Civic Elections 2011

Today, Saturday November 19, is civic election day in British Columbia. If you are a BC resident, you should be voting today, unless you have already voted in advance polls. Voter turn out at all levels, federal, provincial, and local, is getting worse and worse with each passing election, but civic elections consistently have abhorrently dismal participation at the polls. This always puzzles me, as these elections are kind of a big deal.

Today, British Columbians will vote for the people who run the local services that we depend upon, and who manage the institutions that are the foundation of our society. Today you have a say in who will run and manage your schools, your police department, your fire department, your public transit services, your parks, your recreation centres, your public arenas and pools, your water services, your transit services, your libraries, your traffic services. Today you will vote for the people who make front line decisions regarding property development and local public sector job creation. Plus, many cities and municipalities include referendum questions on civic election ballots, where you get to directly voice your opinion on local government decisions.

It is so simple to research the candidates in your area, what with the all internets and world webs nowadays – there is really no excuse!

If democracy is something you believe in, then you have a responsibility to be involved in it. It will take you 15 minutes, and cost you nothing. Polls are open from 8am to 8pm.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING!!

For more information about Local Government Elections in BC, including where you can vote, simply put in “Local Government Election” and the name of your city into a search engine.  You can also visit:
-http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/electionconnection/ (this includes detailed information on all Metro Vancouver cities and municipalities if you scroll down).

VOTE!

Tomorrow, Monday May 2nd, is the day of Canada’s 41st federal election.

You should vote. Someone is going to represent you, personally, in Ottawa. Think about that, and go make a choice. Even if you just focus on one issue to help you decide: vote!

In the last federal election, on October 14 2008, Canadian voters had their worst turn-out ever, with only 58.8% of eligible citizens casting a ballot (1). Such a display is embarrassing. There really should be no need to go into the details of the price people pay in other areas of the world for the right to vote. We have an amazing nation, and each election is your chance to play a direct role in the future of Canada.

Please take the time to find out a little bit about the candidates in your riding. It is nearly a guarantee that the online version of your local community newspaper (which can be found with a search engine) will have interviews with each candidate. It is also incredibly easy to find each party’s platform online, and quickly jump to reading about the issues that are most important to you. Last time I made the assumption that everyone knew how to use a search engine, but I’ll go a little further this time in hopes that we can get a better voter turn-out. Please see the links below.

Take control, make a choice. Vote tomorrow!

In alphabetical order, here are links to the platforms of the four major national parties:

Conservative Party Platform
Green Party Platform
Liberal Party Platform
New Democratic Party Platform

If you did not receive a voter registration card, or for more information on the election, please visit Elections Canada’s website.

(1) http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=turn&document=index&lang=e

Off The East Coast of Honshu Japan

“…off the east coast of Honshu Japan” is a phrase that consistently comes up on my twitter feed.

It comes as a result of following the humbling, awe-inspiring, and worrisome @NewEarthquake. It is updated anytime a 4.5+ earthquake occurs anywhere in the world with a simple phrase that gives time, location, magnitude, and depth. In the past 24 hours, there have been more than 40 quakes bigger than 4.5 off the east coast of Honshu Japan. This planet possesses awe inspiring and humbling natural forces that should give anyone pause to reflect on the precariousness and preciousness of any of our situations. While the twitter feed may seem cold and technical, it hits home just as much as photos, videos, and testimonies one might see or hear right now. It spells out the unavoidable fact that Japan and its people are within a depth of troubling times, and that things will only remain precarious for the near future.

While there is no great evil within this scenario for us to fight, there is plenty for us to give and share, and plenty for us to learn. It opened my eyes to begin following on twitter both the Canadian and American Red Cross, organizations I have long had respect for, but admittedly often neglect. Following a handful of individual reporters in Japan has also been humbling. Their perceived compassion to keep the world informed globally, as well as aid those locally is a testament to positive human nature.

In the end, the purpose of this post is to share with you some rambling thoughts on humility, nature, and the perception that social networking has changed how we connect with global challenges. Thus, I will leave you with an article, you may have already seen, that prompted a good group discussion the other day, and ask that you please give if you can.

Why is there no looting in Japan? - March 14 article by Ed West

redcross.ca

Remembrance Day 2010

You are likely fortunate enough to have a holiday on Thursday. Rather than post here any of the many words, phrases, pictures, songs, videos, stories, and reflections to be drawn upon, I will simply encourage you to be active in your Remembrance on the 11th.

If you are able, please take the opportunity to attend a Remembrance Day Ceremony near you. They often last no more than an hour. Here is a partial list of some of the ceremonies in different communities across Canada (including many of the BC ones). I do know for a fact there are more. Every municipality and city in Metro Vancouver has at least one, if not more cenotaphs, and each one will be hosting a ceremony. A simple Google search with your town’s name and “Remembrance Day 2010″ will likely result in information about your local service. I will likely be attending the City of Vancouver’s Victory Square ceremony. If you are interested in joining me, you would be more than welcome – please let me know.

Canada has given over 100,000 of its sons and daughters in armed conflict, including 19 since Remembrance Day 2009, and  over 100 in the past decade. Please attend.

Lest We Forget – N’ Oublions Pas

Welcome to Movember

It’s November 1st, which means my face is freshly shaved, and over the next 30 days one of the sleaziest, yet at the same time incredibly awesome forms of facial hair shall take hold – all for a good cause.

Readers of this blog know that the author encourages you to be aware of and support causes fighting all kinds of cancers. However, this month marks an increased awareness of one particular type. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in our country.* It is estimated that one in six males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.**

Thus, you are encouraged to participate or support Movember. This  awareness event originally began in Australia, and promotes knowledge, screening, and fundraising for prostate cancer. The challenge is to grow a moustache for the entire month, beginning clean shaven on November 1st. It is not a competition, but a campaign. The Movember website has lots of content and info about prostate cancer, and moustache growing (photos, videos, articles) – after all, “every man deserves a little bit of luxury.”

Most people already make careful choices about cancer charities you support, and as you may know, it is the Terry Fox Foundation which I often prioritize. I am not here to sway these sentiments. While important to research, the money is not the primary purpose of growing my moustache this month. The main objective is to increase awareness of a type of cancer that is defeated 95% of the time if caught early. As you may have heard, males, as a generalization, are not the best at pursuing personal health issues with a doctor, especially when this particular region of the anatomy is concerned. When stubbornness is the reason – that’s simply not good enough. If you are male you need to be aware. If you are a wife, girlfriend, partner, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, or friend you can be supportive of this awareness.

If you would like to donate to prostate cancer, it is much appreciated (and by not just my upper lip). You can visit my Movember page to donate: http://ca.movember.com/mospace/472979, or Prostate Canada.  As you are out and about this Movember, be sure to try and spot others sporting the ‘stache, give ‘em props, and don’t be afraid to talk it up – being aware is the biggest step.

*-Canadian Cancer Society Statistics – 2010.
**-Prostate Cancer Canada website: http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Prostate-Cancer.aspx

Movember & Prostate Cancer

Readers of this blog know that the author encourages you to be aware of and support causes fighting all kinds of cancers. This month though, marks an increased awareness of one particular type. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in our country,* even though less than half the population has a prostate. It is estimated that one in six males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.** Taken a few other ways, that stat equates to three guys on my hockey team, three guys at my place of work, and four guys from a gathering I was at on Saturday.

Thus, the author is participating in Movember. An awareness event that originally began in Australia, that promotes knowledge, screening, and fundraising for prostate cancer. The challenge is to grow a moustache for the entire month, beginning clean shaven on November 1st. It is not a competition, but a campaign. The official “rules” suggest that one not grow a beard to adjoin said ‘satche. However, the author is aware – due to past experience pictured here (for those that can login to flickr) – that a moustache makes him look incredibly sleazy and may jeopardize his employment, relationships, and standing in the community. Thus, he has been bending the rules a bit and growing a small beard as well to lessen the sleaze – if only somewhat. He will shave this beard portion off though, leaving only the moustache at the end of the month. You can help decide for how many days he will go just moustache. For every $5 donated here he will increase the moustache only visage by one day, and bite the bullet to go to work, go out in public, and try to be an upstanding citizen while sporting a downright despicable form of facial hair. Example: $20.00 = moustache only from Nov. 26-Nov. 30. Want to force his hand – here you go: http://ca.movember.com/mospace/472979.

Now, I am well aware that many of you already make careful choices about cancer charities you support, and as you may know from previous postings, it is the Terry Fox Foundation which I often prioritize. I am not here to sway these sentiments. The money is not the primary purpose of this posting. The main objective is to increase awareness of a type of cancer that is defeated 95% of the time if caught early. As you may have heard, males, as a generalization, are not the best at pursuing personal health issues with a doctor, especially those in this particular region of the anatomy. Yet, in the case of prostate cancer, the only excuse is stubbornness – and that’s not good enough. If you are male you need to be aware. If you are a wife, girlfriend, partner, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, or friend you can be supportive of this awareness.

The mousatche/beard I’m sporting has already increased awareness in people I come into contact with. People at work, friends, and family have all inquired after the reason behind it. Thus, I must hand it to the people who came up with the idea – it works great. It certainly is a talking point, which is well suited, as so should prostate cancer. As you are out and about for the remainder of Movember, be sure to try and spot others sporting the ‘stache, give ‘em props, and don’t be afraid to talk it up – being aware is the biggest step.

*-Canadian Cancer Society Statistics- 2008 new cases and 2009 estimated new cases of cancer.
**-Prostate Cancer Canada website: http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Prostate-Cancer.aspx

Remembrance Day 2009

You are likely fortunate enough to have a holiday on Wednesday. If you are able, please take the opportunity to attend a Remembrance Day Ceremony near you. They often last no more than an hour. Here is a partial list of some of the ceremonies, but I know for a fact there are many more. Every municipality and city in Metro Vancouver has at least one, if not two cenotaphs, and each one will be hosting a ceremony. A simple Google search with your town’s name and “Remembrance Day 2009″ will likely result in information about your local service. If you are interested in joining me at one, please let me know.

Canada has given over 100,000 of its sons and daughters, including over 100 recently. Please attend.

Lest We Forget – N’ Oublions Pas

Positive

M

Originally uploaded by irober.

Vote Locally

You may very well be feeling oversatured by elections recently. However, the most pertinent election is today. The elected officials who have the say in the things that directly impact your life are decided upon today. You have the opportunity to have a say in those people who are in charge of your local taxes, schools, roads, recreation services, parks, housing, zoning, and host of other local issues. For information visit the Municipal Election website. They have links to all the municipalities. Check out a few sites, choose an issue or two, make a decision, and please vote.

90 Years of Remembrance

While there are innumerable emotions, there are not enough words to express the full meaning of today. It has been 90 years since November 11, 1918, and the end of the Great War. More eloquent writers than I can explain the role that the First World War had in shaping our nation during its formative years.

Today has us looking back, but also considering the present and our future. From more than 60,000 deaths from 1914-1918, to almost 100 in our recent efforts in Afghanistan, Canada has not shied away. It is hoped, that one day, because of those that have gone before, we won’t have to.

Please take some time today, or in the near future to pause.

Lest We Forget – N’ oublions jamais