“Find a spot in Winnipeg and find a negative story.” Those were my instructions. Easy. I’m heading down to a bus stop on Main St. where I’m likely to wind up writing a story about Winnipeg’s poverty issue.
Boy did my story take a turn.
I sat for one hour at a bus stop in silence. I wasn’t the only one. I’m not sure who was screaming louder the cigarette-butt strewn lawn of City Hall or the people at the bus stop. The sun was beaming – nature would’ve indicated it was a cheery, feel-good, spring-like day. But the overwhelming smell of feces in the bus stop was putting a damper on the mood. People were coming in and out of the shack with their Giant Tiger bags. One by one I looked at them. They looked at me. They stared towards the direction the buses would be coming from. My eyes wandered from the oncoming traffic to the guy sweeping the City Hall dirt from the sidewalk onto the dark grey snow and mucky lawn back to the people inside the shack. Fine. We didn’t know each other. Why would anyone say anything? That wasn’t the unusual part.
It was the mother and daughter sauntering off the bus hand in hand. The mother slightly ahead with the focused look on her face and the daughter a couple steps behind bobbing her curly brown hair behind as she cheerfully followed her mother. But not a word.
It was the pair of exhausted school girls waiting for their bus together. But not a word.
And nearly 40 minutes in to my experiment came the most unusual. At this point I wasn’t saying a word until I heard someone else utter a breath of language. A friend from school comes along. She waves and cracks a small smile. I smile and wave. She doesn’t come into the shack. Instead she stands directly in front of me, on the outside of my glass cage. Waiting. Five minutes later, her bus comes. But not a word.
I wasn’t upset or anything. I get it. Taking the bus is like down-time for most people – time to decompress and unravel their day. It’s almost bus etiquette not to talk. When one has their headphones in, another never suggests they take them out. When people shuffle onto the bus, everyone looks down in case they see someone they don’t want to talk to. Apparently same goes for standing and waiting for the bus.
The question is: was this a positive experience? Or a negative one? I can’t help but wonder if we’re living in a world that keeps us so connected, yet we’re all living in disconnect.
PS What broke the silence you ask? Three women chatting about which bus they were going to take. They got on seconds later. And the rest of us were back to standing in silence.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Never justice
I don't think I need to say much about this video -- it's pretty self-explanatory. But I will say this: it was arguably the most difficult story I've ever had to put together. It's Canada's looming issue with high rates of murdered and missing aboriginal women that made me want to tell this story, because ultimately, I think everyone should be paying attention to these campaigns. However, there's nothing that could've prepared me for the interview or the script writing process. Interviewing a mother whose daughter has been murdered was unbearable. The moment I walked into Barb Houle's tiny apartment decorated with photos of her deceased daughter, Cherisse, I felt such a deep sadness in the room. Knowing I could never understand how she felt or what to say to bring a moment of happiness to our first encounter was painfully frustrating. The script wasn't easier and it had to be written in 20 minutes. I didn't know where to start and I knew, and still feel, I could never get enough in or say it just right.
I would say that having to report on these kinds of stories is one of the most difficult tasks a journalist can face because one wants to show compassion, but also has to bring a neutral, business-like stance to the table under a very limited deadline. To compensate, all I ask is for you to view the story and pass along its message.
I would say that having to report on these kinds of stories is one of the most difficult tasks a journalist can face because one wants to show compassion, but also has to bring a neutral, business-like stance to the table under a very limited deadline. To compensate, all I ask is for you to view the story and pass along its message.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Some things never change
Some things never change and some things are better off left that way – like the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire organization.
For over 100 years the women of the IODE have been giving back to their communities in an attempt to achieve “a better Canada.”
They were there when Margaret Polson Murray formed the organization as a way to support servicemen going to fight in South Africa. They were there to support troops during the Great War, the Second World War and along the way they helped those in their home country plagued by natural disaster or poverty. And they are still here today, for the military families still, but also for those requiring educational assistance, community services, and immigration adjustments. These women still haven’t lost their will to give…granted one change since 1900 is turnover – the turnover of members, unless you know someone out there who has been involved for over 110 years.
The IODE is a national organization with over 200 chapters across Canada. However, Winnipeg does have its own chapter – the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter (which is pronounced YO-ne Sig-eur-d-son). This is the only remaining chapter in Winnipeg; the other one folded last year said Ingrid Slobodian, President of the Sigurdsson Chapter. It consists of 56 members.
Slobodian has been helping the IODE for six years now. She is currently working on a luncheon coming up this Saturday – the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter IODE Spring Bridge and Whist Luncheon at the Betelstadur (1061 Sargent Ave.) from 11-4 p.m. March 26. All the profits are going to their scholarship series – each year the IODE hands out about 13 of them. (Visit this link to see if you qualify for any: http://www.iode.ca/SCHOLARSHIPS-AND-AWARDS-main.aspx.)
Slobodian points out one of the most rewarding aspects of working with the IODE: appreciation and curiosity.
“Kids always want to know who these old ladies are and what they’re doing,” she says.
“Usually I'm not a person to belong to things like this, but it is such a wonderful thing. They produce a lot of good among the people they help," said Lara Morris, member of the IODE for the past 13 years. Her 12 year certificate of involvement hangs on the wall next to her night table – she makes sure to point it out to us when a couple students visit her.
Morris plans to attend the luncheon but not to play cards – “I can only play solitaire,” she says. “It’s nice to be invited out to tea with the ladies and eat cookies,” says the 91-year-old Icelandic Amma.
For over 100 years the women of the IODE have been giving back to their communities in an attempt to achieve “a better Canada.”
They were there when Margaret Polson Murray formed the organization as a way to support servicemen going to fight in South Africa. They were there to support troops during the Great War, the Second World War and along the way they helped those in their home country plagued by natural disaster or poverty. And they are still here today, for the military families still, but also for those requiring educational assistance, community services, and immigration adjustments. These women still haven’t lost their will to give…granted one change since 1900 is turnover – the turnover of members, unless you know someone out there who has been involved for over 110 years.
The IODE is a national organization with over 200 chapters across Canada. However, Winnipeg does have its own chapter – the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter (which is pronounced YO-ne Sig-eur-d-son). This is the only remaining chapter in Winnipeg; the other one folded last year said Ingrid Slobodian, President of the Sigurdsson Chapter. It consists of 56 members.
Slobodian has been helping the IODE for six years now. She is currently working on a luncheon coming up this Saturday – the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter IODE Spring Bridge and Whist Luncheon at the Betelstadur (1061 Sargent Ave.) from 11-4 p.m. March 26. All the profits are going to their scholarship series – each year the IODE hands out about 13 of them. (Visit this link to see if you qualify for any: http://www.iode.ca/SCHOLARSHIPS-AND-AWARDS-main.aspx.)
Slobodian points out one of the most rewarding aspects of working with the IODE: appreciation and curiosity.
“Kids always want to know who these old ladies are and what they’re doing,” she says.
“Usually I'm not a person to belong to things like this, but it is such a wonderful thing. They produce a lot of good among the people they help," said Lara Morris, member of the IODE for the past 13 years. Her 12 year certificate of involvement hangs on the wall next to her night table – she makes sure to point it out to us when a couple students visit her.
Morris plans to attend the luncheon but not to play cards – “I can only play solitaire,” she says. “It’s nice to be invited out to tea with the ladies and eat cookies,” says the 91-year-old Icelandic Amma.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Who likes history!
“All I ever wanted to do is write a history book that people want to read,” said Jim Blanchard, author of Winnipeg’s Great War – a book that follows how the people of Winnipeg reacted and dealt with the First World War.
I can’t speak on behalf of everyone, but I wanted to read the book. I remember seeing it on display earlier this fall at McNally Robinson. I intended to go to the reading. But a pocket filled with nothing but lint and a hectic school schedule kept me from attending or purchasing the book sooner. So when I found out we’d be reading the book in our last semester of school, I was thrilled.
I’ve always been interested in history and I’m realizing the importance of knowing Canadian and local history. But I’m not a great at it.
My first question reading the book: why did the First World War start anyway? Rather than providing readers with a brief summary of what happened to trigger the war, Blanchard goes straight to the beginning of it, assuming his readers already know. While it’s not a critical thing to know, since the book primarily uses the war to discuss the happenings in Winnipeg, it was definitely a pertinent question as I continued to read on – possibly only because I felt silly for not knowing.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is said to have been the trigger that set off the war. An ultimatum between the Yugoslav nationalist that killed Ferdinand and the Kingdom of Serbia led to war. Eventually alliances formed and the major powers were at war too – major powers who had colonial ties to other countries as well.
Blanchard neglects to explain certain details to his audience at other times as well – such as why battles like the Somme, Ypres and Vimy Ridge began/entailed in the first place. Short explanations, I feel, would’ve gone a long way.
However, there is SO much information in this book. Blanchard does an incredible job sorting through what I can only imagine to be 1,000 of hours spent digging through archives to write this book. Not only does he use humorous and emotional stories from various newspapers at the time to highlight how it felt to live in Winnipeg from 1914-1918 (like how women used to pin white feathers on the men who hadn’t volunteered to go to war in 1915), but he also incorporates so many detailed facts that readers are automatically left needing to read the book again. These are his two biggest strengths. The stories maintain interest for those, otherwise, not always interested in historical facts. The facts ensure there’s always more to be learnt about the Winnipeg during the First World War.
This non-fiction book chronicles everything – from the role women played throughout to the way Winnipeggers treated immigrants to the educational system at the time to the role the media played to so much more, the release of Winnipeg’s Great War was anything but rushed.
So, did Blanchard achieve his goal? Will people want to read this history book? I think they should. I did.
But will people continue to want to read the book once they’ve started? I did, but I’ll admit it was a challenge. The amount of minute details including was at times difficult to follow – making the read sometimes overwhelming.
My advice: take it slow. Don’t rush the read. Relax if you find yourself overwhelmed and keep reading. You won’t take everything in on the first read, unlike other history texts like John Hersey’s Hiroshima which vividly tells the stories of several Hiroshima survivors. (Also keep in mind, Hersey was writing the story in that time period, Blanchard is writing about a period he never existed in.) But in the end everything will make sense – plus there’s a nice little summary recapping how exactly Winnipeg was impacted by the war. Then plan to revisit the book another time.
After all, Blanchard is writing about a story all Winnipeggers should know – our story.
I can’t speak on behalf of everyone, but I wanted to read the book. I remember seeing it on display earlier this fall at McNally Robinson. I intended to go to the reading. But a pocket filled with nothing but lint and a hectic school schedule kept me from attending or purchasing the book sooner. So when I found out we’d be reading the book in our last semester of school, I was thrilled.
I’ve always been interested in history and I’m realizing the importance of knowing Canadian and local history. But I’m not a great at it.
My first question reading the book: why did the First World War start anyway? Rather than providing readers with a brief summary of what happened to trigger the war, Blanchard goes straight to the beginning of it, assuming his readers already know. While it’s not a critical thing to know, since the book primarily uses the war to discuss the happenings in Winnipeg, it was definitely a pertinent question as I continued to read on – possibly only because I felt silly for not knowing.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is said to have been the trigger that set off the war. An ultimatum between the Yugoslav nationalist that killed Ferdinand and the Kingdom of Serbia led to war. Eventually alliances formed and the major powers were at war too – major powers who had colonial ties to other countries as well.
Blanchard neglects to explain certain details to his audience at other times as well – such as why battles like the Somme, Ypres and Vimy Ridge began/entailed in the first place. Short explanations, I feel, would’ve gone a long way.
However, there is SO much information in this book. Blanchard does an incredible job sorting through what I can only imagine to be 1,000 of hours spent digging through archives to write this book. Not only does he use humorous and emotional stories from various newspapers at the time to highlight how it felt to live in Winnipeg from 1914-1918 (like how women used to pin white feathers on the men who hadn’t volunteered to go to war in 1915), but he also incorporates so many detailed facts that readers are automatically left needing to read the book again. These are his two biggest strengths. The stories maintain interest for those, otherwise, not always interested in historical facts. The facts ensure there’s always more to be learnt about the Winnipeg during the First World War.
This non-fiction book chronicles everything – from the role women played throughout to the way Winnipeggers treated immigrants to the educational system at the time to the role the media played to so much more, the release of Winnipeg’s Great War was anything but rushed.
So, did Blanchard achieve his goal? Will people want to read this history book? I think they should. I did.
But will people continue to want to read the book once they’ve started? I did, but I’ll admit it was a challenge. The amount of minute details including was at times difficult to follow – making the read sometimes overwhelming.
My advice: take it slow. Don’t rush the read. Relax if you find yourself overwhelmed and keep reading. You won’t take everything in on the first read, unlike other history texts like John Hersey’s Hiroshima which vividly tells the stories of several Hiroshima survivors. (Also keep in mind, Hersey was writing the story in that time period, Blanchard is writing about a period he never existed in.) But in the end everything will make sense – plus there’s a nice little summary recapping how exactly Winnipeg was impacted by the war. Then plan to revisit the book another time.
After all, Blanchard is writing about a story all Winnipeggers should know – our story.
Monday, February 28, 2011
IPP Excitement
Red River College's second-year Creative Communication students are so close! In just over a week we'll each be hitting the stage in the Presentation Theatre at the Convention Centre to present our babies. Almost literally.The Independent Professional Projects are anything but neat -- at least during the process. My IPP was writing a book -- a book I've discussed in previous blogs. It's called Lockout: Exploring the rich history and uncertain future of Powerview-Pine Falls, Manitoba. The non-fiction story addresses the effects the paper mill closure has so far had on the town. It's a big deal because, as many locals know, the mill was the town's main employer. In the past ten years nearly 450 jobs have been lost in the town due to the declining newsprint industry. There are just over 1,000 people living in the community.
After 7 months of production -- three months of interviewing and research, two months of writing, and two months of rewriting, editing and printing -- I am thrilled to announce the story is almost here. Perhaps almost yours...for $20.
Upon sending the book to the printer, I'll admit -- I was terrified. Not only did I talk about other people's very emotional stories, but I talk about my own. Writing a book was an extremely vulnerable process. It still is. But as the IPPPs get closer and closer, I just want the world to see it!
It would mean a lot to me for people to attend my and my fellow classmates' presentations at the Convention Centre March 9-11. Presentations will run all day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I present on the first day. Other great projects you can catch at the IPPPs include documentaries ranging from topics like cats to arranged marriages. There will be novels about the service industry to non-fiction accounts of some notable Canadian journalists' most memorable moments. If you're still not convinced, there will be movie blog presentations to horror films to charity events. All in all, the IPPPs shouldn't disappoint anyone.
If mornings aren't your thing, but you're still interested in learning more about my book and Pine Falls, I will also be having a reading at McNally Robinson in the Prairie Ink Restaurant, Thurs. March 10 at 8:00 p.m.
For more information about the reading, click here: http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-10285/Yvonne-Raymond----Book-Launch/
For more information about my book/Pine Falls, click here: http://pinefallsbook.com/ (Note: the site is still in the making. More posts will be made once the book is out)
For more information about the IPPPs, click here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=171261859586803
Monday, February 14, 2011
Think About It
It's something I was reminded of today. It's something I think is worth passing along -- mostly to journalists, but it can apply to everyone: What's the message you're trying to send with your story?
Think about it.
Think about it.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Assuming I'll have to move
Number one: Be ready to work for free.Number two: Be ready to move.
Those are the two tips I’ve remembered from journalists since I’ve wanted to be a journalist. I consider them cardinal rules. I consider them necessary steps in order to become a reporter. I have been preparing for both to happen since I began the Creative Communications program.
I’ve done a lot of work for free already. I don’t mind it. I love what I do and feel restless without journalism.
It’s number two that’s getting scarier and scarier as my graduation date approaches. It’s not because I am afraid of moving. I love the idea. Not knowing where you’re going to end up and under what circumstances is a total thrill for me. I crave that excitement. I crave that phone call that says: “We need you in Egypt tomorrow.” It’s my personality. I’m ambitious. I’m adventurous. I love feeling important. I want to make a difference.
But who gets left behind? Is it fair to leave the ones you love? For how long?
Leaving those who are important to me to the point they feel neglected is my fear. But then again, should fear stop anyone? No one said all fears play out.
Am I selfish?
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