Celebrating Social Media with great choirs and organs, always on, always connected

By Michael J Morris
Whenever I muse about celebrating Social Media, I decide to listen to some great choirs complete with the passion of great organists on Youtube.

I am able to enjoy them thanks to the generosity of my friend Joel Vinge who gave me a set of super headphones. In an admission of my approaching Winter years, and a bit of hearing impairment, I accepted them and spend  totally marvellous afternoons attending concerts featuring great choirs.

Choirs and organs by the way are not part of  my upbringing: they are part of my DNA. My grandfather George Hunt, who played organ in churches and, yes, piano in English pubs, played for family concerts Sunday after church. 

His daughter, Muriel, my mother, with her incredible soprano voice, was a soloist, choir director and director of musicals, including 'HMS Pinafore' by Gilbert and Sullivan.

In the interests of full disclosure though, I must admit that I neither play nor sing well, but have directed concerts and musicals and studied drama at the University of Toronto. 

 I was a member of St John's Anglican Church Junior Choir, and when my voice changed, I asked Mom who was the choir director, one night while she was doing the supper dishes, if I should join the Senior Choir. Mom said, "Sing the scales with me.:" Do, Re Me," and Mom suddenly said, "Nope!" 

I was so insulted but survived and thus my singing career ended at twelve!

Enough already. You are wondering what the history of my family in music has to do with Social Media.  I started in 2014 when the theme of the week was Reimagining Human Connectivity: The Future of Now, Always On, Always Connected

Joel Vinge

Everything.  I attend my Youtube concerts, featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. the choirs of the National Cathedral in Washington, Westminster Abbey, St. James Cathedral (Toronto), St. George's Cathedral (Kingston). St. Paul's Bloor Street (Toronto) and a few others.

Youtube is a huge player in social media, and there I am in front of my computer being connected in a moment to great choirs of my choosing -- in effect experiencing the future of now, always on, always connected. In fact I am listening to selections by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as I type.

One of the comments I saw on Youtube was that there is "nothing more beautiful than voices of a great choir and the sounds of a talented passionate organist." 

I agree. With all respect to choirs here which I enjoy, I always enjoyed trips to Vancouver where I could attend Christ Church Cathedral and connect to the choir and organist. I have sat in the pews at St. Paul's Bloor Street in Toronto and listened to the Anglican Bishop of Toronto speak "at" the congregation --- as Timothy Findley wrote in his awesome novel 'The Wars'. Best use of a preposition I ever saw!  But mostly I was there for the music not to listen to the Bishop speak at me.

For each choir and each song I heard, a story from my own personal experience arose, and I was connected in a moment to my past, present and future. Also I am Irish on my father's side, and I have a photo of my parents beside my computer, and they are always smiling, but sometimes moreso than other times like they are at this moment.I know. I know!

At this moment I am listening to the Irish Tenors sing 'The Holy City'. Amazing.

Let me share one anecdote though that came to mind. In 1935 at the 50th anniversary of St. John's Anglican Church in Chapleau, my grandfather was the choirmaster, my grandmother Edythe, and their daughter Elsie were in the choir, and my Mom was soloist. Mom sang 'Now the Day is Over'. I listened to it sung by the Hastings College Choir. Mom would have enjoyed it as she loved the sound of young peoples' voices.

Social media lets us reimagine human connectivity. We just have to collect metaphors and apply them to do so.. A  major highlight of my teaching career of more than 30 years was to be one of the founders of a graduate New Media Communications program at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook BC.  I taught my first Writing for New Media in 1994

At the swimming pool I was supposed to get some advice on getting rid of my noodle (metaphor there lol). but told Dane Ries I had to leave early to work on my column. Chatting briefly, Dane told me he had learned to play the drums by ear, and that is how my grandfather played too. Grandpa could not read one iota of  music. 

Dane is learning guitar by watching others play on Youtube cause he doesn't read music either. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!

I plan to continue celebrating Social Media with Peter, Paul and Mary; Pete Seeger and Daniel O'Donnell, working on reimagining human connectivity. Feel free to share how you are celebrating Social Media today Thanks Joel and Dane.. My email is mj.morris@liveca

Chapleau Boys Go To War' story of significant contributions at home and abroad in World War 1 and World War 2

The Chapleau Boys Go To War is  the story of the contributions and sacrifices made during World War 1 and World War 2, at home and abroad by the people of Chapleau.

My cousin, Michael McMullen and I have been working on this project for several years, and the book has now been published. 

In the introduction we note that 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the start of WW 1 and the 75th anniversary of the start of WW 2.

" Canadians volunteered to serve from all across their country for both conflicts, and small towns and villages, like Chapleau, made significant contributions to both war efforts. They went to war because they believed it was the right thing to do. They were representing their families, friends, neighbours, colleagues and all of Canada, and were willing to pay the Supreme Sacrifice."

Our research revealed that there were 283 enlistments in World War 1 with a Chapleau connection, and 416 in World War 2 -- an incredible number given the population of the community during both wars.

Some returned home but others did not not. There were 32 "Chapleau boys" who died while on active service in the first world war and 29 in the second. We pay special tribute to the fallen with a biographical sketch and photos of them where available.

We have included a list of the names of all those with a Chapleau connection who served in both wars.

We also provide a look into the founding of Chapleau in 1885 with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, as well as life on the home front In both wars with a fascinating look at the work of the Chapleau branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society and other projects.

We were able to obtain some letters  from Chapleau boys in both wars who were overseas providing a glimpse into their lives on the front lines, a number of them written home near Christmas.

After World War I, Chapleau's first reeve G.B. Nicholson and his wife, Charlotte, had St. John's Parish House built in memory of their son Lorne who was killed on active service, and his friends. It became the Legion Hall. The book also notes the contribution of Branch No. 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion, from its founding in 1926 on.

Michael K (left) and I have serious chat about Chapleau Boys Go To War

On June 25, 1978, the cenotaph was moved from its original location beside St. John's Anglican Church to the Legion property. In 2000, the Chapleau Cree First Nation established the Fox Lake War Veterans Memorial. In 2014, Donald White, Chapleau's oldest living World War II veteran attended the Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph.

Henry (Harry) Byce and his son, Charles Byce, were Chapleau boys. They enlisted and fought in WW 1 and WW 2, respectively. Both received exceptionally high honours for valour and bravery for their individual war exploits. They were among the highest decorated Aboriginal veterans. We tell their stories.

Four Chapleau boys, Willard Bolduc, Baisel Collings, Donald Freeborn and Lloyd McDonald were among the recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross. We share their stories of bravery.

With thanks, particularly to former cadets, we were able to share highlights of 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps.

Both Michael and I share some personal thoughts, and in my case, for the first time in my life, I share an anecdote involving Dr. Karl Hackstetter, John McClellan and me when I was in Grade 9 at Chapleau High School.

There is a chapter on cemeteries and monuments globally, compiled by Michael, some of which he has visited.It is a most valuable resource and also shows the high esteem in which our "Chapleau Boys" are held.

Michael McMullen explained that "fallen 'Chapleau Boys' are commemorated by name on the Chapleau cenotaph, and for WW I on a plaque at St. John’s Anglican Church. "

Michael added:

"We wanted to know more about them and for most of them, have been able to put together short resumes with pictures that include family information, occupation at enlistment, place of enlistment, some of their armed forces experience, date of death and cemetery or memorial information. This is our way of preserving their memories.

"We hope the information we have provided for foreign cemeteries and memorials will help to provide a context to where the Chapleau Boys were when they were killed or died due to war inflicted causes.

"We also hope our work will be used as a reference for family descendants to do research on their relatives that served in wars. It is important that photos of those who served and letters that they sent home are preserved with details of their service. If not, this material will be lost, if not already lost, with the passage of time.

"Ideally, our book will serve as a catalyst for families to search old shoeboxes for pictures and letters from those who served. Also, medals and awards should be documented for future family generations. It is important that this information not be lost. We owe this to all Chapleau Boys who have served in wars and conflicts."

I extend my most sincere personal thanks to Mario Lafreniere, publisher of the Chapleau Express, for inviting me to write Chapleau Moments almost six years ago. Had he not done so, I likely would not have begun my research into "Chapleau Boys Go to War". Our book is available now

Our book is available at Chapleau Village Shops, http://amazon.com (key words: chapleau boys war), or from me.. My email is mj.morris@live.ca   If you live in Ontario and/or specifically Ottawa region, I will get Michael K to look after your order.

Join "Aging Anonymous" as the merry-go-round slows and enjoy the ride

By Michael J Morris

Gosh, with all the really big stories floating around the twitterverse , I thought that I would pontificate on at least one of them.

Maybe about meeting Justin Trudeau in 1982 with his father Pierre and his brothers when he passed through Chapleau on a train after they had eggs hurled at their car in Revelstoke BC. I covered the Chapleau visit for CBC TV News.

MJ on left

Maybe the story behind how the headline in the Chatham Daily News where I was news editor in 1968, was 'CANADA GOES TRUDEAU'.

 Certainly worthy stories but for the moment at least I will leave them alone, and share some thoughts on a column written by Virginia Bell for Huffington Post on "aging better". 

Bell claims it gets better as you get older. "You get better. Life gets better.The merry-go-round slows down and you can finally enjoy the ride..."

I don't usually read past the first couple of paragraphs of most stories ((I've become an all the news in 140 characters kind of guy) but Bell's comment intrigued me. 

She suggests that it's not easy but possible but "necessary to make peace with yourself, your past, and the whole process of aging. That naturally involves forgiveness, compassion, and patience; for yourself first of all and for others.

MJ with my buddy Toni

In fact, aging is the ultimate 12-step program; Aging Anonymous! Instead of giving up drugs or drinking, you have to give up all the things you're still holding onto; the material things as well as the emotional baggage; the grudges, resentment, and regrets. It doesn't happen overnight; it's an ongoing process and like any recovery work it's tough, humbling but ultimately life changing."

Aging Anonymous! Nice touch. Bell also makes it clear that it doesn't mean we can't continue to be "active, ambitious and successful but hopefully the ego is no longer calling the shots..."

Ed watching me "golf"

Damn ego. I recall that after retiring from College of the Rockies, the phone didn't ring as much; I was no longer the centre of attention as the sage on the the stage in front of the classroom, which I had, at least in my own mind, been for more than 30 years. It was downright depressing and I recall chatting over coffee with Dr Berry Calder, the college president about it.

Berry laughed and gave  me the solution. "Come up here and get a cup of coffee from my pot which you have been doing for years, wander the halls and chat." I did and soon I drifted away from the college, gradually making the adjustment. I hardly ever visit the place now.

My voting place in the last federal election was at the college, and I really enjoyed my visit. Didn't take me long to vote and I wandered about for a bit. Ran into a couple of old buddies, and the renovations are awesome.

No, I have no desire to return to the classroom, but I must admit a touch of nostalgia during my visit.

Bell offers good advice: "The projects we pursue and the life we lead need to reflect that and be aligned with who we are now and not who we once were. If we're able to make that transition then getting older can be a rich and fulfilling experience."

She offers four suggestions:

1.  Finding a purpose for this phase of life is essential: It doesn't have to be professional but we all need something that brings us joy and gives us a way to be in the world as an elder person. 

2. If you don't have a purpose then take some time to discover it: Ask yourself, if you died at this moment what would you regret not having done? A life review is a valuable process; one that is highly respected among psychologists, social workers and gerontologists. 

3.  Develop your inner life: Carl Jung believed what healed patients in the second half of life was to cultivate a spiritual outlook. He recommended tools such as dream analysis and creativity. Journaling, prayer, or spending time in nature are also ways to awaken those parts of the self that were not developed while we were building a career and constructing our social persona. Meditation is another.

4. Simplify, simplify, simplify: As we age the desire to acquire is less and the need to scale down becomes stronger. Our focus is shifting and we don't have the time or physical energy to deal with a lot of stuff. 

Bell adds: "Ultimately, aging well it's about being authentic; discovering your own rhythm, making your own rules, going at your own speed. It's being flexible enough to change and grow but not feeling pressured to stay relevant and look youthful. So lean back, lean in, reach up, lie down and most of all love yourself where you are."

Dane. MJM, Jessica my fav lifeguards now at college

Before you ask, yes, I have been working on bits and pieces of Bell's four suggestions for some time. Even today I am.

For example, when I was a daily newspaper reporter, I may have had to write on one of the stories I noted at the beginning.

If I was still teaching English literature, maybe I would be preparing a lecture on Robin Williams outstanding performance as a teacher in 'Dead Poets Society" and the use of metaphor in Walt Whitman's "My Captain. My Captain" in the movie and in Williams' life. Or discussing John Steinbeck's incredible novel "Of Mice and Men",

But I'm not. Today I will go my usual walks, go for a swim at the pool -- aka Cranbrook Aquatic Centre --- where guess what; Rrecently one of the lifeguards told me about his Chapleau connection. Historically, a huge one!

Ron, Joel, Peter, Mark, Jim some of the FMCC members

And I plan  to have coffee with the guys in the Friday Morning Coffee Club where maybe, just maybe we will discuss the burning issues of the day, and maybe not too.

We may just laugh at the absurdity of it all. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

 My friend Jim sent me a text one day:

"I'm happy. You happy?"

My reply:

"I am indeed."

Enough said!

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

P.S. I am planning the rest of 2017!

Here is the link to Virginia Bell's article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/virginia-bell/aging-gracefully_b_5567746.html?

Cranbrook politicians need to work together on 'big ideas' to improve city's infrastructure

by Michael J Morris
The federal election is over, and sooner rather than later I hope, Cranbrook city council will come up with 10 big ideas to fix the community's infrastructure and be ready when Justin Trudeau announces details of the infrastructure program he promised.

But before so doing, Mayor Lee Pratt and his council will need to accept the reality that Canadians elected a majority Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau. However, in Kootenay-Columbia, voters bounced David Wilks, the Conservative MP in the last Parliament, and replaced him with Wayne Stetski, of the  NDP.

Stetski, who was mayor of Cranbrook but defeated by Pratt in the last election, is now the city's voice in the new Parliament, but will be a rookie MP in the House of Commons with a steep learning curve. The NDP is also the third party in terms of members.

I would suggest that as the political times are new, all involved put aside any differences they may have, meet and get on with co-operating for the improvement of the community. Focus totally on the things bringing them together -- a better place to live, work and play -- rather than those things dividing them.

It was the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll who aroused me to comment singing "I'm late / I'm late / For a very important date. / No time to say "Hello, Goodbye". / I'm late, I'm late, I'm late."

I really don't want Cranbrook to be late for a very important date with the new government of Canada in submitting projects to improve the city.

On to 10 Big Ideas for Cranbrook. I suggest that a public consultation process be undertaken to assist in deciding the infrastructure program.

For example, a year or so ago, the Toronto Star started by asking its readers to provide 35 big ideas that would help the city became a better place for all citizens to live, work and play, and then whittled them down to the top 25. The next stage was to select the Top Ten, and hopefully city council would  act on them.

I know. I know. My example is from Toronto not the most popular city in these parts.

Wow. I must have been here a long time When I arrived here over 26 years ago, I was very careful about mentioning in the faculty lounge at College of the Rockies, then East Kootenay Community College, that I was from Ontario, never mind that I had attended school and worked in Toronto. And yes, I have written articles for the Toronto Star in the interests of full disclosure.

Anyway, I digress as usual. How about asking citizens for Big Ideas to make Cranbrook a better place to live, work and play. I have not come up with a plan to sort them all out, but that can be decided later if necessary. 

I am really just blue skying an idea.  It will have served a useful purpose. It will help establish common ground on issues that bring the community together rather than divide it. 

Let me return to Alice in Wonderland and the Walrus: "The time has come, my little friends, to talk of other things / Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings / And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings / Calloo, Callay, come run away / With the cabbages and kings."

You figure out the metaphor(s). Thanks so much for 26 years in Cranbrook. I wish you all the very best.

 My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Harper 'a victim of his dark side' former Tory strategist Tom Flanagan argued in 2009

Way back in 2009, Tom Flanagan, a long time Conservative party strategist wrote that Prime Minister Stephen Harper may have become "a victim of his dark side" as he attempts to survive politically.

A Toronto Star article  by Richard J Brennan and Bruce Campion-Smith laid out several ways that Harper seemed to have betrayed his "conservative" principles in a bid to stay in power.

They quoted Flanagan, a former Harper campaign organizer and strategist, as saying that Harper has been "transformed from a conservative ideologue to a political survivor, but remains a victim of his own dark side.

'Both sides are real ... but what you see more and more is the political Harper,' said Flanagan, author of the acclaimed Harper's Team: Behind the Scenes in the Conservative Rise to Power, " according to The Star story.

Six years later, Harper is still the prime minister, but maybe, just maybe his days are numbered. For sure. Canadians do not need Flanagan to tell us about Harper's "dark side".

Full story: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/577188

When I first read the Toronto Star story in 2009, I expected it would be critical of Harper, but it surprised me greatly that Flanagan. who I had watched defend the Conservatives many times would say the prime minister has become a victim of his dark side, where political survival is more important than his principles.

Right now we are watching Harper struggle to stay in power but this is no time for survival games by the prime minister. His responsibility to all Canadians must go beyond his own lust for power, and for once in his life, let him put the country first. Not going to happen methinks.

I have been following Canadian politics since Louis St Laurent was prime minister, and I have seen a lot of things happen, but this is the first time I think we should be concerned about the truth of Lord Acton`s famous dictum that `power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolùtely.

Indeed, Harper has become a victim of his dark side, and with much regret I have concluded he is a danger to Canada I know and love if given another term in office.

"Fellowship' in Canadian villages will defeat politics of fear and division in Canada

For such a time as we are experiencing after the terror attack in Paris, and those elsewhere, Canadians surely did not ask or seek.

Just about a year ago now, I flew from Cranbrook to Toronto to attend a marvellous party attended by some folks I had not seen since high school days, more than 50 years ago. What a joyous occasion it was for the more than 60 old friends who were there. Thanks to Brigitte and Butch for hosting it.

As I flew across this vast and magnificent land, over the mountains, across the prairies to the forests of Ontario, into Toronto, which. along with Chapleau, have been so much the central places in my life, I recalled the words of Bruce Hutchison in The Unknown Country.  Little did I think during my travels that I would be putting Mr. Hutchison's words into the context of our present political situation..

Mr. Hutchison, who has Cranbrook roots, wrote in 1942, that "No one knows my country ...Who can know our loneliness on the immensity of prairie, in the dark forest and on the windy sea rock? A few lights, a faint glow in our largest city on the vast breast of the night and all around blackness and emptiness and silence. We flee to little towns for moments of fellowship."

Indeed, who but us? And given the politics of fear and division being shovelled at us 24/7, Canadians from coast to coast to coast must surely be trying to understand, to make sense of it all.

I won't pretend to have the answers, but I do know one thing for sure: Be not afraid.

As Canadians, let us focus on the positive aspects of living in this still largely unknown country and strive to fulfill our hopes and passions. Let us focus on those things bringing us together, rather than those which may divide us.

I often think of my mother's family, George and Edith Hunt, my mother Muriel and her sister Elsie who arrived in Canada in 1913 from England to make a new life for themselves. They settled in Chapleau.

 Not here long before my grandfather was badly burned in a fire but he survived. Then it was World War I, then the Great Depression, then World War II, and my father, Jim Morris, was killed on active service in the RCAF in 1943.

Through it all, my family and I know that yours faced its challenges too, and, never, ever let fear rule their lives. Chapleau was a relatively isolated community, but people cared about and looked after each other, in good times and bad.

Let me leave you with two quotes to think about:

"Fear is the only true enemy, born of ignorance and the parent of anger and hate."  Edward Albert

"The enemy is fear. We think it is hate; but, it is fear." Gandhi

As difficult as it may be, let us focus on those things bringing us together rather than dividing us. Let us certainly not be intimidated, but lead the way to the "promised land" where our greatest hopes and passions will be fulfilled -- Canada!

We are all children of the village in Canada and if need be, it is OK, even today to "flee" for a moment to the little towns for fellowship as Mr. Hutchison suggested in 1942. It is part of the Canadian experience. 

I just did, three times in the past year: even though the small town was a home in Toronto with more than 60 lifelong friends, and not Chapleau, where we were raised. But I also went to Orlando (one of my favourite villages)  to see my friends, and yes, I made a trip to Chapleau too,  And most importantly, I do it every day in Cranbrook.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca