News1130

Look for Jeremy Crittenden this weekend at the following events:

Saturday

• Langara College ArtsFest
• Kitsilano Yacht Club's Community Fair
• Great Salmon Send-Off @ Stoney Creek Community School

Sunday

• Crossing at Keremeos public launch @ Victory Square
• Mothers' Day tea on the Venosta @ Port Moody Station

  This weekend was the Vancouver Marathon among other things.  I sort of felt I was running a marathon of my own as we're into a new spring season full of community events.

Saturday we took a tour through CityTV, checked out an open house at the BCSPCA and visited DesiFest, a south Asian cultural celebration.

I met a band there that combines a traditional Indian drum with bagpipes!  You'd think the two instruments would be a bit wierd together, but the sound was truly fantastic.  I spoke to Jim, one of the pipers who said it was a bit difficult at first because the beats they would normally use are very different.  After some practice however, they were on fire!  We got a bit of a preview from them and it was a great example of how Canadian musicians are combining cultural influence in their work.

Sunday morning started VERY early at the Marathon.  I was staked out in Vancouver's Stanley Park for a few hours as the runners came by.  It was sunny for most of my visit which was nice, but I still managed to get wet.  The dewey grass managed to get into my sneakers.

It was a very "enviro" weekend.  Earth Day was on the 22nd, so many of the community events happened this weekend.  From tree plantings to Vancouver's Earth Day celebration, it was a great weekend.

I also drove our brand new News1130 cars for the first time... hybrids!  How fitting. 

One mother I spoke to was using the weekend to help educate her young daughter about being aware of what we leave in our carbon footprint, and how to do what you can to make a difference.  They recycle everything they can at home - from paper and cardboard to bottles and plastic.  In addition, they do some composting and have completely eliminated the use of plastic bags.

Other wanted to learn some new ways to be more "green" around the house.  It was great to see so many bikes out and about as well.  Now it's just a matter of making sure those bikes are out more than the cars parked in the garage.

If you've been reading this blog since the early days of "In the Community", you may remember an entry that started with this:

Lesson learned:  sunscreen is an essential part of my reporter's kit.  

I am pleased to report I have learned absolutely nothing since Canada Day '07.  I went to the Vaisaki Parade in Surrey, proudly wearing a head covering as is the custom.  After meeting so many kind people offering up delicious sweets and curried chickpeas, I removed the head scarf at the end of the hot day in the sun.

Please refer to the attached photograph of my RIDICULOUS sun burn... 2 days before going on vacation to New Orleans.

The parade was huge and the street party was an absolute blast!

I realize that many of my blog entries begin with a bit of weather talk.  I was driving back from the Port Moody Festival of the Arts, thinking about what my entry would be about this week.  I always start to run through the content in my head... makes it a bit faster when I get back to the studio.  I was wondering why I always start with "The weather was great..." or "The sun was shining down on...", when I realized I spend my weekends driving around in it.  I'm always thinking about the weather, not because of staying warm or something logical, but because the rain messes up the car I just washed.  That's me.

Speaking of the News Car, it was on display at BC Place during a showing of 25 different Ford Mustangs.  It was funny watching people examining the different cars, then get to the News1130 branded Vibe.  I love our cars, but let's not kid... they're no Mustangs.  One owner I spoke to claims to spend 4 to 6 hours a day giving his car some TLC, and he offered to even move my car for me.  I guess if pampering your car is a full time job, looking at it parked next to the News1130 Vibe wasn't part of the plan for the day.

Other events this weekend included the Run Walk and Roll for ALS which was a great event.  I think they got rained on, which sucks, but the organizers weren't going to let that ruin the day.  Created by two sisters who lost a mother to ALS, the event raises money and awareness for Lou Gherig's Disease.  Special Olympics BC also raised some money at the Free the Fuzz event.  I got to climb up onto the roof of a Surrey Wal-Mart to interview the Police officer and his wife, who lived on said roof for 4 days.  Congrats to all who volunteered, donated or participated.

-jer 

Wow, what a crazy busy weekend it turned out to be, and what weather we ended up having.  The Auto Show, Pet Expo, Wedding Show, Cherry Blossom Festival and Orchid Festival were all packed with people out enjoying sunshine on Sunday... and near abuse on Saturday.

I made the mistake of packing the three shows into one day... driving from Abbotsford and back always takes up a huge chunk of my day, but I really enjoy the drive.  The Pet Expo was taking place out at Tradex and those attending were allowed to bring in leashed dogs.  I only saw one little barking match, which was brief, so all the little pooches were well behaved.  I met one young lady who was carrying around an even younger chihuahua pup.  It was obvious the girl was very excited to show off the puppy, who was likely spoiled rotten with treats from the various vendors.  It reminded me of my dog, Sebastian, when he was a puppy.  I decided to add a photo of him... I'm one of those wierd dog parents that considers the canine a child.

I brought my fiance to the auto show... I was pretty scared we were going to leave having bought a car.  I was garaunteed no purchases would be made immediately, but I could expect to see a new Jetta in my future (and by "my", I mean I'll be allowed to ride in it).  Was great to meet all the different people at the show, from the moms checking out mini-vans to the dads examining the sports cars that the better half won't let them buy!

Remember to check out the Cherry Blossom Festival until April 20th... the trees are beginning to look incredible.

-jer 

A very happy Easter to you and your family. I hope you enjoyed a delicious meal with loved ones, and I especially hope all you kids out there got a good haul of chocolate. I enjoyed a Saturday out in the community, and a Sunday relaxing at home.

I began the day visiting with families enjoying an easter egg hunt at the Willingdon Heights community centre, where the bunny of the day stopped by to bring some smiles. I spoke with a young mother and father who brought their ADORABLE little kids to the event. Mom told me that they were relatively new to the Burnaby area, and wated to take the opportunity to meet some of the other families in their neighbourhood. Mission accomplished.

In the afternoon, I headed to the HR Macmillan Space Centre for my very first visit. The staff was very kind, and busy as well, as it was the final day of their Sustainable Spring Break program. In the photo here, participants are making it rain over a map of the Lower Mainland sprinkled with pollutants. The demonstration goes to show kids how all that nasty pollution ends up in our water system.

-jer

You may very well be reading this hung over, as it is the official St. Patrick's Day party weekend. The 5th Annual Celtic Fest took place this week in downtown Vancouver, and I had the pleasure of being able to stop by for a few hours on both Saturday and Sunday. The music was great, the weather mild (except Sunday... it was too cold...), and the volunteers were friendly and fun.

Auditions were also held on Saturday for the Felions Dance Team, and the girls were all doing a great job. There certainly were a few standouts that I wouldn't be surprised to see in the new season, helping get all the Lions fans riled up. It was pretty dramatic too, with rounds of cuts to trim the group of dozens of dancers down to 34. I wanted to talk to a couple of the auditioners who didn't make it, but I knew that the last thing they'd want in their face was a microphone after being cut.

Sunday was the big parade, and as mentioned above, it was really cold outside. I'll even take the blame for that. You see, during my first live report I mentioned that the sun was waging war with the clouds above, and the beams were breaking through to keep us warm. Within 30 minutes, the war was lost and the clouds hid the sun away. The temperature seemed to drop quickly, but the crowd stuck around the enjoy the music, dancers, and floats.

I thought I'd found my pot of gold too... two winning lottery tickets were sold in the Lower Mainland for Saturday's draw... the fact that I'm still at work writing this blog should suggest I didn't win.

-jer

I'm bound and determined to spend the coming seasons having exciting adventures out in the spectacular outdoors we enjoy here in BC. This is something I say every year, and every year I manage to find reasons not to do it. On Saturday I went to the Fraser Valley Outdoorsman/Boat show at Tradex, and am filled with great ideas for spring and summer! Please email me in September and ask if I went fly-fishing... it will be entertaining for all when I didn't.

Before the outdoors show, News1130 presented a screening of Dr Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. I always enjoy playing MC at these events, and giving away prizes to kids before getting to sit down and enjoy a movie. Sometimes, however, things go a little sour. The movie was late getting started and one of the promotions staff members, Abby and I were joking about the crowd getting a bit antsy. In her experience, the worst thing to happen is when the projector breaks down in the middle of the movie, or when kids start to cry. These are both signs that the show is not going to end well. Sure enough, five minutes into the movie the screen went black, the lights came on and kids started to cry. I wondered if I should stand up and tell a few jokes to help pass the time, but decided I didn't want a couple hundred children taking out their aggression on me. Someway, somehow it would end up on YouTube. It was only a few minutes before the film continued, and chatting with people on their way out of the movie, everyone had a great time and had seemingly forgot about the rocky start.

Sunday I checked out a family fair in Coquitlam... check out their site at www.familyclubhouse.ca. The company was started by two Moms who wanted to help connect organizations and small businesses with young families, and they've done a great job. No kids cried.

-jer

In like a lamb, right? Welcome to March everyone, and start counting down the days until spring. I certainly am! On Saturday I was squinting in the sunlight, a bit ticked off at myself for not remembering my sunglasses. Sunday I brought the shades along, and it was gloomy and cold. I can't win.

I spent a nice chunk of the weekend at the Green Living Show in Vancouver, tasting samples and trying to learn more about being eco-friendly around the house. One thing that really impressed me was a group of kids in Surrey who are trying to raise money to plant more trees in the community. Check out their website at www.kidzgonegreen.com to find out more about their efforts, and how you can help. They've already helped plant trees around their school, in other areas of Surrey and hope to provide some clean air and oxygen on the grounds of the Olympic Village.

I also went to the 2008 Scrabble Tournament! The last time I played Scrabble was against my "soon-to-be-step-Mother-in-law", Cindy. She means business on the board and should consider going the completitive route, because I certainly would crack under the intensity in that room. Dozens of people cam from across North America to play the popular board game, trying to pick up a higher rank and even some cash prizes. I learned that curse words and insults are totally valid during competitive play… and using them can be like Scrabble trash talk. Now that's funny.

Rounding out the weekend was the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival and the first annual Gianfranco Giammaria Memorial Hockey Tournament.

Being out and about in the community is a great deal of fun, and I am very fortunate. Admittedly, winter is my least favorite season and the high frequency of rainy work days sometimes get me down. They certainly get me wet and cold.... This weekend however was incredible! The sunshine, the great events, and so many happy people!

The weather was really quite fitting, as everything revolved around the home and garden. News1130 was at the annual BC Home and Garden Show, and VanDusen Gardens held their annual "Seedy Saturday". It was at the latter event where I met a lady named Marion. She is a retired teacher who used to listen to News1130 on her commute to work in the morning, but now she's enjoying some hard earned rest and relaxation. She told me about her small backyard garden, and why the plot of soil meant so much to her. Anytime Marion had troubles with a student plaguing her mind, or a problem she couldn't solve, she found herself outside in the garden. Marion told me that being out in the garden is like meditating for her, and something about it helps bring clarity to the mind. Some days, I wish I had a garden.

Golf. At most peoples' place of work, it is the sport of choice. Around News1130 plenty of our anchors and reporters enjoy a round of golf to burn off some stress, or just take advantage of the weather on a beautiful day. To me, it is the most frustrating game in the world. I swing the club, and the ball goes anywhere other than the place I intended it to land. All golf balls I use have some strange magnetic connection to either sand traps, or better yet, the water.

When I went to the Golf and Outdoor Adventure shows at BC Place, I actually found myself a little envious! A "driving range" was set up and people were swinging away at new clubs, or trying out ones they would never be able to afford (or convince the significant other to buy).

My weekend of trade shows continued at the Agriculture Show in Abbotsford. It's very cute to watch kids inthe petting zoos, staring in awe at the baby animals wandering around. It's almost an overload of cuteness... cute little kids playing with cute little animals. Serious "awww" factor. Although, by the end of the day one of the kids (baby goat) was cowering in the corner... I would imagine being handled by dozens of creatures 10 times your size can be a bit intimidating.

Sunday Morning we hit the Stair Climb for Clean Air, aka... Climb the Wall. The event has its brave competitors running up 48 flights of stairs at the Wall Centre, one of the city's tallest buildings. George Gordon and Dianne Newman from News1130's morning show hosted the event, and were among the first people to head up the steps. Dianne improved upon her performance last year, and George considered retirement. Kim Seale did a fantastic job as well. Our traffic gal was nervous, but when she arrived back on terra firma after the climb she was feeling fantastic. Congrats to everyone who participated, it was a great time for a great cause.

-jer

My fiance constantly talks about the day we'll have a boat. Every time we pass a marina, I hear about the great vacations we will go on, and how much fun life on the seas will be. It's a common goal for folks on the coast, whether it is the million dollar yacht you are after, or perhaps something a bit simpler. A man I met at the Vancouver International Boat Show says he was in the market for a good fishing vessel. The fanciest thing it needed to have was heating! I, on the other hand was hoping a media goodie bag would include a modest sport yacht...

I also had a little blast from the past at the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Hidy and Howdy from the 88 Olympics in Calgary are on display right now, and I remember the fuzzy polar bears from my childhood years. Granted, I was 6 years old at the time and don't remember anything about the actual games, but I do remember the mascots.

The Chinese New Year Parade and Surrey's Winterfest both had me outside this weekend, and for the most part the weather was fantastic. The rain did start to come down during the parade on Sunday but that didn't seem to bother too many people. One gentleman I spoke to said it was so great to see folks from so many different walks of life coming together to ring in the year of the rat. Hopefully 2008 brings us all great prosperity!

-jer

It is the season for tradeshows, so I am starting to see many of the same booths and products over and over again. Some of the things are pretty neat, and others not so much, but at the Wellness Show I placed my hands on a device that read my aura. It was mostly blue, and according to the lovely lady doing the reading, that means I am meant to be a communicator. The fiance may disagree. This first picture above is the view from Canada Place on Saturday. Lovin the job.

This weekend also had me visiting Storyfeast 2008, one of the more artsy things I have been to on the job, where the ancient tradition of storytelling survives in more modern times.

Sunday I was feeling a bit like hitting the road in an RV! I visited an RV show out at Tradex, and am now craving a roadtrip. You may think RVing is for grandparents, but I will correct you on that one. Any vehicle equipped with flatscreen TVs inside AND out, tiled flooring, beautiful leather couches and rommier than my apartment is fit for me to spend a great deal of time in. Also talked to a few Superbowl fans on the weekend who were placing bets on the Patriots while rooting for the Giants. As I write this, it is 7 to 3 for the Pats.

Amendment: Haha... giants won!

-jer

I like new things… new cars, computers, clothes… you name it! I also really dig seeing new buildings for the first time, so this was the weekend for me! I started out Saturday in the Callaghan Valley where News1130 was presenting the BC CUP: Cross Country. Not only was it the first sanctioned cross country ski competition on the site that will host Olympic events in 2010, it was my first time visiting.

The competitors were as young as 5, and as old as 61 with coaches and teams running around getting ready for the sprints. It was good to chat with one of the coaches who says he makes sure the kids he trains are having a good time above making good time. I wish I could have made better time driving to and from the valley, but with all the fresh snow, it made for a gorgeous day trip.

Sunday I headed to the Game Design Expo at the film school, the open auditions for Umoja at the Vogue, and the open house for the newest BC Ferry. The nerd in me loved being among the first people to sit in the chairs and tour the decks. We even took a gander through the engine rooms. I have no idea what those big machines do, but they sure looked neat.

-jer

It was my first weekend out and about since the holidays, and the fun I had actually made me happy to be back at work (please don't tell the boss). On Saturday morning I packed up my kit and headed out to the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. One of their tour guides, Robert, took me through their very popular exhibition "Canada at Play: BC on Ice". I will admit, I'm not a hockey fan but seeing some of the skates that Canadians were using on frozen ponds 100 years ago made me want to get out onto the ice.

Then I remembered I don't know how to skate.

We also checked out the "Taboo" show, which is always fun for the adults. Sure, this event is a bit on the more risque side of our community, but very popular none the less. About 50,000 people would wander through the show while it was in Vancouver. My favorite part is watching the more timid among us try not to stare when walking by some of the naughtier displays and booths.

There were also plenty of people at the roof panel signing happening in Richmond. With the roof nearly complete at the Richmond Oval, families braved chilly weather to make their mark on the 2010 games venue. It was funny to hear so many young children talk about driving past the oval in 20 years or so, imagining sharing the story of signing the panel with their young ones. 10 year olds talking about having kids… I'm more than twice their age and totally frightened by that notion!

-jer

This is it for 2007, our last weekend out in the community until the new year.  I'd like to thank all of the great people and organization we've visited over the past 6 months or so since we began News1130 In the Community.  I've truly been touched by the incredible spirit and dedication shown by volunteers across the Lower Mainland, and have had many many wonderful weekends visiting with families and kids (who really do say the darndest things).

My last '07 jaunt took me to some really great events, and a very inspiring one as well.  In Richmond, an international Wheelchair Curling Bonspiel took place with a group of organizers hoping to make a new legacy.  They have been watching the speed skating oval rising just about a block away from the club, but are pretty bummed that there will be no Paralympic 2010 events in Richmond.  Vince Miele and his team are inspiring people and doing a great deal of good in Richmond.

The cuteness scale was blown away at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage in Vancouver on Sunday morning when a small army of princesses had a tea party with Belle from Beauty and the Beast.  The show is back for its third year and promises to be great.  My favorite moment was asking a little girl what princess she was dressed up as.

GIRL:  I'm sleeping beauty.

JER: Oh!  Why did you dress up as sleeping beauty?

GIRL:  Well, because it was the only princess costume I had.

I had another hearty laugh thanks to a youngster at the unloading of the West Coast Express' Santa Claus Train.  A six year old boy (who is destined to be a broadcaster) did a wonderful job of describing his festive trip from Mission to downtown Vancouver.  His favorite part was "the railroads and the stops", but midway through our chat he decided he wanted a bit more media attention and asked if GlobalTV would be stopping by to chat.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.  Be safe!!

  Santa is polishing the sleigh, and the elves are putting the finishing touches on all those toys… and here on the Lower Mainland, we’re having a blast.

  Christmas on Cambie was an exciting afternoon full of entertainment, shopping and games.  Hundreds came out to help celebrate the reopening of the Cambie Village after months of Canada Line Construction.  I chatted with a gal named Amber who lives in the area, loves shopping in the village, and really didn’t mind the construction.  Her young daughter was really enjoying watching the workers build the tunnel underneath the street, and Amber felt it was an invaluable educational experience.  Its not very often you get you witness such a major construction project right in your backyard.  That being said, everyone agrees it is nice to have the village back, and hopefully it means great things for the merchants.

  The chilly weather was also no bother to the kids and parents who attended the first ever News1130 Santa Claus Storytime Breakfast at Moxie’s on Georgia in downtown Vancouver.  George Gordon, Russ Lacate and Kim Seale all read aloud some great holiday tales to everyone at the event.  Certainly everyone did a great job, but all the kids liked Kim Seale’s reading of the Grinch quite a bit.  What was really funny was asking the kids what part of the story is the best… the little girls like it when the Grinch brings all of the presents back.  Little boys like it when the Grinch sneaks into the houses and steals everything.

  Other fun events we headed to included Christmas at Canada Place, and the Festival of Lights at Van Dusen Gardens.  It was my first time to the Festival of Lights, but I can tell you with great certainty it will become a brand new tradition for me over the holidays.  Really incredible!

How about that snow?!

While we were all worried about hitting the streets and trying to get around on the first weekend of December, it was so much fun to find people out taking advantage of the rare wintery blast.  In Stanley park, couples were walking in the snow hand in hand, also gripping a steaming cup of hot chocolate.  Kids were making snowballs and throwing them at each other while imagining an incredible snow fort.

I didn't make it out to a couple of events because I'm afraid of dying... but what we did make it out to was great fun.  As the weather started to go really sour on Saturday afternoon, I checked out a christmas tree sale at the Coquitlam Ikea.  Proceeds from the sale are going to the PURPOSE Society which does alot of great work with young families and young adults struggling with addiction.  One of the volunteers, Ali, has been clean and sober for four months now thanks to some of the programs PURPOSE offers, and she was having alot of fun helping families pick out trees.

Another highlight was the Burn Fund's Bright Nights in Stanley Park.  I checked it out on Saturday night when a light blanket of snow covered the miniature train area.  Quite an experience.

One event I missed was the "Curl to the Beat" which happens every Saturday, so hopefully we'll catch up with them soon.  If you are thinking of getting into the sport, it is a great opportunity to learn to curl in a fun environment.  Check out the info here.

Lets cross our fingers for a break from the storm next weekend, as long as we can still have as much fun as we did in the snow.

This weekend really had me in the Christmas spirit.  Or is it holiday spirit??  Have we gotten over the whole non-denomenational holiday season thing yet?  Whatev, everything I did this weekend revolved specifically around Christmas, so that’s the spirit I’m feeling.  Happy Holidays to everyone though.

I checked out the Burnaby Village Museum’s Heritage Christmas on Saturday morning, an event they have been doing for 35 years.  I got a very exceptional tour of the grounds from Maurice(thanks Maurice, you rock!), and got to do some pretty fun things.  I got to operate the steam whistle, and even try my hand at “ye olde” typesetting.  I realized just how much I do appreciate technology after trying to spell “Heritage Christmas” backwards and upside down.  Not easy stuff.  A trio was playing live Christmas music in the gazebo, and as the morning ticked by more and more families could be seen touring the old houses and wandering through the main street where the blacksmith hammers away at steel candy canes.

Another lovely holiday tradition is Christmas at Hycroft.  Now, my weekend schedule can get pretty tight… I need to have new stories on the air every half hour so there is seldom time to stop and just enjoy my job.  Saturday evening when I went to Hycroft, I let the editor repeat my village stories for a bit, and I went on an incredible tour of the mansion.  Alex and her team that put on Christmas at Hycroft every year truly do a fantastic job.  They start working in March and go full time until the event in November, and their dedication shows.  Alex told me the history of Hycroft Mansion(although she did leave out the ghost stories… but hey, this isn’t hallowe’en), and showed me all the little nooks and crannies, including a hidden closet in the solarium!

To wrap up my Christmas filled weekend was the fourth annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade.  I am a bit of a Christmas dork… I’ve been listening to the 120 plus holiday tunes on my iPod, and was laughed at by my better half after suggesting a Christmas decoration budget of $400(we need a new tree!!).  With all of that, you can imagine how excited I get to participate in the parade.  300,000 people were there and donated the most food of any year to the Greater Vancouver Food bank, so it is another huge success!  There is something very magical that happens when you are marching down Georgia street with thousands of people on either side of you smiling and waving.  I didn’t see a single person there who wasn’t having a good time, even though it was a bit chilly out.  Thanks also to Kattie Bull, our promotions director @ News1130 for planning the great decorations for the News Cruiser, and buying me a quad long espresso to start the day.

The fun isn’t over quite yet though, as Santa still has a few weeks until he comes down the chimney.  Until then, enjoy some eggnog for me… it’s not on the diet.

Jer. 

Two pretty major events happened this weekend, and I’m pretty stoked we could be there for them.  First off was the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the VPD’s Dog squad.  I’m a dog lover, and have mentioned my little Sebastian on a number of occasions, so it was a major no brainer for me to want to go to this one.  I spoke to one of the dog trainers who went on about the bond between officer and dog.  The pooches live, eat, sleep, play, and even vacation with their human partners.  He claims their bond with the dogs is 100 times as strong as my bond with little Sabby.  I think had he seen how cute my dog was it would be a different story, but what kind of dog owner would I be if I didn’t say that?!

I also checked out the Eastside Culture Crawl, creeping through a few studios on Railway Street in Vancouver.  This is where I would like to share an embarrassing story….

I was interviewing Ken Diamond(www.kendiamond.com)and I could feel my cell phone start to vibrate in my pocket.  No big deal, I always turn it to vibrate when I’m out interviewing people, but suddenly it’s ring became audible.  Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You” began to play loudly, as the fiancé was trying to get ahold of me.  Oh the humiliation as Ken asked, “Is that your phone??”  Laugh it up, Ken.  I also spoke to the man behind some very crazy works of art, Andy(www.fullblownvisualassault.com)who lived in my hometown, Medicine Hat, Alberta.  Be sure to check out their work, and that of the other artists involved in the crawl(www.eastsideculturecrawl.com).

The other huge event was of course the Lion’s Street Party… just before they ended their 08 Grey Cup run.  While I think a wag of the finger is appropriate for the pre-noon beer drinkers on a typical day, we’ll let it ride for now.  The party was a blast, and I really enjoyed speaking to the folks all painted up in orange and black.  One of the beer drinkers was Annie, who turned 50 on Sunday, so happy birthday!!!

For the record, I was drinking tea.  No seriously, real tea… not the “tea” I was drinking out of thermal mugs in high school.

-jer

I felt very honored to be able to represent News1130 at the Remembrance Day Ceremonies at Victory Square, and I'll admit I was surprised by how much the ceremony affected me.  It was cool and a bit rainy as the Last Post echoed between the buildings downtown, followed by silence.  Hundreds of people looked towards the cenotaph in the square, all reflecting on what the day meant to them and their families.  As I stood near the crowd preparing for a live report, I felt a familiar tightness in my chest... was I actually going to cry??  I didn't think I had any reason to feel so emotional... no family members(that I know of)died in any of the wars, I've not lost any friends who have gone off into combat zones. 

The day before I had visited a Christmas craft fair, Diwali Celebrations, and a model train show.  It was a diverse and eclectic day out in the community, and I had a great deal of fun.  "Trains 2007" at the Cameron Centre in Burnaby was the highlight of the day as I envisioned my own mini rail empire running through the rooms of my apartment.  Sure, the fiance would have none of it, but a guy can dream!!

That's actually where the realization came in.  Back at Victory Square I remembered the sacrifice of so many Canadians who laid down their lives to make sure we had the freedom to built mini railway layouts, celebrate Diwali with our neighbors, and enjoy all of the freedoms we have in Canada.  Most of us don't know any of these heroes, and perhaps it's a shame we only stop for one day a year to express our gratitude.  But many of the Veterans I had the privilege of speaking to were pleased to see so many young people at the ceremony.  It gives them hope that the lessons and sacrifices of the past will not be lost tomorrow.

We haven't even taken down all of the Halloween decorations, and already the malls are in full Christmas decor!!  How do they do that?  Santa's elves must rent themselves out to shopping centres and burn the midnight oil in the wee hours of the morning on November 1st.

Metrotown was very much in the holiday spirit Saturday morning when News1130 held a special preview of Vince Vaughn's new movie, Fred Claus.  The kids had a good time, and so did all of the parents in attendance.  Also at the mall on Saturday, the launch of a new bone marrow donor program called One Match.  It's a quick and easy signup at onematch.ca, then they send you a swab(similar to the ones used in CSI), which you mail back to them to see if you match anyone.  Simple stuff to save lives.  The big push is for more donors in ethnic communities, because there are so few donors on file.  For folks in the South Asian, Chinese, even African communities the odds are very low that a bone marrow donor can be found outside of the family.  One Match will hopefully do a lot of good, so be sure to sign up.  The kids can help out, and will enjoy playing Grissom.

The final stop on the weekend took me to a meeting with Zan, the world's greatest seducer.  I fully expected cheesy pickup lines, lame fashion advice, and a slimy lounge lizard.  He was actually a really nice guy who doesn't at all consider himself a pickup artist!  Turns out the key to seduction is actually self confidence, and a genuine interest in what the opposite sex has to say.  As wonderful as it is to see guys learning how NOT to become dogs, I was looking forward to using this old gem:

ME:  Did it hurt?

YOU:  Did what hurt?

ME:  When you fell from heaven.

Now THAT'S seduction kids.

Sure, there was a little bit of mud, but it was a whole lotta fun!

I hope that next year you take a day and head out to Chilliwack to visit the corn maze, because its a great way to spend a weekend with the little ones, and the families that operate the facility are truly great people.  In the photo here is Wendy and her daughter, and they were very gracious hosts when I visited on their closing weekend.  Wendy told me about all the planning and work that goes into creating the gigantic maze every year, and it was obvious it was a labour of love.  They've been going for close to a decade now, and Wendy's girls pretty much grew up at the maze.  Nowadays, she's able to put the girls to work, but once upon a time she was handling the guests, and chasing after her own kids.

The weekend also took me to the "Halloween Hooplah" celebration at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre, the Snow Show at BC Place, and the Mushroom Show at Van Dusen.  The latter was very fascinating, educational, and tasty!  Chef Pierre Dubrulle was onsite, creating some very tasty soups and sauteed mushrooms.  He has some great tips if you're a mushroom lover:  keep it simple!  Creating overly complicated recipes with mushrooms will just try to hide the flavour, so use a simple base with shallots, garlic, green onions, maybe a little wine and you're good to go.  If you are looking for a very rare treat, to to get your hands on a King Bullet mushroom... they are very tough to find, but so worth it!!

Happy Halloween!

This weekend’s weather was nothing short of brutal.  Around my apartment building in downtown Vancouver, large puddles are forming in intersections and the streets look more like rivers than they do roadways.  Even though all of the events I checked out were indoors, I still managed to end both days with wet feet.  One of the most incredible events was the 5^th annual Yoga Championship.  The picture here is of a 14 year old named Wesley, who had been training every day for about 5 months to get ready for the competition.  It doesn’t feel good meeting a 14 year old who could clearly beat me up, I’m not going to lie about it, it pretty much sends the self confidence out the window.

  The Women’s Expo at the convention centre was very cool, especially because of the Dojang stall.  This is a style of martial arts that is created specifically for women with the intention of empowerment.  I watched the ladies demonstrate punching through specially designed boards, and it looked pretty fun.  They let me strap on a glove, and give it my best shot.  Those of you who know me, are aware that I have the upper body strength of a 10 year old, so when I punched through that board, I felt pretty good.  I really should have done this one AFTER meeting the 14 year old yogi.  Check out their website at www.dojang.ca because it looks very cool, and those people I’ve spoken to who have given it a shot highly recommend it!  At the show I also learned the latest trend when it comes to hosting a dinner party.  Forget about the veggie tray and try out this handy idea… take martini glasses, put a bit of dip in the bottom, and then add some colorful veggies to it.  Everyone can carry around their own dip and veg in a very stylish presentation that allows for as much double dipping as possible.

  Sunday I also checked out the Greek Food Festival, and was overcome by the hospitality of the organizers.  I’ll preface this by saying I’m on a diet, and have managed to drop about 13 pounds.  As I headed into the festival I kept reminding myself about discipline, and how many points I had left in the day(not enough!).  As my tour guide lead me past the roasted lamb, I stayed strong.  Next was the lemon chicken with rice and potatoes, and my will power maintained, albeit barely.  Suddenly we went to where the gentlemen were barbequing the souvlaki, and my defenses were lost… I simply had to have chicken souvlaki!!!  Then they handed me a bowl of honey balls, which my Greek hosts will tell you is the original ‘timbit’… so tasty.

  So after blowing the diet, and feeling completely inadequate next to a 14 year old I’ll end my blog entry here.  I feel the need to hit the elliptical trainer and maybe pick up a few weights before next weekend.

I bought a lottery ticket this weekend after going to the Home and Interior Design show, hoping I'd win a cool $4 million, and be able to shop my pants off.  Don't you just love shopping for all the wonderful things you can't afford, visualising your home with the latest and greatest furniture and finishings??  The highlight of the show was definitely Colin & Justin from "Home Heist".  Be sure to check out the On Demand section of this website and listen to my interview with them... it was a lot of fun!

When I'm out and about in the community, I'm always hopeful that the events we attend are busy, and full of people having fun.  Sometimes I worry I'll have picked a dud and will have to try and make the best of it.  I had a few worries about this weekend, but I couldn't have been more wrong.  The Apple Festival at UBC's Botanical Gardens was among the most enjoyable events I've been to in months.  The weather was absolutely incredible, and everyone was having a wonerful time.  The same went for the Solar Powered Roadshow which was at Lougheed Town Centre on Sunday.  I met the most adorable little girl named Sam, and she was very excited to be making her own solar powered oven.  She was using shiny bits of carboard, colorful tape, a few staples, and even cut up pieces of drinking straws.  She told me with a sparkle in her eye that she was hoping to be able to cook a pizza in her new oven.  Save me a slice!!

Fright Nights at the PNE was my last stop of the weekend, and I met quite a few people at the amusement park.  Most of them were young adults, who all admitted it was actually a pretty scary event.  The only exception was one gal who was playing it all cool until a demonic clown came up behind me.  She tried to use me as a human shield before admitting to having "issues with clowns."  Glad I could be of such use.  ;)

  It was a very VERY wet Thanksgiving Sunday on the Lower Mainland, but people were still out and about, braving the rain and wind to have a great day.  Curlers spent the weekend throwin' rocks at the Royal City Curling Club as the Westcoast Curling Classic kept people young and old entertained.  I've gotta tell you, I'm a pretty mean curler myself, and not ashamed of it.  In the fourth grade I lead my rink as their fearless skip in the Medicine Hat, Alberta jampail bonspiel.  I know, a pretty big deal.

  People also gathered in the old Ioco area, which doesn't see too much action these days.  Once upon a time it was a thriving community with kids playing in the school fields, and families occupying the beautiful old homes.  Today they celebrate Ioco Ghost Town Day on the first Sunday of every October.  One of the ladies I met at the event actually went to Ioco School in the third grade, and is sad to see it empty.  She remembers playing in the all but forgotten fields and hopes one day to see more development in the area that would honor the great history of Ioco, and maintain it's character.

  Before heading off to Thanksgiving dinner at "the fiance's" family home, I made a stop by my local Safeway store to catch a few people picking up the last minute cranberries etc.  It was a little funny because the first 20 people I approached were in such a major rush they wouldn't even pause for a moment.  I was a bit worried as the deadline approached I wouldn't have a single person on tape, but I remained vigilant.  Sure enough, I could see the yams and boxes of stovetop in those bags, and I pounced!  My favorite interview of the weekend came from a young lady named Susan who was helping put on an "Orphan's Thanksgiving" for friends who would have been alone for dinner.  Her next stop was the liquor store, because like family Thanksgiving, they are better enjoyed inebriated.

I'm thankful for a lot this year, including the great family I'll become a part of.  I certainly hope your Thanksgiving was as great as mine... although I will need to count calories for a week.

-jer.

Where on earth did September go?!?

Wherever it's gone, it took the mild weather with it, and left us all with alot of rain, and definitely some wind.  Despite all of the sogginess, the events that kept people busy went on as planned, and folks were having alot of fun.  From the Taste of Health food fair to the Vancouver International Film Festival on Granville street, hundreds of people were coming and going, checking schedules and lining up for tickets.  That seems like a pretty good sign for the VIFF!  I met up with two gals who found a dry spot on the sidewalk and were furiously going through the program guide, searching for the best flicks to check out.  Escaping the weather for a warm theatre and popcorn was most definitely in their sights.

On Sunday as the Word on the Street festival was continuing on despite our never ending civic strike, people were decked out in a lot of pink downtown.  The Run for the Cure was taking place, and I was thrilled to be co-hosting the event.  I had the pleasure of meeting many courageous survivors, hard working volunteers, and the staff at the BC Cancer Foundation.  A young woman shared her story of survival with all of us, how she was 26 when diagnosed with breast cancer.  She told us how her family, friends, and doctors were so wonderful and helped her stay strong through her treatments.  I looked out into the crowd and saw all of the special pink survivor shirts, and realized just how many people there had fought and won their battles.  Organizers told me that the run had it's second highest number of people in attendance, but had raised the most money ever!  Everyone who showed up on that rainy morning and participated are all true community heroes, and I can't wait to be back at the run next year, and be inspired again.

Bravo to you all.

-jer.

All weekend long I was talking about how it's time to 'embrace' the fact that fall has fallen, and well... suck it up.

Saturday afternoon I headed to the Bill Copeland Sports Centre for their "Fall Carnival Skate".  In the newsroom everyone was pressuring me to hit the ice myself, but seriously I haven't skated in about 10 years, and I wasn't any good then either.  Instead I sat up in the stands watching the families having a blast, and contemplated how cold my hands were.

It wasn't until Sunday morning that I 'embraced'.  Three News1130 staff members were heading up to North Vancouver for the Grouse Grind Mountain Run, and I went to cover the event.  Their motto as they prepared to run was "Suck it up, Buttercup."  As I loaded my recorder and camera into my bag, I also tossed in a pair of gloves.  Mike Hanafin(our incredible afternoon technical director)was rearing to head up the trail at about 9:30am and wasn't too concerned about the cold at all!  He was wearing shorts and a tee, and was hoping to make it up in 50 minutes.  His actual time?  49:55!!!  Congrats, Mike.  Even our reporter Shane Bigham did it in less than an hour, which for the newsroom's swingin' single, you'd expect him hung over on a Sunday AM.  On the right here, you'll find a smart alec giving you the thumbs up.  That is the smug John Streit, who beat all of his colleagues up the mountain.  I'll extend that congrats to everyone who participated as well, because it truly is an incredible feat.

That afternoon, the sun was back up in the sky and it was beautifully warm.  I'd visited the Lower Lonsdale Fall Festival, and the AIDS Walk for Life.  My day ended at the festival in Thunderbird Stadium after the Tour of Courage, where I met world class cyclists, and the volunteers who helped make it all possible.  Mike, who typically spends his time planning major corporate events was giving his time to help support the cause, and advance the sport of cycling.  "Anything I can do to raise awareness for the sport," he says.  The Tour of Courage was such a huge success, Mike is looking forward to hopefully riding with the best again next year, and seeing more and more people hopping on bikes.

Embracing the leaves... -jer.

I'm currently living in fear.

Saturday was beautiful and sunny outside, with a nice cool breeze.  The leaves were turning and starting fall, and it was an incredible day to be outside at UBC.  They were holding their Alumni Weekend, and 1,500 grads came out to say hi to old friends, and catch up with their profs.  Turns out there are 150,000 UBC alumni that continue to live here in Greater Vancouver, and are doing great things in our community.

Then Sunday morning came...

I headed to Stanley Park to take in the Terry Fox run, and it was painfully clear that autumn was on the horizon.  That fact didn't seem to frighten off the 700 people who came to run in the park.  Organizers admitted that number was a bit low, but the donations seemed to be a bit up!  The count as I was preparing to leave was already at $73,000.  Congrats to all the runners... you are doing incredible work.

By the time I've written my next blog entry, the new season will be here bringing with it the rainy weather that defines our city for practically 10 months of the year.

Let's hope Russ Lacate can keep the sunshine coming... at least for the weekends... otherwise I'm thinking I'll be adding Gumboots1130 to my wardrobe.

-jer

It was a real weekend for the dogs.

Paws for a Cause brought about a thousand little pooches to the trails around Vanier Park in Vancouver, Davie Day had a diverse crowd packing the street, and thousands of milk lovers were moo-ing the day away at the Avalon Dairy's Country Fair.

I'm a dog lover, and I'll even admit to being one of those people who goes dog clothes shopping.  My Sebastien has a couple of tees, but I've never really gone too crazy(have you seen the price of dog clothes???).  I met an adorable little Papillon who was wearing a pin stripe suite with a white collar, and matching tie.  His two Moms were enjoying a little rest time along the Paws for a Cause trail, taking a few pictures.  As we were chatting we watched the dogs go by... from the Chihuahuas to the Great Danes, the Moms remarked about how great it was to see so many animal lovers out to help the SPCA.  Even one of the society's employees I spoke with had a big smile on watching the animals bark and play.  "We deal with so many animals on a daily basis where their owners neglect them... it's great to see so many people who really care for these dogs."

Sebastien had to stay home.  He's one of those little dogs who likes to pick on his bigger cohorts.

The Avalon Dairy celebration commemorated the 101st birthday for the business, which still has glass bottles in the grocery store coolers.  Folks there were enjoying pony rides, really loud children's music, and also remembering a simpler time.  A new Mom I met told me about the days when she was growing up in Saskatchewan, and those glass bottles would arrive at the door every morning.  She misses the simplicity of life back then, but tells me she wouldn't go back there for the world.

I walked away wondering if she meant Saskatchewan...?

-jer

I thought it would be fun to go and check out the last weekend for Grossology at Science World this weekend... and don't get me wrong it was a blast, but seriously... really quite nasty!!  As folks first walk into the exhibit they stop by a station with a bunch of little nozzles, put their nostrils up to them, and take a great big WHIFFF!  Then they try to identify the gross smell.  One kid I spoke to got a big nose full of "Eau de butt", and could only describe it as being YUCKY!  Classic.
 
 The labour day weekend was full of two different classic car shows, butt smelling at Science World, and among other things, a sardine festival.  Picture this:  a radio reporter carrying around a camera, a microphone, and a recorder climbing aboard a huge fishin' boat to learn about sardine fishing.  I'm sure I saw the boat's crew snickering as I tried to make my way past equipment and bins of fish without getting wet, or messing up my hair.  The boat's Captain, Glen, was very kind and explained the difficult and dangerous work he and his guys do.  Upon the completion of our interview I asked how I might be able to get off the vessel. "Just back off the way I came on?"  Glen responds, "Or you can just hop over the side of the boat here."
 
I took the ladder.  More snickers.
-jer.

It was one of the last weekends of summer, and in true Vancouver style, we got a bit of everything weather wise.  A little sun, plenty of cloud, and of course some rain.

Kerrisdale Days, The Wooden Boat Festival, and even the Ladner Village Market were on the schedule for the weekend... and even more.  At the boat festival I had the privilege of meeting a family who were working away on their very own wooden boat.  Joyce Vandergreen, her boyfriend and her two kids were hammering and sawing away when I pulled her aside to chat.  It was obvious she was having a great time with the family, but her mind was elsewhere.  She told me about her parents, and smiled, remembering how they were avid sailors.  Joyce thought about the times we are in, and languished a bit that younger generations tend to forget about their roots until it's too late.  "It wasn't until my parents died that I really looked into my family's roots".  With the wooden boat she built with her family, she hopes it serves as a connection between her family's strong past, and it's exciting future.

I ended my weekend at the Ladner Village Market, stuffing my face with a Bison Burger from La Belle Auberge.  I highly doubt burgers are on the menu everyday at this French restaurant, so I was thankful for a taste out on the streets of the market.  It may well be my last burger of the summer(based on my expanding waist... it had better be), and I'm not sure how I'll be able to stomach fast food ever again. 

That's a good thing, right??? -jer

  Trans-fat free mini donuts.  It's a phrase I never thought I'd actually get to say, but here we are... the glory of a delicious mini donut, without the guilt.  Oh sure, there is still guilt involved when chowing down on a bag of those tasty little bad boys at the PNE, but I felt much more comfortable about it.  This revelation came as I spent a day on the fair grounds, meeting great people, and even becoming a passenger in my own car!  The most adorable little kid came along with his Mom, and wanted to sit inside the News cruiser.  Little Robbie spent the next 20 minutes pretending to drive the car, sound effects and all, as his Mom tried to talk him out of the driver's seat.  All those rides at the fair, and it was our Pontiac Vibe that was the highlight of his day.

  Sunday was also very cool, as I headed to the Richmond Maritime festival and listened to some sea shanties.  The group performing the tunes, Tarkin(www.tarkin.ca)was very cool, and they've written a song about a terrible long weekend aboard the BC Ferries.  "For the day is hot and the weekend's long, and we drive to the ferry while we sing this song.  And the cars strech miles on down the roooooooaaaaaad.... it's another BC Ferries overload!"  Don't be surprised if it becomes the official anthem of those long weekends when two vessels are down, and all the reservations have been sold out.  -jer.

 I experienced alot of firsts this weekend... first time at Wreck Beach, the Abbotsford Airshow, the Chariot Festival... all of which were very cool!

  The 45th annual Abbotsford International Airshow featured some incredible planes, and pilots who did stunts that truly took my breath away.  News1130 Airborne traffic was also on the scene, and as I watched some of the pilots do their aerobatics routines, I thought how fun it would be for Kim Seale to flip upside down while reporting from a traffic jam.... or do a loop-de-loop!  Imagine the screams!!

  Probably the most memorable experience over the weekend was attending the Bare Buns run down at Wreck Beach.  Sunday morning was a bit chilly, cloudy, and we even got a bit of rain here and there.  The men and women participating in the nude race were certainly much braver than I am... if you think back to that famous episode of "Seinfeld" when George Costanza(Jason Alexander)had gone swimming in a cold pool, only to have Jerry's girlfriend walk in on him naked, while changing.  'Shrinkage' would become a very popular term after that.  Well that didn't bother any of the near 100 runners much at all.  They ran 5.5km in wet sand, naked, while a group of mostly clothed spectators looked on and cheered.  They even had free "bun painting" as you walked out onto the beach.  I didn't partake.

 I did however have the pleasure of meeting Judy Williams, the chair of the Wreck Beach Preservation Society, who organizes this event, and is a loyal News1130 listener.  She was very pleased we were able to be there for the run, and so was I... it was a great deal of fun!

  This weekend we also welcomed Capital Direct.ca to our "In the Community" team.  Their sponsorship of our work brings some attention and publicity to events across the Lower Mainland that may not otherwise see many reporters or TV cameras.  These events we go to are family friendly, volunteer based, and help grow our communities and bring families together.  Welcome Capital Direct, we're proud to be working with you.  -jer

  Wow... what a busy weekend!!

  Between fireworks, gay pride, and BC Day I'm feeling pretty exhausted, but at the same time I had a phenomenal weekend out in the community meeting great people and having fun.

  At the pride parade on Sunday, Reaon Ford and I were driving the News Cruiser in the procession of floats and marchers and had quite the time.  Reaon remarked on air about how surprised he was to see so much "well oiled man flesh" at the event, but he was still all smiles.  I met a lot of News1130 fans along the sidewalks, clamoring to get their hands on a News1130 magnet.  We must have gone through hundreds of those little green magnets....

  Katherine Kitts was our reporter talking to people about what made them proud that weekend, and she was actually taken aback to hear from a woman who lives in the west end, and can remember back to when the pride parade was much more taboo.  She looked around at the floats sponsored by corporations, and the thousands of families and onlookers, and remembered the days it was actually dangerous to participate in such an event.

  The diversity at the event featured all the colors that we saw exploding in the sky on Saturday night at the fireworks, and the feeling carried right to Monday as we celebrated this incredible province, on BC Day.  -jer.

  Fireworks nights always bring thousands upon thousands to the beaches around English Bay, and a lot of interesting stories with them.  We met one lady who had been coming to the Celebration of Light for as long as she can remember, bringing her daughter down to make it a summer family tradition.  Another couple down the beach were enjoying what looked like a pretty tasty home cooked meal, and they're pretty die hard fireworks supporters.  They pack a picnic for every single night of the fireworks, and have since the competition started.  They were very proud to report they had only ever missed two nights!  Of course they planned to pack the picnic back up again and haul out any garbage...

  On Sunday we traveled from North Vancouver's Caribbean Days festival at Waterfront Park, all the way to Aldergrove for Fair Days/BC Renaissance Festival, then to Burns Bog for International Bog Day.  The skies were cloudy, and every once in a while I felt a cold little rain droplet fall on my hand during an interview, but there were plenty of families out sharing a day together.

-jer.

A weekend out in the rain for everybody across the Lower Mainland, but people certainly made the most of it.  In downtown Vancouver, the Yaletown street party and the Steve Nash Block Party attracted plenty of people... and dogs, actually!  One trendy pooch boutique was giving away free sessions with a Dog Massage Therapist!

Events like these, as well as the Yogathon and FraserFest couldn't happen year after year without the support of great volunteers.  The Yogathon raised tens of thousands of dollars for Camp Moomba(a camp for kids affected by HIV/AIDS), by gathering together 1,500 yogis for an afternoon in the rain.  FraserFest devotes a weekend on the New Westminster Quay to all things Fraser River.  In my talks with the people organizing these events, one common theme kept coming up:  Volunteers rock.

While all of us are tight on time these days, there are people in our communities that bust their butts, give their time, and make incredible events happen for all of us.  They get soaked in the rain, cross their fingers that people will still have a great time, then clean up all the garbage when it's done.  It may sound like a crummy job considering the pay, but they all have a great time doing it, and plan on throwing their hat back in the ring at the next opportunity.

-jer.

How often do you find yourself spending a weekend thinking about how cool your boss is?
I recently went to my News Director with a sticky situation... I wanted to go camping on a weekend, when News1130 was scheduled to be in the community(which would be every weekend.)  She figured it was a good idea to do both!  Cue the News1130 In Your Community "Whistler Adventure"!
The News Cruiser and I headed to Whistler Creekside to check out the Children's Art Festival on the 14th, and had such a great time.  I'll admit, there are only so many children's songs an adult can take in one day, but the cool kids that were there made the time fly by.  If you are ever in Squamish, and you see a 3 year old boy who can ride a bike better than he can speak English, his name is probably Jack!  He was showing me how to "pop a wheelie"(or is that wheely?), raced his Dad around the square, and even managed to get his Mom to stand in the baloon line up so he could keep up the riding.
The downside of my visit with Jack?  The sad realization that a 3 year old is better at riding a bike than me.
On the way home Sunday, my dog Sebastien got to run around Rose Park while I spoke to one of the volunteers working on "Gear Jammer" in Squamish(Check it out if you're looking for a crazy mountain bike race next summer), met the Mother of a proud performer at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and caught up with a good friend performing in Theatre Under the Stars.  Be sure to sign up for the News1130 Insider Club, and use your credits to pick up some tickets.  This year they are selling beer and wine on the grounds... good news for the folks who forget bug spray.  -jer

If you're at all like me, there's a sport you vow to take up over the summer.  Tennis is that elusive pasttime for me, so it was great to stop by the Stanley Park Open where kids, seniors and even players in wheelchairs take to the courts.  We also ran into Disney's Beauty and the Beast who were helping to celebrate the centennial of the South Granville neighborhood.  They're returning for a third year to the Stanley Theatre this Christmas(artsclub.com for tickets).

  The underwear affair raises cash for the BC Cancer Foundation, specifically to do work on cancers 'below the belt'.  I lost a Grandfather a few years ago to colon cancer, so it's great to see people putting on their finest gonch to do some good for the cause.  I was fortunate enough over the weekend to meet a young man who is fighting colon cancer himself, and at the age of 29.  He was in his boxers and undershirt, and was enthusiastic about the run ahead of him.  We certainly had a laugh or two about the hundreds of people and the variety of "clothing" being worn that night, but Edwin says the best thing about it all is the fact it gets people talking about cancers that are typically pretty taboo.  I think I'll sign up for next year's run... which gives me 12 months to work on the six-pack. 

-jer

Lesson learned:  sunscreen is an essential part of my reporter's kit.  

The sun shined on the Lower Mainland all weekend, from the Canada Cup @ Softball City, to the Highland Games in Coquitlam.  With all the community events we kept busy enjoying our country's birthday.  On July 1st we talked to families building kites together at Ambleside park in West Van, tourists enjoying jazz on Granville Island, and kits playing in the "foam pit" at the Langley Canada Day Celebration, sponsored proudly by News1130.  I'm convinced that foam party was a blast… but unsure as to how comfortable the day would be, drenched in soap. 

Hopefully it had UV protection.  -jer

The weather had me rethinking my career choice for about an hour or so... it rained so hard when I was getting set up at Kits beach for the Scotiabank half marathon. Everything was put nicely into perspective however, when the runners came by... drenched from head to toe, grabbing a quick drink from the volunteers who were also soaked. Drummers helped keep a good tempo, and everyone was having a wonderful time despite the rain. My feet were soaked, but even I was caught up in the excitement!

A few blocks to the south I moved the News Cruiser to the Kitsilano soap box derby, just in time for the sun to break through. The crowds of kids, Moms, Dads, and spectators cheered!! Danika and her Dad were getting ready for the race and told me all about their tactics for racing down a hill in the rain. She was a fun kid, who was there to have a blast with the family, and I could tell their mission was accomplished. Note of sweet sweet irony: The only car I saw lose control was the one sponsored by an insurance company. The young driver was completely safe, and uninjured, btw.

I ended the weekend at greek day on Broadway. This is an awesome event that really represents the real Vancouver... I met Greeks, Canadians, Brazillians, and plenty of others in a very diverse crowd. Everyone was there for the music, the culture, and the food!!! Nearly everyone I spoke to was drooling over the smells of souvlaki, myself included. I had pork souvlaki for the first time(not a huge pork eater...), and it changed my life. Had it not started pouring again I would have had to indulge a couple more times...

Next time you see News1130 in your community, stop by and say hello!! -Jer.

Saturday morning I was up bright and early to check out the "Little Britches Rodeo" put on by the Langley Riders Society. It features cowboys and cowgirls under the age of 18... and sometimes WAY under. 2 year olds walking around in Cowboy hats and boots are too cute for words. I met some very friendly people, including the Leak family. Shannon was riding in this event when she was a little girl, and now brings her daughter Emily, so it's a long standing family tradition.

From cowboys to car buffs... the Driven to Perform car show brought tonnes of people out to BC Place, all looking for the coolest gear to outfit their rides with. I saw alot of guys drooling over car accessories, and their wives, who were keeping track of the nearest exits ;)

I ended the day down at the Jazz festival's free concerts in Gastown, and had a great time! There's just something about Gastown and Jazz, and the delicious turkey sandwich I picked up at a shop near the Gassy Jack statue. Thousands of people took in the cloudy weather, ambiance, and great music from around the world. I met a great couple from Salmon Arm who were in search of a fantastic saxophone performance at the festival... I hope you found what you were craving!