Rick Rake

Destructive night becomes a good day through restorative justice

 

Look up, and who do you see?  With friends like Laurie Shopland, Diane Delves and Tony deWaal, how can anyone go wrong in Abbotsford?

 

Read the press release below to see what I'm talking about.

 

* * * * *

 Offenders repay $7,000; Canuck Place receives donaton

Quantum Properties, Abbotsford Restorative Justice
Partner After Building Vandalized

 

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – A night of drinking, a dangerous rooftop game of Twister, and a costly vandalism spree that could have ended tragically for four young adults at an Abbotsford construction site has an unexpected end to it a year later.

Because of a mediation process involving Quantum Properties president and CEO Diane Delves, Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA), and the four offenders, Canuck Place is now the recipient of a $7,000 donation.

Tony deWaal, ARJAA executive director, said provincial court costs for each of the offenders would have been $5,000, but after the four were apprehended when a security guard witnessed them exiting the construction site, the police referred the case to ARJAA, an organization that brings victims and offenders together for healing and restitution.

“I’m impressed a busy business person like Diane Delves was willing to invest the time in these young adults, giving them an opportunity to repair the harm that was done,” said deWaal.

 DeWaal said pre-mediation meetings were first conducted with Delves and the offenders to educate them about the process and to ensure no further harm was experienced.  This case was one of 161 handled by ARJAA last year, 98 referred by police and 63 from local schools.

As a result of the successful meeting between Delves and the young adults, the offenders agreed to repay the $7,000 cost of repairing the damage caused at the Quantum project and to write a research paper on the value of Canuck Place Children's Hospice.  Delves decided that the $7,000 restitution would be donated to charity.

“I felt that encouraging these young people to learn about children with life limiting illnesses would give them a better appreciation of their own lives.  They are essentially good people who just made an extremely bad choice. As they took responsibility for their actions and were keen on making amends, I wanted to encourage them to be a positive influence in the community.” said Delves.

Laurie Shopland, campaign manager for Canuck Place, said Delves and ARJAA turned a unique situation into a positive one, resulting in a wonderful outcome for Canuck Place.   “We are so thankful for Diane’s continued support.  What a great story!”

Already Delves has committed a significant donation to Canuck Place resulting in the Great Room at the new facility being named after Quantum Properties.

Delves said the ARJAA experience showed everyone involved the power of respect and healing after offenders make bad decisions.  “The program helps restore relationships, repair harm and rebuild community.”

Canuck Place Children’s Hospice provides specialized pediatric palliative care to more than 400 children and families across B.C. each year. The $10 million, 10-bed Abbotsford facility will feature five family suites. 

 

 
Of course, the anatomy of a cheque presentation can be an interesting study when so many media are involved, from Vancouver and Fraser Valley radio stations, online publications and bloggers, to the local and ethnic newspapers in Abbotsford and Vancouver.  Every media needs something a little different. In the picture above, the wind started howling.

 

My good-hearted trio posed patiently early one morning on the grounds of Quantum Properties.

 

 
Some media prefer no cheque, so we made sure the images, like the one below, are available.  At the same time we can tweet them out or post on Facebook to tease to our announcement.  We can ask a question like: Why are these three people so friendly today?  It's not a good idea to let the cat out of the bag if the media haven't had an opportunity to be "first" with your story. 

 

 
You may know that Diane's company is creating Mahogany at Mill Lake, the tallest building in Abbotsford at 26 storeys.  It will also be the tallest high-rise between Surrey and Calgary and should be complete in another few years.

 

While waiting for the crew to assemble for the restorative justice/Canuck Place photos above, the image and model below of what's in store at the corner of Bevan Avenue and Gladwin Street in Abbotsford caught my eye.

 

 
Above is the model of the high-rise and low-rise structures and open green spaces of Mahogany.

Below is an artist's rendering of the plaza leading to the high-rise's grand lobby.  Impressive.

 

 

Thanks Diane, Laurie and Tony for bearing with me the other day.  And thanks Diane for deciding the outcome of a bad night for four young adults.  Like you said, they are good kids who made a bad decision.  By avoiding the courts, the four young people do not have criminal records and had an opportunity to understand the importance of Abbotsford Canuck Place Children's Hospice.

 

Thanks for sharing your story. Cheers.

 

 

 

 

 

Taking the Lede with $2.5 million namesake donation

 

As of today,  Abbotsford Canuck Place raised $9.8 million towards its second-phase target of $13 million for its children's hospice.

Making the news even sweeter, Dave Lede added $2.5 million from his family charitable foundation.

Now the 30,000-square-foot children's hospice I've been talking about in my last two blogs will be called the Abbotsford Canuck Place Dave Lede House.

 
I met Dave Lede and his son Richard (above) at the Canuck Place campaign launch this morning at the west end of the Campus of Care site (at the hole where the hospice will be built).  Both guys are remarkably humble and wonderful to talk to. Dave heads the Ledcor Group of Companies which is building Canuck Place in Abbotsford.

 
More than 100 people attending the announcement, some of the most generous in the community, were thrilled with Dave Lede's donation (as Canuck Place communications and marketing director Thomas Marshall directed traffic for the media).  Canuck Place enthusiasts may recognize hospice board chair John Rose (far left) and CEO Filomena Nalewajek.

 
Abbotsford Mayor George Peary shared his delight with the audience and even bowed deeply like a Judo master in honour of Dave's incredible generosity.

 
It took a lot of work to plan the on-location announcement that included tours of the site where Canuck Place will be nestled among mature trees.

 
More signage was unveiled . . .

 
More pictures were snapped . . .

The crowd listened patiently ... then dispersed.

 

Fundraising is just beginning publicly for Abbotsford Canuck Place.

The fun continues ... and social media rock stars like Kristi Ferguson, Caree Bray, Danielle Knowles, Teri-Lyn Conrad and their hard-working Fraser Valley Twestival crew are planning an event at Langley Cascades Casino on Thursday, March 24.

Click here for all the details and to buy tickets.  A podcast interview on the event can be heard here.  They will tell you in their own words what spectacular Twestival food and entertainment is on tap.

Cheers.

 

Websters: Very best in B.C. journalism.

 

Alison Yesilcimen, Kelowna publisher turned entrepreneur, looks at her copy of a simple script and asks me: "Who is going to present the Webster? Who is going to say . . . and the winner is?"

Without flipping a coin, we decide Alison, my co-juror, will read the magical words for our category in front of a lively Hyatt Regency ballroom audience of 1,000. They've come to see who is the best in B.C. journalism for the 24th annual Jack Webster Awards.

I will present the glass hardware.

Webster is a legend in journalism. He died in 1999, but saw what the foundation named in his honour was doing to inspire quality journalism through recognition and professional development.

 

Today's blog is not about the winners, the compelling speech by Bruce Hutchison lifetime achievement recipient Jim Taylor or the wonderful words by guest CBC broadcaster Adrienne Arsenault (with her mischievous look and green dress on the big Webster screen).

 
No, this is a pictorial stroll  through the awards night with some light commentary along the way.  Awards nights are often about the food, the people, and the anticipation.

 
Yes, chicken was on the menu, but before that we shared a few special refreshments with the Webster Foundation trustees on the hotel's 34th floor.

 
 
We met some top students who represent the future of journalism.

 
We bumped into lead juror Helen Slinger (centre - recently named among the Top 100 influential women in B.C. by the Vancouver Sun) and  fellow juror Jerry Thompson.

 
And then the flood of familiar faces rushed in . . . Mike Harcourt and Moura Quayle.

  
Guest speaker Vaughn Palmer (with Mike Smyth) and his colleagues.

 
I shared a few sailing stories with journalist and Gulf Yacht Club member Nick Palmer (left, below) and  talked about social media with old friend and Vancouver Sun deputy online managing editor Paul Bucci.

 
We bumped into Simon Fraser University public affairs and communications boss Don MacLachlan.  His wife Barbara has a keen eye for photography.

 
Renowned musician Dal Richards was back at the Webster Awards.

 
It was time to move into the Hyatt ballroom where my wife, Kathleen, met former Conservative politician and senator Pat Carney.

 
Jack Webster Foundation executive director (and awards miracle worker) Nora Newlands took the time to pose with juror Iona Campagnolo.

 
Then the screens on either side of the Hyatt stage came to life as our hosts Tamara Taggart and Perry Solkowski approached the podium.

 
Co-juror Alison Yesilcimen and her guest, Bob Wilson, account executive with Rogers, were ready to be our table mates.

 
 
More meal courses were served and people started visiting again.  Our table was graced with the presence of Crystal Orchison of the Mission Record and her friend David Hoff, a Webster Foundation trustee.

  
When it was time to leave we ran into Greg Johnson (centre below) of Pace Group which years ago arranged Harmony Airways fam trips for us to New York City and Maui.  He was with a radio buddy and Paula Amos of the Aboriginal Association of BC.

 

One last embrace was left for Marlyn Graziano, editorial director for Postmedia Community Publishing.  She is one of the most upbeat journalism executives we know. 

 

Will you be at the Websters in 2011?  Cheers.

Mad dash for Dish and Dazzle fun

 
After throwing on a crisp white shirt, a colourful silk tie and my best dark suit, it was time to fire up the Mustang, pick up my wife and head to our first Dish and Dazzle fundraiser at the swank Vancouver Convention Centre.

The event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars through the B.C. Hospitality Foundation to offer support for members of the hospitality community who find themselves facing insurmountable costs brought on by serious health issues. Funds also supply scholarships and bursaries for students enrolled in hospitality programs.  It is a great concept.

Kathleen and I have to thank Coletta and Associates, a new Click Media Works client, for inviting us as guests to this incredible food and wine event.  Tickets are $250 each.  We were sure to bid on silent auction items and purchase raffle tickets for a Napa Wine Country two-night stay and VIP wine tour and tastings for two at some pretty interesting vineyards and wineries.

It was quite a networking night for us as we made our way into the various rooms offering food and wine pairings.  Another section of the convention centre was action central for the bartender shakedown, a competition among six of  the province's best mixologists, including Danielle Tatarin of the Keefer Bar at The Keefer; Simon Ogden from the Veneto Lounge at the Hotel Rialto; Shaun Layton from L'Abattoir; Lauren Mote of the Refinery; Shawn Soole of Clive's Classic Lounge at Chateau Victoria and pictured below, Jacob Sweetapple from the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.  

 

When we first arrived, we were offered some delectable treats from Yew Restaurant and Bar (below) and a sip of  Segura Viudas Brut Rose from International Cellars. If you want the entire lowdown on who served what food and wine, click here:  http://www.bchospitalityfoundation.com/events/dish-n-dazzle-2010

 

 
We spotted Chef Ned Bell (pictured below) of B.C. Belgian Endive fame, a company with Abbotsford roots.  He was busy building an endive treat for the Cabana Bar and Grille and The Waldorf Hotel featuring Spanish-style Salt Cod 'Brandade', oven dried Windset Farms allegro tomatoes and lemon garlic parsley.   

 

  
We met some wonderful food and wine industry people along the way, including Dana Lee Harris (below) who is putting together seminars for the Whistler Cornucopia event in mid-November.

 
We stopped for a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, then moved onto the table of sweets.

 

 
For $180 in Seattle, you too can acquire a jacket like this one worn by esteemed Canadian Professional Bartenders Association director David Wolowidnyk (2008 Bartender of the Year).

 
We watched our bids on some of the auction items, mingled with the masses, and took the time to soak up the ambiance.

 

 
More nibblies . . . more wine . . . more good conversations . . .  and we started to say our goodbyes, in particular to our Coletta and Associates friends, Leeann Froese and Christine Coletta (with Kathleen on the right, below).

 
Still hungry?  Why not join us next year? 

 
Still thirsty?  Try this, but don't drive.  Cheers!

 

 

Here's a little country in the city: EcoDairy, Farm and Country Market

 

They say Abbotsford is the City in the Country.  Today at Bakerview EcoDairy and Nutrifoods Market on Sumas Way, Kathleen and I experienced a whole lot of country as we worked our way through the huge crowds to see what happens when you mix this new facility with the city's weekly Farm and Country Market.

It was very busy, but highly organized.  With an annual Christian school auction underway and Lepp Farm Market holding a special Fall Tasting event, it was surprising how many people left the comforts of their home to enjoy so many Abbotsford events in the warmth of the October sunshine.

 

Young fiddlers' sweet, toe-tapping tunes helped fill the air with excitement as we met so many friends, including marketing guru Tanya Curtis from the NutrivaGroup which oversees the EcoDairy and Abbotsford School Trustee Shirley Wilson (below). My wife, Kathleen, is squeezed in the middle.

 
Vintage vehicle displays, rides in a buggy pulled by Friesian horses, pony rides, cotton candy sales, and the full offering of the farmers market kept patrons amused on the 89-acre site featuring the first demonstration farm of its kind in Canada.

 
  
The Nutrifoods grocery store on the site sells the farm's unique Vitala milk and eggs products.

 
 
 
Clothing, jewelry, metal cutouts, honey, vegetables, and all those wonderful goods that farmers markets are known to carry were there.

 
Tall people, short people and costumed characters filled the parking lot.

 

I was particularly pleased to meet Jodie Jacobsen (below), sales and marketing coordinator for Tourism Abbotsford. 

 
If you haven't been to the Bakerview EcoDairy or Nutrifoods Market yet, you can explore it by clicking on http://www.ecodairy.ca/.  Some great videos are online to show you how the herd of 50 cows decides when it's time to be milked.

No matter how you look at it, today's Vintage Fair on the EcoDairy site is a stunning example of Abbotsford agri-tourism.

Cheers. 

  

Fall tasting at Lepp Farm Market: October sunshine

 
 
Pick a pumpkin . . . any pumpkin.  Halloween is on its way and the weather is sunny enough to keep most people from acting a little scary.

Kathleen and I hopped into the car today to explore local farm markets, and this was one of two stops that drew us in.  Stay tuned for installment No. 2.

Lepp Farm Market on Highway 11 between Abbotsford and Mission showcased a number of businesses outdoors, and it was a joy to network with friends and meet new people.  We at www.clickmediaworks.com and www.betweenthevines.ca love doing that.

Everything from hazelnuts to ice-cream, balsamic vinegar to Canadian Angus Beef was showcased and ready for tasting.

 

Abbotsford's very own Chef Dez (above) was grilling skewered Angus beef and mushrooms for a wine pairing with samples of red from Cedar Creek Estate Winery in Kelowna.

So at the same time we met Cedar Creek winery president Gordon Fitzpatrick who was very helpful with his wine knowledge.

Lepp Farm Market also offers cooking classes in its teaching kitchen inside, and we were thrilled to see a pamphlet listing some of the incredible people we've met over the years.  The full list includes Chef Dez, of course. 

There's Chef Jeff Massey of Restaurant 62, Darlene Tanka, Chef Travis Rea and Chef Ned Bell who has been doing some incredible work with B.C. Belgium endives, a farming operation based in Abbotsford.

We watched the crushing and weighing of hazelnuts, marvelled at the huge pumpkin offerings, explored the sandwich selection as we fought through the market crowds inside and finally relaxed in the sun at one of the patio seatings.

If you are from out of town and would like to visit the Lepp Family Market, the address is 33955 Clayburn Rd. You can email them at [email protected].

Below are just a few more of the fun images we shot during our visit to Lepps today.  Enjoy!  Cheers.

  

 
 

 

  

 

Katie Powell is going on a six-month world tour!

 

I was at Eat! Fraser Valley when I first met Katie Powell and her significant other, Evan Hunken.

My wife Kathleen was just finishing one of her wine shows on the Grapes and Hops stage at Tradex when we saw the young couple coming toward us. 

Earlier in the week Katie started talking to me on social media and I shared a few of my coveted secrets on how to make communications channels work in a community like Abbotsford.

"You don't mind wearing my sash and glasses, do you?" she asked me.  "No, of course not," I replied as friend Summer Dhillon, her good friend, and my wife were trying not to laugh.

Fast forward to Thursday afternoon when the social media channels were electric with news of her victory in the "Get Rid of Me" contest which earned her a six-month trip around the world through On the Go Tours based in the UK.  Video of her win was released in London on this link.

Thanks to Facebook/Twitter communicators like Goldie VanGarderen of Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and Dave Farmer of MSA Museum, Katie's life-changing news was out in minutes on TNN (the Twitter News Network).

 
Katie garnered 35,646 votes for the draw to win.  The contest featured 1,300 contestants from around the world, and she hustled on Team Kevan like nobody's business.  She networked, went to community events, created her own website, designed custom T-shirts, and did her utmost to grab media attention.

The picture with her raising her glass was snapped Thursday night at MSA Museum during the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce monthly Connections event.  Katie, 22, is a graduate of Mouat Secondary and is the museum's PR co-ordinator. 

When I talked to her Thursday she was excited and was thankful for the support by her followers.   "I want to have a party for everyone who helped," she said. 

I suggested a bring-your-own beverage and food event.  She was thinking about The Rancho as a venue.  That's all to be determined.

Katie and Evan will keep a video diary of their travels, and I can't wait to see it.

Dave Farmer (the guy in the hat in the photo below) announced Katie's victory to a hearty round of Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce applause.

 

Congratulations Katie!  Your will to win is incredible.

Thanks for letting us share in your success.

Cheers.

  

Giving hope to others at Christmas: Offer a Toonie.

 
Look up at the guy on the right.  Recognize him? He is very well known in Abbotsford.  Now look below and see the guy on the left.  They could be the same person.  But sometimes I think Uultsje DeJong, above, is crazier about Christmas.

 

I met with Uultsje and Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce president Pat Sapielak this morning to find out how much he really enjoys the season and to hear of his message of good cheer in the community this year.

You will be hearing a lot about his first "Christmas - Legacy of Hope" campaign, one which will support the Abbotsford Food Bank, the Salvation Army and the Cyrus Centre.

Mark Dec. 3 on your calendars.  And I will tell you why later.

"For many, Christmas is a time of love . . . of family . . . of giving, but for others, it's a time of loneliness and need," said  Uultsje.

For his fundraising campaign he want us to come together in the spirit of Christmas "where we can each give just a little . . . we can accomplish so much and can affect so many lives by giving them hope."

His goal is to raise funds through a Toonie Drive with community partners and businesses.  Already the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre is welcoming the opportunity to partner with others.

"We will culminate this fundraiser with a Celebration of giving at the hospital on Dec. 3 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a by-donation pancake breakfast," he said.

 

Local dignitaries will be there to accept donations of cash, food and unwrapped gifts.

Get this ... for those of you who won't be able to drop in to have breakfast with the civic-minded partiers, there will be a drive-through service. 

So the man I know as a school trustee and leader with Abbotsford Restorative Justice is turning into Abbotsford's very own Santa with an idea to help established campaigns for those who particularly need help around Dec. 25.

"Your support and help over the next couple of months, through the collection of funds for the Toonie Drive, unwrapped gifts and food, promotion of the event, and encouragement of participation at your place of business will go a long way in helping us come together as a community to help our neighbours," he said.

It takes only one person to start a movement, and I think Uultsje is well on his way.  I encourage the local press to get involved.  I know other organizations like the police and fire departments have been asked for their support.

 

You can communicate directly with Uultsje by calling 604-614-3524 or emailing him at [email protected].  His co-fundraiser is Irene Chambers at 604-851-4700.  Email her at [email protected].

See you at the hospital.  Let's all make sure those in need in our community can enjoy the festive season and sit down to a delicious warm feast provided through generosity.

Thanks for listening.

Cheers.

We can all participate: Twitter News Network (TNN)

  

Listen to this: "Once abundant privacy is now scarce.  Once-scarce publicness is abundant."

  

No wonder traditional media is experiencing a little trouble.  Everyone can participate in the public relations, news-gathering and publishing processes now. I like to call it TNN, the Twitter News Network.

  

Anyone with a Blackberry or iPhone can take a picture, add it to a tweet with a hashtag and send it to a high-traffic site to beat the media at its own game.

 

Just the other day, social media and business futurist Owen Greaves of Abbotsford showed me his Fraser Valley Daily www.Paper.li newspaper created from the tweets of some 300 people on a local Twitter list.

 

 

 

Photos, blogs, websites and other information was automatically aggregated by a computer to create a current snapshot of what was going on in the Valley.  Its accuracy and range of coverage is amazing.  And it includes content the mainstream media does not seem to have space or an appetite for anymore. 

Beautiful.

 

Last weekend I was among the 13 speakers at Fresh! Fraser Valley, the brainchild of two very active and interactive social media gals who showcased some 50 local businesses at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre.

 

 

I talked about my transition from traditional media to new media and pulled out some old gems like my Model 100 Radio Shack computer (the precursor to the laptop) and its acoustic cups (to attach to the telephone to communicate with newspaper office computer mainframes).

 

You should have seen the smiles when I pulled out a contact sheet and a page of photo negatives that have gone the way of the dinosaur with the proliferation of digital photography

 

I told the audience that journalism is not dead.  No way.It will just find a new platform.  How that service will pay for itself is another discussion.

 

When I read the prose of experts who say content is not a product, I believe it. Advertisers have always been the ones footing most of the bill, because they want to be in the warm environment of where the eyeballs are.

 

And when I see a quote like this one: "The business of media is about connecting people.  It's about building relationships," I can see right away where the profit-driven media is falling down.

 

Content is a tool to build relationships, not to be hidden behind a wall. 

Paywalls only diminish the value of news, since journalism is supposed to be delivered in a timely manner to the "widest" audience.

 

 

By reducing newsrooms to only a handful of people, time for meaningful networking with the community dies, and the poor souls left behind in many cases have no idea who they are writing about or even know what their titles or links to others are.  That's sad.

 

I also relayed the fact that blogs gave people the power of the media.

 

On the big screen at the Ramada, I showed a surfer and a huge wave.  I pointed to the surfer and indicated that it was traditional media.  The wave is social media.  Whether the surfer sinks or swims, depends on his skill.  A true test of the media's social media abilities is to ask it a question online and see if you get an answer.

 

Tweeting, for example, is about building relationships, not constant broadcasting.  So if no one seems to be home, you know what's going on.

 

One other thing . . . long-time friend and photojournalist John Morrow showed up at the Fresh! Fraser Valley speaker series to take photographs.  It doesn't mean any of the images he snapped will be published since traditional media space is the final and scarcest frontier, but I was thankful for his presence.

 

 

Morrow is a media ambassador who connects with people.  He knows communications, like any important business, is based on sound and trusting networks and relationships.  Even though he is not involved in social media yet, he gets my prize for knowing that people matter.

 

Do you know anyone like John Morrow in your media organization?  They will save your bacon.

 

Cheers.

Turning a Cadillac into a twitter-mobile

 

Ever use a 14-passenger Cadillac Escalade SUV limousine as a twitter-mobile?

 

I did.  It's a crazy experience.

 

My mission was to photograph and tweet the media invitation blitz by Naked Boxer Brief, dubbed Canada's newest and sexiest high fashion men's underwear line.

 

Hey,  company founder Joel Primus and his business partner got "NAKED" on the first episode of the CBC reality program Dragon's Den, and the company, with help from Enerjet's Ross Brown, just convinced WestJet co-founder Tim Morgan to invest in the underwear.  Why not spend a day in an Ultimate Limousine stretch limo?

 

When you wear "NAKED" you are supposed to feel like "you are wearing nothing at all."

I'll admit I have a pair still in the stylish black box embossed with silver lettering highlighting the word NAKED.  Guess I am waiting for a special occasion.

On Thursday I recorded our entourage after our driver, Raj, navigated Vancouver traffic to get us to major media offices in the city.  In the hand of our NAKED models would be the stylish black NAKED boxes. Inside were the invitations to the Sept. 23 product launch at Boys Co. on Robson Street.  The event also supports the Vancouver Fire Fighters Burn Fund charity.  NAKEDs will apparently be worn by some of their firefighter calendar models.

 

Our "NAKED" models included actor Steve Belford of Degrassi.

 

In the limo we had fully clothed publicist Summer Dhillon, Vancouver firefighter Patrick McKeown, strategist Rishi Sharma, Joel's brother ONeil, myself and media freelancer Cyndi Hunter.  Company principals Brown and Primus were steadfast at their Abbotsford office, directing our moves by phone, email and texts.

 

At The Beat 94.5 radio station, our limo pulled up on a side street.  A funny thing happened. Popular disc jockey Kid Carson at the same moment stepped out of the building's side door for a smoke break.

 

Bam!  We had my first set of photos on my Blackberry and my quality digital camera.  The invitation was in Carson's hand, he had a look at the silky product, and my job began. What to do next?

 

As I sat in my yogic position on the floor in the back of the limo, I looked at my laptop, peered at my Blackberry and made a decision.  For the next 12 hours I was going to broadcast tweets and photos from my Blackberry alone. No way was I going to pull out a burly laptop, play musical ports with my digital camera card and try to type while the limo braked, hit potholes and took tight corners.

 

This worked fine as we met Province newspaper editor-in-chief Wayne Moriarty, some CBC and Global television personnel, and West Ender style editor Steven Schelling.

 

But Blackberry battery power quickly dwindles with high usage.

 

This is where strategist Rishi showed his value.  He stuck his hand into the electronics console in the limo ceiling.  Miraculously, out came a four-foot USB cable.  Houston, we had blackberry charging power!

 

Good thing, since our next adventure was to ride the Skytrain, where security told our NAKED models they had to wear shirts. By then my Blackberry started to sputter again.  And the head of transit police just happened to be in our Skytrain car.

 

Back at the limo again, we attached our USB umbilical cord, powered up and tweeted our amusing sidewalk CTV visit where Marke Driesschen was about to broadcast the weather.

 

It was a great day for being NAKED.  A selection of the "good-camera" photos can be found here http://bit.ly/dhp9BY.

 

For the NAKED tweets, check my @RickRake or Ross Brown's @NakedBoxerBrief timelines from Sept. 9.

 

Are you ready to get NAKED?

 

 
Cheers from Rick Rake.