Finding Niche-land

Two years ago I chose to enrol in one of the most respected programs that Winnipeg has to offer. And as of last evening, I hold in my hand a hard-fought piece of paper that officially declares my achievement in Red River College's Creative Communications program. In the past month I've seen several online comments from my classmates about our impending graduation. We've worked tremendously hard. It's a bittersweet time, but for many of us a new reality begins and we are faced with one of the biggest questions in our lives. Where do we want to work?

I, and as I learned of many of my classmates, have a wide range of interests. We may not yet feel that the world is our oyster–more like freshly-hatched newborn turtles scrambling to the safety of the ocean–but we must never forget that we've been taught well, and with a little self-reflection we will find an area of interest where we will excel. In CreComm, I chose from a course list that reflected my own interests and what I felt would provide the most value to my future employer. I chose Public Relations as my major, but on top of the required courses such as Journalism, Advertising, Media Production, and Oral Presentation, I chose:

*electronic desktop publishing

*image editing

*advanced website design

*non-profit communications

*freelance business management

*television documentary production

*photography

*and to top it off, a 200-page sci-fantasy novel

So how well will my course decisions deliver work to me overall? It ultimately depends on where I focus my energy and how I pursue my plan for employment.

My strongest interests are in food and music. Before I entered CreComm, I came very close to entering RRC's Culinary Arts program such is my love for food. I am always cruising the web looking for new ways to prepare food, and I am not afraid to try something different in the kitchen. I've learned to play a wide variety of stringed instruments and I even took cello instruction for three years before I entered college. I am eager to spend more time doing these things I love, and my plan is to focus my career efforts in one of these areas. In the coming weeks I will be visiting companies and organizations that fall into my sphere of interest. It's an exciting time for me and for those I will approach; I have a lot to offer.

My official RRC transcript arrived in the mail a short while ago. Seeing how well I had performed validated my efforts and performance in a program that, at times, can foster a love-hate relationship. But always when the dust settled, the former emotion held true. I look forward to finding the right employer for me. I've worked for many years in other jobs, but the past two years in college have re-molded me for something more purposeful. The same is for all of 2011's graduating class of which I am a part of. Our talents will find the niche for what suits us best.

My Bicycle Life

It's easy to take for granted how much of an influence the wheel has had on modern civilization–it's only been around for over 6,000 years. But apart from all of the utilitarian uses that man has found for its simple, but revolutionary design, there is one recreational invention that has incorporated the wheel most admirably: the bicycle. Bicycling is also my most favorite recreational activity, and it's one that I've had a long association with.

Like any child, I was introduced to self-propelled transportation at an early age by way of a tricycle. Seen above, it's name is, Thistle–and yes, that's a red bunny rabbit painted on the seat. I still find it hard to believe that a toy that I once used to race around the house with, day after day from morning 'til night, now does not reach past my knees. It's hard, rubber tires left black streaks across the floor from "burn-outs" (before I even knew what the term meant) as I accelerated to breakneck speeds down the hallway from room to room with my three-wheeled companion. Had I seen, The Wild One, I likely would have fastened a trophy to my handlebars in honour of Marlon Brando such was the way that I rode my trike.

If you are fortunate, the size of your bicycle will graduate along with you as you age. I can recall no less than four bicycles that I rode from adolescence to my teens. I rode a BSA, a few CCM's, and a 12-speed Supercycle from Canadian Tire. Up until I chose the 12-speed, all were carefully considered for their "ramping" capability. The local bicycle dealer and repairman was my mom's cousin so he was always very helpful in choosing the right bike for me and making the necessary repairs and tune-ups that I needed. I have always had an interest for bicycles, and I quickly learned how to take care of my own equipment early on: chain repairs, flats, shifter adjustments, and all the necessary bolt-tightening I learned how to do myself. Once I was in my twenties, I built bicycles from the frame up to save money and to apply the knowledge I already had. I still ride the three bikes that I rebuilt years ago, and they are just as loyal and reliable as the day they were built.

My Cannondale Killer V900 has had several upgrades over the years and it's light, aluminum frame was a popular choice with riders before aluminum frames hit the mainstream. This is my favourite trail bike and it's seen trails all around Winnipeg, Grand Beach, Riding Mountain, Birds Hill, Hecla, the Epinette Creek trail, and many more. I've since retired my Bonelli Nakiska to the basement for the most part and attached it to a trainer. On rainy days and in the winter, this is the best way I've found to stay in shape and still enjoy one of my favorite past-times. This bike has also seen lot of trail-riding and many kilometres up and down Wellington Crescent to Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg–a trip best made on a Sunday when the road is closed to vehicular traffic.

My most recent acquisition I rescued from a storage shed out at my family's farm in Saskatchewan. I don't know for sure the year it was made, but I would guess it's around 40 years old. It's steel rims, frame, and fenders (well, it was all made from steel back then) make it heavy to ride and there are no quick take-offs. One gear is all you get, but this CCM tracks smooth and is a joy to ride. I've lost count how many heads turn when I pop onto this bike for a quick ride to the grocery store to grab a grocery item or two. Only in the past few years has chrome made a come-back on what retailers are selling as "classic bikes". I have to admit my bike is far from original though. The frame used to be painted gold, but rust had taken hold in many areas and it seriously needed a facelift. Now, my antique "blackie" catches the eyes of many passers-by when they see this bike coming down the road. The seat is real comfy too – hard to find these days.

It's hard to know exactly what the future may hold for the bicycle. It's had such a wide and rich history up to this point. There's some pretty radical designs and ideas out there, but even in our technologically advanced age I don't see the bicycle disappearing any time soon. A few years ago, I can recall a radio documentary piece about bicycles that argued that for its size, weight, speed, and efficiency, the bicycle is possibly the most environmentally sound form of transportation ever constructed.

One thing is for sure; it's a lot of fun and beats walking.

And now, the end is near...

For the past three weeks, I’ve had the good fortune of interning at a branding agency in Winnipeg called, Blacksheep Strategy. I first heard of Blacksheep through my wife. Her coworker has a close friend who works at the agency, and to her, it sounded like a very good environment for me to share in. Once I did a little research into Blacksheep, I had to agree, and my advisor, Kenton Larsen, arranged the placement for me.

Blacksheep Strategy works in an interesting environment. A separate asset within these walls is the agency, Coupland Jeffrey. Coupland Jeffrey, “is the only national advertising agency in Canada focused exclusively on agriculture.” The two principals, Derrick Coupland and Russell Jeffrey, run a very friendly environment for their employees to work in. They’ve found a great group of people to meet their stated goal of helping their clients, "solve their branding problems." I've really enjoyed my time with them, and I hope I made a helpful contribution in Blacksheep's day-to-day activities. I've assisted in projects with large companies such as Monsanto, DEKALB, and Viterra. I was fascinated with what I learned in the research about these companies and how they represent their products. Their similar mission of increasing the quality and quantity of the world's food supply is admirable, and the science that is involved in much of this is simply amazing.

Today marks the end of my internship with the people at Blacksheep, but it also represents the final checkmark to my college curriculum. It’s hard to believe that two years have come and gone and that in a few weeks I will hold my college diploma in my hands. It has been tough going at times, but with the support of the people around me – family, friends, and peers – I was able to meet my academic and personal goals.

I am excited for what my future will bring and the people in my life with which I will share it.

Pair Vote for a Fair Vote?

A certain Canadian political party decided about eight years ago to drop the word "progressive" from its party name. In my opinion, a group of voters is now claiming the word for themselves, at least figuratively.

Pair Vote has a radical philosophy: make your vote count. The group is unapologetic in its stated first objective that it does not want Stephen Harper to obtain a majority government:

"Prevent a false majority by the Conservatives by swapping non-Conservative votes in swing ridings where Conservative party may win – this party is the least motivated to reform anything, and the only majority threat."

So how does Pair Vote hope to make a difference? Its creator's idea is simple, but it requires a leap of faith; if I vote for your political party in my riding, you must vote for my choice in yours.

The agreement has the ability to elect MP's who have historically had a large proportion of the vote, but no representation in the House of Commons. The demarcation lines of voter ridings (which seem to be redrawn at will by the ruling party) will begin to mean a whole lot less, and predictability will go out the proverbial window. It's a good first step toward proportional representation which has been the goal of many disaffected voters for years.

What Stephen Harper has said from the outset about this latest trip to the polls is likely true for many Canadians, "This is an election that no one wants." Given that Canadians haven't had a majority government since 2004, what exactly might this pattern represent?

There is always the tried and true answer of, not enough Canadians motivated to vote. This can manifest in several ways: the disaffected voter, the uninterested voter, uninspired politicians, or election timing, to name a few. With an inspired system such as Pair Vote and others that offer a choice for many who feel their individual vote won't change anything, Canadians are being asked to reassess the ways their vote can make a difference.

I am excited to see where this idea will go in the years to come.

The Limits of Time and Space

I am Canadian. No, I am not revisiting a popular slogan for a brand of beer, but many common things come to mind when my country is referenced.

A small sampling:

-friendly people

-free health care

-abundant fresh water

-hockey

-snow

-lots of open spaces

Unless you are a total urbanite, you're likely aware of the amount of elbow room many Candians have in comparison to other parts of the world. If you were born on the Prairies like myself, it's easy to take for granted how much space we have to live. I haven't been outside of my country much at all – a few trips to the U.S. , a honeymoon in Cuba – so I am amazed to see how people adapt to their surroundings in less-developed parts of the world compared to my own.

It was much to my amazement then when I came across this video from a Bangkok, Thailand food market. I couldn't have thought of a better title to introduce it.

The next time I feel claustrophobic in the grocery aisle, I'll have to remember how easy it is for me to buy "my daily bread" without the threat of being dismembered.

Fini.

That day has come. My final class in Creative Communications ended yesterday at 4 p.m. Two years have come and gone in what at times has felt like a blink of an eye, but in the next moment felt like an anchor that threatened to pull me under. Red River College as an anchor had a second purpose. It gave me firm station in those same turbulent waters so I couldn't drift off into the unknown.

In the past few weeks I've had the pleasure of working on one of my last major assignments, Festive Al. I made the final corrections to my documentary yesterday afternoon and submitted it to our creative arts award ceremony called the CCMA's. There are so many talented people in my class I can't honestly predict what my chances are in winning (probably slim), but a nomination would make me just as happy.

While I have enjoyed many of my assignments in these past two years, the work I did on Festive Al was a great way to wind up this last week of classes. I probably spent at least 40 hours logging footage, editing, and converting files – not to mention all the field work I did with my subject, Al Simmons. As entertainers go, Al was a fantastic person to work with. His professionalism, attention to detail, and sense of humour were a great source of inspiration for my documentary, and for me personally. His passion for laughter and his creative genius could be written about extensively. He has so many wonderful stories from his 40+ year career that someone should propose to write his biography. Future IPP anyone???

Above are a few screen-shots from my documentary. Festive Al was a labour of love. I had five hours of footage to create what needed to be at a minimum of eight minutes in length. Festive Al is fourteen minutes long, and it could have easily been extended. All told, it shows all that it needed to show; one man learning Canada's second official language for his upcoming performances at Festival du Voyageur.

Shutterbug Inspiration

Whether it's an opinion, strategy, or frame-of-mind, perspective is everything. This is probably why I enjoy the photography class I have been in since January. As I've viewed my surroundings through the lens, I've been able to choose what the eye of the beholder sees.

I couldn't resist buying my own DSLR once I began to appreciate the difference that a good quality camera can make, and the results I've had so far are amazing. Sure, there are higher quality cameras out there, but for a novice shooter like myself, my Rebel T1i is light years ahead of my five-year-old Canon PowerShot. It's still a good little camera though.

Our class has the opportunity of using a controlled studio space as well. Here, our instructor shows us the finer points of light direction and controlling the amount of flash that appears as we take our shots. I can't believe how much I've learned about aperture setting, shutter-speed, and focal length in the past few months. These are terms I've heard in passing, but now I actually understand what they mean.

All of this led me to create my very own Flickr account a few weeks ago. I realized I have a lot of pictures to share and there is such a large community of photographers on the web. So far, I've just posted a few shots from various travels I've made. The photos were taken with my trusty little PowerShot, but soon I will post new photos taken with my DSLR.

I hope you enjoy them!