Richard Grafton, a theatre mastermind and teacher at my school, directed a production of Tolkien’s The Hobbit (play by Kim Selody) for the students back in February. He sent out an all call to the teachers to see if anyone was interested in being Smaug – the dragon. I eagerly volunteered. What a blast to … [Read more…]
2001: Shave my head for the first time, work as a youth pastor at Red Willow Community Church in St Albert AB (Events: Just Shoot Me, Gerta’s Eclipse, and fall retreat in Nordegg), canoe the Mackenzie River in NT, camp at Elk Island National Park, attend plays at the Citadel Theatre, travel to Halifax NS … [Read more…]
It still feels a little strange telling people that we spent a week vacation in Saskatchewan. We don’t have any family there and we live 60 minutes from Banff. The province does take its share of derision, second probably only to Newfoundland. The facts that it is so flat and boring and sparsely populated do … [Read more…]
Since I like to make lists and I was thinking of them when I was hiking the Blue Lakes on Monday, I thought I would draw up a list of some of the memorable hikes I’ve enjoyed over the years. Kootenay Plains, AB; 1987 Wood Bison Trail, Elk Island, AB; 1987 Siffleur Falls, AB; 1988, … [Read more…]
I’ve been really enjoying the FIFA World Cup Finals this summer even though the team I was cheering for (for no other reason than heritage) didn’t make it out of their group. My first exposure to the Soccer World Cup were on international stamps that I collected back in the mid-1980s. I remember thinking Brazil … [Read more…]
I worked with six of these fine people years ago. This past summer, I visited the summer camp that I spent summers ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, and ’94 at. The last three of those, I was a staff member where I counseled junior, teen and blind campers, taught silk screening, rang the bell, washed dishes … [Read more…]
On August 6, 2000 Amber and I were married in Smithers, BC. Our first night together as husband and wife was spent at the magnificent Logpile Lodge just a few minutes drive out of town. Exactly eight years later, Amber and I spent our anniversary at the same lodge. April watched our kids for the … [Read more…]
A couple days ago I had to pick up our vehicle in BC and drive it to Red Deer. The trip took me on much much of the road that I cycled five years ago when I crossed Canada. It was the first time back on this section and the memories just flooded back. I … [Read more…]
I am 17, one of 25 in the Canadian Youth for Ukraine (CYU) team. The first time I fly: Halifax-Toronto-Amsterdam-Kiev. I wake up with pen marks on my shirt and ears popping as we descend into Ukraine. We are fed borscht and fresh cucumbers at a church when we arrive. The train ride to Zaporozhye … [Read more…]