Carcross Community

Reunion revisited

It has been a month and a bit since the reunion of the Carcross Community Education Centre that took place in Carcross, YT.
For those who don't know….Carcross was an community alternative high school. It was full of people from all across this land (and few Yanks too) all who shared a wish to do something out of the ordinary, had difficulty in there current school or work life or wished to explore Community living.

The Carcross area is one of those stunning and beautiful places. Four valleys meet bringing together rivers, lakes, mountains and even the worlds smallest desert.
I had forgotten how stunning it is…I won’t wait another ten years to return.

Emerald Lake

The Reunion sure was a buzz…and while I am fully lodged in the day to day of work life, I am bound and determine not to let that joyous occasion be moved to the back of my mind.
Being a student/worker at the "Hippy School" had a big impact in my life.

Year '77-'78

All I needed to learn to get through life, I learned at Carcross. I do find it hard to explain to non-Hippy school folks. While trying to describe the impact, the joy and all around experience, I usually get a nodding of heads and a dazed look in the eye….so either I am not being successful in my deliver or the reality is just too big to grasp. I think it is a bit of both as I am often lost for words trying to explain the impact.

Consequently, I decided not to try to explain it anymore.
There were a hundred odd souls who made the trip. We hiked, visited the old site, there were painting classes and even skeet shooting…(every hippy should know how to skeet shoot)….we had a wine tasting, slide shows and did a whole lot of laughing. And then we danced….nothing beats a good old Carcross dance.

The reunion was a wonderful experience. It was so great to re-connect with folks I haven't seen for a while, connect with students from different year and meet their kids too. Even though we all were there at different times, the experiences were similar so there is a connection within various years.
I spent the week leading up to the Reunion with Mike and Donna at the Carcross Cut-off. It was just like going home. It was great to hang out with Trudel, the Carol and Bob and Stan…the Rushants and Godson Geoff. Made new friends with the Rushant and MacMillian kids, Darcy and the Growlers.

After the Dempster, I had further opportunity to visit with Hunter in Dawson, Cath and Libby at Fox lake and had a great trip to Skayway with Mike and Donna followed by a 100 mile meal at the Rushants in Carcross.

Fox Lake Sunset

The three and a half weeks passed so fast. I am still smiling when I think of it and am hoping we can all get together again before too long. Ten years is too long between reunions. The Chilkoot is calling so I am thinking in the summer of 2011 to return for a hiking trip.

TIIF

Had the opportunity to go to the Toronto International Film Fest this past weekend with Russ…what a rush.
Saw 5 films (not movies…apparently, Film Festival people don’t call them movies) in 24 hours. Some winners and a couple of not that great.

Russ and I went to 990 Bistro on Bay for a little swing ding with the movie crowds on Thursday night. Wine, beer and snacks then off to Roy Thomson Hall for the Gala opening of a Norwegian film entitled MAX MANUS.

I must admit that I know very little about Norway except that it is located beside Sweden….other than that, I am coming up with nothing....I don't event think they have a hockey team...just a ski team. Anyway….Norway was occupied by the Nazis during the Second World War and this is a true story about Max Manus and his group of resistance fighters. This movie is such a hit in Norway that one quarter of the population has seen the film….Imagine that for a Canadian film. It didn’t disappoint….on the good list.

On Saturday, we saw 4 more films. It started with COOKING WITH STELLA. I really wanted to like this film…directed by Dilip Mehta (who came to the opening) and staring Canadians Don McKellar and Lisa Ray. Multiple stories lines with little strength in each. Beautiful images of India couldn’t carry the film…

Second we saw the John Keats period film BRIGHT STAR. This film was getting a lot of buzz and tells the story of Keats and his love Franny Brawn. Beautifully filmed period piece that would have benefited with about 30 minutes of film left on the cutting room floor.

Our third film of the day was BROKEN EMBRACES. Even Penelope Cruise couldn’t fix this.

Our last film was the Gala presentation of YOUNG VICTORIA. A beautiful period film telling the tale of Queen Victoria…the early days…a story of politics and pressure and of the love that developed between the young Victoria and Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). Emily Blunt is fabulous as the young queen. Oddly enough…directed by a French Canadian. A must see film.

All in all, it was a great way to spend a weekend. Lots of films and a few free wine and cheese parties to boot.

It has been a rush......

The Yukon summer was great trip but it has been a wonderful year all along peppered with many great memories.
It started with turning the big 50 in January and hasn’t slowed down.

The ski Marathon in Quebec with the MacKinnons and the Espys, Pam and Sheryl, the father and son annual weekend in May in Algonquin Park, front row centre for Neil Young in Kingston with brother Johnny, riding 200 km in the Ride to Conquer Cancer with Vicki and the Kman, Manitoulin biking…..more biking and camping leading up to the Yukon and the Hippy School Reunion and capped off with the annual family trip to Killbear Provincial Park on beautiful Georgian Bay.

The fall looks pretty busy too. Off to the Toronto International Film Fest this weekend with Russ to smooze with the stars. We even got tickets! No, we are not actors....just characters. Lots of good stuff coming in the near future.

I do think, however, that I am going to scale it back a bit. I did take on a bit too much this year and I think I am due to be a passenger for a few months. The boys weekend at the Harris cottage is coming at the end on October and that is one weekend that all I have to do is show up.

PS...Forgot to include sneeking backstage to meet Brent Butt at Massey Hall.

Yukon summer just a dream now....

Well I am back at work.

The "Summer of Dave" is all over.

Welcome to my blog.

I have enjoyed writing for Axiom over the past few months so I thought I would continue and see where it takes me. A little bit about how the year has been and, of course, a look forward to what is coming up.

I promise to be direct, honest and tell a few tall tails too.

Living the life of Raithby