River City Writer

Lest We Forget

2008-11-11T07:05:57Z

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

List of Remembrance Day Events in Edmonton

More Voices Opposed to Declaring Rodeo Alberta’s Provincial Sport

2008-11-10T20:34:40Z

I recently wrote a post about why I disagree with Kevin Taft’s proposal that rodeo be declared Alberta’s official provincial sport. It turns out that I’m not the only one who disagrees with the idea.

Fellow Edmonton-blogger Mack Male made his distaste for the idea very clear, with two simple words: “Um, no.”

St. Albert book-blogger Peter Bailey wasn’t quite as terse in expressing his opinion, saying that Kevin Taft has either:

lost his mind from the pressure of trying to convince Albertans to vote Liberal;

misjudged the effectiveness of political stunts (Sarah Palin?);

come up with an unusual way to get complimentary tickets to Canadian Finals Rodeo this weekend;

got the wrong idea from What Not to Wear when a man was told to “wear more hats - they look good”; or

grown tired of waiting for ice time at his local hockey rink.

Of course, these are just three voices opposed to the idea. Maybe Mack, Pete, and I are in the minority. Maybe most Albertan’s welcome the idea of rodeo becoming the province’s official sport. Where do you stand on this issue?

Why Are the Eskimos Playing in the East?

2008-11-10T16:22:38Z

For anyone who watched the CFL Eastern Semi-Final this weekend and wondered why the Eskimos are playing in the Eastern Division, the CFL website has a handy explanation of how and when the crossover comes into play.

If the fourth-place team in division A has more points, not tied, than the third-place team in division B, the fourth-place team will crossover to division B, replace the third place team in division A, and compete against the second-place team of that division.

I was unaware of this rule, myself, and couldn’t figure out why the Esks were playing in the Eastern Semi-Final. I didn’t much care, as my team was still in the running for the big cup, but I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on.

If the Esks manage to pull this off and win the Eastern Final and make it to the Grey Cup, they’ll be the Eastern Division Champions. Very weird. Of course, as long as I get to see the green and gold go for the Cup, I don’t care if we’re pretending they’re from the east.

Taft Wants to Make Rodeo Alberta’s Official Sport

2008-11-10T20:36:11Z

Alberta Liberal Party leader Kevin Taft has announced that he’ll be putting forward a private members bill this month to have rodeo declared Alberta’s official sport. While I have nothing against rodeo, and a part of me even enjoys certain events, I don’t like this idea, for a couple of reasons.

Rodeo & the Perception of Alberta as Hick Country

Despite the fact that Alberta is an urbanized province as much as any other (nearly 2/3 of the province’s population lives in the Edmonton and Calgary metro regions, let alone the province’s other major cities), we continue to be thought of as a province of rural rednecks by the rest of the country. Adopting rodeo as the official sport of the province will only help to reinforce this belief.

As I said, I have nothing against rodeo, nor do I have anything against rural people. I do, however, take issue with the rest of Canada viewing this province as some kind of inbred, backwater province that’s only worth keeping around because we’ve got all of this oil. Do we really need to give them more reasons to feel this way?

Rodeo is not a Sport

The other issue I have with Taft’s proposal is that rodeo is not a sport. Rodeo is a series of sporting events. Chuck wagon racing is a sport. Bull riding and bronco busting are sports. Rodeo is not a sport.

Calling rodeo a sport is like calling the Olympics a sport. Yes, it’s an exhibition of sporting prowess in a variety of areas, but it is not, in and of itself, a sport.

Of course, some sources will disagree with me on this point. Even Wikipedia says that “Rodeo is a sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia.[1]” And I understand that by declaring all of rodeo (rather than a particular event) as the official sport, the province would be highlighting Alberta’s rural heritage in a broad way.

Still, it seems to me that declaring rodeo as Alberta’s official sport is like saying that our provincial sport is track & field. While you may want to call it a sport, it’s closer to being an event that exhibits a number of different-but-related sports.

Ultimately, adopting rodeo as the province’s official sport will likely result in nothing other than another photo op for Kevin Taft—a photo op that won’t gain the Liberals any of the rural support that Taft is likely expecting to win as a result of this move—and another punchline for the rest of Canada to use against Albertans.

Congratulations Kevin Taft, you’ve successfully managed to continue to illusion that Alberta is a rural province; a province where urban centres are just places for the “liberal elite” (i.e.: you); and a province that’s still stuck in the 19th century. Maybe you’re not so different from Stelmach’s Tories after all.

Mystery Stink Hovers Over Downtown Edmonton

2008-10-22T21:30:18Z

Numerous Edmontonians on Twitter are reporting that the city centre currently smells of manure. As one commentator put it, “[it] smells like someone just drove a herd of cattle through the centre of Edmonton.”

I’m fortunate enough to work in an office that is not downtown, and which has so far not been subjected to the mysterious shit-stench. Unfortunately, I live downtown and will be heading home very soon.

If anyone has an explanation as to why the city core smells like bovine feces, please let me know.

Alley Kat Pumpkin Pi Spiced Ale

2008-10-16T15:08:24Z

Close-up of Pumpkin Pi Spiced Ale Label

I should have written about this before Thanksgiving, but here it is: Edmonton-based Alley Kat Brewery has released it’s fall seasonal beer, Pumpkin Pi Spiced Ale.

Yes, that’s “pi” as in 3.14159, not “pie” as in, well, the stuff you eat. Maybe I’m missing the joke, but I don’t quite understand the math reference. Is it just a pun, or is there more to it than that? The label, however, does make reference to the number pi, having “3.14″ carved into the jack-o-lantern that graces the label.

There’s also a reference to Peanuts, as each label carries the phrase: “So much better than a warm blanket while you’re sitting in a cold pumpkin patch waiting for you know who!”

Putting the odd combination of mathematics and newspaper comic strips aside, is Pumpkin Pi a good beer?

Honestly, I have to say that it’s pretty average. It’s a nice novelty beer to drink on Thanksgiving or Halloween, but it’s certainly not the best brew to come out of Alley Kat’s vats.

The head is pretty much non-existant, and vanishes almost immediately after being poured; and it’s a bit too light on carbonation for my preferences (it borders on being flat, to be honest). Despite these failings, there are definite hints of pumpkin and noticeable spices (mostly nutmeg, I think) that make Pumpkin Pi an interesting drink.

Pumpkin Pi was originally commissioned by Sherbrooke Liquor (11819 St. Albert Trail), but it’s now available in other liquor stores around the city (I bought mine from the excellent Chateau Louis Liquor Store).

I certainly wouldn’t make Pumpkin Pi Spiced Ale my regular beer if it were available year-round, but it’s a nice novelty to drink on occasion during the fall season. While it isn’t mindblowingly good, it’s definitely unique and well worth picking up a case or two before it disappears for another year.

A Boom for Some is a Bust for Others

2008-10-15T18:25:42Z

Despite the financial crisis being faced by much of the world, Edmonton is still a boom town. However, while many of us are reaping the rewards of this boom, others are suffering from a financial crisis of their own.

The cost of housing is outrageous in much of the city, forcing many of our fellow citizens to live in slums that they can hardly afford. We have a startling number of working homeless: people who have jobs but still can’t afford a place to live.

I live on 107 Avenue, in a part of the city called the Avenue of Nations. It’s one of the poorest areas of the city. Mostly, it is inhabited by immigrants and other people who have the unfortunately distinction of being on the bottom of our social totem pole.

By virtue of where I live, I see a lot of poverty on a near daily basis. I see people who are poor for all kinds of reasons. Some are struggling with addiction, some with mental illness. Some may be immigrants whose credentials are not recognized in Canada, forcing them to try and support a family of 5 on a taxi driver’s salary rather than on a doctor’s salary.

Whatever the reason, it is the responsibility of a just society to help these people—or at least to help those who wish to be helped.

Unfortunately, I’m not an expert on social issues. I don’t know how to eliminate poverty. I’m not necessarily sure what the root causes of poverty are (though, I think I managed to touch on a few of them). All I know how to do is to draw attention to the problem.

If enough people bring this issue forward, maybe someone with solutions will step forward and make a difference.

Edmonton’s $11 House

2008-10-03T19:14:09Z

Much has been made about the high price of housing here in River City, and quite fairly. Even though prices have dropped a bit, housing is still expensive in Edmonton.

What if you could buy a house in Edmonton for only $11? Well, you can…sort of.

David and Esther Stockburger are running a contest to give away a historic house just off of Alberta Avenue. Instead of selling the house the traditional way, they are allowing people to enter this contest for the very low of fee of $11.

It’s not quite as simple as sending in your $11, though. The other part of the contest is that you must give the Stockburgers at least one reason why they should give you the house. The reason can be whatever you want, and can be expressed in writing, music, video, or any other creative way you can think of (as long as it can be mailed or emailed; please don’t show up on their doorstep with a guitar unless they actually invite you to do so).

There’s one other condition: if the Stockburgers don’t receive at least 25,000 entries they’ll cancel the contest, refund everyone’s money, and sell the house the traditional way. But, as long as at least 25,000 people enter, you have a chance at winning a house for only $11.

For more information, or to enter the 11 Dollar House contest, visit http://www.the11dollarhouse.com/.

Raving Poets Return on October 15, 2008

2008-09-26T23:40:23Z

The Raving Poets have announced their fall series. For the first time in a while, the series will begin in October, rather than November. It will also be 8 weeks long instead of a mere 5. I’m looking forward to it.

The Raving Poets Present

Born to Write

Open Stage Performance Poetry
with the Raving Poets Band and host Mike Gravel

Wednesdays, October 15th to December 3rd, 2008
Signup 7:30, Show at 8:00

The Kasbar Lounge
(below Yianni’s Taverna)
10444 - Whyte Ave. Edmonton

Eight weeks of musical and poetic symbiosis. Eight Wednesdays of camaraderie and poetic mayhem. Eight nights of beer, beats and E-Town’s finest versifiers. If you have never experienced a night with the Raving Poets, you don’t know what you’ve missing.

What is the Raving Poets Experience?
To quote our piano playerist Thomas Trofimuk, “It is akin to a ‘feeling’ and only hangs semi-translucent in the air on a Wednesday night when the band is ripping and the poet at the microphone is leaning back into the music and the two streams are in a gorgeous confluence.” There are certainly moments of ecstacy. Poets and poems that move to tears, elation, laughter or heart-wrenching sobriety. This is open stage performance at its best, where veterans bring their finely honed work and newcomers are welcomed with open arms.

You’ll find word-smiths of every stripe at the Kasbar. Come join your kindred spirits who were Born to Write.

What Would You NOT Miss About Edmonton?

2008-09-24T20:52:11Z

In my last post (which I have updated since first writing it), I talked about things that I would miss about Edmonton. In the comments section, the topic of things you would NOT miss about Edmonton came up, so I thought I would write a post on that subject.

If you moved away from Edmonton or, in keeping with the previous post, if the city were destroyed, what would you NOT miss? Here are a few of the things that come to my mind:

West Edmonton Mall - While I don’t really have anything against the west end’s big white elephant, I don’t particularly enjoy going to WEM. I know a lot of people like it, and it is some what convenient, since it has a lot of stores all in one place (many of which aren’t in any other of the city’s many, many shopping malls), but I can’t stand the crowds and the noise. I’m not generally a claustrophobic person, but when I’m getting crushed by throngs of WEM shoppers, I start to feel like I can’t breath.
Transient people - People come to Edmonton for work. Generally speaking, they don’t come here for the city or the community. While many who come to Edmonton for work end up staying and raising families (my parents included), they don’t often feel like the city is home. Home is elsewhere, so they don’t truly get involved in the community and culture of the city. Ironically, these are often the same people who complain about Edmonton’s lack of soul and community spirit. While I have been involved in Edmonton’s cultural community for years, and have tried to spread the news about it with this very blog, it gets frustrating to constantly meet people who believe that there is no such thing as Edmonton culture. Moving to a city where people believe in their hometown and its culture would be very refreshing.
Political hegemony - This is an Albertan issue, rather than an issue specific to Edmonton, but I’m sick and tired of a one-party political system. It’s true, of course, that Alberta isn’t really a one-party system, but it often feels that way. This province has been Tory Blue for longer than I’ve been alive. While Edmonton is probably the most politically diverse area in the province, it’s still incredibly frustrating to live in a climate where political change seems like a far-fetched fantasy, rather than a real possibility. I can’t even begin to imagine how good it would feel to live in a province where the same party hasn’t been in power for longer than most people can remember.

While there are probably a few other things I’d not miss about this city, I think these are the 3 biggies. Overall, I enjoy living in Edmonton, and I would miss a lot of things about the city, if I were to move away at some point.

What would you NOT miss about Edmonton, if the city were destroyed?