Many of my ups have been posted in the form of sneak-a-peeks and highlights of the many photo sessions that are the integral part of my job. (Absolutely no regrets taking photography to full-time status!)

Reminiscing, I limited my photos to 1 per month (a challenge in itself!)

January…  capturing a moose has long been on my list of desired images.  Sadly, they’ve been elusive creatures for me – butts disappearing into the bush; standing silhouetted in a distant field flipping the proverbial bird;  or racing across the road in front of my parked car – while I was changing lenses.  A family trip to the Royal Alberta Museum‘s wildlife exhibit gave me my only good shot to date.  Their fascinating diorama setups give lifelike backdrops to the various animals.

February… watching our son compete in the Alberta Winter Games judo competition.

March…  a family visit to the auto show – some dreams, some potential reality, and some novel family photo ops.

April… a family visit to Las Vegas – a firing range, the Red Rock Mountains, Glitter Gulch, outlet malls and a view of the gorgeous Bellagio Fountains from our hotel rooms were just a few of the highlights!

May… Watching my daugther compete in her first 4-H Club events.  Anyone who knows horses, knows how challenging it is to get them to stand nicely – particularly when a camera is around.  Silver was a trooper!

June… Ozzie, the big lovable 80lb ‘puppy’ (only 10 months old), adopted from Oops A Dazy in May knew all the tricks to ensure his place in the family!

July… so many outdoor activities, but a family outing to The Calgary Stampede watching the Tails show was one of many highlights.

August… a beautiful summer had us out and about but, despite receiving my first ever wasp sting, I really enjoyed the smalltown Millarville Rodeo and Fair.  (Nothing outshone my being part of the Globalfest 2012 photography team though!)

September 2012… thought we’d try one last family picnic while the weather held.  Discovered Sheep River Falls which I’ll be exploring more at a later date. Typical family photo attempt!

October… changing seasons, a little warmth, a little snow, a little cold, and glorious colours.

November… visions of Sugarplums dancing in my head – or at least an Aston Martin ready gift-wrapped.  Sadly it didn’t appear under my tree despite subtle hints dropped.

December… I’ve never been a big one for New Year’s celebrations, but my ‘party animals’ (Ohinga, Matlock, Ozzie & Mew hiding in the basket) did it for me.  HAPPY NEW YEAR one and all.  May 2013 bring you health and happiness.

8: New LRT stations opened this year (west LRT, two in northeast)
8: New LRT stations opened between 1990 and 2011
1: New stations to be opened through 2022 in city’s new transportation investment plan (Tuscany)
2039: Estimated year of southeast LRT’s completion to south hospital
6-8: Number of months Chinook station will be closed in 2013 for reconstruction

16: Calgary seats the Tories had coming into the election (of 23)
20: Calgary seats the Alberta PCs won in the spring election (of 25)
+26.65%: Shift in Wildrose votes in Calgary, 2008-2012
+0.35%: Shift in Tory votes in Calgary, 2008-2012
41: Consecutive years Alberta Tories have ruled
12: Consecutive elections the Tories have won, all with majorities
2014: Year Tories will become Canada’s longest-running political dynasty, eclipsing 1882-1925 Nova Scotia Liberals

2,300: Imperial Oil downtown workforce, to leave for HQ in southeast office park by 2016
1,500-2,000:Canadian Pacific downtown workforce, before move to Ogden yards by 2014
2.8 million: square feet in new 225 Sixth office project, proposed by Imperial’s downtown landlord
247: Height in metres of the project’s first tower — 11 more than The Bow

100: Years since the original Calgary Stampede
1,409,371:Record-busting attendance for all days of Stampede
425,000 (38): Estimated Stampede parade attendance, (percentage of city population)
75,000 (125): Estimated attendance of 1912 Stampede parade, (percentage of population)

3,576: Homeless Calgarians in August count
3,601: In spring 2008 homeless count
5: Years left of 10-year plan to end homelessness, as of this January

62: Percentage of votes for Liberal, Green, & NDP candidates in Calgary Centre byelection against Tory Joan Crockatt.
42: Percentage of votes for Liberal, Green and NDP candidates in Calgary Centre against Lee Richardson in 2011
4: Pairs of footwear Crockatt claims to have worn out while knocking on more than 16,000 doors during the campaign
6: Candidate debates Crockatt didn’t attend (at Herald’s count). She spoke at two.

11: Months before next election when Naheed Nenshi made big announcement he’ll run again
1: Alderman who immediately ruled out a run for mayor’s seat with Nenshi running
0: Noteworthy Calgarians rumoured to be running against Nenshi
76%: Nenshi’s approval rating, according to Forum Research poll in September
4: Years in new term length for city council, starting in 2013
12: Aldermen planning to seek re-election (all except Dale Hodges and Gord Lowe, who say maybe)
14: Aldermen who will lose their title after October’s election. They’ll all be known as councillors.

510: Days between the Peace Bridge contractor’s target completion date (Oct. 31, 2010) and the actual opening date (March 24, 2012)
5,000: Expected daily pedestrian and cyclist volumes on Peace Bridge
6,000+: Estimated daily volumes on Peace Bridge in June
6: Seconds the Peace Bridge appeared in a three-minute Travel Alberta ad
0: Number of other identifiable Calgary sites appearing in the ad

$102.96: Per barrel oil price (West Texas Intermediate) at start of year
$90.62: WTI oil price on Dec. 28
$33.10: Discount Western Canadian Select (Alberta heavy oil) price Dec. 28
$886M: 2012-2013 Alberta budget deficit, as estimated before spring election
$3B: Deficit, as forecast last November

6: Hospitals in Winnipeg, population 691,000
3: Hospitals in Calgary, population 1.1 million, before South Health Campus opened
268: Acute-care, in-patient beds in south hospital
2,400: Doctor, nurse and other staff required for new hospital
$552M: Originally budgeted for south hospital
$1.3B: Revised budget for hospital

2: Cities, Niagara Falls and Calgary, named the 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada
167: Small cultural projects that won Grassroots Initiative Grants
1,000: Calgarians who gathered to lip-sync Sweet City Woman in Olympic Plaza in September for public art event
0: Cities that will get Cultural Capital status in future years, after Harper government discontinued program
$15.1B: China National Offshore Oil Company’s takeover of Nexen Inc.
$5.9B: Malaysia-owned Petronas’ takeover of natural gas company Progress Energy
0: Foreign state-owned company takeovers and investments in Calgary’s oilpatch the federal government refused to date
0: Oilsands takeovers by state-owned firms Stephen Harper will accept in future, barring “exceptional circumstances”

Stamps running back Jon Cornish pulls up his pants extra high after scoring his second touchdown on Friday night. Photo, Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald

1,457: Regular-season rushing yards by Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish, tops in the league and a team record for a Canadian
112, 109: His rushing yards in first two playoff games
35-22: Toronto Argonauts’ victory over Calgary Stampeders in Grey Cup.
57: Cornish’s rushing yards in the final

$35: Price of Calgary Transit annual seniors pass in 1995
$35: Annual seniors pass in 2011
$55: Annual seniors pass in 2012
$95: Annual seniors pass in 2013
$528: Cost of 12 monthly transit passes for a low-income adult in 2013

[Via: Geeky Stuffs]

The rodeo is only part of the excitement at the Calgary Stampede. (Julia Pelish photo)

[This article was previously published in Vacay.ca and the Huffington Post in December 2012.]

Jenna Skinner and Adam Carmichael reminded me of something I’ve known for a few years now: Travelling the world is great in part because it puts into context Canada and what makes it an amazing country. I met Skinner and Carmichael at Quidi Vidi Brewery, one of those Canadian finds few people outside of its region ever hears about.

Newlyweds in their early 20s, Skinner and Carmichael were spending their last days of summer travelling the nation’s east coast, doing what Canadians have done for decades — hitting the open road with gas in the tank and camping gear in the back. They left from Sauble Beach, a picturesque spot in Ontario that’s three hours northwest of Toronto. Heading east, they drove all the way to the edge of the continent. Gros Morne National Park struck them for its beauty, while Newfoundland as a whole earned praise for its welcoming spirit.

“It’s so different from Ontario,” Skinner said. “Canada is so big that you forget how unique different parts of it are.”

Both Skinner and Carmichael have travelled abroad extensively, which is a prerequisite, I think, for truly understanding what a remarkable nation we have here.

“We’ve been to other places and you learn to appreciate Canada. My priority now is to see Canada first,” Carmichael said.

Like the newlyweds, I spent the summer on the road, touching down in nine of the 10 provinces (see you in 2013, Manitoba). My impression is Canada is changing, fast. The wealth in Alberta and Saskatchewan is giving cities like Calgary and Saskatoon the chance to re-invent themselves, and thanks to artists, chefs, visionary politicians and proud communities, they’re doing it. The buzz in the west is palpable. In many ways, those provinces are the engine that’s driving the nation’s future. Meanwhile, Newfoundland has struck oil and St. John’s is thriving because of it. Unemployment is still high in other parts of the province, but the capital is enjoying some of its best times in its history, and that makes it a reason to go because even in lean times St. John’s is as fun a city as there is in the country.

Tourism opportunities abound in big centres and small, with people eager to search out local experiences, whether it be culinary finds or historic tours that are short on gimmicks and strong on depth and personality.

In all, 2012 was a fantastic year for seeing Canada. The 100th Calgary Stampede was a highlight, along with many other one-of-a-kind encounters.

My Best of 2012 in Canadian Travel

I’m glad I discovered …: Saskatchewan. And you will be too, when you drive up to Lake Waskesiu or grab a pint at the Bushwakker Brewpub in Regina or stroll along the river in Saskatoon. Canada’s most underrated province is truly a gem waiting to be discovered.

Three meals of a lifetime (naming just one is too hard): Langdon Hall, where chef Jonathan Gushue and his outstanding kitchen went all-out with an 11-course menu that included a cut of venison that might make a vegetarian think twice;Rouge in Calgary is immaculate, warm and downright perfect in so many ways; and Atelier in Ottawa, where chef Marc Lepine is letting his imagination run wild and winding up with some of the most unique dishes you’ll find in the country. (Naming only three is hard too — so, go to Les 400 Coups in Montreal for a sublime dining experience.)

Best gourmet meal I didn’t expect: The Willow on Wascana in Regina, Saskatchewan. Chef Tim Davies is doing many things right in his kitchen.

Best cheap meal that’s not a food truck: The Calgary Sandwich ($14) at the Galaxie Diner.

Best cheap meal from a food truck: The Bangkok Slaw from chef Adrian Niman and the Food Dudes in Toronto. (Runner-up: Sloppy Jose sandwich from Matt Basile of Fidel Gastro in Toronto.)

Best pizza: It’s still Nicli Antica Pizzeria in Vancouver. Even better than the first time.

Dish I can’t wait to try again: Former Black Hoof chef Grant van Gameren’s Blood Pudding and White Chocolate, which I had a taste of at the Roots, Rants & Roars food festival in Elliston, Newfoundland & Labrador. Weird and classy, silky and rich, sweet and potent, it is a dichotomy of a dish and also an absolute treat. Van Gameren is opening a restaurant soon in Toronto’s Little Italy and this item should be on the menu for all to try.

Best hotel suite: The Osprey Room at the Beach House in Portugal Cove, just north of St. John’s. The Osprey Room is 850 square feet of opulence with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out into the jaw-dropping cove. Simply stunning.

Best hotel for the price: Point of View Suites in Louisbourg, Cape Breton. A stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean in this property handmade by owners Linda and Tom Kennedy. Rates are $145 per night for ocean-view units. (Runner-up: Suites at Waskesiu, Saskatchewan, where rates are $149 per night.)

Hotel I will never spend a night in again: Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel) in Quebec City. It’s beautiful, it’s definitely worth a visit, but it’s way too cold for me.

Tourist attraction that lives up to the hype: Avonlea, the fictional home of Anne of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island.

Tourist attraction that doesn’t get nearly as much hype as it should: Cape Spear. So beautiful it belongs on currency.

Tourist attraction you should skip: Calgary Tower.

Best tour: Without a doubt, the Friday night Sir John A. Macdonald Walking Tour in Kingston, Ontario, where members of the Salon Acting Company play out scenes from Canadian history with wicked humour and, in the case of the Louis Riel trial, touching gravitas. Celebrities and political dignitaries also take part on occasion.

Best live music venue: The Dakota Tavern in Toronto.

Best live music venue 553 metres up: The CN Tower, where Canadian Music Week kicked off brilliantly, with performances from Joel Plaskett and Ben Caplan.

Most fun-loving wait staff: The guys at Ruby Watchco in Toronto.

Most fun in the snow: Any of the rides at the Quebec Carnival that involve going down a hill.

Read the rest of the “Best of 2012″ list on Vacay.ca

But organizers of the Welcome to the West festival hope to eschew some of the more hokey aspects of the Stampede while maintaining and modernizing Alberta’s western music tradition.

“There’s a real quality of friendship, hard work and collaboration and using elements of the land with our festival as opposed to the pissing in the streets Calgary has become known for (during the Stampede,)” says co-founder Brendan Kane.

The third-annual music and video festival takes place this weekend at three of the city’s most unique venues and will feature intimate performances by Vancouver-based country troubadour Petunia, psychedelic act Snow Owl and fast-rising

Calgary folk-rock band Reuben and the Dark to name a few.

Welcome to the West is the brainchild of Kane, videographer Chad Tweten and media designer Charles Roberts, who started capturing B&W live performance sessions with local bands in 2009. Focusing on new western, country, folk, blues and psychedelia, the trio has created about 60 sessions, which can be found at welcometothewest.ca

“We went off the platform of hosting music in obscure locations and event concerts,” Kane explains.

“We’ve since grown and taken it all across North America to other festivals and other people’s communities.”

The Welcome to the West festival has also grown this year with the addition of its first artist-in-residence, California heartbreak chanteuse Rachel Fannan.

Fannan is the festival’s first artist-in-residence and will collaborate with local artists and create new work, while showcasing her own songs and videos.

Kane says he invited the former Sleepy Sun singer to the festival after working with her in Los Angeles last year.

“We went to shoot a series of videos and she sort of took us under her wing,” recalls Kane.

“We really and truly wouldn’t have been able to do something like that if it wasn’t for her. She was able to provide us with ample studio space to do a number of sessions in a short amount of time.

“Her video was the most viewed of the year, so we flew her up here to work on a film and headline.”

Details

•    Thursday. The festival kicks off at Weeds Café (1903 – 20 Ave. N.W.) with performances by Gu Zheng instrumentalist Vi An, electro duo AM Static and headliners Lung Puma Animals Skulls.

•    Friday and Saturday. The Arrata Opera Centre (1315 – 7 St. S.W.) will host Reuben & the Dark and Rachel Fannan on Friday, while The Bitterweed Draw, Snow Owl and Petunia will play The Area in Inglewood on Saturday.

•    Online. For more information, go to  welcometothewest.ca/three

A living country legend.
Sold out shows.
Epic record sales.
Merchandise that doesn’t even need to say anything. It just requires a picture of his face.
Album after album.
Song after song.
He just can’t stop being wonderful.
He even came out of retirement to do a show at the Calgary Stampede this year(2012).
Family man.
Keeps himself well managed and out of the tabloids.
He can do no wrong…

Except as Chris Gaines.
For those of you who don’t know who Chris Gaines is, he’s the rockin’ version of Mr. Brooks. His alter ego. Garth decided he wanted to see if he could have made it as a rock star instead of a country megastar and he found out the hard way that he was just not cut out for it. Not even a little bit cut out for it. The album flopped. He didn’t market himself to his country fans because he tried to be an entirely different person. Turns out, nobody liked that person. And there died Chris Gaines.

This is why I love Garth Brooks.
That’s a balsy thing to do. Go after the dream of success that you’ve already achieved from the ground up again.
It failed and was very humiliating but he did it anyways. He put himself in the position to go through all of the heart ache and rejection that this industry has to offer just to see if he could do it. The fact that his record wasn’t a success is of no consequence. He had a dream that was so big and that came to be a reality and instead of giving up and just living it, he dreamt bigger and went balls out to try to achieve it. What a man.

Well, that’s all I had to say. Good job Garth. Now come to Winnipeg so I can see you play live and die a happy woman.

Love & Bedsheets,

Kimmy

The Calgary Stampede has received the Event of the Year Award at the annual Canadian Tourism Awards, presented by the Travel Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

It was a record year for the Stampede as its 100th anniversary was celebrated with style.

“This is a very prestigious Canadian tourism award and we’re certainly honoured to be recognized by TIAC,” said Deanne Carson, vice-president, Marketing and External Relations, Calgary Stampede, in a statement. “We also want to show our appreciation to our partners, Tourism Calgary, Travel Alberta and the Canadian Tourism Commission for their support in taking The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth around the world in 2012. It will be a year we will never forget.”

The Stampede experienced record attendance of over 1.4 million visitors, including a sell-out of advance tickets for all 20 shows for the Rodeo and Evening Shows.

The ten questions required to answer for the “Next Big Thing” are:

1.What is the working title of your work in progress?

Amanda in Alberta-The Writing on the Stone

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

I like to write about Amanda travelling to unique places but when I was doing a reading at my grandson’s school in Alberta, one of the students said, “Why don’t you write about Amanda in Alberta?”  I grew up there so I didn’t think it would be that unique. But then I thought, for children who are not familiar with the area, they might find it fascinating.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

Middle reader chapter books, ages 8 – 12 approximately. (although many adults seem to enjoy my books as well!)

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I am not familiar with current child actors. I always imagine my books as animations when I think of them on-screen.

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Leah comes to Alberta to visit Amanda where they attend the Calgary Stampede, visit a cattle ranch, spend time at a  dinosaur museum and meet a sad rodeo clown, while they try to decipher prehistoric writing found on a stone.

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

My books are published by Central Avenue Publishing

7.  How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I have written four chapters of Amanda in Alberta. I hope to have the first draft completed by June of next year.

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I haven’t really compared this story to other books. I enjoyed reading about the Bobbsey Twins and their travels when I was growing up.

9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?

This book was inspired by the children who read my books. They always ask me, “Where is Amanda going to next?”  My family has lived in Alberta for five generations, and my grandchildren live there now so I have tons of inspiration and ideas.

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Alberta is rich with history dating back to the age of dinosaurs so there will be something for everyone;  dinosaurs,  First  Nations people, buffalo, cowboys,and a Blue Heeler dog named Bart. There is actually a place called “Writing on The Stone Park”.

Cowboy picture from wikipedia

The five authors that I am tagging for this blog hop are:

Cassandra Giovanni  http://cgiovanniwrites.wordpress.com/about/

Lada Ray http://ladaray.wordpress.com/about/

Diane Tibert http://dianetibert.com/home/

Michelle Isenhoff  http://michelleisenhoff.wordpress.com/book-trailers/

Pat Wood  http://patwoodblogging.wordpress.com/

You can answer the questions about a work in progress or a recently published book if you wish. All you have to do is link your post back to my blog.

Check out these great authors (who happen to be very nice people to get to know as well) 

Months before the cowboy boots come out again, the Stampede is touting McGraw — a three time GRAMMY Award winner — as the first of many big names to come.

“Having Tim McGraw as our first concert announcement for the 2013 Calgary Stampede is incredible,” says Paul Rosenberg, vice-president Programming for the Calgary Stampede in a release.

“We know we set a high bar in 2012, but we are confident we’re going to have a terrific lineup in 2013 and Tim McGraw is just the beginning.”

Opening for McGraw at the July 11 concert will be country rock musician Brantley Gilbert.

Stamps was the CFL’s second-leading receiver this season, registering 1,310 yards with nine touchdowns on 74 catches for a gaudy 18.7-yard average. But Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich says the key to corralling the dangerous Stamps will be stopping running backs Charles and former Argo Boyd on Sunday at Rogers Centre.

“If you’re not stopping the run . . . you’ve got to put more people in the box and then Fred has one-on-one matchups and somebody at that point has got to play football and cover him,” said Milanovich.

“There’s a lot of things you can do if you’re stopping the run without having to put extra people in the box. You can play more zone, you can double him . . . but it starts with stopping the run.”

Charles finished fifth overall in CFL rushing with 887 yards, averaging a solid 5.2 yards per carry. He missed Edmonton’s final two regular-season games with a knee injury but was medically cleared this week to play.

Boyd, released earlier this season by Toronto despite leading the CFL in rushing at the time, is listed as Edmonton’s starting running back. The six-foot-one, 209-pound Boyd will make his second appearance against his former team and says he’ll play with a chip on his shoulder but not because of lingering animosity towards the Argos.

“You have to have with a chip on your shoulder going into a playoff game but my chip is not because I’m playing my old team,” Boyd said. “I just look at the other guys on the other sideline as they were family but now they’re enemies on game day.

“It would be a great ending to this story of mine to come back and play against my old team with a new one and dominate and go out and be who I’m supposed to be and that’s a playmaker.”

But Milanovich said Charles and Boyd present different challenges for a Toronto defence that was ranked fifth this year against the run, allowing 111 yards per game.

“Charles is so athletic and gets outside the backfield and makes plays,” the Argos rookie head coach said. “Cory is a great north-south runner that’s going to run through tackles and is about as good as they come on second-and-three and getting the first down.

“I’m not sure you can say one is more dangerous than the other. Our guys are going to have to recognize who’s in the backfield and what type of run or pass they need to be anticipating and how they have to play that.”

There’s no doubting the six-foot, 188-pound Stamps is Edmonton’s most dangerous receiver. The six-year veteran registered his fourth straight 1,000-yard season and posted career highs in average per catch and TDs despite a horrendously slow start to his season.

“They have a lot of capable guys, character guys . . . but as No. 2 goes they go,” said Argos safety Jordan Younger. “We’re going to throw them a lot of curveballs and mix up coverages.

“They have a solid run game that they dedicate themselves to. They’ll run 20-25 times a game to keep the pressure off the quarterbacks and we’ve got a gameplan for it and are ready to run to the ball and make those plays.”

Stamps had eight catches for 98 yards combined in the two games this season against Toronto. And while Stamps didn’t score, Edmonton did win both contests.

If Toronto devotes extra attention to Stamps, Eskimos coach Kavis Reed said that will leave other receivers in position to come up big.

“We’ve always said that it’s not necessarily your top playmakers that are most important,” he said. “Batman is Batman, everyone knows that.

“Robin is probably more important in these cases. We’re going to look to Cary Koch, we’re going to look to Shamawd Chambers, we’re going to look to Marcus Henry, we’re going to look to our running backs to make certain we have guys who can complement Fred if he’s unable to get the passes.”

Edmonton (7-11) lost its final three regular-season games and eight of its last 10. But Stamps says both the Eskimos and Argos are starting the playoffs with a clean slate.

“Everyone wants to go into the playoffs with a winning streak but the main goal is to get into the playoffs,” he said. “We’re here, the 18 games before don’t matter . . . it’s a new season so we expect to play as a new team.”

Toronto (9-9) finished second in the East Division and hosts its first playoff game since ’07. The game will be starter Ricky Ray’s third this season against the team that shocked the CFL last December by dealing the veteran to the Argos.

“Having two games against them in the regular season definitely helps kind of get most of that out of the way,” Ray said. “It is starting to be more comfortable feeling like just another team coming in here and playing.

“Being a playoff game and all that, it doesn’t matter who lines up against you, you just want to go out and win and keep going.”

The Ray trade has also been a constant this season in Edmonton, where Ray spent nine seasons and helped the club win two Grey Cup titles. And while Sunday’s game will be the last this season between the two teams, Reed doubts it will bring closure to the deal.

“I’d say will it ever bring closure to it?” he said. “The deal obviously was a big one in CFL history, I say probably a Babe Ruth kind of trade.

“Ricky is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he’s an exceptional player and leader. That obviously historically is going to have its value. But for us it’s about moving forward as a franchise.”

The Calgary Stampede!

Denim, Boots and Big Hat‘s.. yep that’s that Calgary Stampede.

No visit to Calgary in July is complete without making it at least one day to the Stampede.

The first I ever heard about the Calgary Stampede was from my eldest brother when he came to Calgary to visit his then girlfriend (now wife) in the early ’90′s.  I remember him coming home and telling us that while he was visiting he had been asked to go into her work to help ‘build horses‘.  We were a bit stunned.. Horses.. why did they need horses in the bank?  His reply ‘Everyone has them, they go crazy at stampede time’.  Now I know what he is talking about.

From July 1st downtown Calgary becomes a mix of wood and hay bales as every establishment ‘Stampede-ifies’ their buildings in hope to convert their corporate buildings into rustic old ranch stables, outhouses and barns.  And if it’s not wood and hay bales, it’s painted windows depicting a wild wild west or a simple YEE-HAW!!!.

Corporate suits go out the window and wrangler jeans, boots and big hats become the office norm.  Rarely any work is ever done for the 10 days of the Stampede. Corporate functions, staff parties and other entertainment take over the working world and the celebrations begin.

Every morning generally commences with free stampede breakfasts at various street venues around the city (if you wish to wait in line…. enjoy) and of course on day one the Stampede Parade takes centre stage as it passes through the downtown core and onto the stampede grounds.

The full 10 days are action packed.  From walking the park and taking in all the sights, to enjoying the free entertainment at the various stages; hypnotists, bands, dog shows, motorbike riders, to sitting back in the saddledome and watching the Cowboy Up Challenge, Sheep dog trials or Team Cattle Penning. Wondering the Agricultural section and watching the blacksmiths, the shearers and even the Clydesdale teams being prepped and primed for the heavy hitch competitions, or simply to be ‘bedded down for the night’.

And of course you can’t forget the daily bone crunching rodeo where cowboys rope and wrestle steers and attempt to ride a full 8 seconds on bucking bronc’s and spinning bulls, nor the excitement and speed of the nightly chuckwagon races when the pounding of hooves takes over the arena and wagon’s appear to be flying all over the track.  When dinner consist of the best pizza, fried chicken or strangest concoction of foods available on the midway and dessert is that deep-fried cheesecake, snickers or in my case this year, wagon wheel (YUMMO!)

In my time here I have been to the Stampede all three years.  Watched the chuckwagon races every year and witnessed the rodeo nine times (yes nine!.. I may be slightly addicted!!).  I’ve enjoyed it on my own and with new-found friends, but by far I enjoyed it the most when I got to share it with my family and my two beautiful nephews.

The excitement on their faces. The joy in their eyes.  The passion to be ‘just like everyone else’ as they laid out their jeans and shirts  the night before in anticipation of the day ahead.  The morning of as they threaded their belts and fastened their buckles to make sure that they sat ‘just right’ before pulling on their boots and tipping their hats with a ‘howdy partner’.  They were set for the day ahead.

Seeing the amazement in their eyes as they watched in awe (and sometimes pain) the cowboys below us in the world renown Calgary Stampede Rodeo Arena, being thrown from their beasts; to watching the team cattle penning in the Saddledome and hoping and praying that the team working the cattle could beat the clock and be faster than the team before.  They truly have been special moments.

My two favorite Cowboys!

]]> http://citystylecountrysmile.com/2012/10/31/what-i-wore-5/ Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:53:18 +0000 aiyanajane http://citystylecountrysmile.com/2012/10/31/what-i-wore-5/ http://heatherclemenceau.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/join-up-new-canadian-anti-slaughter-billboard-in-the-air/ Tue, 30 Oct 2012 01:31:47 +0000 heatherclemenceau http://heatherclemenceau.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/join-up-new-canadian-anti-slaughter-billboard-in-the-air/

Port Coquitlam Billboard Site (courtesy of Photoshop)

Written by Heather Clemenceau

On July 23^rd,   the hue and cry for a group of anti horse-slaughter supporters, after months of planning, was “Wagons Ho” to Calgary, Alberta.  The decision to place a billboard during the 100^th Anniversary of the Stampede was ballsy.  In 2011,  Canada slaughtered 89,348 horses and exported nearly 13,500 tonnes of horse meat to Belgium, France, Switzerland and other countries, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Alberta is the horse slaughter capital of Canada,  being home to the Bouvry slaughterhouse and Bouvry Exports which serves both an export and smaller domestic market,  mainly in Quebec.

Horsemeat sellers and proximity to billboard.  Click to embiggen

We`ve rented a new anti-slaughter billboard and it sure as hell doesn’t say, “Welcome to British Columbia!”

Canadian billboard sponsor Charlotte Uhrich has,  with the help of many supporters in both the US and Canada, arranged for her third billboard.  This time the host city is Port Coquitlam (PoCo),  British Columbia. With about 60,000 residents;  it lies east of Vancouver,  where most urban horsemeat sellers in British Columbia are located.  Those sellers I’ve identified on the map will not comprise an exhaustive list – there are several Dutch eateries in BC,  and the Dutch do eat and serve smoked horsemeat.  Horsemeat is also likely available at some Italian delicatessens as well.

Our Calgary Billboard Team – Charlotte is the current billboard sponsor

The last billboard,  in Calgary during the Stampede,  created tons of attention.  Even though some of it was resoundingly negative,  and even quite unfair to Bill C-322 Sponsor MP Alex Atamanenko,  it offered us the opportunity to rebut statements and provide a factual accounting of the reality of horse slaughter,  via the comments section of numerous blogs and news articles.  There is actually a close link between offence and effectiveness. At the conclusion of media interviews,  several of the attendees at the Calgary Billboard kick-off had the opportunity to add another layer of information to the public.  Our billboard message points were also complemented by the protest against the Calgary Stampede held in July.

The billboards serve the purpose of highlighting the issue for those members of the public who don’t read about slaughter on horse-related bulletin boards or participate in Facebook pages geared towards slaughter.  In attempting to reach both horse owners and the general public,  we find that  a major problem is creating awareness that horses are even slaughtered in this country.  Many horse owners have no clue that former pets are used in the food chain,  because they know of no other way to end a horse’s life other than humane euthanasia.

Creating awareness of slaughter is the first step towards fixing a problem that people are not aware of.  Jo Deibel,  Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, Executive Director explains:

“The project makes people aware of the problem of horse slaughter. The billboard slogan matches the educational, non-graphic, companion website’s url. New people are finding us each day by viewing the billboard and going directly to the site or by searching the billboards phrase “Stop Slaughtering Us.” It’s not a “SuperPac” at work here. If anything, it’s a MiniPac. And, you have to admit, they’re having an impact.”

While it can be challenging to measure a billboard’s effectiveness,  advertising gurus will tell you that billboards are all about building brands and

Here`s a sign a I`d love to see – at La Palette in Toronto

strengthening relationships.   Billboards are all about recall.  Brand recall is the holy grail of advertising.  Our “brand” is the “Stop Slaughtering Us” slogan.  People look at a billboard for only a few seconds,  but people in transit are a “captive” audience.  The new billboard is located in a high traffic thoroughfare where daily commuters will be bombarded with the slaughter message.

Of course,  one of the main problems with establishing and measuring marketing outreach is that we have no direct competitors upon whom we can model an advertising campaign!   We don’t know for certain what new “clients” we may be acquiring,  and therefore cannot determine what the cost has been to acquire them.  One of the best ways to measure effectiveness is through the call to action,  which  in our case,  would be the number of visitors to the StopSlaughteringUs Canadian website and comments left there.  In the first year of the billboard campaign, hits to the Angel Acres US website, www.stopslaughteringus.com,  increased to 14,000 per week from about 80, Deibel has said.  Clearly,  the message is reaching people who are intrigued to obtain more information by visiting the website.

The story, in the end, is never about the billboard – there is no big organization at work behind them.  The big bucks that are paid to rent the billboards are made up of many little bucks that are graciously provided by people with huge hearts.  We want to bring billboards across Canada!  Through the magic of Photoshop,  we can!

Please sign the petition to the Canadian Government to pass Bill C-322 and end horse slaughter in Canada.  Click here to see the current status of the bill.

My Civic… still unharmed… but for how long?

2) A fashion snob: I’ve never been much of a shopper but maybe that’s because I was living in Winnipeg where the shopping was nothing like Calgary. With all the high-end stores like Tiffany and Coach, it can be very tempting for a girl to at least browse and dream.

My red Coach bag purchased at the Coach outlet store for a discount because I can’t afford to pay the regular prices!

3) A cowgirl: They don’t call it Cowtown for nothing!

Cowgirl Up at the Calgary Stampede!

For the third straight year, the organization captured the Alto Award for Marketing Partnership at Travel Alberta’s recent 2012 Alberta Tourism Awards.

The award was presented to Tourism Calgary and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for a unique social media partnership that highlighted the city’s arts and cultural scene through a Singing Tweets YouTube video that went viral in days.

“Our Singing Tweets collaboration with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra demonstrates the power of combining strong partnerships with innovative and creatively executed ideas,” says Randy Williams, president and chief executive of Tourism Calgary. “The growing strength of our organization rests on the quality of our relationships and partnerships with friends like the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and our industry’s many remarkable stakeholders.”

The video tweeted tips from Calgarians and visitors on how to stay warm during Calgary winters to choral music. Tourism Calgary says that in less than a week when it was launched in December 2011, the initiative garnered more than $1.2 million in media value including coverage on CNN, NPR, New York Times, Discovery Channel, CBS News, News Australia and others.

Also at the Alberta Tourism Awards, the Calgary Stampede won the award for Marketing Excellence over $25,000 for its centennial campaign, We’re Greatest Together, and Lola Brown was awarded with the Tourism Media award for her story Come to Calgary! that was facilitated by Tourism Calgary.

Other food stores, and chain stores are having a concession stand at the PNE.  Wouldn’t it make sense to have a booth at the Calgary Stampede, the CNE, and at the PNE???  Wouldn’t this be a good way to make some money for head office, get the word out about Nando’s, and do some grass-roots promotions at the same time?  Coupons with tight expiry dates could be handed out, and we could see how, and in what manner, they are ultimately redeemed.

the full text from the PNE’s 2012 webpage:

Food

   // //

Experience the flavours of the world!

The Fair at the PNE celebrates diverse cuisine from countries around the world. The tantalizing array of international and local cuisine promises to cater to virtually every taste. With such an extensive food selection, visitors can choose anything from a light snack to a fine dining experience. Just don’t forget to save room for our traditional Fair favourites like cotton candy, candy apples, elephant ears and, of course, those mini donuts!

PNE’s new food stands, Crazy Dogs and Shrimp Boat, were met with rave reviews in 2011 so they’ve been brought back along with two new stands, Yumza Pizzeria and Colossal Cones.

B & B Concessions
Freshly made ham & cheese or dessert crepes as well as fresh roasted corn & roasted potatoes with all the toppings. Hungry? Try out the humongous BBQ Turkey Legs.

Brinks Concessions
Hungry? Try a tasty Slow Smoked Beef on a Bun or Ham on a Bun and Texas Taters

Caravan Foods
Another Fair favorite “Whales Tales”. Deep fried pastry dough with a variety of sweet toppings.

Cheyenne Coffee
Specialty coffees – lattes, mochas, tea and iced coffees.

Chinatown
Chinatown, a long-time tradition at the PNE, serves honey garlic ribs, beef & broccoli, chow mein, fried rice, spring rolls, chop suey, pot stickers and Szechwan chicken.

C-Lovers Fish & Chips
Another well-established Vancouver seafood restaurant serving their fresh cod or halibut fish and chips or deep fried prawns & chips at the PNE!

Colossal Cones  BRAND NEW!
A tortilla cone full of BIG flavour and BIG toppings. Crunchy coleslaw is covered in crispy Chicken, Shrimp or Falafel and then topped off with zesty sauce.

Curry in a Hurry
Try a taste of India! Choose from a variety of delicious items such as tandoori chicken, lamb curry, butter chicken, vegetable pakoras, roti and mixed veggies.

D & D Fudge
An assortment of delicious homemade fudge, such as baileys and rocky road.

Dogwood Foods
Look for the classic ice cream trailer…the best soft ice cream & ice cream sundaes are served here.

Eden Concessions – Scones
The Original Fair Scone – be part of the tradition! Freshly baked biscuits filled with creamy butter and raspberry jam.

Eden’s Greek
The experience of Greece awaits you! Select from a variety of traditional Greek dishes including donairs, spanokopita and Greek salad.

Eden’s Mexican
Head down Mexico way and try a tasty burrito, taco or maybe some savoury nachos layered with cheese!

Teriyaki Grill
A savoury selection of Teppan Sizziling Skewers, Teriyaki Bowls and Teriyaki Subs/Wraps created with high quality meats, fresh vegetables and authentic ingredients.

Festival Cappuccino
Hot and Iced Cappuccinos, lattes, hot coco, steamed milk, herbal teas, hot apple cider, chai tea. Dried fruits, loaves, biscotti, muffins and a variety of fresh fruits.

First Class Concessions
Located along Miller Drive between all the exciting rides and beer garden – serving up fresh baked pizzas, hamburgers, fries, and churos. Fresh Squeezed Lemonade or Lemon Slushies.

Fountains and Fruits
Come check out the massive Chocolate Fondue fountains and try one of the delicious chocolate treats like Fruit Kabobs or banana on a stick

Fresh Fruit Shakes
A healthy and tasty alternative…Made from real fruit and infusion teas – strawberry banana, peach or mango

Fresh is Best Salsas
The name says it all… fresh cut salsas, layer bean dips, spinach dips and red, green and yellow corn tortillas chips.

Gourmet Grill
Oh so savory… try one of these delicious authentic Greek chicken, beef or lamb gyros or if you prefer, spanokopita or calamari.

Granny’s Foods
Have you ever had a deep fried cheesecake? Try it for the first time at the Fair along with other deep fried goodies such as Oreos, Snickers, Twinkies and Kool-aid

Henry’s Chicken BBQ
Another fair favorite, tasty barbecued chicken slowly smoked over the traditional open charcoal pit. Add a side of fries, chili or coleslaw – MMMM good.

La Poutinerie – Poutine
Simple Gravy and Fries to a variety of mouth-watering toppings such as the Breakfast poutine-ham & eggs or Shepherd’s Pie Poutine – ground beef, corn, peas and carrots. Better yet, try one of their best sellers, the “Quebec Poutine”, you guessed it, “Maple Syrup”.

Hunky Bill’s
Hunky Bill’s, famous for its “Winnipeg Garlic Sausage” offers Ukrainian dishes including perogies and cabbage rolls. Other delectable menu items include fish & chips, prawns, oysters, salmon burgers, and pulled pork on a bun.

Jamaican Mi Juicy
A taste of the Caribbean…Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Jerk Chicken Wraps or try the Beef, Chicken or Vegetable Jamaican Patties

Jimmy’s Lunch
Family-owned & operated since the 1920’s, Jimmy’s Lunch serves the famous hamburgers loaded with fried onions. Hot dogs, fish & chips and french fries are among other traditional favourites at the PNE.

La Casa Gelato
Gelato lovers beware! La Casa is one of Vancouver’s best-known Italian ice cream makers and with 68 rotating flavours at the PNE, you’ll be sure to find a flavour that you can’t resist.

Lemon Heaven
Original, cherry & lime flavoured lemonade as well as diabetic lemonade.

Orange Julius
A refreshing fruit beverage with the option of an orange, strawberry, pina colada or banana Julius.

Pennsylvania Funnel Cakes
Sweet Cravings? Try a Funnel cake, Deep Fried Oreos or Deep Fried Jelly Belly Beans.

PNE Crazy Dogs- A 2011 Fair Favourite!
Stop by and check out the PNE’s newest food stand, Crazy Dogs! Serving up fresh gourmet hot dogs to suit any craving, time of day or appetite, these dogs are sure to become one of the Fair’s legendary offerings. With dogs like the poutine inspired Unroutine Poutine, the Mexican dog aptly named Piggy in a Poncho, or the granddaddy of all dogs, The Double Dog Dare Ya, a massive two foot dog smothered in mouth-watering chili, grilled onions and peppers, cheese sauce and bacon bits! Make sure you come hungry, ‘cause you’re sure to be satisfied!
Two locations: Near the Livestock Barns and near the WestJet Concert Stage

PNE Shrimp Boat- A 2011 Fair Favourite!
Fresh and tasty! Shrimp Boat offers uniquely prepared shrimp with a side of wiggle chips in diverse taste sensations like Cajun, garlic or even coconut.
Located Near the Agrodome

Pub Grub
Deep fried mushrooms, zucchini, jalapeno peppers, etc.

Rib Festival
The PNE is proud to host the 2nd Annual Rib Festival Competition located in Celebration Plaza. Fairgoers will be able to enjoy and rate RIBS, RIBS AND MORE RIBS.

Roaming Dragon
Asian inspired appies on the go including Asian spiced fries, Chinese Pork Belly Sliders and Korean Short Rib Tacos. Curious? Try it and you’ll be surprised how delicious these appetizers are.

Saltspring Noodles
Oodles of noodles served in noodles boxes – Your choice of vegetarian, chicken, tofu or shrimp with Teriyaki Noodles, Pad Thai Noodles, Spicy Malaysian Peanut Noodles and Sweet & Spicy Noodles

Sanjay’s
Offering a variety of East Indian dishes including chicken & shrimp curry and samosas. Other delicious menu items included BBQ ribs, baked beans and baked salmon.

Slushie Trailer
The coolest beverage trailer serving slushies with all the coke flavours

Swiss Style Nuts
A variety of freshly roasted candy-coated peanuts, pecans, almonds and brittle.

The Foot Long Hotdog
The famous Foot Long Hotdog loaded with fried onions is another great food tradition at the PNE.

Those Little Donuts
You can’t just eat one! These all-time Fair favourites are the freshly made and mouth-watering plain or sugar/cinnamon coated Mini Donuts.

Trattoria di Roberto
So many Italian favourites like meatball subs, pizza by the slice, Italian sausage or veal on a bun, calzone, and spaghetti with meat balls. Cannoli and Tiramisu help to finish off this delicious dinner.

Vina Restaurants
Delicious and healthy – Why not try a Vietnamese favourite like a chicken, pork or lamb brochette, drunken prawns, a salad roll or fried noodles?

WestJet World Class Bistro
Be at VIP at this year’s Fair at the PNE! To celebrate this year’s fantastic Summer Night Concerts line-up, we are offering you the ability to book a three-course meal, which includes reserved seating for the concert. MORE INFO

Wiggle Chips
Delicious fresh spliced and served hot potato chips, potato chips on a stick and tater tots. Just add your favourite seasonings – choose from dill, cheddar cheese, garlic, salt & vinegar and many more.

Yumza Pizzeria  BRAND NEW!
Gourmet pizza made in-house! This isn’t your standard pizza, it’s YUMza!

When she was handed the keys to the brand-new, 2,400-sq.-ft. house in the southeast community of Walden, she started to realize it was, indeed, a reality.

“It’s finally sinking in,” she said Thursday, after touring the custom-built home.

Her children, however, were quick to accept and take advantage of the new house.

Within seconds of starting the tour, six-year-old Tara, four-year-old Jenna and Kerri, who turns three next week, had claimed a room by the front entrance as their “toy room.”

The eldest daughter was also making plans for the future.

“Tara’s Girl Guides – you know, the little Sparks – they already have a function planned: a sleep-over here,” said her father, David Somers. “They’re all bringing their sleeping bags and they’re going to have movie nights and popcorn and all of that. That’s going on next month, already.”

The Somers are the winners of the 2012 Rotary Dream Home, part of the annual Calgary Stampede Lotteries.

Homes by Avi custom-built the house with western-themed elements throughout to reflect the Stampede’s centennial this year.

“It’s a pleasure to see such a nice family winning the home who will actually use it and be happy in it,” said president Avi Amir.

Luck of the draw:

• The Somers’ winning ticket was drawn out of 2,582,500 tickets sold.
• This year marked the first time ever the draw was completely sold out.
• Calgary Stampede lotteries committee vice-chair Rick Kuzyk credited Rotary Club volunteers for doing a “fantastic job” selling tickets.
• The Stampede lotteries brought in a record amount of revenue this year – nearly $7 million – and the proceeds will be shared with local Rotary, Kinsmen, and Lions clubs, as well as the Calgary Marching Show Band Association.

“I’ve never been around a team that’s turned a ball over seven times and won a game,” said Winnipeg interim coach Tim Burke, whose team sunk to a league-worst 4-11 .

Calgary coach John Hufnagel said Winnipeg played well enough right up to the red zone after a disastrous first quarter when the Stampeders picked up 16 points, thanks largely to two key fumbles.

“Offensively, as much as we moved the ball in the first half, we didn’t in the second half, so the defence is out there a lot,” Hufnagel said after his team improved to 9-6. “They did a nice job of completing passes but when they got towards the red zone, we came up with huge interceptions.”

Winnipeg quarterback Joey Elliott threw four picks, three of them into the end zone on plays that could have turned the game.

“I’ve got to take full responsibility for those three mistakes,” said Elliott, making his second start since replacing Buck Pierce after he received a concussion Sept. 29.

Elliott’s last start was far more successful, an upset 27-22 win over the Montreal Alouettes last week that injected a little life into the Bombers’ faint playoff hopes.

Whether he will start again — with or without Pierce’s return — seemed doubtful Saturday. Burke pulled him late in the fourth in favour of Alex Brink, who threw a touchdown pass and for a few minutes made it look like a comeback was possible.

“In Joey’s defence, he hasn’t played a lot of football,” said Burke. “I’m sure he’s still learning and all that but I would have thought we could have got past at least some of those interceptions in the red zone.”

One interception, intended for Clarence Denmark in the end zone in the third quarter, could have brought the Bombers within five. Another intended for Terrence Edwards in the fourth quarter could have done the same thing, after a scoreless third.

Elliott’s last interception, in the fourth quarter, was also in the end zone.

Burke said Demond Washington won’t be returning any more footballs for the Bombers, after fumbles that cost the team dearly. His first led to a touchdown.

It was one of two first-quarter touchdowns triggered by fumbles. The second ball was lost by running back Chad Simpson, who redeemed himself with two second-quarter touchdowns of his own.

Winnipeg’s time of possession was a miserly 1:34 going into the second quarter.

Calgary quarterback Kevin Glenn, who finished 21-of-29 passing for 286 yards, said the Stampeders’ gameplan of scoring early and building a cushion worked.

“We knew it was going to be a fight,” he said. “We knew they weren’t going to lay down and give it to us.”

Glenn played five seasons with the Bombers, ending in 2008.

Calgary had touchdowns from Jon Cornish, Nik Lewis and Marquay McDaniel. Rene Paredes kicked four field goals.

Rookie receiver Chris Matthews, who passed the 1,000-yard mark Saturday, had Winnipeg’s third touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The mood in the Bombers dressing room was predictably dour as players accounted for the loss and their part in it.

“In the first half we struggled a lot, myself included,” said Jovon Johnson, who played strong-side linebacker position rather than his customary position in the secondary. “We had to make adjustments at halftime because they came out doing things we hadn’t seen before.”

Johnson was also thrown in as a kick returner after Washington was pulled.

“You have to take care of the small things, like me holding the ball,” said Simpson, referring to his fumble. “I know that we have good players here.”

But he refused to write off the Bombers’ playoff hopes, which remain a statistical possibility, if not much else.

“As long as we have a chance, I’ll never feel that it’s over.”

Johnson was more pragmatic.

“If Edmonton wins again, it absolutely takes us out,” he said.

Edmonton could cross over to take the final playoff spot in the east.

To have any real hope of stopping that, Winnipeg has to win all of its final games, including contests against Montreal and Toronto, the top teams in the East.

Notes: Both teams accented their uniforms with pink as the Bombers raised money for the Keeping Abreast Foundation, part of a CFL-wide campaign in October to raise money to help fight women’s cancers.