Kevin Hilgers

Saturday evening was the Governor's Ball

Drayton Valley Alberta hosted the District 5370 Conference.  It was a smashing success.  330 people were there Friday Saturday and Sunday.   The them was “sustainability”.  Workshops showed Rotarians how do even better work in their community and world.  A lot of fun catching up with Rotarians from the District and it’s 60 clubs.  Next District Conference will be Athabasca, Edmonton, and then Grande Prairie fall 2012!  The Drayton Valley Rotary Club did a bang up job, with a 60’s theme that was a hoot !  A lot of laughs, and learning.  District 5370 has 60 clubs from North Battleford SK to Ft. Nelson, Alberta, from Yellowknife NWT down to Jasper Alberta.  It includes greater Edmonton area.

Jan and I went to Dawson Creek BC for a bike ride and day excursion.  Every time we have driven through we have never stopped in this quirky little town called Pouce Coupe, just inside the BC border.  We saw a deck on a bar so we stopped in.  Shandra lived there and operated the Hart Hotel and Pub.  Built in 1928 and named after the first white settler in the area – Jim (?) Hart.  Same guy they named the Hart Highway after.  Pouce Coupe was named after a First Nations Chief.  The name is french for “cut thumb”.   It was originally named ‘Pouskapie’s Prairie, after the name of the local native band chief.

Anyhow after some wine (white nice and cold, so was my red…) we headed for Dawson Creek where we unloaded the bikes and did some nice cycling through the town and around

Wow, we really do live up North.

First ride of the season - a beauty!

Near as I can tell taking a picture while you are on the bike is not illegal.  It was a great evening,  17 degrees and calm, and dry!   Jan and I went for a nice bike ride.  Very nice.   Great to feel the bike again.  Put the rack back on the car and we are ready for a summer of biking!

 Okay it is time for a poll.  In Alberta there is a new provincial party that seems to be taking off.  This is mostly due to a charismatic un-Stelmach leader – Danielle Smith.  Frankly I am getting tired of her one red suit – but she sure impresses.  Now is your chance TO VOTE! Do they have a fighting chance? 

In the very clean kitchen of Nic and Vivian. Great cake, too!

My Grandma told me a few weeks ago about Nic.  Nic lives in Lloydminster, and is the last surviving brother of my Grandpa Steve.  At one time there was 15 kids.  Now there is only Nic.  I haf kind of forgotten about my Great Uncle.  I haven’t seen them since the mid 80’s.  Wow, the last surviving sibling of Grandpa.  So, I called them.  Vivian was quite chipper.  Eager to chat.  Then – we visited.  We drove through Lloyd at Easter so we popped in.  It was great.  Nic had the same mannerisms of Grandpa.  His home and yard showed he has the same pride and work ethic as Grandpa.  I asked him who took care of his yard…  he said “I wouldn’t let anyone touch it”.  Just like Grandpa.    Well after all these years it sure was a pleasure.  An honour. 

I went to a funeral of a very special man today.   He was 75.   I didn’t know him all that well other than in passing at functions.  I know his family better.  It was obvious from the crowd he had many friends.  He was in several service groups in the past – including Rotary.  The talks we heard at the funeral made it obvious he was a man full of life and community.  Some times you wonder if you should go to a funeral.  You may only know the person a bit,  you know their family or friends better.  I am glad I went.  It was nice taking a  quiet moment to hear about the life and times of such a dynamic community member.   In the end I was glad I was there to learn more about this gentleman and his family.  By the looks of things I wasn’t the only one left thinking that as sad as it is to lose someone,  what an honour it is to be able to participate in a salute to his life, times and family.

The daughter Catherine saw Salmon Rushdie today at McGill and she was totally inspired.  Here in Grande Prairie things aren’t that exciting but we did see movie “Date Night” .  You know, it was kind of fun.  The movie theatre (8:15 start, Friday eve) was darned near full.  They played  a swack of ads and movie trailers with the sound not loud enough to really understand.. When the movie started though it was louder and all was well.  The movie was pretty darned funny – and it was a fun Date Night for Jan and I.  Not too much violence… Not too many F bombs.  A fun night out.

The family with a member of Canada's finest.

We spent the weekend at Edmonton at the Rotary Youth Exchange Orientation for Karly.  The weekend prepares Karly (and family!) for her year in Japan which starts this summer.  Also there was Catherine who joined the other “Rebound”, students who are now just back from their Rotary Exchange.  The Rebounds assisted the “outbounds” with preparations for their year.

Karly with Stephanie, an exchange student from Athabasca who will also be off to Japan. Also included include is Mashbat, a Japanese exchange student now in Canada for the school year, in Ft. Nelson, BC.