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Three Performers, PanAm Games, July 2015

7/29/2015

Why see these three?
One is a senior. One is in his early forties. One is still a teen.
We are talking about three outstanding Canadian performers: icon Bruce Cockburn, Alex Cuba, and Francesco Yates.
They were among many talented artists drawing large crowds and eager fans at the PanAm concerts in Toronto.
Why these three?

Bruce Cockburn is a given. The social activist, dreamer, author and award-winning performer uses intense and colourful symbolism in his well-known compositions. Following a low key intro, he walked onto the Toronto Harbourfront WestJet stage like an old friend, picked up his guitar, acknowledged his followers and commented on the wonderful view of Lake Ontario before him. Then he launched into song.
He had the standing room only crowd in the palm of his hand for one and a half hours. Fans sang
along with his well-known songs: If a Tree Falls ....Lovers in a Dangerous Time...Wondering Where the Lions are....and listened intently to his between song patter. Like the seasoned master he is, Cockburn performed magic.

Francesco Yates, award winner at 19, attracted us because his keyboarder, Eddy Ruyter, is my nephew. In his late twenties, Eddy has been paying his musical dues over the years by playing, managing, song writing, arranging, scoring and backing various artists. He clicks with Francesco Yates, the current hot talent with the hit Better to be Loved. The crowd loved Yates’ performance backed by his gifted band members. More on Eddy at https://www.facebook.com/eddy.ruyter

Award winner Canadian-Cuban Alex Cuba hails from Smithers B.C. via Havana. His Latino beat resonates with hot, hot rhythm. You can’t stand still when watching his sensual moves or when he invites fan participation. He adds a touch of humour too: whipping out a comb from his back pocket, he runs it through his Afro and then uses it to strum his guitar; the crowd cheers. As mesmerizing a performer as he is, our eyes locked in on Jake Jenne, his gifted drummer. We know Jake http://jakejenne.com/bio/ comes by his talent honestly. His is a musically endowed family that includes his sister, Taisa, married to our middle son, Perry, an artist also living in Smithers.

Each performer is at a different stage of their careers. And these are only three. Kudos to their strong and gifted back-up support who also showcase their individual talents.
More arts and culture in Toronto:
http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/today.cfm?id=7460&festival_id=0
http://www.toronto2015.org/panamania

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Paddle-to-the-Gold

7/15/2015

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The 2015 PanAm and Parapan Am Games, now in full swing until mid August and hosted by Canada in Toronto, were initially washed in negativism. A well-known American newspaper heralded the Games by reporting they landed with a thud in Toronto. Torontonians themselves seemed less than enthusiastic. Traffic tie-ups, cost overruns, slumping ticket sales and a plain dislike for being inconvenienced were among the complaints.
Mention these whiners to the 23,000 volunteers, 30 of whom came from the North West Territories to lend a hand, and they wonder what you’re talking about.

Negativism is gradually shifting to the positive. As a spectator, I find the Games exciting, well worth the effort, and a super springboard for the hard working, hard training athletes of the Americas. Not to mention the legions of fans from 41 participating countries who like what they see in Toronto, especially the multiculturism.
Ever sit in a stand yelling at the top of your lungs as your countrymen/women paddle their hearts out trying to win? As the finish line approaches so increases a thunderous roar from the maddening crowd. Why isn’t our boat moving faster? Disciplined, the competitors paddle rhythmically, rapidly. Barely breaking water, blades dig in. Up. Skim. Down. Up. Skim. Down. Repeat. Streamlined bodies strain. With a mighty last pull....Canada crosses first! Fans explode in wild screams and cheers while competitors sag momentarily after the race in their sleek vessels before making a quick recovery.

    And what do our country’s winners proclaim over and over again? Energy from the crowd ignites their inner fire giving them the momentum for that final lunge. They hear our lusty lungs screaming GO GO GO. Canadian flags, signs, banners rip back and forth with frenzy. Loud. Louder. Loudest. On your feet in the stands, chills race up and down your back, goose bumps, moist eyes, jumping, roaring...it all happens simultaneously as our athletes respond to our cheers: hysterical screeches, pumping fists, shouting, hollering....mouths wide open with flapping epiglottises...
    We witnessed five sculling medal events at Port Dalhousie near St. Catharines, Ontario. To our delight we experienced the thrill of our athletes winning three of those races and watched the emotional medal presentations while proudly singing O Canada.
    Just as satisfying is the spontaneous way the crowd cheers other countries, other winners, and our athletes who didn’t place. Participants, in the spirit of true sports professionals, congratulate each other and their competitors.

What a show! What a marvelous, foot stomping, heart bleeding show! To those who are still skeptics and live in the area, attend a performance before it’s over. You will emerge a believer.
And finally, for some interesting reading, click on this link to learn all about the official PanAm games mascot, Pachi: http://www.toronto2015.org/mascot

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Guides of Rock and Stone

7/1/2015

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One of the best side effects travelling in your own country is the realization of its beauty and the renewed awe one feels about it.
For example, I discovered a new phenomenon during our semi-cross country auto voyage from Ontario to British Columbia. I was surprised to see how often travellers erected Inukshuks--- stand-alone rock formations in the shape of humans--- at regular intervals along the Canadian Shield sections of the TransCanada Highway in northern Ontario to the Manitoba border.

        Inukshuks are stone guides in the rough shape of humans first built by the Inuit years ago. Today these rock formations symbolize the sense of a caring community; they are friendly guideposts to point you in the right direction of your journey.
            There are many, many mini Inukshuks along the north shore of Lake Superior. Each small statue has its distinct personality, each a reminder of a caring spirit. What intrigues me are the variations on the essential human form.
    Different rock colours, sizes, and designs are as original as any piece of sculpture displayed in a contemporary art gallery. Hats off to those who stopped to build their Inukshuks for me to enjoy.

        And did you know the word Inukshuk was recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary? Called a ‘loanword’ by linguists, Inukshuk, borrowed from the Inuktitut language, is defined as ‘a structure of rough stones stacked in the form of a human figure’. They are especially prevalent where dynamite is used to blast through the rock for roadbuilding.
            Inukshuks were not my only discovery along the northern Ontario route. I used to think Newfoundland was the only Canadian province with picturesque place names. Not. Our north westerly route took us by Pancake Bay, Pumpkin Point, Rabbit Blanket Lake, Old Woman Bay, Bear Paw Landing. We even followed a dead-end trail in Nipigon to where Paddle-to-the-Sea park was supposed to be.
        First Nations names like Shawanaga and Magnetawan dot the landscape, too, conjuring up our colourful history while also dipping me in shame as I think of the plight of our First Nations people today.

Map (pls click)

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Three Performers, PanAm Games, July 2015

Paddle-to-the-Gold

Guides of Rock and Stone

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