So tomorrow is day one of Alistair’s grade one. Wow! Where the heck does the time go? I swear it seems like just yesterday that we were bringing him home from l’hopital, all pink and wrinkly. How is he now in grade one?? Hmmmmm….

He has a shiny new ”faux-hawk” hair-cut all ready to go for the big day. (Ever since the world cup of soccer he has been trying to mimic the look – now he finally has a cut short enough to make it work). That and some new sneakers, and some new duds. What a great time of year this is, going back to school. I always loved it. Do they even call them sneakers anymore?

We wish we had a Catholic french immersion school nearby but since we don’t we’ll make the trek to Grandin School near the north side of the high level bridge. Ali and I will ride the bus to Canada Place where he will catch a school bus going straight to Grandin. Not ideal, but fairly handy. We are trying our best to stick to one car, and to use it as little as possible so hopefully this works out.  Tomorrow however I’ll head all the way to Grandin where M Fran will meet us for the big occasion after she drops off Fin at the neighbourhood school. We’ll take a picture or two. We’ll be proud of him, and he’ll be proud of his new do.

Here’s hoping for a great run of twelve years of healthy school enrichment. Being familiar with school environments as a student, a  teacher-in-training, and a little as a counselor, I’m hoping he is fortunate enough to be taught by some dedicated and inspiring teachers, and also, as important as they are, that he gets to know a great group of friends.

One thing I know from my own upbringing is that the real teachers are the parents and that, although our influence has already started to wane, it is ultimately up to us as his parents to help prepare him for life. The current “education system” certainly can take care of a small window of curriculum-based knowledge, but it is up to the family and the greater community to help influence his character and values. The real learning never ends.

Although the education system was more than a little dodgy in the 80s, I feel I was lucky to have some great school teachers along the way, and incredibly fortunate to have even greater parents. Here’s hoping Alistair feels the same way some day.

 If I can find my darn cord I might just share a picture of the mini faux-hawk…

I got home yesterday evening and Mary Frances and the boys were more than a little excited about the puppy they just saw. I had envisioned us getting a border collie or a lab of some sort, but hey, he is super-cute and you can’t excatly say “no” in these situations!

So here I am on holiday in the wonderful Okanagan Valley. It is late at night and the family is sleeping in the cottage. I’m wired from some late evening caffeine, so what better thing to do than type out a semi-coherent version of thoughts that have been rattling around my brain for a while now. thoughts about the  Alberta Party.

Although I am involved with the party as a board member, and although this is a bit of an unabashed promo for the party, these long-winded thoughts are entirely my own. They are simply thoughts about the current state of politics in Alberta, the value of the Alberta Party, and the potential for the future.

The Top Ten Reasons Why the Alberta Party Will Continue to Grow and Help Make the Province More Democratic:

1)  The bloom is off the Tory rose. As their reign nears 40 years (!), there is more than a whiff of decay around the foundation of the Progressive Conservative fortress. As we all know, people tend to move away from things that start to rot – and sometimes they move away very quickly.

In addition to appealing to disaffected and disillusioned Albertans from all backgrounds, the Alberta Party will appeal to many of the traditional PC supporters who feel that the Tories are neither conservative enough, in terms of true conservation, nor progressive enough, in terms of creating and embracing a hopeful, inclusive, and prosperous vision for the future.

2) The time has come for a new alternative to the existing political parties in Alberta.  There is an abundance of pent-up frustration out there and many Albertans are looking for a party that can give voice to their concerns. Voters want a party that will speak up for them, yet also have the potential to eventually form the government. The Alberta Party has the potential to be the vessel that shows the rest of the country that we do not blindly follow what others do, that we are critical thinkers, and that we can elect a government that we can actually all be proud of.

3) Hamstrung Parties. Although there is great respect for many individuals within the existing, established opposition parties, (talented stars such as Rachel Notley of the NDs and the soon to be departing Kevin Taft of the Liberals, for example), many Albertans simply feel these parties are hamstrung by the flags they fly under (i.e. their brands), and are therefore unable to influence policy in meaningful ways, let alone form the government. In recent years, many of these voters have stayed home. In coming years many of these same voters will consider the Alberta Party as a viable option.

4) There is something “political” in the air. Call it the new political zeitgeist if you will, but, like much of the world, we are becoming more involved in the political process. Despite the apparent paradox of recent low voter-turnout, we seem to care a little more about our future, we are increasingly less willing to accept the status quo, and my sense is we are becoming more political (yes, even in Alberta). It may be naive, but it feels like our political apathy has finally peaked. One can sense (and desperately hope) that change is coming, and it may be coming more than once in the years ahead.  This should pay dividends to the Alberta Party as the party represents a challenge to the old way of doing politics by actively engaging the citizens and genuinely valuing their input.

5) The Alberta Myth. Although the stereotype has played to the favour of past and present politicians, it is a myth that the vast majority of Albertans are ”hard-core right wingers”, “narrow-minded red-necks”, or “rabid individualists” who believe in an unfettered market where the unfortunate, the sick, and the old should be left fend for themselves.  

As evidenced by value surveys conducted year in and year out (Statistics Canada, Cambridge Strategies, or other), we are strikingly similar to most other jurisdictions and are therefore accepting of policy that respects individual differences as well as sustainable development. Albertans are willing to support a government that encourages economic growth while at the same time encourages investment in our future (i.e. children and education), and the protection of our environment, while also saving enough money to properly support us in an uncertain future. By nature of the Alberta Party’s broad appeal, and through the “Big Listen” policy-formation exercise which sought (and continues to seek) the opinions of every day Albertans, the policies that will be established by the Alberta party will be truly reflective of the views of Albertans. It should follow then that many Albertans will find the Alberta Party platform very appealing come voting time.

6) There is a well-recognized democratic deficit in Alberta. Thirty-nine years of one party rule will do that to a province. So too will apathy, dejection, and an anemic opposition. Through the Big Listen exercise, which has been going for about six months now, the Alberta Party is genuinely seeking to engage Albertans in the political process and restore some sence of democratic participation. It needs to be asked, what other party has made a concerted effort to consult with Albertans before forming its party policies – aside from the Alberta Party, the answer is none.

7) Unlike all other parties, the Alberta Party represents a true alliance. Because the Renew group (at the time co-led by Chima Nkemdirim and Josh Kejenner) joined the Alberta Party earlier this year, the resulting new Alberta Party is truly an alliance that spans old-school ideological differences – it is an alliance that shares common core values that are beneficial to all Albertans. In contrast, the Wildrose Alliance appears to have formed a narrow alliance on one side of the political spectrum, with little credibility garnered from the more moderate and progressive citizens.

8) Forwards versus Backwards. While the Alberta Party hopes to move with the wishes of the constituents toward a fresh new way of governing, (one that elevates the collective influence of the citizen), from my perspective, both the Tories and the Wildrose Alliance represent a retrogressive approach where special interest groups  are provided disproportionate authority to influence policy.

9) The Alberta Party Team. Leader Edwin Erickson is a man of substance, integrity and genuine conviction. Sure he might not have the “big city polish” of some other politicians, but that is to his own credit, and also to those he represents. Edwin is backed by the savvy and talented Chima Nkemdirim as Party President and, together they lead a diverse and spirited board that includes a wide range of talent and experience; including new media and business leader Chris Labossiere, and Dave King (former minister from an earlier Tory government); as well as a host of other concerned Albertans, including those who have been fighting the good fight for democracy in Alberta for many years now.

10) A great start. By any account, the Alberta Party has been very successful in launching its renewed approach to party politics. It has quickly emerged as a viable alternative for future elections. The party is posed to make significant gains in the coming months, as more and more Albertans learn about its approach to building its policy platform. Watch for more good news in the coming days.

Thanks to the availability of a beach-side baby-sitting service we went on our first official wine tasting tour yesterday. We’ve been to wineries before but have never made a mini-tour of a region like we did yesterday along the Naramata ”bench”, where there is a winery about every kilometer between Penticton and Naramata.

The quality of the wines were quite inconsistent (at least to my still developing pallet) but on the whole we were quite impressed with many of the wines, especially considering the fact the region has only been developed over the past 10-15 years. Our favourite was the “Ruby Tuesday” winery which is a smaller “boutique” winery where the price is slightly higher but the quality is notable. 

We noticed the Shiraz/Syrah wines are less full-bodied in B.C. than those in California or Australia, the same probably goes for the Cab Sav but the more subtle fruit is nice for a change. A number of the wines tasted a little green but would no doubt benefit by being put to bed for a year or two.  

It was funny how our ratings of the wine seemed to get higher as the afternoon went on, and also how we seemed to by more and more with each stop. On the very last stop we (especially mf!) went a little wild and bought 13 bottles (Elephant Island – fruit wines), many of which will be gifts for others. In total we bought 25 bottles which is more than we’ve bought on any day since the day we bought the wine for our wedding. The nice thing is that the price is much better than what we would normally pay for a nice bottle at a liquor store in Edmonton and we can pick only the ones we like.

It was 37 degrees yesterday so it was very refreshing to hop from one air-conditioned tasting bar to another sipping chilled vino along the way.

We be here. Naramata Centre.

On recommendations from friends we signed up for a week at the Naramata Centre at the south end of the Okanagan. Here the motto is Restore Refresh Create. It has been wonderful so far and truly restorative. Great, great people, lots of adventure and truly one of the best places to spend a week as a family.

It is (loosely) organized through the United Church, but there is a great variety of programming. Some is geared toward prayer and spiritual exploration (for those that want that) while other classes are focused on art or outdoor adventure. The kids are in outdoor adventure groups every morning while the adults gather in the group of their choice. So far MF has been in Restorative Yoga (her teacher’s name is “Wildflower”). I’ve enjoyed the Learning in Wilderness Walks, where the leaders are a lovely couple from Camrose, AB. (He is a conservationist with Ducks unlimited while she is a nature guide).

Highlight so far has been the amazing scenery, and refreshing swims, mixed with the peace and quite of the whole area. Ohh… the waterslides were pretty cool too. (Video and photos to follow).

The afternoons are lakeside time (and nap time), but tomorrow afternoon we’ll tour of a few of the renowned Naramata wine region estates.

Photos to Follow.

A few quick “BC trip notes”. So far so great, highlights include:

• The drive along the meandering Bow Valley Parkway where the traffic was surprisingly light, and the scenery perfect. We turned on the “relaxing classical” and soon the boys nodded off on a mid-day nap.
• Lunch at a roadside stop near Roger’s Pass. It ended up being the spot where they held a ceremony to open the Trans Canada Highway in 1962. Neat to consider the significance of our highways and how we kinda’ take them for granted today. At this spot, to the delight of the boys, a bold bird with a punk-rock hair-doo swooped down to our picnic table and swiped one of our crackers. Moments later a chipmunk nibbled on my big toe. Clearly a popular spot for lunch!
• Playing vollyball outside our lodge in Golden, BC. At one time I was a semi-serious player and had some skill. Now I try to not embarrass myself. Great to have Alistair join his old man in a very fun game.
• The Enchanted Forest, outside of Revelstoke, BC - what an impressive place! Places like this are the real deal. They are two parts “art” for every part “business”. It has the genuine charm that only comes from people doing what they love. They recently added a giant tree-house that is truly spectacular. Due to minor technical difficulties I can’t post photos or video at the moment but here is a link to the three little pig houses (only one of the many impressive creations).
• “Pool Time” at our hotel in Kelowna. Why do kids get so excited to be in a hotel pool. I did. ours do. I love it.

Today we’ll explore the south area of Okanagan Lake, including a winery tour or two and then settle in for our weeklong camp at Naramata.

Some people are talented, some people are scary-talented, and then there are those who are cirque-du-soleil-scary-talented!

Alistair and I are very much looking forward to going to the Alegria show Wednesday night at Rexall. I’m feeling slightly guilty that MF will be home with Fin getting ready for our trip to BC, but…., we have our orders to go.

Alistair has been in love with acrobats since he saw the Alegria movie about three years ago. Since that time he has watched the show nearly 50 times so it will be very cool to see how he reacts to seeing the show live.

As with Olympians, master musicians and truly gifted artists it is wonderful to witness the upper limits of human potential and to see the results of such intense dedication to a craft.

not only are the cirque du soleil acrobats and other performers masterful but so too is the amazing musicianship.

Row 5 stage-side here we come. Email me if you want a play by play.

 Some emails are more pleasing to read than others. Here are three I received this morning - all are related to “relief”, but one is a bit different from the other two.

 ______________________________

1)

Love your belly…and feel fabulous with PROCleanse Gold!

Do you feel slow and bloated? Do you suffer from constipation, or uncomfortable, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms? PROCleanse Gold is a 100% natural colon cleansing product that:

• Stimulates digestive motion, without diarrhoea
• Boosts the body’s immune response
• Support the weight loss process
• Relieves sluggish and bloated feelings

Why take PROCleanse Gold? …

_____________________________

2)

Hi Gerard,

Dr. Hughes has informed me that you have completed the final components of the MACP program, CONGRATULATIONS!

I have attached the Application to Graduate form.  Once you have completed this, please fax it back to my attention. …

___________________________

3)

Date: Monday, August 9, 2010 6:22 am
Subject: Re: Congratulations!
To: Gerard MacLellan

> Hi,  Gerard.
>
> Congratulations!   I am very happy for you!!!!!
>
> It has been an absolute pleasure to have worked with you and
> witnessed
> your progress over these past months. I wish you all the best in
> your
> future plans. Please keep in touch – I love to hear what former
> students
> are up to in their “life after”.
>
> Warmest regards,
> Mary Ann -
> Associate Director of Clinical Training
> Faculty of Behavioural Sciences

What a great Saturday evening at the hill. Here the boys try their hand at hoola-hooping:

Fun Times at Edmonton Folk Fest

►

And here  we are moments later hanging with  Ramona, Malcolm, Molly and Ella:

We were excited to get out of town last Friday afternoon for a quick trip to Switzer for the long weekend. MF had packed the gear and the boys were ready to go. As soon I got home from work we took off down highway 16 with the many other escapees heading to various points west.  

Along the way we encountered an intense hail storm about 30 mins west of the city. We had to pull over while our car was bombed by ice. Ali and Fin squealed in delight as the excitement. MF and I wondered about insurance policies. I looked for tree cover but could find none in the area. Of course it sounded like our car would have a million little dents, but thankfully there was no damage in the end.  

Arriving in Switzer, (between and north of Hinton and Jasper) we looked up and saw another black cloud coming in so we quickly threw up the tents and literally pegged the last corner when a downfall came again. That would be it for rain, however, as the rest of the weekend had perfect weather and, as a bonus, included almost no mosquitos!  

Switzer park was fantastic for a quick family “get-a-way to wilderness” experience. The campsites and the facilities have been recently upgraded and the park staff (naturalists) were amazing. We went on three staff-facilitated adventures. The first was perfect for the boys – pond dipping. They gave us nets and we scooped up all sorts of creatures that the staff were able to identify. The group found tad-poles, mini-shrimp, beetles and all sorts of insects. We also bumped into friends from the city during our pond excursion. It was cute to see Alistair try to impress his cute little friend Mya by showing her his little hunting and gathering prowess!  

The second directed adventure included an evening with an aboriginal theme, where we learned to make bannock and also the technique of rolling it on a stick and cooking it over a fire (and then rolling in sugar and cinnamon – yum!). That evening we also learned how to make arrow heads out of shale and how to start a fire with flint, moss, and grass. As well as how to make jewelery out of grass and beads. (I tried my luck at a necklace for MF – it turned out ok and she humoured me by wearing it the rest of the trip).  

The third guided outing was butterfly hunting! I never really imagined I would go butterfly hunting, but there I was, one of the 50-60 campers running in a field, swishing and swooshing my net , gently trying to capture the surprisingly fast and agile creatures. Alistair proved to be the best family hunter as he netted (literally) several butterflies. It was wonderful to see the differences between the species and to get a close up look at how beautiful they are. All together, our large group captured (and later released) about 100 butterflies, some of which were large and rather exotic looking.  

Fin the Fly Catcher

MF and I took the boys canoeing on a beautiful quite lake where we had the chance to row up to an enormous beaver lodge. The canoe was different than the ones we are used to and it was “tippier” than most so we took it real slow with the boys sitting on the floor, (and Finley sitting on my life jacket as he had a sore bum!).  

The beauty of Switzer is that it is not too busy, and that the scale is just right for a long-weekend outing.  There is lots to do at the various locations but it is also small enough that you keep meeting the same people, including the excellent staff. It also seems to attract people who are more seriously into enjoying nature than does some parks, especially over the long weekend, where it can turn into an all night party in some places.  

We cooked over the fire for all of our meals and enjoyed, of course, many smores. It dawned on me how unhealthy eating is when you go camping. Sausages and marshmallows were the staples.   

On the way back we stopped at the Boston Pizza in Edson. It has been quite some time since we ate at BP. Mostly when we go out for food in Edmonton we go to three places, Langano Skies (Ethiopian on Whyte), Route 99, or (sad to say) A & W.  It was quite the experience going from a provincial park/campground to Boston Pizza. with its neon-lights, four large screen TVs, and blaring music in the background.  

Our blissed-out nature-infused relaxation started to slip away after only a few moments in BP. Ali and Fin could not keep their eyes off of the TVs long enough to decide what they wanted to eat.  The dear server had to keep coming back to ask if we were ready to order. Soon she was bringing colored sugary drinks and then it all started to go down-hill. Next it was a “free re-fill time” and later more colored sugary items, this time free deserts! (Gee thanks for the Neon Jello!). Right about this time a group of about 16 boisterous teenagers sat in the tables next to ours. As if it wasn’t loud enough already, and ohh how I missed the sounds of the loons echoing off the lake!  

The worst part of the BP experience was not the manic loudness or the pushing of “kid-crack” drinks and desserts, but rather the violence on the TV. We had no choice (an account of the 4 screens) to watch a “pre-view” of an ultimate fighting event that would be held that evening. This pre-view only lasted about 5-7 minutes but it included some of the more horrendous violence you’d want your three and six-year-old boys to ever see.  

Now I am a bit neurotic about trying to screen shows for my boys. I am afraid Alfred Bandura’s social learning theories were imbedded into by undergraduate’s brain years ago. So the concept of modelling is something I take very seriously. I grew up in a non-violent environment, both in my home and in my surroundings. I hope to ensure my boys can do the same. However, it much more difficult these days, to say the least. I remember feeling a tad ill the first time I saw clips these fights on T.V. I ‘ve become a little desensitized since the first clip years ago but not entirely. So here we are at a family restaurant (we were not even on the “lounge” side of the restaurant) and the boys were watching grown men repeatedly knee each other in the face and wail on each other while a puddle of blood pools on the canvas.  

The “pre-view” was essentially a highlight package of the “best” parts of previous battles and included knock-outs and assorted moments of neandrathalic glory. I managed to keep cool for a few moments and tried to explain to Alistair that this is what happens when you don’t finish school and when you don’t have any other skills, or when you eat too much sugar. But one particularly gross clip caused MF to shriek, and for me to get up and track down the manager and tell him that this is inappropriate viewing for children.  

Thankfully the manager was very sympathetic to my pleas as I gestured over to my traumatized wife and children, but as he went for the remote the pre-view mercifully ended. It occurred to me then that I should write a letter to Sportsnet about its programming without warnings of violence (afterall, wasn’t it only a few years ago that these shows were illegal?).  

We left BPs a feeling nerved up, mom and dad from the contrast between the park and the restaurant, Ali and Fin from the sugar and tartrazine (colorant/stimulant). Vowing never to return to BPs, but hoping to return to Switzer, soon!

There is a little bit of romanticism surrounding the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. To the converted, it is both a musical and spiritual oasis where each year devotees come for cleansing and rejuvenation. I would fit into this group. The FF marks a summer highlight for our family as we make the annual pilgrimage through the ravine, past the pyramids and on to Gallagher park, multiple times over the blessed weekend.

In some ways the romanticism might be a wee bit overdone, but in other ways it is not. The festival has an unboubtable vibe to it. The vibe is uplifting and pleasing. It is the vibe of community and shared experience, as much as it is a vibe of cool music and nostalgia. Like many south-central neighbourhoods, our neighbourhood has a strong per-capita presence at the hill. Almost everyone we know are dedicated festers who, on occasion, as we did last night, sit in large groups and enjoy the experience together.

Aside from being a community experience, it is also a family experience. I’ve been to about 18 of the last 20 folk festivals and our boys have been to it each year since they were born. Some day we hope to put together a folk fest photo mural of Ali and Fin with a photo from each year at the fest. So far so good.

I was quite excited about the opening show  last night. I have long since been a serious Van Morrison fan,  dating back to my youth when I found myself wondering foolishly what Van Morrison’s first name was (thinking that his last name was in the same (Dutch?) style as Eddie Van Halen, Dick Van Dyke or Vincent Van Gogh).

Like many of the 20,000 people on the hill it was a thrill to hear that classic, rich voice sailing in the evening air. At the the moment he started I was actually hurriedly doing my business in the blue and white bathroom booth, laughing about missing his entrance on account of ….

Like Todd Babiak wrote, many people were seen running to hill as Van  began. I was one of them. Sprinting from the can, I stopped at the side of the stage and watched him hunch over the keys as he chorded along to Brown Eyed Girl. He seemed to go through the motions just a bit as he played it for what must have been the 20, oooth time, and the band was not exactly tight as they began their set, but nonetheless it was a rush to hear that voice –  clear and strong as ever.

Having very fond memories of listening to his albums years ago, (for some reason always in the summer) it was indeed a thrill to finally see him live.  Mary Frances commented on how he looked like a portly leprechaun and I wondered if Bono might some day take on a similar shape, Irish accent and all. While it was a little disappointing that the show ran out of time for a deeper exploration of his vast catalogue of musical riches. And while it was, in my mind, a tad unclassy to not thank the fans, or at least say “good night”, you have to respect Van Morrison for the wonderful contribution he has made over the years, and it was nice to finally see him with down-town Edmonton as a back-drop.
Like a brain-doner I missed out on weekend passes this year so tonight we’ll pitch a tent in our back yard. The boys will nod off right about time Ben Harper hits the stage and, provided there is a bit of a wind, I’ll be able to lay there and pick out the songs he is singing as the music winds up the ravine and into our back-yard. Thankfully we have ticks for Fri and Sat – the pilgrimage continues.