The Leduc RepBlog

Gauging Superbowl Sunday

2012-02-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Bobby Roy

Super Sunday is almost here.

It’s a day hardcore and mediocre football fans, half-time show and commercial enthusiasts find a television set to sit around for three plus hours to watch what is more than just a football game these days.

But I’m not going to focus on the commercialism that is the Superbowl. I’m going to focus on the most important part that should be pretty obvious, but isn’t to some — the game.

For almost two weeks, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants along with each teams’ large following of fans have been chomping at the bit for what should be a great game and rematch of the epic Superbowl XLII. If you’re one of those true, blue (and the colour blue works for both teams in this case) fans, you’ll only have to wait a few more days until the talking is done and the playing can begin.

For all the other hardcore NFL fans whose teams have been eliminated recently or in my case, a long time ago (being a Tampa Bay Bucs fan this year was tough), Superbowl Sunday usually is a good time spent with other football friends dissecting the game, picking who is going to win and watching the unthinkable unfold sometimes.

If this year’s Superbowl is anything like the first matchup in 2008, then football fans and the football world are going to have a lot to talk about for some time.

In 2008 the Patriots were heavy favourites to win the Superbowl as they went into the game undefeated on the season, but were upset 17-14 by a Eli Manning led, hot Giants team. And who can forget the former, where is he now Giant, David Tyree who made a Velcro like catch late in the fourth quarter to set up the winning touchdown for the Giants.

Is a crazy play like that one going to happen again this year?

Who knows, but imagine if something happened like that again. That’s the beauty of the Superbowl, because something crazy always happens.

This year, the Patriots are once against favoured, but not nearly as much compared to the 2008 team. For anyone who followed the 2008 Patriots, it’s hard to think this year’s version of the Patriots could have a better chance at winning, but in some cases it’s true.

The Patriots had a better defense in 2008 and all-star wide receiver Randy Moss catching touchdown after touchdown, but this year they’ve got even more weapons on offense, which most teams haven’t been able to shut down on a consistent basis.

On the other side of the ball are the Giants, who have followed an eerily similar path to the one in 2008. In ’08 they won every game on the road, beginning with an NFC South opponent and beat Green Bay in Lambeau.

This year, they almost did the same.

They beat the Atlanta Falcons first, an NFC South team, took care of business against the seemingly unbeatable Green Bay Packers in Lambeau the week after and squeaked out another road win in San Francisco to clinch the Super Bowl date.

I will bet money only a few had the Giants making it to the Superbowl this year, never mind making the playoffs with four weeks left in the regular season. They have followed the same formula of success they did in ‘08— strong defense, timely offensive plays and fantastic quarterbacking from Eli Manning.

There are so many factors that will be at play in this year’s Superbowl.

Can the Giants’ front four continue to create havoc in the opposing teams’ backfield? Will Brady’s offense continue to pour our points? Can the Pats’ patchwork defense come up with another big performance? Can Eli Manning continue to make perfect throws at key points in the game? Could there be another David Tyree-like play?

Those are just a few of the many questions sports’ reports and football fans have leading up to Sunday.

I could go into in-depth stats and examine past games between the two, but sometimes it’s best to throw things like that all out in a winner takes all game like the Superbowl.

Enough talking, because talking doesn’t create Superbowl moments, the plays do.

Forever lives Super Sunday.

New Year's resolutions

2012-01-03T14:29:00.002-07:00

Bobby Roy

Another year is upon us, which means it's time for people to start adhering to their New Year's "resolutions."
I put "resolutions" in quotations, because most people who choose one or several aspects of their life they would like to change don't actually follow through, and therefore don't resolve that aspect of their life they wanted to.
According to studies, of those who vow to make changes in their lives beginning each year, only 12 per cent actually succeed in doing so.
So, maybe they should be called New Year's "disillusions" instead.
That's a pretty sad number, but not surprising at all when one looks at the common types of resolutions people usually make.
Losing weight, stop smoking, getting out of debt and drinking less are probably tops on the lists of those who make a New Year's resolution.
Kudos to those who actually follow through and nail the goal they set out for themselves, because it's not easy to quickly change an aspect in one's life they've probably been doing for a long time.
It takes hard work, perseverance, will power, a realization there will bumps in the road to success, and support.
For example, getting in shape and being healthy is a lifestyle, not a quick, two month fix. It takes time.
I'm sure most of us want to change one aspect or another in our lives, but who has the time, money, or drive to do it, right?
That's a pretty lazy attitude to have, but I'm sure a lot of people have used this cop out one time or another.
I know I have.
"I'll do it tomorrow." "I'll start it next week." "Maybe another time."
For the most part, New Year's resolutions set people up for failure, because quickly changing one or many aspects in one's life isn't easy.
I can guarantee problems in people's lives don't pop up at the beginning of December and then January is the month to start correcting them.
If you're not at the weight you want to be in July, why not start then?
If you're broke in May, because you know you've been spending too much money for the past couple of years, why not start learning how to budget in June instead of starting in January.
People who truly want to change something in their life should want to do it as soon as possible.
What if one realizes on Mar. 14 they need to get more organized? Start making those changes a few days later, not on Jan. 1, because one will likely be even more behind and less motivated to change on Jan. 1.
Jan. 1 is a date that is too easy, lazy and will likely end in failure months later for whatever resolution one decides to make.
If one feels they need to make a resolution, do it the next day or few days. Waiting will only make it harder to change.

The spirit of giving is strong in Leduc

2011-12-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

Year after year, I am always surprised by the things people do for Christmas gifts. Parents go out of their way to find the specific toy of the season for their child, spouses search high and low to find that ‘perfect’ gift for their significant other. Then there are those who give more than just a gift card by donating their time or making a financial donation to a non-profit group.

Although I am not a fan of the commercialization of Christmas and the need to buy, buy, buy, I do enjoy giving people thoughtful gifts this time of year more so than receiving. I know, it sounds cheesy and has been used before, but I truly do enjoy trying to think of something unique and thoughtful for everyone on my list. Although many revert to gift cards for their loved ones (which there is nothing wrong with), I make it my mission to try to remember a random conversation I had with someone or think of something my parents might have mentioned in passing. I often found it’s the details and putting enough effort into a gift that makes for a good one.

And in recent weeks, I have noticed that many Leduc residents do exactly that. Whether it’s a local business donating time and money or volunteers giving their time during this holiday, I have noticed that Leduc area residents work really hard at making sure others have a great holiday. Businesses donating their time and profits to local organizations, free Christmas dinners for the less fortunate and people collecting toys for children in the area are just some of the examples of Leduc residents’ kindness.

I’m sure many residents are already aware of the community’s collective big heart and take pride in the spirit of giving found in the community, as they should. It’s refreshing to see. It reminds people that everyone adds to the collective generous spirit of a community and it shouldn’t be up to a couple of corporate sponsors to continue to support the local food bank or women’s shelter. It should be everyone that helps out and in my opinion, it seems Leduc overall is a pretty generous community.

Although many wish people would show their generous natures’ year-round, I think it is a good thing the Christmas spirit of giving —whether you celebrate the holiday or not— generally comes once a year. It is a reminder that there is more to life than opening presents on Christmas day and if we are willing to spend a few dollars on a gift card, why not spend the money on something we can all use: happy people this holiday season.

Happy holidays!

It's Tebow Time whether you like it or not

2011-12-12T16:17:00.003-07:00

Bobby Roy

The Extra Point

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Denver Bronco’s quarterback Tim Tebow had a section of his own terms in the dictionary by the end of this season.

“Tebow,” “Tebow Time,” and “Tebowmania” are a few of the terms starting to appear each weekly miracle performed by the former Florida Gator, Tebow.

And just when you think the hype, criticism, interest and play surrounding Tebow should start to simmer down, the most talked about player this NFL season keeps giving people reasons to talk, gossip and stare in awe about.

What he and his team have been doing on the field recently are being called miracles and for good reason.

Dec. 11’s 13-10 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears at home is latest, craziest miracle performed by Tebow and the Broncos.

It’s a game they shouldn’t have won, but the Broncos have heard plenty of that talk in their current six game-winning streak.

“He did what?” “Did that just happen?” How is that even possible?”

Those are some of questions I asked watching the improbable unfold in the 13-10 Bronco win.

With his team down 10-0 with less than three minutes to play in the game and with no timeouts, he engineered a drive where he completed seven of seven passes, culminating in an easy touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas to cut the lead down to three.

An unthinkable mistake by the Bears’ runningback Marion Barber gave Tebow and the Broncos the ball back and a chance. A few throws later and the Broncos had a realistic chance. A 59-yard field goal try with three seconds left? No problem. Tie game and we’re headed to overtime.

The Broncos lose the toss and the Bears drive into field goal range. Maybe the miracle is finally over? Wrong. Barber proceeds to do the unthinkable again, fumbling the ball on a third down play to give the Broncos the ball.

It’s Tebow Time.

Two completions later and the Broncos are well within their kicker’s range — a 51-yard field goal attempt.

It could have been good from 70 and the Broncos win their six straight and most amazing win of the streak.

Amazing. Stunning. Unbelievable.

Those are just some of the words that come to mind looking back at the game. But those words have been following Tebow around for the past eight games.

Since taking over for the then 1-4 Broncos, Tebow is 7-1, but his passing numbers have been less than convincing and he still isn’t receiving respect from players, fans and media around the league.

In those eight games he’s only gone over the 200 passing yard mark twice —202 against Minnesota and 238 against Chicago (he was 3-16 after three quarters).

The Bears’ Brian Urlacher called him a good running back afterwards.

His numbers are anything but impressive.

In the first three quarters that is.

Tebow is 18 of 24, 191 yards, one touchdown, and no picks in the fourth quarter and overtime. He is clutch when it comes to crunch time, no doubt about it.

And he’s captured anyone and everyone who follows the NFL. There’s just something about Tebow’s aura that has accrued him more and more followers every week.

He was criticized before he got the job, while he has the job and will be, no matter how the Bronco’s fairytale season ends.

And he should be, because I’m (and I’m sure there are plenty of others) not convinced he is and will be a great quarterback in the NFL.

The Broncos’ defense, timely offense and special teams are the reason why they are on a six game winning streak and in control of the AFC West.

But maybe people expected too much on what kind of player Tebow would be when he was drafted. He’s been compared to the likes of John Elway and other great quarterbacks, but he doesn’t share the same qualities.

He has shown he is a running quarterback first and foremost, but he comes up big with his arm in the fourth and overtime quarters. Tebow doesn’t strike fear in opposing teams like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees do, but he does share a similar quality with those three —he wins.

And that’s all that matters in the NFL. If doesn’t matter how you win as long as you win and Tebow has done that, even though all those wins haven’t been the most convincing. The Broncos have won all of those seven games by six points or less.

It may be only a matter of time until Tebow Time is over in Denver or maybe not, but what everyone can agree upon is that it is fun to watch, read and talk about Tebow and the Broncos are doing right now.

Mo reasons this month to raise money for prostate cancer

2011-11-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

Bobby Roy

When the calendar flips over from October to November, the days get shorter, the temperatures start to plunge, Christmas commercials start popping up and things start to get a bit harrier.

A bit harrier? What does that have to do with November, you ask?

That’s what November, or what is now commonly known as Mo-vember is all about. Some men around the world sacrifice their usually clean-shaven upper lip for a hairy little buddy to promote awareness and help raise funds for prostate cancer research this month.

As the midway mark of November is now behind us, I’m sure you’ve begun to notice men sporting their own unique moustache, whether they be thick, not so thick and maybe not so physically attractive.

While these mustaches may cause some women to cringe, chuckle or smile and for some men to doubt sporting a ‘stache is really worth it, what each unique mustache represents is the most important aspect of what Mo-vember is all about.

The global movement of Mo-vember has been growing steadily since its humble beginnings in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, and adding up last year’s figures, the movement has raised $176 million for prostate cancer research.

The amount of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas, the nickname given to the men and women who sign up online, involved in the cause has exploded exponentially each year with more than one million taking part as of last year.

Last year, I decided to do my part for the cause and signed up online, created a profile, grew a mustache (attempted to anyways) and tried to fundraise for prostate cancer.

This is now the second year I’ve decided to take part in Mo-vember and, although my mustache was called “pathetic” by my editor, continues to lack in darkness and thickness, is itchy and is less than physically appealing, what it represents is worth the lack of female attention I’ve received so far (and probably will continue to until the end of this month).

I’ve never had a family member who has been affected by prostate cancer, but since it is the number one cancer that affects men, taking part in Mo-vember is a good way to help fundraise and have a little fun while doing so.

Men who are taking part in their Mo-growing efforts are walking, talking billboards for prostate cancer awareness. Don’t forget about the Mo-Sistas either, who may not be taking part in the mustache growing, but are doing their part to help raise awareness and cash for prostate cancer research.

Like any other fundraising effort for cancer research, it should be a yearly focus and not just for one month, but having the month of November dubbed, Mo-vember does provide more exposure on prostate cancer and its affect on men.

The real winners are the ones who have donated and raised awareness this month, have in the past and will continue to do so in the future. No amount of mustache can compete against those who are truly dedicated to helping raise money for prostate and other cancers.

But, if you can, donate to a Mo-Bro or Mo-Sista for the remainder of this month.

And I will continue to campaign for donations for prostate cancer even in my mustache continues to lack in every other department.

Visit http://ca.movember.com to donate or for more information.

Getting gutsy in the name of IBD

2011-11-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

Did you know Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is about three times more common than multiple sclerosis and HIV amongst Canadians? According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, it is and November is Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month. To mark the awareness month, I decided to share my experiences—good and bad — with Crohn’s Disease over the past four years in hopes of explaining the disease to people.

It was back in 2007 when I was diagnosed with the disease (after many misdiagnosises), given numerous new prescriptions and released from the hospital after spending more than a week there. But what the busy doctors failed to explain to me in detail was, what is Crohn’s Disease?

I like to describe Crohn’s to people as speed bumps in your intestines. When you eat something the intestines find difficult to digest (strawberries, high fibre foods, or nuts for example), your body rejects the food. When you have Crohn’s, your intestines become spoiled brats: They decide what they want to digest, when they do it and just how much pain they are going to inflict.

The docs out there give it a little bit more of an elegant explanation. Crohn’s Disease is an IBD and like I mentioned before, it affects the intestines but can target anywhere from your mouth to your well, um, ‘exit.’ One website gives a pretty good summary, saying “People with Crohn’s disease have ongoing (chronic) inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease may occur in any area of the digestive tract. There can be healthy patches of tissue between diseased areas. The inflammation causes the intestinal wall to become thick.”

And I know what some of you are probably thinking: “Wow, this sounds gross.” And really it is. But I am a firm believer that unless people start talking about it, nobody will know what the disease is or want to find a cure. I have met a lot of ‘closet’ Crohn’s sufferers over the years, people who are afraid to talk about this chronic, painful and sometimes humiliating disease. Many people are often surprised to discover that I have Crohn’s but when I tell them, nine times out of 10 they are interested and surprised to learn what I have to do to avoid pain.

Eating with Crohn’s Disease

Since it’s a gastrointestinal disorder and since I assume everybody has taken biology, that means Crohn’s has to do with digestion, making dinner parties and staff lunches a nightmare for people like myself who have IBD.

Since the body reacts different to all types of food, I have to be very selective with what I eat, otherwise I will be suffering with bad cramps, a migraine and just overall exhaustion, sometimes lasting days. Luckily, my Crohn’s overall has been going well in the past few years, thanks to the two needles I take every week. It’s tough, I admit, but it needs to be done and I am just happy to be able to go home to my own bed every night and not a hospital bed.

Although I try to keep a positive spin to the cards I have been dealt, sufferers of IBD share my pain and know just how much of an impact this disease has on your everyday life. I would love to eat whole wheat bread, strawberries and spinach, but instead I’m stuck with white bread, green beans and a muffin top.

My goal is to educate as many people as possible on the disease, since it impacts so many Canadians. I don’t do it to complain about my trials with the disease, but I do it so when people are diagnosed with IBD, they’ll know what it is and won’t have to go through the months of confusion and battles with food I did. As painful and frustrating as it can be, I look forward to the future of IBD research, with discoveries about this little-known disease developing each day. And that is something worth talking about.

Gauging all the NHL's suspensions

2011-09-30T13:48:00.005-06:00

Bobby Roy

The National Hockey League's (NHL) newest disciplinarian, Brendan Shanahan, has been busy for the latter part of September, handing out eight suspensions in eight days.

The question is: Has the NHL's new whip-cracker, Shanahan, been handing out too many suspensions on some questionable calls this preseason?

Having seen all of the hits and video of the players who have received the suspensions, they are warranted for sure, but eight suspensions in eight days?

I hope this is not a sign of things to come in the regular season, which is less than a week away.

Of the eight players who have received suspensions, only James Wisneiwski and Jody Shelley are repeat offenders, which may be a good sign players are starting to learn what is a legal hit and what hits have gone too far.

The difference between the preseason and the regular season are the amount of different players teams put out on the ice in each game. Some of these players aren't going to be top line players, who are counted on to score or provide highlight passes game in and game out.

The players who don't have a guaranteed spot on an NHL team's roster are looking to make their mark. And what better way to show the coaching staff they can play at the NHL level than making a big hit and playing with their heart on their sleeve.

Unfortunately, as we've seen in some of the hits resulting is suspensions already, these players looking to make their mark went a little too far. It's tough to fully blame them, because some of these players aren't used to the NHL game speed and they get caught up in the emotion of the game.

What they will learn from these suspensions is the NHL and Shanahan are going to suspend players for a lengthy period for any kind of hit to the head. And that's a good thing.

But it also seems like some players aren't playing the game like they were in the past. A lot of the time players are turning into the boards before a hit or they're not keeping their heads up as they glide across centre ice.

Hockey is a physical game and players are taught to finish checks and punish those for watching their beautiful pass.

I'm not saying players should be looking to destroy each other with a hit to the head, but players should be more aware as they skate through the middle of the ice or near the boards. They should be prepared to get hit and that seemed more apparent back in old days when padding wasn't as near protective as it nowadays.

Be more aware is all I'm saying. Turning into the boards may turn into a powerplay chance, but it also may result in an injury, or even worse, paralysis.

When the regular season begins, there probably won't be as many suspensions in such a short period of time (hopefully), but only time will tell.

The one thing that is for sure is that Shanahan is doing a great job trying to get as many of these cheap hits to the head out of the game as possible.

The short video explanation on each suspension is also great for the NHL and its fans too. More information the better.

Last season proved to be a new era for the amount of suspensions handed out for head shots in the league, so it will be interesting to see if this season follows suit.

Hopefully it doesn't mean suspension after suspension will be handed out this year, resulting in players not playing like they usually would.

Players, fans, coaches and anyone else connected to hockey shouldn't see NHL stand for the No Hitting League.

Psyched to see my first psychic

2011-09-16T19:22:00.002-06:00

Kidney stones, a strong career and surprise surprise, money in my future were all of the things talked about by the psychic I went to see during the Leduc Psychic Fair.

I’ll admit, I was quite skeptic about going to a psychic and what they would tell me that I didn’t already know, but I left there with a little bit more optimism and a little bit less money.

First off, I didn’t expect two psychics to say the same thing to me. I only paid for one reading but apparently the fact that I have a Vitamin B12 deficiency ‘radiates’ from my aura and compelled one of the psychics to stop mid-interview just to tell me.

“It’s not a really bad thing, but I do see something to do with your kidneys and it is something you should watch out for,” she said in a slightly ominous tone.

“Ummm,” was my only response. I mean really, she knew something about me that 1) I did not tell her 2) Was bang on. She didn’t know which Vitamin B but she did know I was lacking it, which I have to admit, impressed me.

And it only got better from there. After I finished talking to the clairvoyant medium, I moved on to another clairvoyant who did my tarot card reading.

As he fanned the cards out on the table, I couldn’t help but think of the several movie scenes where this exact situation plays out, only to see the psychic lift the ominous Grim Reaper card to signify death. Luckily, there was no Grim Reaper card for me this time as I chose 11 cards at random.

The first thing he noticed was fast movement. He told me “You’re not a couch potato are you?” I wanted to say to him “Well, it depends what night of the week it is. If it’s Jersday, then ya, I like to lounge around,” but I decided to stick to a simple “no.”

He then told me that he was feeling a ‘pulse’ of a large sum of money in my future. He emphasized that it wasn’t a big lottery win where I could quit my job and retire tomorrow, but it would be a lump sum that could get rid of my debt. Sure, I can’t buy a jet in the near future, but I’ll take some money to get rid of those pesky Visa bills.

But there was still a part of me that wondered if he always said that to his clients. I couldn’t help wonder if that was just a scam on his part so I would pay up and get more readings done, but I figured he probably wasn’t lying. He seemed like a nice clairvoyant.

As the reading continued, he asked me to pose a question to him and I decided to stick with health. He had told me earlier in the reading that he, too, could detect something in my kidneys, nothing life-threatening, but an issue like kidney stones. Yikes, two for two.

But when he looked at the three new cards I had picked out and was deep in thought, he started to talk about how my mother had something wrong with her ovaries, like a cyst or something. That was really when I started to believe. About three years ago, my mother had one of her ovaries removed because it had a cyst and I was shocked to hear, that I, too, would have that issue later in life. It wasn’t the greatest thing to hear, I’ll admit, but when he mentioned by mom, that was just too creepy for me not to believe.

He also talked about my personality too, which I won’t bore you with, and how it will tie into my future. He mentioned that I have a long lifeline (yes, he did do a brief palm reading), and that I am an empathetic person, a trait that will continue to be seen for the rest of my life. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but I thought it was a nice, uplifting way to end the reading.

My friend asked me if I would go to a psychic again and I think maybe I would. I may not be a religious person but I do believe in karma and that everything happens for a reason. So, if I am supposed to get kidney stones, fine so be it. Money in my future? Yes please! But I also believe that by knowing money and kidney stones are in my life trajectory has made me look at things a little differently. Maybe I’ll start eating more magnesium-rich foods to fend off the stones, and maybe I’ll start buying a lotto ticket here or there. Either way, I admit I feel a little bit more enlightened into my future than I did yesterday. I would encourage people to try a psychic at least once in their lives, skeptic or not. I mean even if you do get some so-so news, chances are money is in your future and I didn’t even need a crystal ball to tell you that.

Check out the Leduc Psychic Fair this Saturday and Sunday at the Days Inn and Suites in Leduc.

Weekly roundup forSeptember 16, 2011

2011-09-16T14:45:00.002-06:00

• The community mourns as the body of Larry Majeski was pulled from Pigeon Lake

• The skatepark is improving math skills

• More people are mounting pressure about a possible spray park in Leduc

• The city's Community Report is now online

• A new home, beginning for Leduc family

The last days of the great season

2011-09-07T18:04:00.003-06:00

Bobby Roy

When the September long weekend finishes up, in my mind, that marks the end of summer and it's a little depressing when you think what's ahead.
Thankfully I got to spend the September long in Calgary with my buddies and got to come home happy after watching the Eskimos give the Stamps a good ol' beatdown in Cowtown. It was a fantastic way to end summer.
I think the best quote a Stamps fan gave us was, "head onto the QE north and go home!"
A classic and satisfying way to end the weekend I'd say.
But back to real life.
Luckily this week, it looks like Mother Nature is giving us Albertans an extended summer, even though at some points (especially July), it didn't feel like we had summer at all.
It's a nice little bonus and gives us some extra time to spend time outside at the parks, beaches, lakes and anywhere we can soak up the sun and heat.
So enjoy it if you can, because it'll all be over before we know it.
It's only a matter of time before the cooler days and nights, the dark and dare I say it, the snow, starts to creep in.
What I hate the most are the dark nights and mornings fall and winter bring us.
The snow, cold and terrible driving conditions compound my dislike for winter here, but there are plenty of places around the world that have to deal with the more serious of problems Mother Nature hands down and the other problems life brings (political unrest, domestic, societal, etc ).
So I guess it's not all bad here when you look at the grand scheme of things.
But I'll likely still complain at moments this fall and winter.
For now, I'm going to enjoy these days of beauty and hope they last for as long as possible.
Once they're over then it's time to start finding hobbies that don't include watching copious amounts of television for the fall and winter months, but I'll worry about later.

Belak's suicide opens up even more questions

2011-09-02T13:48:00.005-06:00

Bobby Roy

The Extra Point

Former Nashville Predator, Toronto Maple Leaf and enforcer Wade Belak’s sudden suicide sent chills throughout the NHL community and world this past week, and as the third NHL enforcer to pass away in less than four months, the NHL has got some serious investigating to do.

As does the rest of the sports world and its numerous athletes.

Belak was found dead in his Toronto apartment on Aug. 31, where he allegedly hung himself.

The news circulated around the NHL hours after reports confirmed he was found dead and I’m sure many, including myself, thought, ‘it can’t be suicide, can it?’

For those who watched Belak over the years, he was always seen as the guy who was cracking jokes, smiling, laughing with teammates, standing up for teammates on the ice as his role as enforcer, or getting involved with some crazy sort of skit.

He seemed like he was having the time of his life and why wouldn’t someone believe that?

He finished up a 14-year NHL career this past summer where he played for five different NHL teams and was working on getting into the broadcasting business.

For any prospective, young hockey player, is that not a dream come true?

So why would a seemingly happy, accomplished and gregarious Belak commit suicide, never mind hang himself?

It’s tough to ask that question and hope for an answer when you don’t know anything more about the man other than what you see on television, read in the news or hear on the radio.

But a lot of people are asking it and the NHL is going to have to seriously delve into research efforts on how or why this sort of terrible occurrence happened to not only one NHL enforcer, but three in such a short period.

Maybe it’s a bad coincidence since there are no clear patterns of NHL enforcers committing suicide since the league came into effect, or maybe the cause of these actions are much more complex than we think.

It’s more than likely, the answer is the latter.

But I’m not a doctor, a psychiatrist or someone who knew these three players.

Unfortunately, the best I can do is speculate.

On May 13 former Minnesota Wild (and New York Ranger) tough guy, Derek Boogard was found dead after taking an accidental mixture of alcohol and oxycodone.

On Aug. 15 former Vancouver Canuck, Rick Rypien committed suicide.

What the three do have in common was their role on the ice — they were enforcers who, for the most part, took and threw punches for a living.

It’s also been reported, Boogard, Rypien, and now Belak, were all dealing with depression during points in their life as an NHL player.

It’s understandable the pressure of being a professional athlete can get to someone, but they’re living a life many can only dream of and it's hard to think it could ever get to point you would consider killing yourself.

How bad was it that these three decided to end it all?

It doesn’t make sense to me when I think about it on that level, but maybe it was a factor they couldn't control as well as they would have liked to.

No one knows for certain what the human brain is capable of, so maybe there were some chemical unbalances that played a part in the threes' decisions.

The topic of concussions and what the consequences are to the human brain have never been more prevalent today than ever before in hockey and other contact sports.

The diagnosis into the consequences of a concussion to a person is still in its infancy in the world of medicine, so it’s hard to determine how exactly a concussion affects each person mentally and physically.

Watching, listening and reading about professional athletes who have had concussions, the consequences for each are inherently different. Determining what kind of effect and for how long it will have on each person is no doubt one of toughest jobs a doctor has to do.

That couldn’t be truer for Austin Trenum, a young football player who committed suicide out of the blue, days after suffering a concussion. In the article by Metro Edmonton, Trenum was by all accounts, a normal teenager, who didn't have a history of depression and neither did his family.

He had friends, went to school, lived in a great house, had a great family, loved playing sports, was destined to go to university, and lived a seemingly normal life.

It was one Sunday afternoon after suffering a supposed concussion a few days before that he ended it all.

It doesn’t make sense on the surface, but Trenum isn't the first promising athlete to commit suicide. If you search athlete suicides on the web more and more stories like this one pop up.

That's the sad part, because there are so many questions left unanswered for families like the Trenums.

The same goes for Belak's, Rypien's and Boogard's.

So, maybe after taking years of hits and punches to the head, the effects of the abuse on Belak, Rypien and Boogard’s brains had taken their toll enough to play a factor in the decision making to commit the unthinkable.

There are so many factors at play when it comes to determining why a person commits suicide and more times than not, there isn’t one answer.

But there will be plenty of eyes watching the NHL to see how they can create outlets for players who may be in the same boat as these three.

Depression is a tough issue and being tough guys, the three probably put a façade to protect that image.

The NHL is definitely not to blame, because, like everyone else they didn’t know these three players were going to do what they did.

Now it’ll be about making sure players have as many outlets as possible to talk about what's bugging them in their NHL and personal life.

It will also be paramount to continue investigating and researching what concussions and contact to the head does to the mental state of players.

Hopefully Belak’s passing will be able to shed even more light and open even more discussion on problems NHL and professional athletes are dealing with.

2011-08-31T14:40:00.003-06:00

Reporter Bobby Roy traded in his camera for a chef hat and apron today after receiving the outfit made by Leduc County's Summer Cooking Camp staff.

The roads in Alberta are paved with slow drivers

2011-08-31T14:38:00.000-06:00

With the new distracted driving law coming into effect yesterday, I fear it will only make Alberta drivers that much worse.

Not allowing people to text, talk on their phone and the overall hands-off-the-wheel legislation will mean that some drivers will be coming up with ways to scoot around the law, thus concentrating less on their already slow driving skills.

I admit, I have a moderate case of Quebec road rage, and that does translate to me already being upset with other drivers, but I find Edmonton area drivers to be the most frustrating drivers that I have ever encountered.

Slowing down to below the speed limit in the fast lane, failing to use their flashers and an overall lack of knowledge on how to merge onto a highway never fails to surprise me during my daily commute.

Since moving to this province, I have come to realize that driver stereotypes are true. In my opinion, Ontario drivers are known to be painfully slow, Maritimers are known for their lack of signaling usage and B.C. drivers are known for their slow pace. Yes, Quebecers are known for their lead foot and angry tendencies, but I have come to realize that some Edmonton drivers must be known for their lack of common sense when it comes to simple driving techniques.

I’m not saying every Edmonton area driver is bad and they all lack common sense when it comes to driving, but I do think there are definite discrepancies when it comes to driving schools of thought.

Personally, I was taught by my driving school instructor to always drive in the left lane if I wanted to go faster than the speed limit or if I wanted to pass someone. Apparently, the same can’t be said for all Capital City drivers who believe that the left lane is place to idle along well below the speed limit. My main beef with drivers, whether it is in Alberta or any province, is that most aren’t courteous to other drivers. Most drivers are only thinking about how late they are for work or content with driving at their speed, but that’s not how it should be. It should be about sharing the road and moving over if someone is tailgating you or allowing someone to merge into your lane. There have been countless occasions that I have had to drive in the right lane in order to pass someone, only to be copied by several other drivers. It’s not right. If you are going to travel at turtle-slow speed, then move over for the rest of us who are willing to put the pedal to the metal.

Although it may seem that I am a speed demon, I don’t drive extremely fast and in fact have never got a speeding ticket, I mean c’mon, I drive a four-door Saturn.

I do however, like to have the option of speeding and there is nothing more frustrating than people who don’t obey the general rules of the road.

I do have to give Edmonton area drivers some credit though where deserved. Most drivers in the area are very courteous in letting pedestrians cross the road at non-intersections and rarely use their horn. It’s polite and I do respect the nature of local drivers, which is a refreshing change. As a result of the composed commuters in Edmonton, I realize that I have rarely used my horn since being in this province, which is great. My theory is that the few times I have used it here was probably at another Quebec driver who has since changed his license plate for Alberta’s.

I don’t have a suggestion as to how Edmonton area drivers can improve their skills — because I think good driving techniques are acquired through experience and common sense — but I do think that drivers should be considerate.

So drivers, look in the review mirror every once in a while for speedy driver, and if you do happen to see a blue Saturn tailgating you, I apologize, but please move over.

Community comes together

2011-08-30T13:05:00.003-06:00

After the devastating fire in the Suntree neighbourhood, messages started popping up all over Facebook regarding donation collection and fundraisers.
The Leduc Rep posted a note on their Facebook page, encouraging those fundraising and collecting donations to contact us so we could put the info in the paper.
Here is some of the info we had as of press time Wednesday, Aug. 24 as well as some new ones as well.

NOTE: City of Leduc resident Kelly Willner baked more than 450 cupcakes in hopes of raising money for the Suntree fire victims. The mother of four sold the baked goods out of her home for $20 a dozen on Aug. 24. Just under $1,900 was raised. Way to go!

Fire trust fund account
Donations will be accepted at the ATB Financial in Leduc under the name of Sunrose Lane Fire Trust.
Ask to donate money to the “Sunrose Lane Fire Trust.” Cheques will be accepted. For more information on the trust fund contact Michael White at 780-980-4285.

Fundraiser at Kosmos
There will be a fundraiser at Kosmo’s Restaurant and Lounge on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. Feature acts will include Owls by Nature and Cory Dee.
There will be a silent auction set up in the restaurant and cash donations will also be accepted. The six families who lost their homes due to the fire will also be present at the event. For more information on the fundraising event visit www.leducrep.com and for updates visit the Leduc Rep’s Facebook and Twitter page.
Contact Rosemary Kuntz to donate items for the silent auction or for more information on the upcoming event at 780-938-9495.

Donation drop offs
Donations can be dropped off at Rosemary Kuntz’s home at 97 Sunrose Lane. Contact Rosemary Kuntz at 780-938-9495 if you would like to help those affected by the fire. You can also email her at roscosafety@yahoo.ca.
Donations can be dropped off at Paws in Paradise (located beside Herber’s Auto Body). If there are questions about things to drop off call 780-739-3647. Hours are Monday- Friday 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Minuteman Press Leduc will be accepting donations. Minuteman is located at 4922 51 Ave. The phone number is 780-986-8873.

Get active to raise funds
Yolo Bootcamp is offering two weeks of bootcamp in Leduc for donations starting at $25 per person. Help out the victims of the Suntree fire and come get a work out in. Go to www.yolobootcamp.com for details.

There will be a Suntree Fires Benefit Swim at the Kinsmen Alexandra Outdoor Pool on Wednesday, Aug. 31 from 6 - 9 p.m.
All proceeds from admissions will be donated to the families affected by the fires. For questions regarding this event, please phone 780-986-6021, email manager@alexpool.ca or visit www.alexpool.ca

NEW

There will be a BBQ fundraiser for the victims of the Suntree fire on Sept. 3 and 4 in the Brick parking from 12 – 5 p.m.

Brendan Guy is holding a concert in the park in Suntree on Sept. 10 starting at 7pm with special guest Payton Klassen. There will also be a donation drop off bin for people to drop off items for the Leduc and District Food Bank.More info on the Brendan Guy Facebook page or www.brendanguy.com.

That’s a big 10-4 on an interesting ride along experience

2011-08-22T12:26:00.001-06:00

Bobby Roy

The Extra Point

For most of us civilians, what we read and see on the news and television on a daily basis regarding what the police do is usually the best source of information.

Most of us don’t know the intricate details of what an RCMP or police officer does during a day or night shift.

On Aug. 20 I got a closer, but short, look at what the job of a Leduc RCMP officer entails during a ride-along.

The purpose of the ride along wasn’t an investigative expose on a certain police case or anything of that nature. I wanted to see and experience the process of the justice system from the grass roots. When we read, see or hear about murders, accidents, incidents or anything the police have to be involved we usually see the end result and only some of the details of what happened.

Anyone can do a ride along and after doing one, anyone interested in what an officer does for a living should definitely go and do one.

I wanted to learn and experience what it was like to initially receive a call, do research on the person or persons involved, respond to the call, see how the officer or officers interact with the people in question, see how the situation evolves and if it is resolved or other steps must be taken.

It’s the little details that make a police officer’s job so interesting, dangerous and important.

I got a little taste of that during my ride along (and if you’re wondering, we did stop at Timmy’s for coffee, but no donuts).

I figured a Friday night would offer up some pretty interesting situations across Leduc and the county. For some, Friday nights usually mean party time and more times than not, there is alcohol involved.

Unfortunately, the influence of alcohol on some people’s systems can result in interesting, but volatile situations.

The night started off pretty bland, but the Leduc RCMP officer said the problems and calls don’t usually start until later in the night.

He was right to some extent on that night.

During the happenings of the night, we ended up investigating a possible drug pick-up, which didn’t come to fruition, dealt with a couple of speeders who smartly took their lumps and responded to a domestic assault.

Throughout the night, talking and listening to stories from the officer, the RCMP are not out to get everybody, hand out as many tickets as possible or try to ruin one’s night.

They want to make sure people in their community are safe and don’t have to worry about driving on our roads, walking down our streets during the night or who they’re going to run into.

That also doesn’t mean if someone gets pulled over or questioned by police they will automatically receive a severe penalty. We all make mistakes and the police recognize it and give people breaks when they deserve.

It’s when people don’t get the message they’re doing something wrong is when the police have every right to make sure that message gets home. Tickets, charges and jail time are an officer’s best friend when it comes to making sure criminals get the message.

So, although the night wasn’t too crazy in terms of the calls we responded to, it was still a very interesting night, I learned a lot and gained even more respect for the boys in blue.

No one likes getting tickets or dealing with the police when it looks like you’re in trouble, but more times than not they’re looking out for your best interests.

Police officers wouldn’t be spending hours upon hours with paperwork, speaking with people, investigating and patrolling if they didn’t care about people’s safety.

They deserve the respect that their uniforms represent and I’m glad I got the opportunity to experience the night with Leduc RCMP Const. Fox and Const. Bannerman. A big thanks to them is needed.

Being vegetarian is as cool as a cucumber

2011-08-17T13:30:00.002-06:00

Stephanie Dubois

news@leducrep.com

Having been a vegetarian for almost six years, I’ve definitely got used to getting weird stares, odd comments and been made fun of for skipping out on the chicken pot pie or medium rare steak.

But you know what? I think it is catching on.

Laugh as you will, but I do think that people are starting to become more aware of their veggie counterparts who are usually stuck eating salad because some meat eaters don’t really know what to feed us. (We do enjoy a good salad but we do/can eat other stuff just for future reference)

And sure, I guess I deserve to be made fun of for moving from the poutine capital to a province known as the beef capital of Canada. But what I have noticed is the joke making is just people being generally misinformed about vegetarians. Since I moved here almost two years ago from La Belle Province, I have encountered some people who think that vegetarian is a synonym for vegan, that I still eat beef and that I share the same diet as a rabbit. But I want to clear that up right now, right after I eat this carrot. Being vegan means eating nothing from an animal and that includes no cheese, milk, eggs and sometimes honey for some hardcore vegans. For the record, I personally enjoy cheese and a good milkshake way too much to stray away from that food group so I am not vegan.

And just to give some facts about vegetarians, there are several different types or degrees of vegetarianism. Due to health reasons, I’m the type that still eats fish. Yes, they are alive and I have received flack from fellow vegetarians but hey, it’s doc orders.

I know I said that vegetarianism might be catching on and I still stick to that statement. So Albertans might not be giving up their meat as willingly as others, but I have noticed that more restaurants, hotel menus and hot dogs stands (yes, Fat Frank’s in Edmonton has a veggie dog) are becoming more accommodating towards us veggie lovers. I’m not sure if it’s because restaurant owners want to profit on this untapped market in Alberta or if it’s because we complain and moan too much but either way it is refreshing.

When I became a vegetarian almost six years ago, coworkers, family and friends became frustrated with me when it came to dinner parties or going out for a bite to eat because they thought I was a picky eater. Maybe I am, but I would tell them that almost every restaurant has a vegetarian option and above all else, take me into consideration. That’s all I ask. So when you meet a vegetarian, know this: We’re not that different. We all eat fruits and vegetables, but some of us just choose to not accompany them with a piece of meat.

One of my childhood regrets

2011-08-16T13:30:00.004-06:00

Bobby Roy

newsone@leducrep.com

Having worked as a full-time journalist for more than a year and a half, I've had the opportunity to take pictures and report on minor football in several communities in Alberta.
At this time of the year as summer begins to wane, I can only think about the NFL season ahead (I'm a CFL fan too, but it's just not the same).
I love following everything a new NFL season offers and on many occasions I've thought to myself how great it would be to be a professional NFL player.
Obviously, that dream is long dead, but for those who love the game as much as I do, how great would it be to suit up in front of thousands of hardcore fans, run out onto the field on opening day and get paid millions to play the game you love?
There's no need to answer since the answer is so obvious, which brings me to one of my childhood regrets.
I never played minor football at any point in my youth and I really regret it.
I've played plenty pick up games with friends over the years, and on a warm, fall afternoon I can't of many better things I'd rather be doing.
Watching, talking with and taking pictures of youth practicing or playing football games brings back that regret every time.
Thinking back, I contemplated trying out for my high school team every year, but I never thought I was big enough or in good enough shape to make the team.
Looking back at it now, even if I didn't make it, at least I wouldn't have anything to regret if I would have tried out.
Football provides kids with so much more than learning the game.
It provides them exercise, confidence that can be used in other aspects of life, a new group of friends, a hard-working attitude (for most) and so many other important life skills.
Obviously most of these kids won't be able to make a career out of football, but until it's time they realize they won't make the big show, the game has so much to offer them.
At 5 foot 9 and not in incredible shape, I doubt I would have even had a chance at any professional career in football even if I did play throughout my childhood, but at least I would have had the opportunity to enjoy everything else the game of minor football offers.
At 24-years-old now, at least I'll be able to live my NFL fantasy through my fantasy football team for many years to come.
If you have any comments please post them or email me!

Weekly roundup for August 12, 2011

2011-08-12T09:17:00.003-06:00

• Leadership candidate Gary Mar stopped by the Executive Royal Inn to talk about the issues important to him

• Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith visited Calmar, Devon

• City of Leduc issues blue-green algae advisories for storm ponds

• Leduc getting ready to rock the rails

• Leduc County's new website

Loving everything the NFL has to offer

2011-08-11T09:18:00.000-06:00

Bobby Roy

The Extra Point

On July 25 National Football League (NFL) fans across the world breathed a sigh of relief as the news surfaced the lockout was finally over.

It wasn’t the most surprising news the sports world has ever seen in its history of lockouts in professional sports, but it meant the most successful professional sporting league in North America will return to action for its 92 regular season this September beginning with the New Orleans Saints travelling to the hallowed Lambeau Field to take on the Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers on Sept. 8 as the kick off to week one of the new NFL season.

When the lockout first began I was pretty optimistic the players and the league would get a deal done before any real damage would be done to the 2011-2012 season, but the thought of not having any NFL action to watch during the fall and early winter months made me shiver.

As a huge NFL fan (and rabid Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan) I wouldn’t know what to preoccupy myself with on NFL Sundays, the week leading up to the great all day NFL filled action Sundays, who I would start/sit for my fantasy football team and all the analysis, news and reactions that wouldn’t be there if there wasn’t a season.

Now that the lockout is but a piece of forgettable NFL history and preseason action has already started NFL fans are smiling from ear to ear with renewed optimism for each of their teams.

The free agent frenzy was exactly that this year — a frenzy.

Big free agent signing changed several team’s rosters, trades restructured how opponents will view each other and rookies full of potential have fans and teams plenty to look forward to once the regular season kicks off in less than a month.

For anyone who has lived in Alberta, the end of August may not mark the end of summer on the calendar, but it is usually a time that means summer is nearing its regrettable end.

That means darker days, cooler nights and the unmistakable signs that winter is coming.

For me, having everything that an NFL season brings to the table is a reprieve from the sometimes depressing fall and winter seasons.

Once the season begins I usually try and make sure my Sundays are free to get amped up for Buccaneer action and all of the other games that start at 11 in the morning and end at 8 p.m.

Whether if you’re counting on a quarterback, runningback, receiver, defense, special teams, or a surprise pick to win your fantasy matchup each week, an upset pick to win a juicy sports select or you just want to sit down and watch some great football games, each Sunday provides an opportunity that something special can happen.

So for now I’ll enjoy the last weeks of what summer has to offer Alberta, but come September long live NFL Sundays and all the glory they have to offer its many fans.

Here we go!

2011-08-08T16:27:00.003-06:00

After being absent for way too many months, the team at the Leduc Rep will be blogging once again!! Look for blog posts from Bobby Roy, Stephanie Dubois, Dave Lazzarino and myself, Michelle Minnoch, er Clarke - I should probably change my last name ........

Embrace the PDA*!

2010-02-11T10:39:00.004-07:00

* PDA = Public display of affection

Confession time: my boyfriend and I are one of those icky couples that tend to express our affection for each other in public.

People often question how, after six years together, we can still be insecure enough that we feel the need to parade our love for other people’s benefit, but the truth is, it’s not about trying to prove our togetherness — we just appreciate the fun of sharing a spontaneous kiss with someone you like.

So when Michelle received a tourism brochure about the “10 best places to kiss in New Zealand,” I had a cartoon lightbulb moment: in honour of Valentine’s Day, why not share with all our readers what, in my opinion, are the 10 best places to kiss in the international region?

There are lots of opportunities for spontaneous romance here, if you’re open to them.

1. The arrivals gate at the Edmonton International Airport. My boyfriend, J, does a lot of traveling for work, so we’ve perfected the art of the happy return. If you’re feeling down, make like Hugh Grant in Love Actually and wander through the arrivals area. It might actually be the happiest place on earth.

2. The boardwalk overlooking Telford Lake. One evening in the fall, I was wandering around Telford Lake, taking pictures of the scenery to pass the time before my next assignment, when I interrupted a young couple taking advantage of the seclusion of the tall reeds and the beauty of the Alberta sunset to, ahem, get to know each other better. Whoever you are, I’m sorry about that, but thanks for the inspiration.

3. The hiking trail at Pigeon Lake Provincial Park. Technically, the park is located in Wetaskiwin County, but it’s a beautiful spot for a lazy walk hand-in-hand on a summer day, followed by a picnic on the shore.

4. In a canoe on the North Saskatchewan River. On our own canoe trip from Devon to Edmonton in the summer, J and I were too busy trying to get the hang of steering to steal a smooch, but if you can manage it without tipping over, the peaceful water and sun-dappled cliffs lend themselves nicely to romance.

5. The ferris wheel on the Black Gold Pro Rodeo midway. In my single days, I always thought kissing atop a ferris wheel would be the literal height of romantic perfection — as long as you’re not with a jerk who likes to play “rock the seat.”

6. The Amazing Corn Maze. ‘Nuff said.

7. A snowbank. You shouldn’t have a hard time finding one of those somewhere in the region. And nothing says ‘I love you’ like pelting your significant other with snowballs and then tenderly apologizing.

8. Over dinner at any of several great restaurants in the area. J and I are that eyeroll-inducing couple who hold hands over the table in between courses. Some of our best conversations have been had over delicious food and wine. I recommend laying off the spice though — the first time J took me for Thai food I cried so hard the other patrons thought we were breaking up.

9. Sportsworld Roller Disco. This is in Edmonton, but I can’t deny the romantic nostalgia of a roller disco. Fun fact: the first time I held hands with a boy was on my 10th birthday at the roller disco in Mississauga, Ontario. You never, never forget your first slow-skate.

10. Highway 39. Pull over on a range road, park, and watch the sun go down, or a thunderstorm roll in over the picture-perfect farm fields, or the stars, and contemplate the beauty of your existence.

Where do you find romance in the capital region?

(Photo: Alex and J get kissy at the 2009 Chamber Awards of Distinction Jan. 30.)

I can't watch

2010-01-22T18:07:00.001-07:00

On my wall I have a framed photo I took in Haiti.

I spent a week there in early 2008, tagging along with an NGO as they negotiated the development of a new medical facility on the Haiti-Dominican Republic border.

I took the photo in Port-au-Prince, looking down a steep hill onto an alleyway lined with concrete facades. The green mountainside in the background is barely visible through a haze of smoke, and its lower reaches are a patchwork of cinderblock homes.

I wonder now how that view has changed; in the two years since my visit, Haiti has been devastated by two hurricanes and a massive earthquake.

I can’t bring myself to watch the footage of the aftermath of the quake. When I read of the destruction in Petionville, a neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince where I spent most of my time during my visit, I felt a confusing mixture of emotions wash over me: grief, loss, and the awkward sensation of having accidentally walked in on someone in a moment of private pain.

My reaction surprised me. When I returned to the D.R. after my week in Haiti, all I felt was relief. I’d spent the entirety of my stay in Port-au-Prince in a state of high agitation, worrying about my money, about my food, about the discussions in Haitian Creole I couldn’t participate in, about the bugs slowly eating away at the wooden headboard in my hotel room.

I listened and looked and sensed, internalizing my surroundings without understanding them, and when I stepped off the bus in familiar Santo Domingo, it was like releasing a gigantic breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding in.

When I debriefed the experience with the founder of the NGO, a Haitian-born lawyer from New York, he cautioned me against making assumptions about the things I’d seen.

I had viewed Haiti through a privileged lens, eating in nice restaurants and touring only the safest neighbourhoods. I never ventured into those misty mountainside shanties, just photographed them from afar and wondered about the lives being lived out there.

Haiti’s situation is uniquely complex and probably one of the least understood of any developing nation in the world; I acknowledged this, but with a sense of regret that I hadn’t really connected with the country or its people.

For that reason, the strong sadness I felt at the news of the earthquake felt misplaced, inappropriate somehow. The hundreds of thousands of deaths and the utter destruction of beautiful, historic Port-au-Prince are undisputable tragedies, but ultimately, they’re not my losses to bear, or any of the millions of people who have generously donated to the relief effort.

The outpouring of money and support is wonderful, but much of the lightning-fast response smacks of opportunism.

Everyone who’s anyone in the journalism industry is down there covering the story and some of their dispatches sound almost giddy, as though picking their way through mangled, body-strewn streets and asking survivors about the horrors they’ve witnessed is the thrill of a lifetime.

In the days immediately following the quake, North American expats in Haiti were the only accessible sources of information about the situation, and some, like American Luke Renner, saw their chance to seize a few moments of fame. Renner’s Twitter feed is a stomach-turning combination of self-promotional references to his interviews and talk show appearances interspersed with gory updates on the carnage.

I refuse to watch the Haiti telethons (either incarnation) because to me it seems like the height of exploitation — a bunch of wealthy, fabulous people essentially using the tragedy to further boost their profiles.

The absolute nadir was reading that a woman in New York who was involved in some political sex scandal (I can’t be bothered to mention her name) was planning to donate all the proceeds from her “strip-a-thon” to the Red Cross.

All of this is completely removed from the Haiti I choose to remember, the Haiti I hope rises from the dust, the Haiti that captured my imagination and my heart without me even realizing it.

The world will tear its eyes away, the television crews will pack up and go home, the stars will find another worthy cause they can use. In that sudden vacuum of attention, I hope it’s Haitian voices that emerge, telling their own story, in their own words, inviting us to understand.

Too sexy for my teammates

2010-01-08T16:45:00.002-07:00

Edmonton Rush defenceman Ryan McNish coquettes for the cameras at a press conference announcing the Rush's 2010 lineup Jan. 8 at the LRC. McNish is one of nine returning players on the team, which also snapped up key talent from the now-defunct Portland Lumberjax. General manager/head coach Derek Keenan said the Rush have undergone a lot of changes since last season but are well-positioned for a strong showing in the National Lacrosse League this year.

(Photo by Alexandra Pope/Sun Media)

Homecoming

2010-01-08T12:36:00.008-07:00

The body of Sgt. George Miok, who was killed in Afghanistan Dec. 30, returned home to Edmonton this morning. Members of City of Leduc Fire Services were on hand to provide an honour guard as the hearse carrying Miok's body made its way out of the Edmonton International Airport towards the highway.

The members saluted as the procession went past.

According to deputy fire chief Bob Scott, the local fire services do this kind of thing all the time, but usually it's for crowds of smiling soldiers returning, very much alive, to their families after a tour of duty.

The body of Cpl. Zachery McCormack, also from Edmonton, returned home on a later flight. Funerals for both will be held this weekend.

RIP Sgt. Miok and Cpl McCormack.

(Photos by Alexandra Pope/Sun Media)

2009-11-20T08:13:00.003-07:00

Confessions of a hardcore bookworm

Michelle Minnoch

There's nothing better than a good book.

The other night, I finished John Irving's A Night in Twisted River and let out a huge sigh.

While I was excited to reach the end of the book, I didn't want the novel to end. I have been waiting for this, Irving's 12th novel, since he wrote Until I Found You in 2005 and one week after I had purchased it, the book found its place alongside his others on my bookshelf.

I have always been an avid reader and I have always been very selective in the types of book I choose to spend my time with.

My time is precious, and if I am going to become attached to characters and people that consume my thoughts between 9 and 10 p.m., then it had better be worth my while.

I got turned onto John Irving when my Grade 10 English teacher, who knew about my love of reading, suggested his favourite book, A Prayer for Owen Meany. That book, to this day, remains the book that has not only had the greatest impact on me, but is also the best I have ever read.

There are two other authors that can easily make me fall in love with words and characters: Wally Lamb and Khaled Hosseini. Lamb's powerful, overweight and overcompensating main character Dolores in his debut novel She's Come Undone made me respect Lamb that much more. How a man could write a woman so well astounded me. Hosseini's Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are written candidly, beautifully and opens the reader up to a world that seems so far away: Kabul, Affghanistan.

This year I took a chance on AJ Jacobs, the editor-at-large for Esquire, who immerses himself in experiments and takes the reader for a ride. And what a ride it is!

Whether he was living as true to the Bible as he could in The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible or reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica for The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, I am looking forward to what he does next, knowing I will end each chapter with a smile on my face.

While I love a good novel, I have read quite a great number of biographies and, well, just plain interesting books. Whether it was Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis, Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher, Why We Suck by Dennis Leary or The Well Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself by Hannah Holmes, I spent many nights surrounded by words jumping off the page, new thoughts entering my consciousness and having a few laughs.

I have about six books on my shelf ready to read, and have a long list of books on my Christmas list.

I never have less than two books on the shelf ready and waiting, and I only read one book at a time. I take reading seriously — if I am going to give my time to read someone else's words, they deserve my full attention.

I am currently in Washington with Robert Langdon in Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol and am caught up in the world of free masonry.

It's always a good thrill when Langdon is on the page, I am again glued to this world of words and cannot wait to see what happens next.

But I know once I am finished, I will have much to do.

For the next couple of months I will get into to the minds of Peter Mansbridge, Rick Hillier, Sarah Palin and Russell Brand (though not necessarily in that order). I will travel to Methland: The Life and Death of an American Small Town and read about The Clinton Tapes.

As the proverbial question asks: if you were stuck on an island what three books would you take?

That's a no brainer. To Kill a Mockingbird for my mind, A Prayer for Owen Meany for my soul, and What Would You Do With A Kangaroo? for the kid in me.

Be patient!

2009-10-30T07:54:00.003-06:00

Residents of Leduc know very well that the Rep goes through a variety of staff changes. It seems you just get to know someone, and all of a sudden, they have moved on.

This week Laura Ring departed the Rep after being steady on the payroll for a year and a half. Laura was known to readers before she started here full time, as she spent one summer internship and two practicum's writing, attending events, and getting to know the players in the community.

I came to Leduc in September 2007 and have outlasted reporters Svetjlana, Bill, Chris, Nick, Sarah and Laura. Now Alexandra Pope, who started in December 2008, will be the one standing with me as we try and get the paper filled with as many community events as possible.

Even as stressful as this sounds, there is a little hope.

In January 2009, I took on the editor role at the Beaumont News and Devon Dispatch as well. The girls at those papers — Carole, Heather and Kate — have the same drive and standards Alex and I bring to the Rep, so that's a bonus. As Kate was the last hire in Beaumont, she will now be working at the Rep two days a week. Between myself and the four ladies, we will do the best we can in bringing our faithful readers the coverage they desire and deserve.

So be patient. We are trying to cover as much as we can with what we have.

I started in Leduc working with some humorous fellas, and the daily chatter was about the NHL, NFL, NBA and what ever was on TV that required two opposing teams, equipment and trash talk.

Now I am working with four awesome ladies who can talk a little Sex and the City, celebrity gossip and even a little hockey.

We're bringing you the news, trying to get to all the event requests and having a little fun in the process.

Laura's last day

2009-10-29T07:57:00.004-06:00

Well, this is it — it's Laura's last day at the Rep.

She'll mostly be spending it cleaning out her desk and packing up her toys, so yesterday, we immortalized her final news assignment: photographing Mayor Greg Krischke getting pinned with the first memorial poppy of the season.

Afterward, Greg posed for a farewell pic. "We're going to miss you," he said. "You were always so smiley."

We are going to miss you, Laura — the Rep just won't be the same without ya.

A final goodbye to the Rep and Leduc

2009-10-22T12:09:00.002-06:00

I am horrible at goodbyes. I am not that girl who starts bawling like a baby or the person who can just laugh it off and move on.

My goodbyes are usually awkward moments with long periods of silence as I try to figure out what to say next without sounding like a complete tool.

Seeing as my time in Leduc was filled with those awkward moments that have shaped my life in the past year and a half, I am just going to try to skip that with a final column to say one last adios before I leave the paper on Oct. 29. I learned a lot during my 18 months employment, one summer internship and two practicum’s at the Leduc Rep. But that is just the icing on the cake compared to the people I have met and interesting events I had the opportunity to take part in.

The first person I need to thank would have to be my editor Michelle. Not only did she teach me so much about journalism but she never hit me over the head with a stapler, even though I know for a fact that sometimes after a long day of working with me she had to have been tempted. It is also important for me to mention Neil, Anthony and Suzanne. These three people were the first ones to help me get my foot in the door and without them I probably would have never come to the Rep in the first place or stayed during the summer that I was the only reporter.

During my time at the paper I have had the opportunity to work with some extremely talented reporters.

From listening to the boys Bill, Chris and Nick talk about every professional sport from football to hot dog eating, to just Alex and I talking about our cute pets and interesting court cases, this newsroom has had every type of combination since I have started here.

One thing that never changed here was the fact that even at the slowest times my job stayed interesting and the days were never the same. I wish I had the time and the space to personally say thank you to everyone, but I don’t, so if you have ever helped me with a story, given me a good idea or posed for a picture I would like to say thanks. It was people like you who made my job easy. There are a few people I don’t think I could write this column without mentioning though.

Not only did Const. Jodi Heidinger help me almost weekly with work, but it was because I was scared she would see my name on file if I was arrested that I behaved so well when I was off the clock.

Jim, Darrell, Jason, Taylor, Rachel, and everyone else with the City of Leduc, I cannot count how many times you all went above and beyond while helping me with stories.

John Norton and the entire Boys and Girls Club’s staff and volunteers. Besides making me dance, you all are some of the kindest people I have ever met.

To Mr. Nosyk and all the other teachers and staff at the Comp, I am still a little disappointed I never won a car when I went to school there, but seeing as you always gave me stories I have forgiven you all for that (kind of).

From little kids raising money through shaving their heads or walking dogs to adults hosting major fundraisers, I have seen the best side of Leduc, proving to me that this really is a great community I am proud to be from.

From learning to shoot a gun, to meeting a few celebrities and having a buffalo suck on my hand, I will remember so many of my experiences here for the rest of my life. As people continuously ask me what’s next the only answer I can come up with is a quote from Lauren Conrad when asked what was next after her departure from The Hills last season: “For the first time in a long time, I really don’t know.”

All I know is my dog Zoey and I are moving back to Airdrie, to be closer to my family. I may go back to school, I may just find a new job.

So thanks for the memories Leduc, goodbye for now.

A sojourn around the county

2009-10-16T15:58:00.013-06:00

This afternoon, I went to New Sarepta and Thorsby to take photographs of "iconic" landmarks in each village for our upcoming 2010 calendar. Here are some of my snaps. What say you — are any of them calendar-worthy? Are they "iconic"? Click to enlarge.

New Sarepta — Yardley Jones Park

New Sarepta

Thorsby

Highway 39

(All photos Alexandra Pope/Sun Media)

Avert your eyes

2009-10-06T09:25:00.006-06:00

Last week, my boyfriend took me to the movies.

This was remarkable for a few reasons, not least because we can rarely agree on what to see, assuming there’s anything we both think might be worth seeing.

We love watching movies, but lately there’s been a real dearth of things we feel like spending $25 to watch in the theatre, and the good folks at Blockbuster haven’t seen our faces for months.

I was optimistic about Jennifer’s Body, the Diablo Cody-penned horror comedy about a high school hottie-turned-flesh-eating demon who happens to have a taste for cute boys. I’m not usually a horror fan, but the reviews I read had led me to believe the “horror” would be more silly than scary; plus, my boyfriend likes Megan Fox. It was about the closest we get to perfect agreement on choice of film.

As it turned out, we did agree perfectly — that Jennifer’s Body was a pointless waste of cash.

We sat through the first hour and fifteen minutes in dumbfounded discomfort. I was ready to leave after watching Megan Fox vomit a voluminous stream of black ferromagnetic fluid; I can’t handle puke — even poorly computer-generated images of puke. But I stuck around to find out if the painfully drawn-out scenes of Fox’s one-dimensional victims walking into obvious and implausible traps might result in me feeling even slightly entertained.

As the fictional town’s token emo kid was being lured towards his gory death, my boyfriend leaned over and whispered the words that had been on the tip of my tongue for an hour: “We could always just leave.”

I nodded my agreement, but at first, we just sat there. Having never walked out of a movie before, we weren’t sure of the etiquette. Should we wait for a break in the action? Should we wait for the quiet dialogue to be over so we wouldn’t disturb our fellow moviegoers?

Finally, we stood to leave, crouching as low as possible as we moved between the seats.

There was no one else in our row to step over, but my boyfriend kicked a plastic bottle, which clattered noisily down the stairs.

For a moment, all eyes in the theatre were on us.

As we walked into the brightness of the lobby, we traded feeble jokes about how terrible the movie had been, as if trying to reassure each other that leaving had been the right decision. I felt awkward, almost guilty for not enjoying the movie.

A couple of days later, a friend who noticed my grumpy Facebook status about the flick asked if we had demanded a refund from the theatre. The truth was, it never even crossed our minds.

I’ve sent plates back at restaurants when the food was sub-par, and would never keep new clothes that didn’t fit properly, but I’d never considered my rights as a consumer of entertainment.

The problem is, as one celebrity blogger I enjoy puts it, paying admission at the movie theatre is like casting a vote for the type of films you want to see more of. All the times I stayed home while my boyfriend and his buddies went to see the latest high-octane action-thriller, I was quietly stating my preference for fewer explosions, more plot (not that my vote counts for much against the obvious appeal of watching sexy leather-clad actors blow stuff up in high definition for two hours).

Jennifer’s Body didn’t do well on its opening weekend and revenues have dropped steadily since, but it still made millions of dollars. Most people who go to movies and don’t enjoy them tell their friends to avoid them, but how many films have become moderate hits instead of major flops because those people shrugged and kissed their $25 goodbye?

There’s no accounting for some people’s taste in media — consider the television show The Hills, whose whiny, illiterate protagonists are preparing for a sixth season of fake catfights and breaking down in fake tears at their fake jobs. Perhaps if more of us tuned out, turned off and spoke up when presented with sub-par entertainment instead of sitting through it and laughing about it later, we’d be presented with less of it.

Money drives the entertainment business; I plan to be more discerning with mine in the future.

(Photo: Megan Fox in Jennifer's Body, from Flickr)

Make it so

2009-09-25T13:47:00.005-06:00

I am in DE-NIAL.

No, I am not talking about the longest river in Africa, I am talking about the slow death of summer. I say slow because after having 33+ weather on Wednesday, only to have a high of 16 this weekend, I have thoughts of Mexico, fruity drinks and cabana boys (not necessarily in that order).

I love the summer. I love the sweltering heat. I love the feeling you get when you are driving in your car that has no A/C and you feel like you are melting in your seat. I love when I walk into my apartment, it's hotter on the third floor than it is outside. Above all, I love complaining about the heat (and everything else, but more on that another time).

I used to live in Ontario where the summer was unbearable, the smog was unbreathable and the sun was like a cruel beam coming from the Starship Enterprise (or for you Star Wars fans, the Millenium Falcon, which to my recollection, blew apart the Death Star).

Anyhoo, the fact of the matter is, I love the heat and I miss the sweat.

Alberta summer's are nice, but they are much different than those in Ontario. Albeit as short as the summer season is here, I will take what I can get. This year, I got very little and I am not pleased. I feel ripped off.

We are now officially in the fall season and I am not happy about it. Yes, fall is pretty. The weather may even be tolerable. But following fall (say that three times fast) is Old Man Winter.

To me, OMW (Old Man Winter) sounds like a crotchety old man, probably not to handsome, lives alone, not dating anyone special and has no cable. OMW is an unhappy fellow who likes to spread his misery onto others. If I had a phaser, I would have no problem taking him out.

I do not ski, I cannot skate (think of Bambi on ice but worse) and I do not enjoy long walks on the beach in -20 weather. I hate boots, baggy coats, wet mittens and trying to start a car that, could it speak, would say, "You're kidding me, right?"

The Farmer's Almanac states for the winter of 2009/2010, it will be an "Ice Cold Sandwich Winter". Like Homer Simpson, I do enjoy a good sandwich, but not an ice cold one. This winter is supposed to be "colder and drier than normal" in the prairies and "bitterly cold and dry" in the Ontario region. Like the statement, looking toward the upcoming changing of the seasons is making me feel a little bitterly cold. But that's normal.

In the end, I have to suck it up.

Winter comes every year, and as Canadians, we should accept the fact that were our country located in the Southern Hemisphere, we would be better cricket players than hockey players.

But we are in the north. We are the True North Strong and Free. We can take the cold, we can drive on snow covered roads, and in the end, we will mass produce better hockey players than anyone else on the planet. It comes with the territory.

If only the territory was located a teeny tiny bit to the south, I might not be so grumpy about it.

**This blog is dedicated to my only fan outside of my parents, Louise. We're glad you're home. Live long and prosper**

Cemetery Vandalism

2009-09-24T13:42:00.004-06:00

To some people a headstone at a cemetery may just be a large piece of cement; to others it is a memory of a sibling, parent, grandparent, significant other, friend or child.

They represent a final laying place for those who have passed away.

Last week seven headstones at a cemetery near Calmar were vandalized leaving thousands of dollars in damage for one family.

This is not the first time headstones have been damaged near Calmar, a few years ago Calmar Community Cemetery was vandalized leaving numerous families left to replace headstones, while flowers, wreaths and other items placed by graves in memory of someone were gone or ruined.

Among one of those headstones was one belonging to my cousin Rebecca, who was taken far too early and left behind a family who spent good money on a tombstone and flowers in memory of her.

When I talked to my Auntie about when her daughters headstone was vandalized all she had to say was how heart breaking it was.

“It is absolutely devastating to get that call from the grounds keeper to say ‘come down, daughters grave has been wrecked’.”

I will be the first to admit I have done some very, very stupid things growing up, sometimes hurting people who likely didn’t deserve it, even if I thought at the time they did.

One thing I knew even as a dumb, reckless, immature child was that death is never a joke, and the emotions that arise when a person loses a loved one is not something to mess around with.

If you are drunk, stoned or just stupid and want to break stuff, do everyone a favour, go home and ruin something that means the world to you.

Photo above: One of the headstones damaged last week near Calmar. Photo taken by Carole Morris-Underhill

Air emergency

2009-09-22T12:52:00.003-06:00

An Edmonton-area teen pretends to be a casualty of a mock plane crash staged at the Edmonton International Airport Tuesday morning. About 80 drama students from Leduc Composite High School and Bev Facey Community High School in Sherwood Park volunteered to act as victims in the scenario, which was designed as a training exercise for regional emergency services and airport personnel. (Alexandra Pope/Sun Media)

Where were you when ...?

2009-09-11T09:31:00.005-06:00

This morning, I woke up at 7 as usual, laid in bed until 7:30, got up, ate a bowl of cereal, checked my email, poured my coffee into a thermos and headed out the door.

I drove my boyfriend to work, headed onto the Whitemud, sang along with the radio and started to plan my day in my head.

I thought about the interviews I had to do, the conference I would attend in the afternoon, and allowed myself a moment of excitement at the thought of tonight's party. It never occurred to me that there was anything remarkable about today, anything significant other than the fact that it's Friday.

And then, as I was turning off the highway at my usual exit, the radio station played a series of sound clips — a woman screaming, a news anchor saying "Smoke is pouring out of the Pentagon," a woman saying "And then he said, 'I just called to tell y'all I love you,'" a man yelling "Oh my God, there's another one" with screams audible in the background. A weight immediately settled across my shoulders. September 11. How could I have forgotten?

It's been eight years, but my reaction to the sound clips is still visceral. 9/11/01 was a day that changed the world — it changed lives, it changed policy, it set countless stories in motion. And, on a more personal level, it was the day I woke up out of my childhood and truly began to think about the world around me.

I was 15, in my second week of Grade 11 at my high school in Mississauga, Ontario. I was walking with my friends to our second-period music class. It was about 9:45 by then. We passed another kid in our grade who was leaning casually by the water fountain outside the gym. "Did you hear?" he said. "The World Trade Centre's been bombed by terrorists."

It's a sign of how deeply self-involved I was then that I couldn't even picture the World Trade Centre in my mind. I had never been to New York City and no one had ever sat me down in front of a picture of the skyline and pointed out the twin towers. Why would they?

We walked into our classroom and made a beeline for the teacher, who was sitting behind the piano.

"Jonathan said the World Trade Centre was bombed by terrorists," I said by way of greeting.

Our teacher didn't skip a beat. "I don't know anything about that," she said.

As more students trickled in, there was vague chatter about a terrorist attack, but the teacher launched straight into the lesson and there was no more time for talk.

The class ended shortly after 11. I was hungry and looking forward to my third-period lunch. The vague bombing talk had been forgotten. I was heading to the cafeteria when our principal's voice came over the PA system.

Calmly, without preamble, he informed the silent hallways what had happened. Planes had flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center earlier that morning. Both had collapsed. Another plane had crashed into the Pentagon; a fourth had crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Thousands were believed to be dead. The situation was still developing. Students who wished to contact their parents and leave school early would be permitted to do so.

The principal ended his address by asking everyone to observe two minutes of silence immediately following the announcement.

I looked around. The hallways were jammed with people on their way to lunch or their next class. People were hugging, some were crying silently. Others leaned against the lockers with blank faces. It was a long, tense, suspended moment. I had to close my eyes.

I took my lunch outside and sat on the front steps of the school. It was a beautiful, sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. Some of my older, more knowledgeable friends talked over my head about the attacks. Unfamiliar words — "Syria," "Osama bin Laden," "jihad," "Saddam Hussein" — drifted down to my ears, meaningless without context.

I stayed at school for the rest of the day, watching CNN. My English teacher tried to encourage us to talk about our reactions to what we were seeing but conversation was thin on the ground. For probably the first time in my life, I had nothing to contribute. I didn't understand any of what I was seeing and hearing. Everything around me — the classroom walls, the desks, the novels and plays stacked on the shelves, the bowed heads of my classmates — seemed improbably normal. After such a momentous and tragic event, shouldn't the laws of gravity have been overturned? Shouldn't the sun have just set at 10 in the morning and refused to come up ever again? How could it not signify the imminent end of the world?

I still experience a moment like that every September 11. It feels wrong somehow to treat it as just another day. The date should be retired from the calendar, like the jersey number of a beloved hockey player. We should skip straight from Sept. 10 to Sept. 12 the same way high-rise apartments omit the thirteenth floor.

I've told my personal 9/11 story countless times. It's not particularly dramatic or moving; I was still a kid with a kid's bewildered, self-interested awareness of world events. But it still feels constructive to remember, to consider the world we inherited that day upon the spectacular death of innocence. It imbued me with an energy to know, to learn, to understand, to combat ignorance, especially my own.

We were all there that day, in one way or another. What did it mean to you?

Weekly Roundup — Sept. 11

2009-09-11T09:02:00.003-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• Leduc and district RCMP welcomed a new regional commander, Insp. Chuck Jackson, to the force Aug. 10.

• Local MPs are preparing for a possible fall federal election.

• Leduc County council will borrow $3.5 million from the province on behalf of the Leduc Foundation to finance their three-year affordable housing plan.

• The Leduc Public Library is offering an outreach service to the housebound.

• The City of Leduc is gathering feedback on changes to Leduc Assisted Transportation Services, including a possible fare reduction.

• A trial date has been set for an Edmonton man accused of stabbing a Co-op taxi driver in Nisku last month.

• Second Glance clothing has made a financial contribution to the upcoming Visualeyes Youth Conference, which aims to motivate local students and teach them about good decision making.

• In sports, the Chinese national curling teams have chosen Leduc as their training ground in the leadup to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; the Red Deer Rebels and Edmonton Oil Kings played an exhibition game in Leduc last week; and a local track star placed fifth in his event at the recent Canada Games.

• Goofy Alberta musical comedy duo Lewis & Royal will play a free show in Leduc Sept. 19.

• Calmar is considering changing its water utilities bylaw to protect landlords whose tenants renege on their payments.

• A longtime employee of ATB Financial celebrated his retirement last week.

All this and more in the Sept. 11 issue of the Rep!

Weekly Roundup — Sept. 4

2009-09-04T09:17:00.005-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• Local school boards are waiting to find out how an $80 million cut to Alberta Education's budget announced last week will affect their operations this year.

• RCMP will be stepping up their presence in school zones this week to give drivers a refresher on speed limits.

• Laura profiles local punk band California Lane Change, who won the Battle of the Bands at Leduc's first Rock the Rails youth event Aug. 27. Also, check out our photo gallery with tons of pics from the event.

• Leduc County council has provided staff with guidelines for the county's 2010 budget, including a $250,000 contingency fund for Capital Region Board projects.

• Are you prepared to take up the Terry Fox challenge?

• Local school boards are updating their pandemic plans in advance of the fall flu season and are expected to include some guidelines for dealing with the H1N1 flu virus.

• Alex has a feature about Leduc County's Bridges mentorship program, which provides support and guidance for women living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

• City of Leduc council turned down a request by the owners of the Prairie Professional building — partially destroyed by a June 12 fire — for more than $10,000 in tax relief.

• Leduc County and the Town of Beaumont are embarking on a joint sustainable growth study.

• Construction is underway on a new elementary school in Thorsby.

• In sports, the Atlanta Thrashers have their eye on Leduc minor hockey alum Travis Toomey, who is heading to a scouting tournament this week.

• We have updates on the Bobcats', Wildcats and Ti-Cats' weekend football games; and despite not making the finals, the E2 Crude/West women's rugby team dominated in the B-division playoffs last week.

• And in your weekly crime and punishment update, a Leduc man racked up more than $3,000 in fines for playing his stereo too loud.

All this and more in the Sept. 4 Rep!

California Lane Change

2009-09-02T14:44:00.006-06:00

Last week I attended the first ever Rock the Rails hosted by the City of Leduc. I didn't expect the turnout to be that great, and I was very wrong.

Not only were there some pretty great bands, the Skatepark was packed and there were several other activities.

Nine bands took part in a Battle of the Bands. The winner was a local group, California Lane Change.

They won over the crowd with two covers, Check Yes Juliet and The Middle, and with an original Stars and Swing Sets.

The had energy, stage presence and a huge crowd of girls screaming.

I met with them Monday night, and what I thought would be a quick 20 minute interview turned into a hour and a half.

These five guys are more than just a band, they are best friends.

With all the Will Ferrell movie quotes, different food combination explanations and debates about One Tree Hill and the OC, the time I spent with them didn't feel like an interview at all.

They all love music, sure they all love different types of music, but that's what makes a great band, different backgrounds.

These guys aren't in it for the fame or the fortune. They like music, hanging out with each other and having a good time, and that is what makes some of the best bands.

Joe, Kyle, Matt, Tyler and Kevin are talented guys who I expect to see a lot more of in the future.

Check out their Facebook group California Lane Change and become a fan to stay up to date with upcoming shows.

Back to books

2009-09-02T13:24:00.005-06:00

Bells were ringing all over Leduc this morning as students headed back to school for another year. The Rep was out bright and early to capture some of the excitement.

Amber Mayer, Madison Pittman and Courtney Beierbach, all 11, are pleased to be at the top of the food chain as they enter Grade 5, their last year at East Elementary School.

Jayden Bayrack, 7, and younger brother Graysen, 4, couldn't wait to get back to East Elementary School. Graysen had been looking forward all summer to wearing his new Team Canada sweater.

Ceanna Brunes, 5, discovered the perfect cure for the first-day-of-kindergarten jitters: a hug from pal Emma Bianic, 6.

How many Rep reporters does it take to decipher hockey stats?

2009-08-31T16:20:00.003-06:00

This is the dilemma we're facing as we say farewell to our summer intern, Bobby Roy, who is off to undoubtedly bigger and better things.

He is leaving behind three women who know next to nothing about sports, reporting on sports, interpreting sports stats or even what sports are in season right now.

Hence, the crash course:

Laura — the new, unofficial sports reporter — is pretty sure she's got a handle on things. But we're going to miss you, Bobby. Stay off that leg.

Weekly Roundup — August 28

2009-08-28T12:05:00.003-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• A 55-year-old Edmonton woman remains in hospital after sustaining serious but non-life threatening injuries when her car jumped the barrier on the Highway 2 overpass and landed in the middle of 50 Avenue in Leduc Monday afternoon.

• Time is running out for Canadian boaters to get their pleasure craft operator card.

• The 16th annual TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is coming to a body of water near you next month.

• Canadian Blood Services are looking for at least 115 donations at their next clinic in Nisku.

• The City of Leduc is giving residents the chance to sneak a peek at the LRC next Wednesday.

• Protect your "grown-up toys" this winter.

• Laura has an inside look at the daily life of a STARS air ambulance pilot.

• Leduc County council aired some fears about the Capital Region Board's land-use plan at their Aug. 25 meeting.

• ACI-NA says EIA is tops in PR.

• Leduc and District Victim Services is looking for volunteers.

• You know that inner door connecting your garage to your house? Always lock it.

• Feel sorry for Laura.

All this and more in the Aug. 28 Rep!

The story I wish was on our front page

2009-08-28T11:57:00.005-06:00

“Next goal wins, boys. Next goal wins.”

Hockey for Hubbs organizer Jim Garrick spoke those words through a microphone to the 40 players at the rink next to Ecole Bellevue School as well as the crowd gathered to watch at 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 23.

Two minutes later, with Tanner Hubbs watching from the bench, the Braves scored, winning the game for the white jerseys despite the two hundred (or so) goal lead the black-clad Chiefs had.

At the end of it all, 109 hours and 32 minutes after Tanner Hubbs dropped the ball on Aug. 19, 40 young men (ranging in age from 15 to 29) had set a world record for the Longest Marathon Street Hockey Game and had also helped raise more than $50,000 for Hubbs and his family ... More from the Beaumont News

(Photo: Rick Hubbs, father of spinal cord injury victim Tanner Hubbs, embraces one of the 40 young ball hockey players who rallied the Town of Beaumont around Tanner's cause last week. Photo by Alex Pope)

Party central

2009-08-25T12:47:00.003-06:00

Broken glass found on the banks of Conjuring Creek, just west of Calmar. The creek is one of hundreds of waterways across Canada that will benefit from a litter sweep during the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup from Sept. 19-27. According to Bob McKerracher, who registered Conjuring Creek as a cleanup site, the creek is a popular party spot for local teens and needs a lot of work. McKerracher and others on Calmar's recreation board hope to eventually turn the site into a park. See the Aug. 28 Rep for more. (Photo by Alex Pope)

Weekly Roundup — August 21

2009-08-21T09:42:00.003-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• The Kinsmen Alexandra Outdoor Pool is celebrating 40 years this week.

• Calmar's town manager is retiring after 21 years of dedicated service.

• Laura spoke to MLA George Rogers about his take on distracted drivers and whether the province will initiate legislation this fall to cut down on cell phone use and other distractions while driving.

• The first ever Santa's Big Biker Ride for Santa's Helpers Leduc, which was to take place Sept. 12, has been cancelled.

• A pedestrian who was struck and killed on Highway 2 last week may have been waiting for a ride back to Leduc after his friends left him, according to his family.

• Leduc County is offering free spraying to control weeds on certain types of county properties this fall.

• The Leduc Recreation Centre has received a generous funding boost from the federal government.

• It was a hot August night indeed last week at Castrol Raceway.

• A local used clothing store is working with ROMPS to get their new play space up and running by September.

• A Devon man who fled police and was subsequently bitten twice by a police dog received little sympathy from a provincial court judge last week.

• In sports, the Edmonton Oil Kings will play an exhibition game at the LRC on Sept. 5.

See this week's Rep for more!

Tearing up the quarter mile

2009-08-19T13:55:00.006-06:00

I've never been much of a gearhead, but I have to admit, Castrol Raceway's 15th annual Hot August Night was pretty darn cool.

Hot August Night is the largest jet car drag racing event in Canada, this year bringing together 150 racers and 9,000 fans for an evening of smoke, fire and fast cars.

I felt a little apprehensive when operations manager Denny Miller took me over to the staging area and pointed out some areas where I could shoot but left me with a word of caution: "Some people don't like getting that close to the cars, so you might want to shoot from the stands." After the first race, I understood why — I was standing on the barrier without earplugs in, and the sonic boom gave me a pretty accurate insight into what it feels and sounds like to be hit by a train.

Once I got used to the sensation and realized my bones weren't going to turn to dust every time a jet car went by, I really started to enjoy myself and at one point even found myself screaming with delight at a jet car's smoke show:

I spoke to several of the drivers, including Chuck Haynes, the North American record holder for fastest speed on the quarter mile — 313 miles per hour — which he set at last year's Hot August Night:

I also met Brad and Heather Janishewski from Drayton Valley, the only married couple in the world who race jet cars against each other. According to Brad, Heather usually wins:

It was also interesting to see the statements some of the racers liked to make with their cars ... or should I say, tanks:

All in all, I left feeling pretty enthused about drag racing — enough to spend about half an hour designing the perfect page to showcase the photos during layout today. I created this hot graphic in Photoshop:

Just don't ask me how — I think my brains are still rattled.

Not ready to say goodbye to my cell phone

2009-08-17T13:13:00.003-06:00

I don’t know what I would do with out my BlackBerry.

I use it to talk, text, BBM (BlackBerry messenger), check my e-mails, check facebook, waste my time playing brick breaker and it’s my alarm clock.

Since the day I got it I was in love.

I can’t deny that I occasionally use my BlackBerry while I driving to talk to people or text or use BBM.

Last week it was announced that the provincial government is going to address the problem of distracted drivers this fall.

This potential law could prevent drivers from using handheld phones, texting and other tasks that could distract a driver.

I am looking forward to this fall to see how it all goes down. What I am most looking forward to is to find out what they classify as a distraction.

Cell phones and IPods will likely be grouped as a distraction, but what about everything else?

What about the radio, or the directions you have written out on a piece of paper or the passengers you are having a conversation with, or the cigarette people light up while driving?

I understand that many people in this world cannot text and drive at the same time, and it can make a bad driver.

But I also understand that many people in this world just suck at driving. Distractions will always be a factor in driving.

Instead of trying to remove them, maybe the government should focus on trying to improve the drivers on the road.

People will still text and talk, but if a law like this is passed they will know to put the phone down once they spot a police officer.

Yes, cell phones can make the road dangerous. But so does a cigarette, a baby crying in the back seat, a barking dog, a gossip-queen passenger, changing the radio stations, picking a new CD, or rocking out to Britney Spears latest single.

If no one talked on the phone or sent text messages while driving the number of accidents would almost certainly decrease. But just because it’s the law doesn’t mean people will follow it.

Just livin'

2009-08-11T13:55:00.005-06:00

Jim McConnell lines up his shot during a game of snooker at Telford House on August 7.

By Bobby Roy

This past week I headed to Telford House, right beside Telford Lake, to grab some pics and interviews for a story about the Telford Day Program.

I was not too sure of what to expect from the small program that was created to provide seniors, who suffer from a lack of mobility and other health concerns, with a structured recreation in a community setting.

I had never been inside Telford House and I had never seen what goes on in a seniors day program.

The only reason I initially wanted to do a story on the Telford Day Program was because a few weeks earlier I had done one on the Beaumont seniors day program and Anne Johnson, the activity coordinator for the program said there was a waiting list for the Leduc one so I thought there could be a story.

When I talked to Wendy Brown, the administrator for the program, she notified me that there was no waiting list and she took the extra six people who wanted to get into the program. I was a little skeptical that there may not even be a story at all, but as I talked to the volunteers and workers at the Telford Day Program there was definitely something there.

Watching the workers interact with the seniors and give them a little bit of joy goes unnoticed by most people and I'm sure that's how the workers like it. A couple of the workers are volunteers who take time out of their day to help make the senior's days more enjoyable.

I could not imagine myself doing a job like that, because I do not have the patience for it.

Not many people do.

That is why these people deserve the recognition that they rarely ever get. It is never an easy job taking care of someone especially when you do not get paid. It is great to see that the world still has people who are very caring and will do anything for their fellow human being, no matter who they are.

Without a day program like this these seniors will likely spend the day sitting in their home alone watching television. The program gives these seniors a chance to interact with each other, get some well needed exercise and for the most part have fun.

Without fun what the heck is the point of living? No matter how old having any sort of fun will make life worth living even if it is just for a little while.

The program runs on Mondays and Fridays at Telford House and the program is currently supporting 16 seniors. The program was meant for 10, but Brown decided it was best to take them all in.

“When people have a stroke or something similar like that they lose the motivation, so we try to provide something in which people who experience problems like that can come out and have fun,” said Brown.

The seniors get to play shuffleboard, pool, lift weights and interact with each other. It's good to see them out and about rather than shut-in at their homes.

People tend to forget about our seniors and how they deserve to have just as much fun as the younger generation.

It's always good to have eye openers once in a while.

A wish come true

2009-08-10T10:16:00.010-06:00

As reporters, we spend a fair amount of time writing about sad or difficult subjects, so when we get the chance to cover something positive, it's a real joy and makes our job so much more fun.

Last Friday, I had just such an opportunity: covering the fulfillment of 8-year-old Kaelyn Halyk's wish for a hot tub.

Kaelyn is one of 55 children with life-threatening medical conditions who will have their wish granted this year by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A local volunteer made the day very special for Kaelyn by mobilizing members of the RCMP, Leduc Fire Services and a team of volunteers to march Kaelyn's hot tub to her house in a parade.

The parade assembled around the corner from Kaelyn's house and set out in a procession:

Cst. Jodi Heidinger turned the police cruiser's lights and sirens on, which was pretty exciting for Kaelyn:

Once everyone was in the backyard, Kendra presented Kaelyn with some other gifts, including a crown and wand and a Hannah Montana beach towel to dry off with after using her new hot tub. Courage the Fire Dog also gave her a special stuffed dalmatian puppy:

Even Leduc Mayor Greg Krischke showed up to congratulate Kaelyn on her wish fulfillment with a certificate commemorating the occasion:

While all this was going on, the staff of Beachcomber Hot Tubs installed Kaelyn's new tub:

The fire department members stuck around afterwards to fill the hot tub using the fire hose.

It was all very special and touching and I hope Kaelyn gets a lot of enjoyment from her new hot tub!

(Photos by Alex Pope)

Lost in transit

2009-08-07T10:52:00.000-06:00

If you had asked me one week ago who I thought had the most difficult, important job in the world, I probably would have said a surgeon or a paramedic — someone for whom quick thinking and action is literally a matter of life and death.

However, a recent experience has caused me to revise my opinion and add to that list people who work in airports.

I’m only being slightly facetious. They may not have to perform delicate operations or feats of incredible bravery and strength in a race against the clock on a daily basis, but ticket agents, security personnel, ground crews and flight crews often see people at their most vulnerable, and the smallest gesture can mean the difference between a difficult-but-tolerable situation and a waking nightmare.

I have the worst travel karma of anyone I know. Thankfully, I’ve never experienced a real emergency, but minor setbacks such as flight delays, cancellations, bad weather, lost baggage and general organizational screw-ups tend to compound for me into epic detours. In 2006, I missed my own university graduation ceremony because of a one-hour delay on the first leg of my trip.

Last week, I arrived at the airport in Venice, refreshed after a weeklong vacation and ready to go home. I had a sinking premonition the moment the word “delayed” flashed on the screen beside my flight number that what should have been a straightforward journey home would be anything but. I was right.

The first leg of my trip took me to Rome. We were an hour late, leaving me with less than 45 minutes to make my connecting flight to Toronto. I ran through the maze-like terminal, growing more panicked with every passing minute. My gate was, of course, at the complete opposite end of the airport. I heard the final boarding announcement as I raced up the escalator to the Air Canada connections desk. Gasping for breath, I flung my passport at the agent.

“You might as well take a seat, Miss Pope,” she said. “The flight is full.”

Full?

“But I have a ticket,” I said.

“You’re in transit, and you’re late,” she said.

I explained about the delay in Venice.

“It’s Alitalia’s mistake, not ours. You’ll have to talk to them.”

Three hours, five different desks and one epic lineup later, I had a hotel voucher and a new ticket for the following morning. At the hotel, I peeled off my sweat-soaked clothes and tried to relax and not worry about my luggage.

The next morning, all seemed well; I checked in early, got a coffee and went to my gate … where I noticed with dismay that the flight had inexplicably been delayed an hour.

No problem, I thought. I still have two hours to make my connection in Toronto. It will be fine.

I hadn’t counted on Aug. 4 being the day a line of severe thunderstorms rolled through Toronto, causing utter chaos at the airport. Upon landing, the problems stacked up: there was no available gate because all planes were grounded; the ground crews were not allowed out to fetch the baggage or even bring stairs to get us off the aircraft; there was no one to unlock the gate to let us into the customs area.

As I sat on the floor beside the baggage carousel, waiting for a suitcase that turned out to be languishing in a lost and found in Rome, I told myself it could be worse — much worse.

Despite my attempts at reasoning, more than anything I wanted a magic portal that would transport me home to a hot shower and my own bed. The thought of my bed, still a four-hour flight away, sent tears of exhaustion and pent-up anxiety rolling down my face. I was not the only passenger on the brink of a nervous collapse.

For most people — myself included — air travel is a stressful enough experience without setbacks. When setbacks do occur, it’s enough to send even the most rational person into an emotional tailspin.

Airport staff bear the brunt of this outpouring of frustration. They’re working in the dead zone between home and away, a place no person wants to be any longer than they absolutely have to. They have to deal with rude remarks, belligerent passengers and bureaucratic backlogs.

I don’t blame the ones who end up snapping at the hundredth person who asks them when the planes will be allowed to fly again, or who take one look at the ticket lineup stretching around the corner and decide now would be a perfect time to take their 15-minute break. But I thank, from the bottom of my heart, the ones who make an extra effort to humanize the process of being lost in transit.

There was the supervisor who made announcements every five minutes updating people on the status of their bags and who had bottled water brought in for the families with young children. There was the gate assistant who prevented a passenger mutiny by keeping her tone light and sympathetic every time she announced another sliding delay. And there were the booking agents who worked overtime to get people out of lineups and onto flights or into hotels.

When I finally landed in Edmonton that night, I was so happy I wanted to kiss the tarmac (I didn’t).

I could swear never to fly a certain airline again, or write angry letters to every authority who conspired to keep me from my bed for 48 hours, but after a century of flight, this is simply the reality of air travel. We pay a steep price for the privilege of experiencing life in other countries in this jaded age of terrorism and economic turmoil.

Ultimately, the thing to remember is that, in this case at least, the destination is more important than the journey.

Weekly Roundup — August 7

2009-08-07T09:32:00.002-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• An appeal by residents to block the construction of a wind turbine west of Leduc has been struck down by Leduc County.

• Bobby sat down with MP James Rajotte and David Swann, leader of the Alberta Liberals, to discuss the economy, visas and a potential fall federal election.

• The third annual Commitment to Life fundraiser for STARS is coming up.

• Leduc will be hosting its first-ever youth event, Rock the Rails, at the skatepark Aug. 27. City staff are also looking for youth to post their own YouTube videos promoting the event. Below, "Cason and Jam's" introductory video:

• Just a few months after receiving a large federal grant to renovate their building, the Thorsby Senior Citizens Club has discovered irreparable faults in the building's foundations.

• Shear Sensation salon is challenging their sisters in hairstyling to come together to participate in this year's Terry Fox Run.

• The Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts has announced the lineup for their 2009-2010 performance season.

• In sports, the Leduc Riggers are gearing up for tryouts in less than a month, while the Milleteers are gunning for the title of Powerline Baseball League champs.

• Looking to take up a hobby or try a new sport this fall? The city is holding their Community Registration Day Sept. 12.

The nicest buffalo I have ever met

2009-07-23T14:40:00.006-06:00

Today I woke up for work I wanted to go right back to bed. Some of my friends were spending the day at the beach while I would be stuck in the office being bored, at least that is what I thought.

Then Michelle called me into her office to tell me about a picture I needed to go get. I didn't know what to expect then I googled Bailey D. Buffalo, the animal I was about to meet.

Now I don't know much about wild animals, but I do know a few things like pigs don't fly, cows don't jump over the moon and Buffalo don't hang out in houses and ride in cars.

But was I ever wrong, at least about the buffalo.

Bailey D. Buffalo Jr. was not some wild creature, he was actually a friendly pet that kind of reminded me of my dog.

Bailey Jr. is the second buffalo Jim and Linda Sautner have raised as a pet, and has already become the next buffalo to be making headlines across the world.

After talking to Kim for about 40 minutes I almost forgot that the gentle, innocent animal he had been describing was a animal that weighed nearly 1,000 pounds.

We went out to see Bailey one last time before I left, because to be honest, I just wanted to see him again.

Bailey and Jim's dog, Charlie Brown, were hanging out together, and both got excited to see Jim approaching them.

When Jim went to give some attention to his pet buffalo, Bailey went for his hand, and I thought it was all over. I could see the headlines: "Reporter witnesses man loose hand to pet buffalo" "Buffalo gets taste of human then goes right for journalist."

To my surprise Bailey just stood there and sucked on Jim's hand. Like a baby and a bottle.

As I stood there amazed Jim asked me a question I thought I would never hear, "Want to put you hand in my buffalos mouth?"

Immediately I said no. Why would I ever want to do something like that? I was certain that is my hand went into that mouth it would never come back.

Then Jim reminded me I would likely never get a chance to do this again and I pulled up my sleeve and tried to hide my fear, even though Bailey could probably smell it from a mile away.

My hand went in, stayed attached to my arm, and I calmed down.

It felt like his mouth was made of sandpaper and I knew he could rip off my hand in a second, but it was interesting, to say the least, and kind of reminded me of when my dog sucks on my pinky.

It took lots of soap and scrubbing to get all the slobber off my hand, but it was worth it.

Once again I got to do something I would never have dreamed about doing all thanks to my job.

Picture Above: Me with Jim and Bailey D. Buffalo Jr. Yes, he is in the car.

First memory of the Boys and Girls Club

2009-07-14T13:59:00.005-06:00

I have no idea how many stories I have written about the Leduc Boys and Girls Club, and I probably couldn't count how many pictures I have taken of members of the club.

Not only have I learned more about the club and everything they do for the community, but I have also had the opportunity to meet the people who make it the great place it is today.

My first memories of the club are from a long, long time ago when I was still in elementary school.

It was probably when I was in Grade 4 or 5, when I was still a shy little girl that hated attention (I know what you're thinking - Laura, hating attention? No way. But it's true!)

My class went on a field trip to the club to learn about safety. We were in the middle of being taught what to do if a stranger approached us, when they decided to pick us kids to come up and show what we would do.

Even though I did everything in my power not to make eye contact with the speaker I still was the chosen one.

I remember the person pretending to be in a car, and I was pretending to be riding my bike.

He Pulled up and started talking to me, I said something along the lines of "Sorry I cant talk right now my mom is waiting for me at home" and pretended to speed away.

Knowing myself, I was probably certain I was wrong, my face was likely burning red and I could have cried I was so embarrassed to speak in in front of my entire class.

The staff at the club went on about how great I did and I was on top of the world.

This was about the time I stopped being so shy.

I went home that night and taught my little brother and sister what to do if a stranger ever approached them, and felt like a genius.

I never was a member of the club, but would always go on buddy days and on school trips.

In those few times I thought it was one of the coolest places for kids to hang out.

My work with the club only confirms all my thoughts.

The staff know how to be friends with all the kids, while being great role-models.

The Boys and Girls Club takes kids off the street and away from their precious TV and computer screens. It keep them active and even teaches them with games and day trips.

The club is more than just a place to drop off your kids while you are at work, its a fun friendly environment that is probably a second home to several of the young members.

Ghost stories

2009-07-13T21:36:00.005-06:00

It's amazing how a train of thought can completely jump the track.

I did not intend to write about ghosts today. I didn't even plan on thinking about ghosts today. But a hilarious news item on CTV, scoped in a moment of boredom, has taken me on a 45-minute journey deep into the shadowy territory of the paranormal.

The news item in question was about two men who have been charged with trespassing after firefighters had to rescue them from the roof of the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton. While exploring the long-abandoned building with their friends, they somehow thought it would be fun to try to scale down the outside of it, and wound up getting stuck.

Apparent fun-ness of rappelling down the outside of a building without equipment notwithstanding, my first reaction to this story was: "exploring the Charles Camsell Hospital in the middle of the night WHAT?!"

As I mentioned to Laura, this building is creepy as all get-out. When we first moved to Edmonton, my boyfriend and I stayed with a friend of his who lived just down the street from the hospital. It was late when we arrived, so I wasn't able to see much of the city during the drive from the airport, but I did see the hospital — a yellow-brick monolith plopped in the middle of quiet suburbia, surrounded by a barbed-wire fence and signs warning would-be urban explorers of guard dogs that like to snack on trespassers. Not one of the building's hundreds of square windows has its glass intact.

Even in the light of day, I felt the urge to quicken my step when walking past the hospital. That had more to do with being warned that it was a popular hangout for crackheads and gangs than any suspicions of paranormal activity, but the decrepit appearance of the building, which has been defunct since '96, didn't make me feel any more comfy.

Laura's response to all this was "I bet it's haunted."

A quick Google search produced satisfying results: this guy says it's haunted, this guy implies it's haunted and has photos of the interior that certainly make it look like an appropriate setting for an Amityville-style paranormal throwdown.

The hospital reportedly has a checkered past. It housed a psychiatric ward, and a secondary structure, which no longer exists, served as a quarantine for tuberculosis patients in the mid-20th century. Darker stories suggest that Mengele-esque experiments were carried out on Aboriginal children there.

A place with such sad and morbid connotations as a hospital — especially a decrepit, abandoned one — is a perfect breeding ground for ghost stories.

Someone allegedly recorded a woman's scream on the fourth floor of the building, and if you click the second link I posted above, you can read through the debate around a photograph that purports to show a masked figure peering around the corner in the basement of the hospital. (I could totally see it, but darkness and the suggestive power of fear can tend to morph something as innocuous as peeling paint into a ghoulish apparition.)

I don't know if I believe in ghosts, but I do believe that a place can seem to exude a palpable atmosphere of sadness and fear when it is known to be the site of a distressing event.

So far, my only encounter with a "ghost" was quite a joyful one. In the summer of 2003, I worked at Restoule Provincial Park in northern Ontario, a place that really lent itself to ghost stories because of its rich history. The remains of a root cellar in the midst of a thick grove of pine trees stood testament to the first family to homestead in the area, and an archeologist had discovered evidence of an Iroquois fishing village on the banks of the Restoule River.

The more experienced park employees told of a spirit who wanders the forest by night, swinging a lantern, looking for his hunting party. A few people claimed to have seen the ghost of a small boy wandering the fire tower trail at dusk; some said they could hear the frightened sobs of a lost child.

I wrote these stories off as good campfire fodder, but then, one night, I had a strange encounter.

In August, I had come down with a bad cold, and, not wanting to bother my roommate with my constant coughing in the night, I decided to set up a tent in the staff campground and sleep there until I was better. This worked well, and so on the night in question, I set out from the staff house with my little table lantern and headed down the dirt road to the campground. I soon found I didn't need the lantern; the moon was so full and bright it cast shadows.

As I walked down the hill towards the group campground, I saw a silhouette a short distance in front of me, walking in the same direction. My first thought was that it was another camper, but the silhouette, although human, seemed insubstantial somehow, more shadow than solid flesh.

I turned on my lantern. There was nobody else on the path.

I didn't feel afraid or intimidated, just oddly exhilarated. I feared nothing that summer but the toe-eating muskies of Stormy Lake — but that's another story.

And that's where this train of thought disembarks. Ghosts — are they real? Do we want them to be? Are they gentle? Scary? Both? What say you? Is Leduc haunted? (Apparently New Sarepta is). Leave your comments.

(Photo: Casper! Via)

Choosing the right campground

2009-07-13T16:09:00.003-06:00

Bobby Roy

As a 22-year-old I look forward to the times that I can go camping during our short summers, but when you get stereotyped when you're with a group of young people going camping I don't think that's right.

This past weekend there were about 18 of us set out to do some camping for a combined birthday party. We had it all planned out on Facebook about a month in advance to see where we could go. Our destination ended up being Thunder Lake Provinicial Park.

Thunder Lake doesn't have a website to explain what the park is like, but there are tidbits of information around the internet to see what it looked like. I found some pictures and some information about it and it looked like a pretty decent destination for a weekend of camping even with as many as 18 of us going.

Overall we booked five sites for all of us. I had made the call to reserve three spots under my name while another friend booked two. Everything sounded like it was going to be hunky dorey, but it sure wasn't.

The only rules that the person reserving the camping spots on the phone said were that it was four people max per site. So I figured that it won't be too bad. We've got five sites so that equals the possibility of 20 people. Boy was I wrong.

I was the first to arrive to the campground way earlier than anyone, so I got one site and started to set up camp. I did a couple walks around the campground to scope out the place and see how the weekend was going to be like. As more people started to arrive the problems began.

By the time everyone had arrived the problem was in full force. Apparently one of the people at the front desk had told the rules of the campground to them and we weren't going to like them. We were not about to stick around to find out.

Apparently the four person per campsite rule meant that only four people were allowed on any site at any time during the whole weekend. We couldn't even walk back and forth to each site. Not only that, but we were told that we were probably going to get kicked out by the night's end. Apparently its a family campground and young people in larger groups should not camp there.

I wish they would have told us that at the beginning. This would have not only saved us the grief of driving up there, but all the arguments and hassles we had to deal with. Now I know its hard to tell over the phone how old someone is, but when you book three sites wouldn't you expect quite a bunch of people to show up? It would have been also nice if they would have that information given to you beforehand or that there would be a disclaimer posted on a website about the rules of Thunder Lake Provincial Park is.

I understand that dealing with a bunch of drunk young people is never fun to deal with, but its not like we're out there to cause trouble. It's good that they have these types of campgrounds that families can go out and enjoy their weekend without having to worry about who they'll get stuck to, but it would be nice to know which campgrounds are made for families and which are made for more of a party-going crowd.

By the end they did give us our money back and the front desk people were nice for the most part, but it would have been nice if they could have treated us like a normal camping going crowd. We couldn't even set up our tents before we were pretty much told that we were going to get kicked out, nor did we even make a peep before any of this went down.

I do have to admit that we have gotten out of hand before, so I do understand what they are thinking when they saw a whole bunch of us pull in.

I would just like to see more campgrounds get the word out on what kind of campground they have and who its more made for. I don't want to ruin anyone's vacation by being a drunken idiot and nor should anyone expect that, but I don't enjoy being kicked out before we do anything.

Apart from the late Friday night shenanigans the weekend actually turned out pretty good as we found a remote campground called Peanut Lake.

As a reporter I should have known never to assume anything, so next time I'll be asking a whole bunch of other questions to make sure it's the right campground.

Happy hour

2009-07-11T10:21:00.003-06:00

Kelowna's own Malibu Knights, the world's first "adventure rock" band, played Burnsy O'Flannagans in Leduc last night. For lead vocalist Dan Harden, pictured above, it was a homecoming of sorts: Harden grew up here. Find out what "adventure rock" is — and why a band from Kelowna bills themselves as the Malibu Knights — in the July 17 issue of the Rep.

Below: Barefoot troubadour Shane Squires, the band's guitarist and harmony whiz, opened the show with a few solo covers.

Photos by Alex Pope.

Leducians? Leducites? Let's call the whole thing off!

2009-07-10T12:48:00.004-06:00

According to a story in today's Globe and Mail, the citizens of the city of Red Deer have elected to officially call themselves "Red Deerians."

Tres originale. Personally, I think "Red Deerios" — the name suggested by a group of Red Deer school children — is much catchier. It rhymes with Cheerios, and Cheerios are delicious. But hey, if Red Deerians are happy with their new title, then that's what matters.

I've been working in Leduc for more than seven months now, and I'm still not sure how to refer to residents of Leduc. It comes up from time to time in my writing and I wish I had something punchier than "residents of Leduc."

Back in February, Bob Palmer, better known as Flyin' Bob, performed at our Maclab Centre, and right off the bat, asked the audience how they like to refer to themselves.

"Leducians?" he suggested.

"Leducites!" someone shouted.

Leducians it was, at least for the duration of the show.

But honestly, in all (okay, partial) seriousness: what do you call someone who lives in Leduc? Leducians? Leducites? My personal favorite, Leducies?

What say you? Leave your suggestions in the comments or Tweet us!

Jumping for a cause

2009-07-10T11:01:00.009-06:00

Photos from the 2009 Kids Jump for Cancer equestrian event, taking place at Amberlea Meadows until July 12.

(Photos by Alexandra Pope)

Serious one-car accident

2009-07-07T16:08:00.012-06:00

A one-car collision on the QEII Highway just off exit 516 to Wetaskiwin has left one male and female passenger with unknown, but serious injuries on July 7 at around 3 p.m.

According to an RCMP police report, it is believed that the driver of the Pontiac Sun Fire was south bound on the QEII approaching the Black Gold Drive Overpass when the driver lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, hit a guardrail and then collided with a large sign before coming to rest in the median.

The female and male passengers have been transported to hospital via ambulance.

The north and south bound lane of the QEII is currently down to one lane at this time.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

(Photos by Bobby Roy)

Game of many faces

2009-07-06T10:00:00.003-06:00

The Leduc E3 LA Crude men's rugby team battled the Edmonton Pirates at Lede Park July 3 but lost 12-17. For more photos see the July 10 issue of the Rep. Photos by Alex Pope.

Weekly Roundup — July 3

2009-07-03T09:20:00.009-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• Alex has seen the future of the capital region, and it's large and scary and GTA-like.

• Residents of Wizard Lake say boating is all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

• Bobby waxes rhubarbic on Alberta's forgotten vegetable.

• She's a dancer.

• Leduc County missed out on grants for a waterline study this year.

• Everyone knows you shouldn't leave your dog in a hot car, yet for some reason we hear about it every summer, so here's the obligatory "DON'T LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A HOT CAR" story, along with some other great tips to help your pet beat the heat.

• Of the five whole people who answered our poll question about vacations versus "staycations," three said they will be staycationing this summer, so here are some ideas for what to do in the Leduc County area.

• A local charity is collecting pyjamas to give to children in need this Christmas.

• This gal ROX.

• Sometimes the court stories just write themselves. Oh, and in case you're wondering, this is why we report on court cases.

(Photo: Photographer Charles Hope, centre, takes a picture of a mock crash scene featuring members of the Thorsby Fire Department for The Fire Within 2010 volunteer firefighter calendar. The calendar will be sold at Canadian Tire to raise money for the fire department. Photo by Bobby Roy.)

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If I only had a Blackberry

2009-07-03T07:34:00.005-06:00

Joining Twitter is as bad as when I first joined Facebook. Don't get me wrong, I love it. But boy, is it ever addicting.

I am following more than 80 people — most of it is news; Macleans, National Post, Edmonton Journal, Toronto Star (old habits die hard), CNN, etc. I am also following personal faves such as Hillary Clinton, Oprah and Anderson Cooper (yes, I know he is news, but he is in a class all his own...)

And then there is the tabloid junk (and I mean that in the nicest way) that I am following; TMZ, Lainey Gossip, etc. I love celebrity dish as much as the next gal, I admit it. It is shameless and useless information, but I dive right into it like a contestant at a hot dog eating contest.

The thing about Twitter is you are getting real time updates — constantly — of the latest headlines and information. If I had a Blackberry, I would be checking that sucker every minute to see what was going on in the world. For someone like me, who needs to know the latest news update, Twitter can be distracting. Good thing the cell phone I have is the only one I have ever had — it's probably eight years old, but hey, it works!

I was really introduced to Twitter when CNNs Larry King and Mr. Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, had a battle to see who could get the most followers (Kutcher won). Ok, this Twitter thing intrigued me.

And then Oprah had it on. I am a die-hard Oprah fan, and if she endorsed it, I considered it to be a good thing (although, I am skeptical about this hormonal injection business).

I stayed away until it became a part of my job a few weeks back. You see, I am technologically challenged. I like my VCR, it took me months to accept CDs (I thought it was a fad) and I could not hook up a TV if my life depended on it.

Even blogging. While my staff has been pounding feverishly away at their keyboard, I stayed away. I was afraid, very afraid. But I am starting to get on this bandwagon.

I can finally say I am Tweeting and Blogging. It scares the heck out of me, but I am getting with the times.

If only they brought back bell bottoms would I be truly happy:)

Some days you gotta dance

2009-07-02T15:35:00.010-06:00

I wrote the following column in the July 3 edition of The Rep for many reasons. I am appreciative of the late Michael Jackson's talent and I found myself reminiscing about my childhood after his death.

So much can trigger a memory. Whether it is hearing a song on the radio that was played during your first high school dance or the smell of a stranger that reminds you of your favourite aunt — sometimes it is the little things that can out a smile on your face.

For me it was, and will always be, the music.

Don’t blame it on sunshine

Don’t blame it on moonlight

Don’t blame it on good times

Blame it on the boogie -Jackson 5

I learned to dance because of Michael Jackson.

When I was about eight years old, my friends Lyndsay, Crystal and I would gather in Crystal’s basement and her mom would turn on the 8-track and we would dance. Destiny by the Jackson 5, Off the Wall by Michael Jackson and various Bee Gees tunes would roar through the house, and we would move to the beat. I loved to dance. It was a great outlet for a fidgety kid, who loved to lip sync and learn a step or two.

The death of Michael Jackson caught most of us by surprise. We had been hearing in the news popular 70s pin-up Farrah Fawcett was battling cancer and news of her death was not a shock. But when I read online the first reports of MJ’s death I was saddened. The MJ I knew represented a large part of my youth.

Let me take you back…

For Christmas of 1982, I got the only thing I wanted. There is no other gift from my youth that I can remember so vividly. I remember like it was yesterday: the day I got Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.

I was seven years old, and after saying goodbye to the 8-track player in my room, I had a record player. Trust me, this was a big deal — with a record player, I was moving into the big leagues!
At that point, my album collection consisted of The Muppets Volume 1 and 2 (which I still have), Mickey Mouse Disco (still have) and Anne Murray’s classic, There’s a Hippo in my Bathtub (guilty as charged – still have it).

Then I got Thriller. Carefully pulling the record out of the sleeve, I set it down on the turntable.
I played it over and over (and over) that Christmas morning, until my parents told me we should be listening to something more… festive. So, I turned the radio on for them, and kept listening to MJ with my headphones on. And I danced.

When the day was over, the guests went home and I brought my record upstairs. I carefully put that shiny new 12-inch on my stereo, laid in bed and sang myself to sleep. By the next morning I knew all the words and was pretty pleased with myself. As my friends had gotten the album too, no matter whose house we were playing at, we could dance to MJ all day long.

As the years went by, the record player was replaced by a tape player and new songs came bellowing out of my room. It never failed though. If a Michael Jackson song was playing on the radio, the volume would be turned up and the words I had not heard in years came out of my mouth as if I had just learned them the day before. And I danced.

In my late teens and early 20’s, I went to clubs in Toronto every weekend. And it never failed — if people started vacating the dance floor, all the DJ had to do was throw on Wanna be Startin’ Something by Michael Jackson and the dance floor would fill in.

I have an iPod now, and yes, it has Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 on it. My iPod had his songs on it before his death, as I had bought his HIStory album — I know they are now CDs, but I still call them albums — when it came out in 1995 and when I got my iPod, MJ was one of the first artists I put onto it. Why not? It makes me dance.

The music of Michael Jackson played a big part in my youth. I learned a few moves, fell in love with music videos, and found a common bond with friends. I never did make it to see him perform live (although as an homage to the 8-track, Anne Murray was my first concert), but in the end, I did have a lot of fun getting down to the beat.

While Anne Murray’s Snowbird was my first 8-track, Thriller was my first album. Not one of my brothers’, not one of my parents’, but mine. All mine.

I have moved nine times in 34 years, and in a tote that conatins Michelle’s Memories, buried beside my Brownie outfit (and my Muppets, Hippo and Disney Disco album) is my Thriller album.

I may be a little older, and most nights need to be in bed by 11 p.m., but I can still get down with the rest of them.

Blame it on the boogie.

Flagging down Canada Day

2009-07-02T14:23:00.004-06:00

Waking up at five in the morning may not be one of my most favourite things to do, well actually it's not on the list at all, but doing it for a good cause this Canada Day made it worthwhile.

At 6 a.m. I headed down to Leduc to participate in some flag planting with a fellow Leduc Rep sales rep and Bob and Sharon Buttar. Bob is the owner of Coldwell Banker in Leduc and he and his company have been secretly putting tiny Canadian flags in the front of every house in Leduc for the past 15 years.

The cat's out of the bag so to speak.

I'm sure people have begun to figure out who has been putting miniature Canadian Flags in their front yards every Canada Day for the past 15 years, but thanks to me (hopefully) people will know who the devious flag planters are by next Friday.

Walking front yard to front yard on a somewhat chilly Canada Day morning planting the flags I found that I was actually enjoying myself rather than trying to hopelessly stay awake.

I have never really done anything special for Canada Day and I definitely found it interesting to hear Bob talk about how patriotic Americans are for Independence Day while Canadians are pretty passive when it comes to our day. It made me realize that maybe I take this country for granted sometimes. I always hear people complain about how terrible Canada is sometimes and when you think about it how can you complain? We've got so many advantages over so many other countries yet I know that all Canadians have complained about our country one time or another.

This unselfish deed that employees from Coldwell Banker and helpers do every Canada Day is a great symbol to what Canadians are like. Some of the helpers woke up as early as four in the morning to help with the Canada Day flag planting, which is a real testament to the importance of this annual event.

I'm sure when people woke up in the morning they either loved the little flag or did not care at all. It's the little joys in life that make life worth living and being a part of something like this was great.

Interview with a draftee

2009-07-02T13:45:00.008-06:00

I'm a huge hockey fan especially when it comes to the NHL.

I live, breath and fart hockey all year round and my dream one day would be to exclusively report on a NHL team or just be around the NHL as a reporter.

On June 30 I got to interview a hopeful NHL player that got drafted in the second round of the 2009 NHL draft in Montreal.

Brett Ponich is his name.

He was drafted in the second round by the St. Louis Blues at the draft this past Saturday. Being drafted in the second round is a pretty big accomplishment for the young man from Beaumont.

This was my first interview with any type of NHL hockey player so it was a pretty good experience for myself and maybe one day our paths will meet again on a larger stage.

Stanley Cup maybe? One can dream.

You never know how these young kids will turn out in the NHL once they are ready, so talking to them at a young age is always exciting because I could one of the first people to ever interview a future superstar. Here's hoping.

Ponich is a 6'7 defenseman with the Portland Winterhawks and God knows NHL teams are always looking for the next Pronger or Chara or even a less talked about Hal Gill, who did win a Stanley Cup this year.

Ponich will not likely see any NHL playing time in the upcoming season unless St.Louis experiences a bunch of injuries, but the young defenseman will get his chance in the future with the Blues.

He could see himself playing alongside other rising stars like T.J. Oshie, Patrick Berglund and highly touted defenseman Erik Johnson.

Ponich told me how getting that call felt and who the first person was to talk to him about being drafted.

Getting a call from any NHL organization is a dream for many hopeful young hockey players, but Ponich got an experience that little others have had.

“Al MacInnis was actually the first person to call me and welcome me to the organization so that was really amazing that I got to talk someone like that,” said Ponich.

Being a NHL caliber hockey player is not easy to achieve. It takes a lot of hard work from not only the player himself but other surrounding him. According to Ponich and Debbie (Brett's mom) growing up in Beaumont and Leduc really helped him to where he is now.

Ponich got his first taste of skating at the young age of four when he joined his sisters ringette team and from there the rest is history.

Ponich spent all his younger years playing hockey in Beaumont and for Ponich there were many influential people on his journey to eventually being drafted.

“One of my coaches Rick Hubbs was a great influence while I played hockey in Beaumont. He helped me become the hockey player I am today,” said Ponich.

Developing a hockey player takes a lot of time and effort from not only the parents but also a whole community.

"Although it may not take a whole community to raise a child, it does take a community to raise a hockey player,” said Debbie Ponich, Brett’s mom.

Maybe once Ponich makes his way to the NHL he'll remember the interview that I did with him or maybe not. Either way it'll be very interesting to see where this kid is going to go.

Check out Ponich's bio on the Blues website.

The rural life is for me

2009-06-30T15:21:00.002-06:00

Some of my favorite memories from my childhood were made on my uncle's daylily farm near Orono, Ontario. Henry Lorraine and his late partner Doug Lycett started the business to breed daylilies, and once a summer hold a public open house to debut and sell their new flowers. Several times when I was a child, my mom and I travelled to the farm to lend a hand during the open house and visit family.

I lived in the suburbs but even as a child, I knew I preferred wide open spaces and through these occasional visits to the farm, I discovered I enjoyed working on the land. My cousins and I were "runners" — whenever a customer placed an order at the farmhouse, it was radioed to the gardeners in the fields, who dug up the plants, bound them, and gave them to one of us to run back to the farmhouse.

Daylilies only bloom for one day, so at sundown we would walk up and down the rows of plants, deadheading the day's blossoms to make room for the buds that would bloom the following morning. It seemed to me an idyllic way to live. That may be a little naivety on the part of a city girl, but it inspired in me a lifelong dream to marry a farmer — which, as I've grown up (and fallen in love with a man without a single rural bone in his body), has translated into a dream to at least own land someday.

Until I gather the capital to make that dream a reality, I have to settle for events like the one pictured above: a celebration of the newly-approved carbon-free village in Leduc County. The project is not expected to break ground until the fall, but the designers held a potluck on June 27 to give the project partners — and potential future residents — an opportunity to see the property.

We also helped plant some donated trees on a section of the land designated to become a future nature reserve for all the residents of the village to enjoy.

I may have unnerved Leduc County councillor Reinhold Ortlieb with my enthusiasm for digging holes, as he kept cautioning me not to break the shovel in the hard clay ground. I can't help it — give me dirt and an open field and something green to lavish with TLC, and I'm good to go.

Bobby will have some more photos from the event in the July 3 Rep.

Vacation countdown

2009-06-30T15:14:00.005-06:00

It has been years since I have been on a vacation and even though I (usually) really enjoy my job, I just need a break!

I have been working at the Rep for more than a year, with no vacation. The summer before I started I was interning here, with no vacation. The summer before that I was working full time saving up for school, with no vacation.

As of Friday July 3, I can stop complaining, because I get an entire week and one day off. This is the week and one day I have been looking forward to since I called dibs on it about 10 months ago.

I decided to save my first holiday for this exact week for one simple reason: CALGARY STAMPEDE.

Growing up I would go to Stampede every year with my family. I usually enjoyed traveling on the C-Train more than any of the rides, and usually ended the day vomiting thanks to the few rides I did go on, but it was some of the best times of my life.

Since I have turned 18 and been legal to drink I have not had the opportunity to go, but this is my year.

To make things even better I will get to see some friends and family I haven't seen in months and some close friends from Leduc will also be making their way there.

We have some big plans that include beer gardens, midways, shopping, nachos and early breakfasts to help us get ready to do it all again. And the best of all Reba McEntire, a concert I missed out on two years ago because I got the summer position here, with my good friend from SAIT Torie.

Somehow, Torie got us row 7 tickets, and I have been counting down the days since I found out.

So in just a few days I will be throwing all my laundry into a few garbage bags to take home for my mom to wash, putting on my drinking boots (actually flip-flops, boots just sound more appropriate for Stampede) and get my new cowboy hat ready for a long week that I can guarantee will end up with me broke and sleep deprived.

Thinking about it at work I would probably have more time to myself, I would get more sleep, save a lot of money and I wouldn't have any of those mystery bruises I always end up with.

But I cannot wait!

I should probably take a vacation from my vacation, because my predictions are I will end up coming back to work even more worn out than I am now and I will need a break more than I do now.

The only thing I know I will be able to do when I get back is what I do now, rush to the office after I sleep in, leave all my work to the last minute and beg to go home early.

Temporary relief?

2009-06-26T14:09:00.003-06:00

A rain squall blows over Nisku near the Edmonton International Airport June 26, bringing much-needed moisture to the area. Leduc County council is considering declaring the county a disaster area in order to obtain government relief for drought-stricken farmers. Council will monitor the situation and make a decision at their July 14 meeting.

Photo by Alex Pope

Twittering Anonymous

2009-06-26T09:29:00.005-06:00

I am the type of girl who enjoys the simple things in life like my family, friends, my dog and trashy magazines with all the latest Hollywood romours.

I find myself often going online to check my messages and three hours later know everything that happened that day with my favourite Celebs.

When I first heard of Twitter I was certain I would never join. I felt like Twitter would be replacing Facebook, and in my heart nothing could replace Facebook.

Before my roommate moved out we would talk about everything and she would always keep my updated on Taylor Swifts rapping career, When Kristen Stewart was hanging out with Robert Pattinson and everything to do with Kendra Wilkinson's wedding.

One week ago, my roommate moved out. And immediately had the urge to join Twitter. Last night I lost the battle and became a Twitterer.

And in less than 24 hours I have become addicted.

Sure my little sister had to teach me how to do everything, and I still haven't changed my status once but I absolutely love it!

Not only can I stay updated on what my favourite celebrities are doing but I can follow the news and Perez Hilton!!

The best part is that my editor can't tell when I am online the days she takes of.

Currently I am following about 57 people. I am pretty sure I know 2 of them.

So if anyone has and idea of someone interesting I should follow or if you have any advise on Twittering let me know, I am LauraFayeRing.

And make sure you don't forget to follow the Leduc Representative - Leducrep.

Weekly Roundup — June 26

2009-06-26T09:15:00.007-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• Leduc County councillors engaged in a little verbal sparring over a Pigeon Lake subdivision approval at their June 23 meeting.

• Meanwhile, confusion about what an area structure plan is temporarily derailed a public meeting in Pigeon Lake last week, with many residents saying they felt awkward about the role of developers in the process.

• Black Gold Kennels are currently overrun with cats in need of loving homes (and it would make Laura's life if you would adopt one).

• The ongoing drought is taking a toll on local farms and U-picks this summer.

• The City of Leduc is planning to bid to host the 2012 National Special Olympics.

• Based on her experience in the aftermath of the Prairie Professional fire, Laura outlines the importance of tenant insurance.

• The ROMPS playplace is looking for a new home after their space was destroyed in the Prairie Professional fire. Also, a fundraiser will be held June 30 for a young family who lost their home in the fire.

• Bobby has a story on what you can find at the Leduc Farmer's Market.

• This week we have two stories on "green" housing developments in the county — the first by Edmonton-based alternative energy consultants Carbon Busters, the second a condominium development near the airport.

• Two residents of New Sarepta have filed a petition for the village to undertake a dissolution study, which could see the village simply become a part of Leduc County instead of a separate municipality.

All this and more in the June 26 issue of the Rep!

(Photo: Five-year-old Danika Manion checks out her face in a mirror after having it decorated by a Boys and Girls Club volunteer at the second annual Soccerfest, a free afternoon of fun and entertainment for youth held by the Leduc Minor Soccer Association on June 20 at Lede Park. About 1,000 people were treated to free meals, activities and goodies. Photo by Carole Morris-Underhill.)

The fluff of dreams — Part 2

2009-06-22T14:20:00.005-06:00

I've heard it said that Canada has only two seasons: winter and July.

Well, I've realized that Alberta also has only two seasons: snow and fluff.

I've thanked God every day this month that I don't suffer from allergies, because this is ridiculous:

I snapped this pic in Irene Parlby Park in Edmonton because that is a ridiculous amount of fluff. I could make a fluffball or a fluffman out of those fluffbanks.

There is a certain species of tree that apparently reproduces via fluff:

Amazing.

Weekly Roundup — June 19

2009-06-22T13:46:00.005-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• The community is helping the victims of the tragic Prairie Professional apartment fire pick up the pieces, while the fire department continues its investigation into the cause of the blaze.

• A group of young boys raised money for the victims with an impromptu juice stand.

• Laura's life was touched by the fire as well, an experience she wrote about in a column this week.

• The editorial this week also focuses on the incredible generosity of residents in the wake of the tragedy.

• As Bobby blogged last week, Alberta Liberal leader David Swann is critical of Bill 44.

• At the last EDA breakfast before summer, Travel Alberta vice-chair Bob Normand told everyone not to worry for the province's tourism industry.

• Leduc is ready to get co-operative — housing, that is.

• Your life is not complete until you've enjoyed a hot dog from the Leduc Community Living Association's outdoor vending cart.

• Across the county, Calmar is trying to cut down on misuse of its skatepark. The town also enjoyed a very successful diabetes walk. Also, the New Sarepta Municipal Library came in under budget last year.

• A local teen is preparing to showcase her pinup-inspired paintings in the upcoming Whyte Avenue Art Walk.

• Drugs are still bad for you — take it from Mike Ryan of Clean Scene.

This week was stacked with news and events, so pick up a June 19 Rep for more.

(Photo by Kate Hamilton)

A visit from the Swann

2009-06-18T15:56:00.006-06:00

Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann, left, stands with his assistant Bryan Wade at the Best Western Denham Inn during his stop in Leduc on June 15.

Earlier this week Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann paid a visit to the Best Western Denham Inn to come talk about some issues to whoever wanted to do.

Myself and five other citizens from Leduc were waiting patiently for the MLA from Calgary to arrive and he finally did around 3 p.m. One of the other people that was waiting for him said something along the lines of "he's late, he must be a politician" and I chuckled a bit. Swann did apologize for being late and being as busy as he is I definitely could let it slide.

We were ushered into the restaurant at the hotel and we all sat down for some coffee and a chance to voice some of our problems that we hoped Swann would have an answer for. The five other people that showed up to meet Swann voiced their opinions on some issues like car insurance and the title word 'Liberal' of the Liberal party.

When I got my chance to speak to him I wanted to see what his opinions were on the situation with the Conservatives and the economic update. He was very much in favour of Ignatieff and felt that the advertisements against the Federal Liberal Leader were very offensive and not needed.

“Like many Canadians I’m very offended by the attack ads on Ignatieff, and I don’t think these ads show what Ignatieff is trying to accomplish,” said Swann.

The key issue was employment insurance. This whole issue got resolved yesterday and thankfully there will be no election in the summer, but we could be out voting come fall so who knows how good this new panel will be for the government.

The opposition had proposed that the government should lower employment insurance eligibility to 360 hours, which works out to 45 workdays.

Swann also went on to talk about Bill 44 in which he was strongly against and for a good reason.

“This bill is not only offensive to the teachers but also to young people who want access to have information and be free to discuss it, debate it and get to their own conclusions with their families about what is true and what isn’t,” said Swann, leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.

He was very adamant the Alberta government didn't give a free vote like the premier had said.

“The premier said it was a free vote yet not a single one of them went against it, so that just shows you how free it is,” said Swann.

Swann also comments about Bill 44 on his blog.

Leduc Comp goes CAR-AZY!!

2009-06-18T12:45:00.002-06:00

461 names were entered into the Leduc Composite High School's "Stay in School, Stay on Course" draw. Each time a student had perfect attendance for a whole month of the school year — no absences, no lates — they were entered into the draw. The prize? A souped-up 2007 Chevy Cobalt courtesy of Murray Chevrolet. Check out the video above for the winner's priceless reaction — and Laura's cameo!

And for full coverage of the draw event, check the June 19 issue of the Rep!

Help victims of Prairie Professional fire

2009-06-15T10:44:00.004-06:00

STORY HERE.

Updated: More HERE.

FOOD DONATIONS: Leduc and District Food Bank Association, 4810 49 Avenue, Leduc. Info: 780-986-5333.

CLOTHING DONATIONS: Second Glance Clothing, 5607 50 Street, Leduc. Please no donations until Wednesday.

LARGE ITEM DONATIONS: Register with Leduc FCSS Victim Support Line: 780-980-7181.

MONETARY DONATIONS: ATB Financial Leduc Branch, 4821 50 Avenue under the name Prairie Professional Fire Victims.

Photo by Laura Ring

Mom's muse

2009-06-15T09:03:00.002-06:00

Makayla Walchuk, 6, was all too happy to pose for her mom Tricia Moskal at the official grand opening of Moskal's photography studio in Leduc June 13. Photo by Alex Pope.

Weekly Roundup — June 12

2009-06-12T09:14:00.003-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• The manager of a local Chevrolet dealership says GM's decision to terminate their sales and service agreement is "unfair" and an inaccurate reflection of the store's recent sales record.

• A new website hopes to bring closure to families of missing persons.

• The children of Southfork finally have a park.

• Accessibility is a key issue in the construction of the new Leduc Recreation Centre.

• A local team is preparing for the upcoming Ride to Conquer Cancer in Calgary.

• In county news, Leduc County councillors want residents to be aware that an application has been filed to develop a gravel mining operation on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, Warburg reviewed its financial audit, and Epcor hopes its new project will make its Genesee generating station a world leader in clean energy and carbon capture and sequestration.

• In sports, the LCHS Tiger rugby boys are hoping for redemption in the Tier 2 provincials, the Bantam Ticats football team has wrapped up their spring training camp, the Otters swim team is winding down their season after a strong showing at a recent meet in Red Deer, and it's charity golf season again.

• Alex has an omnibus edition of provincial court briefs, including a man who racked up $4,500 in fines stemming from one drunken ride through Beaumont and a man who stole tip money from a bartender to play the VLTs.

(Photo: Cheryl Agostinho, wife of the late Cst. Jose Agostinho, and Kool Mom Shannon Moroz unveiled the temporary sign dedicating the brand new Southfork park to Agostinho's memory after the park build on June 6. Agostinho, who was killed in the line of duty on July 4, 2005, while serving as a member of the Wetaskiwin RCMP, believed passionately in helping children become good citizens and loved Leduc, friends said. Photo by Alexandra Pope.)

Trouble Dog

2009-06-11T15:01:00.010-06:00

Me and my dog Zoey have a love hate relationship.

She loves to chew up everything she can get her paws on and I hate to replace and the random items she destroys.

Don't get me wrong; I think I have a great dog that is very smart. But that’s her problem, she is just too smart for her own good.

It has been months since she tore apart the back seat of my car, and since then she has been sticking to socks and sandals.

The other day I was preparing for what I knew would be a long day of layout at work.

I noticed Zoey and Twix (my roommates Chihuahua) were being oddly quiet. Usually when they are together Zoey is chasing Twix trying to get him to play with her, or he is growling and trying to attack her.

I walked into my living room only to see Zoey looking scared to death with my fairly new glasses hanging out of her mouth. She dropped them the second she noticed me and ran to the back door.

I punished her, locked her in her kennel and left for work.

This was the same day I decided it was time to sign Zoey up for obedience classes.

I was surprised to learn the six-week course would be about $130, which is good since I had to pay $200 to replace my glasses.

When I cam home from work I was still furious, but like usual she was cute, playful and wouldn’t take no for an answer. So I gave in, forgot about all the money I could be saving for a nice trip but instead had to spend on fixing all the stuff she broke, and played with her all evening and told her what a great dog she is and how much I adore her. (What can I say, I am sucker for her one floppy ear and the way she jumps around the second she thinks I am going to play with her.)

June 16 is the big day. She will start classes and hopefully chewing on socks, glasses and car seats will be a thing of the past.

I am not expecting for a miracle, just hoping, and maybe just maybe she will finally learn her name!

With the greatest of ease

2009-06-10T14:28:00.001-06:00

Ashley Schiewe completes a jump on her horse Twice As Smooth during the open pre-training show jumping at the Beaumont horse trials, held at the Beaumont Ag Fairgrounds on June 6. Photo by Alex Pope.

Weekend madness!

2009-06-06T19:01:00.005-06:00

I just had the most intense and tiring weekend workday I've had since I started working for the Rep. It's almost summer in Leduc and the surrounding area, so of course every weekend is stacked with outdoor events, and this one was no exception.

I went to an equestrian show and Timbits soccer jamboree in Beaumont, met some amazing young people who are making a difference in Devon at the Servus Credit Union Leaders of Tomorrow awards, and saw bad fashion and drunken baseball converge at the 37th annual New Sarepta Fair.

It was also an historic day in Leduc: the Southfork Moms (by far the Koolest moms in the city) realized their dream of having a playground in their own neighborhood for their kids to play on. Construction started at 8 a.m. and by 3 p.m. the park was full of kids swinging, sliding, running and climbing. It was inspiring to see how hundreds of volunteers could make quick work of the very labour-intensive building process, all with the best interests of the kids at heart.

It was fitting that the build happened on the anniversary of D-Day, because the park has been named for the late Jose Agostinho, who was not only an RCMP officer who gave his life in the line of duty on July 4, 2005, but also a former commanding officer of the Leduc 831 Black Knights Air Cadets Squadron and a huge proponent of the cadet program. The park is a fitting testament to his commitment to encouraging children to grow into helpful, respectful, active citizens of their community.

Check out the June 12 Rep for full coverage of the build. And also check out the Beaumont News and the Devon Dispatch, our sister papers. We share a lot of content but they also contain exclusives contributed by the Rep's staff. We're all one big, happy family.

And because no one reads this blog, I have absolutely no qualms whatsoever about posting this as a final thought: my very own LOLcat, starring Loki, the baddest tabby in Renaissance Place.

Weekly Roundup - June 5

2009-06-06T18:45:00.003-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• We went all Edmonton Sun-esque on our front page this week with this story.

• The International Region has been voted the best place in Alberta to do business by Venture Magazine.

• What's the 211? Our summer intern, Bobby Roy, knows.

• Leduc County councillors are urging the county's subdivision authority to treat all residents fairly after a development was approved in the Wizard Lake area despite the fact that an area structure plan has yet to be completed for the region.

• In other county news, New Sarepta has released an overview of their finances in advance of their 2009 budget, Calmar is cracking down on speeders,

• Leduc's Storefront School is undergoing a change of name and location.

• I am so proud of this cuteness.

• Alex interviewed the retired cop who helped take down an armed robber at CIBC on April 7.

• A provincial court judge had some harsh words for a man who pleaded guilty to dealing marijuana in Leduc.

• The Rep has kicked off its auction to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc.

• Everyone is invited to learn about Leduc's history at the Grain Elevator this summer.

Steer smooch

2009-06-01T15:38:00.002-06:00

Sadie Hofstra leans in to give her steer a smooch after receiving the title of Grand Champion Steer at the Leduc 4-H Beef Club's Show and Sale at the Leduc Recreation Centre June 1. (Photo by Alex Pope.)

Bloomin' Leduc

2009-06-01T15:26:00.006-06:00

I have this fascination with taking pictures of plant life in its various states of bloom and barrenness throughout the year. I've done frosty berries in the fall, ice-encrusted trees in winter and budding branches in early spring. This has got to be the prettiest season yet, though:

This is a bush right outside the entrance to our office. Not sure what it is, but it's lovely.

I really feel like we've earned this spring, considering two weeks ago another bush outside our office looked like this:

Welcome to spring in Alberta!

An ode to my favorite songs

2009-05-29T09:48:00.004-06:00

Supposedly, scent is the human sense most strongly tied to memory (according to a commercial for men's body wash, anyway), but I think I can make a pretty convincing case for the power of sound — especially music.

Last Friday, I went to Smitty's in Leduc to photograph the performance of Prince Edward Island musicians Richard Wood and Gordon Belsher. I thought I had been away from the east coast long enough to handle an evening of east coast music without succumbing to homesickness, but I left the restaurant after the first set feeling emotionally raw in a way I hadn't expected — devastated and yet uplifted at the same time.

It wasn't one particular song but rather the whole sound that somehow reached into my chest and wrapped itself tightly around my heart. Images flashed through my head — of summer road trips to the Bay of Fundy and wading in soft, ankle-deep mud at low tide, of kayaking on the Saint John River at sunset, of my mother's house in Fredericton. I recalled the strange day I found out I was moving to Alberta and how my feeling of elation at getting hired for my first journalism job was offset by a powerful sadness that I was going so far away from the place I had come to call home.

As I listened to him play, I remembered what Belsher, a former Edmontonian, said in our phone interview a few days before the concert: that travelling to P.E.I for the first time felt like coming home. I could relate; something about the smell of pine trees in the cool May evening when I first stepped off the plane in Fredericton six years ago told me I was welcome there. Maritime music always, ultimately, brings me back to that moment, no matter how far away I get.

I read somewhere that Canadians have become a very transient people. Despite the hugeness of our country, many of us don't think twice about moving to different cities, provinces and coasts in pursuit of work, education, love, adventure, a fresh start.

This is certainly true of my own history. The other day, my boyfriend and I added up the number of different houses we've lived in throughout our lives to see who has moved around more; I think I beat him, but not by much. We've both lived in four different provinces, in many different cities, sometimes briefly, sometimes for years. As a result, "home" has come to take on a rather flexible meaning.

Every place I've lived has eventually come to feel like "home," even when I resisted becoming attached to a particular location. When I left the Dominican Republic, I cried for the loss of the beaches and the wild beauty of the southern coast, for tostones and fried salami and the friends I hadn't expected to make.

When I left Whitecourt — though I had spent most of my brief time there pining to be elsewhere — I missed the Athabasca River and the local sandwich shop and the sound of trains rumbling by in the night.

The question I've been wrestling with for the past three years — a period of my life in which I haven't lived in a single place for longer than eight months — is how to hang on to the things you love about a place, the things that make it feel like home, and use them to help you get through the loneliness and upheaval of going somewhere else.

The best answer I've been able to come up with is music. As I proved to myself at the Maritime show, I only have to hear a fiddle to be instantly transported back to the happiest moments of my time in New Brunswick.

Likewise, when I hear anything remotely Spanish in flavour, it isn't hard to recall the giddy joy of roaring down the highway on the back of a motorcycle, the deep-fried smell of the propane-powered public cars in Santo Domingo, or the fresh, watery flavour of a sun-ripened avocado.

I am already building up an arsenal of "Alberta songs" — mostly country — that in the future will bring back memories of learning to drive on the winding mountain highway through Jasper, the sight of the fields and trees along Highway 39 frosted with ice after a spring fog, and Edmonton's skyline at sunset.

Sometimes, when my heart is heavy and I can't see clearly past the darkness of my own mood, I put on an old favorite song and wish to be back in what seems, in retrospect, to have been a simpler time. I look back at past problems with nostalgia, believing them to have been more easily overcome than my present difficulties. I want to stay inside the familiar melody, where it's safe.

More than anything, I want to be "home," until I realize that, for me at least, at this time in my life, "home" doesn't exist in a concrete way anymore. It's not a place I can travel back to on a free weekend, but a place I have to find inside myself over and over again.

It takes time to get to know a place and really feel at home there, the same way it takes time to learn a new song. It's only when you hear the song again, years later, and can still sing it note-perfect, that you realize how well you knew it all along.

Weekly Roundup — May 29

2009-05-29T08:26:00.006-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• A group of Leduc County farmers says Altalink "put the cart before the horse" when drawing up potential routes for a new high-voltage transmission line south of Calmar.

• Leduc mayor Greg Krischke has been honoured with an inaugural Leadership for Active Communities award.

• May's Artist of the Month is a multi-talented high school student.

• Edmonton's pro basketball team will bring the "Energy" to Leduc Composite High School on June 5.

• Taxes for Leduc County residents will be much the same in 2009 as last year.

• A local teen is headed to Vancouver for the summer to appear in a production of the hit musical Rent.

• It's almost time for the 20th annual Rona MS Bike Tour, and while 30 local high school students are getting ready to volunteer for the two-day event, a Thorsby woman with MS is training for the 183-km ride — her sixth.

• In county news, the Town of Calmar has passed its budget for the next three years and is gearing up (pun not intended!) for its annual Show n' Shine, while the Village of New Sarepta has opted not to fund a local playschool.

• Laura, despite not being the sports reporter, has all your inside dish on sports in Leduc, including the upcoming women's fastball provincials.

It's all in the May 29 Rep.

(Photo: Grade 4 East Elementary School students Kennedy Kiss, left, and Skylar Gee, watch in awe as a teddy bear flips a pancake — with a little help from teacher Dianne Brunes. Students at East Elementary raised $1,900 for the MS Society and celebrated with a pancake breakfast and pyjama day May 22. Photo by Alex Pope.)

Sex offender sentenced

2009-05-26T11:05:00.001-06:00

A Millet man who sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl in Leduc last summer is headed to prison for four years.

Clinton Schuler, 27, pleaded guilty to sexual assault in connection with the incident at provincial court in Leduc on May 22 and was sentenced to six years in prison but received 20 months credit for time served.

MORE ...

Happy birthday Laura!

2009-05-26T09:43:00.004-06:00

Laura is the big 2-1 today. We got her a Marilyn Monroe phone.

Little kid, BIG bowl

2009-05-25T14:10:00.001-06:00

6-year-old Jordan Erickson took advantage of the sunny weather May 25 to practice his moves at the Leduc skatepark. (Photo by Alex Pope.)

Flashback: They grow up so fast!

2009-05-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

"Dominic Mishio, a 10-year-old Leduc Minor baseball player, keeps his eye on the ball."

Dominic Mishio is now an Alderman on Leduc city council.

Appeared in the Leduc Representative on May 7, 1995.

Weekly Roundup — May 22

2009-05-22T10:29:00.005-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• Overcrowded classrooms and schools are becoming an issue in the Black Gold Regional School Division.

• The Town of Devon is mourning the loss of recent high school grad Steven Larson, who died suddenly the day after celebrating grad with his classmates.

• The Leduc and District Food Bank is seeing an increase in their number of clients in these hard economic times.

• Leduc's L.A. Dance Academy is raising money to support one of their young dancers, who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

• Alex spoke to two individuals about their reaction to Avi Friedman's workshop on affordable housing. Nancy Laing with the Leduc Foundation says Leduc needs to offer a wider range of housing, while Kirk Popik, mayor of the Town of Calmar, says now is the perfect time to start addressing the sustainability of our communities.

• Guests at the May 19 EDA partnership breakfast learned about nano and microtechnologies — a.k.a. really, really small machines that are smarter than the writer of this story will ever be!

• Across the county, New Sarepta's annual fair is coming up, Thorsby is hosting a community clean-up, and the Discovery Centre in Devon received some government funding.

Ch-ch-ch-check it out!

(Photo: Tribute artist Jason Scott belted out the Neil Diamond tunes at the Maclab Centre May 18. Photo by Alex Pope.)

A Diamond is forever

2009-05-19T09:19:00.003-06:00

Jason Scott brought his tribute to Neil Diamond, "Diamond Forever," to the Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts on May 18. For more photos, see the May 22 Rep. (Photos by Alex Pope)

Weekly Roundup — May 15

2009-05-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• Laura Ring has the story of a young man whose one bad choice changed his life forever.

• A local man has been recognized for his brave actions during an armed robbery.

• Affordable housing expert Avi Friedman gave a two-day workshop in Calmar last week and dispelled some of the common misconceptions about affordable housing.

• No deaths in the news this week, but there are taxes — specifically property taxes in Leduc.

• Fallen Wetaskiwin RCMP officer Jose Agostinho will be immortalized in the name of the new Southfork park.

• A local high school student has won a $20,000 scholarship for her engagement in her school and community.

• This year's raffle to benefit the Leduc Boys and Girls Club features some big-ticket items.

• The parliamentary assistant to Alberta's minister of health wants everybody to walk more, eat less salt.

• Hello Dolly rocks! (And I'm not just saying that because I'm in it.)

• Leduc needs an emergency women's shelter, council heard on May 11.

• In sports, local rugby teams kicked off their season this month, while lacrosse seems to be gaining in popularity. Also, the LCHS athletic field is going to be renamed to honour the founder of the track club. P.S.: Don't call Laura the sports reporter.

All this and more in this week's Rep.

(Photo: 11-year-old Tristan Head tries on beer goggles at an RCMP open house May 8. Photo by Laura Ring.)

Weekly Roundup — May 8

2009-05-08T09:25:00.005-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• Leduc County has issued a fire ban due to the extremely dry and windy conditions that have lingered in the area in the past few weeks. (I was really worried this story would be rendered irrelevant by the torrential downpour we had on Wednesday night, but as of today, the fire ban still stands.)

• STAR Catholic Schools are paving the way for more interactive education in three of their high schools. (More here.)

• STAR is also partnering with MedicAlert to increase student safety.

• Wetaskiwin and Camrose RCMP are coming to grips with the loss of one of their comrades following a fatal collision last week.

• Girls left their worries behind for a fun weekend of building self-esteem with the Boys and Girls Club.

• Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger (mushroom, mushroom!)

• County residents will be getting automated meters from FortisAlberta.

(Photo: Nine-year-old Jonah Bommassar was one of the many students who came out to enjoy the "Rodeo of Smiles" on April 30 to kick off the 40th annual Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo. Photo by Laura Ring.)

Education innovation

2009-05-08T09:10:00.006-06:00

This week, I wrote a story about the St. Thomas Aquinas Roman (STAR) Catholic School Division, which has undertaken some neat initiatives to make learning more interactive for their junior high and high school students in Leduc, Ponoka and Drayton Valley.

On May 1, I attended STAR's celebration of the first six months of their "Building I.T. Together" project and left feeling really excited about the opportunities that are available for students nowadays.

When I think back to elementary school and learning how to use a "word processor," I'm amazed that students today are using Skype to chat face to face with experts and other students all around the world.

I really feel that there's no better education than the one you receive by experiencing the world, especially through travel and interface with people who live differently than you do, but for many kids, that's not economically feasible. So the fact that they can learn about other countries from the people who live there without having to fork out thousands of dollars for a plane ticket is incredible — and for many of them, it will likely pique their curiosity enough that when they do have the financial means to travel, they will.

You can read more about the BIT project in the May 8 Rep, but I wanted to share the video above, which Brad Clarke from Alberta Education showed to demonstrate why radical change is needed in the way we teach our students in this ever-shrinking world.

Weekly Roundup — May 1

2009-05-05T09:22:00.005-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• The city has officially begun work on a master plan for the future development of Telford Lake.

• They have also released the membership fees for the new LRC. They are hoping the centre will create more opportunities for sport tourism in Leduc — such as the Alberta Cup, which Leduc will host next year.

• A local high school student is our artist of the month.

• James Rajotte, MP for Edmonton-Leduc, addressed the bailout for Canadian automakers and the Harper government's Economic Action Plan at a town hall meeting on April 25.

• The Leduc "Nighthawks" are a featured volunteer group this week.

• Laura has a story about a national non-profit that helps to prevent child sexual abuse — and create awareness about what to do when it happens.

• Across the county, Calmar is karaoke-ing (I can verb that, right?), Thorsby is contemplating curfews, Warburg is looking ahead to Canada Day, and it's almost spring market time in New Sarepta.

It's all in your Leduc Rep this week. Check it out!

(Photo: Guests of the "Divas LA Style" event held at the Leduc Curling Rink on April 24 test their ability to be hypnotized by locking their hands above their heads. Photo by Alex Pope)

Rodeo magic

2009-05-05T09:18:00.003-06:00

The 40th annual Leduc Black Gold Rodeo took place this past weekend, and from the performances to the parade to the parties, Laura and I were there with our cameras to capture the fun. Check out the May 8 Rep for full photo spreads.

(Photo: A young spectator tries to pop soap bubbles during the rodeo parade on May 2. Photo by Alex Pope.)

Flames are out

2009-04-28T10:09:00.002-06:00

Laura needs to stop making hockey bets.

Flashback: One-stop shop

2009-04-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

Appeared in the Leduc Representative on June 28, 1912.

Divas hypnotized

2009-04-25T11:06:00.003-06:00

Last night was the Leduc and District Chamber of Commerce's "Divas L.A. Style" ladies-only party at the curling rink. Hypnotist Colin Christopher provided the entertainment and several ladies fell right under his spell.

I had never been in the audience for a hypnotism show, so it was pretty interesting to watch. Some of the ladies who volunteered to go up on stage didn't go under at all, while others seemed so out of it they flopped right over in their chairs like rag dolls (see above).

I volunteered to be hypnotized at a similar show at my campus pub a few years back. I don't remember much about it, but I do recall that I didn't really feel like I had surrendered my consciousness to the hypnotist. I simply felt I should go along with the act because hundreds of people were staring at me expecting, well, to see someone do silly stunts at the will of somebody else.

I remember that I had to pretend my chair was the sexiest man I'd ever laid orbs on and he was waiting for me to make the first move.

I've done a lot of improv in my life, so it wasn't hard to feign something like desire and wrap myself around the back of the chair. I could have dropped the act and walked off the stage anytime, though — I think.

So last night, watching the show unfold, I wondered how this whole hypnotism thing works. Are some of the subjects really at the mercy of the hypnotist, suspended in a dreamlike state between sleep and waking? Or does a hypnotism show work on the power of suggestion — everybody is thinking everybody else around them is really hypnotized so they'd better play along for the sake of the show?

I guess it's one of those things that only the hypnotist — like the magician who masters sleight of hand and optical illusion — really knows.

Flashback: Early sensationalism

2009-04-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

Apologies for the terrible photo. The tag line reads: "Too much baking has killed many a woman."

Really? I'd like to see some numbers on that.

Appeared in the Leduc Representative on June 14, 1912.

Weekly Roundup — April 24

2009-04-24T09:16:00.003-06:00

Here's what's making news in Leduc and area this week:

• It was all about volunteers this week! The Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Authority held a special breakfast to recognize the contribution Leduc's hundreds of volunteers make to the community, and guest speaker Sandy McLeod called volunteers "the most powerful force on earth."

• Local emergency personnel are gearing up for a baseball tournament in support of Little Warriors.

• Blackgold Kennels are preparing for their busiest season by adding space for more lost and abandoned animals.

• The tragic death of a 10-year-old Calmar boy in an ATV rollover last weekend has prompted calls for more safety precautions.

• The City of Leduc is planning for future traffic headaches by highlighting areas for improvement on the city's roads.

• Stageworks is finishing off their season with three upcoming performances.

• In sports, a local team triumphed at a major pool tournament in Edmonton, the Leduc Drillers are preparing for their epic 200-km bike ride to raise funds for cancer research, and the Leduc StrayCats got their season off to a good start.

Check out our website or pick up a copy of the Rep for all this and more, including full coverage of what to expect at the 40th annual Black Gold Rodeo, which kicks off this Thursday!

(Photo: Magician Kent Wong demonstrated a little-known technique for relieving neck and head tension on Kaylee Dewar at the EDA's volunteer appreciation breakfast on April 21. Photo by Alex Pope.)

"This is why they call us hillbillies."

2009-04-24T09:10:00.005-06:00

Joan Shackley, one of the co-ordinators of Extendicare's music program, entertained the crowd as "Cousin Minnie" at a special appreciation supper for Extendicare's many volunteers at the Royal Canadian Legion hall in Leduc on April 23. As one onlooker commented, "This is why they call us hillbillies!" (Photo by Alex Pope)