Five years later - Mount Royal University PR reunion

Sometimes it feels like we just graduated yesterday. In reality this summer marks five years since we crossed the stage at Mount Royal University (then College) with newly minted public relations degrees. Five years, many miles, job changes, life changes and all - we met in Calgary to celebrate.

Thank you so much to my classmate and good friend Andrea for helping organize a fantastic Saturday. While the Team Jim and Team Janice slow-pitch tournament never saw the light of day it was so fantastic to plan this event with you.

Thank you Lindsey, Elana, Kelsey, Sarah, Jason and Amanda for traveling many miles to get together. To the rest of the class who couldn't make it, your presence was truly missed. I hope we can all get together sometime in the near future.

To another five years and even more personal and professional success!

Amanda and Mat

Andrea, Jason and Amanda

Elana and Sarah

Kelsey and Lindsey

The two Andreas

Lindsey and Joshua

Mat, me and Will

Calgary Stampede turns 100!

This past weekend the Calgary Stampede turned 100 years old. In almost predictable fashion they celebrated with a big parade to kick off 10 days of rodeo action, cowboys, fried foods, sunshine and flapjacks. I'm a sucker for a good parade and enjoyed this year's immensely. This year was also the first time I got tickets to the rodeo. Here is just a smattering of all the things I enjoyed this weekend! Yeehaw!

Watched the parade with Camille & Denise

At the Infield Bar with Courtney

At Nashville North with Paisley and Chris

Me getting my Stampede on

These are my mom's cowboy boots - over 25 years old!

This band came from Denmark

This one was from Germany (impressive!)

Giant Red River cart

Ukrainian dancers

These Canadian soldiers got the loudest cheers of the day (for good reason)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Remember the movie "Cool Runnings"? Yup, it's the actual Jamaican bobsled!

My seats at the rodeo

Calliope music always makes me think of parades!

The Shriners funny planes

At the vintage tractor pull

Always my favourite - when the tanks whip a 360 on the parade route

In search of snow...

This winter has been the barest I can ever recall. We cobbled together a skiff of snow for the holidays to make it feel somewhat like Christmas but it has been bare, brown and warm'ish all winter long.

I was in Calgary last week taking a block-week intensive elective and when I finally emerged from books, papers, presentations and procrastination I felt like heading to the mountains in search of some "real" snow.

After celebrating little Miss C's first birthday on the Saturday, I headed to Banff with a familiar character (can you recognize Will anyone?) to celebrate our friend Amy's birthday. We had a fabulous visit, homemade pizza and wine and on Sunday, the best part of all......cross-country skiing outside of Lake Louise. There was a lot of uphill climbing and then some downhill spills but we had so much fun and it felt good to be out gliding through the snow again.

I think I'll be heading west more often if winter doesn't show up properly soon. The lure of snow is just too great! Thanks again Dave, Amy and Will for a fun Banff adventure.

I Was There

Hockey is part of the Canadian backbone ~ something that most kids learn to play from a very young age. I remember becoming a 'rink rat' at the age of five as I went to my younger brother's hockey practices and games. There is something about the crisp air in a natural ice hockey rink (can you smell the onion rings?). Never one to miss out on the action, I played ringette (definition here for those who have never played) in high school and campus recreation hockey in university. Needless to say it's in my blood.

So when I was approached by a fellow former PR classmate to be involved on the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship social media committee, I couldn't say no. Held from December 26 to December 31st in Edmonton and January 2 to 6th in Calgary, there was plenty of opportunity to be involved. I volunteered for eight months on the Twitter account for the World Juniors and what an experience I had. Together with eight other social media pros spread between Calgary and Edmonton we built an amazing following on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and YouTube. It exceeded my expectations!

Look at me Ma! I'm tweeting.

My roomie Natalie multi-tasking for Facebook.

My view from the press box.

The theme for this year's tournament was "I Was There" ~ so fitting from every angle when you think of it. I can say that I was definitely there and the memories and impact on me will last a lifetime. Thanks to this opportunity my love for hockey has been reignited.

This Canada flag is HUGE! Passed around the crowd

before every game.

This was the pre-game skate before the Canada v.s. U.S.A game

on New Year's Eve. It was loud in the house that night!