Posted on July 8, 2017 under Storytelling with 4 comments

2007 Niagara Falls Marathon

 

Every generation produces special people; people who stretch boundaries and push the limits. They inspire us and amaze us with their raw talent and fierce determination. They are the ones who constantly strive for excellence, even when obstacles are thrown in their path.

Jeanie Cameron was one of these people.  Jeanie was born to run.

From an early age, Jeanie’s physical prowess was obvious.  She excelled at any sport she tried.  In Junior High, she was an accomplished javelin thrower.  At a track and field meet, she was asked by her coach, Bernie Bo Chisholm, to fill in for one of his runners.  She grudgingly agreed and went on to win the 1500 and was a member of the winning relay team.

Jeanie was also a top notch student, applying her steely determination to everything that life offered, including her studies.

In 1977 she competed in the Canada Games in Newfoundland.  Running against some of the best runners in the country, she failed to win. Two short weeks later at Junior Nationals in Montreal, she beat all of the elite runners in Canada to win the title.  Based on these results, she was asked to attend Senior Nationals that fall (as a junior) where she placed fifth, and became a member of the Senior National team.  She participated in the World Championships in Scotland in 1978.

From the late 70’s to the mid 80’s, Jeanie dominated women’s running in Atlantic Canada.  She was also a fixture at the Highland Games for many years.

Chisholm encouraged her to tackle longer distances. “To watch her run was a thing of beauty. She looked like she was floating through the air. When pushed, she had another gear that she could use to stave off her fellow competitors.”  She trained for her first half marathon in Ottawa.  Upon arrival, she decided that she had travelled a long distance to do just the half.  She registered for the marathon and won the women’s division.

Jeanie completed her undergraduate degree at St. F.X. U. and went on to Dalhousie University to pursue medicine. She continued to run, and at every event she entered her goal was to win; such was her competitive streak. Running became part of her daily routine as she began her medical career. She never took a break, and often ran while battling an assortment of injuries.  She expected from herself nothing less than 100% commitment.

She was a devoted mother and instilled in her boys her work ethic and dedication. She was also a mentor, inspiring many young girls in Antigonish and around the province to get involved in running.

Mother.  Healer.  Runner.  Loyal friend.  Jeanie gave it her all.

P.S. I bumped into Jeanie at the 2007 Niagara Falls Marathon. She won the women’s division.

 

 

Posted on July 6, 2017 under Storytelling with no comments yet

BOOK SALE

 

“ Ciad mille failte.”

Loosely translated , this means that Week45 is having a Highland Games Book Sale. You have family and friends coming home for the Games and you’re wracking your brain trying to figure out an appropriate souvenir for them when they head back home. Look no further. Wouldn’t they love to hear some humorous stories about everyday life… the life they left behind when they had the temerity to move to another part of the world?

Starting today and running through  Sunday, July 9^th, my three books will be selling for $10. each. Or really dazzle the clan by buying all three for $25.00, a 55% saving off the regular retail price. I will be at Columbus Field on Saturday and Sunday with my books. But if you simply can’t wait, track me down and I’ll hand over the goods.

And speaking of the Games, this year the Highland Society is dedicating the Games to the late Dr. Jeanie Cameron and Duffy MacDonald. I had the honor of writing the tribute to Jeanie and will publish the piece this Saturday on my website, Facebook etc.

The Street Fair is on today on the Main. It is a wonderful event with lots of music, food and merchandise. If you haven’t gone before, put this on your “ to do” list today. You won’t be disappointed.

Finally, the Antigonish Art Fair is on tomorrow evening at Chisholm Park. Yours truly will be the Master of ceremonies and we have a great lineup of performers at the gazebo. Check out our local artists and sample some awesome food. There’s a kid’s corners and a few surprises. It’s a great family affair.

“ One hundred thousand welcomes.”

Have a great weekend.

Posted on July 3, 2017 under Monday Morning Musings with 2 comments

Our finest ( Published with permission )

What do you get when you combine the creative talents of three extraordinary people?

Answer: A spectacle.

It was a Canada Day celebration for the ages. I feel reasonably safe in saying that this year’s Canada Day , our nation’s 150^th,  will long be remembered as one of the best, if not the best ever. Despite the dreary weather, the town of Antigonish looked terrific with storefronts proudly displaying our country’s flag and the streets adorned with flowers and banners. The pancake breakfast and children’s events were well attended and the fireworks didn’t disappoint. But the centrepiece of the day’s activities was the gathering at the Millennium Centre in the evening.

Volunteers were honored and dignitaries expounded upon the virtues and frailties of this wonderful nation. If there was a central theme to the evening it was acknowledgement of our First Nations people and the desire to try and right some of the wrongs that they have suffered over the centuries.

It was heartwarming to see so many of our new Syrian friends and neighbors in attendance. They seemed so joyous and happy to be a part of something very special.

But this was a night of extraordinary artistic excellence. It is always dangerous singling out people because it takes dozens if not hundreds of volunteers to pull off an event of this magnitude. But I don’t think anyone would disagree that the evening belonged to three individuals whose collective talents turned an event into an extravaganza.

Make no doubt about it. This was Andrew Murray’s brainchild. When we heard that “ Councillor Murray” was heading the Canada Day activities, we knew that we would be in for something that would be memorable.

He didn’t disappoint.

I had the honor of sitting beside Andrew’s father, Bob,  as members  of the community choir. Like many of Andrew’s previous artistic creations, this one just “ sprang from his head” according to Bob. Unless you were there, it would be hard to describe all of the color and creativity that Andrew brought to the fore. While the evening had its moments of sober thought and poignancy, it was mostly joyful and playful… like Andrew himself.  He was the Master of Ceremonies . Most M/C’s stick closely to a script. Andrew writes his in real time which is pure entertainment in itself.

Sally Clarke has been a driving force for creative dance in our community for decades. Her dancers put on an amazing performance that kept the audience spellbound. They performed a dance routine to the strains of Bobby Gimby’s “ Canada” song which was all the rage on Canada’s 100^th birthday in 1967. The presentation was colorful and brilliant. Sally herself was one of the dancers. She still carries a youthful mien and was not out of place with children who were significantly younger than she!

I had never met Ryan Billington until I joined ( co-opted by my better half and Andrew! ) the community choir. The group had several rehearsals leading up to the performance. It didn’t take long to realize that he was extremely talented and had the respect of the 50+ members of the entourage. He has a deft touch and has an uncanny ability to get the best out of a group with an even handedness that is admirable. Even when the choir made mistakes ( and there were plenty along the way ), he would correct us in a way that was never insulting. He inspired us to take pride in what we were doing and I think the choir put on a good show when it counted most.

A genius is described as someone who is exceptionally intelligent or creative. I don’t think one would get much of an argument to suggest that ,what we witnessed Saturday evening at the Keating Millenium Centre , was the work of three geniuses. They are part of the rich fabric which makes Antigonish a place that we are proud to call home.

Have a great week.

P.S. For you music lovers, check out this wind ensemble’s performance of ” The Maple Leaf Forever.”