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Have you ever wondered what people are talking about when you hear them say “OH your city is so beautiful” and you look at them like “HUH”??? I used to do that all the time until I moved to Toronto for 4 months in my 20’s.

As a young man I had the opportunity with my job to go to Toronto (Milton) for 2 weeks on assignment, unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it that assignment turned into 4 months living in a hotel. The first couple of days the biggest difference I found was the air, for the first time in my life I did not smell the ocean. When asking one of my employees, where is the hills and mountains I was met with a strange look, the response was “well we have the escarpments and a ski hill” longing for home I asked for a tour. The Ski Hill in Milton was the destination and as I was staying at the Ramada in Milton with a very lovely view of the prison out my window, the trip to the hill was short. When arriving at the Ski Hill I have to admit that I have never giggled so hard in my life, I think my driveway had a bigger incline to it. I knew then that I really missed Vancouver and the Fraser valley. Nothing against Ontario, this just was not home. All that I had heard about Torontonians and how they were rude and think they live in the center of the universe was unfounded; I felt welcomed and was treated with the utmost respect.

One important thing I did learn and was shocked by was that my tour guide had never seen the ocean or the mountains, only in books or on TV. At that moment I realized just how lucky I was and YES I did live in a beautiful city. Sure I did the tourist traps while I was in Ontario , Hockey Hall of fame 22 times , CN tower and of course the beautiful Niagara falls . I attended hockey games in Hamilton and in the ACC, absolutely great experiences and Ontario is beautiful in its own unique way but it was not home.

We here in Vancouver have to be some of the luckiest people on the planet, surrounded by lush rainforest, amazing mountains, and of course access to the Pacific Ocean whenever we wish. Vancouver has become such a diverse environment in the last 20 years that it is actually amazing to watch how it has transformed. One area that I am extremely proud of is Vancouver’s commitment to green space. Though out each community in the GVR you will find parks, man-made stocked lakes where you can fish with your kids or just sit and watch the eagles and other various wildlife.

I have travelled to other parts of the world and found some very beautiful sights sounds and people, it’s just now I appreciate my home even more when I return. If you have never been to Vancouver and are planning a trip here are some of the places that I recommend. My very own top 10

1.       Stanley Park – walk the park, take the train (Christmas Train is amazing) or  the Aquarium well worth the visit  www.stanleypark.com

2.       White Rock – just outside of Vancouver maybe 30 minutes, this is a beautiful little sea side town that offers shopping and eating experiences that cannot be beat and a view that will make you melt      http://www.hellobc.com/white-rock.aspx

3.       Whistler village – 2 hours from Vancouver , home of most of the 2010 winter Olympic alpine events – words cannot describe the beauty in all seasons http://www.whistler.com/

4.       Penticton/ Okanogan: my family and I go here camping and visiting family that we have there. Yes Canada does have desert like conditions. a beautiful lake beautiful town and beautiful people. 4 hour drive through the mountains but the scenery is worth every minute of the drive  http://www.hellobc.com/penticton.aspx

5.       Pagoda Ridge / Northview Golf and country clubs – amazing golf all around the GVRD and the province of BC http://pagodaridge.ca/  www.northviewgolf.com/‎

6.       Grouse Mountain gondola – spectacular views of the city all year round –tram ride to the top of the mountain have lunch and be amazed www.grousemountain.com‎

7.       Hells gate air tram – not for ones with a quezzy stomach look for yourself www.hellsgateairtram.com

8.       Cultas Lake – beautiful lake for camping, fishing , waterslides or just to enjoy a day at the beach www.cultuslake.bc.ca

9.       Victoria – fantastic cruise 1.5 hours from Vancouver by ferry or use helijet – take in museums and the history of the provinces capital – visit iconic Beacon Hill park –undersea gardens – wax museum. www.tourismvictoria.com

10.   My all-time favorite place to go and preach to everyone about it: Tofino/Longbeach- miles of pristine beaches with whale watching tours , storm watching , surfing Golfing , Camping , wildlife or just simply find a resort and sit in the hot tub and watch and listen to the surf pound the shore www.tofino-bc.com

With no disrespect intended for any other place in the world I understand the iconic line from the movie “The Wizard of OZ”

“There’s no place like Home”

You friend Fraser Valley Secret Santa

Follow me @fvsecretsanta on twitter  

Support Your Team

Do you ever get that feeling of butterflies in your stomach, the smile that will not leave your face, the nervousness that consumes all your thoughts? I do and it always starts around May 1. That’s right #NHL playoffs. It’s that time of year that the fans of 16 teams are glued to the TV filled with optimism that this just may be the year that their team can hoist the cup and declare we are champions. Having 4 Canadian teams in the dance this year is fantastic. Bring the cup back to Canada!  

I love Hockey and the NHL; I am a fan of the game and the intricacies that are associated with it. I often find myself not watching the puck but watching where the puck has come from and anticipating where it will go next. Have you ever sat in behind the net at a hockey game? If you get the chance try and watch the play develop. The players are trying to figure out a game of Chess on a 200ft board going at top speed. Makes the game so much more interesting (for me anyways). I must sound like a hockey geek :)

As most of you know my team is the Vancouver Canucks, I watch every game, read every article, and listen to sports talk radio all day on the TEAM1040 also “SANTA DROP” some of their gear around town in an effort to drum up excitement and energy for the team. There is no better time to support our team than now. I know to some that it may sound silly or outrageous but the team can feed off your energy and enthusiasm. I know this for a fact, when I was playing high level hockey I found that when the crowds were into the game cheering and believing in the team, WE ALL felt the energy and pushed to another gear to try and respond to the vision that our fans had for us. We can all talk about firing the coach and what player has to do what later but for now show your support for whichever team you may root for and deal with the rest in the summer. #POSITIVEFANENERYWORKS

The same principles can apply to real life situations that you may have. If you constantly hear negative feedback from family, children, co-workers you start to believe in what people are saying and that will impact everyday life. Have you ever been in a situation when your boss is down your throat for one little thing and you are thinking to yourself, “man I just bust my ass for three weeks to hit a deadline for him and all he wants to do is complain that the printer was out of paper when he needs to use it ? F-him” Sometimes a positive word of encouragement at a time of crisis can be the key to solving a situation and be a monumental learning tool. There is a positive to be found in every situation. Maybe if you’re a boss, a simple but effective tool to carry in your bag and use once in a while is the ability to say “Good Job, Thank you”

The positive that I will take from the Vancouver Canucks opening night loss = this was just one loss and now you have the chance to regroup, readjust and discover a plan that works for the next game. “Good Job guys, Thank you for your efforts”

For those who are fans I hope that you enjoy this playoff run and support your team with as much positive energy as you can. If you are not a hockey fan try and give someone a positive word of encouragement to help them with the confidence to know they are appreciated. In closing for all the Vancouver Canuck fans reading this

“WE ARE ALL CANUCKS”

Best of luck guys the city is behind you.

Thanks for reading and I hope you will Follow @fvsecretsanta 

SANTA

STRESS IN US ALL

The feeling of STRESS is something that each and every one of us will go through at one time or another in our life time.

For those of you who know me I am probably one of the calmest and laid back people you have ever met. I never seem to fold in pressure situations, I approach all situations with a listen first mentality and I react from there and I never let them see me sweat.

I have been under a tremendous amount of Stress over the last couple of months due to financial issues, family sickness, and job related overstress and will admit there are times when I just say to myself and anyone who will listen “When can a guy catch a break?” I am ashamed to admit that I have found myself thinking “I try and do well for other people and change their misfortune, when does Karma repay me?” I know this is a wrong way of thinking; I have never done a Santa Drop for personal gain ,I do for others because I want to not because I expect a return of good fortune. Stress can ruin you emotionally, physically and financially. How you manage your stress is the best way to overcome lifes issues , Create Balance.

Find a release for your stress, there is no need for “POOR ME” statements.  I know that it sounds cliché but it’s true. I have found many ways to try and deal with my stress, do they work all the time NO but if you don’t try you never know.
These are some of the things that I used to do, may work for you and may not.

GOLF:

 Due to finances I have not been out in a long while but there is just something about whacking the crap out of a little white ball that gives so much satisfaction and release.  I love Golf

FISHING:

Sitting beside a lake waiting alone with your thoughts, great exercise in patience

HOCKEY:

Playing a game on a weekly basis gives me the opportunity to not have to think about the outside pressures and to be a big kid again.

GARDENING

If you see me in the yard picking weeds and fluffing up the bark mulch in the flower beds you know that I am having a stress related bad day. There are almost no weeds anywhere within the vicinity of my yard at the moment.

GIVING BACK:

I like to donate time or energy to helping others, when I find a charity or organization that I can help in some small way I find that my confidence grows and I realize that my problems are not only those of my own but are being felt by others and maybe I am not so bad off.

The most important stress reliever that I have is spending time with my kids and Mrs. Santa in the yard, watching the kids run and play and the only care they have is whether or not they will get a Popsicle in the bath when they are done gives me a great sense of calmness. Having a strong support network behind you helps also, Mrs. Santa is the most incredible women that I have ever met and I so lucky to be loved by her.

The tides will eventually change and there will come a time when you feel that nothing can go wrong. Manage yourself and your health so that you are able to enjoy when that time comes. Find what helps you release and give yourself at least 1 hour per week to enjoy the moment. In closing just remember

“You can only do what you can do and nothing more”

Be kind to each other and create a smile everyday

Follow me on twitter @FVsecretsanta

Lets make a statement together

There are so many ways to make a statement in this world.

My heart goes out to all the people affected by this week’s Boston Bombing, and the explosion in Texas and the bombings in Iraq. I cannot express in words how deeply affected by the incidences in Boston I was, I as millions of others found myself glued to the TV trying to make sense of the events that had just taken place. Mortified and angry mixed with sadness and jubilation that more people were not killed, I did not know how to react, I did not know what to say. I still don’t.

It is obvious to me that whoever did this was out to do one thing, Send a Statement to the world, as they knew the world would be watching.

The one key piece that the bombers did not expect of this I am sure, is just how the fantastic people of Boston and around the world would react. There was such an outpouring of compassion and people willing to put themselves in harm’s way just to save another’s life, this among all the tragedy and carnage was able to renew my faith in humanity just minutes after it had been shattered.

The brave men and women of the Fire dept., Police dept., National Guard and the Marathon volunteers and runners that rushed into the smoke and flames to pull people to safety, I applaud you and you will forever have my respect and admiration.

The most heinous part of this latest tragedy is the fact that there are people just minutes after this event happened, setting up bogus funds and donation avenues   to capitalize on the emotions of the fine people in this world. How can you honestly spend that money knowing that you also have the blood of an innocent 8 year old boy and others on your hands due to the coward that we know as only “terrorist” to those who prey on the kindness of others, remember Karma always comes back around!

So many people ask what they can do to help; here are some of the ways that I recommend

·         Donate blood when you can to help those in your local area dealing with illness or in the event that something was to happen in your community so that the fine doctors and nurses can be prepared.

·         Give to recognized organizations such as , Salvation Army , Canadian Red Cross , American Red Cross

·         Donate clothes and food to local shelters and food banks

·         Thank your local Police men and women, firefighters and military personnel  for the fantastic job they do making our world a safer place on a daily basis

Please don’t forget the most important thing you could do , don’t be afraid , this is what people who create terror want is to have the fear of the people , get out support local business , attend events and celebrate life. World Peace can be achieved if we all just work together and continue to not live in fear from the few that choose to TRY and tear us apart.

Let’s make our own Statement “WORLD PEACE”

I love you all in this regardless of color, race, or religion  

MY top 10

As a Santa for the people, I get to have the pleasure of creating smiles and giving hope to some of those in our communities that cannot afford nor have the ability to help themselves. I realize that the art of giving back is not in all of us and I don’t hold that against anyone, it’s a life style choice. The advantage that I have is, I wake up each morning and I see my son who has a disability and it reminds me that the problems I have to face in the day seem minimal to what he has to live with every day.(yes I do see that as an advantage , make's me humble)

If we judge people only on the amount of money they give you are negating the whole purpose of what you are trying to achieve.

Option 1: Would you like to have 1 person donating a $1000.00 to your cause?

Or

Option 2: would you like to have 1000 people giving $2.00 each?

Its option 2 all the way, you have doubled your fundraising intake and now have 1000 people who believe in your charity and letting others know about your charity goals. The other exciting factor is that the average person has a social circle of approximately 150 people that they know. You have just grown your charity by 15,000 people. I will take that anyway of the week. Moral of the story is that when you find yourself feeling maybe sheepish or embarrassed that maybe you can only donate a small amount of change, just think “if you start counting the pennies, you lose track of the dollars you are creating”

Today I wanted to bring attention and mention some of my favorite Charities (all charities do amazing things) that I look forward to supporting in any way that I can all year long! The nice part about doing the SECRET Santa is I can do what I do with anonymity and the focus stays where it should be, with the people who need the help the most.  Do I donate a lot of money? I am just a blue collar guy who has the same economic issues as each one of you so the answer is, No not always, I feel that giving time to a charity is also a huge step in being part of a solution, and just as important to the outcome they are trying to achieve.

My personal top 10 charities

BC Children’s Hospitals   www.bcchildrens.ca / @BCCHF

Variety The children charity/  www.variety.bc.ca / @varietybc

BC Cancer society  www.bccancerfoundation.com /@BCcancer

Surrey Food Bank  www.surreyfoodbank.org / @Surreyfoodbank

Langley Animal shelter / Patti Dale www.lapsbc.ca /

Salvation Army   www.salvationarmy.ca / @Salvationarmy

Kidstart   www.kidstart.ca /

Terry fox foundation   www.terryfox.org / @terryfoxbcyukon

Canuck Place Children’s hospice     www.canuckplace.org / @canuckplace

SPCA   www.spca.bc.ca / @FMSPCA or any branch near to you

These are just some of the amazing charities that I like to support all year through. Last but not least is a charity that is very near to my heart and will always have my gratitude and support for what they have done for my son.

WarAmps Champ program. www.waramps.ca / @theWarAmps

They have no government funding and everything  that they do for children without limbs is provided through fundraising and private donations. For all of you that purchase WarAmp key chains each year, I thank you and my son thanks you for giving him the ability to have two arms just like the rest of his friends.

I would encourage all of you to have a look through the list of charities, read their Bio and discover just how much impact the charities, Staff and volunteers make in our communities with no concern for personal glory.  Look them up and Say Thank YOU.

Whether it be a few pennies or a few minutes of your time #giveback, it makes a world of difference