Never Too Old to Play With a Parachute

On a bitterly cold night (well, it was actually only 8 degrees, but the wind made it feel colder) I stood in line, waiting to enter the Sound Academy and see LIGHTS in concert.

Many of you probably don't know who LIGHTS is. She's a Canadian recording artist who sings songs you probably do know- February Air, Second Go, and her newest single Toes, which has been getting a fair bit of radio play in Toronto.

I was impressed with her live show, and even though it was an all-ages event, the youngster were far enough away that they didn't cause any unwanted annoyances- at least not to me.

What I was impressed with most of all was one of her opening acts- Rich Aucoin (http://www.richaucoin.ca/). He's also Canadian. He does an amazing job of integrating audio and video, thought provoking messages, and plain old fun!

His logo, a primary colour parachute (the kind you find in an elementary school gym), can be found on almost all of his promotional images. Though probably a publicity tactic, he launched a parachute into the audience during one of his songs; I think it was 'Parachute'. This not only appealed to the "all-ages" crowd, but it was fun to see everyone excited to grab a part of the 'chute and dance under the cover of the bright rainbow coloured fabric.

Technical difficulties aside, his set was fantastic. Songs like "It" and "We're All Dying to Live" had an anthemic quality that got everyone hoppin'.

I said to my friends that, since I'm a teacher, I played with a parachute just two weeks ago. For many playing with a parachute is one of those enjoyments of childhood that dissolve as we get older. We're never really too old to play with a parachute, it just takes a little bit of creativity and a little bit of being in the right place at the right time. Like many things from our younger years, it's something we don't normally have the chance to do- until Friday night at the Sound Academy.

Protests and the City

From coats to coast, nation to nation, city to city, a revolution is happening.

Students being maced at an Occupy sit-in
at the University of California, Nov. 2011

In Toronto, the sit-ins are faced with eviction, in New York they are split by force, in California they are dismantled with tear-gas; what can we expect to happen next?

It would seem that the problem isn't only New York's Wall Street, or Toronto's Bay Street, but systemic and underlying a vast number of economic centres world-wide.

Protest and outspoken-ness definitely has a role to be played in a democracy; I just wonder how much longer the peacefulness will last since the "powers that be" are clearly getting antsy.

Should a dialogue begin, or should we start breaking out the pepper spray? The answer to this should be clear so long as you listened when your Kindergarten teacher explained the classroom rules.

It's alarming to find out that it is actually the law enforcement professionals that are starting to get violent. We should know they are the drones of the higher power and what drives their actions is something lacking in humanity.

Historically, cities have been places where economic motivations underlay any reason for coming together. Since the industrial revolution, urban dwellers have often been oppressed; the majority being factory workers and the like.

Knowing what wealth exists in cities and the growing disparity now between rich and poor, one would imagine that we could develop strategies to help spread the wealth and help our fellow city-zens thrive.



Occupy Toronto in St. James Park, Nov. 2011



At the very least, if we are not able to help each other, we certainly should not be hurting each other. We can use the pepper for the food we are advantaged enough to have, and do what we can to peacefully make change together.

Can you really say that in a major economic centre, there aren't enough resources to initiate some discussion and put in place mechanisms for improvement?

Something cities tend to do is attract the biggest and brightest minds in a multitude of disciplines because they can offer the best resources, jobs, and opportunities for those individuals to thrive. If the best and brightest minds can't manage to alleviate at least some disparities, then that certainly is a dissappointment on a city scale. 

A Night at the Armoury

No, I'm not leaving civilian life for the army, nor was I trying to steal a rocket launcher to destroy and unstoppable medieval demon. I attended an official swearing in at the Denison Armoury in North York.

 There are very few opportunities to get a glimpse at the inner workings of our country's military. After being mistaken for a new recruit several times, I walked through the bland hallways lined with cases of artifacts from battles past. We soon reached the Officer's Mess which then led us further on to another Mess that housed even more relics from the Battalion's long history.

While some families snaps pictures, sipping coffee, others wandered the room examining the trophy cases and portraits of long gone soldiers.

As the ceremony began, we (the common folk) were given a talk about supporting our family or friend that is now entering a new phase in their life. One full of responsibility and dedication to an important cause.

This message didn't really hit home until he spoke to the new recruits. He mentioned that they will be challenged in new ways and will need to stick together as a new kind of family. In fact, if anyone doesn't help someone in need- they will be held accountable for these shortcomings. They would now be a unit of individuals with unique skills and abilities who will help each other and achieve their success together.

As a teacher, I felt that this is the kind of speech that should be given at the start of every school year, to every single student. In fact, with this outlook, nobody will be left behind.

Even though they won't be fighting demons or saving the world (...yet), they will face their true nature and bring out their full potential (okay, enough Buffy-speak) to serve a greater purpose, to serve this country. Something us urbanites often know little about.

Congrats to the new Privates. Train hard!