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	<title>The Daily Gumboot &#187; community</title>
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	<link>http://dailygumboot.ca</link>
	<description>using ideas from everywhere to build community</description>
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		<title>Make Me Feel Important</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/make-me-feel-important/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/make-me-feel-important/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kindness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cultural Landscape]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA["make me feel important"]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[connection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=13264</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was at a corporate event last night and 10 speakers took to the stage to share parts of their personal lives with their colleagues.  It was so cool.  Everyone spoke on different topics but the common thread was that they all spoke about what they really cared about.  Again, it was so refreshing to be a part of a conversation that was positive and personal.  <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/make-me-feel-important/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Photo_Mary_Henley.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13268" title="Photo_Mary_Henley" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Photo_Mary_Henley.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="1024" /></a>A good friend recently had her second child and instead of a baby shower, she had a small gathering where guests shared stories and our wishes for her journey through birth and into becoming a mother of two children.  It was refreshing to be a part of an intentional conversation that created space to tell a loved one how I feel about her.  People were shy at first but the group warmed up quickly and it felt great.</p>
<p>I was at a corporate event last night and 10 speakers took to the stage to share parts of their personal lives with their colleagues.  It was so cool.  Everyone spoke on different topics but the common thread was that they all spoke about what they really cared about.  Again, it was so refreshing to be a part of a conversation that was positive and personal.</p>
<p><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Photo_FCC_Gabriela_Camerotti.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13266" title="Photo_FCC_Gabriela_Camerotti" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Photo_FCC_Gabriela_Camerotti.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="568" /></a>I met a brilliant CEO last week who talked about how it’s easy to find people to work for her because she looks for people who lead with their hearts.  How awesome is that?  And how refreshing to learn that a business executive makes hiring decisions that way.</p>
<p>Thinking about these three moments, I realized that they were refreshing because they’re rare.  In our device-equipped society, we spend so much time computing, commuting, and snoozing that there’s not a lot of time left for real connections.  Don’t get me wrong, I love blogs and read a bunch regularly.  And lots of them are very personal.  But unless you know the person writing, it’s just not the same damn thing as talking face-to-face.  And I mean really talking.  Having lean-in moments that you find yourself thinking about for days afterward.   And maybe telling other friends about too.</p>
<p><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Photo_FCC_Stephen_Poff.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13267" title="Photo_FCC_Stephen_Poff" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Photo_FCC_Stephen_Poff.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="516" /></a>So why is it rare?  Well, for one thing you need to be present to have those magical moments.  And it’s kind of tiring to be present all the time.  Especially when there’s so much good stuff around us to help us tune-out.  You have to work at it and be open to whatever comes your way.  Which means there’s a degree of vulnerability that comes with being real.  Like, you might say or do something silly and then feel silly then people will think you’re silly and you’ll wish you had of just been cool like The Fonz and didn’t say or do anything in the first place.  But I think The Fonz was as unsure as the rest of us and he needed love too.  Not just ladies, but real love.  Plus, he was just pretend anyway.</p>
<p>It’s so easy to slip into our same old soundtrack of negativity and self-doubt.  And it’s easy to be a part of gossip and useless sharing.  But there comes a point when that’s just way too boring for our spirits and those rare moments become the norm.  There’s nothing like a personal connection and as Claudia Garcia so beautifully says: “pretend that everyone you meet has a sign around their neck that says ‘make me feel important’”.  Then the potential to make those connections is limitless.  Love it – thanks <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/claudia-garcia-soulfully-photographic/" target="_blank">cgg</a>!</p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
<p><em>Masthead photo from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skullyfm/" target="_blank">Franck Mahon&#8217;s photostream</a> on Flickr</em></p>
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		<title>A Hunch about Lunch</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/a-hunch-about-lunch/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/a-hunch-about-lunch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Allison Blake</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business & Entrepreneurship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cultural Landscape]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best Practices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Break]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get to Know Your Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lunch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lunch break]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paris]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skipping lunch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vancouver canucks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workplace]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=13233</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sharing a meal is one of the most powerful ways to build community and being “a place where people eat lunch” can benefit a workplace both culturally and in terms of productivity. Unfortunately, I have been noticing a major absence of shared meals in my working life and have heard this same thing echoed among many of my peers. I’m starting to think I’m going to have to move to Europe to locate this appreciation for the mid-day meal. <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/a-hunch-about-lunch/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the most important communities in daily life is the work community. What do I look for in a workplace community? Well, there are a few key factors, but the latest to be added to my wish list is ‘a place where people eat lunch”.</p>
<p>Sharing a meal is one of the most powerful ways to build community and being “a place where people eat lunch” can benefit a workplace both culturally and in terms of productivity. Unfortunately, I have been noticing a major absence of shared meals in my working life and have heard this same thing echoed among many of my peers. I’m starting to think I’m going to have to move to Europe to locate this appreciation for the mid-day meal.</p>
<p><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/lunch-break.jpg"><img title="Lunch break in Paris" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/lunch-break.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /></a></p>
<p>North American Culture prides itself on hard work and ambition. <a href="http://michaelpollan.com/">Michael Pollan</a>, in his book, <a href="http://michaelpollan.com/books/in-defense-of-food/">In Defense of Food; An Eater’s Manifesto</a>, suggests that as an effect of this ideology, North American’s view food as merely utilitarian fuel rather than something to be enjoyed for it’s own sake. He brings up several examples of the stark difference between North American attitudes to food as compared to European attitudes the most striking example given is a comparison where American and French people are shown a picture of a piece of chocolate cake and asked what word it brings to mind. The most common American reaction is “guilt” while the most common French reaction is “celebration”!</p>
<p>Perhaps it can be chalked up to the fact that I was raised with a European attitude towards food, but I do not believe that eating a protein bar at my desk can be classified as lunch. Nor do I believe that it can have any long-term benefits to my employer or my career. I can see some very real and lasting benefits however, in taking a ½ hour to share a meal with my co-workers.</p>
<p>Sharing a meal is the fastest way to establish shared experiences, which are the building blocks of community. With strong community comes creativity because two heads really are better than one (and all heads are significantly more powerful when they receive more than just caffeine as a stimulus).  Creativity can invigorate a workplace and make its entire workforce more productive and motivated in all of their working hours.</p>
<p>Each of these outcomes produces more powerful benefits than that extra ½ hour in front of the computer and these are just a few of the benefits to be had when you turn your work place into a place where people eat lunch. If you aren’t lucky enough to work in one of these places already, why don’t you try something new for lunch today?</p>
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		<title>Whitecaps FC Community Asset Review &#8211; Part 3</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/the-vancouver-whitecaps-are-a-significant-community-asset/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/the-vancouver-whitecaps-are-a-significant-community-asset/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 19:17:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Josie Buter</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Jock Straps and Sports Bras]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[josie buter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[linkedin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soccer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vancouver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whitecaps FC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=13157</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Whitecaps FC games bring people together, for example I went to the game against Kansas City and before the game I got to take part in a parade to the stadium with the Southsiders. They had chants and giant flags with the players’ faces on them, some people knew the chants and others didn’t, but it didn’t matter because you could still clap along to the rhythm of the drums they brought with them. The cheering didn’t stop outside the stadium though, throughout the whole game there were ringleaders that lead all the cheers. <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/the-vancouver-whitecaps-are-a-significant-community-asset/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Editors’ note: Kurt and John are firm believers that Vancouver can and should be the Canadian epicenter for growing the sport and culture of <del>soccer</del> <del>football</del> soccer. This is a self-described healthy community. We can play outside year-round, as fields are rarely closed due to snow and/or freezing. And, most importantly, Vancouver is the place to expertly develop the sport of soccer because our city’s team, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, shares this goal and so demonstrates this vision through its <a href="http://www.whitecapsfc.com/club/structure" target="_blank">Club Structure</a> and the <a href="http://www.whitecapsfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Whitecaps Foundation</a>, which aims to create the fittest generation of BC Youth by 2020.</em></p>
<p><em>As Vancouver Whitecaps FC season ticket holders, Kurt and John are well-positioned to evaluate how the franchise showcases its commitment to “be a significant community asset” – so, following every match we will reflect on this commitment by answering two questions, which are below. Sometimes we bring friends and/or family-members to the game. And sometimes those awesome friends and/or family-members write awesome blog posts about the experience.</em></p>
<p><em>Here is our brand-new (and youngest) Correspondent, Josie Buter&#8217;s, take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC being a significant community asset.<br />
</em></p>
<div id="attachment_13227" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 1234px"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012-04-18-19.37.171.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-13227" title="2012-04-18 19.37.17" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012-04-18-19.37.171.jpg" alt="" width="1224" height="1632" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Josie Buter - current and future world changer</p></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><strong>How is the team a significant community asset?</strong></h3>
<p>The Whitecaps FC games bring people together, for example I went to the game against Kansas City and before the game I got to take part in a parade to the stadium with the Southsiders. They had chants and giant flags with the players’ faces on them, some people knew the chants and others didn’t, but it didn’t matter because you could still clap along to the rhythm of the drums they brought with them. The cheering didn’t stop outside the stadium though, throughout the whole game there were ringleaders that lead all the cheers. The whole experience was very exciting and I’ve never experienced anything quite like it before.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-GJjlQPWDfU" frameborder="0" width="540" height="435"></iframe></p>
<h3><strong>WHAT COULD MAKE THE CLUB AN EVEN BETTER ASSET?<br />
</strong></h3>
<p>Now that the men’s team has success in a higher level of soccer, where are the women? When I was younger I went to many of the women’s Whitecaps games and looked up to the players on the team, they were role models for me. For young girls it’s important to have role models, and when playing soccer it is good to have a picture in your head of what a player who plays your position or plays on a competitive team looks like. Having a local team, that would play all year ‘round would give many young soccer players hope that they can achieve their goals as well, no matter the size of the net.</p>
<p><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012-05-05-15.59.251.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13228" title="2012-05-05 15.59.25" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2012-05-05-15.59.251.jpg" alt="" width="1632" height="1224" /></a></p>
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		<title>Claudia Garcia &#8211; Soulfully Photographic</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/claudia-garcia-soulfully-photographic/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/claudia-garcia-soulfully-photographic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 May 2012 18:47:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Get to Know Your Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kindness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Claudia Garcia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[east van]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[linkedin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spanish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uruguay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vancouver]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=13209</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Claudia, a.k.a. “cgg”. Mother, photographer. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay &#038; exiled to Canada in 1977.  My parents arrived with $450 in their pocket, 2 suit cases &#038; 2 young children under the age of 7.  Through hard work, they were able to provide us with a happy home and education.  I have learned so much from all of their sacrifices.  Although I have lived most of my life in Canada, my roots and that “pull” to my culture has always been very much alive &#038; raw inside me. This has inspired me to raise my girls as little Uruguayan Canadians. I only speak Spanish to them.  Spanish books and music are a big part of our lives. <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/claudia-garcia-soulfully-photographic/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Claudia-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13211" title="Claudia 1" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Claudia-1.jpg" alt="" width="621" height="479" /></a><strong>Who are you?</strong></p>
<p>Claudia, a.k.a. “cgg”. Mother, photographer. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay &amp; exiled to Canada in 1977.  My parents arrived with $450 in their pocket, 2 suit cases &amp; 2 young children under the age of 7.  Through hard work, they were able to provide us with a happy home and education.  I have learned so much from all of their sacrifices.  Although I have lived most of my life in Canada, my roots and that “pull” to my culture has always been very much alive &amp; raw inside me. This has inspired me to raise my girls as little Uruguayan Canadians. I only speak Spanish to them.  Spanish books and music are a big part of our lives. Thanks to YouTube we can watch different cultural events that happen in Montevideo, such as the yearly Carnival and various festivals and Skype keeps us connected to our family.  My husband (being East Van born and raised) has embraced this and has learned a lot of Spanish along the way. It is fascinating to watch our 2 ½ year old switch back and forth between Spanish &amp; English depending on which parent she is talking to.</p>
<p><strong>What do you do for fun?</strong></p>
<p>Photography.  I love it.  When I was just a kid, I was fascinated with my father’s camera and would get in so much trouble if I touched it, but I didn’t care – I just HAD to hold it and sneak in a few pictures.  Those were the film days when film and processing was expensive.  At 14, I finally got my own camera and did black &amp; white dark room photography for 5 years.  I have lugged my camera all over Cuba, Jamaica, North &amp; South America through my travels. I love to document life – people working, people having fun.  I also have a thing for buildings.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2008.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13212" title="CGG Uruguay 2008" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2008.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010a.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13213" title="CGG Uruguay 2010a" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010a.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010b.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13214" title="CGG Uruguay 2010b" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010b.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010c.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13215" title="CGG Uruguay 2010c" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010c.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010d.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13216" title="CGG Uruguay 2010d" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Uruguay-2010d.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="479" /></a><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Jamaica-2011b.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13217" title="CGG Jamaica 2011b" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CGG-Jamaica-2011b.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a><strong>What is your favourite community? Why?</strong></p>
<p>My favourite community is the one we are submerged into right now.  We moved to the TriCities last year and our children attend a Parent Participation Preschool which is just amazing.  The group of families that run the preschool really walk-the-walk.  When one of the teacher’s husbands broke his leg, everyone got together and cooked up a storm and delivered meals to the family.  We put on a successful coats &amp; toy drive this winter for our local food bank. The fund raising committee that I am part of has done a great job in raising the money that will keep the school up and running for next year.  Next month we are holding a big fair which will give back to the local community with bouncy castles, pony rides, and entertainment, all for a very nominal cost.  Thanks to this community and preschool, our children are in a positive play-based environment and it gives you the warm and fuzzies to watch them discover, thrive and gather confidence.</p>
<p><strong>What is your superpower?</strong> People look at me and tell me stuff.  My skin must emit some kind of “truth serum” pheromone or something.  I am like the bartender in all the movies that you see working behind the counter and people come and sit down, order a drink and then tell them things their best friend doesn’t even know.</p>
<p><strong>How do you use it to build community?</strong> Of course, this new discovered truth that people share now comes with a sense of responsibility because people often want words of wisdom.  This superpower helps me to build community one person at a time.  Someone once said “pretend that everyone you meet has a sign around their neck that says ‘make me feel important’”.  Every person is different, but fundamentally, people just want to feel accepted and we also want to feel hope.  By listening, it gives them permission to feel vulnerable which is very powerful.</p>
<p><strong><em>My Three Favourite Things About cgg Are&#8230;</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>1. She&#8217;s Really, Really Nice. </strong>To make a long story short, Claudia played a very big role in getting my career to where it is today &#8211; when an opportunity came up at UBC&#8217;s Sauder School of Business it was with Claudia&#8217;s recommendation that I made it to (and through) the interview process and into the role. To this day, I am both incredibly grateful and also very much in her debt. Thanks, Claudia!</p>
<p><strong>2. Photographic Awesomeness. </strong>Claudia has a wonderful eye that spectacularly captures the soul of people and places (see awesome photos of Uruguay). She&#8217;s creative, poetic, cool, and super-classy when it comes to the pictures she snaps, sure, but especially through how she presents her work &#8211; a knack for powerful storytelling is reflected by Claudia&#8217;s words and images above. Even through a lens people seem to tell her things! Oh, and any great photographer <em>must </em>have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, which totally shines through in cgg&#8217;s story of how her family grew a happy and healthy life in Canada while staying connected to their roots in Uruguay.</p>
<p><strong>3. Intercultural Community Building. </strong>The fact that Claudia&#8217;s toddler can flip back and forth between Spanish and English &#8211; depending on the parental audience &#8211; will serve the child/children well in our hyper-globalized world. I love cgg&#8217;s stories about using technology (YouTube and Skype) to maintain a healthy cultural connection between the national/local communities of Uruguay and Montevideo as well as the very important connection to family.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Special Bonus Reason! URUGUAY! </em></strong>I love Uruguay. So does Michelle. We wrote about Montevideo a lot during our month in South America and, well, I can simply say that Montevideo is on of my &#8220;favourites&#8221; list of global cities. One of the reasons that we had such a great time is because Claudia gave me some great insider tips &#8211; because, like I said, she&#8217;s really, really nice!</p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
<p><em>All photos courtesy of the lovely and talented Glaudia Garcia aka cgg.</em></p>
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		<title>No Fun Couver Revisited</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/no-fun-couver-revisited/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/no-fun-couver-revisited/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 20:53:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Regional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cultural Landscape]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[joel plaskett]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kelowna]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[no fun city]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=13086</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For discussion, I'm throwing out a licentious thought: that the key driver of well-being in any city lies within your population of 25-35 years old, single, college or university graduates. If you lose more of these people than you attract, bad things are ahead. Because these are your future entrepreneurs, movers &#038; rump shakers. <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/05/no-fun-couver-revisited/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_13087" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 970px"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/GreatBloomers2.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-13087" title="GreatBloomers2" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/GreatBloomers2.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="720" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Thanks to Rena Warren at Capricornucopia Artworks for sharing!</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">We had what I call a Tipping Point party in Kelowna the other night: a party where groups of people got together who normally wouldn&#8217;t associate simply because they work and play in different social worlds &#8211; accountants, employment counsellors, computer programmers, urban planners, landscapers, sales managers and teachers &#8211; and I told a story I read through <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/tag/scrappy-happiness/" target="_blank">John Horn&#8217;s post about Joel Plaskett</a>. Apparently Joel Plaskett refuses to come back to Kelowna because the crowds here are dead.</p>
<p>Here are some important disclosures about me: 1) I&#8217;m not from Kelowna, I&#8217;m from Vancouver, so I bring an outsider&#8217;s perspective and ask lots of annoying questions; 2) I meet exceptional people everyday in Kelowna, but on the whole often agree with Joel. A friend once asked me whether someday I will ever tell people I&#8217;m from Kelowna (I always say, “I <span style="text-decoration: underline;">live</span> in Kelowna, but I&#8217;m from Vancouver”). My answer was “Not yet”. But someday I hope I feel differently.</p>
<p>Several years ago, I went to a groundbreaking show at a downtown Kelowna pub where local hero Shane Koyczan opened for Danny Michel.  I&#8217;d never heard Danny Michel before and I was stunned when he walked on stage, just him and an electric guitar, and provided the most sonically cool and rip-rockin&#8217; show that one man could make.  Absolutely unbelievable. I&#8217;ve been a Danny Michel fan ever since.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I was also very drunk on the occasion – I had chosen to drink stout beer all evening which results in heavy lips and heavy feet – and my most vivid memory of the concert was of me falling on my face on the way to the bathroom. Unfortunately, it was also the loudest noise from the crowd that evening. No cheers, no catcalls, no song requests. And yet, the music that Danny Michel performed that night would&#8217;ve started a riot in Montreal, it was that good.</p>
<div id="attachment_13088" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 730px"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/GreatBloomers.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-13088" title="GreatBloomers" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/GreatBloomers.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="960" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Thanks to Rena Warren at Capricornucopia Artworks for sharing!</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">So I shared Joel Plaskett&#8217;s comments at our party, and instead of angry responses, I got sheepish ones.   Apparently it&#8217;s a well-known fact around here that Kelowna has reserved crowds. If you want to go to a great concert, you make plans to leave Kelowna, you go to Vancouver or Washington. Even at hockey games, no one cheers very hard until the playoffs.</p>
<p>A friend of mine who moved to Revelstoke told me an interesting story about the Junior B hockey team there which regularly scored low attendances.  A funny cultural shift happened when Revelstoke became a destination of choice for sports-obsessed Australians looking to work abroad at a ski hill. Australians quickly learn that junior hockey is hard, fast and violent &#8211; all the things that Aussies love in their sports &#8211; and they&#8217;re permitted to drink <span style="text-decoration: underline;">lots</span> of beer at games. The Aussies started buying up all the tickets along the boards and would stack their beer cups against the glass. They would cheer hysterically when a body check would send cups flying into the crowd in all directions. People around the entire rink would cheer (it&#8217;s possible that some betting was involved) and even the players and local fans were getting caught up in the excitement. Attendance at games has never been better.</p>
<p>I now realize that culture has a tipping point. Cities change, sometimes very quickly. When I lived in Vancouver, I remember locals complaining that the city was too boring (this was pre-Olympics) and the media had dubbed it &#8220;No-Fun-Couver&#8221;. (Even as recently as last spring, I read that UBC was making changes to admissions procedures to accommodate cultural as well as academic variables to make for a more diverse student body.) But I don&#8217;t hear as many complaints these days about Vancouver – every time I visit I have a blast – so things must be turning around. For Kelowna&#8217;s sake, both economically and culturally, I hope that shift is headed this way or tough times lie ahead.</p>
<p>For discussion, I&#8217;m throwing out a licentious thought: that the key driver of well-being in any city lies within your population of 25-35 years old, single, college or university graduates. If you lose more of these people than you attract, bad things are ahead. Because these are your future entrepreneurs, movers &amp; rump shakers. It&#8217;s also what keeps your town from becoming a boring place. Kelowna has been failing on this metric and it&#8217;s something that desperately needs to turn around. In fact, it&#8217;s a key variable that every city should watch.</p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
<p>Masthead image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adam_jones/" target="_blank">Adam Jones, PhD</a></p>
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		<title>Jane&#8217;s Walk 2012 &#8211; Find your &#8216;Hood!</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/janes-walk-2012-find-your-hood/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/janes-walk-2012-find-your-hood/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:40:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cultural Landscape]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Things Happening Around Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jane Jacobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jane's Walk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[linkedin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[neighbourhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vancouver]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=13059</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Saturday, May 5th &#038; Sunday, May 6th, thousands of people in metro Vancouver and around the world will take to the street to answer Jane Jacobs’ famous call to “get out and walk. The 6th annual Jane’s Walk is a chance to explore metro Vancouver’s neighbourhoods with fresh eyes and curious mind. This year in Vancouver, there will be a special focus on learning what makes’ our neighbourhoods unique. <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/janes-walk-2012-find-your-hood/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>[Editor's note: a few years ago, one of our Correspondents - <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2010/10/phil-skipper-chillaxer/" target="_blank">Phil Skipper</a> - led a Jane's Walk tour of the Cambie-King-Edward-Queen-Elizabeth-Park-The-Mayor's-House neighbourhood in Vancouver. The experience was community-exploration at its finest. And it's happening again this coming weekend!] </em></p>
<div id="attachment_13060" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 1290px"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CORE-photo-by-devon-ostrom.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-13060" title="CORE photo by devon ostrom" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CORE-photo-by-devon-ostrom.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="960" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Devon Ostrom / Jane&#39;s Walk 2011 Press Gallery</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">On Saturday, May 5th &amp; Sunday, May 6th, thousands of people in metro Vancouver and around the world will take to the street to answer Jane Jacobs’ famous call to “get out and walk. The 6th annual Jane’s Walk is a chance to explore metro Vancouver’s neighbourhoods with fresh eyes and curious mind. This year in Vancouver, there will be a special focus on learning what makes’ our neighbourhoods unique.</p>
<p>Created in 2007 in Toronto by friends of the urban thinker Jane Jacobs, the free, volunteer-led urban walks have grown exponentially from 27 walks the first year to over 500 walks around the world &#8211; from Burnaby to Brisbane and Sao Paulo to Surrey &#8211; in over 75 cities and 16 countries.</p>
<div id="attachment_13061" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 1034px"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Mumbai-Janes-Walk-photo-by-PUKAR.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-13061" title="Mumbai Jane's Walk photo by PUKAR" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Mumbai-Janes-Walk-photo-by-PUKAR.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Courtesy of Pukar / Jane&#39;s Walk 2011 Press Gallery - Mumbai</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">Walks are as varied as the people taking part, and they create the time and space for people to connect, share, and develop ideas about where their communities and cities are at and where they are headed.</p>
<p>Ask yourself &#8211; what kind of Jane’s Walker are you? From the Curious who wants to get behind the scenes, the Green at Heart, the Urban Gardener, the friendly Neighbour, the Aesthete roaming the open-air urban museum, the Active moving about the city and the Citizen fascinated by the past and future of the city, its public space and institutions, there are walks for all city-lovers.</p>
<p>Find detailed walks at <a href="http://www.janeswalk.net/" target="_blank">janeswalk.net</a>, look out for posters with walk details in local shops, select favourites on the free iPhone app and get out and walk on Saturday May 5th and Sunday May 6th!</p>
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		<title>Community Dialogue with North Van Urban Forum</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/community-dialogue-with-north-van-urban-forum/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/community-dialogue-with-north-van-urban-forum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:30:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Get to Know Your Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Benjamin Woodyatt Tony Valente Elena Giorgetti Tyler Russell Kevin Lee Sandra Grant Marianne Ketchen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dialogue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[linkedin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North Van Urban Forum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[residence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vancouver]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=12999</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are the North Van Urban Forum.  We are a group of local (North Vancouver) residents and business owners from diverse backgrounds with a shared concern for the shape of our community.  We are interested in transparency, dialogue, and meaningful participation in the development of the public realm.  <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/community-dialogue-with-north-van-urban-forum/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_13055" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 1034px"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/North-Vancouver.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-13055" title="North Vancouver" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/North-Vancouver.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">michaelnugent / flickr</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em>[Editor's note: the transcript below is from an email exchange with Ben Woodyatt, President of the North Van Urban Forum - enjoy the awesome, folks!]</em></p>
<p><strong>1. Tell us about your organization.</strong></p>
<p>We are the North Van Urban Forum.  We are a group of local (North Vancouver) residents and business owners from diverse backgrounds with a shared concern for the shape of our community.  We are interested in transparency, dialogue, and meaningful participation in the development of the public realm.  We believe that the creation and development of our neighbourhoods must not be a passive activity, but rather should be wildly participatory, a process that fosters enthusiasm and creativity and allows inhabitants and visitors to feel proud of their surroundings, and create a sense of community.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>2. What do you do for fun?</strong></p>
<p>We hold events that try to get people talking.  Great ideas and insights come from all quarters, not just the people that are paid to come up with them.  Transformative imaginings often come from silly places.  We invite people to submit their thoughts and fantasies of great public spaces, to share their experiences from around the world.  If we want people to use a public space, then (I mean really, you’d think this was obvious?!) we have to build a public space that the public wants to use!  Great public space is too important to leave to the official actors alone.  The official process should be augmented (infiltrated, even) by parallel processes of community conversation.  Democracy is not, or <em>should </em>not be about simply turning up on polling day.  It is about turning out to voice concerns, and give vitality to discussions along the way.  This is not about protest (you asked about what we do for fun!).  A truly functioning democracy should in fact be so collaborative that protest becomes unnecessary.  Protest occurs when people feel disconnected from the ongoing creation of the communities they are a part of.  It occurs when people feel that all other  attempts to be heard (or really listened to) are exhausted.  We think it’s fun when people want to discuss their community.  When they want to come out and be a part of the community.  When they want to participate in its construction/constitution.  Rabble-rousing is vital.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>3. How do you build community?</strong></p>
<p>By engaging in conversation with everybody.  When you develop cordial relationships with all inhabitants, policy makers, community leaders, visitors, business owners, even when you disagree, magical things happen. Especially when you disagree!  Conversation, dialogue and participation take all forms, and different forums appeal to different people in different ways.  The question is how to spark the imaginative spirit, build wildly engaged communities to be a rich part of.  Constantly striving, and pushing for dialogue, transparency and collaboration is key to our goals.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>4. Who are some of the people that do this building?</strong></p>
<p>It is the whole community that builds a neighbourhood.  As an organisation (we are a registered non-profit society) we are actually a small group of key organisers, coming from different backgrounds.  Our key group of founders and organisers includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>Benjamin Woodyatt</li>
<li>Tony Valente</li>
<li>Elena Giorgetti</li>
<li>Tyler Russell</li>
<li>Kevin Lee</li>
<li>Sandra Grant</li>
<li>Marianne Ketchen</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://urbanforum.wordpress.com/founding-member-profiles/" target="_blank">Check out our profiles on our website here.</a><span> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,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" alt="" /> </span><strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>5. Why should people get involved with your organization?</strong></p>
<p>If you live in North Vancouver, visit North Vancouver, own a business in North Vancouver&#8230;.. or are just interested in the process of community building, urban design, or municipal politics, then you should get involved.  We want to hear your ideas, and we want to build a bridge between the voices of the community and the voices of those paid to create it.  What makes this a great place to live, and what would make this an ideal place to live? We want to hear from you!</p>
<p><strong><em>My Three Favourite Things about the North Van Urban Forum are&#8230;</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>1. Rabble Rousing. </strong>I love the description of how the organization is &#8220;wildly participatory&#8221; &#8211; managing a community dialogue while accepting/creating/inspiring a culture of dissent is difficult to say the least, so my hat goes off to you folks for being so collaborative.</p>
<p><strong>2. Topical Conversations about Community Building. </strong>How our communities look, feel and behave &#8211; especially in the Lower Mainland &#8211; represents one of the most important topics being discussed from dinner tables to City Council meeting rooms. Reconciling density with green building with vibrancy with fairness and equity is not an easy thing to do. It will take transformative dialogue, creativity and collaboration to imagine, create and play with a shared, positive vision for our communities in the 21st century &#8211; the North Van Urban Forum is a wonderful part of this conversation.</p>
<p><strong>3. Tony Valente and Elena Giorgetti are Members! </strong>And this Italian-Canadian power-couple is all kinds of awesome!</p>
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		<title>Canucks Fans: relax, everything will be okay</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/canucks-fans-relax-everything-will-be-okay/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/canucks-fans-relax-everything-will-be-okay/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:58:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Jock Straps and Sports Bras]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stanley Cup Playoffs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[things to do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vancouver canucks]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=12993</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[At approximately 8:22pm (PST) last night, Jordan Stoll ended what can only be described as a strangely unimpressive playoff run &#8230; <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/canucks-fans-relax-everything-will-be-okay/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_12996" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 1034px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33237881@N08/"><img class=" wp-image-12996" title="canucks fan" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/canucks-fan.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="732" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Matthew Grapengieser / flickr</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">At approximately 8:22pm (PST) last night, Jordan Stoll ended what can only be described as a strangely unimpressive playoff run by the Vancouver Canucks. Around British Columbia (and nowhere else because, well, <em>everybody</em> hates the Canucks and their fans) folks are waking up, again, to hockey disappointment &#8211; albeit of a different variety than last year&#8217;s riotous exit from the playoffs.</p>
<p>And everything is going to be okay. After all, Vancouver is one of the best places on Earth to spend your summer. So, with your time freed up thanks to our city&#8217;s under-performing hockey team, here are three ideas for you to consider as you strive to fill the void in your calendar (and possibly your soul) between now next season.</p>
<p><strong>1. Go play outside.</strong> Whether you want to make your <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2011/02/the-most-sustainable-balcony-in-vancouver/" target="_blank">balcony more sustainable</a>, <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2009/12/urban-tomatoes/" target="_blank">community-garden</a>, <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2011/08/disc-golf/" target="_blank">play some delightful disc golf</a>, <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/newdgpreview/?p=10018" target="_blank">go camping</a>, <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2011/07/riding-with-headphones-illegal-immoral-or-irrelevant/" target="_blank">ride your bike</a>, <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2011/11/occupy-vancouver-protesters-demonstrate-they-need-to-go/" target="_blank">occupy a public space</a>, or, for the semi-non-creative, <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2010/07/backcountry-mojitos-done-right/" target="_blank">drink on a patio</a> instead of next to a giant screen, there are more than a million fun things to do outside on the West Coast.</p>
<p><strong>2. Volunteer your time.</strong> Watching (approximately) three hockey games per week from now until the middle of June (when the Stanley Cup Finals take place) could&#8217;ve taken up almost 20-hours of your life per week. <em>[Editor's note: the math is pretty simple - one hour for preparation/travel for/to the game, three hours to watch the actual game, 30-45 minutes to reflect on the experience and possibly cry for joy/sorrow, one or two hours of lost productivity the next day because of post-game stress and consequential fatigue]. </em>Think about spending your 20 free hours <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2010/04/the-daily-gumboot-is-hiring/" target="_blank">providing some service to your community</a> &#8211; after all, giving back feels great.</p>
<p><strong>3. Watch <em>Game of Thrones</em>.</strong> Not into the whole &#8220;being active&#8221; or &#8220;being helpful&#8221; thing? Well, I&#8217;ve got strategies for that, too. The HBO series <em>Game of Thrones </em>is a beautiful fusion of <em>The Sopranos </em>and <em>Lord of the Rings</em>. And, like hockey, <em>Game of Thrones </em>involves dynasties competing for dominance in a &#8220;game&#8221; that is underscored by the philosophy that the &#8220;players&#8221; either <em>win or die</em>. Needless to say, this option will keep you out of the Sun, creatively engaged and, well, it will utilize your superawesome entertainment unit to <em>most </em>of its potential.</p>
<p>So there it is (or &#8220;there they are&#8221;). Three foolproof ideas that will help you move-on from the Canucks&#8217; early exit while simultaneously building community in a positive way.</p>
<p>Have fun with it.</p>
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		<title>Talk to Strangers and Embrace Overheards</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/talk-to-strangers-and-embrace-overheards/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/talk-to-strangers-and-embrace-overheards/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:01:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kindness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[DIY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[do it yourself]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[household solutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[talk to strangers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[un-clog drain]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=12932</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My bathtub drain used to be clogged. It&#8217;s not anymore. And I can thank the following community-minded things for water &#8230; <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/talk-to-strangers-and-embrace-overheards/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_12933" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 1034px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/julipan/"><img class="size-full wp-image-12933" title="bathtub" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bathtub.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">julipan / flickr</p></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">My bathtub drain used to be clogged. It&#8217;s not anymore. And I can thank the following community-minded things for water no longer building up into some sort of &#8220;foot bath&#8221; during shower time:</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://theweeklygumboot.blogspot.ca/2009/06/five-ways-to-build-community.html" target="_blank">Talking to strangers</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2011/09/overhearing-community/" target="_blank">Overhearing community</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2011/05/horn-in-the-world-plugged-in-and-un-plugged/" target="_blank">Being un-plugged in the world</a>.</li>
</ol>
<p>So, like I said, my bathtub drain was clogged (this is perhaps the only downside to my wife&#8217;s thick and luxurious hair). As I spent some time running errands before meeting up with this blog&#8217;s Managing Editor, Kurt Heinrich, my travels took me to the <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/tag/east-end-food-co-op/" target="_blank">East End Food Co-op </a>(it&#8217;s one of the only places that you can get fair trade <a href="http://theweeklygumboot.blogspot.ca/2009/07/evil-banana.html" target="_blank">bananas</a> in Vancouver).</p>
<p>Though bananas were the only thing on my list, I asked the very helpful clerk if there were any &#8220;environmentally friendly drain cleaning products&#8221; on the shelves. She said &#8220;sorry, but I don&#8217;t think there are.&#8221; The woman in line next to me, however, overheard my question and provided me with an answer: &#8220;depending on how severe the clog is, you can probably fix it with baking soda and vinegar,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Just put &#8216;em together and create a little cleaning volcano in your drain!&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://thegoodhuman.com/2007/03/21/naturally-unclog-drain-with-vinegar/" target="_blank">Google later confirmed the success of this concoction</a>.</p>
<p>And now our water flows freely. More than that, we have a sustainable solution for solving this problem from today until all of Michelle&#8217;s hair falls out!</p>
<p>Unplugging my drain came from being unplugged in the world, which allowed me to talk to strangers (who, let&#8217;s face it, are just friends we haven&#8217;t met yet) and be overheard by another future friend.</p>
<p>If this wasn&#8217;t community in action then I don&#8217;t know what is.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Joel Plaskett&#8217;s Microcosm of Community</title>
		<link>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/joel-plasketts-microcosm-of-community/</link>
		<comments>http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/joel-plasketts-microcosm-of-community/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:40:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Horn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aboard the Editor's Pirate Ship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cultural Landscape]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Latest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Things Happening Around Town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[concert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[joel plaskett emergency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scrappy happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vancouver]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://dailygumboot.ca/?p=12925</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Joel Plaskett can rock with the best of 'em ("Lightning Bolt"), he can make you tear-up with a love song ("I'm Yours"), he can make you dance with a catchy pop song ("Through &#038; Through &#038; Through"), and he can make you laugh with some of the most creative lyrics this side of K'Naan ("North Star" or "Come on Teacher" or "Extraordinare" or "Fashionable People"). Oh, and he's got some sentimental gems that get to the heart of community ("I Love This Town"). <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/2012/04/joel-plasketts-microcosm-of-community/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_12926" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 1034px"><a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/joel-plaskett.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-12926" title="joel plaskett" src="http://dailygumboot.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/joel-plaskett.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="768" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">rebecca / flickr</p></div>
<p>It&#8217;s Sunday morning. Last night Michelle and I saw Joel Plakett Emergency (Joel Plaskett&#8217;s band is an/the Emergency) play at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver, which is a big deal because Joel Plaskett <em>almost never</em> comes to Vancouver.</p>
<h3><strong>Reflectively poetic interruption:</strong></h3>
<blockquote><p>I love Maritimers. In fact, Maritimers are probably my favourite kind of Canadian folk. Fun fact, <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/tag/martin-renauld/" target="_blank">Martin Renauld</a> is probably my favourite Canadian, mostly because he&#8217;s from Quebec and won&#8217;t know exactly how to react to this comment. Anyway, like I was saying, I love Maritimers. One of the greatest years of my life unfolded in Lennoxville, Quebec during which time I lived with three fantastic gentlemen from Halifax (Cole Harbour), Nova Scotia. Jon, Justin and Adam were/are in possession of the sort of mischief, poetry, kindness, storytelling, and intangibly-unique-sociability reserved for folks from this part of the world. For years I have enviously listened to their stories of The Plask&#8217;s performances in person, over the phone and watched their posts/videos online &#8211; my theory is that he plays in either Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown, or somewhere in the woods of Cape Breton once a week. And I&#8217;ve been jealous because I love Joel Plaskett almost as much as I love Maritimers. So last night was a pretty big deal for me. For all of us in Vancouver.</p></blockquote>
<p>Here are my three favourite things about the Joel Plaskett Emergency show in Vancouver:</p>
<p><strong>1. &#8220;Joel Plaskett: What a Beauty!&#8221;</strong> This was <a href="http://dailygumboot.ca/tag/dave-shumka/" target="_blank"><em>an overheard</em></a> from the guys behind us, which was inspired by Joel (I feel like I can call him Joel) laying on his back as he sang, told stories and nearly killed himself by getting tangled and electrocuted (&#8220;electrangled&#8221; ©Copyright John Horn 2012) in what he described as an &#8220;overly ambitious stage show&#8221; &#8211; the show included red-light-rock-n-roll-monkeys and they were/are awesome. Also included on the list of things that make Joel Plaskett &#8220;a beauty&#8221; are the following: Canadian unpretentiousness (he arrived on stage wearing jeans, a jean jacket and, you guessed it, a jean shirt), soul of a poet, friggin&#8217; hilarious, weird quirkiness (best evidenced by some of the most amazing hand gestures I&#8217;ve ever seen), and the stage presence of a truly gifted <del>showman</del> Showman.</p>
<p><strong>2. &#8220;Do not deviate from the set list.&#8221;</strong> Following multiple requests for certain songs from certain audience members, Joel responded to the group (he was brilliant with his fan-engagement throughout the evening) with this quotation. And then he told a story about why he thought that this was the funniest thing anyone has ever yelled at him during a show. Fantastic.</p>
<p><strong>3. Diverse Musical Stylings.</strong> Joel Plaskett can rock with the best of &#8216;em (&#8220;Lightning Bolt&#8221;), he can make you tear-up with a love song (&#8220;I&#8217;m Yours&#8221;), he can make you dance with a catchy pop song (&#8220;Through &amp; Through &amp; Through&#8221;), and he can make you laugh with some of the most creative lyrics this side of K&#8217;Naan (&#8220;North Star&#8221; or &#8220;Come on Teacher&#8221; or &#8220;Extraordinare&#8221; or &#8220;Fashionable People&#8221;). Oh, and he&#8217;s got some sentimental gems that get to the heart of <em>community</em> (&#8220;I Love This Town&#8221;).</p>
<p>In conclusion, from his <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=canadian+tuxedo" target="_blank">Canadian Tuxedo</a> to his storytelling to his balls-out rockin&#8217;, Joel Plaskett is a community-builder (<a href="http://jplaskett.livejournal.com/903.html" target="_blank">unless you&#8217;re from Kelowna</a>) through and through and through.</p>
<p>His cross-Canada tour just kicked-off and you should check out when he&#8217;s coming to your town. Because Joel Plaskett is all kinds of awesome.</p>
<blockquote><p>4/13 Victoria, BC &#8211; Alix Goolden<br />
4/14 Vancouver, BC &#8211; Vogue Theatre<br />
4/16 Banff, AB &#8211; Banff Centre<br />
4/18 Calgary, AB &#8211; MacEwan Hall *<br />
4/19 Edmonton, AB &#8211; Winspear Centre *<br />
4/20 Saskatoon, SK &#8211; U of Sasks, Louis Pub *<br />
4/21 Winnipeg, MB &#8211; Garrick Centre *<br />
4/25 Montreal, QC &#8211; Corona Theatre *<br />
4/26 Ottawa, ON &#8211; Bronson Centre *<br />
4/27 St Catharines, ON &#8211; Brock Centre for the Arts *<br />
5/18 Toronto, ON &#8211; Queen Elizabeth Theatre *<br />
5/19 Toronto, ON &#8211; Queen Elizabeth Theatre *</p>
<p>* with <a href="http://frank-turner.com/blog/" target="_blank">Frank Turner</a></p></blockquote>
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