Happy Hunting

Where did all the snow go? Then again, where did the month of March go?! Though it seemed never-ending while it was here, the winter of 2010 did pass us by in a flash. Yes, spring fever has sprung and you’d better put your eggs all in one basket because believe it or not, Easter has also stealthily snuck up on us! All of a sudden, I find myself craving chocolate rabbits. What will it be this year… Milk chocolate, white confection or a bit of both? The choices are aplenty if you visit any store that carries the countless varieties of Easter treats.

While a simple chocolate fix might be all that some require at Easter, I for one find myself just as excited about honouring old-fashioned tradition. Nothing can beat the fun and excitement of an Easter Egg Hunt. And having an almost-2-year-old daughter certainly makes me anticipate like a kid again. It also makes me ask kidlike questions. For instance, who ever came up with the crazy notion of an egg hunt? Fun as it might be, it is a bit weird.

My inquiring mind did a bit of research and found out some little known but interesting facts on the origins of the Easter Bunny and egg hunting. Turns out every Easter tradition we celebrate is based in Christianity or religions that existed beforehand. The Easter Bunny, once also known as the Easter Hare, was created as a symbol of fertility due to the frequency of multiple births in rabbits. The custom of egg hunting stems from children’s belief that hares lay their eggs in the grass. The Romans held the belief that ‘all life comes from an egg’ and Christians regarded eggs as ‘the seed of life’. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination from this point forward to see how these ancient beliefs symbolized the resurrection of Christ.

So why do we paint our eggs at Easter? While the reasons behind this practice are still unclear, if you dig up the vaults of ancient history, you’ll find that dying eggs was popular during spring festivals in Rome, Greece, Egypt and Persia. Elaborately adorned eggs were also given as gifts in Europe.

This Easter, I hope you will indulge in an ancient tradition that still stands the test of time when it comes to pure entertainment value. Whether you’re a big kid or a little one, here’s to a happy Easter egg hunt. And may the basket that collects the most eggs have the greatest indulgence!

Earth Hour 2010

The Mayor and City Council are pleased to support the Earth Hour program to raise awareness of the small efforts that can add up to large results in the fight against Climate Change.

As a special feature The Bruce County Astronomical Society will be setting up their telescopes in Harrison Park to provide the public an opportunity to view the stars during Earth Hour.

Earth Hour originated in Australia and encourages residents and businesses to shut off lights and any non-essential electrical devices for one hour beginning 8:30 p.m. on Saturday March 27. Earth Hour is supported in Canada by the World Wildlife Fund and is being embraced around the world.

Climate Change is a serious environmental threat to our planet and of immediate concern to Canadians. By participating in Earth Hour you can show that you want to be a part of the solution, and that together we can make a difference.

As stated by the World Wildlife Fund, the objectives of Earth Hour are to:

• Get as many individuals, households, and businesses as possible to turn off their lights as a symbolic statement that now is the time to take action on Climate Change.

• Educate the community on the threat of Climate Change and what each individual and business can do to make a difference every day.

• Get corporate participants to commit to turning off their lights and communicate Earth Hour through internal and external communications channels.

The Bruce County Astronomical Society will be setting up their telescopes in Harrison Park for the event, assuming it is not an overcast evening. Elsewhere in Owen Sound, the City will be turning off non-essential lighting at City Facilities (where the lights are not already routinely turned off) and encourages City residents and businesses to do the same. Street lights and lighting essential for safety will not be included. The City has made arrangements with Hydro One to measure the drop in electricity usage during this period.

Information on Earth Hour is available at the World Wildlife Fund website at http://wwf.ca/earthhour.

For further information please contact:

Chris Hughes, Environmental Superintendent 519-376-4274

David Green, Bruce County Astronomical Society 519-376-1021

Skate for Heart

This Sunday, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario is hosting its first ever free Family Skate Day in Owen Sound.

Join us Sunday, March 21st from 1:30 to 3 PM at the Owen Sound Coliseum for a live DJ spinning tunes, games and prizes! Donations are welcome in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

“Skate for Heart” is part of the Heart and Stroke’s Fit for Heart Program. Last year, Heart & Stroke Fit for Heart events raised over $1 million for critical heart and stroke research and education that continues to protect and save lives.

Grab your skates and get your heart pumping! For more information please call the Heart and Stroke Foundation -- Owen Sound office at 519-371-0083.

Thank you for putting your heart into it!

Daylight Saving Time Returns

Daylight Saving Time takes place this Sunday, March 14th at 2am. That means clocks spring forward from 1:59am to 3am. And just why is it that this particular time in the wee hours of the morning was chosen for the switch to what is sometimes referred to as 'summer time'? History tells us that 2am was a time of day where there were few disruptions. People were generally at home and very few trains were running.

Bars and restaurants, even to this day, are hardly affected by the 2am switch. It also occurs prior to the start of most early morning work shifts and before early churchgoers are up to begin the day.

So don't forget these important places to reset your clocks before bedtime on Saturday night:

• the clock on the kitchen wall
• your watch
• the clock on the stove
• microwave
• computer (unless it is set to adjust itself)
• VCR (for those of us who collect antiques)
• in the car
• and most importantly... the alarm clock in your bedroom!! (showing up late for work on Monday is not recommended)

The return to Standard Time is the first Sunday in November, again at 2am.

Lots to Do 'After Hours'

One of Owen Sound's 'after hours' gems is The Downtown Bookstore at 945 2nd Avenue East. Whether it's an open mic night for local musicians or poetry readings, you are bound to find something to inspire and relax as you unwind your day with a hot drink and homebaked treat in cozy surroundings. A lot of the events are interactive and designed to nurture your creativity.

Here are a few examples...

The writers' group gets together once a month to discuss and review their writing projects. Talk to Hazel Lyder by calling 519-372-9760 if you are interested in coming along. Next session is this Wednesday, March 10th. Start time - 7:30pm.

French Discussion Group
Looking for an opportunity to keep up your language skills? A small group of French speakers meet at the bookstore two Tuesday evenings per month at 7pm. Cost is $5 and includes coffee/tea and a sweet. For more information contact Kelly Rogers at kellybeee@rogers.com.

International Women's Day

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year, IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

I can't help but think of the many women in our community who have made and continue to make an insurmountable contribution. Our Mayor, Warden, certain members of Council, not to mention a wealth of entrepreneurs who have become strong business leaders. The list is vast and I would undoubtedly leave someone out if I named names.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

An Ideal Time to Learn First Aid

It seems I’ve had First Aid on the brain over the past week. Maybe it’s because my friend Tanya was selected to serve as a paramedic at the Whistler Sliding Centre for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Or it could be due to the fact that I was recently invited to attend a Standard First Aid course offered by The Casualty Care First Aid Company. Talk about an interactive and fun hands-on experience with realistic simulations!

Whatever the case, I’ve learned a lot about the practice of saving lives, wrapping wounds and assessing injuries both mild and severe as of late. An expert on the matter I am hardly. But I do have newfound confidence that there are a lot of very good resources locally. And it’s never too late to learn. Check out my article on the Casualty Care course… http://www.myowensound.ca/FristAid-CC.asp. It links to a full schedule of training dates in and around the region.

And let’s not forget that St. John Ambulance opened its brand new training facility last week. We were there to take pictures of the new digs, not to mention the ribbon cutting with the Mayor and Warden. This fantastic organization also specializes in First Aid and CPR training. There are First Aid Kits and supplies available at the new location and information on important community services such as Medical First Responders and the Therapy Dog Program. Visit our photo gallery to see what St. John Ambulance is up to… http://www.myowensound.ca/gallery.asp