Opinion

As we strive to enjoy our summer to the fullest, we will casually sky watch and listen for severe weather warnings, but why should we have to be swatting, itching, and twitching to avoid a host of miserable bugs and no-see-ums? In most cases we hope that the little buggers have frozen or drowned before the warm season has even started, or that the municipality has sprayed their little larvae hideaways with chemicals.

Canada is a beautiful country to live in and is generally loved and admired around the world. We are known for our geographical beauty, cold winters and our diverse population. We are also credited for being a bilingual nation with French and English as our two main languages.

When the weather finally got hot and all my spring-cleaning duties had been completed my wife and I decided that we would escape to the peace and tranquility of the Rocky Mountains for a few days. School wasn’t quite out yet, and although the July long weekend was just around the corner, it wasn’t really too busy, most of the snow was gone, and the off-season rates were still in effect at the hotels.

I guess I started playing tennis at the P.M.H. (Centennial Centre) grounds when I was hardly big enough to hang on to the racket or look over the top of the net. So many of us played because it was a fun sport that we could all afford, and all you really needed was an old hand-me-down wooden racket and a can of balls.

Happy 141st Birthday Canada. Our great country is another year older although it seems young compared to other countries we are still in our infancy and learning the ways of the globe. In Canada we have many things to be proud of and one of the many is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which was enacted to the Canada Act in 1982 and came into force on April 17, 1982.

It is the most exciting time of the year in Ponoka for many people. The 72nd annual Ponoka Stampede is finally here. It seems like forever since the stampede wrapped up last year and I have been counting the days until the 2008 edition.

It has been my extreme pleasure to have been acquainted with Laura Wierzba over the past few years. I was so pleased when I heard that this vibrant lady of 90 years young was the recipient of the 2008 Morna Chorney Memorial Volunteer Award as well as being named as the honorary president of the 72nd edition of the Ponoka Stampede.

Every day men and women are working in the Canadian Armed Forces to help make Canada a safe and secure place to live. This year’s Ponoka Stampede theme is ‘A Salute to the Armed Forces.’ This theme encompasses what everyone should do every day for the hard work and dedication of those serving.

Growing up I spent most of my childhood, adolescent and teenage years living with my father. When I had a girly issue he was the man to take care of me. Even now with him living so far away I am in constant contact with him via phone, e-mail or a written letter. As Father’s Day quickly approaches it is a good time to recognize the important men in your life.