(The Wright Brothers – First Flight, 1903)

August 19th is National Aviation Day and the birthday of inventor Orville Wright.  I have had an affinity for aircraft as long as I can remember. I was about 4 or 5 years old, back in my village home of East Selkirk, Manitoba when I first remember everyone getting excited about a double winged aircraft flying over our home. It was the neighbors son who was in the military on a training flight.

My next experience was not long after when a, so called, barn stormer, came to our village to give airplane rides in an open cockpit plane. I remember the field and the home where it took place today. People came from everywhere. I wanted to go, but my father though it would be in my best interest to stay on the ground. I was only five!

My next experience was going fishing with my family to Wallace Lake, Manitoba where the manager of the resort owned a float plane. I was about 10 at the time. I hounded my father to allow my friend Brian and me to go for a ride. He agreed and we had our first experience in a Cessna on floats. Taking off and landing on water is truly a different experience. As a kid I built paper models and plastic models of every kind of plane imaginable. I even designed my own. Selkirk is home to a sizeable float plane base. Whenever the opportunity arose, I would go and watch the planes take off and land.

(Avro Lancaster Bomber)

Well today, many years later, I live at the end of runway 31 and absolutely love watching the aircraft taking off and landing. Tonight I saw an Avro Lancaster Bomber, giant 4 engine prop aircraft head south off runway 13 rattling my windows. Magnificent!  What a rush.

Tonight I watched the Mayday program and the story of the Gimli Glider.

The Gimli Glider is the nickname of the Air Canada aircraft that was involved in a notable aviation incident. On 23 July 1983, Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767-200 jet, ran completely out of fuel at 26,000 feet (7,920 m) altitude, about halfway through its flight from Montreal to Edmonton via Ottawa. The crew was able to glide the aircraft safely to an emergency landing at Gimli Industrial Park Airport, a former Canadian Air Force base at Gimli, Manitoba.

(CF100)

I know that runway well. I attended my first grade of school in a one room school house at Camp Morton, Manitoba,  just north of Gimli. What I remember most was that it was a Canadian Forces Air Base where they trained pilots. One night, on our way back from Selkirk to Camp Morton, I remember passing a crash site of a CF100 training plane along the Highway. At 6 years of age, seeing the lights, smoke and emergency vehicles along the highway remained in my memory forever. I don’t think I slept that night.

(CF104 Starfighter)
As time went on, I lost one of my best friends in a F104 Starfighter jet crash in Baden Soellingen, Germany along with anothe Canadian Forces Captain. It was a day I will never forget.

Still today, the airplane continues to mesmerize me. I have flown many times, in many aircraft, including the Snow Birds Tutor jet.  I even did a traffic watch report in Calgary in the Bell G47 Helicopter, like the ones used on the Mash series.  That was fun!

(CT-114 Tutor)

I began flight training, but due to cost and time, regretfully, I never did complete the program. One of my all time favorite movies is “Those Amazing Young Men In Their Flying Machines”! There is something about the Wright Brothers that’s in all of us. That dream to fly like a bird. My dream continues.

(Frosted Grass)

The word most in agriculture in Saskatchewan don’t want to hear is “FROST”! Looking at the weather forecast, as I do with regularity, that word surfaced again. There is a possibility of frost forming in a number of areas of the province tonight.

Saskatchewan possesses a continental climate and the seasonal variations in temperature provide a short growing season. On average the province supports 159 to 160 frost free days, in the far north that number dimishes to 85 to 95 frost free days.

In Regina the first frost day in summer can be as early as September 10th, while Moosejaw is September 18th. Still too early for my liking.

Now why the big concern about frost? Crops in our province are behind in maturity this year. It was a late seeding season and will require extra time to ripen. Here’s what happens when frost hits.

Essentially, the cold temperature freezes the water in the plant cells creating crystals that enlarge and expand, creating a rupture and leakage. When the plant cells are warmed by the morning sunlight, the water crystals melt leaving damaged cells behind. The longer the duration of the frost on the plant, the more severe the damage will be. The damage to the plant will depend on the duration and temperature affecting the plant. Some reports indicate that prolonged exposure of several hours with an air temperature of -2oC should be considered a killing frost. Other reports indicate that damage can occur at an air temperature of 0oC as the plants will feel the cold four to five degrees cooler.

Let’s hope mother nature behaves until at least the middle of September.

I think horses are some of the most magnificent animals on earth. There is something about a horse that catches everyones attention, no matter where you are. I don’t ride. In fact, I retired from riding at the age of 5 when I fell off my Shetland Pony and broke my collar bone. Growing up as a kid we always had horses. George and Darby , our two work horses; we had pintos and of course Shorty the Shetland pony. Every kid in the village wanted to come over and ride. It was ok with me as long as I could ride their bikes. I loved horses in the movies. Trigger and Silver were the most famous, but there were many more. I’m always amazed at the skill of the riders. Then there’s rodeo. But the show that always gets my attention is The Royal Red.

The Canadian National Arabian and Half Arabian Championship Horse show
The Royal Red is back for another year. The show runs from today through 21st at Evraz Place in Regina.

“The Royal Red”, stands alone as the only AHA championship show offering a full range of competition with Canadian flair. Spectators can enjoy 174 different classes in youth, western, dressage, hunter and english disciplines including reining, dressage, hunter jumper and more.
The championship show, produced by the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, Colo. The Royal Red will bring about 720 world class horses from 40 states and six provinces to compete in halter, saddle seat, driving, side saddle, western pleasure, Arabian mounted native costume, trail, reining, working cow, hunter pleasure, jumping, show hack, and dressage. Unlike any other national show produced by the AHA, Canadian Nationals features competition in amateur, youth, open and—new this year—select divisions, providing an option for many different kinds of riders.

Spectators can take a stroll through the newly expanded Canadian Nationals Shopping Expo that offers a special brand of equine-related and inspired clothing, tack, art and jewelry. The Shopping Expo is open daily, August 16-21, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission to the Canadian Nationals is free. Events will run from approximately 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. most days in three sessions at 8 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Take your family and enjoy the show. It’s truly the best you’ll se.

It was an absolute thrill for me to have Don Narcisse join me for quick hello on the Flea Market this morning. He was an inspiration when he played and continues that same direction today. Having spent half my life as a sideline reporter during football broadcasts ( 3 in Calgary and 28 in Regina) I’ve seen lots of great football players from the best seat in the house, the bench! Watching a game from that position gives you an entirely different respect and appreciation for the game. It’s mean tough football. These guys play for their athletic lives every down they’re out there. I’ve watched all the different personalities from up close. Some guys you can talk to, while others are so focused, you dare not interupt their attention( right Roger!). When the game ends it’s either elation or frustration. Most leave it all on the field. One guy that did was Donald Narcisse. He practised hard and played hard. Like he said, he was there early. It was a game that became a job, a living. His teammates will tell you that he was the ONLY Rider player to come back from a road trip with more per diem money than when he left.  SHREWD! Everything requires your full attention. You looked after yourself on and off the field. Narco did it. He said he followed his older brother’s direction and foot steps. Keep your nose to the grind stone and stay out of trouble. It’s an unforgiving game. You’re only as good as your last play. It could be a short career.

Narcisse had the ability to always be where he had to be to get those all important short yards. He could break them too. I still remember when he put on those glass cutter gloves. I questioned how you could actually get the feel of the ball with them….but, he proved he could. The rest of the league’s receivers followed Don’s example. When you’re playing with guys like Ray Elgaard and Jeff Fairholm, you had better be in top form. Don gave us some of the most exciting football ever for the Riders. Don created his fancy shuffle/shrug after a catch. He never shunned an interview request on the sideline. He always obliged me even when the times were tough. The last thing you want to do is talk about how bad the game was.

Don’s efforts put him in an elite class, the CFL Hall Of Fame. The will now be 249  members in that Hall of Fame. That’s pretty elite company considering all the years of football.  This is saskatchewan Roughriders 100th Anniversary. Sadly his Mom passed without getting to see him invested into this special order. I’m certain she’s here in spirit. I tip my hat to one of the CFL’s class acts. I’m proud to say I had the pleasure of watching his career from start to finish on the field he made famous. Congrats Don!

You can feel it in the air. The Back to School push is in high gear. Events for summer are winding down. Summer vacations are coming to an end. Camp sites are getting their last rush of visitors. In a couple of weeks Moms and Dads turn their children over to a teacher who you hope will steer your child’s mind in the right direction.

I can’t say I loved school. I come from a family of educators. I enjoyed school, but always found it wasn’t getting me to the things I wanted to know or be able to get to fast enough. I guess you could call it impatience. Over the years I’ve learned to take the message being taught and work with it. Learning is an experience thing. You have to learn how to learn. I had friends in school that lived a pretty “active” life away from the class room. Yet, they would come back after a night of celebration and score A’s on tests. Somehow they managed to grasp enough of the information required and retain it until they needed to regurgitate the matter. I wasn’t so fortunate. I had to go over it and over it, still with no degree of certainty that I would remember enough to score high on that test. One thing I do know is that when I learned something, I never forgot it. I remember more about my subjects today than most of those hi-flyers in class. I found that out at an event with some former school mates who went on to some very influential positions in life but couldn’t remember things we learned in class. Does it matter now…..I doubt it. It’s what you are doing today and what you will be doing tomorrow that counts. What happened yesterday is history!

I’m pleased with what I was able to  accomplish in school, but know I could have done far better with a little more patience and concentration.

So as you send your youngsters off to school this year, those are a couple of areas that will stand them well in their future. It’s an exciting time in their lives, because there is a whole world out there in front of them with more opportunities than ever before. You just have to go get it!

Well the Queen City Ex is over and as tradition has it, that’s when our summer weather starts to head south. Well tell that to the Weather Office. Wow…..that was a HOT weekend. From what I see this week, it will be average to a bit above average. I pitty those who have no air conditioning at times like this. Mind you, I grew up without air. In fact, I once bypassed an offer to buy an automobile with air conditioning for one with big horsepower. NOT SMART! It happened to be one of the hottest summers on record. The only thing that happened is that we could go faster with the windows down for relief.

Are we spoiled? I talk with callers to the station that say, they shut everything up and don’t leave the house on a 30 degree celsius day because it’s too hot. I adjust my activity but I never miss a hot day. We have too many days during the rest of the year that I only wish I could be suffering with that heat. My Mom was one of those. She didn’t like the heat at all. I remember visiting her just after they had central air installed and it was 65 degrees in the house. I asked her if she was planning to open a locker plant soon. You could hang meat in there. Not healthy.

Summers are too short to grumble about the heat. Before you know it it will be but a memory. It seems to me that the days of cold out strip the days of heat in this country.

So, like the Bull Dog…keep your cool!

The word this morning was that Canadians lead the way in swearing. They do it even more than our American or British counterparts. Either we’re more honest in filling in the questionnaire or the others are lying.

I will admit this. I’m certain there is more casual swearing today as a form of communication than ever before. Growing up, I did hear adults file a curse word or two. But nothing like I hear today. The most common is the F word. It’s as common as saying hello. I was always warned by my parents that if I swore, be prepared for the consequences. I was threatened with having my mouth washed out with a bar of soap, like the Chistmas Movie story when Ralphie (Peter Billingsly) was threatened. In the story, they actually go through with it.
I doubt that kind of punishment really stops anyone from projecting an expletive. In school, I don’t remember any excessive swearing. My first real taste of it was in the hockey dressing room. It seemed to be the only way to communicate your passion. When you sit back and think about it, you have to ask yourself,”WHY”?

I think it would be easier to make your point with positive direct comment and how intensely you express it. I’ve even heard about children in daycare environments expressing themselves. Mind you, at that age, it’s probably what they heard at home. They feel if Mom and Dad can use it, so can I. Obviously without repercussion.
Even the broadcast industry has become a lot less concerned with the occasional curse. If you watch our National Television Networks, its just common language. They warn you, but who cares.

I won’t say I don’t swear, but I do watch when and where I express myself in that fashion. Kinda like the Americans and the British.

It’s finally here. The Queen City Ex (Buffalo Days). It’s been a part of Regina’s skyline for a long time. It all began on two crisp fall days in 1884 on a site which is now Victoria Park in downtown Regina. Regina’s first fair was held on October 2 and 3, 1884 under the guidance of the volunteer-based Assiniboia Agricultural Society. The 1895 Territorial Exhibition was promoted as “An Agricultural Extravaganza”. It was a grand affair with livestock competitions, bands, Red River jig competitions, horse races, the NWMP Musical Ride, bronco busting, trapshooting, soccer, tennis tournaments and an auction.The 1899 fair was known as “The Weed Fair” because its theme was based on the control of noxious weeds.

On April 3, 1907, the newly created Province of Saskatchewan enacted legislation incorporating the Regina Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition Association Limited, as a non-profit volunteer based organization which is the forefather of the Regina Exhibition Association Limited, or IPSCO Place as we know it today.

In 1966, the City of Regina established a Centennial Committee whose responsibility was to develop new programs and projects for Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Centennial Committee decided upon a gala city-wide summer celebration that was to end with the Summer Fair. In honor of Saskatchewan ’s pioneers, the celebration was to be called Buffalo Days.

This will be my 33 Queen City Ex ( Buffalo Days). My first was back in 1972 during my first stay at CKRM. All the staff dressed is period costume with the famous Buffalo Days Hats, which I still possess this day. I was a little disappointed to see the name change. Much like Edmonton’s Klondike Days now changed to the Capital City Ex. The old names represented the spirit of fair. I guess they call it progress…or the most over used phrase “moving forward”!

Growing up as a kid we had the Selkirk Fair and of course Winnipeg’s famous Red River Exhibition. It still holds that name today. The Red River is but a rookie to Buffalo Days, starting in 1952.

I can’t say I’m a big fair going guy. I have had the good fortune of MCing major stage shows as well as playing on the summer stage with our old King Kountry band. It was always fun. My most fond memories though are MCing the Kiddies Day events for many years. That eventy is  no longer part of this Ex. To me, that was the highlight of my exhibition fun. I loved to watch the kids eyes on the rides or get all sticky in Candy Floss and treats. For my children, we could never be at the Ex long enough or often enough. It was a marathon.

Get out and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Exhbition. It happens once a year and now for only 5 days.

Join 620 CKRM broadcasting live in the link to the Eventplex right next to the model of what may be Regina’s NEW stadium complex.

Where did two weeks go? Craven was another success. A big congratulations to the Jamboree gang for accomplishing another successful event during a very challenging environment this year. Next year looks fantastic already with Rascal Flatts. Over 3000 tickets are sold.  Get them now!

The Riders are on a roll. Oh sure they proved they were stoppable in Calgary, but I see nothing but good football for the remainder of the season and perhaps another shot at the big prize. Mind you, seven other team have the same intention. It will be a full out battle to the end.

The two week break was fantastic. For the FIRST time in years, it was an opportunity to truly let the air out. I always say it’s nice to to get back to the action, but honestly another 2 weeks of R and R would have been what the doctor ordered.

Get ready! Here comes the Queen City EX  (Buffalo Days for me, forever). It’s the high point of summer. As they say, once the fair ends, watch for mother nature start turning quickly to the next season and winter. 145 shopping days until Christmas. It will be here before you know it. The Pats training camp is a month away!

In reality, it is nice to be back where I’ve been for 2/3 of my life, behind the microphone. I love what I do. I hope the feeling is mutual. Now, where the heck is Jamie Lewis when you need him?

Photo Courtesy of Roy Antal – Leader Post

The 2010 edition of the Craven Country Jamboree in underway. I just wanted to give you a bit of an inside as to how we get ready for our morning run LIVE from the Craven Country Jamboree.

Jamie and I start our morning at about 2:15. RIGHT…2:15.!!! I know it’s nuts, but that is the life in this business.  So the next time you complain about missing you coffee break, give us a call. Stop at Tims, get a coffee and to the studio. Now you might think,” what the heck would you do at the studio from that time until you go on the air”? Prepare! It’s called show prep. You go through everything from news, weather, sports, entertainment…just getting all the pieces you need to go to air. Then it’s off to the broadcast site, the Village RV Broadcast Center sponsored by our good friends at Prairie Mobile. This morning we expected to see more clear sky. However, the clouds opened up one more time with a torrential downpour, turning the track that runs behind the stage and all the Craven site property into a slippery mess. This has been a year of years when it comes to precipitation. I have seen nothing like it in my lifetime in Saskatchewan. The drive out was almost eerie. There was a close fog hugging the ground all the way into the valley. You felt like you could in London. Humidity was at 98%. I remember that as a common occurence in my home town of Selkirk, Manitoba, but that was because we lived right at the mouth of Lake Winnipeg. It’s always like that there. BUT Saskatchewan…not likely.

As we got set to hit the airwaves at 5:30 we had some technical glitches to clear up. That’s standard fare when broadcasting out of studio from areas not designed for this activity. I have to thank our tech Ian for his patience in making sure we were on line and on air. Finally at about 8:23 a.m. we lost full power in the entire area near our broadcast site. An electrician on the grounds pulled a major breaker, thinking it was to be the one they needed to work on. NOT!!! Thank goodness we were just about to hand the program off to Roger Currie and his Curries Corner. The electricians put everything back in order just in time for The Flea Market. All ended well.

I took my annual venture down Craven’s main street talking to many campers who had been there since Sunday. Jamie and I ran into Jimmy Baiton, that hardest working concessionair at the Jamboree. He has about six food venues on site. He’s the only guy I know who works in gusts from 100 to 200 miles per hour evryday. Where does he get that energy! What a guy. Then I ran into some old friends of mine from Ituna. Mike Spillchuck. The family has set up the longest mobile catering truck and trailer on the prairies, with the most state of the art cooking equipment you could find. His son Sheldon and his wife Shelley, both chefs by trade, decided to give Craven a cold run. This 53 foot monster kitchen on wheels can cater to major functions of 1500 or more anywhere you want. There is NOTHING like it around. But they have set up on the grounds to serve fast food, fast. Try ‘em. By the way, Sheldon is also a butcher and creates his own meat products.

I headed back to the studios near noon and saw the most familiar sight you see every year at Craven….the long, long, long line of campers and Jamboree goers, that snaked from the entry gate to Kenny’s Snack Shack at the turn off to Craven off Hwy. 11. RCMP were in full force, already writing tickets for some misguided individuals. What would Craven Country Jamboree be without that traffic line-up.

Well tomorrow morning is almost here. We’ll update you on day two. Happy Jamboree everyone.