A piece of Canadian sporting history

These days you can't go very far anywhere in Canada without being reminded that the Winter Olympics will soon be underway in Vancouver. The media shows daily footage of the torch run as it makes it's way across the country. For months now athletes have already known they are going to the Olympics, all except for the curlers.

The other half of my holidays was spent back in Edmonton at the Roar of the Rings - the Olympic curling trials. My friend Courtney and her dad drove up from Calgary and we had tickets to the Thursday through Sunday curling action. Basically we caught the end of the round robin play and then had seats to all of the semi-final and final action.

It was electric and slightly emotional to watch the women's and then the men's teams qualify to represent Canada at the Olympics. I felt like I had been a part of Canadian history. There are pictures of the round robin play and then Team Martin receiving their gold medals. I've also included some pictures of the hijinx in The Patch. One thing curlers and their fans like to do is drink!

PR Christmas fun

Last week I took holidays mostly at my boss's urging. I figured there was no better time then to head down to Calgary to visit some friends I had been long neglecting.

One of the things that I always enjoy doing is organizing a little PR holiday party for all of those still around in Calgary. I know we only graduated in 2007 but somehow after spending three intense years together studying, brainstorming, laughing and crying (yes lots of crying) we have all lost touch with each other a little bit.

This year we had a little party at one of the local pubs and we got a big crew out. I've attached a few rather sedate photos of us at the Rose & Crown and later on we moved to another pub (Ship & Anchor) for some late-night karaoke. It was a lot of fun and so great to bring all of our professional minds together for one night of networking and laughing it up! (Lloyd we missed you!).

Proud to be green....

Yesterday I was witness to probably one of the most bittersweet moments in the 2009 Canadian Football League season. I went to the 2009 Grey Cup game in Calgary because of course my team was in the final.

The Roughriders dominated the entire first half of the game, we kept up the momentum during the third quarter but unfortunately the Montreal Alouettes started to pick up their game inching closer and closer to our lead. With the seconds ticking down, we were leading by two points and Montreal decided to kick a field goal to hopefully win the game (and the Cup) by one point.

Their kicker missed the uprights, wide to the right. It was pandemonium in the crowds as our running back caught the missed field goal and started to run out of the endzone. Flags on the field. Uh oh, not good news. The Roughriders had an extra man on the field, a heavy penalty to take with 5 seconds left in the game. The penalty moved the ball 10 yards closer and another kick for Montreal. This time the kick was good.

Our Grey Cup hopes dashed in a matter of seconds, Roughrider fans were the most subdued crowd you'd ever seen filing out of McMahon Stadium. What a heartbreak.

I just wanted to share the photos I took of the weekend as I attended the game with my friend Mike, his father Ken and Mike's friend Brian. You can see that about 95% of the crowd made the trek from Saskatchewan to see this game (lots of green in the crowd). I was so amazed at the other fans that wore their team's colours just as proudly at the final, even in their team didn't make it. Events like these always unite people for that one brief weekend and that's why I love to attend. I can't wait for Grey Cup 2010 here in Edmonton! It will be a party to remember and our Roughriders will be hungry for another chance at the cup!

We're going to the Grey Cup!!!!

Whoohooo! Last night the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Calgary Stampeders to win the west division title of the CFL. This coming weekend the 'Riders will meet the Montreal Alouettes in Calgary to battle it out for the Grey Cup. I'm currently trying to find tickets like crazy ~ I need to go to this game!

Here are a few photos from yesterday. I was at Mike and Angie's watching the football game with them. We celebrated afterwards with some hot tub action. You can't tell but there is a fine blanket of snow on everything else around us. Nothing more fun then hot tubbing in the snow. I can't wait for the big game this coming weekend! GO RIDERS!!!

The girls are back in town......

My old roommates from Calgary were in Edmonton this weekend to light up the town. It is Paisley's birthday this coming Tuesday so to celebrate her and Denise came up on Friday, we got a hotel room on trendy Whyte Ave. to have some privacy and spent the weekend shopping and partying. I've included a few photos from our fun weekend. It is always guaranteed good times when these ladies come to town!

Lest we forget

Today my friend Daphnee and I marked Remembrance Day by attending the wreath-laying ceremony in front of City Hall in Edmonton. The crowd was large and solemn, all wearing their poppies, lost in their own thoughts and emotions. For the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families have made, past and present, I shall not forget.

Hawaiian Halloween beerfest!

My friend Lloyd knows how to throw a party. Ever since we started the PR program four years ago, Lloyd has been organizing get-togethers for classmates, family, friends and work. Oddly enough, one of the first parties I ever attended at Lloyd's house was for Halloween.

This year he decided to have a Hawaiian beerfest themed Halloween party. I've included some pics of the people and the games around this party (he was serious about the "beer games" with team beer-pong, shot-gun beers, flip-a-cup, etc.). I'm glad I made the trip to Calgary for the party, Lloyd is doing communications now with Hockey Canada and will be kept very busy in the next few months with World Juniors and the Olympics. Thanks Lloyd, it was awesome!