Good Cheer All Year

Recently, Mayor Ruth Lovell Stanners enlightened a packed house of Chamber of Commerce and business community members at the annual Mayor’s Luncheon held at Stone Tree. There was the customary year in review speech and Q&A session, both of which dealt with popular (and often not-so-popular) topics such as taxation and the economy.

Don’t get me wrong. All the optimistic talk about redevelopment of the harbour front, the new regional recreation centre and the city’s new branding initiative made for an interesting listen. But I have to say that the one item that really caught my attention was the Mayor’s mentioning of a proposed splash pad. I wonder if big kids will be able to use it too!

The Scenic City Order of Good Cheer raised money to bring us the artificial ice rink at Harrison Park a few years ago. Now from what I hear, the community group is focusing on Kelso Beach Park as a splash pad location. I have to commend these selfless volunteers for all their proactive efforts in keeping us entertained year round. The ice rink has become a local attraction to families and is more often than not well populated on a winter’s day. A splash pad for the summer makes perfect sense.

If you didn’t have a chance to go to the Mayor’s Luncheon and are curious to catch a glimpse of who and what you missed, please feel free to visit our photo gallery from the event… http://www.myowensound.ca/gallery.asp.

Local Helping Hands for Haiti

The spirit of giving never seems to go away in Grey-Bruce. The recent outpouring of support in the wake of the devastation in Haiti further proves the theory. The Kiwanis Club held a benefit concert on February 7th at Division St. United Church in Owen Sound where all funds raised went straight to UNICEF before being matched by the Kiwanis Foundation and Government of Canada. That very same day, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church featured “A Taste of India”, where money collected from a delicious Indian style supper went through Presbyterian World Services to qualify for the government-matching programme. Meanwhile in Meaford, the local Rotary Club is utilizing the Chamber of Commerce office as a drop-off location for donations to the Shelter Box campaign. Rotary is ready to match every dollar donated by the community up to a maximum of $5000.

Obviously, there is a lot more happening in our area in an effort to help those affected by the catastrophic earthquake. One of the most publicized events is set for Tuesday, February 16th, 7:30pm at Owen Sound’s Roxy Theatre. “From Home to Haiti” is an emergency benefit concert with one hundred percent of proceeds going to the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. A group of concerned and passionate local musicians, business owners and community members have come together to make it happen. To name but a few of the evening’s highlights… local country music artist Tommy Gilham, The Black Family of Markdale, former members of Tanglefoot, Don Buchanan, and members of Dancemakers Dance Studio. Pastor Dave Oppertshauser from Sauble Christian Fellowship Church will also speak about his recent experiences during his Haiti visit. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the Roxy Box Office by calling 519-371-2833 or 888-446-7699. Hope to see you there.

If you can’t drive… get out of the road!

I am almost convinced that the only thing worse than winter driving is winter drivers!

Recently, I was driving the stretch of Highway 26 between Meaford and Owen Sound when a set of glaring headlights suddenly appeared out of nowhere in my rear view mirror. Though the roads were bare for the most part and visibility was decent, I found myself feeling just a little uneasy and frustrated in light of the surprise tailgate party happening where my Sebring’s sun don’t shine.

Winter driving on 26 usually consists of occasional snow packed and slushy sections to make those dips and uphill climbs just slightly more challenging than during the warmer months. So as one would expect, aggressive driving is especially treacherous when the roads are glazed with ice and hardened snow.

Despite my concern, I did not let this road bully in his dark blue Charger coerce me into driving faster than the law-abiding speed I was obeying. So as expected, he eventually overtook both my car and the guy ahead when he had his chance. Keeping true to my usual tradition, I sounded my disapproval of his irresponsible driving by letting him have it with my horn. This is a practice I adopted shortly after my daughter was born. It is reserved specifically for motorists who don’t deserve to have driving privileges because they so obviously have no regard for the lives of others. Still, this did not prevent our friend in the Charger from overtaking two more vehicles in an almost double-whammy. Only this time, he chose to do it on a curve with his turn-off destination not even a quarter of a kilometre away. Infuriating.

When I arrived at my daughter’s daycare ten minutes later, I retold the story and vented my anger at the seemingly endless streak of irresponsible and inconsiderate drivers I have encountered as of late. It is the kind of thing you take personal offence to when you have a 19-month-old. My daycare provider, who happens to be related to a retired OPP officer, suggested I get into the habit of noting and reporting license plates whenever this situation occurs. From this point forward, I think I will oblige.

I wish I could say that I have always been a perfectly responsible driver. No doubt, all of us have had that moment or close call on the road where we knew we were at fault and lucky to stay under the radar. Thankfully, we have a great local resource when it comes to reminders on road safety, especially during the winter. Check out OPP Constable Drew Wilder’s website on ‘The Wilder Side of Winter’ at http://www.wilderside.ca. A simple brush-up could make a world of difference.

Countering the 'Cold Hand Blues'

Having been raised on the east coast of Quebec, I am well aware of winter’s chill at its most extreme. When I lived in Montreal during the 90’s, the bitter cold that was part and parcel of January and February was mind numbing at times. But I guess a part of me naively thought that Owen Sound would be different when I moved here in 2002. It’s up for debate whether or not this part of Ontario is as cold as the land of the fleur-de-lis. I would say that what we lack in freezing temperatures we more than make up for in snow volume.

But despite the fact that I can claim victory over some tougher winters than the average Ontarian, I am lagging behind when it comes to tolerance. Whether it’s –5 or –25 outside, my extremities abandon ship when cold strikes. Extra gloves, mittens, thick socks and well-padded winter boots can’t bring back the circulation once it’s gone. And I know I’m not the only sufferer out there.

This past weekend, I went to Harrison Park for an hour or so to check out the annual Winter Scout Campout. As my hands and feet thawed afterwards, I told my wife how impressed I was that these young Scouts could engage in an all-day/overnight marathon in the cold. We agreed that I would never be able to participate in such a venture due to my strange adversity to winter’s bite. At least I didn’t let it get the best of me. Snowcross at Victoria Park was a lot of fun and my new Vancouver 2010 Olympic mittens kept my fingers relatively safe.

If you do your research, there are a number of conditions out there when it comes to those frigid extremities. There is Raynaud’s Disease, a disorder that constricts blood vessels and ultimately blood flow to the fingers and sometimes toes during exposure to the cold. At the other end of the spectrum, Heart Disease is a more extreme cause of poor circulation.

But no matter how mild or severe the symptoms, here are a few small tricks I dug up to help ease the chill…

· Swing your arms in a circular motion with fingers outstretched to help increase blood flow.
· You may think that extra socks are a good thing. But make sure your footwear isn’t too tight or you’ll be feeling (or not feeling) the icy chill of cold feet.
· It’s a simple technique that has been encouraged for generations… Wiggling your toes may be all that is needed to increase blood flow and keep those little piggies safe and snug.

New Businesses Buck the Trend

Now that terms such as ‘H1N1’ and ‘economic downturn’ have been all but replaced by something new to panic about, let’s take a brief moment to recognize the fact that we beat the odds and made it through. Yes, some of us got the short end of the ‘sick stick’ more than others and certain businesses had greater struggles than the competition. But for many in the Owen Sound area, the fear of swine flu quickly diminished after a simple vaccination. And as for our economy, some exciting new business start-ups were a sure sign that the community itself just might have received its own injection.

Thankfully, I can say that my family has been fortunate enough to steer clear of the flu. So I am going to zero in on the much talked about recession for a moment. I could never have guessed that I’d be starting off the new decade as a partner in a small business. But here I am and I’m as excited as ever. I know that http://www.myowensound.ca/ will be a success. Our sister site http://www.mycollingwood.ca/ has a track record to prove this, even during the tough economy.

But as I look around at others, I see a resurgence and new energy when it comes to budding young entrepreneurs. As an example… The Meaford & District Chamber of Commerce hosted its Dragons’ Den Meaford event a few months ago and helped spawn at least two new local businesses in the process. Meanwhile, the community is fully engaged in a new strategy for economic development and the Chamber is gearing up to celebrate business excellence at its Community Awards Dinner & Presentation on March 27th. Check out http://www.mdcc.ca/ for details and online nominations. There are lots of reasons to nominate and celebrate in 2010, so go for it.

A similar energy is happening in Owen Sound. The City is going through a rebranding initiative to capture the 'essence of Owen Sound' and engaging residents in the process. Participate at this link… http://survey.owensound.ca/. Mayor Ruth Lovell-Stanners will no doubt fill us in on the survey and the many exciting plans underway to rejuvenate the local economy at the annual Mayor’s Luncheon on February 19th. Hosted once again by the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce, find out how to register at http://www.oschamber.com/.

In conclusion, it’s encouraging to see how our region as a whole has responded to what was being perceived as a crisis less than a short year ago. I do not for a second discount the many challenges still facing our local businesses. But I’d like to believe that the start of a new decade is symbolic of the dawn of a new age and that we’re well equipped to rise to the occasion.

Spring Break in Winter

After a frigid 2010 kick off, a pleasantly surprising ‘January spring’ graced our area this past week. The weekend presented a perfect opportunity for our family to unwind outdoors for a change. That’s not to say that the chill of winter usually keeps us in hibernation. But like many others who prefer summer sun to shivering winter, milder temperatures give us more of an incentive to get out and fully engage in those winter activities.

With the temp just right, Harrison Park was well worth the trip. When we arrived on the scene, it was exciting to see such an active crowd of kids both young and old recreating the NHL (or should we say Owen Sound Attack) on the outdoor Good Cheer Rink. After a brief look at the action, we proceeded to the adjacent playground where our daughter went for a joyride on the baby swing. Park officials need not worry… she’s only 19 months. Here’s where I put in a plug for those responsible for maintaining the premises. It is nice to have a spot in our community where we can take our daughter to play in mid-January without the hassle of climbing over snow banks or slipping on ice.

Our next stop was the ducks. With a full bag of stale bread in tow, we were ready for a feeding frenzy. But as anticipated, many other families had the same idea and the ducks loved every minute and every crumb of it.

Harrison Park on a not so cold winter’s day has our vote. However, when the reality check of freezing temperatures sets in again, we will be well prepared. Extra layers are in order for the 2010 Tim Hortons Georgian Cup Snowcross event at Victoria Park during the weekend of January 30th and 31st. The competition was originally scheduled to run earlier, but the organizers were forward thinking enough to postpone. So let’s all wish for more snow and more mild weather as we welcome thousands of spectators and snowmobile enthusiasts to our region.

Goodbye 2000's, 10's, Whatever... Bring On the Teens?

Days before 2010 made its arrival, an interesting question began to nag me... Am I the only one who recognizes that a brand new decade is about to begin? When I casually brought up this sobering fact to those around me, the popular responses were a half-hearted 'really?' or borderline disinterested 'oh yeah'. To be honest, the less than enthusiastic reactions were anything but surprising to me and actually served to further prove a theory I came up with earlier in the now departed Y2K's... The first decade of the 2000's suffered from a lack of identity unlike the heavily stereotyped 90's, 80's, 70's, 60's, etc. that came before it.

Following the inauguration of Y2K, I sat back, watched and listened for the adoption of some universally accepted term that would define the first decade of the 21st century. The baby was never named. Maybe that explains why I have a harder time these days determining whether an event, blockbuster movie or music artist's CD release happened in 2003 or 2005. It could be my age. But I would rather place a bet on the fact that the new age of mass media and info overload has enabled each year to roll into the next enveloped in a consciousness similar to that of an impulsive and easily distracted toddler. Let's face it... The untitled decade just passed could have been called the Fast Foodies. New technology developed so quickly that the term 'high speed' could be the greatest understatement of all time. It was all about 'out with the old and in with the new RIGHT NOW' in terms of any technological advances. Reality television reigned supreme, especially the programs that offered glitz and hype over educational value. And don't even get me started on the bulk of popular music. But rather than namecalling the nameless decade a 'wasted decade', why don't we be fair and say that what we lacked in the arts we made up for in technological brilliance.

So as we start again, my question remains the same as almost a decade ago... Will the next 10 distinctly stand apart from those just laid to rest? Do we need to wait until the '20's for a stronger sense of chronological identity? Does it matter? I leave you with some words of caution... Should we decide that we are now entering the Teens, remember how trying those adolescent years can be. Of course, they can also be a time of great inspiration and new awareness.