| Ah November, a sure sign the seasons have changed – from drinking outdoors to drinking indoors.
The Grey Cup bash, held in Regina this year, officially launches Canada’s winter drinking festivities, to be followed by much consumption in ski lodges, mountain villas, restaurants and curling rinks around the country.
While the stories are still trickling in from those fortunate enough to go "Flat Out in Saskatchewan," no doubt there’ll be many tales of people sleeping in janitor rooms at convenience stores (because they were the only rooms available in the entire city), people still looking for Dick Assman’s gas station, and horses riding escalators in hotels (not sure of an explanation for this).
Saskatchewan will also host the other celebrated Canadian drinking party, the Brier, which is being held in Saskatoon in March. While not the official end of winter, this classic curling bonspiel signals that the season of boozing indoors will fade quickly.
While not everyone may participate in these two Canadian sporting traditions, their timing can be used as important markers: whatever activities we undertake this winter, there are really only four months to enjoy them.
(And if you do pay attention to said events, be prepared for 2005, when Edmonton hosts the Brier. Book your sleeping quarters now.)
PATHWAY BYLAW HIGHLIGHTS
There are some sound new proposals for the city’s pathway system bylaw that will soon be debated by city council. Of particular note is a requirement for cyclists and inline skaters to have and use lights, which is a great idea.
Currently, far too many cyclists or inline skaters wear only reflective clothing, or use reflectors when it’s dark. This isn’t enough – it takes a light to set off reflectors or reflective clothing. If you don’t have a light, then you’re relying on someone else to be responsible enough to have a light to see you. And that doesn’t always work.
Far too many people have had the unfortunate experience of coming across pathway carnage – seeing people writhing in pain and being helped by EMS workers. Almost every time, these collisions have occurred in some of the near-black sections of the city’s 550-kilometre network of pathways. If the bylaw also required pedestrians and runners to wear lights, that would be best, but at least the new proposals are a good step in the right direction.
And just in case you were wondering, here’s a list of some of the fines that may await those who contravene the bylaws:
· $50 for not having a bell or audible signal on a bike;
· $50 for not staying to the right or for riding, skating, etc. with undue care and attention;
· $50 for going over the 20km/h speed limit.
SILVER SKIER
The recent presentation of the Olympic silver medal to cross-country skier Beckie Scott does the heart a bit of good.
To see someone stick to her guns and compete without performance-enhancing drugs – despite knowing and telling the authorities there were athletes in her sport who were cheating – finally rewarded for her efforts is grand. (In case you hadn’t heard, the Russian woman who originally finished second in the five-kilometre sprint at Salt Lake City, tested positive for drugs and was disqualified. Scott, who initially placed third, earned the upgraded medal.)
Thank goodness Scott was able to climb the podium at the Olympics and experience something few others ever have. She, no doubt, will never forget that feeling.
Knowing how great those moments must have been makes you wonder how the Czech Republic skier is feeling after placing fourth in the race initially and then later being upgraded to the bronze. Because of the cheating Russian, she missed out on that podium experience.
Too bad for her, but great for Beckie. |
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