Feathers or Jets

It is a bit disconcerting when one can measure their life span in decades vs. years but with that in mind it also gives one a chance to reflect back and assess the experiences gained. Having pitched my tent throughout Western Canada I’ve learned a fair bit about the communities that I’ve called home for short and long periods of time. 
My tent has often been surrounded by stunning and unique landscapes like the beaver dams and wild blueberries of NW Ontario, the call of the loons on the Manitoba lakes, the magic of the Canadian Prairies, and of course the lure of Vancouver. But, when one backs his trailer onto his or her spot on Vancouver Island one realizes that he/she has now trumped everything. And more specifically when one moves their tent to the Alberni Valley one now realizes that they’ve “come home.”
This brings me to my point.
Being part of many communities I’ve seen the inside of their hearts. I’ve seen what brings the people together and, unfortunately, what sometimes can tear at their hearts.  Port Alberni reminds me of my home – town; Winnipeg Manitoba. It reminds me of Passion, of Commitment, and, of the only answer; Yes we can, Yes we will. In 1996 my home-town lost some of their heart when the beloved ‘Jets’ were air-lifted to a place in the desert where they became some sort of wild animal that no one cared about; some place where ice is only found in a mixed drink.
Times were tough back then for Winnipeg; the downtown was struggling, Eaton’s closed (read: Zellers), social issues were in the forefront, and of course the Jets were gone. But, given time, those problems were soon seen as “opportunity” for real Peggers. Those leaders looked past the empty buildings and the surrounding problems and then, they revitalized the downtown. They developed “The Forks” and soon business people from the trendy places like the Osborne Village, parked their cars, exchanged their briefcase for a back pack, and then skated to work on the Red or Assiniboine; in the cold, often the very cold. Those leaders followed with a new state of the art arena in the downtown core and they built it with the future of their great city in mind.
And then….they did it. They convinced a bunch of birds (known as Thrashers) from the state of Georgia to buck the winds and migrate north; IN THE WINTER. They convinced those birds to shed their feathers in favor of fixed wings and Jet Propulsion. Those birds were now Jets; they had power, they had the cold winds of the north, they had the passion of the people.  Winnipeg’s downtown, while not totally renewed is well on its way. The empty buildings are no longer the topic of the day. The future is, the prosperity is, the Jets are.  
The city is renewing itself, it is rebranding and it is doing so because of the leadership from the core of the community. Today Winnipeg boasts of sell outs for every game with a full 2% of the population enjoying the roar of the Jets at each game. Mom’s & Dad’s bring ear plugs for their young children to every game. The roar can be that deafening.
So here I am with my wife in my new home town. People tell me of the empty buildings in our Downtown or, Uptown. They tell me that we should close it off, forget about it; shut it down. They tell me, and anyone who will listen, that it’s done. And yet, I see the leadership forming in the area. I see business developing, I see a thriving Arts Community,  I see and hear the passion. Sure, there are empty buildings but, my bet is; not for long, and certainly, not forever. And why can I say that with confidence? Well, it’s because of our “Jets;” Our Bulldogs. I’ve been to the last several games and I’ve seen our community in that rink. I’ve seen our Mayor, our City Councilors, City Staff, Port Authority Staff, First Nation Leaders, Regional District people. No doubt I’ve seen you there, even though we haven’t met. And what’s really interesting to me being somewhat of a numbers guy is this simple fact. Winnipeg, the home of my Jets sees about  2% of the local population at every game. Our Bulldogs, home of my new team, sees 10% of the Alberni Valley at every game. Five times the passion of a passionate city. Five times.
So, do we have what it takes to see past those empty buildings? Do we really see the water in our back yard; the mountains in the front? Do we realize that our leaders are in fact pushing very hard for the return of our “Jets?”
I think we do! Over the next while just watch as people in this great town start to shed their feathers in favor of the mighty fixed wing. Just watch.
I close by thanking the leaders of our great Bulldog franchise for teaching those players the importance of thanking their fans. The Bulldog salute at every game; is simply put; something of greatness. Well done; win or lose.
Remember; The Sun Rises in the West. Go Bulldogs, Go Port Alberni.