Ottawa Rocks for Haiti Relief

The compassion of Ottawa residents is well known- and in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake in Haiti - people are opening their wallets, they are collecting money at their workplaces, kids are organizing events at their schools, there is an overwhelming desire to do whatever we can to help the people of Haiti.
The local music community is coming together for one marathon concert this Saturday, Jan 30th at Capital Music Hall, 128 York Street. Join nine of Ottawa's best bands at 'Rock for Haiti Relief' with all proceeds to Red Cross Aid for Haiti. MonkeyJunk, Big Jeezus Truck, The Action, Good2Go, Ninety Pounds of Ugly, Boom Creek, Evil Farm Children, The Kingmakers and The Big Bend will perform for one electric evening. Doors open at 6, show starts at 7. Just $10 admission!

****NOTE: a new forum has been created for Haiti fundraisers here in Ottawa- if you want to donate or get involved, please go to: http://www.webviewdesigns.com/haiti_earthquake_relief/haiti_relief.html

The Cooper Brothers are BACK!!!

Mark Feb 27th on your calendar!! The Cooper Brothers are back in a BIG WAY!!! On February 27th, the Cooper Brothers release an all-new CD 'In From the Cold', with a performance that evening at Centrepointe Theatre. I was lucky enough to attend a 'sneak preview listening party' this week - and, as the Cooper Brothers' number one fan, I am ecstatic about the new tunes! In the late 70's, early 80's, Ottawa's own Cooper Brothers had hit after hit on Canadian and US radio- and their tours were legendary. After a long break from the music scene, they are back with a vengeance! Dick Cooper's masterful songwriting shines on this record, Brian Cooper's vocals never sounded better, and producer Colin Linden put his gritty polish on every track. Guest appearances by Jim Cuddy and Rolling Stones' keyboardist Chuck Leavell. Watch for the song 'Thats What Makes Us Great' - it is sure to be Canada's next un-official fist-pumping anthem!! Can't wait to get my hands on 'In From the Cold'. Get your copy February 27th!

www.helphealhaiti.ca

Following the Jan 12 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Ottawa residents Oni the Haitian Sensation and Rachel Décoste have raised over $20 000 in two days for the Red Cross and for the Humanitarian Coalition (which includes CARE Canada, OxFam, etc). Their goal is to raise 1 million dollars for Haiti's earthquake relief victims.

Join the effort! You can raise funds at your school, office or place of worship. Every dollar counts! A local website has now been set up pass along very important information regarding upcoming fundraisers for Haiti. Along with cash donations, there is an urgent need for volunteers/venues/sponsors.. everything from office supplies to blackberrys-
please go to www.helphealhaiti.ca

Help For Haiti

The devastating earthquake that took place in Haiti is beyond the scope of our imagination-
urgently required now: donations. Donations for medical supplies, shelter, food, clean water. Please- contact one of these relief organizations and give what you can: www.worldvision.ca, www.redcross.ca, www.salvationarmy.ca, www.unicef.ca

Locally, we are banding together to help. This evening at the Babylon Club, 317 Bank Street , Oni the Haitian Poet is hosting a fundraiser with several area musicians, $10 at the door. Oni has friends and family in Haiti...including her own father, who she has not heard from. It is devastating. In Manotick, Grace Agostinho, owner of the French Cafe, is donating all proceeds from coffee sales to help an orphanage in Gonaives, Haiti-
a cause that is close to her heart, having already worked the past year to raise $50,000 for the orphanage. We spoke to Grace on the morning show this morning, she is torn apart - having just returned from Haiti recently. She has no idea of the status of the orphanage she has been trying to help. Local stories. Please let us know what you are doing to help the victims of Haiti, and we will do our best to pass it along. Call us on 'Stuntman and the Shark' , 613-750-4-BOB, or email us, mornings@939bobfm.com. We can make a difference
We can make a difference together.

So Inspirational!

Your feel good moment of the day.

Lucky Ron and Stuntman Stu: Dreaming Big for Mayor

Pictured above: Stuntman Stu Wows the Crowd: Destination Unknown. And Lucky Ron Burke wows the crowd at the Lafeyette Tavern, Saturday matinee.

They said it couldn't happen. The naysayers were vocal. But, the naysayers were nowhere near as vocal as the yay-sayers. And so, with a groundswell of support that began in the bottom of a giant quart of Blue, or Labatts 50, (this fact continues to divide people)....Lucky Ron Burke declared his run for Mayor of Ottawa, in the year of 2003. His qualifications? He could play guitar and sing every Johnny Cash song note for note, which he did at 4 o'clock every Saturday afternoon at the Chateau Lafeyette Tavern in Ottawa's byward market. Lucky Ron's show never varied, each song sung in the exact order, week after week he was consistent, giving the people what they wanted. A fine trait for a Mayor. 2003. It was a different time then. Or....was it?

Here is an excerpt of the issues that were top of mind throughout the municipal election campaign (source: http://en.allexperts.com/e/o/ot/ottawa_municipal_election,_2003.htm)
"
The main issues of the race were a controversial Smoking ban, the expansion of the O-Train (Ottawa's light rail system), official bilingualism and the recent amalgamation. Chiarelli was in favour of the smoking ban, which had been implemented by the last city council. The ban was on smoking in all public places, which angered many bar and restaurant owners. Kilrea was against the smoking ban. He was also against putting money into expanding the O-Train, and official bilingualism in the city. Chiarelli was in favour of the O-Train expansion along with Awgu, while most of the other candidates were against. Awgu and perennial candidate John C. Turmel were the only candidates in favour of bilingualism."

And so, voters came out in droves on November 10, 2003. The results? Bob Chiarelli wins, but looky here! Lucky Ron silences his critics with a huge 1.46 percent of the vote, almost 2700 people, AND, check out the results below, he beat out FOUR other candidates! Well, there was much celebration at the Lafeyette that day, where rounds and rounds of quarts were quaffed, and legend has it that Lucky Ron even played a couple of Johnny Cash songs OUT OF THEIR USUAL ORDER!!

Results for mayor
Candidate Vote % Change
Bob Chiarelli (inc.) 104,595 56.53 +0.21%
Terry Kilrea 66,634 36.02
Ike Awgu 5,394 2.92
LUCKY RON BURKE 2,698 1.46
John A. Bell 2,027 1.10
Donna Upson 1,312 0.71
Paula Nemchin 1,191 0.64 +0.36%
John C. Turmel 1,166 0.63 +0.36%

The moral of the story? Follow your dreams. Dream BIG. Learn as many Johnny Cash songs as you can and play at a tavern every Saturday afternoon. Ok, maybe not the Johnny Cash stuff. But, the DREAM BIG stuff? That is the way to live your life!

My partner in crime, Stuntman Stu is doing just that! He is considering a run for the Mayor of Ottawa. His qualities? He's everywhere at once. He's a great auctioneer. He has a blackberry. He has his own line of wine. He is a family man. He willingly stands in long line-ups. He has better access to Mike Fisher than most of us. He does several impressions, each of which sounds exactly like Jack Nicholson. He has his own website, www.stuntmanstu.com. And right now on Facebook, there is a 'fan page'
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=search&gid=287074699096
its called 'Stuntman Stu should run for Mayor of Ottawa'. Last time I checked, it had 166 fans. Hey, I think Lucky Ron serves as an inspiration, and Stuntman Stu should follow suit. Go for it, Stu! Remember, 'Dream Big'! And maybe, just maybe, YOU will be toasted at the Lafayette this coming October, everyone lifting quarts of Blue in your honour! And it wouldn't hurt to learn a Johnny Cash song or two.