Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops

The Country of Miracles

As soon as I saw the lineup, It struck me that some interesting headline choices had been made for the 2010 Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival. 

The act that closed out this evening - and this year's festival - Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles - is largely unknown by most of the people I spoke with at the event. And while the unfamiliar is often given a fighting chance at this festival, putting entirely unfamiliar music center stage on the last night... well, it seemed a little optimistic.

Gord and his alternate touring/studio act, which includes The Skydiggers' Josh Finlayson, Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, Julie Doiron, Dale Morningstar, and Dave Clark of The Rheostatics, may comprise a stellar Canadian musical pedigree, but still; isn't a little familiarity expected with your keynote act?

Despite the band's playful banter, cross-talk, and overall high quirk-quotient, the fair ground did start to empty out earlier than usual. Mr. Downie himself confessed that throughout the summer, whatever festival they played, it just didn't seem a good fit. To which Ms. Doiron responded that the best fit for the band was "everywhere and nowhere."

Odd maybe, but this was still the band with which I really connected. It was so curious to see how the band carried on talking with, over, and around Downie throughout the evening, and even during the course of some songs. It was this perfectly loose dynamic, this professional but almost jocular familiarity that ultimately helped me chuckle and grin as I sampled songs - Like The East Wind - which might not have garnered a second thought otherwise. The delivery gave me an opportunity to warm up to the music. Not at all like a Hip concert, right? :P

I would be remiss to mention one other act which you really should sample. Nomfusi and the Lucky Charms, was the penultimate act on the mainstage. The South African vocalist is an absolute riot to watch and hear; her diminutive frame makes you wonder where she could possibly hide all that vocal torque. She has been touring Canada for the last month; between her excellent English and the way she is being packaged, I anticipate we will hear more of the little dynamo in the future

So that's it, that's the last of this summer's Roots & Blues. Although I saw some familiar Kamloops faces, the number of people I recognized seems down somewhat, maybe an indication of the overall attendance?

If you haven't attended, it's something you really must try. It's an inexpensive way to expose your own (and maybe your children's) palates to entertaining ear candy that no summer should expire without.

Were you there? What was your favourite moment of the weekend? Just click on "Comments" (below)

 

The Trolls Among Us

I had the most interesting discussion with a troll today, at the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival.

But first, I must confess how thoroughly disappointed I was with the Saturday evening show. I had been eagerly looking forward to Joan Armatrading's show. A friend turned me on to her in the late seventies, but I haven't really given her recordings much of a chance for at least a couple of decades. 

Prior to Ms. Armatrading's performance, Martha Wainwright brought the tempo down with a set almost entirely dedicated to the late Parisian vocalist Edit Piaf. It was interesting, and certainly painted an unmistakable musical picture, full of smoky cabarets and star-crossed love. But I knew it was just a setup for the headline act, with who's acoustic touch I looked forward to becoming reacquainted.

As it was, Ms. Armatrading kept was slow and electronic for much of her set, and more than a little unfamiliar to boot. Never mind, I could still snap a picture or two for the blog, a nice way to refresh my memory of her. But the performer ensured that security wouldn't permit fans to capture her image, so that was that. I couldn't find very much in her performance to cherish.

Now, this is Joan Armatrading, so it's impossible not to find something positive to report. And here it is; her delivery of The Weakness In Me was so melancholy, so conflicted, so soaked with guilt and regret, it was excruciating. And beautiful. But overall her set was long, slow, and indulgent. 

Now, back to the troll. 

I spoke  with Grandpa Troll (pictured) for a few minutes this afternoon at the Family Fun tent. I informed him I was from Kamloops when he asked, to which he replied with a croaky eastern-European accent, "Ahh! I having family there!"

"Really?" I asked. "Who?"

"Name is Kevin," replied Grandpa. 

"Kevin who?"

"Krueger!"

With all appropriate apologies (Kevin), is still funny... no?

Have you met (or been) a troll lately? Tell me about it, just click on "Comments" (below)

Cat Came Back

Saturday afternoon at the 2010 Salmon Arm Root's & Blues Festival is a great time to either either be a kid, know one, or have been one.

A superlative family-friendly daytime line-up at this event is a given. No use picking and choosing show times from the programme; just show up, grab an ice cream, set up camp in the family circle, and leave the last forty years at the door.

Fred Penner was such a joy to watch, that watching wasn't enough. There were at least as many adults as children clapping, singling, and grinning ear-to-ear as there were children. It's a wonder to me that the songs and that voice could evoke such warm remembrances for so many of us older folk, even though much of the original experience may have been vicarious. And here we are again, ten, twenty, thirty years on, basking in the glow of those musical moments as though we had experienced them ourselves in the first person, rather than through the eyes and ears of our children. Where exactly does self end?

Mr. Penner treated us to his own extended self, bringing along a pick-up band (some pick-up band, it was actually Winnipeg's The F-Holes) who were very obviously playing with the children's icon for the very first time. But he led them with easy familiarity, even calling them back to the stage after one particularly romping effort - which they very obviously interpreted as the finish - with a pleasant but authouritative, "I didn't dismiss you!" They sheepishly but energetically jumped back on stage, then followed the parade thru to it's most proper conclusion, The Cat Came Back. But audience and band alike shared a smile when Mr. Penner deftly wove K-OS's Crabbukit into the progression of his own biggest hit. 

Later, The Kerplunks got all the little ones up dancing with a highly-interactive jam, featuring a stand-up bass and trumpet. The quartet approaches a younger audience with full measure of musical novelty. So often the sounds we hear these days are of similar substance, I can't imagine young ears wouldn't be drawn to such unfamiliar tones and rhythms. Mine certainly were.

This evening it will be back to the fair grounds, where our tardy arrival this afternoon earned us a patch of turf much removed from the action. But closer to the ice cream, mini-donut, and lemonade stands. I might have to snooze in the garden tomorrow morning as well!

When was the last time you broke out the children's albums? Or, to tell us about your own festival experiences, just click on "Comments" (below)

Roots & Blues Still Alive and Well

Ears are still ringing, mind still busy after watching the Sam Roberts Band freewheel through a roller-coaster 15-minute encore set here in Salmon Arm, bringing the 17th annual Roots & Blues Festival to a close this evening.

Despite the headliner's great finish, I can't stop thinking about Johnny Winter. In spite of his frail appearance, Mr. Winter delivered heavy blues licks that echoed memories of his music from my childhood. I would often listen to my older brothers' vinyl before they arrived home from high school, and so spent most of those intervening hours listening to Ten Years After, Santana, and Johnny Winter. I liked the album art of the last two best; Santana for the heavy-breasted women featured prominently on the cover, and Johnny Winter for the novel appearance of the talented albino bluesman.

There's something familiar and appealing about the blues that can hook a person, even when they're unfamilair with the specific artist or song. It's difficult to say the same thing about a lot of pop in a fairground environment however, where otherwise obvious hooks get lost in echoes and imperfect sound systems. Although I personally enjoy Sam Roberts, it was pretty obvious that a portion of this evening's crowd just kind of lost interest once his band took the stage.

Too old? Probably. Too young? Some of us.

But when the blues are on stage, most of us are still alive and well.

To share your thoughts about the Sam Roberts Band, the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, Johnny Winter, the blues, family festivals, or anything else with readers of Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops, just click on "Comments" (below)

 

Let My People Go!

Jay Malinowski may have slurred his way through the lyrics of half a dozen songs, but it was the way he slurred during Bedouin Soundclash's wind-up set at the 17th annual Roots & Blues Festival in Salmon Arm that gave the day such a rolicking finish.

Shortly after taking the stage, Malinowski ordered the typically restrained crowd seated in front of him to its feat, and out from behind the barricades erected to keeping dancing attendees away from the stage. But even with his direction, the audience at this festival is so well-mannered it actually took a couple of minutes before the party started.

As related here in previous years, many at this family festival seem to expect their entertainers to deliver a healthy portion of propriety with their music. But Canada's reigning reggae-ska duo would have none of it, inviting a couple hundred grinning/bleary/pungent youth forward to dance in the grass under the stars.

Malinowski and band mate Eon Sinclair, accompanied by horns and percussion, were joined on-stage by Canadian blues hero Gordie Johnson, the frontman formerly of Big Sugar and currently of Grady, for a couple of songs.  Malinowski and Johnson giggled and flubbed their way through, obviously enjoying themselves in a way that was pretty refreshing. The Roots & Blues may be a family fest, but its nice to see that there's still room for acts like Bedouin Soundclash and Bobby Rush to deliver their sets their way.

Earlier in the evening Ana Popovic made a solid case for fastest hands in the West with stellar guitar playing, and a sound one would expect to have originated in the Big Apple rather than Belgrade.

Prior to Popovic taking the stage, Darondo scandalized the evening when he brought the funk out, singing about "titties" and intimate love. But I wonder... is it really the occasional vulgarity that offends, or the fact that it's a sexually confident senior singing it?

The very large majority of acts during the the two and a half days of this festival are completely appropriate for children of all ages. And the wonderful family-oriented activities available throughout the day make this a must-attend event for the Kamloops Bakers. So while others grouse at the occasional late-evening act introduces some spice to the mix, we have learned to enjoy the full menu, and plan our summers around it.

To share your thoughts about the Darondo, funk, Bedouin Soundclash, reggae, Ana Popovich, the blues, family festivals, or anything else with readers of Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops, just click on "Comments" (below)

Movie, Interrupted

As discussed here in the past, my work takes me frequently on the road to various locations across Canada. I enjoy meeting with customers face-to-face, but dislike the time spent away from my young family.

A couple of years ago I would hit the theater at least once a week for a movie, but given how much time is currently spent on the road, when in town I prefer to just stay at home. These days, I catch far more movies in airplanes and hotel rooms than at actual theaters.

The frustrating part of catching movies on the road is how often one misses the second half or tail end when the plane starts to descend and the entertainment system shuts off. Maybe if I wasn't so greedy, if I didn't always push my luck and try for a second movie, I wouldn't be in that position. But the same quirk of personality that makes me perpetually late, the fact that I can't be content with what I've already accomplished, that I have to squeeze in just one more thing no matter what, does me in.

But tonight was different.

On Air Canada flight 115 from Toronto this evening (picture, at right), I finished not one, but two movies! Now when I say finished, that's exactly what is meant; I finally caught the second half of two movies; Traitor with Don Cheadle and Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, and Greg Kinnear. While working until the charge on my laptop expired. And reading two newspapers. And switching seats to an exit row, with at least two more glorious inches of legroom. Sweet!

Finally, I am content. After an already long day of work, I squeezed a lot of things in, managed to accomplish some professional objectives, and resolve some unresolved leisure activities (like writing this post). Today was a good day. And I just had to share.

To share your thoughts about travel, Don Cheadle, Ricky Gervais, Air Canada, or anything else with readers of Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops, just click on "Comments" (below)

Under My Skin

Things get so crazy in the fall, doesn't seem to matter what a person is involved in, how large or small their family... it's just the busy season. Even weekends that looked laid back until Friday afternoon end up looking more like a 2-day scavenger hunt than anything resembling restful relaxation.

Despite (or in part maybe because of) the two concurrent elections underway, I haven't got the brain power for big ideas.  This last week, it's been the little things that gotten under my skin, hence this lengthy installment of Baker Likes/Baker Doesn't:

Baker Likes:

• It's a booth time! - As predicted in this space a year ago (September 8, 2007 - Expect highway tolls to be in play for next BC election), the provincial Liberals today removed the toll from the Coquihalla highway. Premier Gordon Campbell announced the move this afternoon at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Penticton.

Throughout the week, it appeared that the Premier had been on the ropes over his carbon tax, with mounting pressure to exempt the North, or cancel the tax entirely. On Wednesday he "blinked" by promising to refund the tax to communities that become carbon neutral by 2012. He looked weak, even Carol James was feeling the wind at her back, crowing that Campbell was "... not listening" to the province's community leaders. Little did she realize it was all a set-up.

By allowing an expression of popular opposition (as opposed to official opposition) to wring this toll from his hands, Gordon now looks like 1). the belle of the ball (long, hard-wraught pun intended), and; 2). a good listener who understands British Columbians.

But in addition to the gifts he bore for municipal leaders, Mr. Campbell also delivered a lump of coal to Jack Layton, who he criticized for promising to tear up the softwood lumber agreement.

“Rip it up? Give your head a shake,” Campbell said. “We won't rebuild the forest industry by ripping up the softwood lumber agreement . . . It’s what’s keeping our forest industry going through what is probably the most difficult period in its history.” - The Tyee

Whatever your stripe, it's hard not to be impressed with that kind of masterful political play. Mr. Campbell drove one through the heart of his own political opposition with a solid forehand, then immediately spread the love around for the federal Conservatives with a surprising backhand to Jack Layton's head. But then again, the anti-Layton sneer works in Mr. Campbell's favour too; does anybody really differentiate between shrill provincial and federal NDPers?

• Sex on the hustings - OK, well maybe not sex on the hustings, but if a picture is worth a thousand words, certainly a lot of chatter about sex, judgement, and one Conservative candidate. Sharon Smith, who represents the Conservatives in Skeena-Bulkley Valley, was captured in a full-monty portrait by her husband after capturing the Houston, BC mayor's office in 2002. The picture was soon after published on the Internet by person's unkown, and even made a splash across the pond in the U.K. press. But everything old is new again in a federal election, so Mrs. Smith is once defending her birthday suit celebration. Between Stephen Harper and Mrs. Smith, have the Tories ever looked so sexy?

• A different kind of sizzle is what caught my eye at CTV.ca, where the network is demonstrating a deft touch with some online tools which this voter found fun and informative. The first, a Canada-wide election heat map, helps one visualize where the leaders are currently and where they've been over the course of the election. It was a neat feature during my first visit, but lacked the depth to pull me back in during subsequent visits; now, if it had provided a link between the leader's stops (represented by push-pins on the map) and the stories that resulted from those whistle-stops, I'd go back again and again. The second tool was better executed, it's a "Pick Your Party" race (at right). Viewers are asked to select from a sequence of unattributed quotes to determine which leader aligns best with your views. It had me guessing to the end.

• No oil please, I'm gassy - Nice to see that legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens continues to put his money where his mouth is with respect to moving America away from its dependence on (foreign) oil. Mr. Pickens just bought Canadian innovator FuelMaker Inc., which produces a natural-gas refueling station for the home, called the Phill. The appliance taps into the natural gas lines already in one's home, to leverage a relatively inexpensive but previously inaccessible vehicle fuel source. Critics suggest his motivation is all profit. Is that a bad thing?
  

• EI option for Self-employed - Prime Minister Harper's pledge to introduce parental EI benefits for entrepreneurs is a fresh and welcome initiative. While the devil may very well be in the details, feedback on non-aligned sites seems largely positive. The move will give many married voters another reason to vote Conservative, while simultaneously appealing to the 15% of the Canadian workforce that is currently self-employed, and which . While I generally prefer governments to limit their roles rather than increase them, family-friendly initiatives that help children spend more time with their own parents represent a welcome departure from the groupthink that encourages parents to place children in the care of others. 

Baker Doesn't:

• Dion goes to the bench - It's about time. Stephen Dion has finally discovered that if he can't win this election by himself, at least least he can lose it with help. One of Jean Chrétien's most dependable tactics was the deployment of lieutenants as foils against his foes. It gave him an opportunity to deliver different messages, but without the responsibility of consolidating those messages into a single unified thread. It also provided a lot of leeway for Mr. Chrétien to attack other party leaders, without the risk of getting muddy himself (not that he ever shied away from that).

But Mr. Dion is only getting it half-right... he's stumping along with them. It's an obvious mistake; he looks a wan in comparison, and is giving many card-carrying Liberals reason for regret rather than enthusiasm. The Liberal leader should assign one of the more aggressive members of the Liberal pantheon to shadow Mr. Harper directly, maybe one of them has what it takes to step up and become "The Grate One" of Canadian politics, à la Esa Tikkanen. The Republicans did it very effectively in Denver; the Liberals should be attacking the Conservative strength here in Canada, and the only way to do that effectively is with a team, not a one-man show. Mr. Harper is in the zone; the Liberals need to get him off his game before he runs up the score.

• 2 legit 2 quit - Why is it that when traditional media is under pressure, bloggers get the blame? This week local journalists gathered at a forum to discuss the present and future of journalism for the benefit of TRU journalism students. The Daily News reported that some of the collected professionals expressed concern that blogs have intruded into the news that people consume locally, like it's an either-or proposition. But if traditional media has lost its appeal, and blogs may be the usual suspect, the actual culprits may actually reside a little closer to home.

Take broadcast for example. Back in 2004, CNN reported on a Pew Research Center for the People and the Press study which revealed that "21 percent of people aged 18 to 29 cited "The Daily Show" and "Saturday Night Live" as a place where they regularly learned presidential campaign news. By contrast, 23 percent of the young people mentioned ABC, CBS or NBC's nightly news broadcasts as a source." Then, in May 2008 Pew told us that John Stewart has become the 4th most admired journalist (tied with legitimate anchormen Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and Anderson Cooper). What does it say about legitimate news media that news satire has become synonymous with news?

I personally have always been skeptical of what I read or hear on any news source. Rather, I read and listen to lots of news stories, editorials, and letters to the editor, then based upon my own experience of how the report of an event can differ from the actual event, I form my own perspective on an issue. Often the thing that drives me online to blogs (and other endpoints) is an on-going quest for more perspective, depth, or awareness of what others think. I do that, surely others do as well. In which case, the legitimate media should be adapting to the cause (evolving viewer/reader/listener/browser behaviour) rather than railing against the symptom (the growing popularity of blogs and other ultra-local/social media).

Despite the inclusive language of CFBX program co-ordinator Steve Marlow, I'm not convinced that blogging is journalism, although in the right hands it certainly can be journalism. But whatever it is, it doesn't require nor desire a nod from traditional media to be deemed legitimate; the consumer has already proclaimed this media 2 legit 2 quit reading. Hammertime!

To share your thoughts about the running man, Hammer, The Grate One, John Stewart, Colbert, Stephen Harper, Stephen Dion, Bob Rae, maternity benefits, the federal election, T. Boone Pickens, Gordon Campbell, the Coquihalla toll, politics,Sharon Smith, Kamloops media, or anything else about this post with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, just click on "Comments" (below).

Somber Aaron Neville Lifts Hearts in Salmon Arm

First, welcome to new visitors arriving here by way of Sean Horlor's Vancouver Gay Blog. Mr. Horlor graciously added Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops to his blogroll, and I have reciprocated.

Now, back to the wrap-up of the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival...

Aaron Neville makes me scratch me head every time I see him sing. He is an imposing physical presence (left, captured at the 2008 New Orleans Jazzfest), but produces such a delicate and soulful tremolo that my eyes and ears can't agree whether they are accurately triangulating the same source.

That effect was amplified Sunday night at the 16th Annual Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, where the Neville Brothers wound up the weekend as the headline act. Throughout their performance, Mr. Neville wore such a somber expression that I couldn't help but wonder whether someone had just run over his dog. And the interplay between Aaron and older brother Ivan Art certainly suggested that the vocalist preferred a timely end to the evening.

Despite his always impressive stature and apparent dour mood however, Aaron lifted the spirits of the festivalers whenever he touched the microphone. While many other mature popular vocalists work down the scale rather than reaching for high notes during live performances (hell, lot's of our youngest stars regularly sync their way through concerts), Aaron seemed to relish each opportunity to deliver the highs we have come to expect, but with greater nuance than any of the studio recordings we might cherish.

A smaller-than-usual crowd was on hand to hear the final performance, and it appeared that numbers were down throughout the weekend. The festival has been dogged by controversy since January, when Linda Tanaka was removed as artistic director. Since then debate has raged in Salmon Arm about the manner of and reasons for her dismissal, and Ms. Tanaka has taken a similar role with the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. With attendee numbers down (and rumours that the same holds true for volunteers), it would appear that it may take some time for this fest to recover completely. I don't know enough about this specific situation to comment, but generally speaking the pain that comes with change can be a solid investment in positive future outcomes.

To share your thoughts about this post with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, just click on "Comments" (below).

Rush for the Exit at Salmon Arm Roots & Blues

As expected, Day 2 of the 16th annual Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival is delivering a diverse and fulfilling musical and cultural experience here in vacation country.

Organizers have provided ample supply of water and misters, always an important consideration when the temperature hits the upper thirties. Despite the heat a diverse assortment of vendors are plying their wears, such as Becky Caulford and friend - sorry, I can't recall the name, although we spoke for maybe ten minutes - of Honey Bea Design Hive, a "sustainable fashion company" based in Toronto. The duo manufacturer ladies accessories (handbags, etc.) using only reclaimed and recovered materials they discover in thrift shops and second-hand stores, including "bedsheets, tablecloths, curtain rings and drink coasters".

As the sun went down to Big Brother and the Holding Company (below), attendees reclaimed their respective territories in front of the main stage, and parents of young children (like yours truly) worried whether the pungent aroma of skunk in the air would translate into contact highs for their charges.

The second-to-last act on the main stage, David Wilcox (left) delivered the Canadian blues goods, his always curious and charismatic expressions kept experienced and new fans alike delighted. 

But in the most disappointing development of the day, people started to head for the exits after Bobby Rush (below right) took the stage. Songs about booty and 300-pound women are his trademark, but may have been a little risque for a crowd which normally seems rather eclectic to this observer. The large number of people streaming for the gates made me wonder whether the crowd here is as open to experience as I've always thought.

While it is possible that the reception may have been similar if there was more colour (or youth, or whatever) in the audience, chances are that if the mix was different/right, the crowd would have been shouting back at the septuagenarian Mr. Rush' s antics (as in the 2007 performance captured below) and packing the stage, rather than fleeing it. My family came away memories of something enjoyed but not fully understood, which is always a treat. I applaud the organizers for keeping it real.

To share your thoughts about Bobby Rush, booty, David Wilcox, live music, the Salmon Arms Roots & Blues Festival, white bread, or anything else about this post with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, just click on "Comments" (below).

Randy Baker Is Not Forgotten

Twenty-five years ago today, my brother died.

Randy was the oldest brother of us four Baker boys, including Lyle, Brett, and I. At 6'2" he was a big man, with broad shoulders, an enormous chest, and a laugh to match.

Randy died after a experiencing a spontaneous blood clot in his brain, something not too dissimilar from a stroke. He was in Phoenix, swimming (as usual) while on a field trip, when he was struck down by a tiny invisible blow, which despite his strength and vigour killed him within a week. He was 28 years old.

Although still a young man, Randy was a gifted and prolific marine biologist. He studied marine oligochaetes (ol-i-go-kets - segmented worms) about which he authored 15 scientific papers during the four years prior to his death. Afterwards, his thesis advisor at the University of Victoria, Dr. Ralph O. Brinkhurst wrote of him,

Randy... was a big man in every sense of the word. He first joined my laboratory in 1978... we were immediately impressed by those characteristics that many came to know and admire, his basic decency, generosity of spirit and warm good humour.

[While working toward his M.Sc.] the supervisory committee proposed that he had progressed so fast that his enrollment be upgraded to allow him to proceed directly to the Ph.D. degree, with the proviso that he gain experience through travel and work at centers [abroad]. Accordingly, Randy planned and executed a tour of Europe that took him to laboratories from Ireland and England through Norway and Sweden. In 1982 he acted as the station manager of the Smithsonian Institute research station at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize.

Randy was a member of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, the International Association of Meiobenthologists, the Biological Society of Washington, and the Society of Systematic Zoology. He was a Voluntary Research Associate of the British Columbia Provincial Museum, and was elected Vice President, University of Victoria Graduate Student Society in April, 1983.

Randy combined scholarship and dedication with infectious charm, and all the shining promise of youth that has found its focus in life. His pioneering work is his monument. His placed will not be filled, he will be truly missed.

Later, we three boys watched as our mother accepted Randy's posthumous Ph.D. with grace and courage at a University of Victoria convocation ceremony.

Today, looking back the quarter century since Randy died, I know that I am somewhat less and different than the man I might have become with his continued friendship and example. But this is who I have become, and this Barry keeps Randy close at hand, not just with things I recall, but also with mementos of his life that I will never understand.

On my desk stands a grey ceramic kitten, with a too-cute expression and a baby blue ribbon tied in a bow about its neck. It doesn't fit with the Randy I knew, who lived within spartan means, read Lewis and Lovecraft, and seemed always (occasionally to my chagrin) to be in charge. I suspect it was a gift from a girlfriend; given the initials on the bottom, a little sleuthing might clear the mystery up for good. But I hope to never know the story behind this ceramic kitten.

Like most people, the full depth of Randy's character was known only to himself. What subtleties would my memory of him hold today, if all I had to recall were my own experiences, captured as a boy ten years his junior? I need more than that. So I keep this kitten close, to remind me of things I didn't know about him, to keep his motivations intact and uncertain, and his memory alive. To remind me of the brother I grieve and celebrate.

Randy Baker is gone, but not forgotten.

Howard Randall Baker (1955 - 1983)

2008 CTFI Taekwon-do Championships in Kamloops

This weekend Kamloops is full of martial artisans, as the city plays host to the 2008 CTFI Western Taekwon-do Championships.

Thompson Valley Taekwon-do Schools, led by Mr. Rob Gill (V Dan Black Belt), took over the Tournament Capital Centre this afternoon. I helped a little, but stayed away from most of the action due to a nasty flu bug. However, here is a quick couple of snapshots of the field house as the setup transpired.

Over 300 competitors representing 20 schools across four provinces will make this one of the largest Taekwon-do events in Canada this year, second only to the nationals. Admission is free, so if you want to discover traditional taekwon-do, the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops is the place to be March 22 (tomorrow).

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 am, all ages coloured belts compete after lunch.

To share your thoughts with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, click on "Comments" (below).

Kamloops Sprung

Homebound this weekend, nursing a sick little one who insisted on proof that spring has sprung in Kamloops at 2,900 feet. Despite the 3/4" of snow up here yesterday afternoon, the tulips continue to  push through the garden soil, and the primroses and crocuses (as below) are giving us hope.

Yellow Primrose:

 

Crocuses:

Blue Primrose:

Tired of winter? What are you doing to usher in spring, or keep yourself sane? To share your thoughts  with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, just click on "Comments" (below).

Stan Burton, KMHA Executive Have Nothing to Worry About

As the first month of 2008 unfolds here in Kamloops, the city remains transfixed by the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association scandal in which underage players partied at the home of association President Stan Burton, and the parent who brought the matter to the press was suspended by the association executive.

Meanwhile, at about the same time two years ago, the people of Kelowna were not only transfixed but were also mobilizing to change the president and executive of Kelowna Minor Hockey after they suspended a parent and her hockey-playing son for speaking out.

In that case hockey mom Wendy Wahler wrote a letter to the editor of Castanet.net, an online Kelowna media property. The letter expressed her frustration that both Kelowna Mayor Sharon Sheperd and Kelowna Minor Hockey President Mike Dalton failed to attend the organization's 27th annual Tim Hortons Major Midget Hockey Tournament. KMH president Mike Dalton then suspended both Ms. Wahler (for a year) and her 17-year-old son - who was captain of the Midget AA Junior Rockets - even though the boy had not offered any criticism himself.

The injustice visited upon Ms. Wahler resulted in a huge public outcry, including the mother of all discussion threads at Castanet.net. Then, despite the fact that both the mother and son were reinstated, hockey parent Adrian Van de Mosselaer organized a petition (signed by 120 association members) which forced Kelowna Minor Hockey to call an extraordinary meeting. As he explained at the time to Castanet.net, "The Societies Act shows that we require 10% of the members signatures---then they have to hold a general meeting."

Prior to the meeting President Mike Dalton resigned. But on February 21 2006, a vote to dissolve the association's executive was held. Despite the massive turnout, and a majority who voted in favour of the motion, the motion was defeated. Still, the damage had been done; when the smoke cleared the following May at the annual general meeting, Kelowna Minor Hockey had a new president and an executive with mostly of fresh faces.

Here in Kamloops, despite all the searches for information and letters to the editor, there is no similar petition circulating, and Kamloops Minor Hockey Association members seem disinclined to rock the boat despite Stan Burton's egregious lack of judgement, whereas in Kelowna all Mike Dalton did was play hooky and go skiing. Go figure.

I've been told that far from mobilizing, many KMHA parents are actually sharing less criticism of the organization than usual, lest they or their children incur some future retribution. In Kamloops the status quo remains firmly in effect; Stan Burton and the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association executive have nothing to worry about.

To share your thoughts about the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, problems in amateur sport, the status quo, or any other aspect of this issue with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, click on "Comments" (below).

 

Readers, letter writers won't let Kamloops Minor Hockey scandal die

Based upon the continuing appearance of letters to local newspaper editors, it appears that interest in the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association youth drinking scandal has failed to dissipate over the holidays. In fact, Kamloops Daily News City Editor Susan Duncan addressed the issue for the first time in Friday's On The Run column, published here. That so many in Kamloops refused to let the issue die over the holidays speaks to the depth of frustration and unease with the KMHA's handling of the affair.

This isn't just a matter of a few hotheads who won't give the issue up. Rather, it confirms something I've observed online since first posting about the issue back in December; people are looking for information about the scandal in large numbers.

One interesting aspect of publishing online is that one can monitor the visitor traffic to one's web site. Now, for the most part the level of detail to which I have access isn't very fine. However, it is very specific in one respect; search strings.

A significant portion of the visitors who arrive at this site do so after finding it on a search engine like Google, Yahoo, MSN. When the person conducting the search is redirected here, the search engine also sends me the list of words for which they were searching. As you can imagine, online publishers who care to review this data can develop a pretty good understanding of what interests their readers.

What I have learned since December is that readers of this blog are continuing to search for information about the underage drinking party at the home of Kamloops Minor Hockey Association (KMHA) President Stan Burton, the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, minor hockey in Kamloops, Ladd and Monica Maloski, and a variety of other terms that are related to this sad saga.

In addition to observing visitor traffic, I have also received emails from concerned citizens - some of whom are leaders in the Kamloops sporting community - who express dismay at the apparent lack of respect for essential KMHA principles, such as;

EXPECTATIONS OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
An Executive Member of Kamloops Minor Hockey is an Executive Member first, parent and spectator second... Conduct shall be considered to be under scrutiny at all times and therefore above reproach.

and,

EXPECTATIONS OF COACHES AND TEAM OFFICIALS
Those individuals accepting the position of coach do so knowing that they become the most important individual to the team.  By leadership the coach establishes a model that players will use to mould a significant portion of their attitude toward the game.  This facet is especially true in minor hockey where players are in the formative years of their life.

Following are a few points that Team Officials must keep in mind:
...
8) The illegal use of alcohol or drugs will not be tolerated.  Anyone found guilty will be subject to suspension

Will public outrage force Stan Burton to resign? I doubt it; I suspect he has made up his mind to serve out his term, regardless of what would be best for the association. While Mr. Burton may choose to go out on his own terms, one has to wonder about the remainder of the executive. They have apparently chosen inaction rather than taking a stand on principles that seem obvious to the rest of us. How will they be able to lead the KMHA once Mr. Burton steps aside?

To share your thoughts about the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, problems in amateur sport, leadership, or any other aspect of this issue with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, click on "Comments" (below).

 

Kamloops Minor Hockey Ass.: Case of the Missing Bylaws

Kamloops Daily News Sports Editor Greg Drinnan made a comment recently that caught my attention, in  his follow-up story (reproduced on his blog here) regarding the ongoing saga of underage drinking at the home of Kamloops Minor Hockey Association President Stan Burton, and the related mistreatment of whistle-blowers Ladd and Monica Malosk (emphasis my own):

According to the KMHA’s website, from which its bylaws recently disappeared, its second vice-president is Kelly Brandt. Brandt is a friend of the Maloskis and was in their home the evening of the party. She has since removed herself from the appeal committee.

Hamilton was appointed the committee’s chairman at a Nov. 26 board meeting. He is the KMHA’s midget director. It was a midget team that held the party in the home of the KMHA president.

And around and around it goes.

In addition to Mr. Drinnan's implication that the apparent conflicts of interest at the KMHA might adversely affect the both Maloskis and the overall handling of the affair, the reference to the removal from the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association web site of the association's bylaws piqued my interest.

So, after a little investigation, here is a pdf image of the KMHA bylaws as they were posted on the KMHA web site back in 2004. I expect that like many other community organizations the KMHA has probably made changes to the bylaws since 2004; in fact, the page from which this document was originally available on the KMHA web site indicated a prospective amendment, but I can't seem to find information about that - or any subsequent - amendment.

To share your thoughts about the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, problems in amateur sport, teenage drinking, conflicts of interest, whistle-blower mistreatment, or any other aspect of this issue with Right Up Your Alley: Kamloops readers, click on "Comments" (below). If you have a more recent version of the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association bylaws, email me here.

Less Morbid Fascination, More Seatbelt Nazis

I have been finding it increasingly difficult to avoid reading about the heartbreaking disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The darling 4 year old girl disappeared from a Portugal resort where she was vacationing with her parents and twin brothers; parents Kate and Gerry McCann are official suspects.

It's been difficult because I'm a news junky, and this story is all over the place. While other people read fiction, do crossword puzzles, or play cards, I read as many different papers a day as I can get my hands on. But while most aspects of media behaviour fascinate me, it's the media's own fascination with this kind of story makes me turn away.

The adage, "If it bleeds, it leads" may sound a little simplistic, but it fits this situation pretty accurately. News outlets can bank on the fact that the public will follow abduction stories, because they elicit fears of what might happen to our own children.  And what do we do when we are afraid?  We tune in to TV news and buy the morning paper, to become better armed with the information that will help us protect our own loved ones.

The problem is that while we may feel better informed about abductions (and so take steps to ensure that our own children never play unsupervised and never have an unscripted moment), the chances that anyone will ever attempt to abduct our own children is actually very small.

The Abduction of Children by Strangers in Canada: Nature and Scope, a 2003 study published on the federal government's Our Missing Children web site, indicates that statistics from the Missing Children's Registry somewhat misrepresent the true number of abductions by strangers or acquaintances (essentially, abductions by someone who is not a parent). While the registry indicates eighty-three such abductions between 2000 and 2001 in Canada, there were, "... surprisingly quite a few technical errors which contributed to the inflated number of reported stranger abductions." The actual number of stranger/acquaintance abductions during those two years? Five. Sadly, four of those five children were killed by their abductors. Still, no matter how horrible the circumstances, that is an average of two deaths per year across all of Canada as a result of an abduction by a stranger or acquaintance.

We all worry about child abductions, but aside from being vigilant and educating our children, there may be little we can do to protect them from such a tragedy. However, most parents spend much more time fretting about improbable abductions than they do about the thing that really is killing our children on a much more consistent and avoidable basis: traffic accidents.

Safe Kids Canada reports that every year more than seventy Canadian children die in car crashes (emphasis my own):

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and serious injury to children of all ages, but those age 4 to 9 are currently the most vulnerable. Canadian data shows that the death rate from car crashes has dropped in all other age groups, but not for children in this age range.

Data also tells us that the majority of Canadian children age 4 to 9 are riding in seat belts, which puts them at risk for serious injuries in a crash. Seat belts are designed to fit adult proportions; children generally don’t reach the right size for a seat belt until at least age 9, often older.

Children who are too small for seat belts run the risk of what doctors call “seat belt syndrome” in the event of a crash. This refers to the range of serious injuries that happen to the internal organs and spine when a seat belt doesn’t fit properly.

The risks of serious injury and death can be significantly reduced by use of a booster seat, a simple safety device that ensures a seat belt fits a child correctly. Unfortunately, our research shows that [only] 28 per cent of Canadian parents of children age 4 to 9 say they are using booster seats for their children. Most parents think that their children are too big or too old for booster seats, but they are not.

What's the matter with us? We allow the media to play on our fears and transfix us with stories about abductions over which we have absolutely no control, but we simultaneously choose to ignore that over which we have complete control, namely the interior of our vehicles! Less than a third of parents are using booster seats for children who require them, and our children are needlessly dieing as a result. Surveys have also found that even when appropriate child safety devices are employed, they are often used improperly.

Hopefully that will change. Ontario recently moved to make child car seats and booster seats mandatory; proper use of these devices, "... can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by as much as 71 per cent". Beginning next summer, BC will have similar rules in place.

Our provincial governments are doing the right thing by regulating our behaviour. But parents, given the risk they otherwise face, shouldn't we be taking the time to protect our children by learning how to install child safety seats? Shouldn't we also make sure that our children never travel unless they're seated in appropriate devices that have properly installed?

Next time you start to watch, read, or listen to an update about Madeleine McCann, put down the paper, or turn off the radio or TV. Don't be the parent who survives an accident, only to live with the guilt of knowing that they didn't help their child survive. Instead, take control of your own child's safety; go buy your kid a car seat or a booster seat, or have a look at the one they already use. Is it tethered at the back? Is it belted in so tight that it's hard to move side-to-side? If you're uncertain or need some help, call your local fire department. I'm a Seatbelt Nazi... you should consider becoming one too.

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Dummies at Nestlé pushing peanut-filled Smarties

Hats off to the dummies at Nestlé, who after several years of successfully marketing their Smarties, Kit Kat, Aero, and Coffee Crisp chocolates as the peanut-free choice for kids, have created dangerous confusion at the corner-store sweets counter with peanut-based products under the same familiar brand names.

Ingestion of peanut products can kill an allergy sufferer in the time it takes for symptoms to be recognized.  Even if the victim is treated with an Epi-Pen (epinephrine), the dangerous cocktail of chemicals and histamines the allergic body produces can trigger a cascade of symptoms that shut down respiration or cardiovascular function, in what is known as anaphylactic shock. If treatment isn't immediate, the result can be death.

Parents (including this one) of peanut-allergic children have instructed our kids for years how recognize peanut-free products, which foods are safe, and which foods are not safe. But the fact remains that children do share food, and it is very difficult to control - even in a peanut-free school environment like - every food product is carried in with a pack sack.

So, while parents - and within schools also educators and administrators - have the responsibility to protect children, at some point the difference between life and death could very well come down to a decision by a 5-year old child; is it something I know to be safe, or is it something I should avoid. Would your 5-year-old recognize the difference between these products?

Arm yourself with the knowledge required to keep children safe at the Canadian Health Network.

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Raising Money for Ron Kopytko's family

If you keep abreast of local issues in Kamloops, you are probably familiar with the plight of Ron Kopytko and his young family. Ron suffers from terminal prostate cancer; he was diagnosed in the fall of 2006 and given 12-18 months to live.

Ron made the brave decision to share his story with local media. By doing this, he hopes to raise awareness of the disease, and so encourage other young men to get checkups and hopefully recognize symptoms they might experience early rather than late.

The community is now pulling together to raise funds for Ron's family, specifically Jake and Alyssa, with whom our youngest daughter is best friends. A fundraiser for the trust fund will be held September 22 at the Columbo Lodge. The event is being organized by Mary Putnam, Taura Kopytko, and Bev Davidson.

You will be able to make your online donation here and on other sites soon, so check back frequently.

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Celebrating the simple things

Happy Canada Day, I hope you had the opportunity to celebrate the national holiday by drinking in the best of Kamloops.

The Baker family kept things simple; the kids played in the back yard awhile, then Christine and I took the young ones to McArthur Park to ride bikes. There were a couple of ball games underway, but the trails, much like the rest of town, were essentially empty as most of the city congregated at Riverside, the lake, or wherever else.

While the two of us adults brought up the rear admiring the variety of trees, flowers, vines, and bushes on the long island trail, the children rode ahead and marveled at the marmots, who were out in full force. The Island is truly the jewel of the city, and we plan to spend another perfect, simple, and free afternoon there again tomorrow.

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It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

The Baker household is full of pride this year as our oldest daughter graduated from Sahali Secondary School.

Brittany has overcome more challenges than most people face in a lifetime to achieve this remarkable accomplishment. She spent the first years of her life in and out of the Royal Inland and BC Children’s Hospital. During her primary school years, she struggled to attend full days despite requiring 24x7 oxygen and the attention of a roster of caring nurses.

Brittany has always looked to Rick Hansen as her personal role model. After many years in a wheelchair, Brittany’s focus on her goals and efforts to achieve them paid off as she learned to walk independently, first with the aid of a walker, then sticks (crutches), and finally canes. As she gradually developed greater stamina and cardiovascular fitness she eventually she weaned herself off oxygen.

Brittany is a tireless fundraiser; every year she raises significant funds for both the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Kamloops SPCA. Watching Brittany beam as she walked proudly across the stage was a proud moment. To cap it all off, she was unexpectedly recognized with the Reno Fabbro Award - Sahali Secondary’s Principal’s Award - at the school’s awards assembly on Thursday. In her own way, Brittany has become a role model to everyone who knows her.

Brittany is fortunate to have a large extended family that includes four parents, many siblings, grand parents, great grand parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, doctors, nurses, therapists, technicians, school support workers, educators, administrators, home car providers, counselors, fellow students, and friends who have helped her achieve this goal. We hope that they are all aware of the tremendous positive impact they have had on her life, and our gratitude for their efforts.

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