Father's Day

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Category: Carnie's Comments

Published: Friday, 16 June 2017 08:52

Are you celebrating Father's Day with your dad this weekend?

I love to see it and we'll see it on Sunday...sons and daughters with their dads.  We'll see dads golfing with their kids, riding bikes and playing ball and walking and smiling and laughing.  Special.

It's a sad day for many.  Chances are many will visit dad's grave site this weekend and shed a tear or two.

Funny, while I will take some time to remember my late father this Sunday, it won't be a particularly emotional day because my Dad didn't really recognize Father's Day.  I didn't either.  We had a lot of Father's Days, throughout the year.  I was pretty lucky, looking back.  I had a good dad with good morals who gave me the freedom to be me while still sternly keeping me in line.  

If you're a dad, Happy Father's Day to you.  I hope it's a great day.  If your dad is still around, I hope you celebrate with him this Sunday and maybe a time or two next week and the week after that because any day can be Father's Day. 

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Category: Carnie's Comments

Published: Thursday, 15 June 2017 08:47

He was listening yesterday and he's fired up.  A local man by the name of Rob Turner. He is upset over the City of Moose Jaw moving to front curbside trash collection.  I talked about it on this commentary yesterday.

I took issue with the fact council pushed the implementation back.  He's taking issue with front curbside collection.

Mr. Turner lives in an area where there are no garages or driveways off the street.  He says almost everyone parks on the street and he doesn't think the garbage collection on his street will work.  He says it's a waste of time and he's hoping his friends will join him and let city hall know they don't like it.

Mr. Turner has much support.  His friend Paul says "Works well for affluent areas with front garages...not so well for me unless I keep my can on my front yard which looks terrible."

And then there's Kurt who pointed out, and I quote, "Politicians are elected because of popularity, not competency."

Front Curb Trash

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Category: Carnie's Comments

Published: Wednesday, 14 June 2017 08:39

I get it.  I get why the experts at Moose Jaw City Hall believe we need to make the move to front curb garbage service.  They say it'll save us money with less wear and tear on our back alleys and our equipment.

What I don't get is city council's decision to delay it this summer.

Councilor Don Mitchell's motion to push the program back was passed 4-3.  He wants more public input and communication.

It's not a big deal, I suppose, but did we not elect councilors to make those decisions?

Do we not hire skilled professionals to make those recommendations?  Yes, yes we do.

Councilor Crystal Froese voted against Mitchell's motion.  She says she has trust in our city administration that they have a good plan - a plan that has already been discussed and we should get on with it.

Hear, hear, councilor Froese!  Hear, hear.

SEARS

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Category: Carnie's Comments

Published: Tuesday, 13 June 2017 10:36

I heard the rumours.  You may have heard the same things.  Sears may not be around for long in Moose Jaw or anywhere for that matter.

News broke early this morning that Sears Canada is "reviewing its strategic alternatives including the possible sale of the company".  Sears is also admitting that "based on management's current assessment, cash and forecasted cash flows from operations are not expected to meet its obligations over the next 12 months".

This news comes as Sears reports a first-quarter loss of over $144 million.

So, something tells me it won't be long until we lose Sears in Moose Jaw.  It'll mean job loss and another major hit to the local economy.  

I can remember when we had Simpson-Sears downtown along with Eaton's and the Army and Navy.  They tell me, at one time, we had over 20 men's wear stores in town.

Oh, well.  We've got Wal Mart. 

As Far as Siam

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Category: Carnie's Comments

Published: Monday, 12 June 2017 08:13

You know how a certain song or record can take you back to a time and place in your life?  

Like, when I hear a song from Red Rider's "As Far as Siam" album.  I heard it for the first time on a bitterly cold night in the winter of 81-82.  It was a Sunday night.  I was in my Dad's Buick, driving home from a friend's place when I spotted two other vehicles on Main Street.  I knew both of them.  We met up at the McDonald's parking lot and got into my friend Andrew's Chrysler Newport.  He had a wicked car stereo system with high end speakers mounted in the trunk and the doors.  

He plugged in Red Rider's new album.  "As Far as Siam" opens with Lunatic Fringe.  It blew me away and almost blew the doors off that Newport.

We'd take a long cruise on a quiet and cold Trans Canada Highway to listen to the rest of the record.  I think of that night every time I hear a song from that record.

Oh, the good times we had.

Never worried about tomorrow 'cause tonight was all we had.

Tom Cochrane and Red Rider will play for us at the Gateway Festival in Bengough next month.  You could go.