Not So Boring Conversations

For over 60 years George "Kirk" Scott had been part of hockey in one form or another. From rink rat to top scorer in Junior B hockey to joining the Plymouth Whalers coaching staff to being inducted into the International Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame in Detroit. Kirk's teachings helped shape players like Tyler Seguin, Chad LaRose, Austin Levi and Justin Williams. His influence can still be seen out on the ice to this day yet in the history books you would have a hard time finding his name along side other coaching staff and players. With his hockey career behind him Kirk now wants to bring awareness of the history black players had in a white domination game and help its future by bringing black and other minorities into the sport, to maybe one day see the first black head coach in the NHL.

When I was in school Canadian history covered famous explorers, soldiers, and politicians mostly of French or British nationality. It did not include Canadian Black history. Thankfully there are people like Elise Harding-Davis in this world to help fix this. A past curator of the Black History Museum in Amherstburg and a leading authority on African Canadian history, Elise's passion for history and her people drives her to make sure we understand and acknowledge the part African Canadians had in shaping Canada. Black men and women came to Canada for freedom and along the way helped build this country, fought for this country and died for this country. By protecting their cemeteries and sharing her knowledge with future generations Elise is making sure we do not forget them.

Patience, passion and time. Three things that when combined can create great results. The Windsor Mosquito Bomber Group located in the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association has all three. For 20 years now this team of volunteers have been salvaging plane wreckages and building parts from scratch in hopes to build one of the fastest most feared World War II fighter planes, the de Havilland Mosquito. I got a chance to visit the hanger and talk with the Mosquito group liaison Mike Durand about their progress and what it takes to build a 70 year old plane today. I know with a little patience, passion and time the skies above Windsor will be filled with the roar of a Mosquito someday in the future.

We welcome our first returning guest, Richard Parkinson. No longer an editor for The Essex Voice, Richard is now an author (or as he puts it "a story teller"). Richard describes his first book, The Call: Book One of The Book of West Marque as a Westeren Victorian fantasy with hints of magic. A tale about law men, princesses, priests, and demons. I sat down with Richard a couple of weeks before the book was released and talked about his process for creating such a large story, editing, publishing, and what writing means to him.

A lot can change in 34 years. In 1975 Toronto had an estimated population of almost three million people. Years later the population exceeded over 5 million. Within that time Bruce Cottrell watched the city he worked for as an officer of the Toronto Police Services grow and change. From walking the streets as a beat cop, to running a station filled with young new officers, Bruce experienced the ups and downs the city had to offer. I sat down to talk with Bruce about what it was like to be a 20 year old inexperienced police officer chasing wolves off the streets of Toronto to an experienced veteran worried about the next generation of officers charged with the task of serving and protecting an ever growing city.

Canada is big. Many of us only understand this by looking at a map. Some, like Mike Beauchamp understand this because they have travelled across it from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. In 2005 Mike took a journey many Canadians think about doing and rode over 7000 KM across Canada. Documenting the whole journey on video, Mike created a film about his adventure which has been shown at several festivals in Canada and Europe. I got the chance to sit down with Mike in his backyard on a warm summer day to talk about his trek and while doing so I was reminded no matter how big a challenge may seem it is possible to overcome it, you just have to keep pedalling.

Developed in the early 1920's Reiki is an exchange of energy from one person to another for the purpose of healing, either mentally or physically. In the past and to this day Reiki is looked at as a pseudoscience by some and an alternative form of healing by others. Now used in some hospitals during and after surgery views of Reiki are changing and becoming a part of some people's life. I spoke with Brandi Rivait a Medical Reiki Master at the Integrative Healing Arts Studio about Reiki, energy, and the power within us.

Craft breweries are one of the fastest growing industries in Canada. In Ontario there were about 70 craft breweries in 2009, by 2014 that number had doubled to 140. With the help of updated liquor laws it has made it financial possible for small brewers to prosper in a market normally dominated by the larger beer companies. This has introduced many people to a whole new world of fresh, great tasting beer that can be found in their own neighborhoods and Tecumseh, Ontario has one of the best. Already a silver medal winner at the 2016 Ontario Brewery Awards in their first year, Frank Brewing Co. is home to some of the best beer in Southern Ontario. I sat down with Owner/president Shane Meloche and head brewer Brad Wright to talk about what it takes to operate a craft brewery, public's changing tastes, and the inspiration for Frank Brewing Co.

From September to April you will find fans filling hockey arenas around Ontario to cheer on their OHL team. In Windsor that team is the Windsor Spitfires. The voice that echoes throughout the arena during these games is that of Mark Knight, the voice of the Windsor Spitfires. A lifelong hockey fan himself Mark does not take his responsibilities lightly, he is prepared and professional in his duties knowing that the fans cheering on their team appreciate and notice his work. I sat down with Mark to talk about how he came to be "The Voice of The Spits" and what it takes to "Make Some Noise!"

We are a product of our environment, so what if you could control your environment? What changes would you make? After the loss of his wife Allison, Jeremy Hayes and Allison's family set out on a path to help educate people on healthy living, both body and mind. One of the central ongoing projects Jeremy and the Alli Sunshine Project are working on is a healing garden. A garden created to grow healthy plants in healthy soils, a place to reconnect with the earth and a place to educate people on how they too can change their lives. As Victor Lindlahr wrote "Ninety per cent of the diseases known to man are caused by cheap foodstuffs. You are what you eat." We talked with Jeremy at his home about The Allie Sunshine Project and about the garden created in Allison's memory.

As of 2010, 2 out of 5 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. That number is believed to be higher now. But maybe cancer is not the same monster to be feared as it was 10 or 20 years ago. We now understand many different types of cancers, causes and treatments and this knowledge grows all the time with the hard work of people like Dr. Lisa Porter. At the University of Windsor inside Essex Hall you will find Dr. Porter and her (affectionately named) "lab rats" researching new solutions and refining current treatments. We talked to Dr. Porter about our current understanding of cancers and how prevention may not always be possible but how treatments may become safer, more effective and maybe as simple as a trip to your doctor.

Edward Albee said "Sometimes it's necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly." I think this describes Jeffery Bastien and his 20 year journey in theatre. I caught up with Jeff at a local pub to talk about his experiences. From performing and directing in shows like Heat Wave, The Zoo Story, Never Swim Alone, Bug, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? To dealing with the ups and downs both on and off the stage and how his journey brought him to start his own theatre company called Ghost Light Players were he is the Artistic Director. But in talking with Jeff you discover it is not about being the boss of a theatre company that was his final destination. It was about finding a place to share his passion for theatre and to help others conceive or find theirs. Follow Ghost Light Players on Facebook or on Twitter for future performances. Excerpt from Never Swim Alone read by Dean Valentino.

In the West Yoga is still very young. Most of us see Yoga as a physical activity, something you schedule into your daily life. A class you take before heading to work or picking the kids up after school. In the East, Yoga is a discipline that includes a mental, spiritual and physical practice. Something you dedicate your life to. Teaching Yoga since 2009 Reena hopes to help people understand this, that Yoga is more than just a Downward Dog or Warrior Pose. That it can be part of your life and help you not only feel better but maybe understand yourself and your world better as well. Armed with Western attitude and an Eastern soul Reena blends these practices into her life and those of her students.

It isn't too often you come across someone who has found their place in the world. Talking with Conroy Copeland for only ten minutes you feel the passion he has for his art. For over 40 years Conroy has been training and teaching martial arts in the Windsor area and loving ever minute of it. To Conroy karate is life, without it he may have traveled a different path in his life one he would tell himself "would not have been very good". Named after himself Conroy can be found sharing his passion with his students at his Copeland's Martial Arts and Fitness Centre in hopes to make kids into better adults and adults into better people.

When we were kids we had dreams of becoming firefighters, astronauts, veterinarians or Indiana Jones. As time moved on sometimes dreams get set aside or put on hiatus. Ever since Chris was a boy he wanted to be a wrestler. Watching Brett Hart or the Dynamite Kid on television helped fuel his dream knowing he wanted to be a part of that world. Chris Valentino may not have become a house hold name in that wrestling world but he set out to make his childhood dream come true, if only we could have all been so brave.