I Cannot Believe What I Saw

Yesterday I saw on the TV a scene that I thought I would never see in a Canadian city. I saw a troubled youth {18 yrs old} being shot by police . This youth was alone in the street car and did not appear to be endangering anyone but himself when he was confronted by several police.

He clearly had a small pocket knife and was holding it close to his chest, and he was standing away from everyone.. I expected the police to talk to him and see what the problem was. No...they yelled at him to drop the knife..then to not move. The boy was afraid of something but we will never know. One or more of the police there to protect us shot the boy. Not once to disarm him , but three times. There was a 20 second break and then six more shots rang out. A teaser was used and the many police entered the streetcar and stormed the youth.

After doing their best to kill him they tried to save him.I was shocked, angered and totally ashamed of our finest at this moment. Police should be trained to isolate and talk a decision to save the boy,instead one or more shot this boy in cold blood. Where was the threat to the life of a policeman or the public? Where was there a move by this boy to indicate that he would harm anyone ? He released everyone from the bus, he allowed the driver to leave. Where did we hear a police officer say word to assure the boy that all could be OK if he just settled down and asked what was troubling him.

Disgust was the feeling I felt as I have been and still hold a great deal of respect for the police in general but with a hoard of cops present did no one of the many police come forward to help and not hurt this sick youth?

Perhaps there was a few, but there were a lot of drawn weapons against a pocket knife. I recently attended a graduation of sorts in Pembroke where I was a guest of honour. 22 young and old police officers were inducted into the OPP and many were my former students. I stood tall and proud. In talking to some of them after the ceremony I asked the eldest of the group who was about to retire and asked him if he ever had to shoot at anyone. "Hell no", he said "I never had to take my gun from my holster"; a kinder environment and a more understanding policeman.

We shall all look on to see just where the justice system deals with this mess. I trust better than the police charged after the G20.

Tree Company HHH

Since the wind storm I have been faced with a 35 foot tree which was in danger of falling into my neighbor's yard. When I require help I always phone my son Henry to give me a hand. This time I figured that we could take the tree down in sections and avoid my other trees and the gazebo.

Henry arrived here with his son Henry so we set out to get the job done. With three Henrys there should be little problem. Our plan was to drop the tree in three sections between my small utility barn and the gazebo I had several ornamental shrubs and a inukshuk in line for damage as well but with the rope guiding the fall we were able to get away without any damage at all.

The cleanup after the cutting went well and Henry III did most of the hauling of the branches. Theresa and I are pleased to get this chore finished with help as the city is picking up all the downed branches from the recent storm.

After the work we were joined by a daughter and grandson for dinner. A good visit and a job well done makes for a happy situation. Many thanks for the help H and H!
H

   

Back To The Health Club

During the months shared in Cape Coral where I attended the health club not less than five days a week I have been very negligent. Yesterday Theresa and I decided that we should look at joining a club here in Oakville. This morning we had a 8:15 appointment at the club and I tried to continue on the program I was on in Florida.

The simple machines that became easy after a few months were not easy after being away for two and a half months. Even now a few hours after my first go at continuing my program I am stiff as a board. I believe this condition is called old age  but if I keep at it I should be OK in a week or two.

This health club has full services including a Doctor to help with some of the issues we have. I believe that I will need help in nearly every area for the first while but will enjoy the challenge. I prepared our bikes for some long rides along the waterfront and this should help.

I always thought that working in the garden and around the house was enough but I was so wrong. I lost so much in a short time I believe I have to dedicate myself to a long range plan and stick with it. This will be fun when the cold winter mornings will seem so friendly in front of the fireplace instead of going to the club at 7:30 am. Time will tell... maybe.

Cambridge Bay Disappointment

On July 23rd,1996 I Received a phone call from Yellowknife.. It  was from an obviously distraught person who booked in fifteen bird watchers from Europe.The problem was that the person who was in charge was in Yellowknife and the group were already in Cambridge Bay. He asked if I knew anyone who could help out until he arrived the next day.

Most of the people were professional photographers from Germany and a few from Japan. I told him it would cost him but I would help. I always feared about situations like this. Because it would tarnish the image of our hamlet and all of Nunavut. I went to the Arctic Inn and met with the group. Some were already gone on their own but the majority were still there.

I explained the situation and told them I was a resident and knew the whereabouts of the birds that lived in the area. The group seemed to be satisfied and after a quick survey of their needs I found that all the group were looking for a Orange Throated Loon., Mute Swan and a Falcon . All these birds were found near or on Pelly Mountain. This mountain was really an esker about 800 feet high and accessible by a bus I hired.

The bus driver apologized for the condition of the bus as it had not been used for months. They all piled in and away we went. I tried to talk over the noise of the bus which had no muffler and I pointed out some points of interest.Muskoxen were in evidence and all the people suddenly wanted to take their picture. Some of the people had cameras that were huge and had to be supported by tripods.

I warned them about staying well out of their way as they could be nasty if they feel threatened or their young get close to them. Some listened some did not. After about an hour I motioned them back to the bus and they managed to get moving again in what seemed like hours.We travelled the road to Pelly Mountain and we parked the bus and set out walking. Most were unhappy with the idea of walking the mile or so to the mountain top[ so decides to explore any number of small and large lakes in the immediate area.

We decided to use the time discovering what makes the tundra so spectacular. The summer flowers, the variety of birds and small and large animals abound and everyone became excited at the viewing of a family of caribou. Three thirty was the time when everyone was to back at the bus and most were.However three were not and we found out that they got lost on the wrong side of a lake and had a long painful trek back. We bumped and grinded our way back to the Inn and all I could hear was how wonderful the countryside was. I did my part and was ready for the tour guide next morning. He came under the heavy hand of a disgruntled bunch and paid the price. For me I wanted cash for the bus driver and a top notch visit for his clients.

He was useless but got through the few days when the community gave a short demonstration of local drum dancing and throat singing. We withdrew his permits for future visits as a tour guide and apologized to the clients who thanked me for helping them to have a good photo shoot.

BEAUTIFUL DAY for a Birthday Party

Theresa loves parties specially if it is a birthday party for her. Well today friends and family gathered to celebrate her unknown birthday number. She has been looking forward to our get together for a few days and was very excited when the people came in for a family dinner complete with cake and gifts.Her Mom was about excited as Theresa was because of the mention of cake Doris get turned on as much as a 95 year old lady can. For the past week she has been trying to figure out how old Theresa is because she cannot believe she can have a daughter as old as Theresa.

Because of the summer holidays and people moving about some of the family were missing but they made their presence known through lengthy phone calls. We had perfect weather and daughter Glenda took over the job as chief cook and used the outdoors on the barbie to provide delicious food for the guests.

At all our parties we have some great discussions and today was no different. Politics ruled the day but the unrest in the USA over the verdict in a recent trial caused a heated debate.By the end of the evening we went our separate way determined to continue our debates at the very next gathering. Theresa had a wonderful day and was thrilled by the response to her special day.

Nature's Wrath

We have been warned about a huge storm after the heat wave coming our way in fact coming from way out West.Theresa and I had some chores to finish before the Birthday party on Sunday and I was in a hurry up mode.We finished our shopping and with one eye on the sky and one on the road I drove into our yard. I expected the storm to explode but it did not happen.

Theresa and I were discussing some details in my basement room when the lights went out. I mean the sun was covered with dark clouds and we raced upstairs. Taking loose objects into the garage and covering our deck chairs took only a minute but right on signal the wind came.

Rain, torrential rain and gusts of wind up to 75 km per hour made it impossible to see across the street. Lightening and thunder shook our house and gave us a great light show. For half an hour our world was in Mother Natures hands. Theresa looked out the window and announced that our young maple split down the middle.

It fell right on my tomatoes and beans. It was night so I decided to wait until the morning to assess the damage. I awake at 5.30 and looked out the window and saw the mess. My garden was covered with the branches of the tree. The maple was 6 years old and 35 feet tall but since it grew so quickly it had little strength. The wind just tore t apart.

I got outside some time after 6am and tried to be quiet so I used my swede saw. I cleared away all of the branches and cut up the heavier limbs. I managed to salvage the tomatoes or at least some of them and the beans that I had growing up to 8 feet on a trellis. Everything turned out OK and I am thankful that the damage was only a reminder of what could have been.

Years of Pain and Suffering

During the years I lived in the Arctic I listened to horror stories about student abuse in the residential schools set up by the Canadian Government. Some of the stories were so painful that people would believe that they were made up by the students.It was not only the Inuit who were involved but a much large group of aboriginal peoples who made up the First Nations spread all across northern Canada.

We now hear from the government itself that systematic starvation of our native children who were in the governments care for the purpose of studies on nutrition. Living on half rations and being deprived of needed vitamins these students were studied for a decade little knowing what was happening and without their consent.

When people came up north to visit  me I sometimes took them to a place called starvation cove where many Inuit died of starvation as the Federal government did little to provide food for a village who suffered a terrible tragedy when the caribou and fish never provided the needed food for the winter.

These and other events did not take place hundreds of years ago but during the forties and fifties, The latest revelation about the diet for the students is probably one of the sadist as the people working on this government sponsored experiment all knew it was wrong, These young people were treated like guinea pigs for research. These people were considered less than other Canadians and as such they thought that here was a perfect laboratory for their study. A closed society and a controlled society. Shame on the government of the day who permitted this terrible crime on an innocent and powerless  society. I trust that this information will cause much food for thought and we will focus on solutions to correct our double standard when it comes to aboriginal rights and living standards.

Temperature Rising

This year has been a year of surprises in as far as the weather . Heavy rains, cold nights earlier, high winds and now very hot weather. The forecast is for a number of days over 32 which would make it a heat wave lets us think that this year is rather unusual. We can expect more of the same as global warming and climate change is  here to stay.

People should not be fooled into thinking that this weather pattern will not stay  with us for years to come as all the evidence pointed to the fact that these changes caught us off guard. All the talk for the past 25 years from the experts show us that we should prepare for the changes.

100 year flood plains are been flooded, areas settled when good science said we should not build there are under water and the sun belt is becoming a desert. The northern area of Canada specially the Peace River district will become a valuable resource and the tree line will move further north.

It takes Mother Nature to show us the way and we better believe it. Prepare for the future or we could face terrible consequences.

A Trip Back In Time

Saturday was a quick trip back in time. Theresa, Doris and I drove up to McKellar Lake to visit our daughter and her hubby. We were delivering a set of beds I made over the past few days. This trip was clearly a trip in the past as I first moved into Ontario in 1957 to become the principal of Magnetawan Public School. The area around this part of Parry Sound District holds fond memories from the past.

McKellar Village had a good ball field and our team from the Mag used to play there on a regular basis. After the game we used to have a swim in the nearby lake and cool off. Nearby Ardbeg was one of the tiny church groups that I used to service from time to time. The whole area was my hunting ground in the fall when partridge were plentiful and my landlady used to cut them up and make a most wonderful stew. She had a German Swiss background and everything she cooked had a distinct flavour. She used to add sausage to the stew. Sounds weird but it tasted wonderful.

Theresa and I decided to take Doris, our 95 year old mother, with us to show her the cottage and the beautiful lakes. It was a good decision as she loved every minute and never slept a wink on the 3 hour drive each way.

Things have changed up in Parry Sound District from when I lived there 55 years ago, but the natural beauty of the area remains. The roads are more modern and carve ugly scars on the land but when the sun shines on the blue water of the lakes there are few places that can match it for raw beauty.

We hope to return soon to once again soak up mother natures masterpiece and share some time with family.

Wet Ride

Theresa and I planned a visit to  the Valley to visit friends. We have not been to this favourite place for two years so we planned on several days to make the trip  worth while.We left Oakville with the sun shinning but minutes after we started to experience torrential rains. Visibility was zero so we switched on our emergency flashers and moved in line with the transport trucks.. at tines the road was covered by several inches of water and I feared hydro planing.

Our drive took six hours plus and normally it would be around five hours. We stayed with our good friends Joan and John and ate wonderful food, played several games of hand and foot which is a fun card game and shared gossip. A special visit to my sister and an old friend and working partner made our stay specially friendly.

One of the reasons for the trip was the installation of the Pembroke police force into the OPP. This was a formal and beautiful service complete with formal uniforms, bagpipes and short speeches. About three hundred attended the invitation service and while there we met many old friends and work related folks. There were ten or more of the officers who were former students of mine at PSPS and as each one shook hands I was filled with pride to see these men taking a major career move to help the City of Pembroke keep the town folk safe.

Moving down the Ottawa River we stopped in at our brother in laws home and had a catch up visit as Margie was working. Kevin filled us in at all the latest with the family. Our next stop and a very important one was to see Doug and Patty.

Doug recently had surgery and was out of the hospital for a week but seemed to be doing great after such a short time after the surgery. Being two years since we had a visit we had much to talk about. The first item was the forest around their house.Doug loves trees and even knows the names of most of them and he too was amazed at their growth. We stayed for a little too long as Doug was getting a little tired but we managed to satisfy our need to be together again and we hope it will not be as long again before we will be playing golf and having a drink on his veranda.

We decided to travel half way home and stay with the idea of a golf game in the morning. However Mother Nature decided to send more life giving rain our way. We headed home and again experienced huge rainy weather and a radio announcement that we would be unable to pass through Toronto because of flooding. We took the 407 bypass and toll road and made it to Oakville. These were the worst floods since Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Home we came in over seven hours and scary driving but the visits we experienced were worth the effort. Seeing friends makes up for any difficulty we might experience.

On Being Canadian

When a child is born in this world there is one truth that subjects every child to a life without their having any control whatsoever . Their color, their parents and their future is decided by chance.A child born in Canada is born into a country which gives every opportunity for a bright future. There are exceptions such as our aboriginal children who are hampered because of the economic barriers to a proper education, health benefits and social interaction.

The very fact that Canadian children live in a social contract that is second to none means that their chance of a bright future is theirs for the taking.It is a sad fact that the young men of this generation are falling far behind their role as leaders in the western society and are leaving the field open to the young female members of our society.

Compared to other countries we have a built in safety net which gives all of our youth a head start because of our economic status in the worlds most progressive societies.In spite of these facts our young people continue to avoid political responsibilities such as voting. Many of our young men drop out of university at an alarming rate. The number of men living at home way past the old norm  and resisting having a marriage and family surprises the poll takers.

In my opinion a young Canadian should be so grateful to be born in Canada and have all the valuable support systems at hand that they should be motivated to make a contribution to Canada. Many do but there are far too many who do not. Every year we celebrate our anniversary and I would like there to be a greater emphasis on duty to country and family.

During my limited travels I have been impressed with the manner in which Canada is perceived by the world. I only wish that we from within would would become a person who would make that perception a reality here at home by making a significant contribution.