Who controls Canada's Money?

       Canadians should be ashamed of themselves. We pride ourselves on being a thoughtful caring people but our reckless legislative and regulatory banking practices have enslaved generations to come to debt.
        Let 12 year old Victoria Grant enlighten you. If you love your children, heed her recommendations that we legislate back control of our financial future.

Free Refills for Your Water Bottle - the BlueW Program

I like the idea behind this BlueW.org program. It encourages folks to refill their water bottles with free municipal water at locations displaying the logo below.

I see that the program is active with a presence in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Bravo to the folks in Niagara Falls for this. Now if we could get this going throughout the Niagara Region on "both sides of the River".

Refill your water bottle here! BlueW.org

The BlueW.org Program:

• Encourages hydration - a very good thing
• Encourages the use of municipal water - another very good thing
• Educates the public on the issue of municipal water quality - e.g. tap water is as good or better for you than bottled water
• Saves folks money - duh - a very good thing

Redbuds at St. Catharines Central Library

I was walking by the St. Catharines Central Library today when I saw the annual display of the redbuds in front of the entrance.  As readers of this blog know, I find the redbud's display in Spring to be a constant joy and a sign that lilacs will soon be in bloom.

The Eastern Redbuds at the library are not large but their planting is well placed to delight the library patrons when they are near the library's entrance.The library's architecture is Brutalist but once inside, it is welcoming.

Below is a short video of the redbuds blooming in front of the St. Catharines Main Library and views of the immediate environs. The blooms are beautiful this year. The images below were captured 24 April 2012.

The Library is an under appreciated institution and I suggest that residents of St. Catharines visit and use the excellent service that the library and the helpful library staff provide.

BABH Charity Lunch N'Brunch at Niagara College - 12 December 2011

I have been impressed with the work of the students in Niagara College's Bachelor of Business Hospitality (BABH) program as can be seen in this post so when I was told about their upcoming Lunch N'Brunch, I asked if we could purchase a few tickets and attend. The answer was "yes" and so off we went for a lunch.

We had previously asked a BABH student (Stacey) if she would be open and able to take one of our video cams and video some of the goings on in the kitchen. She sought  permission and then agreed. Thanks Stacey for the behind the scene insight.

This was a graded event for the students so I was delighted to see the video showing the students enjoying their activities. In my experience, this is in no small part due to the attitude of their instructors. Good, calm instructors create a good, calm environment and the students echo this.

So we sat down for the luncheon. We were seated with an interesting family of 8 who were there supporting the cause and their daughter / granddaughter / sister / neice. Nice people having a good time.

 It is nice to see students actually doing something with their hands and heads, actually creating something and putting their product out for consumption and criticism. Here is the video and stills from the event. 

Bouche - Smoked Salmon

1st Course - Local Butternut Squash Soup

1st Course - Classic Caesar Salad

 2nd Course - Vegetable Lasagna

2nd Course - Chicken Supreme

2nd Course - Roasted Striploin of Beef

Dessert - Creme Caramel

Dessert - Carrot Cake

Some Attendees, Students and Staff 

 I would like to thank the staff and students at Niagara College for inviting us to the event and for a very enjoyable meal and experience.

The students are welcome to use any of the material in this post to further their culinary careers. I wish them all the best in their professional futures.

Food Day at Niagara College's International Education Week - 14 November 2011

It all started with a tweet by @AwesomeRedhead: "International Buffet today at Niagara College's Niagara on the Lake Campus. If you're around come check it out! Starts at 11:30".

So off we went at 12:30 to the Niagara on the Lake campus of Niagara College. The event was part of the series of events taking place Nov. 14-18, 2011 and is part of Niagara College's Bachelor of Business Hospitality (BABH) program. The college will be hosting a series of events at its Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses all week long, celebrating the unique cultures and traditions that international students bring to the college’s educational experience. Here is a link for more information.

We arrived and followed the young crowd to what we found to be, and this explains the large number going there, free food. It turned out to be very tasty free food. The student participants acquitted their duties well with confidence and charm.

We thank the students and staff for putting on such a pleasant event. I gather that it was a success and I encourage the Niagara community to support the efforts of the students. 

Please forgive the poor sound quality of the video below. The acoustics were very challenging with the large number of people in such an acoustically lively room.