Blog or white ... because it never is.

When we were young, we likely fell down a lot.  We played outside and when we played it was aggressive.  We played tag like it was really important.  Hide and seek as well.  We climbed trees and even hide and seek was physical.  We knocked each other down and then reached out a hand to help our friends get up.  Our friends were up by the time we had reached out our hands because our bodies were resilient.  As we became young adults, it was a little bit more difficult to get up but we still did it.  I remember once wearing an amazing pair of black boots with 3 inch heels.  I was descending a staircase and there was some water on the top step.  I went basically straight out and then landed on the bottom without touching a single stair.  It hurt like anything but I bounced right up and denied I was hurt.  There were tons of people there offering support and I was embarrassed.  I remember going to the washroom and locking th...

Everyone should have a dream.  A goal.  Something we are working towards.  Something that keeps us motivated to keep moving forward. I remember being warned about Betty when I first starting working.  I was told to be very careful around her and that she would come into the office late at night and go through everyone's computer.  She was monitoring our emails and what sites we were looking at in order to get dirt on us to fire us.  After I had worked with Betty for a while, I knew that this was simply not true.  Anyone who knew Betty would know that she could not turn on a computer. That was an excerpt from a speech that I gave in 1995.  Our big boss Betty was retiring after 30+ years with Family and Children's Services.  Betty and I had a great relationship and she had a wonderful sense of humour.  I really thought that this would be a great roast.  It turns out I was the only one who roasted her.  She and her husband...

An article appeared in The Globe and Mail today which talked about a white male who was reportedly denied a senior management position. Apparently the recruiter told him that despite having all the qualifications he didn’t get the position because of his gender and race. Poor white males. After centuries of having power by virtue of their gender and race and using that power to discriminate against those who do not share this gender and race, they can now point to one instance where it didn’t work. That must be devastating. The arrogance of this claim is astonishing. A white male didn’t get a job. It couldn’t possibly be because they aren’t a good fit for that particular position, it has to be because of discrimination. It also could not be because in order to even get to that position the other candidates had to overcome all odds to even get there. Could it because the company could get away with paying a female candidate 40 per cent less? This poor white male is comp...

Jersey Day today.  People all over the world continue to shine their light in hopes of overcoming the tremendous loss we feel over the Broncos tragedy.  We seem to be going from incredible sadness to determination that we will continue to honor by keeping their light going.  The hockey moms who came up with the idea for Jersey Day were interviewed today.  They were overwhelmed with the support that this idea had generated.  The interview was highly emotional and one of the moms said two simple words.  Love Matters.  That says it all.  Seeing all the hockey sticks left on the porch has been incredibly moving.  Today, many are adding a fanny pack to honor the athletic therapist who passed yesterday.  I don't want to say that she is now an angel because she looks like she has always been an angel.   I am thinking of one of my dear friends who is an Athletic Therapist.  She is a bit like a baby in that she is a bundle ...

Another story about Brian Pallister's vacation home in Costa Rica has emerged.  This time, apparently he has not paid luxury tax in over 10 years.  In fairness to the man who calls himself Premier of the great province of Manitoba, he and his wife do not believe the home qualifies for the luxury tax.  Of course, I have never seen this shack in person but people who have seen it describe it from everything from a quaint cottage to a mansion.  I really have no idea but I think as a general rule of thumb is that if you have armed security 24/7, it probably should be considered a luxury home. Some Manitobans are bothered by the amount of time he spends there relaxing with only his wife's cell phone to be in touch with Manitoba.  I, for one, would prefer he spend more time there than being in Manitoba.  I've seen his policies.  Stay away as long as possible. However, he has this property and he has the most expensive house in Winnipeg.  So, he ...

At the end of March, my sweetie and I were flying to Vegas.  Every other time we had flown international, we have left before the sun rise.  This time, we were leaving at 1:00 pm.  We were packed the night before and awake at 6:00 am.  We had some nervous anticipation energy and were looking for a way to pass some time.  We decided to take the bus to the airport. When we transferred on to the 20 at Polo Park, I hadn't even noticed that we were riding an electric bus.  Once we were alone with the bus driver, my sweetie asked the bus driver how she enjoyed driving the electric bus.   This veteran bus driver liked it very much.  In fact, she was very proud to drive this bus and knew a great deal about it and told us about it.  It wasn't interesting at all, it was fascinating.  My sweetie and I were mesmerized by her knowledge, the bus workings, and her enthusiasm and pride in the City of Winnipeg.   I started ...

Last week, a poll came out about trusted Canadian companies.  Tim Horton's has always been in the top 10 since this poll started.  Last year, it was ranked 4th.  This year it dropped to 50th.  I sat down and tried to identify Canadian companies.  I got to 32.  So, for Tim Horton's to drop to 50 is pretty remarkable.  What it says to be that Canadians don't share the profits first and foremost philosophy that Tim Horton's obviously has. Dare I say, Canadians feel betrayed by Tim's trying to influence us by using our values against us.  Tim's currently has an advertising campaign going on promoting themselves as getting neighbours together.  I hope they pull this sickening campaign immediately.  #HumboldtStrong has proven that we don't need any help from a profits first company in getting together and supporting each other.  Don't trivialize our spirit by suggesting we would get along better with a cup of coffee. When this poll...

It happened over 5 decades ago in Biggar, Saskatchewan.  You know, New York is Big, but this is Biggar.  The same small town that produced one of the greatest Canadians of all time, Sandra Schmirler.  My dad was new in town and did what you do when you want to meet people, he started curling.  He saw my mom across the ice and said to the man he was curling with, "hey, do I know that red head's husband?" He was told that she wasn't married.   Again, according to legend, he did some detective work and found out that his secretary curled on a team with my mom.  He asked his secretary to play sick and to say that her boss would spare for her.  My mom told me that my dad arrived late and she was already irritated and then my dad walked into the rink.  She was already on the ice and fell as her knees buckled.  I still have the $2 bill that my dad wrote her phone number and address on.  The rest is, as they say, history. ...

We have long tried to describe what it means to be Canadian.  We know we are different from other nations but we have struggled to explain what it is exactly.  We like to apologize when it is not our fault.  We are kind, but that still isn't it or doesn't explain us fully.  Yesterday was an example of what it is.  Canadians truly have the compassion within. Believe me, like most Canadians, I wish that wasn't on display yesterday.  I wish that the last 36 hours was just a nightmare and when I woke up, I was hoping I had somehow dreamed the horrific bus crash.  Like most Canadians, I had a heavy heart yesterday.  I didn't want to get dressed or go outside. I think every Canadian felt a level of loss yesterday.  I am sure we all had a connection.  Almost everyone was from a small town at some point.  A small town in Saskatchewan, even.  Almost everyone lived in a hockey town or was a player or was a member of a team or knows...

Our country is waking up in mourning following the tragic bus accident involving the Humboldt Broncos.  Unfathomable loss.   It was hard not to wake up with a heavy heart.  It is hard not to cry as I try desperately not to think about the point of impact.  I can't even imagine the long road ahead for healing for all those involved. Further words are inadequate.  

I just came home from the World Men's Curling Championship in Vegas.  It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  So many "once in a lifetime" moments.  Memories that will last a lifetime.  Unfortunately, for my blog readers, it will mean I will be blogging about it for a long time.  It also gave me perspective.  It turns out the whole world is not the uberfan that I am.  I really thought that everyone was the curling fan that I am.  Apparently, it is not the case. My first clue was the parade of nations into the Arena from the Orleans hotel.  As volunteers, my partner and I had access to the staging area in the Hotel.  No one else took advantage of this and I don't know why.  As an uber fan, it was worth the price of admission to the whole event.  All the athletes gathered a half hour before the march began. That is where my love affair with Team Korea began.  They are the cutest nicest young men ever....