More news, views and all kinds of stuff from Edmonton Sun columnist Cam Tait
Tuesday 9 July 2013
A fitting tribute to a man of wonderful song
Monday 8 July 2013
Monday Motivators: Craig Styles and Andy Wigston
Sometime Sunday afternoon — perhaps around 4 p.m. — summer officially began for Craig Styles and Andy Wigston. That’s when the ice is finally cleaned at the West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace, the dressing rooms doors are closed for the last time, goodbye handshakes and hugs are exchanged, and — with one last look to make sure everything is just right — Styles and Wigston left the mall. And then their summer vacation begins. It has happened every Sunday in July for the two men since 1989. If Styles and Wigston have their way the tradition will carry on for many years to come.
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| Craig Styles in the middle with the red shirt |
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| Andy Wigston |
Sunday 7 July 2013
Eskimos big gamble: game against Hamilton Tiger-Cats has many story lines
br />
k.d. lang: The Valley
If Edmonton Eskimo head coach Kavis Reed likes pressure, he probably can’t wait for today’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Because all eyes will be on Reed — and the entire Eskimo organization. He has always been a gentleman to me over the years and he is a gem of a human being. I want to see him succeed. And so, apparently, do the Eskimos.
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| ...Kavis Reed |
Reed, in the final year of a three-year deal, was given an extension to his contract Saturday and the timing seems a bit odd. The Eskimos opened the season with a 39-18 loss against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and they did not look good: not only did they lack offence, they seemed disorganized, and took several selfish penalties. Perhaps the most noticeable was when the Eskimos lined up the wrong way. Coaching? You decide.
Reed is an intense coach and wears his heart on his sleeve. He also loves a challenge, and maybe that’s the card Esks’ GM Ed Hervey is playing with the contract extension. You might not expect such a carrot would dangle after last
week’s performance. Then again professional sports teams do whatever they have to to win. We’ll find out later today if the latest Eskimo gamble will pay off. It’s a huge wager placed: this could make or break the Edmonton Eskimos, both on and off the field.
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| ...Ed Hervey |
Paul Lorieau: a man of kindness and unforgettable class
Reporters are lucky people. Because we get
to see the real, human side of people: up close and personal. While thousands
see and hear someone from afar or on television, we get to have interactions
with stars. In some cases, we even get to have dinner with them. And those are
the thoughts I am having now when I think of the passing of Paul Lorieau.
Mr. Lorieau will be known best for his
thundering renditions of O’Canada at Edmonton Oiler games. He always had time
to say hello — whether it be on the way to sing on centre ice or on his way out
of the building. When I was writing a column for the sports department of the
Edmonton Journal in 2006, I saw what class Mr. Lorieau had. I wrote my column during
the Stanley Cup playoffs from the media dining room at Rexall Place and tried
to file it at the end of the first period.
Mr. Lorieau came up for dinner after he sang
O Canada. When I was finished writing I often asked if I could join him for a
cup of coffee and piece of pie as he was finishing dinner. I have cerebral
palsy and use a wheelchair so when I approached his table I was sitting down.
Mr. Lorieau always stood up to greet me and gave me a firm but warm handshake.
We would talk about many things, especially family, before leaving the dining
room for second period action.
A true gentleman with endless class is how I
will always remember Paul Lorieau. My job as a reporter afforded me to see
that. As a person I was so lucky to have shared time with him.
Tuesday 2 July 2013
Casseroles out; cash and greetings in for Calgary
I jumped the gun earlier today. I had an
idea about making casseroles for the people in Calgary effected by the floods:
folks that lost their homes and people who had food go bad in their homes
because fridges didn’t have any power. The Calgary Food Bank is in need of
food, so I thought maybe people could ban together. Make casseroles, I thought
— by the hundreds. Freeze them and then deliver them.
Thanks to my good friends Bruce and Jack set
me straight. The idea would never fly, let alone go truckin’ down Highway 2.
Too many health regulations. As Jack said taking a casserole over the fence to
a neighbor is a whole different issue than cooking up hundreds of casseroles.
And he’s right.
There’s still an opportunity to help. The
best thing is cash. Then, the Food Bank can buy what they need. Their link is
right here.
And if you decide to make a contribution and
you add something to your gift — perhaps a few words of encouragement. Send
them here and we will get them to the people of Calgary.
Twitter @camtait
Let's go! Casseroles for Calgary
And we need a
name for our project? How about Casseroles for Calgary?
Because they
need help. A newspaper Monday said the Calgary Food Bank is having trouble
keeping food on the shelves following the floods that hit the city two weeks
ago. Not only people who lost their homes are turning to the Food Bank for
help; but other Calgarians who went without power for some time. Their food in
fridges has turned bad, and they need a hand.
We can ban
together here. Certainly, food items are welcome at the Food Bank. But here’s a
chance for us to get some home cooking to folks who could really use it. So if
you would like to cook, drive, give us a name of a trucking company, suggest a
few hotels in Calgary, send in a casserole recipe or help out in any way, click below.
Monday 1 July 2013
Honor Canada Day with dignity
We’ve all done it before: when the sun rises
on a day marking an anniversary of something that went horribly wrong, we —
often silently — wonder if, because of the date, history will repeat itself.
The folks in Edmonton probably had that very thought today — hours before
darkness falls over the city and fireworks. Because this is the 12th
anniversary of the Canada Day aftermath that gave this city a bad image across
the country, if not North America.
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| ...a picture from July 2, 2002 |
Re-hashing details of what happened after 2
a.m. July 2 where crowds grew as high as 1,200 on Edmonton’s Whyte. Ave. is
pointless. Edmonton’s civic pride took a great hit, among other things. A City
of Edmonton report says the police costs and some clean-up of the riot exceeded
$312,000. The city had to pay for it, absolutely. But one can wonder if other
services had to be paired back or even cut.
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...fireworks in Edmonton
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The view across the gravel road on past Canada Day mornings
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| My father's home town: Meota, Sask.: 30 km north of North Battleford |
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| ...the deck where I spent hours |
I wheeled myself onto a freshly-stained —
Dad stained it, I think, every month. The deck was raised over the lawn where
tall popular trees towered. A gravel road was right in front of the lawn where
cars drove slowly. Across the road stood another bank of trees before the land
took a steep dip down to the lake. We couldn’t see the shoreline from the deck,
but the rest of the view certainly makes up for it.
And that’s the view I looked at for hours.
Jackfish Lake is 18 kms wide: you can barely see the other side of it. My wind
often got washed up in the water of the lake: on those quiet days when it
looked like glass, and those times when a storm was coming in from the north,
and the lake was choppy — even a little angry.
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| ....the view we had of the lake, across the gravel road |
I share such images with you in hopes Canada
Day morning is filled with every person and every thing you hope to see.
Friday 28 June 2013
Extending Friday afternoon for many decades
Friday afternoon before the July 1st
long weekend is always exciting. It’s the cursor summer holidays, and perhaps
the most telling sound is the laughter of children in school playgrounds today.
It’s the end of the school year when so countless children — like our grandson
Nicholas, who bids farewell to Grade 4. There are hundreds of Edmonton Grade 12
students who probably could use a few extra hours of sleep today since there
were several graduations Thursday night.
Whether kids are starting kindergarten or
graduating from university, they all have one common denominator: they are our
future. They are going lead our cities, provinces and country. They are going
to provide inspiration and motivation. They will, of course, need help — but
that opens the doors for their family and friends to help. Every student who
graduates or passes into a new chapter this afternoon needs to be celebrated.
In Canada, we celebrate the end of June with
trips to the lake. Maybe the mountains. Maybe even just an afternoon trip to
that special place off the beaten path for a family picnic. We will use our
highways. They will be busy. Perhaps it’s a reminder to slow down, to be
careful, to be alert … to drive safe. It’s a glorious Friday afternoon. Let’s
make everyone has the opportunity to enjoy their full potential, starting
Tuesday morning and many years beyond.
Thursday 27 June 2013
Home care worker concerned about dangerous driving conditions (PART 2 OF 2)
Just imagine the frustration. Imagine a home care
worker, on a cold winter day, trying to get to their next visit to care for and
to help. And their vehicle — even a four-wheel drive — breaks down because of
wear and tear. Imagine how it would feel, knowing someone is depending on you,
but because of a new payment structure, you’re stuck … and can’t do the thing
you love to do.
Donna says that is a bigger reality than we might
want to think. Donna works for WeCare and drives to and from people in the
community. But Alberta Health Services re-wrote a new contract with WeCare.
Donna, not her real name, says WeCare workers will no longer be compensated for
the distance they drive. “We only make between $15-17 dollars an hour as
caregivers. By the time we take all our expenses off our hourly wage we will be
making less than minimum wage. As you can appreciate this is unacceptable and
all qualified people are leaving their jobs Aug. 1. It is impossible
to run a vehicle with no money.”
She continues: “I fear
for caregivers driving old, unreliable vehicles down gravel roads in
the middle of a snowstorm. This is dangerous. We will have casualties in
the field.”
And that is … unimaginable.
Guest blogger Ron Plant on Rick Hansen
RON PLANT:
When I read the 4000+ word article that David Baines wrote
Vancouver SUN, questioning the ‘FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP’ of the Rick Hansen
Foundation, it raised a few questions for me.
1.How many months has this man
devoted to this story, and what was his motivation?
2.Why, of all the prospective
targets to finger point, would you choose this topic for your swan song? Enjoy
your retirement, Mr. Baines.
3.What business is it of David
Baines, how the Rick Hansen Foundation is run, or what compensation Rick Hansen
receives?
In my opinion, if Baines is afforded months to conspire and
craft his… ummm… complaint, exposé, or whatever it is, shouldn’t the folks at
the Rick Hansen Foundation be given some time to respond? That is IF they feel
the need to respond at all. Why is it that after a cursory read through of one
reporter’s article, some members of the public (many of whom have never read a
financial statement in their lives) start throwing around words like fraud, and
demanding explanations? Rick Hansen doesn’t owe me any explanation, and I dare
say he likely doesn’t owe you one either.
To me, Rick Hansen is a man who has made huge strides in
affecting public perception of persons with disabilities. He has given hope to
generations of persons with spinal cord injuries and related disorders through
significant, ongoing research fundraising efforts, and has shown a spirit of
determination in the face of adversity well beyond what the average person has.
You ever roll around the world in a wheelchair? Me neither.
If I have any point to make here at all, it is simply: Don’t
rush to judgment. Even at 4,000 words, David Baines hasn’t given us all the
facts, nor do we have any feedback from the foundation. Or does that not matter
in the court of public opinion?
An unlikely hero speaks volumes
We may not have heard Jacqui Brocklebank’s name
until earlier last week, but it’s a name we need to remember. Brocklebank lived
in High River and had cerebral palsy. Sadly, the 33-year-old died because of the
flood: and the way she died was so unselfish. More importantly, Brocklebank
showed how we all can help others, and how people with disabilities aren’t
always on the receiving end of getting assistance.
Brocklebank’s mother Janie Pighin tells CBC her
daughter knew everyone in town. Brocklebank lived in her condo on the east side
of High River, which was safe from the flooding. But she was worried about
others. So she left her home, concerned about friends in trouble. It was then
when Brocklebank was swept up in flood waters and died. It is tragic: words
can’t even come close to describing.
Brocklebank needs to be remembered as a hero. She
put the safety of others before hers. She accepted the risk of her disability,
but put in behind her. She has made a profound statement of how people with
disabilities help others, even in dangerous situations. And, for me, her story
is something I will never forget.
Wednesday 26 June 2013
Guest blogger Marie Renaud Martin on Rick Hansen
MARIE RENAUD MARTIN
It was hard to even read the Vancouver Sun's article. We live in a country where young hockey players make more than some
small countries. Yes, Rick Hansen's fund raising goal was huge and he fell
short. The man went around the WORLD in a wheelchair. It makes sense that he
thinks big. He made a mistake. So what?
If Rick Hansen makes hundreds of thousands, I am
happy he does. He has given his adult life to raising awareness. In Alberta,
our government pays volunteer appointed board members hundreds of thousands of
dollars in honorariums and we don't even flinch. All about perspective. So Mr.
ex-Sun writer, good for you, you can read a financial statement, point out
mistakes and manipulate words. How have you positively impacted our world?
PLEASE VOTE ON THE POLL AT THE RIGHT OF THE PAGE
Poll: What do you think of Rick Hansen Foundation story in the Vancouver Sun
There have been many comments about the Vancouver
Sun story on the weekend where columnist David Baines questions the management
of the Rick Hansen Foundation. Baines, who took a recent buy-out from the Sun,
took 4,100 words to examine the foundation, specifically the 25th anniversary
celebration. In his story, Baines also looks at Hansen’s compensation.
Hansen declined to be interviewed for the story. In
an earlier blog I said — and I still believe — he needs to publicly respond.
Many of the comments I have heard say Hansen really hasn’t done anything wrong.
Perhaps Chris Minchau summed it up on Facebook best:
"I glanced through the article and my mind soon
glazed over. I once had a college instructor, who said "Figures lie - and
liars figure". The reporter throws out a lot of numbers, and implies
wrong-doing without directly naming names. Looks like a straight up hatchet job
to me, a final farewell from a mean spirited reporter, who apparently just
announced his retirement. I figure when the reporter has raised even 1 percent
of what the Rick Hansen Foundation has over the past 25 years, then he gets to
complain!”
What do you think? Is the piece justified? Do you
think Hansen is hiding from something? Or is the story so out in left field and
unfair? We really want to know!
PLEASE VOTE ON THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE.
We are going to close voting Thursday. So please
have your say.
THE ORGINAL STORY
Rick Hansen's legacy hanging in the balance; he needs to address it ASAP
It has been five days now since the Vancouver Sun
ran an investigative story on the Rick Hansen Foundation. (I have a link to it
at the end of the post.) I feel I should write something … that I should have
an opinion of what has been said. Because I consider him a friend: we met in
1979 when he was playing wheelchair basketball and I was a rookie reporter, and
then I covered the Man in Motion World Tour for a total of three months for the
Edmonton Journal. Still, I don’t
know what to say.
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| Hansen in Edmonton last March // PHOTO: Bruce Edwards, Edmonton Journal |
Hansen is a Canadian hero. His tour, which began on
a shoestring budget in 1985, created a multi-million dollar corporation. And
that’s where the story is. Vancouver Sun reporter David Baines is known for his
investigative work. Some say he’s the best investigative reporter in Vancouver.
So for him to take on Hansen in a 4,100 word piece is, by itself, a statement. Haines allegations
are quite alarming — even to me.
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| David Baines, Vancouver Sun |
I have always known Hansen as a man who faces
challenges head on. It’s surprising to me he declined to be interviewed for the
story. There was an e-mail exchange but, according to Haines answers were not
short, or not answered at all. I cannot even begin to wonder why that is. But I
know this: he has to respond to the story. And, soon. Because if he doesn’t,
public perception will run rampant and the assumptions will start. Hansen’s
legacy is in peril right now. Only he can change that. I guess a hero’s work is
never done.
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