One year ends, Another begins

While I won’t quite call it a holiday letter, the new year seems an appropriate time to resurrect the old bryguy blog=) So why not make post #1 a statement about the year that was, and what’s on the horizon for the year that is ...

Like many, 2008 had seen its ups and downs – for family, for friends, for myself. For all of you who were around for the highs, thank you for the memories - it’s been an extraordinary ride. For everyone adjusting to new realities, my thoughts are with you and let us look onwards and upwards as the sun rises on the new year.





Though it doesn’t feel like I got away too much this year, a quick glance back saw the bags being packed for a couple great visits to the nation’s capital, the west coast, the sun and sands of Cayo Sol Santa Maria (Cuba) - and a truly breathtaking hike of Peru’s Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and fly-by of the famed Nazca Lines with Dad, Jen, Shaki, Sasha, and Ryan.

On the fitness front - the marathon with Regina’s NCFC gang was something I did not attempt to repeat (I know I’m a slacker Ben!).
While I still love pounding the pavement (or snow in this bloody cold country), I’ve been getting in some regular bike and swim sessions in pursuit of next year’s Ironman 70.3 (the half IM) competition in the Muskoka Lakes.

As I continue shedding grad school to official acceptance of the real world - I look forward to continued involvement with UNA-Canada’s Ripple Effect initiative, to teaching my first classes at McMaster, and to progress through the ever slow federal recruitment with the Public Health Agency & Department of Defence.

Should the latter effort be successful, there will certainly be one more far off adventure before buckling down. Location still TBD, but a visit to the Middle East tops the current list, with Russia coming in as a close 2nd – not to worry folks, not planning to conflict with the gamut of weddings that will no doubt keep the domestic travel circuit at capacity=) On a smaller and more immediate scale, Paul, Janice, Winy and I are kickstarting the year in style with a January road trip to D.C. to help roast the Obama’s in their new hometown!

Ok signing off for now – time to make it all happen! ‘Till next time - may peace, health, happiness and good people find you all in ‘09.

Need Action, Not Another Report

Letter to the Editor in the 20 Nov 2008 issue of METRO (Toronto), in response to the launch of the 'Roots of Youth Violence' report. -Bryan


Re: Probe links youth violence to mental health neglect, Nov. 14

NEED ACTION, NOT ANOTHER REPORT

Dear Editor(s)

The links between mental health and violence have long been raised by clinical and social scientists, youth agencies, and community advocates. In raising the profile of the cause, we hope the recommendations of McMurtry & Curling to address the ‘Roots of Youth Violence’ are adopted so that real action is finally seen in communities at risk.

In a new approach, any provincial reorganization should consider a revised definition of ‘youth’ so that young people transitioning from the childhood to adult mental health system no longer lose proven crime and homeless-prevention services simply because they have turned 18 and no longer qualify.

The Roots of Youth Violence is an excellent study with serious recommendations. The time is now for those involved to demand real action from the Premier, and not allow this to be another report that ends up sitting in a library without affecting meaningful change.

Bryan Heal, Public Health Consultant

Life imitating Art imitating Life

Some interesting connections between between the ascention of Barack Obama, and that of NBC’s The West Wing …

- A minority candidate from the democrats, only in Washington for a few years after a long resume in his community, runs for president while calling for unity and a different kind of politics.
- In the democratic primary he fights a long, hard and divisive campaign against an establishment candidate that everybody expects to win.
- He comes out on top after a divisive convention that threatens party unity going in.
- He delivers an inspiring speech at his party’s convention that makes people wake up and feel like he may be something special.
- In the general election, he goes up against a straight talking Republican from a western state known as a maverick in his party and more liberal than most republicans.
- He delivers an important address about race relations at a time when his poll numbers need a boost.
- A major crises hits the US which irreparably hurts his opponent’s support.
- He wins the Presidency.
- He appoints, as his Chief of Staff, a veteran of the last democratic
president with a big reputation for getting things done in often dramatic and unorthodox ways.

While these points can certainly describe Obama’s rise in real life, I had the TV character Matt Santos in mind while writing them. Not bad scripting, eh, for a show that ended well before Obama even announced he was running for President. Oh, a couple more things …

- The inspiration for the West Wing’s Matt Santos, was Barack Obama himself, after his convention speech way back in 2004.
- The political advisor the show’s writers consulted was David Axelrod, Obama’s Chief Strategist.
- Obama’s Chief of Staff, Ramh Emanuel, named just a few days ago, was the inspiration for the Josh Lyman character on the West Wing.

Let Stockwell be Stockwell

I’m lucky to have a truly great MP in Dr Carolyn Bennett – it made my decision in our recent election pretty easy.

Partisan friends aside, I’ve never before spoken to so many people utterly bored with the political process, unhappy with their choices, contemplating strategic voting and other measures to vote for the lesser of all evils than actually *for* somebody.

The result: Not a whole heap of change. On the eve of an exciting and historic US election, it’s all a reminder of just how much we could use some fresher faces and a new kind of politics in our own system.

We do have a new cabinet though – so perhaps there’s still a chance for a shuffling of tactics as well. While he’s called for more reaching out and a team approach towards competence - the looming question going forward is whether or not the Prime Minister will give his Ministers more independence to be creative with their portfolios than lead with the firm, controlled, highly centralized grip we have seen since first taking office.

As a result of that centralized approach, most people seem to know Harper and what he stands for quite well, but so many of the rest of the players in the Conservative Party remain relatively unknown on the national stage (a couple newsmakers a la Baird, Bernier aside).

Not that I’m expecting it – but I’d personally love for him to go beyond the new job titles and really shake things, loosen the strings on his crew, and open us up to all the characters new and old. Radio personality Peter Kent, for example, finally gets his turn in office – let’s give him a good test to see whether is diplomatic skills can match his ambitions; We’ve got a rookie MP (Nunavut) tapped for Minister of Health – let’s get to know more about Leona Aglukkaq; And in an era of geopolitical races against time, we have another rookie MP (Oakville) tapped for Natural Resources – do we not want to learn more about her ideas for future directions in uncertain times.

Moral of the story: The people have spoken and have given Harper another minority, but are increasingly disengaged and just plain bored. Let’s add some excitement to the game and let our ministers be ministers for a change.