If you were listening to 620 CKRM Breakfast Show and the News, the Federal Government is thinking about allowing random breathalyzer tests. This would be similar to what is currently being done in Australia, New Zealand and some European countries. There, police can require drivers stopped at roadside checks to give an alcohol-breath sample.

Civil Libertarians are opposed, saying that giving police the power to act randomly would violate a person’s right to protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

To be fair, the discussion paper is giving groups and the public until April 30th to voice their opinion. Nothing is final.

I don’t have a problem with a police officer pulling me over, ever. If I’ve done something wrong, it’s my problem. The difficulty I have in this situation is being pulled over by, at times, an aggressive peace officer showing that he or she has the power to do what they want and will take advantage of that privilege. I know there are many many drivers out there that drink and drive. Some of them can barely keep their vehicles running strait and true. These are the abusers of almost everything in society and feel they have a God given right to do whatever they want. In most cases, they get their due. However, we do lose our rights and privileges as citizens when something like this can happen on a whim. There had better be justification for the stop. Jamie had the best line this morning. He asked,”who will police the police?” I can see abuse of power. I have nothing to hide, so pull me over. But, at least show some respect when it’s being done and an explanation of the circumstances as to why its being done.

What do you think? Do you agree with random checks? Take our POLL this weekend. Or, email me your comments.

(Daylight Saving Time Rooster)

The battle rages on. Change the clocks; don’t change the clocks! It will be a hot potatoe for years to come. Even if the change were to take place, that battle would rage in opposition.

I grew up in Manitoba and lived in Alberta and B.C.,where we “Fell Back” in the fall and “Sprung Ahead” in the spring…every year. It was frustrating for shift workers and a nightmare for parents with children. Everyone says we get an hour more daylight. Do you?

I’ll tell you right now, I never liked it and never will. You just get your system set and rolling smoothly, when it changes. If you want more sunshine (daylight)..get up with me at 3 a.m. and then go to bed at 11 p.m. I’ve never missed a sunrise or sunset. Then someone will say,”I need 8 hours of sleep or I can’t function”. I have a tough time believing that one. Get up and get going. It’s no different than excuses I and many others use as to why I don’t get enough exercise. There are NO excuses….just time management. It’s mind over matter.

I do understand the border communities that do commerce with their neighbors. That does factor into the equation. Other than that, I love it the way it is. Stay where you are Saskatchewan.

Time is running out to get your entries into the 620 CKRM Big Country Talent Show. Friday is the deadline for entries. This is longest, continuous running Country Talent Show in Canada. We began in 1978 under the dirction of Fred King and continue it today. I’ve had the fortune of being there for the entire list of competitions. Our first winner was Gerry Banulius. There have been many extremely talented performers compete in this event annually. The most successful has to Brad Johner from Midale, Saskatchewan. The list of Champions is enormous. What’s special about this competition is that the entertainers have an opportunity to perform in a professional environment. The location, once again, will be the Pump Roadhouse. Each contestant is backed by Regina’s most seasoned professional players headed by Don Young, Gary Dunitz, Ken Burton and Christina Gasparik. There isn’t a competition like it. The prize is a recording session with radio airplay. All finalists get the opportunity to perform on the biggest Country Entertainment stage in the country, the Craven Country Jamboree..plus other events.
This is a major stepping stone for those who are looking at becoming Country entertainers of the future.

So, reserve your tables at The pump. The run-offs begin April 11 for 4 Sundays at 7 p.m. with the final on Mothers Day May 9th.

I attended the Regina Pats Sportsmans banquet last night at the Delta. Very nice night….always is. It’s been a tough year for the Pats. Once again missing the playoffs in the WHL. That’s tough to take for everyone involved in the organization. Especially when you see that the two top scorers in the league (not just the team) are Regina Pats. Jordan Eberle and Jordan Weal lead the entire league…and the Pats miss the playoffs. It’s just one of those years where no matter what you do, you just keep missing the mark. Every game you lace up those skates, you go out there to win. Sometimes it gets to the point where you’re almost over-trying to either score or NOT make a mistake, when everything around you collapses. It’s not fun.

The evening moved away from that ending. Edmonton Oiler President of Hockey Operations , Kevin Lowe said it best when he said Hockey (The Regina Pats) are much more than wins, losses and championships. Its what you are to your community. The Pats have been a key component in this community longer than any other team in Junior Hockey in Canada. The history is incredible. The names of all those who have gone on to a professional careers or have become community leaders i slegendary. Last night was more about what each of these players were able to take away from the game and make them integral parts of their future lives. Yes, there were the awards. I find awards as much negative as they are positive. They salute individuals for sigificant achievement during the year. Don’t get me wrong, they deserve them. What’s often missed is the contribution by everyone else to the team. It is after all a team game.

I remember my last year in junior hockey (MJHL). We won the North Division and lead the MJHL Championship series only to lose to AndyVan Hellemond (ex-NHL Referee). That was tough to take. What I do remember best was that this was a farewell to the team and junior hockey by a number of players. That was a very emotional time in my life. It happened again last night. The final hurrah for Matt Streuby, Brett Leffler and Mitch McColm. The time spent playing hockey at this level and all the aquaintances they’ve made over their time will always be there with them. The sad part is it’s the last time they lace them up with their fellow teammates.

Thanks Regina Pats for another exciting winter. Training camp is only 4 1/2 months away.

WELL ……..sort of! It amazes me how just ONE day can get your mind feeling spring-like. Saturday was a gorgeous day. It started out as we have for what seems like months, foggy. Then the sun came out and that feeling of spring was in the air. It makes you want to get outside and start getting your deck furniture out and doing stuff. Finally a little light comes on and says….”whoa little buddy, it’s only the first week of March”. There could still be some massive snow storms roll through the area. March is a very unpredictable month.

As the sun shone, we decided we’d take a quick trip to Moosejaw. I love that community. The drive out was pleasant, trees coated in heavy frost. It’s the kind of tree you see on a Christmas card without the lights. Lots of traffic, but it’s four lane. Pulling into Moosejaw, you could tell they’ve been experiencing some milder conditions than Regina. It seems more snow has melted and more of that brown grass was showing. Moosejaw was humming. The Minard’s RV Show and Sale was on at the exhibition grounds. Downtown, it looked like people were out shopping,  wearing only polo shirts in some cases. The Spa looked full of life. The Casino was hopping. The Big Box Stores were busy. Everywhere you looked, people were out hustling about enjoying the season and warmth of the sun. It really is a rebirth of sorts. People breaking free of their homes and heavy clothes and getting some fresh air.

I love spring more than any season. As a kid, I looked for every puddle or ice covered ditch to test the ice.  Spent a lot of time having to go back to the house to get all the wet gear off because I broke through. How many times did you hear your mother tell you, “stay off the ice and away from those puddles, you’ll get soaked”? Never listened!!  I built makeshift boats on a stick and string to float down those rushing waters.  Show me water and a ditch and I’ll show you a kid going  to check it out. Oh, summer is the ultimate, but spring gets me fired up for whats ahead. All we need now is more sun and less fog. Hopefully Mother Nature has that in her menu. Bring it on Mother nature.

The Olympics have quickly come and gone. Vancouver is now saddled with the massive task of clean up and putting all of their systems back in order. It was an Olympics to remember! From glitches to successes to sadness. If you were fortunate enough to be there, you were able to experience a once in a lifetime event. I doubt we’ll see an Olympic event in our country for many many years.

Saskatchewan too was at the Olympics. They think they won a gold medal by their presence. In fact, they claim the Saskatchewan Pavilion was one of the most popular sites by visitors. The Pavilion welcomed over 120,000 people during that 17 days (about 7000 a day). Is that good?? The Pavilion consisted of 2 buildings, a 6-storey video dome “Experience Centre” and a 7,500 square foot “Entertainment Centre”. Was the cost worth it…really?

I now would like to know where this dome goes. Is it going to be used around the province? Was it recycled? Looking at the list of entertainers that performed during the event, there were really only a couple that would make the grade for such an international event. Were some of the choices political? Lots of questions to be asked. Believe me, you’ll never get those answered. Was the line-up a fair representation of what Saskatchewan has to offer in terms of entertainment?

I’m proud of this Province and this city. I would never have made it my home for most of my life, if I though otherwise. I just hope that the investment wasn’t somewhat of a FREE ride for a lot of people to get to an event, like the Olympics, under the cover of promoting our province. Time will tell.

O Canada

Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Now, what is wrong with these lyrics? These were taken from a 1908 poem.

In yesterday’s throne speech there was a hint that the Federal Government might “gender-neutralize O Canada, specifically the line “in all thy sons command”. The change would make that line read,”thou dost in us command”. It absolutely makes NO sense to me. There has to someone , male or female, needed some attention time in the commons to prove they, in fact, are there. Our country is in far greater need of attention to life changing policies, not gender balance in an anthem.

In elemntary school, we sang O Canada every morning and God Save The Queen at the end of the day. In High School, we began our day, at attention, while O Canada was played over the schools intercom system. It almost sounds military! Our school had about 1000 students in it, due to consolidation. A lot has changed since those days. It’s supposed to be cultural progress. It’s time we got back to that pride. The Olympics was an example of how proud Canadians can be in their expression while listening to or singing the National Anthem.

To our well paid representatives in Ottawa, lets get back to running the country and dealing with some of the far important concerns of the nation.

Click on this link for the History of our National Anthem:http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/anthem-eng.cfm#a2

 O-Canada-eng

It’s that time of the year, as the snow starts to melt, that we see tons of paper, bottles, cans…garbage on the streets and highways. As I drove along the Ring Road today, I noticed the center median covered with chunks of carpet, plastic garbage bags, beer boxes, food wrappers. You name it, it was out there. It boggles my mind when I see the carelessness by those who are taking junk to the dump and don’t tie down or cover their loads. It’s people like you who make visitors say, WHY Love Regina…what a dump.

I drive to work just after 3 a.m. Each morning.  I see fast food bags with all their garbage just chucked out the window from those who howled over night. In fact, as I waited at a light by the Southland Mall heading west, a young female in a blue SUV, rolled down her window and threw out plastic wrap that may have been from a cigarette package or some other item. WHY?? Keep it in your vehicle until you get to either your place or a location that has a garbage collection receptacle and throw it out there.

Over the many years I’ve cruised, I was always amazed at my stops on the Islands where the locals just blatantly discarded whatever they were carrying in the street or the alley. It bothered me so much, I dreaded the thought of going back to those Island centers. That’s exactly what visitors to our city will do. I am going to step out on a limb and say a lot of this discarded garbage comes from young people riding around in cars and firing it out the window. I’ve seen it! Their motto appears to be,”let someone else worry about it, who cares”! Oh, I’ve seen other age demographs do this as well. I have made it a policy in our family to keep it in the vehicle until we stop at a proper place to dump it. It takes very little effort.

How would you like it if someone took a basket of papers, wrappers, bottles and half eaten food and dumped it on your lawn or sidewalk. Well, that’s what you did to this community. Time to wake up and become responsible. The environment you are polluting is the one that you and goodness help them, your children, will have to live in.

I’ve been around Regina long enough to watch it’s growing pains. My first stop in Regina was back in 1972 when I had the opportunity to spin one of the first Country records on the station. Regina was considered a very small city with few amenities compared to the much larger centers. My memories were of a dusty center that needed lots of development to create interest from the rest of Canada. I have always loved Regina for it’s size. You’re 15 minutes from everywhere. Having lived in much larger cities, this is something you really do get to appreciate.

Regina isn’t the same place we’ve grown to love and live. Regina and the province are on the verge of an explosion (controlled mind you). We’ve seen some dramatic changes in the last couple of years. It’s only just begun! The potential for the province and the city is huge. Growth is inevitable. Regina and Saskatchewan are positioned perfectly for major expansion. The future looks bright indeed.

The topic today, is whether or not to build at NEW Stadium/Entertainment complex. Lots of questions are being asked by all sectors. It’s a massive undertaking at considerable cost. However, this is part of the future growth, of not only our City, but the Province. These are the goals we will have to consider in order to stay competitive with the rest of the nation. It’s progress. Yes, it comes at a cost. But what doesn’t? The toughest part of all of this is change. Our province, in general, has been recognized for being extremely cautious for fear we may lose a lifestyle we pride ourselves in. Unfortunately, life and times change. I’m excited about the new developements. I agree with construction of the new Stadium/Entertainment complex. We have to look past our comfort zone of today to achieve what we will require in the future. I’ve walked the sidelines of Taylor Field (Mosaic Stadium) for 27 seasons. I’m proud to say, that’s the longest for a sideline reporter in Rider History. It’s been a great place to be win or lose. I love that place. But, my friends, it’s time to move on. Bring on the future.

Phewwwww! Don’t do this to my heart! Syd The Kid looked like your average hockey player through most of the tournament. In fact, the panel said if there was anyone who had to get on his horse and get going, it was Sydney Crosby. He did win one for Canada in the shootout, which shouldn’t even have happened. But, that was it.

There is something about these “special” players that surfaces when you least expect it. We saw that spectacular goal (goals) by Paul Henderson in the 72 series. We watched the combination of Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky win it for Canada in a similar spectacular fashion. We watch Regina Pat’s Jordan Eberle pull off the impossible as well. What is it that they have? Every kid dreams about it, but very few follow through.

I remember when I played Junior Hockey (when the earth was flat), we too had a kid just like that. Norm Cherry. Talented by unassuming in terms of his on ice contribution most of the time. Yet, just when the chips were down, this kid would be at the right place at the right time.

I will admit that I am NOT a Crosby fan. I think a lot of smoke is blown his way by media and scouts. But he was THE MAN for Canada that produced the Gold Medal. Often, way too much is made of a player like Crosby. It seems it’s a media right to produce a superstar on paper. There are so many highly skilled players that never get the hype, thus never get the opportunity to take it to the house. But you have to take advantage of those opportunities. Crosby did it and he gets my vote as Canada’s Super Star! Now if he were a LEAF….then maybe I’d jump up on the Crosby band wagon. That will never happen, unless he buys the team.  Save your money Syd.

Crosby made my Olympics!