Life and Random Thinking

I am Canadian or Fun with a red Fridge

Posted on April 27, 2024 by dfolstad58

This post is about multiculturalism in Canada and I hope you enjoy this latest post in the “O Canada” category. (smile)

What does that word “multiculturalism” mean in reality especially because I live in a small city in western Canada.

I admit I live in a small city and the big cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are tremendously more diverse but multiculturalism is celebrated and encouraged here in sunny Penticton also.

In this little city we have immigrants from Sri Lanka, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Vietnam, Korea, Nepal and more even, Ontario (gosh ! ha ha chuckle) .

It is not uncommon for there to be special events throughout the year being held by various cultural groups in one of the parks and this includes parades, and of course, there’s the food! Yay!

According to the internet, annual immigration in Canada amounts to almost 500,000 new immigrants – one of the highest rates per population of any country in the world.

As of 2023, there were more than eight million immigrants with permanent residence living in Canada – roughly 20 percent of the total Canadian population.

The Canadian government recognizes multiculturalism in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and created the Multiculturalism Act in the late 1980’s.

I think nearly all Canadians agree that immigrants make our country BOTH a better place to live and are important for the economy.

The Aga Khan described Canada as the most pluralist society on the face of the globe.

Now some fun stuff ♥

Molson Beer in Canada has done a few advertising campaigns featuring a red fridge that only opens when certain “Canadian” related criteria are met. (More on this later)

In 2015 a new Molson Fridge made it’s public debut. It would only open if the words “I am Canadian” are uttered in six different languages.

That new fridge uses Google’s Speech Recognition API and other technologies to recognize 40 languages, from French to Hindi.

Once the fridge recognizes the key phrase “I am Canadian,” the doors finally open to reveal an abundance of ice cold vintage Molson Canadian cans.

See it in action!

I am Canadian – teamwork for cold beer and laughs

If the youtube is not visible click link to see a fun group opening a beer fridge by voice saying I AM CANADIAN in multiple languages – LINK

Thank you for reading, and hugs to everyone who likes and comments – David ♥

In Canada, our diversity is our strength. Our social, political, economic and cultural progress is not made in spite of our differences, but thanks to our differences.

Posted in O Canada, okanagan related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged diverse, fun, I am Canadian, Molson, multiculturalism, red fridge | 11 Comments

There are All sorts of Unexpected Things in Life

Posted on April 24, 2024 by dfolstad58

It’s me again ♥ Thanks for visiting and taking time to comment – it makes my day reading the comments and replying.

Today my post belongs to a couple of different categories such as Okanagan Related, and Thinking Out Loud. All the categories are along the right hand side of the page.

My life and yours includes all sorts of unexpected things, hopefully mostly happy, and I am sure you have some stories to tell on that subject.

My bike rides are all about the unexpected for me. I am talking about spotting eagles, osprey, coots, bufflehead ducks and even snakes.

Snakes? Yes; I was riding along the river channel a few day ago and I unexpectedly nearly ran over this tiny snake below. I circled back as I wasn’t even sure it was a snake, as I hardly got a look at it. It was a little one and he had a tiny black head and small tongue flicking out – he was pretty timid though. I thought that would be it for snake sighting that day, but I was wrong.

Only about 50 feet further along that I found another larger snake, and it was less inclined to move away when I got closer.

Since I know that small and larger teeth hurt, (guess how I learned that!) I left these snakes alone. I used pick up wild mice and things but after a few little bites I stopped doing that. (I guess I am learning, albeit slowly)

I am told that years ago, the Okanagan used to have a lot of snakes and in the hills when people went for a walk they swept the sidewalk in front of them to move the snakes out of the way. It is startling for me to imagine that now, it would make a person think twice before putting out the garbage at night!

Unexpected surprises come in all types including apparently lost wallets.

I lost my wallet in Stanley Park back in the 1970’s so there is still hope apparently because of this recent “found” wallet story that happened here in Penticton just recently.

Long Lost Wallet (story by Taya Fast – Global News)

Two construction workers separated by more than 60 years along Skaha Lake Road in Penticton, B.C., are now connected through a long-lost personal item because Scott Walls, was working in the area back in early March when something caught his eye buried in the roadway.

“We were putting in a sewer main and as we were excavating the hole we always watch for other utilities or conflicting things in the ground,” said Walls.

“When the operator was pulling the dirt back, I saw a red credit card — I didn’t know at the time that’s what it was — and it happened to be a leather wallet.”

The wallet was almost perfectly preserved and stamped on it was the name Roger Desfosses. Inside the wallet was an Arthur A. Voice Construction credit card.

Walls took to social media with the information and eventually connected with Defosses’s son, Danny, and widow Gisele Desfosses, who both live in the Edmonton area.

“It was neat,” said Walls. “We find a lot of things in the ground, but usually they’re glass bottles and plastic, but to find something leather and then have a name attached to it and then a credit card with the company he worked for, and the expiry date was 1964… that was super cool.”

Only a couple of days later, the Desfosses family drove out to Penticton from Alberta to meet Walls and get the wallet.

Giselle along with her son, grandson and his wife, and three great-grandchildren all piled into a vehicle to make the trip.

“I had to go. I owed it to Scott, and I owed it to Roger, because he can’t speak for himself and that’s something that he would have done,” said Desfosses.

“When I heard about it, I said we’re going, that’s it, we’re going. Scott wanted to mail it but I didn’t want to take a chance because we lost it for 60 years already, I didn’t want to lose it in the mail for another 60, I won’t be around.”

The pair had come to Penticton in the 1960s for civil construction work along the same stretch of road where Walls had recently been working.

Giselle and Roger Defosses were only in the South Okanagan for a few months, which is likely when the wallet was lost.

Giselle went on to say that the wallet brings back a lot of memories.

“It was a good time in our lives,” Giselle said.“We were just starting our family. Danny, he was four years old, and Suzanne was two and our youngest son was born seven years later, and he is now gone.”

The wallet had been sitting about three-and-a-half feet under Skaha Lake Road ever since.

Roger Desfosses died in 2020 at age 85. He and Giselle had known each other since Grade 1 and were married for 63 years.

Link to video here – click to watch

They say “expect the unexpected” which just doesn’t make sense to me but I will say “celebrate the unexpected” delightful events you can – they don’t get front page, and they don’t go viral but still taste sweet.

Savour them like lifesaver candies, as long as you are able.

I appreciate you reader! ♥ – Sincerely, David

The Okanagan lake was so smooth today, this was during a morning walk.

Posted in okanagan related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged found, lost, Okanagan, snakes, unexpected, wallet | 13 Comments

O Canada – 1967

Posted on April 22, 2024 by dfolstad58

Welcome to my 3rd blog in the “O Canada” category and I hope you are enjoying them.

When I was about 7 years old and it was 1966 when my family from Quesnel, British Columbia (BC) to (East) Vancouver, BC. It was my Dad, Mom, my brother and I. It was more than a long long drive, 700 km or so, it was also a huge change from small town to big city.

It was a momentous move and only when I was an adult did I realize how Mom and Dad had barely achieved it on the slimmest of shoestrings. I am sure it was stressful for them but my parents realized it was a “jump” that would lead to a better future for the family.

In 1966 houses could be bought for $16,000 and our realtor even lent us the down payment as my Dad was waiting for his severance pay. Amazing ! Houses seem cheap to us now but wages were also low; in 1966 the average annual income was about $4200 for a individual which would equate to $35,000 in 2020. We had two hungry boys and a german shepherd and at first only Dad was working, albeit that changed quite soon.

I was 7, my brother was 5 and we were blissfully unaware and to us it was a big adventure I suppose. It was months before my parents could afford an actual stove in our new home. Meals were always delicious and homemade and our parents kept growing up special.

We made our own kites with balsam wood and newspaper, and weekly visits to the Hastings branch library remain happy memories.

In the summer we had free swimming lessons at the outdoor pool that were sponsored by the Vancouver Sun newspaper.

In the fall of 1966 I began grade 3 at “little” Begbie – it was the elementary school in the area. (Big Begbie was Sir Matthew Begbie school – named after a famous “hanging judge”)

My teacher in grade 3 was Mrs. McDonald – my first day I had a double detention. ♥ I wasn’t a “bad” student but I got talking twice when I was supposed to be quiet. Fortunately my new friend Ole shared my detention.

Imagine my surprise when on the last day of school when I received a ribbon for “most improved” – Lol.

Spring of 1967 was when I developed a sense of my identify as a Canadian.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, John Diefenbaker, and others .

My Dad was a genius at finding fun things for us to do that were also free. We often toured visiting ships in the harbor such as destroyers, one aircraft carrier, a Japanese training ship that had sails, an American submarine and more. In 1967 there were one of those opportunities – a special train.

In 1967 I remember standing in the rain at the railway stop in downtown Vancouver – it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Confederation train. LINK

This was a train museum on wheels to share Canada’s confederation birthday of 100 years, I remember I liked it but not much else besides standing in line. LOL

In grade 3 that year all the kids had an opportunity to win gold, silver, and bronze patches for participation. LINK We all wanted Gold of course, but it consisted of doing multiple exercises and to win a gold patch you needed to be Gold at all three competitions. I remember I was Gold at two and Bronze at one so I ended up with Bronze. (oy vey) I was a bit disappointed and I think the events were sit-ups, running jump and standing jump – the standing jump was hardest for me because I was a “shrimp”.

It was also the year of learning the Centennial song which melody still rebounds in my skull and I can sing it along. It was called the CA – NA – DA song and if you listen you will know why – imagine my whole school – grades 1 to 4 all shouting out the words in a tiny gymnasium and we had healthy lungs♥

It was a song sung in a continuous round, and one grade would start first and continue and others would join in. Thinking of those brave patient teachers now, just makes me grin. ha ha

1967 – It meant 100 years for Canada, it was a simpler age now as I look back , and it was the year I identified as Canadian.

♥ Thanks for reading – ♥♥♥ – David

Lyrics are below for your pleasure to sing along 🙂

CA-NA-DA

(One little two little three Canadians)

We love thee

(Now we are twenty million)

CA-NA-DA

(Four little five little six little Provinces)

Proud and free

(Now we are ten and the Territories sea to sea)

(Chorus):

North south east west

There’ll be happy times,

Church Bells will ring, ring, ring

It’s the hundredth anniversary of Confederation

Ev’rybody sing together!

Posted in family, O Canada | Tagged 1967, 1967 centennial, Canada, Canadian, train | 17 Comments

Je suis Canadien, Soy Candiense, I am Canadian

Posted on April 21, 2024 by dfolstad58

Welcome back to my blog – thank you sincerely for visiting and commenting. I am interested in your thoughts about this new category and your feedback.

My blog has a number of categories and I decided I wanted to start one called ” O Canada” – so I have and this my second post for this category.

Canada shares North America with the United States (USA) and we share many commonalities but also differences which make us unlike each other but also similar.

Today my message is that Canada and USA are different but we are close – in more ways than just geography.

I was interested to learn that my family tree is on both sides of the 49th parallel. Norwegian brothers arrived in New York a long time ago and some went north to Canada, and some settled in Canada. A few of those relatives I know, and unfortunately most I do not. It would be awesome to learn more about them.

I was born here, in a small town in Saskatchewan, I have lived in two provinces and sleep best when I am in Canada. I have lived in small towns, and in a metropolitan city – and wherever I lived I felt fortunate.

I believe that Canada and Canadians are very special. There is much to like, love and appreciate here as there is in countries all around the globe.

I love Canada and it is my home.

Since many people who visit my blog are not from Canada – I hope you will enjoy these posts as you perhaps learn a little more about Canada, and of course that includes my USA “cousins” who I hope will enjoy these posts.

Canadians and Americans have a close friendship and may it ever prosper and most USA presidents have shared positively, as did President John Kennedy – his words are below.

“Je me sens vraiment entre amis. (I feel that I am truly among friends.)”

“Nearly forty years ago, a distinguished Prime Minister of this country … said, ‘They may not be angels but they are at least our friends.’I must say that I do not think that we probably demonstrated in that forty years that we are angels yet, but I hope we have demonstrated that we are at least friends.”

“Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder.”

President John Kennedy

Tom Brokaw explained in February 2010 the relationship between Canada and The United States, in a pre-recorded short film that aired on NBC, prior to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Feb. 12th, 2010.

I hope you enjoy the short film as I did.

Many Canadians are from other countries, my family heritage is Norwegian and Ukrainian – both countries I have yet to visit.

My family were homesteaders and worked hard on the prairies and I am grateful they had the courage, and resolve to come to this great country.

There are many great countries in the world and wherever you call home – I send you my sincere wishes for good health and happiness. – David

Posted in O Canada, Thinking Out loud | Tagged Canada, differences, John Kennedy, pride, tom brokaw, USA | 19 Comments

Not a fan of “Good” or “Fine”

Posted on March 21, 2024 by dfolstad58

Happy Spring dear readers!

Spring has arrived and last Sunday when I rode my bike around town, I was surprised at the depth and enthusiasm of the sun worship. People were celebrating a warm late winter day!

It wasn’t that warm in my opinion and although I have spotted a few persons daring Okanagan and Skaha lake already (and I am shocked every time!) with swim suits, it isn’t a behavior that I am likely to copy for a few months at least.

I do cherish the octave my voice is in, and that means no dips in the lake until more than the top few millimetres is warm unless I need to sing soprano.

I was thinking about the “Word of the Day” that I will be presenting this week as part of my Toastmasters meeting and I chose ” Scrupulous” which means “extremely careful, fussy, honest, precise, rigorous, strict”.

I chose this word because I am NOT a fan of the adjectives “Good” or “Fine” and I think you aren’t either.

Did you work really hard on a home project? washing the car? making a delicious homecooked meal?

Would you be happy with this vague feedback such as:

The meal was fine, or even worse, it was satisfactory?
You did a “good” job sounds to me like “it was okay“.

I believe people respond to, remember and appreciate less ambiguous feedback.

Recipients respond to, remember and appreciate when we are thoughtful enough to make the time to be specific ♥

I really enjoyed dinner tonight, the extra step of toasting the buns in the oven for the falafels, and the raspberries for the salad really made the meal topnotch. – not “it was good dinner”

I really appreciate how you check in regularly with me, even though you are very busy with all the pressures of work and life – you regularly let me know you are thinking of me and call. – not “you are a good friend”

If you want to improve your communication 90%, then be specific.

Say specifically what actions makes that person special, that meal appreciated, or their friendship unique and your feedback, comment, or discussion will “stand out”.

I predict that:

Sometime someone will look at say to you “ I will never forget how you told me ………….” and it will be because you said something scrupulous.

I will wind up this post with a few photos from recent bike rides, I hope you enjoy. – Thanks for reading, your honest feedback is always welcome ♥ – David