The HST Hoedown: take your seats, folks, this is one interesting ride. Sparks are flying, heads are rolling, and our lives are a’changing. To quote Michael Smyth of The Province, “everyone has a dog in this fight.”

A packed courtroom celebrated with former premier and tax revolt leader Bill Vander Zalm on August 20^th when Chief Justice of the BC Supreme Court Robert Bauman ruled that the anti-HST petition with over 700,000 signatures is valid and can proceed. Bauman dismissed the big business coalition that tried to stop the petition from moving forward. The chief judge even celebrated the grassroots initiative, quoting Campbell who described the tax revolt as “a victory for democracy.”*

*Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Anti+petition+ruled+legal+Supreme+Court/3423142/story.html#ixzz0yCSuoCLA

The volume of these signatures represents a public outcry. Was your signature one of them? Mine was.

For all intents and purposes this appears to be a resurgence of grassroots democracy. It is now in the hands of the BC Legislature to hold a free vote. The HST stands a chance of being blocked and replaced with the old style PST or some as yet undreamed way of raising more taxed income.

From my observation, the push to stop the HST is a knee jerk reaction by a BC Electorate outraged against a number of broken promises by Premier Gordon Campbell. When Gordon Campbell campaigned against the HST during the 2009 election and then changed his mind shortly afterwards, this was yet another broken promise. The petition is the conduit that BC voters needed to say enough is enough.

In my opinion, it is The Zalm’s steely determination and his acute understanding of the constitution that helped this battle stay on course with his rights as a citizen. The ruling represents a small victory of the people.

With an understanding of the constitution, one can go far in empowering a determined BC Electorate. Sure beats standing around in a group with a placard trying to get attention.

This drama will continue in court, and with our politicians, this is shaping up to be an interesting Fall. Stay tuned.

Laurie Kingdon, graphic designer
Outside-the-Box Graphics

778.839.3755
"Use my creative spark to ignite yours."

http://ignitethespark.wordpress.com/

As I sat a top the upper Shannon Falls view point, I reflected on my recent read of “The Great Gatsby, a story of torrid affairs and infidelity during the roaring twenty’s and I wondered how it applied to today’s lifestyle and standards. Not much difference I suspect, at least, that is, what the media would have us believe.

While the story revolves around a community of spoiled wealth, our narrator, Nick Carraway, an aspiring bond salesman, tells of Tom Buchanan, one of the spoiled wealthy whose opinion would have us believe that we are the dominant race and therefore must keep the other races down. Do we still think like that? I hope not.

This is a time of war for our nation, driven by numerous levels of corruption within the system. Mr. Harper would have us believe that we need to spend 65 billion on new fighter squadrons for our protection. At the same time we have young men in Ontario being arrested on terrorism charges. Doesn’t one breed the other? In either case, both aspirations seem to be to feed on hate as opposed to lust and naiveté of the Gatsby story.

This is a country with a rapidly aging population, which by 2032 could reach a stage where 48% of us are over 65. Coming back to Mr. Harper’s planned expenditure; it would seem to me that we should be spending those funds planning for an aging evolution instead of planning for more war and using up our youth in a senseless strategy of murder in a failed attempt at peace through war.

Not only is it murder of innocent civilians, but of our own young people who will be sacrificed when they are desperately needed to continue driving the economy required to support our family of elders. We need better policies based on growing opportunities for an ever changing social and economic structure.

Wars, we must come to realize are never won, making care and compassion a better investment. We must also realize people fleeing war too a safe haven are not coming here to continue the war, they are coming here, for the opportunity of a better life. Sanctuary is a most redeeming characteristic and speaks well of those who offer it. It seems if Mr. Harper were serious about peace, he might return us to a nation of peace keepers, something Canadian's took great pride in.

Let us not leave ourselves with impossible cliffs to climb, but more simple trails to follow to great heights for a better view of life.

 Peace,

David Hutchison

David Hutchison is the President of Transitions Advertising www.transitionsadvertising.com David is student of social media, more specifically, content.

David is Past Board President of Promoting a Culture of Peace for Children Society of BC www.wartoystopeaceart.com

Every day we are shown new ways to improve our lives, in almost every aspect of living, such as: transportation, nutrition, beauty and specifically fitness. Time is a precious commodity and everyone tries to maximize their effectiveness while not being wasteful with their time. CrossFit is a way where one can see physical and mental results with spending less time “working” for it!

No, this isn’t something off a midnight infomercial; this is something on a whole new level. The majority of the marketing is done by word of mouth, which is how I heard about it!

I booked my first session, which is always a 2 hour session which was on a Friday at 6 am. I thought, “Oh boy, how the heck can I work out for 2 hours, especially at 6 am!” I was very excited because I love to sweat and I got to try out a new pair of fitness socks from Icebreaker, which is a new fitness apparel company I recently learned about! Nothing gets me more motivated than new work out attire!

I arrived to my session at CrossFit on East 3^rd and Clark (in Vancouver) to be greeted by a chipper trainer named Corey Lapell. I was about to spend the next 2 hours learning about CrossFit, my current physical abilities and what possibilities I can create for myself.

Lapell started by tell me the history of CrossFit. This was an education and interesting story that just seduced me into wanting to try this method more and more. It is important to understand the history and learn about the positive changes it will make in your life.

After learning about the history, it was time for my fitness evaluation. This is done so I can monitor my improvements while using CrossFit.  If you are curious as to what the evaluation consists of you will find out when you go for your first session.

I felt GREAT  after my evaluation and learning what I am able to accomplish now makes me want to strengthen my muscles and beat my current fitness scores. It is always worth trying something new to see if it works for you. There is an elite coupon at www.livingfreecanada.com (under Fitness) for a free 2 hour session.

Oh, and if you are curious, the socks were great!

Blair Kaplan is the owner and CEO of Living Free Canada, who is Canada's unbeatable, online health and wellness community, partnered with companies that reflect a fun and healthy lifestyle and provides you with elite coupons.

You can follow Living Free Canada on Twitter: @LivingFreeCND, Facebook: Living Free Canada and You Tube: Living Free Canada. Have an active mind, happy heart and loving soul.

Exploring the Community with Living Free Canada: SwordFit

You have heard of sword fighting and you have heard of fitness classes and now, thanks to Academie Duello, the two if them are infused together for a powerful workout for your body and confidence.

In case you didn’t know, the website description is:

Academie Duello’s SwordFit combines the ancient training techniques of the European Knight with modern athletic training to create a fitness program that exercises your mind and body. A 90-minute SwordFit program includes a vigorous workout of strength and cardio training for the whole body with stretching and straight-forward swordplay techniques designed to work your core, shoulders, back, arms, and legs.

SwordFit is part of Academie Duello's Warrior Program.

SwordFit Advantage

SwordFit is an ideal program for developing:

• Endurance and agility
• Grace, confidence, and mental focus
• Explosive strength and speed
• Core strength, balance, and stability
• Symmetrical strength

The following types of athletes and individuals should explore SwordFit:

• Runners, sprinters, cyclists, jumpers, soccer players, and other athletes engaged in lower-body centric sports
• Players of racquet sports and stick sports such as hockey and lacrosse who need a form of whole body cross-training
• Actors, dancers, and those who need to develop physical presence, focus, fitness, and can benefit directly from the knowledge of swordplay
• Those seeking to get in shape, develop strength, agility, and mental fitness
• Those who are bored of the gym and want to do something fun, exciting, and physically inspiring

Take my word for it; this is a workout like no other. I always break a sweat and love that I am learning a new method to stay in shape.

A description of what a class would look like is:

1.    Warm-Up and Dynamic Motion

2.    Technical Coaching

3.    The Circuit (Example- Exchanging Blows, Medicine Ball, Sword Swing, The Pell and The Pin)

4.    Callisthenics

5.    Stretching

You can find more information about Academie Duello and details on the jargon used as well as additional information about the classes at www.learnswordplay.com. I go every Tuesday at 6:30 and would love to introduce you to SwordFit. Last week we had 7 members and would love to have you! Elite coupons can be found for a FREE class for you and a friend at www.livingfreecanada.com.

Blair Kaplan is the owner and CEO of Living Free Canada, who is Canada's unbeatable, online health and wellness community, partnered with companies that reflect a fun and healthy lifestyle and provides you with elite coupons.

You can follow Living Free Canada on Twitter: @LivingFreeCND, Facebook: Living Free Canada and You Tube: Living Free Canada. Have an active mind, happy heart and loving soul.

Click on the image for more information

The Canary Derby is a soapbox car race to raise money for early- detection cancer research, benefiting BC Cancer Foundation. With races held in both Victoria and Vancouver, it brings together corporate-sponsored teams of enthusiasts who combine their skills, energy and support to create a great family-styled event fueled by their passion and purpose to give back.

This year’s Vancouver event will take place September 25th, at Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park, a location perfect for racing fun in a wonderful setting that the whole family can enjoy.  This is a FUNdraiser that is based on participation, and an event that brings people together for a day of competition and laughter….and perhaps a picnic or two!

Team rivalries have developed and reputations may be at stake!  Each team designs, builds and races a soapbox car and organizes their own fundraising activities. often including dinner parties and head-shaving pub crawls.  Team members set their own personal goals for fundraising, too, including their friends and family in support of “early detection – the BEST investment” you can make.

Teams have a lot to do, what with raising funds and building cars and creating dynamite team shirts…..the fun just goes on and on.  For the participating companies, who also support the cause, this could be considered marketing, but the benefits go much deeper and further than that.  Team members build strong connections and work hard together – creating relationships that go far beyond the office.

There are scheduled heats on race day – this is the real deal – but that’s just the icing on the cake.   The real fun starts months before, with a read of the Rules and Design details, advice on How to Build a Race Car (find a driver…measure how wide they are….), and – last, but not least – Judging Details!

Come for the fun and excitement.  Maybe you can get your picture taken in a Canary Racer! Invite your family and friends….it’s more than a walk in the park  September 25th, Deer Lake in Burnaby.  Come watch the teams from companies like Webnames.ca, Wired Woman, and Work-at-Play, to name just a few.  I’ll be there…..will you?

By Cybele Negris

To kick off small business month, Small Business BC is hosting INSPIRE - The Freshest Business Fair of 2010! Join Small Business BC and local entrepreneurs for a dynamic afternoon of activities, exhibits and education to get your juices flowing with fresh ideas for your business or to inspire new business ideas!

Date: Friday, October 1st, 2010
Time: 1:00pm - 4:30pm
Location: 390 - 601 West Cordova Street (Waterfront Station Building), Vancouver, BC
Tickets: $25 (refreshments & snacks provided)
BUY TICKETS NOW!

Event Itinerary:
     1:00-1:30pm   Welcome / Entrepreneur Exposé
     1:30-2:15pm   Seminar "Branding Tips for Small Business"
     2:30-3:15pm   Seminar "Effective Marketing for Small Business"
     3:30-4:30pm   Interactive workshop & networking (Public Speaking and Image Consulting)
     4:30 onward    Join us afterward for the Small Business BC Open House event

Featured Speakers:

     Angela Bains, CA Design
     Fiona Walsh, FM Walsh & Associates
     Dean Barbour, Public Speaking Consultant
     Giovanni Amenta, Pink & Grey Style & Image Consulting
     Bilijana Vasiljevic, Exhibit Cre8ive

INSPIRE will highlight the success stories of local entrepreneurs and their businesses through a mini business exposé. This jam packed afternoon provides a great opportunity to:

• Learn from industry professionals about effective branding and marketing for your business
• Perfect your image and business pitch with tips from public speaking and image consultants 
• Network, share ideas and experiences, and HAVE FUN!!

Cybele Negris is Co-Founder of Webnames.ca, Canada’s Original Domain Registrar. She was formerly the President of Wired Woman Vancouver. She is on the Boards of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Small Business BC, Government of BC Small Business Roundtable and the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. More information is available at cybele.tel or webnames.tel. Follow on Twitter @cybelenegris and @webnames

By Cari-Lee Stevens

I understand that it can be a challenge to know what to eat.  Even for those of us who are quite conscious about what we put into our bodies, I often find myself in a conundrum.  Do I buy the organic cherries that came from California, or do I buy the non-organic ones that came from the Okanagan?  One traveled very far and had a negative impact on the environment but is good for me, the other traveled not so far and will be not as healthy for my body.  If you are new to the idea of healthy eating, here are some basic things you should be looking out for.

1. Always say “yes” to water. Someone offers you water.  “Yes please” is your answer.  Your goal is to drink half your body weight in ounces minimally per day.  If you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 ounces of water.  There are 34 ounces in a litre.  Put some litre bottles in the fridge and know you have to have them finished by the end of the day.  Work up to this over a week if you are nowhere near this intake.

2. If you drink coffee, go organic.  Coffee is a very highly sprayed crop with pesticides, so is tea.  If you are not up to your quota of water per day, ditch the coffee.

3. Get into the habit of reading labels.  Once you start, it is easy to do.  Is sugar in the top 3 ingredients?  Don’t get it.  Why would you need sugar in your pasta sauce anyway?  This also goes for high fructose corn syrup.

4. Avoid hydrogenated oils and MSG, also disguised as hydrolyzed vegetable protein. Check your bags of chips for this.  I find that the Miss Vicky’s and the Kettle Chips are pretty good about not having this stuff in them but again, read, read, read.

5. Get off the aspartame.  This stuff is NASTY!  Honestly, it should never have been passed. Try other natural sweeteners instead.  If you must, plain ol’ white death sugar is preferable to aspartame but do try healthier options before choosing white sugar.  Honey, maple syrup and steevia are some options.  Steevia is my favourite.  It comes from a plant and it will not affect your blood sugar. Great for diabetics. By the way, Nutrasweet, Splenda & Equal are all fake, fake, fake and not healthy options.  Don't let advertising fool you.

6. Do you eat animal products?  Go organic.  If you are flip flopping about which products to go organic on, meat and dairy would be the ones.  Did you know that it is recommended that pregnant and breast feeding mothers not drink alcohol or have more than one serving of certain fish in a week? The reason for that is because the toxins are passed on to the baby through the mother.  So now you are the one who is ingesting the hormones, the pesticides the antibiotics and all the other things the animals were fed.  It doesn’t cost much more to go organic.  Put it into perspective.  A beer is $6, a martini is $10, a latte is $5, buying organic vs. non-organic milk is going to cost maybe 75 cents more for a whole litre.

7. High antioxidant foods.  Deeeeelicious!  Bring on the berries.  Antioxidants help slow the aging process and I am not just talking about the way you look on the outside, though that is a bonus.  Berries are high in antioxidants, get them fresh while you can.  If they are not organic, soak them in vinegar and water for awhile to take off some of the pesticide residue. But best to go organic as they are also a very highly sprayed crop.

8. Get some greens in your life.  Are potatoes and corn your vegetables of choice?  Get some variety.  It is the spice of life, don’t you know.  Kale, dark lettuce, chard etc… cruise the internet for some interesting recipes.  I have a fantastic curry kale salad recipe listed here on this blog.  Check it out.

9. When at restaurant and the options are a burger and fries, bite the bullet and make a small change.  Ask for the house salad instead of fries.   Just do it.  Like ripping off a band-aid.  Say it and stick to it.  You will be surprised how great the house salads are these days.  Most often the fries aren’t all they are cracked up to be anyway.  If you are still hungry and craving fries after your burger and salad then order some.  I doubt you will.

10. Make eating healthier easy on yourself.  Get organics delivered to your home or office. I use Green Earth Organics and love their service.  You can customize your bins on line if you like.   Mention my name and get $10 off your first delivery. Purchase vegetables pre-cut or deal with your veggies right when you get them, DO NOT DELAY!  Cut them up and put them in the fridge so all you have to do is grab and go. Keep healthy snack food in the house.  Have energy bars on hand for when you are running short on time.  Have a meal replacement shake available for those days when you don’t want to cook.  But remember, read the labels.  Just because it has a healthy sounding name it doesn’t mean that it is.   There is a lot that marketers are allowed to get away with, so please don’t trust them to be giving you the straight goods.

The small steps made today towards better health cumulates into big changes down the road.  Wouldn’t you like to feel and look better in a year from now than you do today?  Wouldn’t you like to have more energy, more muscle tone, less fat, clearer skin and a brighter outlook on life?  Proper nutrition can deliver all that and more!

If you would like more information on how to get healthy and what products I recommend, please contact me for a no charge consultation.

Cari-Lee Stevens is a speaker, master trainer of Pilates instructors and a transformational wellness coach.  She owns CL Stevens Fitness Inc. a company that specializes in on-site corporate and community based fitness such as yoga & Pilates.

Follow her on twitter@cleansegirl
Blog: www.cleansegirl.com
Lectures & Coaching: www.carileestevens.com
Pilates Teacher Training: www.canadianpilatesinstitute.com
On-site corporate fitness:  www.clstevensfitness.com

Is there someone in your life who has become very sick with cancer or a terminal illness and you wish you knew more about that specific disease? That situation happened to myself about 4 years ago with my Aunt Heather was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. She learned that the cancer was already in stage 4, the last stage, and shortly after the diagnosis succumbed to the cancer. I felt helpless and lost with the lack of education I had about Ovarian Cancer, so I began to research the disease and learned about Ovarian Cancer Canada.

Ovarian Cancer Canada is a registered Canadian charitable organization whose mission is to overcome ovarian cancer, providing leadership by:

• Supporting women living with the disease and their families.
• Raising awareness in the general public and with health care professionals.
• Funding research to develop early detection techniques, improved treatment and, ultimately, a cure.

So, I began to volunteer and then I learned about the annual Winner’s Walk of Hope, which I volunteer for, as well.

The Walk of Hope was founded in 2002 by Peggy Truscott, a dedicated volunteer and a woman with ovarian cancer. Her vision was to create an event that would help raise awareness about the disease as well as develop more visible support and a sense of community for women and their families touched by ovarian cancer.

Now in its 9th year, the Walk has grown to include 15 National Walk locations and over 40 Mini Walk locations.

This year, I am the Media Relations Chair, in honour of my Aunt Heather and in hopes to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms to help save the women in our lives.

Date and Time: September 12 · 9:00am - 12:00pm

Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden. 5251 Oak Street at West 37^th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Distance: Choice of 2.5km or 5km

I invite you to signup or donate online at www.winnerswalkofhope.org. Who will you save?

Blair Kaplan is the owner and CEO of Living Free Canada, who is Canada's unbeatable, online health and wellness community, partnered with companies that reflect a fun and healthy lifestyle and provides you with elite coupons.

You can follow Living Free Canada on Twitter: @LivingFreeCND, Facebook: Living Free Canada and You Tube: Living Free Canada. Have an active mind, happy heart and loving soul.

By Cari-Lee Stevens

The other day on Facebook I saw a posting of an article from the Huffington Post about Vitamin Water.  There is a lawsuit against Coca Cola on the grounds that the company is making unwarranted health claims.  My first reaction was: “that is crazy, how can Coca Cola make these claims and then back pedal when they get in hot water?”   After I thought about it, I realized that while it is ridiculous, what is also ridiculous is the lack of personal responsibility that people take for their health. When Vitamin Water first came out, I was suspicious.  First off, it is colored unnatural colors, so immediately I questioned it.  Then I picked it up and read the label and realized that there was some sneaky marketing going on and I concluded that it wasn’t healthy and that I would never touch the stuff.

Learn to read labels.  It is very simple and it should be as basic for all of us as brushing our teeth.  If you see the first ingredient listed as water and the second ingredient listed as sugar, know that it is a poor substitute for pop and you should be drinking actual water.  Here are some basic things to look for on food and drink labels.  If you see hydrogenated oil, don’t buy it.  If you see any food coloring listed, don’t buy it.  If sugar or high fructose corn syrup is listed as one of the top ingredients, don’t buy it.  If MSG is listed on it, don’t buy it.  There are many other things you can educate yourself on but these are the easiest to look out for.  Once you get into this habit, it is very quick and easy and you won’t even think twice about doing it.

Sure, not everyone is a health nut and not everyone has an interest in learning about health but that is why there are professionals around with whom you can consult.   The FDA is not doing a great job of looking after people - they passed Aspartame.  Think about that!  Or if you wonder what I am talking about, google "the dangers of Aspartame." I don’t know about stocks, bonds and mutual funds and have no interest to learn, so I hire a professional to help me with that.  If you are looking for a healthy alternative to sports drinks like Gatorade and Vitamin Water, try plain water.  If you want some flavouring in your water, add a little lemon or lime or a little  juice.  If you are looking for something that will replenish electrolytes and is loaded with Vitamin B's with no food coloring and tastes great without ingesting Gatorade, (also bad for you) I have some great suggestions which you can find on my blog @ www.cleansegirl.com Check it regularly for updates or better yet, subscribe.  If you are looking to change your habits I would be happy to support you, feel free to contact me.

Cari-Lee Stevens is a speaker, master trainer of Pilates instructors and a transformational wellness coach.  She owns CL Stevens Fitness Inc. a company that specializes in on-site corporate and community based fitness such as yoga & Pilates.

Follow her on twitter@cleansegirl
Blog: www.cleansegirl.com
Lectures & Coaching: www.carileestevens.com
Pilates Teacher Training: www.canadianpilatesinstitute.com
On-site corporate fitness:  www.clstevensfitness.com

A friend of mine, Francoise took this picture sometime ago on her way down from Lynn Peak, in North Vancouver. Each time I look at it I feel hopeful. When I read the newspapers (yes some of us still do it) or watch or listen to the news, I don't.

I think that is why social media is growing so fast, it's hopeful. It's where important communications take place, communication between us, the people. Oh yes, there are those who will condemn it, but who cares, it's fun and it's ours.

There is such variety. So many options. So many places to go. You can talk back to it, create you own world and communicate with anybody 24/7.

Social media is here to stay. There are those you predict what exists will change dramatically, their right, but not the way they predict. It's only going to get better and us with it. Oh how rapidly Star Teck arrives. Trillions of tweets. a number almost beyond comprehension. This is a media less than 5 years old from concept.

I, like Woody Allen, can't image life without a book in my hands, but it's coming. Writing will continue, how it's read is changing. For the most part we are embracing it. And it's positive, inspiring, and most all, hopeful. Like all publicly assessable tools, it can be very raw and painful. Even with that side of it, it is hopefully, because we are closer to it and to solve great problems we have get  close to them.

I have to go now, I'm over my 250 word limit, that cut off place beyond our capabilities.

David Hutchison

David Hutchison is the President of Transitions Advertising www.transitionsadvertising.com David is student of social media, more specifically, content. The agency presents seminars, creates trade shows and events.

David is Past Board President of Promoting a Culture of Peace for Children Society of BC www.wartoystopeaceart.com

Being a girl, I love to pamper myself from time to time, especially getting manicures. The one problem I have is that the nail polish chips after a few days due to my lifestyle of physical activity, typing, cleaning and using my fingers a lot. Jo from Jo’s Toes and Esthetics mentioned an alternative solution for beautiful nails so I decided to explore this new beauty avenue.

This new service is called Bio Sculpture Gel and is considered a one component nail treatment that helps your nails grow and be stronger. I have my share of painted nails, manicures, gel nails and acrylic nails and so I was excited to try this out.

First, I got to pick my colour-I chose a light pink. After preparing my nails (filing, shaping and cuticles) the short and simple process began. Here are the steps (which take around an hour):

1. The base-coat is brushed on each nail and each hand is put under the UV light for 2 minutes to harden.
2. The colour of choice is then painted on each nail and each hand is put under the UV light for 2 minutes to harden.
3. Repeat Step 2 (for second layer of same colour).
4. A topcoat (which is clear) is put on each nail and each hand is under the UV light for 4 minutes.
5. Jo then does the final touch up by removing a small layer of “film” which takes about 10 seconds.
6. You now have stronger more beautiful nails.

The treatment is supposed to last 3 to 4 weeks and grows out with your nails. There is no chipping or damage to the nail which makes this treatment very tempting to us folks who like to hand wash dishes. This is also a healthier way to beautify the hands because there is no formaldehyde and it is toluene free.

Jo’s Toes and Esthetics is located in Kitsalano and offers an array of estheic services. Her elite coupons and link to her website can be found under the Beauty Section at www.livingfreecanada.com. Ladies of Vancouver, go make your nails strong, longer and healthier!

Blair Kaplan is the owner and CEO of Living Free Canada, who is Canada's unbeatable, online health and wellness community, partnered with companies that reflect a fun and healthy lifestyle and provides you with elite coupons.

You can follow Living Free Canada on Twitter: @LivingFreeCND, Facebook: Living Free Canada and You Tube: Living Free Canada. Have an active mind, happy heart and loving soul.

February 2010 was a magical time in Vancouver. The weather, the people,  the parties, and Olympic spirit infected us all. Armchair coaches haunted every big screen corner and everyone had a “story” to tell.

Kevin Jagger was no exception. Having played football at McGill, Kevin had a career in Investment Banking before leaving to help build a small media company.  He had watched some of his former teammates who had been drafted to play pro ball, and all that infectious energy infected Kevin too.

For him, it was a re-connection with his love of sports….something the corporate life had dulled. He was at an all-time high weight and an all-time low fitness level, when he realized he wanted to do something extraordinary.

Coming from a business-planning background, he took a pragmatic approach to this new idea, too. He would need access to facilities, training and support. He evaluated his physical capabilities and the requirements of a variety of sports. In his search, he found long track speed skating.

Picture this: At the time, Kevin was carrying 220 pounds on his 6 foot 1 inch frame. He had not been on skates since he was about 12 years old, and these new skates were like nothing he had worn before! It is rare for a 26 year old to get started in speed skating – or any other Olympic pursuit, I should think – but he was not to be deterred. All this probably sounds a little far fetched, but in meeting Kevin and talking with him, his energy, commitment and sheer joy in his dream are simply impossible to deny. He is living an altered existence, building a whole new life.

With all the hours this takes, he now works on his sport full time. He bikes everywhere, eats differently, is dropping weight dramatically (30 pounds and counting), and is working hard for his next big test.

He has incredible buy-in from his family, girlfriend and friends. His brothers support and sponsor him in different ways and he has also made some incredible connections in the elite speedskating world.
• Catriona LeMay’s sister is a coach, who took the time to talk with him
• Nancy Goplen, the Team BC Amateur Coach, invited him to a 2 day camp (him and a bunch of 12-year-old junior girls = check your ego at the door!), which helped him evaluate his strengths and areas for work
• Joanna Russell engineered a workout with a recently retired member of the Canadian National Speed Skating team
• That brought former Olympian Brock Miron into Kevin’s life and training schedule. Having battled back from severe injuries in his own career, Brock understands the total-body approach to training for this very specific sport. Kevin’s life has changed.
• Brock introduced him to Jeremy Wotherspoon (500m World Record Holder), and now Kevin will be able to to tap into Jeremy’s braintrust of knowledge and experience while training in Calgary ( home to the fastest speed skating ice in Canada).

This week in Calgary will be his first time on an actual speed skating oval! Brock thinks he has a chance of success – Kevin is willing to do the rest.
Let Kevin share his Calgary experience at http://www.longtracklongshot.com.
Remember this: Speedskating is the world's fastest human-powered sport. Would you dare?

Bus Drivers & Bikers

By Cari-Lee Stevens

What a gorgeous day it was today.  Vancouver is so fantastic.  Warm with a cool ocean breeze, a perfect day for a bike ride.  As I was riding down Broadway today, a bus driver attempted to pull out in front of me after he dropped off his passengers. When I continued to ride past him he raised his hand out his window at me as if to say "what are you doing crazy biker?"  My question to those inconsiderate bus drivers who pull out willy nilly, is "What are you doing crazy bus driver?"   I have never driven a bus before and I can imagine that at times it is a frustrating job but how about some common sense and courtesy to people? Just because you are bigger than I am, does it mean that you should be able to push me around and potentially drive over me or lead me into traffic to avoid you?  Do you think a signal light means that it is okay for you to blindly move left into a lane?

I don't know when the rule came into place that when a bus wants to pull out in front of you, you let it, but it seems to me that many bus drivers abuse this privilege.  When I am driving my car, the bus drivers often bully their way back into the lane without giving me much notice at all.  It is as though they are playing chicken.  "Hey, I am bigger than you so clear out or deal with the consequences. Your choice".   While I am driving my car, at least I have the protection of the steel around me and the airbag that will deploy if I hit something.  As a bike rider I am much more vulnerable. If I slam on my brakes will I go over the bars? Will the guy behind me run me over? While I am shoulder checking to see if the coast is clear to slow down and move over, I risk getting slammed by someone opening their car door.

I ride my bike because I like it and it is good for me and it is one less car on the road.  I am doing my part, kind of like those people who ride the bus. I do not have the opportunity to drive a bus, so I cannot be in the driver's shoes but maybe Mr. Bus Driver, you would like to get on a bike some day and commute in Vancouver for a week and see how it feels to dodge large buses as you make your way to your appointments.  Oh and all drivers, please remember to look behind you before you open your door and lastly, using a hand held cell phone and texting while driving is now illegal.  Don't let a memorable experience like killing someone be the reason you finally take this law seriously.  Thanks

Cari-Lee Stevens is a speaker, master trainer of Pilates instructors and a transformational wellness coach.  She owns CL Stevens Fitness Inc. a company that specializes in on-site corporate and community based fitness such as yoga & Pilates.

Follow her on twitter@cleansegirl
Blog: www.cleansegirl.com
Lectures & Coaching: www.carileestevens.com
Pilates Teacher Training: www.canadianpilatesinstitute.com
On-site corporate fitness:  www.clstevensfitness.com

From news reports I have read, the authorities rebuilding the site of 9/11 in NY City are considering putting a “memorial” Mosque in the area of Ground Zero, where the twin towers once stood. What do you think of this idea? Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel, but the picture below shows two opinion that kind of resonate with me. Maybe they could just have one memorial chapel that could be used by all faiths.

Written By: Nicholas Pavlich
Nicholas Pavlich is a public relations and marketing professional and freelance writer. Nicholas is @NicholasPR on Twitter and can be reached professionally through www.FuelledCommunications.com

On Canada day, as usual, my family and I went to check out Canada’s largest independent Canada Day celebration, the Salmon Festival in Richmond. Also as usual my daughter, now five, said before we left home for the festival that she was not hungry. But soon after arrival at the festival she began nagging for a bite to eat. We Knew just where to go! We headed straight for The Kosher Bagel Booth.

Amongst the multitude food stalls stands one lone Kosher eatery, The Kosher Bagel Booth - a symbol of the Richmond Jewish community. For four years Chabad of Richmond Jewish Centre has had a bayzayn or presence at two distinctive venues. The most popular has always been The Kosher Bagel Booth a place where Jews and non Jews can chap a nash, or grab a kosher bite to eat, with the most popular being the traditional bagel and lox. And now building on The Kosher Bagel Booths popularity, Chabad’s other booth, the community booth, is gaining traction, as this year’s festival showed!

Early in the morning, a team of 20 or so volunteers staffed a nearby kikh, or kitchen, to smear hundreds of bagels with cream cheese and fix them with the world's tastiest lox. While there were other items to nosh, or snack on, the cream cheese and lox was the most popular item. They all sold out well before the close of the festival. The mood at the makeshift bagel preparation factory was cheerful and, despite the early morning start, remarkably upbeat. Janet Ragetli, the volunteer organizer, summed up the situation:

"This is multicultural Canada's most special day. We all volunteer to make the Kosher Bagel Booth a success and raise money for Chabad of Richmond Jewish Centre, but we also want to raise the profile of Chabad and Judaism in the Richmond community. What better way than with the community’s most recognizable food, bagels and lox?”

Meanwhile, back at the other end of the Salmon Festival, Rabbi Baitelman, Director of Chabad of Richmond, and another crew was setting up the community booth. The space created an all important venue for Jews to meet, talk and “ask the Rabbi”. At the information booth the Rabbi spoke with more than 120 people, put on Tefillin with 25 more, gave out hundreds of candies to kids and helped 75 children make their own pushke or charity "tzeddakah" box.

“We have the booth for several reasons” explained the Rabbi. “Until we began the project, people who keep kosher would come to the Festival and have to schlep food from home. Now they can eat from at least one of the many food stalls. Besides, it became a forum to explain about kosher food and keeping a kosher diet. We have brochures that explain the basics of kashrut and answer any questions people may have on the subject,” he added.

By day’s end many people had not only celebrated Canada Day, but had a kosher bite to eat.

Written By: Nicholas Pavlich
Nicholas Pavlich is a public relations and marketing professional and freelance writer. Nicholas is @NicholasPR on Twitter and can be reached professionally through www.FuelledCommunications.com