JUNO FanFare

School has been superbly hectic.
With my first year of university drawing to a close, I have been rushing to finish assignments so I haven't been able to update very often. 

But, don't fret! I am back with oodles of good stuff. For one thing, last week was the 40th Annual Juno Awards.  This year it took place in my hometown of Toronto with T.dot's own Drake!!

For those of you who don't know what the JUNOs are, think the Grammy's but, the Canadian version.  

Unfortunately I couldn't attend the event because of homework and student budgets. However, I did get a chance to attend some of the free events.  If you look at the post below, you may have already browsed some of the pictures I took at the JUNO Cup.  

I did attend the JUNO FanFare the next day...unfortunately by myself like a loser.  I only wanted to meet Down With Webster, which I did. I even managed to get some pictures with them! Actually now that I think about it, I feel like a big dork!!

So as for autograph signings, I think this may be the last one in a while before someone is willing to go with me.  I've decided that I'm not a big fan of meet and greets because celebs probably won't even remember me anyways. I mean lining up for two hours to speak with a star for two minutes? They better be well worth the wait!

This is why I hope to use my future career as a journalist as a chance to speak with interesting individuals. Not just celebrities, but people who are inspiring, who have brilliant ideas and amazing lives! 

Then maybe... they will have a better chance at knowing who I am. Just maybe.

Anyways, enjoy the pictures!! I would make a video blog out of this, but I didn't get a lot of footage and the two girls in front of me were giving me super strange looks.  Oh well, they didn't know I was trying to get a story out of the event...fail.

 Marty and Kyle!

 Bucky Buck!!

Faber Drive

 Danny Fernandes!

  These Kids Wear Crowns

 Jacob Hoggard of Hedley

 Me and Cam!

 Taking a picture with Bucky Buck!

 With Pat and Dave!

And with one of my favourite former VJs from Much, who also currently holds my dream job as a CP24 correspondent...Devon Soltendieck!!

JUNO CUP

Hello all.

What an eventful week it has been! Toronto is hosting the annual Juno Awards this year, and Drake is hosting!  Unfortunately, I don't have the money to afford tickets but I attended two of the Juno Events which were both free for me.  Yesterday I attended the JUNO Cup with Stephanie, Jan and Iriss because Steph was lucky to have won tickets!  It was such a mission to get there because we weren't paying attention the first time and went on the wrong streetcar. Turns out we ended up at ChinaTown. The second time, we got onto the right streetcar, but it was going to the garage!! So, we had to be dropped off and we ended up walking to the Ricoh Coliseum...

Nevertheless, we finally arrived and thus the game started!! What a great way to bring hockey and music together! So Canadian! 

Some of the artists who attended include Tyler Armes from Down With Webster, Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo.  These "Rockers" faced the "Alumni" team, which consisted of former and current NHL players such as Gary Roberts, Brad Dalgarno, and Gary Leeman. 

 I don't usually watch hockey...which is a bit of a shame...because I don't know which team to follow!! I only watch the World Championships. Everything amateur sports is what I will watch :)

I was cheering for the Rockers the whole time. Unfortunately, they lost 10-13.  But from what I've heard, they haven't won in a while!


Too bad we weren't able to meet some of the artists or players. But, it was a good thing I ended up going to the JUNO FanFare!!


But, that will be left for another post because I have a ton of pictures from there as well.

But on another note, remember the interview I had with Paralympian Paul Rosen?? Well it's published for The Ryersonian now and you can read it here.

I've also written an opinion piece about how 1/4 women don't enjoy their wedding proposals.  According to a comment from a girl, it is "condescending" and "poor journalism." I wouldn't call it journalism per say, but if the editors thought it was okay to publish, then it would be appropriate right?  First of all, I would never lie about my statistics. If you were really curious about it, there are plenty of articles published on the matter that can be found on Google.

Either way, I never meant it to be condescending, because I do not feel highly about myself. I did however, mean to sound a bit harsh as to give these women a reality check. It is true that 75% of women are content with their proposals but to know that the other 25% aren't happy with their proposals...? That's unfortunate. Being proposed to is a tough task on its own. What I'm saying is, women should just stop playing these fantasies in their heads to save themselves from a future letdown...But hey, if 13 people liked the article, then at least some would agree with me!

But since I do not want to end on a sour note, tonight is Earth Hour so turn off your lights!  Stay tuned for more on the JUNO FanFare!!

A few words with Paralympian Paul Rosen

While everyone was out celebrating St. Patty's day, I took my chance to interview three time Paralympic sledge-hockey player Paul Rosen. 

It was an awesome experience, and it was a bit of a shame that not a lot of people came to the event. Listening to his experiences,  seeing his Olympic souvenirs, and being able to touch his gold medal from Torino was something I would have never imagined I would be able to do.  Had I not looked at the Ryerson Today Events, I would have probably spent my time at home wallowing in piles of homework and unproductiveness.   

As for the people who DID attend Rosen's talk, he kept them interested and was very inspiring with his words.  I had an the pleasure to have a few words with the Paralympian and I even got to wear his medal! 

Hopefully by this week, an article will be published for the Ryersonian...hopefully.

Samantha:  So why are you here today?

Paul Rosen:  For me it’s really important to get my message out to as many people as possible and especially as many kids as possible.  The university setting is one of the best settings to show people that anything is possible and that you can achieve greatness at any level and at any age.  We’re a year out of the Olympics, probably the greatest Olympics and Paralympics of all time in our country, and I just want to thank people for coming out and supporting us for what was a great games. 

Samantha:  So how long have you been competing for Canada?

Paul Rosen:  I competed since 2000.  Three Olympics.  In 2002 in Salt Lake, 2006, in Torino and 2010 in Vancouver. 

Samantha:  So how was it competing at home?  

Paul Rosen:  It was the ultimate.  Unfortunately we didn’t win. That would have made it incredible.  But to have family and friends, and to have (all of that) support.  You know you play in Torino, you play in different parts of Europe, at the rink everybody loves you.  On the street you get a hello.  But in Vancouver, we were rock stars everywhere we went.  It didn’t matter where it was.  Everybody knew us, everybody screamed for us.  

Samantha: So how did you get introduced to sledge-hockey?

Paul Rosen:  I lost my (right) leg in 1999 due to infection.  I met a 12-year-old boy who showed me the game.  He was missing three of the four limbs, and he introduced me to the incredible athletes we have in this country who are disabled.  And that, I started playing and made the team at the age of 40.  

Samantha :  So what are the differences between sledge-hockey and regular hockey?

Paul Rosen:   Sledge-hockey is an incredible game.  The only difference from able-body hockey is we’re playing on sleds, not skates.  We skate with our arms.  Other than that, it’s pretty much the same game. It’s an incredible game and a high-paced, dangerous game.  It’s what I loved about it.  It gives somebody whose disabled an opportunity to play something they love at the highest level.  

Samantha:  So what was the best moment in your career?

Paul Rosen:  2006 in Torino.  We won the gold medal. It was the greatest thrill because we went into the games with no chance to win.  Everybody gave us the silver pretty well before the gold medal game.  We pulled together as a team and as a family to win the gold medal (against Norway, who was slated to win).   (There were) 75,000 people at Closing Ceremonies (and) knowing that everybody there wanted to grab you or shake your hand…it was something I’ll never forget. 

Samantha:  The Olympics seem to get more attention than the Paralympics do. How do you feel about that?

Paul Rosen:  It doesn’t bother me because the Olympics have been going on since the 30s and the Paralympics since the 60s.  Sledgehockey started in ’94.  If you look at where sledge-hockey is now in 2011 compared to where it was in 94, its massive.  You come back in 2018, it will be a game played all over the world, will have tons of teams in Canada, might even have a professional league.  So you gotta crawl, then you walk and then you run.  That’s how it works.  SO the Paralympics are incredible right now compared to when they started.  How many people knew about the Paralympics now? When I lost my leg in '99 I had no clue! Thirty-nine years I was able-bodied. Twelve years I’ve been disabled. 

Samantha:  So what message do you want to get across through your speeches?

Paul Rosen:  The biggest thing I want anybody who is disabled is to realize and to see the ability in disability.  I don’t want them to see the fact that they’re disabled. I want them to see that they’re able-bodied.  Just because you’re disabled, doesn’t mean you’re dead.  Doesn’t mean your life ends.  My life began when I became disabled.  I want the able-bodied community to look at somebody who’s disabled and look at them for what they can do, not what they can’t do.