Tag Archives: merville

Mackenzie Noot – The All-World Neighbour

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Who are you?

How can I attempt to answer this question at 1:30 in the morning?! I am Mackenzie of Clan Noot of Driffield Rd. Eldest child of two fantastic individuals, Tim and Theresa, both of whom instilled solid values and nurtured a love of life and adventure in their offspring. I’m a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, and an auntie of two little munchkins. I’m an advocate for healthy living, I’m a westcoast girl, a gumboot wearing deckhand on the Titanium, and a surgical nurse. I am a collector of the world’s greatest friends. Although I have no “special” talent, I can easily be convinced that I’m the next lead singer in Aerosmith or a backup dancer for Britney. Some may say that I have courage to a fault. Those people are merely disillusioned ;) Overall, I’m a small town gal of Merville, a somewhat charasmatic nerd with really cool friends and family.

What do you do for fun?

Well I’d have to list eating (especially seafood), sleeping and laughing as my top three fave hobbies. Although I also like anything to do with the ocean – aside from sports fishing – too boring. My major passion is getting out and about in the world experiencing new people and places. This year I spend 3.5 months “having fun” travelling. And, my secret fave thing to do is deep chest compressions on a patient. This may sound morbid, but there’s nothing more satisfying than doing everything you possibly can to bring someone back to life – including breaking ribs. Work is fun for me.

What is your favourite community? Why?

My fave community would be hands down that of Rennie Road. Nowhere else have I encountered neighbours and friends who lend out anything from baking essentials to automobiles to skill sets to hugs. If you need a hand tackling pigs to building garages to putting on a wedding, we’re on it. Y2K no big deal on Rennie Rd … we practiced baking over woodstoves for months before New Years and would have monthly neighbourhood potlucks to celebrate. Growing up there, you always had extra parents and a herd of playmates – those off all whom remain good friends and second families. The support, kindness, friendship, and love of those that live in this small community is something to be cherished and is, I fear, quite uncommon.

What is your superpower?

I honestly wish I could say flying. However, I’ll settle on a super human ability to connect with those around me? Yep, I suppose that’d be it.

How do I use it to build community?

Well, the super human power of connecting with others is key in bringing my community together. If thats just a social meeting of friends, or workmates or neighbours … people tend to meet, greet and be merry. Which in the end makes me happy. Although a superhuman flying ability would be cooler.

My Three Favourite Things About Mackenzie Are…

1. She comes from good stock. Mackenzie’s family is all about kindness, hardwork, being local, and, you guessed it, family. I love the Noots’ big hearts, their athleticism, their sense of adventure, their entrepreneurial spirit, and the fact that the Noot Clan’s senses of humour truly run the gamut of sensation; from slapstick to wordplay to funny-hat-prop-comedy. Oh, and she – and the rest of her family – all proudly sport gumboots, too.

2. Hilarity and Adventure become her. One need only befriend Mackenzie on Facebook to get a sense of her, um, sense of adventure. She’s traveled to many continents. She’s inspired and been inspired by many people and places. And she made it on many news programs on April 29, 2011 because her and some friends wore fancy hats to the Royal Wedding and know a thing or two about self-promotion. Positive, laugh-inspiring energy like Mackenzie’s hits your community like a train and, in my opinion, it’s in your best interest to hop on board and enjoy the ride!

3. Connectivity. A few months ago my sister got married and Mackenzie was one of the guests – well, she was much more than that. Truly, Mackenzie was one of the connectors at the event. She helped out, played games, pulled people on to the dance floor, cleaned-up, engaged introverted strangers, and definitely left a positive impact on the weekend. This was a window, I think, into how Mackenzie just plain connects with people.

Going Zen

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Every now and then all of us need to go zen – we need some time to re-charge our internal batteries and re-focus on the important and inspiring things that drive life, the universe and everything. For me, this place of zen is my family home in Merville, British Columbia. My visits are always chock-full of three main super-calming, super-fulfilling, super-soul-satisfying things:

1. Nature. My parent’s place, which was the site of Michelle and my wedding last year, is nestled in the woods of Northern Vancouver Island. When it’s nighttime we can see every star in the sky. During the day it’s quiet and never really quiet, as the bugs, birds and other animals make quite a bit of natural noise. Apparently, Michelle and I just missed some “fairly annoying” woodpecker babies that spent the first month of their lives banging their faces against the tree outside my parents’ bedroom. As I said about the stars, there’s no light or noise pollution in these parts. And I’m always just a minute or two away from being immersed in some pretty darn beautiful natural landscapes. Vancouver certainly is a green – maybe even the greenest – city and still it’s got nothing on the non-busy, non-concrete, non-noisy world of Merville. So, the nature of this place reminds me of what’s really important on this planet.

2. Deck Talks. This one time, my dad and I built what is quite possibly the greatest deck ever made. And by “we built” I mean that my dad built it and I was there when he did. Anyway, this deck has become a mecca of social gatherings as well as a place where, at least once a year, I discuss my goals for the future as well as my wild, dreamy ideas. No matter how ridiculous these ideas might be it’s okay because we’re in the safe, brainstormy place that is the deck in Merville. My parents are fiercely inclusive and, even though she at times struggles to fully comprehend and engage the talkative nature of the Horn Family, Michelle is slowly but surely carving out her place in the life-mapping, big-picture conversations of the deck.

3. Food. The Horn Family Estate yields a harvest from one of the most impressive small-acreage-garden-harvests this side of the arable soil on which Richmond is built. And my parents have come into their own as the best kind of naturally organic foodies. The menu is typically of the local variety and it is always delicious. And, best of all, when we point our wagons homeward we’ve always got a backpack full of canned food, fresh vegetables and containers of leftovers from giant meals during the week.

So there it is. Through these three things I can easily achieve a relaxed and reflective zen state by the end of the visit.

More importantly, how and where do you find your zen?

Geoff and Janet Horn – The Gumboot’s Parents

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Who are you?

Geoff and Janet Horn and we live in Merville, BC, also known as “The Gumboot Capital of Canada” (just north of Courtenay, BC). We live on 2.3 acres of rural, mountain-view property, with our chickens, geese, cat, Koi fish and many wild animals including rabbits, raccoons, black-tailed deer, black bear, the odd cougar, as well as a host of resident birds and vast numbers of migratory feathered friends that appear and depart with the seasons. Some of these wild animals can be very annoying when they climb or fly over fences and sneak into the yard to eat our grapes and apples!

What do you do for fun?

We are both retired so we love to alpine ski mid-week, hike the many trails surrounding the Comox Valley, read voraciously and visit with friends and relatives. When we need a break from the gardening, freezing, canning, soup-making, and creative cooking, we try to take off and explore new territories in our little “Fun Finder” trailer (and yes, we usually find some fun!)

What is your favourite community? Why?

Our two favourite communities right now are Commercial Drive in Vancouver and Cook Street Village in Victoria. Our younger family members live there and both places have a variety of unique shops, restaurants, pubs, etc. all within walking distance. It is fun to have urban getaways from our quiet, rural life.

What is your superpower?

Together, we think that our awesome superpower is hosting parties, usually, but not always, in the form of dinners, both large and small, with a very eclectic mix of folk in attendance.  We are also taking a serious run at year round food self-sufficiency with the current greenhouse project under construction to supplement our three-season garden.

How do you use it to build community?

Well…anyone who has joined us for dinner-on-the-deck is usually treated to a fabulous garden feast (picked that day), accompanied by a locally raised/acquired entrée (choose from the following: chicken, beef, pork, lamb, the odd rabbit and at times venison and moose with locally caught sockeye salmon and halibut). Meal preparation, consumption, and the pleasant aftermath serve as a forum for inclusive discussions…a wonderful way to make connections and learn about other people’s interests.

My Three Favourite Things About Geoff and Janet Horn are…

1. The Compound. This is where it all happens, folks. Unfortunately, unless you know the password that gets you past the electronic gate, well, the garden, koi pond, multiple-decks, orchard, chicken coop(s), pasture, barn, woodshed, homestead,  and will always be on the other side of that fence. Which is one of the compelling elements of the Horn Household – it is an exclusive place to be from and to visit. This, however, is incredibly ironic, as my parents (especially my mom and, semi-begrudgingly, my dad) are incredibly community-minded, friendly, neighbourly, inviting, and inclusive people.

2. Educational Humour Edutainment. Both of my parents are hilarious. My dad is a masterful storyteller who weaves yarns of mysterious, historical, humourous, untrue, and always educational varieties. My mom is a tangential storyteller who can captivate audiences of children, teenagers, twentysomethings, “old people,” seniors – and everyone in between – with her warmth, preparedness, intelligence, and giggly-charm. The thing is that, no matter what they’re making you laugh about, by the end of the story/song/skit/presentation you realize that you’ve learned something.

3. Going Local. Here is an abridged list of what my parents have canned in the last two years: tuna, chicken, tomatoes, beets, beans, soup, chutney, chow-chow, zucchini, salmon, pickles, mushrooms, jelly, and jam. There’s probably more. They also have one of the most bountiful gardens this side of Eden as well as some fine-lookin’ layer-chickens that provide them with delicious eggs every day. I recently heard a hilarious (and semi-tangential) story of how my folks took several dozen meat-birds (chickens for eating, not laying eggs) in a friend’s van (no cages were part of this journey) from Merville to Coombs, BC (about a three hour round trip) to have them slaughtered for food. They also have a modest orchard (it’s mostly modest because of the weather, raccoons, bugs, and birds this year) and grow grapes and kiwis in the lattice on the back deck. Finally, they are currently raising two geese (obviously named Maverick and Goose). The greenhouse is under construction (pictured). We jokingly refer to the place as “the compound” because of the property being a cow, pig and micro-brewery away from being a fully sustainable homestead. Barbara Kingsolver and her Animal, Vegetable Miracle mantra would be oh so proud of my folks’ penchant for keeping things local, organic and sustainable.

Three More Things About Geoff and Janet Horn (because they’re awesome)…

1. Support from a Distance. Some parents are super-intensive-overwhelmingly involved in their childrens’ lives. Others are so hands-off that it makes them out of touch with their kids needs and successes alike. Geoff and Janet – somehow, some way – strike the perfect balance of offering distance but eternal and unconditional support, too. Like, if I left UBC tomorrow and managed the Gumboot full-time, well, I could probably do it from their barn in Merville. Besides, while they’re out on adventures in their Fun Finder (not kidding, that’s the name of their trailer and there’s even a picture of it above) they’ll need someone to watch over the homestead.

2. The Love. What can I say? Their love is a beautiful thing and a model for all life-partners to strive for. I’m pretty sure they like their kids a little bit, too.

3. Growing the Best Version of Ourselves. Growing up, my sister (Turbo) and I were lucky enough to be provided with the environmental and cultural landscapes – as well as the tools and experiences – that allowed us to find and develop the best versions of ourselves. Sure, there were some bumps and hiccups along the way (this one time, I ruined Christmas, but we don’t need to get into that here now), but, hey, can you really have an authentic funny story without a few tangents thrown in every now and then? According to The Horns, probably not.

As told by John Horn…

Erik’s Dudes – The Last Word in Music

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Who are you?

We’re Erik’s Dudes – the last word in country-crossover-hip-hop-death-metal-punk-bluegrass-pop music. Our membership is as diverse as it is talented and cutting-edge. Here’s the band:

Erik Finnsson – drums and, well, they aren’t so much “vocals” as they are “angry yelling about how the band isn’t ‘keeping it real’ enough. [Editor's note: the plan is for the band to break up for a few months after Erik goes on a saucy bender, lands in rehab and then explores being born again. Stay tuned!].

Jon Cherry – tambourine and some triangle. Yup. That’s it.

Jim Clifford – bass; fun fact, during Erik’s rehab-hiatus, Jim will release a critically acclaimed three-disc solo album called Straight Pluckin’ with Jim Clifford – it will revolutionize everything.

Kurt Heinrich – vocals and free-stylin’.

John Horn – guitar and vocals.

Erik’s Dudes’s first album, which sold 10 million copies in 17 days, is called Country Road Drivin’. It includes the hit single, “Country Road Drivin’,” as well as some soon-to-be classics, such as “Raccoon Sex Machine” and “Ode to the Sun (I hate You).”

What do you do for fun?

Change the world by writing and performing the most diverse range of musical offerings since Hawksley Workman’s rap collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix. Erik and Kurt also like paintball. Jon Cherry dabbles in medicine and exchanges letters with John Horn. And Jim, well, he thinks.

What is your favourite community and why?

The country. Because it’s real.

What is your superpower?

As a group, it’s our uncanny ability to excel at playing any and every type of music. Have you every heard of death-metal-reggae? No? Well you will when we release our new single, “Spliff with the Devil”. No band out there can roll smoothly from a hip hop track to a 47 minute long bass solo to an angry heavy metal rant about the power of the Sun. Not even Coldplay.

Individually, here are the band’s superpowers:

Erik – dancing.

Jon Cherry – sustained and uncompromising seriousness at all times.

Jim Clifford – thinking.

Kurt Heinrich – ability to consume more butter in a 24 hour period than any other human in the galaxy.

John Horn – haiku poetry.

How do you use it to build community?

If a seriously thoughtful dinner party that involves buttery dancing and poems doesn’t build community then what the heck does?

Our Three Favourite Things About Erik’s Dudes Are…

1. Erik. Through the tantrums, binges, mis-timed drumming, and the thousands of ladies who keep throwing themselves at his taught, young adult body, there is a good soul and a positive force of humanity at the core. Sure, he causes a lot of trouble and tumult for the band, but there wouldn’t be any Erik’s Dudes without Erik. Or, if there was it would be pretty weird.

2. They’re real. Some of you might think that this is a joke and just a way for the Daily Gumboot team to fill a spot on a Thanksgiving Sunday, but that’s not the case. These guys are a real band with real songs and real instruments that they really play. Really.

3. How diverse the songs are. The critics talk about the big, swingin’ differences between, say, a soulful ballad like “Country Road Drivin’” and a fast-paced pop song like “Superawesome Ninja Cool Sex Water Fight” and a politically charged protest song like “High Fructose Corn Syrup” because no one else has the balls to put such different, diverse music on the same album at the same time. It’s what makes this band a creative legend in the making.

- As told by Rolling Stone* magazine

*actually told by John and Kurt as some Thanksgiving filler…

The Wedding Community

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Let me be completely honest. I’m getting married in two days. As such, and as one might expect, I’m quite preoccupied with all things wedding-related. So, please bear with me as I spend my time and use this space to discuss my adventures in wedding planning – and what I learned about this unique community – over the past year.  In no particular order, here are some of my learnings:

1. Like diet pills and pyramid schemes, the wedding industry can be a scam.

As much as we tried to keep our wedding as green and low-cost as possible, the industry has a way of making the pre-betrothed feel as if they need to have the super-deluxe photography package, or has a way of justifying why a tent rental should be more expensive because it is for a wedding. For all of you planning on getting hitched, I’m not saying the entire industry is a scam, I’m just saying enter this community with a bit of caution.

2. Despite this, most people are really, really nice and will go out of their way to make your day super-awesome-wicked

It’s true. From full-course trial meals with our caterer to retail/service store staff going above and beyond to ensure we got exactly what we needed, most people were incredibly helpful and honest.

3. There’s no better way than to create an instant bond with people than to tell them you’re getting married

As soon as you mention you’re getting married, people – from random strangers on the street to waiters to telemarketers – can’t help but express their happiness for you, tell stories of their own wedding, and give advice for a long and fruitful marriage. There are often hugs involved, and promises to send wedding photos to far-off European countries. If that’s not community building, I don’t know what is!

4. You learn a lot about your circle of friends and family, and your partner.

I’m not going to lie – at times, there was conflict. With such a big, emotion-laden, expectation-riddled event to plan for, how could there not be? Having said that, going through this planning process with my friends and family has definitely drawn us closer together and allowed us to understand each other better.

Chicken + Geese = Community

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A picture says a thousand words…about cuteness!

If you look closely, these photos are a bit weird because the little, tiny creatures pictured are not chickens (or chicks) – they’re geese (or goslings)! So, how did this happen?

As many of our readers know, Merville, British Columbia is the undisputed gumboot capital of Canada. It is also a global centre for experimental imprinting. For you see, mes amis, my father, Geoff, took two fertilized geese eggs and placed them under the bums of two of our family chickens.

Said Geoff on the move, “The eggs are four times bigger than the ladies are used to. They could barely wrap their little tushes around them!” For weeks, two hens sat on the eggs until they were ready to hatch.

Last week, Maverick and Goose (amazing, I know), came into this world. They have a pseudo-mom (pictured) and recent findings show that they are being well integrated into the community of chickens. Well, how Nature has the simply brilliant ability to take care of itself is a beautiful thing.

Well done, parents. The Daily Gumboot looks forward to many photographic, written and digital updates of our two gosling correspondents.

Gumboots: for the love of style, function, history and hilarity

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Gumboots have somehow, over the last few years, sneakily sloshed their way into my life. A mere three years ago, my life was gumbootless … and like text messaging, my electric toothbrush and Facebook … I now wonder how I could have ever lived without them.

There are a lot of great things to say about gumboots, so with no further ado, here are the top five reasons why gumboots may in fact be my favorite type of shoe and community … and should probably be yours too: 

1. I don’t think any other type of shoe has so many hilarious names: Wellingtons, rubbers, wellies, topboots, barnboots, muckboots, rainboots, blucher boots and of course, gumboots. This wide array of names is pretty hilarious on it’s own (muckboots!), but also speaks to the diversity of those who wear these footwear phenoms: those who tread in muck, barns, rain, and, um, uppity English courtyards are all connected by this fabulous boot. 

2. Gumboots have, in some odd, inextricable way, become the theme for my upcoming wedding and thus a symbol for love and happiness! From invitations to optional attire to event signage to table decorations to photographs, these bad boys will be left, right and centre at the big event. The big question is … do you know why? Take this super-secret wedding website quiz and see how well you know your Gumboot (of the Daily variety) correspondents and editors, and how well you remember information from posts past (there may or may not be an extra wedding invitation on the table for the first person who guesses correctly*) 

Why are gumboots featured in John and Michelle’s engagement photos and invitations?

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3. Gumboots defy barriers and bridge generations, classes and worlds! From mischievous three year olds running around jumping in puddles to a worker wearing wellies with reinforced toes in an industrial mine to a farmer in the field to a fashionable city girl wearing shiny red gumboots to complete her outfit, gumboots create a common ground (figuratively and literally) whereby unlike individuals become more like, creating an opportunity for .. you guessed it … community to be fostered and grown. 

Gumboot Dancers in South Africa

 

4. Gumboots are rich in history and have permeated the cultural fabric of communities around the world. Check out this article for a fascinating look at how gumboots have become a part of the cultural landscape worldwide. One of my favorite stories: In South Africa, the sound of people dancing in gumboots is often incorporated into semi-traditional popular music, known as “gumboot zydeco”. This dance began as a form of communication in the late 19th century in the gold mines of South Africa. Because miners were forbidden to speak to one another, they communicated using their work attire (which included gumboots) and native tribal rhythms. This story is just one among many – from Australia to Canada to Russia to Scandinavia, Gumboots have their own unique histories and cultural significance. 

5. Gumboots are the perfect balance of style and function. Whether you need protection from rain, muck, concrete, or dangerous chemicals, gumboots can serve your needs – and keep you looking stylish all the while! 

So there it is. In my humble opinion, individuals should be exposed to gumboots on a daily basis – and since it’s a little silly to be wearing gumboots in the summer (except at a wedding, that is), I suggest you get your dose by tuning it to The Daily Gumboot, where you’ll find the same caliber of hilarity, history, style, functionality, and world-bridging community as you’d find in a regular ol’ Wellie. 

*Sadly, friends, there are not extra wedding invitations to be given out. But hey, that’s not to say you can’t make your way up to Merville and lurk in the nearby bushes (you may need gumboots for this) to take in the festivities!

The Last Olympic Neighbourhood – Merville

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As a key media outlet for the 2010 Olympics, the Daily Gumboot is excited to bring you our “Olympics Neighbourhoods” series. Here’s how it works: each week, Managing Editor, Kurt Heinrich, and Editor-in-Chief, John will profile a different Vancouver neighbourhood with a specific focus on things that might interest out-of-town visitors who arrive in The Couve for the Olympics. We will do this between now and the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and the story will be told be the Gumboot’s editors asking and answering the five questions below. These are the straight goods that you can’t get from VANOC, the Ministry of Tourism or the City of Vancouver. Let’s get to it!



1. Where is this neighbourhood exactly, and how do I get there?

JOHN: Merville is a mysterious and secret neighbourhood that exists between the West End and Stanley Park. Few Vancouverites have ever truly found this hidden gem of a community. Unfortunately, it is unreachable by public transit, although a quick hike or bike ride through some of Merville’s amazing trails will get you into the community’s heart in no time at all!

KURT: If you want a real answer, I’d suggest typing in Courtenay, BC into Google maps. Then go a little into the bush and presto, you’re there.

2. Why should a tourist/traveler be interested in it?

KURT: My favorite part about Merville is the streams. I can remember several happy occasions where I had the opportunity to A) float down them and B) dive underneath the rocks and through carved holes in the riverbed. No, I’m not on acid. There is such a place and its called Nymph Falls.

JOHN: The Merville General Store is probably one of the coolest, most eclectic places in Vancouver. Colourful local characters who never, ever leave this hidden community pull up a bar stool and engage as many tourists and newcomers as possible in conversations that run the gamut from inspiring to downright weird. Merville also yields spectacular beeches, lush pastures and forests, as well as one of the most diverse mushroom populations in Coastal British Columbia. Finally, it’s the gumboot capital of Canada, which may or may not have inspired a couple of editors back at the beginning of this project.

3. What good and/or unique things are there to eat?

JOHN: As I said before, there are mushrooms galore! But if fungus isn’t for you, I recommend sampling some other amazing treats from the 100% local bounty of Merville. A lot of people here live off the grid (and some don’t like strangers shooting film on their porches, apparently), so their diet consists of truly local beef (we saw two or three cows during our trip), chickens and other fowl, pigs, goats, sheep, small-to-medium-sized-rodents, shellfish and non-shellfish, and a wide variety of roots, tubers and berries. The culinary highlight was probably stumbling across a gentleman who was harvesting some winter squash that he was planning to serve with heaping portions of rabbit stew. Yum yum!

KURT: Another great place to check out is the Atlas. Make sure you order their chicken focaccia sandwich. And also make sure you bring an appetite. John once finished second in an international hot dog eating contest (at least that’s what he tells me) and he still has trouble eating the whole sandwich.

4. What can I do for fun in this neighbourhood.

JOHN: Merville has one of the weirdest community traditions I’ve ever seen in my travels – which include history books, television shows and face-to-face adventures around the world. The locals love to rock fight. I don’t know how to explain it more simply, other than to write this: find someone else in the ‘hood and throw rocks at that person. Typically, the first rock is a warning shot and might not actually hit the person. After that, it’s game on! Like I said, it’s weird.

5. What are your three favourite things about Merville?

1) It’s a real place. If you’re only in town for a few more days, forget the Olympics and try to find Merville. This unique, hidden and quaint little community has a lot to offer and is a once-in-a-lifetime place to visit. In exchange for my telling you the community’s location I would accept hockey tickets. It’s worth it. Trust me.

2) Adventure. Whether it’s getting in a rock fight, evading curmudgeony locals or careening through a breathtaking forest, Merville has all sorts of spectacular outdoor sights to experience in a myriad of different ways.

3) Olympic Spirit. Did you know that 100% of Mervillians support the Olympics? Also, Canadian Hockey Defenseman, Brent Seabrook is actually from the tiny Stanley Park hamlet of Merville! True story. Before moving to Delta/Tswwassen, Mr. Seabrook honed his hockey skills by shooting rocks against trees with his grandfather’s hockey stick.

Katie Burns

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to an ongoing segment here at The Daily Gumboot. It’s called “Get to Know Your Community” and, basically, it goes like this: each and every Sunday we will profile someone from a community somewhere. Each person is asked the same five questions (see below as well as in the “Ideas from Everywhere” page). At the end of the profile, the Gumbooteer (member of this blog’s Editorial Board) who found the person will list their three favourite things about the highlighted community member. Savvy?

Here are some ideas from everywhere. Here is one way that we try to build community. Have fun with it!

Katie Burns: Sustainability Coordinator and Badass Bride!

Katie Burns: Sustainability Coordinator and Badass Bride!

Who are you?

My card says “Katie Burns, Sustainability Coordinator”.  I grew up in Maitland, Nova Scotia (once a prosperous shipbuilding community but now a village of fewer than 200 people).  After collecting a few university degrees in history and environmental studies, I’ve found my niche in the field of community sustainability.  I now work for the Town of Markham, a suburb of Toronto, and spend my time on the community sustainability plan, local food strategy, community indicators and climate action plan.

What do you do for fun?

I like to get outside and move, including running, cycling, walking and the occasional race.  I also have a green thumb and grow a wide variety of tomatoes and basil on my back deck.  I find almost everything about food and beer fun and especially like visiting farmers’ markets, picking up our weekly CSA share, describing delicious beers and having our beer guys turn them into reality, spending a couple of weeks canning a year’s worth of tomatoes, and of course sharing food and drinks with friends and family.

What’s your favorite community and why?

I love Toronto and that so many communities can coexist within one city.  A few of my favourites include:

-          The Stop Community Food Centre (www.thestop.org) which is one of Canada’s first food banks.  They are doing innovative work in increasing access to food.  I’ve researched the development of their new location, volunteered for their food bank and met our CSA farmers at their Green Barns Farmers’ Market.

-          Fermentations (http://www.fermentations.ca/), which is a small business where a group of us make beer, wine and the occasional cider.  It is fun, delicious and has been the starting point for many great evenings with friends.

-          The Junction, which is the neighbourhood where Jim and I first lived when we moved to Toronto, named for the 3 railways that meet there.  It is home to a great arts festival (http://www.junctionartsfest.com/).  Unfortunately, it is gentrifying fast but hopefully it will be able to keep some of the grit which I think makes it so great.

What is your superpower?

I’m a generalist.  I’ve always had a hard time focusing on a single issue or topic.  For a long time I thought this was a weakness, especially when I was studying history and everyone around me started to happily narrow their focus.  I preferred to dabble in new topics and couldn’t imagine ever spending more than a term on anything.  But I found my niche in sustainability, which is often described as “everything and nothing” because of how broad and general it can seem.

How does your power help you build community?

I’m now working on Markham’s community sustainability plan.  It will establish a vision and goals for a sustainable future and set targets for 2050 and beyond.  The plan is addressing social equity, identity and culture, individual health, shelter, food security, access and mobility, education and skills, economic vibrancy, material management, water efficiency, ecosystem integrity, and energy and climate.  It is a pretty ambitious plan and we have a fairly small team working on it.  Being a generalist helps me to not only understand each of these areas in isolation but also how they can potentially work together to make Markham a better place to live.   I really enjoy the diversity of subjects that I get to explore everyday and hope that it will have a positive impact on one of Toronto’s largest and most diverse suburbs.

My three favourite things about Katie Burns are…

1. Maitland, Nova Scotia is exactly like Merville, BC. Well, maybe not “exactly” the same, but Katie and I had very, very similar upbringings. Canada is great for that. Whether in Nova Scotia or on Vancouver Island, two folks can share entirely different and similar upbringings – my childhood in Merville probably involved a little more “hippy-spiritualism” than “christian-traditionalism” and Judy Burns can sew clothes in a way that Janet Horn, well, my mom can’t sew clothes (she has an infinite number of creative talents, though). Anyway, whenever Katie and I get together we always shake our heads and smile at the seemingly impossible parallels and synergies regarding our Maitland/Merville upbringings.

2. She makes everything from scratch. Everything. Break, pizza dough, cookies, shoes, computers, bicycles, tomato plants. Everything. Sure, I made some of this up, but only with the purpose of driving home the point of just how organic Ms. Burns really and truly is.

3. Markham, Ontario will be sustainable by 2012. Pretty much. The role of a Sustainability Coordinator in an interconnected (community-wise and transportation-wise and culturally-speaking) urban centre is one thing – people kinda sorta get it. But taking on such a role in the suburbs, well, becomes a challenge not unlike the daunting task of the Maple Leafs making the playoffs. Making Markham sustainable takes gumption, creativity, intelligence, uncompromising vision, and the capacity for a myriad kind of community-building. And Katie Burns has it in spades. Good luck, Katie. Only two years to go!

As told by John Horn…