who has shared his vision with us; a man who has
shown compassion, toughness and boldness.
Mandel
deserves a parting gift, something that will mirror his work as mayor.
Maybe,
a new road around the downtown arena. Call it Mandel Way.
Cam 'N Eggs - May 21 - Celebrating Canadian hockey in the spring ... or not?
Maybe, it’s time Hockey Canada
re-considered Canadians
participating in the World Hockey Championships.
But, we’re Canadians. Hockey is our
game. We can do better.
Can we though, really?
The Canadian roster is players from
teams who don’t make the National Hockey League playoffs.
Excuses for a sub-par performance
don’t cut it. But perhaps the condensed NHL season took its toll on the
Canadian players.
Not a very strong argument: eight NHL
teams are still fighting tooth and nail in the post-season.
Maybe the World Championships could
to re-scheduled to end of June so the Stanley Cup Champions could ... Fat
chance, right?
We need a new approach. Finding that
right approach is certainly easier said then done.
Canadians should not accept failing
to make the medal round for three
years and counting.
Canadians deserve to celebrate a
major hockey championship when it counts the most — in the spring.
The lone Canadian team left in the
Stanley Cup won a thriller Sunday, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in
double overtime
The Ottawa Senators won it at home in
the nation’s capital.
And, so, hockey in Canada is still
alive.
Friday 17 May 2013
Today's Timely Tune - May 17
(We love news. We love music. We try to put them together to make a point)
Councillor Kerry Diotte announced Thursday he is planning to run for the mayor's job in the fall.
Mayor Stephen Mandell was talking about Diotte's tweetng and, .. well, here you have a look.
THE NEWS
THE TUNE
Councillor Kerry Diotte announced Thursday he is planning to run for the mayor's job in the fall.
Mayor Stephen Mandell was talking about Diotte's tweetng and, .. well, here you have a look.
THE NEWS
Cam 'n Eggs: May 17 -The Scheetz Shuffle for a great cause
Radio
personalities, like television anchors and newspaper columnists, have gifts.
The obvious gift is their voices
And if
they can tell a story, they are even more gifted.
Throughout
Edmonton many members of the media have shared their talents with many
charities to raise funds and awareness.
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Everyone
of them deserves our admiration.
They are
simply driven by the genuine desire to help others and continue to make a
difference.
People
like CISN-FM’s Chris Scheetz. In 2002, Scheetz lived in a tractor for five days
and raised more than $150,000 for drought stricken Alberta farmers.
Two
years ago when town of Slave Lake was ravaged by forest fires, Scheetz asked
listeners to contribute household items for people that need them. During a
48-hour period three semi-trailers were plumb full of items and rolled into
Slave Lake.
Scheetz
is at it again this week.
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|
He set
out to walk 250 kilometers to raise funds and awareness for Mothers Against
Drunk Driving.
He’s
going asking people to go online and sign up for the Drive For Life
Contract: a pledge saying you will not drink and drive and will not text
and drive.
For every
pledge for the Drive For Life Contact, $1.00 will be contributed to MADD. The
event is sponsored by Mayfield Toyota and LA Z Boy Furniture Galleries.
Scheetz
started the journey Monday and headed west to Evansburg. Heturned south and
went to Drayton Valley before looping back. Scheetz has walked 50 km a day.
Sometime
around 4 p.m. today Blackjack’s Roadhouse in Nisku.
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When he
gets there news reporters might very well ask him why he embarked on such a
journey.
But
really, there’s no need to ask: Scheetz just followed his heart
.
Thursday 16 May 2013
Time to bang the drum for Alberta's disabled
Perhaps the easy thing to do as we gather
around the water cooler is to talk about the new downtown arena deal. It is the
biggest story of the day, by an icing call and more.
It would also be the easy thing to
do.
But, maybe starting today, some
Albertans with disabilities cannot do the easy thing anymore. I am talking about
people with disabilities that need to start speaking up against provincial
government cutbacks.
I am one of them. And I know I have
to do better.
Now over the half century mark, and
with cerebral palsy, I really haven’t been a very strong advocate for my fellow
brothers and sisters with disabilities.
I have gone on with my life, have
been integrated in the workforce, and live in my own home in the community with
services.
I need to do more for others, and
realize many people with disabilities are not as fortunate as I am.
There was protest Wednesday afternoon
in front of the legislature from family members and people with developmental
disabilities over $42 million in cuts.
They had signs and made statements
because, sadly, nobody else does.
I am dating myself when I speak of
the Alberta Committee of Disabled Groups of Disabled People, formed in the 1970’s.
They were grass roots and were very vocal when news stories of provincial cuts
to people with disabilities hit the headlines.
Why haven’t we heard them bang the
drum on this?
The Premier’s Council on the Status
of Persons with Disabilities was struck in 1987, a direct tangible result from
the Rick Hansen Man In Motion World Tour coming to Alberta.
What is their position on the PDD
cuts? Are they planning a statement?
When Gary McPherson passed away
three years ago the disabled community lost a powerful voice.
To my mind, we need a leader; we
need someone, some group, to speak up to government and create meaningful
discussions so all Albertans with disabilities can live with independence and dignity.
We need an unified voice.
Let’s start building that today
before the provincial government does more damage.
Ideas? camtait@telus.net is my email.
Wednesday 15 May 2013
Today's Timely Tune - (UPDATED STORY: 8:45 P.M. May 15
(We love news. We love music. We try to put them together to make a point.)
Photograph: SHAUGHN BUTTS, Edmonton Journal |
There's a demonstration this afternoon about the government's $42 million cuts to programs supporting Albertans with disabilities.
Here is the Edmonton Journal's website story.
And here's the Timely Tune
If you have another suggestion for a song please email camtait@telus.net
Cam 'n Eggs - Order No. 3: Dreams of laughter
The shadows of dreams crawl in so
many unsuspecting places, only to come to life, creating new journeys and
opportunities.
Like Tuesday night, just after 7 p.m.
Along the west wall, silver-like in color, eight people paced up and down.
In their minds they went over every word, every sentence, every pause as
Contestants were …
•J.P. FOURNIER Alberta Blue Cross Customer Service
•pastor DAN TAYLOR
•Former book store manager LIAM CRESWICH
•Blackberry Rep KEN HICKS
•waiter DAVID DEMPSEY
•waitress CLAIRE BELFORD
•warehouse laborer BRETT McCRINDLE
The winner takes home $1,000 cash, and the coveted spot to be the opening act for a concert series in
Carol Anne Devaney |
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