Today is your day Boomer! I see in the news today the passing of Canada's "Hockey Dad" Walter Gretzky.....father of superstar Wayne Gretzky. So, I pay tribute to all Dads in our nation that truly commit a huge portion of their lives to their children and their hockey desires. Of course, it is not just fathers and hockey.....it is Moms, grandparents, and step parents that are being honoured here and for all sports like soccer, baseball, and lacrosse. Walter was the prime example of a Dad who would get out of bed at 4am for Wayne's hockey practices, he would slave for hours in the bitter Ontario winters to keep an outdoor rink going for his sons(see picture), he drove most weekends through snowstorms for tournaments, and provided hard-earned money for food, equipment, ice fees, and travel. He is the "poster boy" for committment to his children and many of us Boomers can really identify with this. My wife and I did the same thing for our three kids....including the outside rink! What alot of work, but it sure was worth it....and I know our children still appreciate it. Cheers Walter!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
Today is your day Boomer! Well, yesterday was my day! My long-awaited dream of building and opening a new high school gym in Summerland came true! 550 students watched, smiled and vigourously applauded as the SD67 school trustees officially cut the ribbon and opened the facility. The kids played in their new gym, in a so-called Rocket Rally, right after that and then 200 more mostly-Summerlanders attended a two-hour opening fundraiser that evening. There were people, young and old, every where: going on tours, eating food, watching volleyball and basketball, listening to speeches, and investing money in 30 community-donated silent auction items and a huge 50/50 raffle...organized by the school's Parent Advisory Council. The final fundraiser tally was about 7000$...made in only two hours! Congratulations students and staff of SSS. Your new gym is finally here, the first new one since 1951! Play on....
Read more
Image
Today is your day Boomer! My Dad left this world this week. I was there in-person to say goodbye and, of course, it was very, very difficult. But rather than focusing on the negatives of his downfall, I want to share with you my Dad's many contributions to my life. First off, Harold (Hal) shared his name with me and helped raise me as one of six kids in our family. Imagine the financial impact a family of eight had on his work life and mental state! Speaking of that, he taught me the importance of a strong work ethic and a good education. All his kids have university degrees or trades tickets. He showed me the supreme importance of family gatherings, how to flyfish...even when he was colour blind....how to use tools, play high-level bridge, eat organic foods, he taught me how to drive....even though I ruined the transmission on our old car....he showed me how to sail, save and invest money, have an appreciation for nature, he was a role model for me as I moved through heart/s
Read more
Image
Today is your day Boomer! To my Boomer friends and family in the South Okanagan, I cordially invite you to a BIG fundraiser at my former workplace, Summerland Secondary School. It is the new gym...in the works and a big dream of mine for.....well, decades! The sparkling new gym officially opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony(big wigs and media only) at 10am on November 13.....but the public gets its chance at 6pm the same day! It is a fundraiser for "extras" like basketball hoops on the outside tennis court and a new, enhanced gym sound system! The school committee has already raised over 22,000$ and they want more! Can you help please by attending? Tickets are $20 for a special "smokie" dinner, chips, and a drink.....and you get gym tours, games to watch, a few speeches, a raffle and other fundraisers. It should be a grand night and, hopefully, a full house! This is a big deal for Summerland; we haven't had a new high school gym since 1951! Hope you can
Read more