The Vermilion Voice June 24, 2013
10
Issue 466
Local News
A Cowboy State of Mind Shannon O’Connor Reporter
I come from a mining town in Ontario, (Sudbury). We have a lot of miners in our community but not many cowboys. In the past, I have used the word cowboy as a means of describing people that have an edge to them such as “cowboy drivers.” (drivers exceeding the speed limit). But I never fully understood the real meaning of the word cowboy until I attended the FOCUS luncheon on June 13th at the Legion which honoured Curtis Anderson with a “Friends of FOCUS Award.” FOCUS states this recognition is “Awarded to an individual or an agency that has provided exceptional help and support to FOCUS resulting in the on-going stability and success for our organization within the community.” I confess, I had never heard of Curtis Anderson before the luncheon, so I did not know what to expect in terms of his story or his speech. When he got up to the podium and began to tell his story in “His Road to Recovery” speech, I was blown away. The chronological timeline took me step by step on his journey. The juxtaposition of the simple act of losing your balance with the horrific implications of losing it while
riding a bull, heightened the horror of Curtis’s accident at the Ponoka Stampede on June 26, 2002. For most people, the journey might not have even started. Few people survive having their head smashed twice by a bull’s head. But this is where Curtis Anderson’s “Road to Recovery” began and what a courageous journey it is. While listening to his speech I noticed he only spoke of the accomplishments he made from day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year; he never referred to the pain he surely must have endured. Accomplishments like learning to eat, speak, write and drive again became the hallmarks of his journey, not the pain. This focus put him in a position to be empowered by his situation not victimized by it. This is a choice, but it is not an easy choice to make. I was humbled by his speech and put my own small complaints, like waiting in line, into perspective. If someone like Curtis could relay his momentous journey with a smile on his face surely I could wait in a line-up with a small measure of grace and awareness that at least I am able to stand in a line-up. After hearing Curtis’s speech, I realized my definition of a cowboy as a risktaker was incomplete. Yes a cowboy needs
to be fearless to get on a bull and ride it, but he also needs to be courageous enough to face being thrown off the bull, no matter what the consequences may be. In his “Road to Recovery” speech Curtis quotes Kelly Armstrong who said, “I may not ride bulls forever, but I will be a cowboy forever.” This is the cowboy state of mind that Curtis Anderson embodies; one that is not defined by what happens to you but rather how you deal with what happens to you. And this is why he was one of the deserving recipients of the “Friends of FOCUS Award.” FOCUS facilitates “The empowerment of indi- Curtis Anderson smiles after receiving his “Friends viduals to meet their needs… of FOCUS Award” Photo Shannon O’Connor. with respect, honesty and FOCUS Award” was Craig Brown. integrity.” This includes: Individuals with Three outstanding staff members Developmental Disabilities, Acquired Brain were also presented with Staff Excellence Injuries, Families with Children with Devel- Awards: Jessica Meroniuk, J’Lyn Nilson opmental Disabilities and Families that are and Judy Teskey who were all recognized at Risk. Curtis has been an inspiration to for their dedication and commitment, both the staff at FOCUS and the individu- often giving their own time to individuals als they assist. in need. A second recipient of the “Friends of
Treasure And Leather In The Park Shannon O’Connor Reporter
The Good Life Institute is hosting a geocache event on Friday, June 28th as part of the Canada Day Celebrations taking place at Vermilion Provincial Park throughout the day and evening. In conjunction with the geocache event and The Good Life Institute, a class on how to make your own geocoin (personalized geocache trinket) is being offered by Cheryl Scott of Cheryl’s Leatherworks. Both the geocache event and the leatherwork class will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the CN Station in the park. Brand Development Coordinator with The Good Life Institute, Geoffrey Person, said “Anyone can do it (geocaching) and it is easy and fun.” Geocaching combines “the best of technology” with our desire to explore the unknown, added Person. Almost everybody has access to the technology that is required for a geocache, which is a simple GPS system that can be easily downloaded on a smartphone. For those who do not have a smartphone or
who don’t want to download the app, hand held GPS systems will be made available for free on the day of the event courtesy of the Vermilion Wellness Coalition. With GPS in hand the modern day treasure hunt can begin. Vermilion Provincial Park is just one example of the dozens of geocache sites that are established in the Vermilion area. “This is a user led hobby,” said Person. The objects are hidden throughout the park. Once the GPS has led you to the general area it is up to you to find the object. A good place to look is behind trees, between shrubs and beneath rocks. Depending on the type of container the object is in, some treasures are easier to find than others. Person has seen anything from military style foot lockers to clear Tupperware containers used for hidden cache treasure. Once the object is found, a log book containing relevant details such as, the last date the object was discovered, if the object was taken, what object was it replaced with (geocache etiquette) and tips on terrain are recorded by the previous “cacher” and should be updated by
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the latest. This is where geocaching can become a global endeavour. The geocoin is something that can be tracked around the world by logging onto the geocaching.com website. Many people geocache while on vacation and bring and take geocoins with them to place in geocache sites around the world. A geocoin that started out in a leatherwork class in Vermilion Provincial Park could potentially be tracked to a Botanical Garden in Australia. Geocaching is as serious as you want to make it; this is part of its appeal. You can do it during lunch, while vacationing, in a group or alone, said Person.
The geocache and the leatherwork class work well with the other events that are going on in the park for Canada Day. “After a leisurely hike dinner is already taken care of,” said Person referring to the BBQ that will also be taking place in the park. And don’t forget to stick around for a movie and fireworks, he added. The cost of the leatherwork class is $25. Pre-registration for the class can be done online at thegoodlifeinstitute.ca website or by calling Geoffrey Person at 780 581-2410. The geocache event is free of charge and pre-registration is not required.
Alberta Farmers Markets More Popular Than Ever Agri-News Submitted
“More consumers are looking to buy local food from Alberta producers which is wonderful news for farmers’ markets and the agriculture industry in the province,” says Eileen Kotowich, farmers’ market specialist for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “We’re seeing higher attendance at markets, new markets are being established each year and the value of farmers’ markets has increased substantially.” The 2012 Alternative Agriculture Markets Report found that almost threequarters of Alberta households (nearly 1.1. million) visited a farmers’ market in The
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the last year and spent an average of $55 per visit. Results showed that the market value of farmers’ markets has tripled since 2004, reaching $724 million last year – a 90 per cent increase since 2008. Of that total, $598 million (83 per cent) of purchases were on food grown or made in Alberta. On average, Alberta households spent $671 at farmers’ markets in 2012. As summer approaches, farmers’ markets will be buzzing with consumers looking to purchase some of the tastiest food Alberta has to offer. Most markets have started their 2013-14 season, and it is anticipated that there will be high attendance numbers at markets throughout the province. Farmers’ markets remain the primary alternative agriculture market for Albertans. Other markets examined in the study include farm retail, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)/Box Programs and restaurants chosen for using Albertagrown or made ingredients. There are currently 130 approved farmers’ markets in the province. To see the full list and to locate a nearby market, view the interactive map on the Alberta Agriculture website.