 By Jim Riley
June 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington is presenting a visual discussion on the duality of the urban and rural aspects of Burlington. Chief Curator Denis Longchamps, along with the Burlington Fine Arts Association, developed the theme to celebrate the BFAA’s fiftieth anniversary.
There was also a Call for Proposals on this theme, broadening it to a multidisciplinary exhibition. Sixty-six art works were selected, with a very wide range of sizes.
This is a more cohesive exhibition than the All Guilds’ group show in 2015, but it still has challenges to overcome. With this curatorial theme, it has improved the unity of presentation. This exhibit presents an uneven quality of artworks.
This theme gave opportunities for the artists to express their opinions about how the urban and rural co-exist in our city. One of the roles of artists is to raise issues within the culture they inhabit. There are few cities that (philosophically and culturally) declare protection of a rural culture, geopolitically combined with an urban culture the way Burlington has – it was actually the province that imposed that requirement on us.. Many artworks spoke of romantic places, with a varying degree of success.
Longchamps hung the Urban Rural exhibit capably, by tying together themes of content, aesthetics and scale.
 Robert Bateman, Progress, 2015, acrylic Robert Bateman was invited to exhibit. I found it noteworthy that Bateman and Donna Fratesi’s themes dealt with destruction of Burlington’s historic architecture.
 Donna Fratesi’s they paved paradise , 2015 acrylic Fratesi
Both are accomplished technical painters. Bateman was clearer in his thesis than Fratesi’s “They Paved Paradise”. Fratesi seems timid about her message, but evokes a warm memory of the intersection of Pine and Pearl streets. It is a romantic reminiscence of downtown Burlington. Although Bateman relies on text, he creates a clear criticism of Burlington’s treatment of its historic buildings. He focuses on the United Empire Loyalist Fisher house being replaced by a parking lot. Both artists explore their connections to the urban downtown environment, but Bateman’s “Progress” is more directly critical of how we handle it.
 Lorraine Roy, “The Balance”, textile, 2015 Lorraine Roy’s “The Balance” is one of the stronger works in this exhibition. Her textile work not only functions well on a compositional level but demonstrates the “pull and push” between urban and rural ecosystems. The wrapped, uprooted tree balances precariously be-tween the two worlds as it searches for a transplant space. Will it survive? Roy’s imagery is strong with rich tones suggesting a Tim Burton-style nightmare quality. It is intriguingly executed, done with textile rather than paint.
 Helen Griffiths, after a day in (the country), oil, 2015 Similarly, Helen Griffiths’ “After a Day in (the country)” uses her well-developed painterly skills, but also teases the viewer to ponder why she is showing a wild skunk sniffing at a beautiful bundle of roses. The artist statement refers to wild animals invading her neighbourhood. Like Griffiths’ reference to wildlife,
 Victoria Pearce, Lost Between acrylic 2016 Victoria Pearce’s “Lost Between” uses images of Monarch butterflies, and the surrealistic imagery of an urban-rural coyote. The coyote is nestled in grasses as it floats over a grid of urban streets. This may be suggesting that a clash between natural and urban worlds is imminent. Certainly, the coyote making itself comfortable in the urban environment is a new reality for Burlington. All three artists successfully combine content and painterly aspects in their art practice.
 Vanessa Cres Lokos, Moving Forward, 2016, mixed media  Dawn-Hackett-Burns & Michelle Lynn, “Home Grown”, ceramic. Vanessa Cres Lokos, “Moving Forward” and Dawn-Hackett-Burns & Michelle Lynn, “Home Grown” were hung one over the other. Cres Lokos’ expresses her viewpoint on rural and urban issues by placing cows marching along the Burlington pier with a forewarning, overcast sky. Hacket-Burns’ and Lynn’s ceramic artwork explores residential homes overwhelming rural buildings and cattle.
The artwork is placed on a low plinth so that the viewer can hover and oversee the battle.
 Jan Kendrick, Rossana Dewey, Grace Afonso group image Jan Kendrick’s, Rossana Dewey’s, and Grace Afonso’s paintings were hung side by side. All three artists are skilled painters. They use a similar colour palette and their paintings are emotive and sensually compatible. Their artist statements refer to issues: mining the escarpment, the Greenbelt Plan, the mid-peninsula highway and the vanishing rural landscape. Their images speak of a vast rural environment, but do not deal clearly with the issues expressed in their artist statements.
 Kathy Marlene Bailey, Sanctuary Between, oil, 2016 Kathy Marlene Bailey, “Sanctuary Between” uses curving movement in a watery world of reflections that suggests a more rural, natural aspect of the theme. Her artist statement refers to city planners facilitating a residential invasion of natural sanctuaries. There is beauty and mystery in Bailey’s painting. There is a hint of the escarpment and a house, but the focus is on water. The painting’s message is some-what ambiguous, in comparison to her artist statement.
The Lee-Chin Family Gallery is a large space. Area around the art-works, and the scale of the various artworks, present a challenge. Petit artworks in such a large space are difficult to notice, given the works nearby that are ten feet high. Longchamps creates space and separation for the intimate works.
There may be too many works in the exhibition for a viewer to comprehend, beyond surface aesthetics. I think this is a group exhibition in which less would actually be much more. However, there are many artworks not mentioned here that you should view, to decide on your own.
The exhibition runs until September 5, 2016
Lee-Chin Family Gallery at Art Gallery of Burlington
1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington.
AGB Hours
Monday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
Jim Riley is a Burlington, ON, based arts writer, independent curator and a visual and media artist. His recent art practice involves public art and gallery video installations. Riley has a BA from Brock Uni-versity. He has exhibited his art for thirty years in Canada and the United States. Some of Riley’s video art is represented by V tape Distributions, Toronto. Website: www.jimriley.ca
 By Pepper Parr
June 21, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
They are meeting and they are talking but that band of artists, musicians and actors that created ACCOB (Arts and Culture Collective of Burlington) and began to call themselves the “collective” are ready to make an announcement about what they feel is a significant step forward. Just when is not certain.
 Angela Papariza currently handles the cultural file at city hall – she has few resources to work with. One of her strongest allies is Trevor Copp who lit the flame that is keeping the water boiling within the arts community. As yet however, the arts community doesn’t yet have the ear of the civic administration and without a serious commitment by city council to fund the arts – little is going to happen.
The relationship between the arts crowd and the city manager is not good – one artist has said the city manage lies to them.
Inflammatory for sure – but that is where things appear to be with the artists.
Back in 2013 Trevor Copp, a dancer you want to see perform at least once in your lifetime, raised the profile of the arts community when he delegated to city council and got all the usual platitudes.
 Teresa Seaton, organizer of the Art in Action Tour, thinks through a response at one of the Cultural Action Plan sessions. She is one of 250 people organized as an Arts and Culture Collective in Burlington. While the elected officials did little – the arts community began to organize themselves and are pressing city hall staff – to little effect so far.
There is in this city, a significant number of people who want to see a more vibrant culture – something that is above and beyond the Sound of Music and the Teen Tour Band. They have their place, an important one – but there is more than that to culture.
 The Collective has done their homework – they know what they want – now to actually get it – that’s their challenge. Expect to see the arts community beginning to network and make connections with some of the people who wrote the large cheques that paid for the construction of the Performing Arts Centre and work with them for more quality and substance that can be put before the public.
It might get a little messy – but the world of arts and culture has seldom been a smooth one.
It is the performance that counts – not all the petty politicking that we are seeing now.
 By Staff
June 20th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Cabinet Minister Eleanor McMahon wants you to understand that she believes fervently that young people play a vital role in building our community.
 “To better understand issues impacting youth across the province and right here in our city, I organized a group of engaging Burlington high school youth to gain their perspectives”, said McMahon in a media release
“One of the issues the group is passionate about is making Syrian refugees feel at home when they arrive in Canada. As part of their effort to welcome these families, they’ve created a video that tells their story about coming to Burlington.”
A year in the making, this video explores the idea of what “home” means and highlights the emotional challenges faced when leaving behind the home you know and having to build a new one in an unfamiliar community.
The video will be screened at Burlington central Library June 28th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
 By Staff
June 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Movies Under the Stars is back – first show is July 7th at Nelson Park.
 A family event – Movies Under the Stars The screens move around the city offering free family movie screenings in local parks every Thursday until Aug. 18.
This annual tradition has become a very popular summer activity for families, it is a safe, free, fun evening in front of the big screen.”
The films featured in the summer movie series were selected by residents who voted in online polls earlier this spring. The winning movies and locations are as follows:
Minions July 7 Nelson Park
Kung Fu Panda 3 July 14 Aldershot Park
Singin’ in the Rain July 21 Central Park Bandshell
Inside Out July 28 Emerson Park
WALL-E Aug. 4 Kilbride Park
Goosebumps Aug. 11 Ireland Park
The Good Dinosaur Aug. 18 Spencer Smith Park
Each movie will begin at 9 p.m. and will be shown on a 25 by 14 foot (7.62 by 4.27 metre) outdoor viewing screen. Starting at 7:30 p.m. each week, Healthy Kids Community Challenge will be leading games and activities for the whole family aimed at improving children’s health and nutrition.
Moviegoers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Washrooms and limited parking are available at each park. Consider walking or riding a bike to the event.
 By Staff
June 20, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Is it part of a public relations offensive?
 LaSalle Park Marina. The LaSalle Park Marina / Burlington Sailing & Boating Club announced a public open house for Sunday June 26, 2016 – 10am – 5pm at LaSalle Park Pier
The public will be able to tour the City’s Open Public Marina; Boat Club; & Sailing School.
As part of the daylong event the Blue Flag, which is significant in sailing circles, will be presented to the LPMA Environmental Defence Canada.
There will be comments made on different initiatives related to the bay area and sailing.
 Trumpeter swan – magnificent creatures that many think need the marina space at LaSalle Park to survive the winters. Nonsense according the Marina Association. The LPMA has been in an ongoing battle with the Trumpeter Swan Coalition that is committed to ensuring that no harm comes to this species that has made Burlington their home. This struggle has been going on for some time.
There will be speakers talking about how the bay and the fish stock are being restored. Kelly Pike of the Bay Area Restoration Council will talk about advances in Remedial Action Plan to clean Up of the Harbour.
Dr. Christine Boston will talk about the Walleye/Pickerel Restoration Program.
The Sea Cadets will be on hand, the Hamilton Beach Rescue Boat – Coast Guard Auxiliary will be there to show the public wat they do.
Halton Regional Police Marine Unit will be cruising about – and – the Burlington Fire Department will have one of their fire trucks on display.
 The option the LaSalle Park Marina Association wants this design for the re-configuration of the boat facilities. John Birch, title, has pulled out all the stops on this one – the struggle to get all the funding in place for a marina that will allow the boaters to safely tie up there craft.
The Burlington Sailing & Boating Club (BS&BC) was established in 1975; the LaSalle Park Marina (LPMA) was completed in 1981.
Able Sail, a separate charitable organization was established in 2000
BS&BC and LPMA are self-help, volunteer, not-for-profit organizations.
Both organizations are committed to providing family-oriented, quality yet lower cost recreational boating activities, together they form Burlington’s only boating and water-access facility.
 By Staff
June 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
LaSalle Wading Pool is closed for the remainder of the day due to an unforseen maintenance issue.
The Splash Pad will remain open until 7pm, free admission.
The Wading Pool will reopen Sunday June 18, 2016 at 11am.
 By Staff
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Now this is a real trip down memory lane.
The people who are in the process of refurbishing Freeman station – now that they have saved it from a wrecking ball – are holding a railway nostalgia workshop as part of Seniors’ Month.
The event will take place at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre Tuesday, June 21st, 1:30 – 3:00 PM
It will be a chance to share personal stories about traveling through the Burlington Junction Station.
 Can you date this picture? The car might help. They would love it if you brought any pictures you might have.
The Sound of Music Program for Saturday June 18th plus who is doing what at the five pods on Saturday.
And at 11 am the Festival parade which begins at Central Park; travels along Caroline Street to Pearl Street, west on James Street, then turns north on Brant Street, ending at Central High School.
 
By Staff
June 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Is the Sound of Music about music or is it about people?
 Close to a full moon made it a wonderful summer evening. Friday evening was about as good a June evening as you are ever going to get.
Spencer Smith Park was packed. And yes some were listening to the music – the space in front of the five stages was jammed with people but there were just as many – perhaps more, milling about.
The Elwin’s were on the TD stage; at one point the singer barked out “There is no place I would rather be than right here in Burlington”. The crowd roared its approval.
Small craft were anchored close to the promenade, it looked as if there was a Coast Guard ship offshore.
The lights of the Skyway Bridge provided a backdrop; the surface of the lake was like glass – not even a ripple.
 The Ferris wheel and the carnival part of the grounds seemed a little bigger this year. There was a pleasant breeze coming in off the lake while goofy boys were trying to not pay attention to the girls who were walking quickly in group’s of at least three from place to place – seldom knowing just where the next place was.
The music was often more loud than good but the audience was eating it up.
 Emilie – Claire Barlow on the Cogeco stage in Civic Square Emilie-Claire Barlow was on the stage at Civic Square where the audience was quieter but very appreciative of the talent on the stage.
The different groups spread out along Brant street had their own followings with Dance schools showing people how to do different steps.
Couples were out for an evening; parents out with their kids – just a nice summer evening where you would bump into friends and chat.
There were a lot of paramedics and police officers – was the crowd ever at any risk?
When it was time to close down for the night the thousands of people walked along at a decent pace to the exits and on up the streets north of Lakeshore Road.
 This reporter didn’t see one dis-orderly person.
The evening had gone well.
 By Staff
June 16, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Are you a soprano? An alto? A tenor maybe? Ah – then a bass?
Wayne Strongman, conductor of the 2016 Lowville Festival choir has put out a call to anyone interested in being part of a choir.
Rehearsal is Wednesday July 20th; 7:00 pm at the Lowville United Church.
 Rehearsals will take place in the Lowville United Church Concert takes place Friday July 22nd at St. Georges Anglican Church hall
The repertoire will include classical, musical theatre and folk songs
An ability to read music is a definite plus but it not mandatory.
This looks like a fun choir, a one shot deal with just the one practice. It will get you out of the house.
Wayne Strongman, the Festival Choir conductor Wayne was born in Hamilton and assumed his first position as church organist and choirmaster in the city at the age of 16. From there he went on to found Toronto’s Tapestry Opera, the country’s leading creator and producer of chamber operas, of which he was the Artistic Producer for 35 years.
He was the Artistic Director of Hamilton’s Bach-Elgar Choir from 1984-98.
If you have questions the man you want to talk to is Robert Missen – he is at: Robert Missen <rmissen@sympatico.ca>
The sound of Music schedule for Friday June 17th. There will be StreetFest events at five different pods.
The sound of Music schedule for Friday June 17th.
StreetFest events at five different pods
 
By Staff
June 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is that time of year again – great music on the waterfront – a little mayhem with traffic. That’s what happens when tens of thousands of people arrive in town.
During the Sound of Music Festival, beginning Friday, June 17 at 3:30 p.m. to Sunday, June 19 at 6 p.m., Brant Street will be closed between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road.
Routes 3 and 5
• Please go to the Bus Terminal on John Street or Brant Street north of Caroline.
Saturday, June 18
On Saturday, June 18, the Sound of Music parade will run from 10:30 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. During these times, there will be no transit service on Brant Street between Fairview Street and Lakeshore Road.
Routes 3 and 5
• Please go north on Brant Street past Fairview Street or south on Brant to the Bus Terminal on John Street.
• There will be no bus service on Drury Lane south of Woodward Avenue or on Caroline Street.
Route 4
• Please go north on Drury Lane above Woodward Avenue or south to New Street.
• Please flag or wave the bus driver along New Street.
Delays are to be expected.
Burlington Transit runs a Festival shuttle service will run a continuous loop approximately every 15 minutes from the north side of the Burlington GO station to the Downtown Transit Terminal (430 John St.) as follows:
Saturday, June 11: Noon to midnight
Thursday, June 16: 6 p.m. to midnight
Friday, June 17: 6 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, June 18: noon to midnight
Sunday, June 19: noon to 8 p.m.
Cost for the shuttle: $3 round-trip
Children 5 and under are FREE
Please note: Drivers do NOT make change.
Extended Transit Service
Friday June 17, 2016:
3 North at 10:30 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11 p.m.
3 South to Burlington GO station at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
10 East at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
Saturday June 18, 2016:
3 North at 10:30 p.m., 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
3 South to Burlington GO station at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
10 East at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
By Staff
June 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We apologize for not getting this news to you earlier – it did not come to our attention until late this afternoon.
Looks like an interesting event – the organizers appear to have slipped a little in getting the word out to the media.
By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
At this point she has the right to be referred to as “The Honourable” – but Mary Eleanor McMahon has yet to get her calling card updated – it will be Eleanor McMahon for some time to come.
She arrived at the tea party she had scheduled for her seniors – well before she was appointed to Cabinet where she will serve as the Minister for Sport, Art and Culture.
 The Honourable Mary Eleanor McMahon -Provincial Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sports.
McMahon’s Mother stood with her as she was sown in – she had tears running down her face said McMahon. “I was worried about tripping over something.”
The oath was taken with her Bible in her hand – A Catholic Bible McMahon reminded people.
“I met with my deputy minister” said McMahon – “she is going to be great. I will get my first full length briefing on Thursday and then it will be me hitting the Briefing binders.”
McMahon has a couple of projects that will impact Burlington directly – “not going to tell you what they are” she said and then inadvertently mentioned a big one – I agreed to respect her “that was supposed to be off the record” request. It isn’t in the bag yet – but McMahon is pulling hard for this one. The history buffs will like it.
As for the tea party – it was a quiet event.
Small crowd but all the right well wishers were there.
 By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
I didn’t see the change – even though I was at the event where it was announced.
What I saw was an attractive corporate logo with a really catchy tag line;
Give brilliantly!
 The occasion was the launch of the tag line and the newly designed logo put together by Play advertising for the Burlington Community Foundation.
This was the organization that publishes a Vital Signs report on the health of the community.
This is the organization that manages a significant number of endowments created for some community based purpose.
This is the organization that hands out close to a million dollars each year to different community non-profit organizations.
This is the organization that hours after the flood of August 2014, went to work and 100 days later had just short of a million in the bank to hand out to peoples whose homes had been devastated.
I could go on – the word community appears in everything they do.
Thus it was surprising when a friend pointed out to me that word “community” had been dropped from the name – it was now to be the Burlington Foundation.
What?
 When asked for a comment and some clarity, president and CEO Collen Mulholland explained that “Burlington is, and always will be, a thriving community. The Foundation is an integral part — the fabric of the community — as Burlington’s sustainable giving foundation.
“We don’t feel it’s necessary to repeat the word community. We wanted to keep are refreshed brand name concise and memorable also using our new rallying cry and tag line, Give Brilliantly.”
“Hope this helps to clarify for you.”
It doesn’t – defining just who you are matters. Burlington Foundation could be a bank, a club a company that builds basements.
The Burlington Community Foundation tells me exactly what they do – and I applaud that heartily. Continue to Give Brilliantly – the community needs all the help it can get.
By Pepper Parr
June 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Langenburg, Saskatchewan has less than 12 streets and is bisected by the Yellowhead highway – if there was ever a face that goes with the story – the one about the farmer’s daughter – this is one of the better ones.
Jess Moskaluke, born June 4, 1990 is a Canadian country pop singer. She released her debut studio album, Light Up the Night in April 2014, which includes the Gold-certified single “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes”
 Take me home – when she begins this piece on the West Stage at the Sound of Music on Saturday night – expect the audience to roar. In June 2011, Moskaluke won the Next Big Thing contest, sponsored by Big Dog 92.7 and SaskMusic. In September 2011, she won the New Artist Showcase Award at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. She was chosen to represent Canada at the Global Artist Party at the 2012 CMA Music Festival.
The people who promote artistic talent love to trot out all the awards and the billings they got – read them if that kind of thing works for you – better to take the fast route and go straight to her music. When she does Take me home – get close to the stage – this song has loads of emotion pouring out of those inviting green brown eyes.
She will be on the West stage of the sound of Music on June the 18th. Get there early with a comfortable chair. This one’s a charmer.
If you want a sample of what this Saskatchewan native is going to do to you – listen in.
Moskaluke’s debut single, “Catch Me If You Can”, was released on June 4, 2012. The song’s music video received regular airplay on CMT. It was followed by an EP, also titled Catch Me If You Can, which was released on September 4, 2012 by MDM Recordings and distributed by EMI Music Canada. Jeff DeDekker of the Leader-Post gave the EP four stars out of five, writing that “by using the full extent of her voice and also incorporating tenderness and fragility, Moskaluke is able to cover the complete spectrum of material.”
 This one’s a keeper – Jesse Moskaluke, came to us from the prairie – Saskatchewan Casadie Pederson of Top Country also gave the EP four stars out of five, calling Moskaluke “one of the best young talents we’ve seen in a long time.”[8] The EP’s second single, “Hit N Run”, reached the top 40 on the Billboard Canada Country chart in 2013. Moskaluke was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2013 Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards.[10]
Moskaluke released the first single from her debut studio album, “Good Lovin'”, in October 2013.[11] It became her first single to reach the top 20 on the Billboard Canada Country chart. The album, Light Up the Night, was released on April 15, 2014. “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes” and “Used” were both released as singles from the album in 2014.
By Staff
June 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s not just in Spencer smith Park. It’s in the clubs as well.
Set out below are the locations for the Sound of Music Club Series today and tomorrow.
 The Queens Head – one o the six Sound of Music Club series locations.  The Dickens – will feature a couple of the Club Series performers Today and Wednesday.
 By Staff
June 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Karmel Sakran, a Burlington based lawyer who has served on the hospital board, runs a Wills Clinic each year and was the Liberal candidate for Burlington a number of elections ago, got a letter from a friend recently.
 Karmel Sakran doing the Terry Fox Cure for Cancer run The letter captivated Karmel. He explained: “… my friend describes her role as a Spiritual Care giver and how she recently had the experience of saving a man’s life on the Go Train. I will let the letter speak for itself. Enjoy!
You would think that someone from Spiritual Care would not have trouble answering the questions, “How do you work spiritually at work?” when the Wellness Coordinator asks, however, I was stumped until the Friday night GO train ride home.
 For those of you that regularly ride the GO Kartrain, you know that it is a bit of a strange environment. You can ride with the same people for many years and never actually meet them. At the end of the day, the cultural norm on the top deck of the train is quiet and silence but the alarm went for “Code 1033,” the code for a medical emergency and this time the emergency was in my car. I went down to investigate and a man had collapsed on the floor, not breathing, rapidly turning blue. Someone had started CPR and I took over compression as she tired. Others arrived as well. I heard the GO train personnel inquire who everyone was and it turns out we had someone from palliative care, someone who delivers babies, a dermatologist and me, a spiritual care provider.
I thought of all those family meetings where it was unknown what time the patient collapsed and how long he had been down for, so I looked at my watch. The time was 4:23. A minute into compressions and I was tiring already. How did I not know how tiring CPR was? I had watched the ICU team do CPR for hours, switching off every few minutes, never realizing how hard the work was and being reminded in the moment how important teamwork is. We began to switch off between trying to find a pulse and doing chest compressions.He was turning that awful colour between life and death.
Someone found a defibrillator and the baby doctor prepared to deliver a shock as she ripped open his shirt at 4:26. We heard her say “clear” and then he jumped underneath us. I heard the palliative doctor ask someone to find his name in his wallet and she began to talk to the patient. Talking to a dying patient is usually my job, but today, I heard someone else giving the spiritual care while we continued chest compressions stopping periodically so the palliative doctor could see if his heart was beating.
Suddenly he began to breathe. A cheer went up and we turned him on his side but the victory was only short lived. He stopped breathing again and we rolled him back to continue CPR. At 4:29 we gave him a second shock. In that second moment when we called “clear,” I looked up and I saw the faces of the people that I normally speak to- scared, overwhelmed by what they were seeing, panicked but I couldn’t provide the spiritual care it was someone else’s job to offer comfort and support. I placed my hands on his chest taking my turn at compressions from the dermatologist and this time I felt his heart punch back at my hands and beat to life again, like when I was pregnant and I felt the baby kick from within. It was like his soul was letting me know he was still there.
The doctors confirmed he had pulses, stronger pulses this time. Rolling him onto his side again it was 4:34. His colour returned, his eyes fluttered open. Oxygen arrived from somewhere and paramedics arrived on scene just as he was waking up. There was a sense of exhilaration that together we had saved this man’s life- the woman who went running through the train looking for doctors and found the strange collection of people to help, the person who donated her scissors to cut open his shirt, those of us that pounded on his chest and shouted in his ear to keep breathing, those that held elevators and doorways, went running for the defibrillator or just silently prayed- together- a crazy team that journeyed together differently today.
As I reflected on the events, I realized that in many ways the hospital is a strange collection of strangers, a collection of people journeying together, never knowing what the day will bring.
 I realized that being in rounds and family meetings had made me the accidental student as I heard over and over again what made the different at the beginning of a cardiac arrest to the final outcome. We must all be accidental students in our journey together, always learning from one another. Today, I reflected on all the people that I watch day in and day out use their hands to work to save a patient. How differently it felt to put my hands on a patient for medical treatment than to hold a hand to comfort. How lost for words I am to describe the feeling of seeing another human being shocked and pounded back to life and to have been a small part of that.
Today as we journey together, I’m reminded once again of the precious commodity of time that is given to each one of us to make each moment count. After he was taken away by EMS, a woman, in tears, explained, that the man collapsed after seeing her struggling up the stairs with her suitcase feeling panicked at being caught in rush hour. Seeing her struggle, he carried her suitcase up to the platform. She worried that the act of kindness may have cost him his life- perhaps it saved him because it put him in just the right place. I am more deeply aware that we are strange strangers on a journey but we don’t have to be estranged from one another, especially in crisis.
So today as I think about what the day will bring. I hope that I can live in deeper spiritual appreciation and with deeper reverence and awe for all those who place their hands onto their fellow sojourners in care. I hope that I can live with heightened awareness and hope for the strangers and companions that are all around. I hope that I can see with more compassion the struggles that each person carries in their work. In the end, to work spiritually is to remember that we journey together.
Pretty good way to start a week!
By Pepper Parr
June 11th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
If you like to paint (… and who doesn’t?) said the notice from the Friends of Freeman Station then please join us for our next Saturday Volunteer Work Days —
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016, from 8am to mid-day
And again the following weekend:
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016 – from 8 am to mid-day
You will be joining a bunch of guys who just like to get out of the house and do something – get their hands on some tools and make something or repair something.
 The Station Master’s office – knots in the pine are sealed – and the walls are ready for their first coat of paint. Twenty five years from now you will take your grandchildren on a tour and show them the job that you did. You may not have been inside the Freeman Station. It is going to be a large part of the pride of the city when it is complete – and here is an opportunity for you to be part of that pride.
 The Waiting Room – it is ready for its first coat of paint.
By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the pleasures of walking along Lakeshore Road is experiencing the breeze coming in off the lake, seeing the horizon stretch to the edge of the earth and from time to time see a ship heading for the canal and into Hamilton harbour or leaving the bay and heading for destinations unknown.
 A stroll along Lakeshore Road offers a view of the pier and the lake and the ships that steam in and out of Hamilton harbour. But what is that bit of screening on the right hand side? During the year there are various events that take place –Canada Day; the Rib Fest, Children’s Festival and the annual Sound of Music.
For those moving about the city and walking along Lakeshore road the music can be heard and one can, normally, look at the crowds and plan to drop in on what is for the most part a fee free event.
But things are changing with the Sound of Music – and there are now ticketed event. Sponsorships doesn’t appear to cover all the costs.
That’s business – the volunteers that make the Sound of Music happen each year have to manage the event as best they can.
 Long stretches of screening block the view of Spencer Smith Park and the lake. What are people doing behind that screening – and why is it place ? The park and the lake are public – totally public. But putting screen up so that people can’t see the lake because there is a ticketed event taking place? Where do they get permission to do that?
The view of the lake is public – who lets a screen go up.
There are fences to prevent entrance into ticketed events – that’s acceptable but a screen to block the view?
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