CJ Says

You know…I’m a bit of a skeptic when it comes to water matters but I’m hearing terrible news from organizations and credible individuals that it’s time folk like me get on board and be a part of the solution rather than the problem. When I turn on my tap good clean potable water comes out. Similarly, when I flush my toilet and water my plants water takes care of it. I live in a beautiful community with a lake, streams, rivers and ponds that are abundant. So, what the hell is the problem????

The World Health Organization regularly monitors water matters in 27 countries. Canada has the dubious distinction of being near the top of highest water consumers in the world. We are consistently in the top 3 water users (abusers?) in the world. The Canadian per capita average is 330 liters per day. In the South Okanagan (yes in Osoyoos) our average is a staggering 675 liters per day…more than double the Canadian average.  Canadians use 9 times (20 times if you live in Osoyoos) the water than a UK resident

Some facts to ponder:

1. 50% of household water is used outdoors with 50% of that wasted by evaporation and runoff from over watering.  Grass is one of the highest users of water and produces the most amount of runoff.
2. An older washing machine will use 155 liter per load. High efficiency washers use over 30% less water.
3. Showering for 5 minutes uses approximately 40 to 94 liters. A bath will use 265 liters.
4. It is estimated that an average household wastes 41600 liters annually by not repairing leaky pipes. That’s enough water to fill a swimming pool. Toilets and faucets are the culprits.
5. In North America the State of Virginia is the only region that has not reported a drought condition.
6. A pound of beef requires 6810 liters of water to produce. A gallon of milk requires 3331 liters to produce, a gallon of wine takes 3816 liters to make, a gallon of beer takes 2608 to make, a cotton t-shirt requires 2700 liters (my 2x’s take 3200 liters) to produce, and so on.
7. Less than 1% of all water is available for use by the world’s 7 billion inhabitants.
8. There is a mind-boggling amount of information and facts available  and regrettably most are bad news.

Every New Years we make resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, and exercise more etc. Those resolutions are pretty much “in the toilet” so to speak by, well…New Years Day evening. We try hard but it’s clearly not a way to accomplish personal goals. Let’s try (you and me) to make a few resolutions (the ones were going to keep) about water. Following is a few (another 10 list) I think I can do….

1. Choose outdoor landscaping plants native to our area. Native plants and grasses thrive on water in our area so they will probably do well in our yards. Investigate xeriscaping opportunities and switch to drip type irrigation.
2. Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators.
3. Install ultra-low volume toilets with dual flush options.
4. Fix leaky faucets and pipes.
5. Run your dishwasher and wash machines only when full. When it’s time to replace them purchase water and energy efficient models.
6. Eat a little less meat especially beef. A typical hamburger can take 2385 liters of water to produce.
7. Buy less stuff particularly goods with excessive packaging. Everything takes water to produce. You will improve your water footprint by purchasing less.
8. Recycle till it hurts. Purchase goods that allow you to reuse the packaging.
9. Turn-off the tap when you are brushing your teeth and washing the dishes. Duh!!!
10. Know and understand the source (I know but I’m not telling) of your water. Once you know I guarantee that you’ll care. You’ll just not want to waste our water.

I know, it sounds kind of corny trying to motivate you to get onboard with good water use practices but it’s an important aspect of our life. I remember attending a seminar in Kelowna that focused on water conservation. One of the attendees who sat close to me was a native Indian and at every opportunity she vocalized about water being the source of all life.  At the time I admit to a little annoyance when she interrupted. But, as time has passed, her words became more sensible and meaningful.  How I wish that I would have taken the time to seek her wisdom. Ahhh, isn’t reflection beautiful.

Water is an essential resource to sustain life. Many communities are making water conservation a priority and you as an individual can do your part by learning how to conserve and protect water in our little part of the world.

This is a great visual of our water usage in the Okanagan.  Okanagan Water Use (click on this, not the picture). We are rapidly moving into the time of year where our water usage will increase exponentially with our outside temperature. I am not an expert…nor do I know that much about water conservation but I’m learning real fast. It has been brought to my attention, by folks that seem to know what they are talking about, that our water situation is perilous. I’ve been hearing some real bad news about snow-pack levels. What the heck are snow-pack levels you say?? Well I’ll never confess to knowing much of anything until I can qualify it with some facts but I really don’t have any at this time except that snow-pack level stats are easily obtainable with a simple Google search. When you have large numbers…water supply is good, small numbers…equals bad. Most of our water comes from snow-packs and we are in the midst of another low snow-pack year which will contribute to our long-term drought conditions.

It’s time for us to get serious and pay attention to water conservation.

How ridiculous it would be to make a profound statement, like the one on the previous line, without offering some opportunities for improvement. So here goes:

1. Install aerators on every faucet. You will save 4 litres an hour.

2. Wash only full loads in your washer and dishwasher.

3. Turn-off the faucet when brushing your teeth, lathering your hands or, shaving (better still buy an electric shaver)

4. Install ultra-low flush toilets in your house.

5. Place a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the cold water tap.

6. Plant drought-tolerant plants and avoid planting lawns. Experiment with Xeriscaping.

7. Never water between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm

8. Become informed about water conservation and practice what you learn.

9. Support water conservation groups and water re-cycling programs in our community.

10. Write community officials and report on the missuses or disregard of water conservation matters.

When it comes right down to it we all need to understand that we have many challenges in front of us and water conservation is rapidly becoming a top priority. Water conservation is an essential component of a sustainable way of life in our community. I feel that number 8 (from above) is the most valuable tool we have. When we understand that some basic and very simple changes in our lives can have a huge positive impact on our future then we will become a more sustainable community….

The Town of Osoyoos has a draft water conservation plan available. It outlines many of the solutions for our community. It is available at Town Hall or your can look at it on the Town website. I found it to be interesting reading. It’s not to late….you can make a difference (this is a feeble attempt to motivate you to care, I hope it works).

Following are a few links to websites:

www.obwb.ca –Okanagan Basin Water Board

www.osoyoos.ca –Town of Osoyoos (you’ll need to search a little but it’s there)

www.env.gov.bc.ca –BC Government. Ministry of Environment.  Water Stewardship Division

www.waterbucket.ca –Some intense but informative reading that is somewhat regional.

There’s a poll to the right of this post. Please offer a vote (and be honest eh!!)

Thanks to Stu Wells and the Okanagan Basin Water Board (www.obwb.ca) for the graphic.

Rattus Norvegius (no… I haven’t gone insane) is a common rat sometimes known as the Norway or Brown rat. It can swim a ½ mile out to sea, tread water for three days, dive over a 100’ underwater and, hold its breath for 15 minutes. Damn, I’ll bet you never knew that. I sure didn’t. Rats almost destroyed mankind by spreading the Plague back in the day and they scare the hell outta me. Ever seen Ben or Willard (the movies)? Hoards of vicious rats randomly ripping people apart. “Yuck”. Anyway, I think you get my point. They are not very nice animals but some folks like them.

What I’m really interested in is what you would do if you discovered, on a sunny spring morning, 2647 rats swimming in our lake. More on this later.

The Canada Goose is a majestic bird. An awesome flying creature. We all have seen the film of the geese flying alongside the ultralite plane. Wings a flapping. Graceful. Steadfast in their determination to keep up with the pilot, who, if I remember correctly, is their daddy (or mommy) because he was the first thing they saw after birth. I’m not convinced about how a goose can tell the difference but what do I know. Canada goose is the actual name of the bird and, in most people minds, a reference to where the bird is from. It is a good conclusion but, in fact the Canada goose is found all over the world. It’s not our national bird as most think (actually it’s the Common Loon in case you were wondering). The one component of the ultralite film that is missing is what is happening at the rear of the goose. An average goose produces  3 pounds of feces (from now on referred to as poop) a day. Goose poop is particularly nasty stuff. It’s even a few steps up the nasty scale from dog poop. You step in it and you know it right away. Geese are indiscriminate creatures. They poop everywhere, anywhere they want and, whenever they feel the urge. Flying, swimming or, waddling, it doesn’t matter. They are incredibly adept at pooping with unbelievable accuracy when flying. Moving cars, speeding buses and mothers walking strollers are no challenge. “Splat”, first time every time and never a near miss. They are also, apparently, very good at making heroes out of airline pilots who fly over the Hudson River in New York.

On January 2, 2010 a bird count took place in our area and it was determined that there are 2647 geese pooping with proliferation on our streets, on our sidewalks, on our trails, in our lake, on our cars,  our rooftops and, if you dare to look up, our foreheads. Let’s just simplify it and say they are pooping everywhere. Why is this important? Well, I’m going to use a highly complicated mathematical equation to help us understand the complexity of this matter. Here goes…. try to follow my logic: 2647 X 3 = 7941.

I need to take a break and say a few things before going further. I apologize for references to pounds. I know, we live with the metric system but 7941 pounds sounds more impressive than 3602 kilograms. Also, I am a humane person who loves animals and I’ve never (that I can remember) mistreated an animal. I am a carnivore and I appreciate how and why cows, chickens and, fish end up on our dinner table.

My point is… we have a serious problem in our community (a quick Google search will tell you that this is a problem all over the world) with not many solutions. Back to the rats. If you were walking on our beach with your kids, your mom and dad or, friends and came upon a hoard of 2647 rats indiscriminately broadcasting 7941 pounds of rat poop everywhere (what an image that congers up) you would immediately go into panic mode and do something about it. Within a short period of time it would be headlines on CNN and our neighbors to the south would be dispatching a fleet of Blackhawks to take care of the problem. Afghanistan, Iraq, nuclear proliferation in Iran, and wacky leaders in North Korea would become secondary news. Poop is poop, What’s the difference between rat poop and goose poop??? It’s our (actually it’s your problem) problem and we need to do something. In our community we spend zillions of dollars safely treating human waste. Do the residents of Osoyoos make 7941 pounds a day? What an interesting question.

PLEASE HELP!!! OFFER YOUR IDEAS AND OPINIONS. PERHAPS SOMEONE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE ANSWER.

Often when I get involved with blogging I get so involved in expressing my ideas and opinions about “things” Osoyoos that I forget how beautiful this small part of the world really is. So… I’m gonna take a break from grandstanding (my big word of the week) and offer up some photos that I’ve come across. Most are extraordinary and require no explanation, none were taken by me and I don’t know who did and, I hope you enjoy them.

I MOVED THE PICTURES OVER TO THE OSOYOOS PICS PAGE.

This blog is a little respite from my rantings about plastic bags, our landfill, shopping locally, composting, water conservation, lake water levels, and those, damn frustrating, Oilers. Well there you go…I’m doing it again. Soon I’ll be back and hopefully antagonizing you and others with my ideas and opinions. Hopefully I can energize you enough to offer yours.

Well…another Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is here. Lisa and I had a good (not great but… good) Christmas and New Year. For the past several years we have travelled during the weeks surrounding Christmas so this year was spent at home with our youngest son and it was kind of nice to do it that way. I’m sure he appreciated it as we’ve basically abandoned him for several years.

Twenty Ten is upon us and if you’re anything like me you’re wondering what it has in store for us. This time of year makes me wish I had a crystal ball so that I could predict a few things and make life better for everyone. But, I can’t seem to find one anywhere so if you have one, could I borrow it for a while. I promise to return it in a timely manner.  Lacking the magical ball will likely force me into doing things the traditional way by hoping for peace, love, happiness, good health for everyone, prosperity in all aspects of life and, of course, working hard to keep the wolf away from the door.

As you are probably aware, the level of our lake appears to be drastically low. I worry a lot about our water in general (yup..we live in a desert so all of us need to worry and practice water conservation every day) so seeing several meters of beach front that used to be lake water has kicked me into high level  of worry. Lisa often tries to advise me about worrying and its negative effects on the quality of life but we can’t ignore this one. I have chosen to spend several weeks worrying without even doing a minute’s research or asking any questions. Just worry and that’s it. So, alas, and much to my chagrin it’s not that bad. As it turns out there is some sound logic to keeping the levels low during the winter. It helps deter ice damage to lakefront infrastructures like docks, irrigation intakes etc. It allows our lake to accept more spring run-off water without the threat of flooding. This logic and common sense was, obviously thought-up by much smarter folks than me.

Our lake levels are monitored by the US Government. There is a monitoring station midway between the border and the Oroville town site. They post a plethora of information about our lake and its levels over several decades. Surprisingly, the lake level is well above the minimum standard set by the US / Canada agreement. The lowest level recorded was in 2004 (I must have been asleep that year otherwise I could have worried then too). The highest level was recorded in 1969 (who can remember the 60’s anyway). I would like to thank our mayor (Stu Wells) for providing the link to the US Gov. Website and for the opportunity not to worry about this anymore (but I still do) and now I can move onto other matters to worry about.

This is the link to the website. http://wa.water.usgs.gov/realtime/htmls/okanogan.html Have a look…it is very interesting.

I hope you have the best Christmas ever and that your New Year is filled with happiness, good heath, and prosperity.

I, like most people, spend a lot of time at this time of year reflecting on things that happened during the past year and wondering what’s in store for us in the next year. I suppose it would be interesting to know what’s going to happen but when you really think about it, life would be damn boring to know what’s going to happen. An important and exciting part of what happens to us is the unpredictability of the future. Wonder, hope and, excitement, wouldn’t be necessary if we already knew.

So….I’m going to make another list (yup, another one) of “things” I’d like to see happen in our lives in twenty ten:

ONE—Cloth bags

I would like to see a substantial reduction in the distribution of one-time-use plastic bags and using re-usable cloth bags is an important component of reducing plastic bag use. Carbon based one time use plastic bags contribute to greenhouse gases, clog our landfills, litter our streets, pollute our lake, and kill wildlife.

TWO—Composting

Our landfill has a definitive life. It is unlikely that we will ever have another landfill due to a lack of land and money. I hope that each resident in Osoyoos understands that it is their responsibility to reduce landfill waste and 2010 is a good year to introduce composting into our lives. Composting is an effective method of reducing landfill waste and produces a wonderful product that can be used for a wide variety of soil enhancements.

THREE—Re-cycling

In addition to composting, recycling is a proven landfill waste reduction tool. Most of us are well educated in recycling techniques and with the Town of Osoyoos offering curbside pickup of recyclable material we are doing a lot. But, we must continue to develop more and better ways of recycling and ensure that we (all of us) continue to do our part.

FOUR—Northwest Sewer Project

This project is on the cusp of becoming a reality and I (truly) hope that the bureaucratic process does not get in the way of it progressing. The removal of the 122 properties from septic is an incredible advancement towards making our lake healthier. Osoyoos Lake is our most important resource and defines what Osoyoos  is. Try to imagine Osoyoos without a lake. It’s a scary thought.

FIVE—Sign Control

For decades Osoyoos businesses and residents have displayed signs that have changed the aesthetic value of our community. Simply put…we have way too many butt-ugly signs that are just wrong. You’ve seen them. Some have spelling errors; advertise businesses that closed years ago; are falling off buildings; abandoned by the owners and so on. Our long past due sign by-laws that (hopefully) will become a reality in the new year are fair, reasonable and, designed to enhance the over-all appearance of our community.

SIX—Olympics

I hope that the financial impact of the Olympics does not cripple our Province but….. I’m real worried that we will pay for this event for many decades and that it will stifle development of other opportunities in our province. 2010 will be the year of financial accountability for the Olympics so I’ll try to remain positive until the info is made public.

SEVEN—Waterfront Master Plan

What a great project for our town. It will change the face of Osoyoos. But, like most projects of this size…it’s all about the money. We have the ability now I hope we can fund it.

EIGHT—Shop Local

$16 Million spent in other communities. If we could reduce that by 1/3 Osoyoos would be transformed into a community that is vibrant economically all year round. Please see my previous Post….enough said.

I have hundreds of other wishes but decided to stop at eight because, quite frankly. I getting tired of top 10 lists.

I’d feel real good if you would post-back to me your wishes, ideas, opinions and hopes for 2010. I don’t make any promises but the biggest and best projects start with folks like you.

Sure we do…we all do it.  We all shop local but do we really do it enough? Destination Osoyoos has estimated that we as residents spend over 32 million (yup dollars) buying the things we need in life. The bad news is that we spend over half of that out of our town (16 million). I’m a strong proponent of shopping locally. I (just) believe it’s the right thing to do but I admit to occasionally slipping “across the line”, hopping up to Penticton and even travelling to Kelowna, although rarely, to satisfy my needs as a consumer. I have no memory of ever shopping at these locations without running into a neighbor or friend and every time I am racked with guilt. So, lately I’ve been tried hard not to do it. It is important to note that I will always choose the wrong lineup at the border, select the only grocery cart from thousands that has that annoying squeaky wheel and, when I attempt to hide from friends and neighbors in stores so I don’t get caught, something always happens to draw attention to my feeble attempts to disguise what I’m doing. Anyway, I would like to offer the following 10 (everywhere you look there are lists of 10 this time of year) reasons to shop local:

1. PROTECT LOCAL CHARACTER AND PROSPERITY

We are unlike any town in the world. We live here because we love it. By choosing to support locally owned businesses, you help maintain diversity and distinctive flavor.

2. COMMUNITY WELL-BEING

Locally owned businesses build strong relations by sustaining communities, linking neighbors, and by contributing more to local activities.

3. LOCAL DECISION MAKING

Local ownership means that important decisions are made by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.

4. KEEPING DOLLARS IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY

Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact on your community as dollars spent at national chains. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more town activities through tax, invest in improvements to our town and promote community development.

5. JOBS AND WAGES

Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some cases, provide better wages and benefits than chains do.

6. ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurship fuels our economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into a better standard of living.

7. PUBLIC BENEFITS AND COSTS

Local stores in town centres require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services relative to big-box stores, and strip shopping malls.

8. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centres which, in turn, are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.

9. COMPETITION

A marketplace of tens of thousands of small business is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long haul.

10.PRODUCT DIVERSITY

A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

My favorites of the above are 3 and 8. When you are involved locally it’s human nature to care more and make smarter decisions that benefit “things” in our lives. Yah I know, I’m sounding a little philosophic but please don’t be too hasty and rip-apart my ideals. I think (as I’ve stated many times) we live in a precious community and we can make it even better by shopping locally.

Many of you think that shopping locally is about greed by self-serving business tycoons but really it’s not. We all have friends or neighbors that are unemployed or laid-off recently because their employer cannot afford to keep them. Believe me, if you increased your local spending by even 20% (that’s 6 million dollars collectively) most of those unfortunate people would be employed. That not greed it’s well thought-out common sense.

I’ve heard all the excuses, Osoyoos stores are too expensive, we don’t have this store or that restaurant that I like, the selection is too small or I can’t get my size….blah, blah, blah. If you are one of those excuse makers try this line of reasoning: It’s your fault not the merchants. As a consumer it is your privilege to talk to merchants and let them know what’s causing you to drive hundreds of kilometers (please re-read point eight)  to get what you want. Take the initiative and talk to our merchants and let them know what it takes to get you to shop local. If you feel prices are too high, the selection is poor, not open enough hours etc. etc. let them know. Merchants who don’t listen to their customers do not deserve to be in business. By doing so you are making a strong statement that you care and you want to be a part of making Osoyoos a better place.

““The main thing was to keep going. You sat huddled in the landing craft as massive shells from British warships thundered overhead. No one was saying much. Finally, on command, you ran down the ramp into the water and slugged up onto the beach with machine-gun fire all around and you saw men getting hit and falling and yelling. You ran past the bodies. Now you heard mortars whining in from the six-barreled maw of a Moaning Minny–one of those terribly accurate German machines. It was an awful feeling. There  was heavy fire from 88-mm German anti-tank guns up in the hills. The lieutenant “got it” and the sarge took over. He waved you on. You got your eyes on a ridge several hundred yards off the beach and pounded forward until you got the hell up behind it.”

Words on paper…yup, a scene from a Hollywood movie…could be, an exert from a novel…might be. We’ve all heard different variations of this story, perhaps from an uncle or a grandpa. We all listen carefully to the words. Sometimes we show empathy, sometimes we show sympathy. We believe some of it but mostly we just carry on with our lives and don’t pay much attention to it. The person that spoke these words is alive and well. He’s old (86), lives close by (North Vancouver), is modest, not a braggart and, I suppose, feeling lucky that he’s here to tell the story.

I don’t know Frank Zantolas but he is so typical of the veterans that are often overlooked by us. Frank authored my opening words based on his experience on June 6,1944 (D-Day). He was (is)  with the 3rd Canadian Infantry that landed on Juno Beach on that very infamous day. Canadian troops suffered 1074 casualties with 359 dead on that beach, in a faraway country, along from home. He, in my opinion, suffered the ultimate horror. Not the kind of horror you see in the movies, the kind you experience in real life. War is hell and Frank is probably living it every day of his life. 45300 Canadians lost their lives in WWII. Countless more in previous wars and way to many since. I’ll place Las Vegas odds that not one of them wanted to die and probably died way to young. Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles you name it they all gave their lives. He, along with every veteran who has ever put on a Canadian uniform, is/are the reason we are free and live in a free country. I don’t even know him but he’s my hero and I’ll NEVER FORGET him. We owe him.

On October 23,2009 I had the privilege of declaring November 5 to 11 as Remembrance Week in Osoyoos. Normally this is a function of the mayor but he was away on vacation and as acting mayor I got to step in. For me it was a proud moment because it brings attention to the many veterans in our community and to their sacrifice. What they did is the reason why we live in a free society. November 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada and it’s important for you to remember the people who did what they did in the name of freedom. You own them that much. Do it this year  because they are an aging group and, quite simply, you may not have many more opportunities. Show that you care by attending the Osoyoos legion Remembrance Day service at the Sonora Centre (this is a change from previous years). The doors open at 10:00 am with the service starting at 10:50 am. And….if for some ridiculous reason you can’t find a poppy to wear call the legion @ 250-495-7447. Someone that cares about you will help you out.

Just to let you know…..The Town of Osoyoos has taken a huge step in keeping you informed. Last year when I was campaigning for Town Council one of the most talked about subjects was how difficult it was to get information about the Town of Osoyoos particularly council business. I couldn’t agree more but now that has changed.

By visiting the Town website and signing up for eNews you can receive (via email) Council agendas, Community notices, Press releases, Planned water outages/restriction notices, boil water notices and, garbage and recycling updates. This is a huge step forward in our commitment to provide information to residents.

I’ve signed up…..it’s free, takes no time at all (just your name and email address is required), safe, secure and, the Town will not share your information with anyone. This service is now in use and the response has been great (over 100 residents on the first day).

This is the link to the Town of Osoyoos Website eNews sign-up page: click here  http://www.osoyoos.ca/siteengine/ActivePage.asp?PageID=175

I‘ve been (and still am) a lifelong hockey fan. Such fond memories of the original six, then expansion, then more expansion, good players, bad players, controversy, good refs and a few bad ones, bad coaches and a few good ones, attitudes….I’ve been there for it all and there is nothing that has shaken my interest. To me hockey is the sport that God created but took 19 hundred years to perfect before unleashing it on unsuspecting Canadians. Not only is it our national sport (yeah, I know about the lacrosse thing, but really what is lacrosse and who plays it anyway) it’s a sport that we are damn good at and it gives our young something to focus on while we’re freezing our as…. off for 10 months of the year.

Hockey today is an art. We are able to see teams that are as close to perfection as any in any sport, except maybe for Soccer (or football or whatever it’s called). Please, don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge soccer/football fan as well but, hockey rules in my little mind. When you look back over the years we’ve been entertained by hockey and who can forget the Montreal / Toronto rivalries of the past. How about International hockey when Paul Henderson scored “that goal” and everyone in Canada cheered. The only Canadians who didn’t were not yet born and that’s a weak excuse. Hockey has defined our way of life and earned us a huge amount of respect in this world. Stan, Gordie, Bobby, Guy, Frank and yes even that Wayne guy have mentored our kids and provided inspiration and hope to many.

Why is this guy ranting on about hockey? Because, I have a confession to make and I’ve been trying to get it off my chest for over ten years and now is the time. I’ve spend many nights holding it back. I’ve planned various strategy’s. I’ve told a few close friends as a test run but since then I’ve been shunned and ridiculed and spent many a lonely night, in the dark, watching hockey by myself. I can’t stand it any more and I’m coming out of the closet: “I’M AN EDMONTON OILER FAN” and proud of it. It’s in my DNA and it ain’t going anywhere. Normally this wouldn’t draw much attention but Osoyoos, in fact most of B.C., is a hotbed of Vancouver Canucks fans. Canuck fans are dedicated and loyal, fierce and independent and, clearly, not a group to fuss with especially if you’re and Oiler fan. Now I think you get my point but I’m out and I’m ready.

Pause for a minute and let me explain what it’s like being an Oiler fan in Osoyoos. The Carolina Hurricanes play in a faraway land. Most of us, if we had a choice between finding Carolina on a map and death would probably choose death. The Oilers and Carolina played to the 7th game in Stanley’s cup final a few years ago (05/06). Big deal eh? Well I was euphoric. Ryan Smith and his team of misfits were doing something that was monumental (and darn lucky too) and I was enjoying every minute of it partying on the deck and cheering my head off (how’s that for a weird thing). But, I was alone and lonely save Lisa my loyal and dedicated supporter and my dog Jake who seemed to really care. I set out on mission to find a friend and low and behold I found Gilles who was from France but swore up and down that he was an Oiler fan and who was I to disbelieve him. I invited him over and he came. Finally, a com padre, an ally, a friend and fellow supporter. As it turned out he was a great fan of the Oilers and of hockey in general and he knew a lot about the team and it’s history. I just thought you’d like to hear about how hard it is to be an Oiler fan in Osoyoos. There’s not many of us.

Admittedly, I’m not a Canucks fan or a fan of any other team (except Edmonton) for that matter but I genuinely respect every team for what they are and what they do on the ice. Hockey has changed for the better. The players are huge and tough. They skate better, pass better, shoot better and fight better. The goaltenders are unbelievable. The challenges they face night after night are immense and most are committed to the sport. I do have a problem with the incredibly high salaries paid to players because it makes it impossible for smucks like me to attend games but what the hell, there’s always TV.

So anyway, is there a point to all this? Well not really….it’s that time of year and I really do love hockey and the Oilers and the Canucks and every other team and, all the players who are playing and have played, indoors or outside, the important games and the not so important ones, the playoffs and the sometimes humdrum regular season. To me it’s all good, always has been and, hopefully always will be.