Adopted by the River

My memory is clear about the first time I went out on the river. This goes back to the early 1970’s when my father arranged with the owner of the house he bought to take those among our family for a boat cruise.

Mr. Arbuckle pulled away from the boathouse at 13 Windsor at the bottom of the bluff in what I recall was about a twenty-foot wooden powerboat. I think passing Cherry Island under outboard motor power heading south puncturing a course through the maze of islands on this craft was prophetic. This first boat ride was different since the air seemed special on the water along with the spray that would blind side the senses. The boat was low to the water surface and the chop caused by the thermal breeze kept a beat over the gunnels creating a natural shower and cooling agent under the intense sunlight. The sunlight on the river as most boaters know sends rays from the sky and also reflects rays from the water surface. This dual sun impact is another marvel for those under way on their water sleds. A 360 degree natural tanning bed which is uniquely understood for mariners and reason to use protective skin lotion on days when the sun is full bore.

The St. Lawrence River is about eight miles wide from Gananoque on the North side to Clayton in the USA on the south. A vast area on the Canadian side is peppered with islands of all sizes. On the first outing back in the seventies onboard Mr. Arbuckle’s boat we were advised about some of the hazards on the water. The first mariner rule was to be sure not to get lost. 
The second rule was to be aware of rocks under the surface and to understand the code of navigation. One memory peg which perhaps prevented a few bottoming outs was the mariners rule... ‘North of the Black south of the Red”. This statement was about reading the markers placed strategically out there in patterns to give boaters a path of guideposts to get around without sinking. Basic rules of navigation need to be understood including a sense of orientation about the natural flow of this mega artery always moving eastward bound. Flowing to a universal rhythm in concert with the rising of the sun and moon. The river water eventually moving past the archipelago off Gananoque, eventually draining over time into the Atlantic.

The voyage on Mr. Arbuckle’s powerboat was the first touch point for me on the St. Lawrence River. Access to this remarkable place is hard to categorize with words. The magnetic energy for those who come to this vast water world could be compared to a unique covenant that is appreciated and addictive among river dwellers.

Time on the St. Lawrence River remains formative for me, experiencing the magnificent natural ecology especially voyages with navigators both family and friends. 

We're just visiting

Taking a trip for me has always been the best education. Nothing compares to getting into foreign countries and experiencing how others live while being introduced to culture, environment and local traditions. Most trips really only touch the surface of what is happening so having a sharp look out while travelling is key to building an appreciation for what’s going on.

From a young age I’ve enjoyed photography. This has been useful since operating a media company over the years we’ve been on many locations under contract to our clients. A key aspect of being a photographer is travel.  Travel and photography is akin to red wine with red meat.

A recent trip to Cape Town involved a road trip from the city to the Cape of Good Hope. 

This location is a famous landmark at the southern tip of the African Continent where two oceans both the Atlantic and Indian come together. South Africa has turned this location into a park. The views are spectacular with vistas overlooking the oceans vast expanse. Since coming from the polar vector deep in the North this location offered respite not only from the deep freeze but also the land locked lifestyle I’m accustom to from living within the interior of the North American continent.

Baboons roam this park; they’re reliant on those in cars for food. Although the signs along the wind swept roads indicate to not feed the apes this measure has not prevented people from shelling out along the way.

As a new arrival myself the awesome view along the road struck me, without thinking about any consequences that may be evident stepping out of the car I asked Joshua to stop so I could take a walk across a stretch of field to a location where the ocean waves were crashing against the shore for shooting pictures. This was a deliberate act to get out on the coastline and enter into a mindful state so as to experience the full impact of the force of nature.

While at the oceanfront absorbing the sound and vision of a remarkable place I was unaware that back at the car a city block away another form of sensory experience was unfolding. 

My colleagues Chris, and driver Joshua were under siege from a troop of Baboons that attempted a car jacking. One Baboon, likely the Alpha was opening the door while my colleagues were rolling up the windows and pulling rigorously against the force of the Baboon pulling in the opposite way on the outside.  The Baboons wanted food, evidently to our amazement they raid cars. These Cape inhabitants use forceful entry to rampage people’s belongings to score something to eat. Known to the locals as unwanted passengers once in the car riders surrender on the side of the road as victims of the muggings, the Baboons have their way rooting out food inside the overtaken car. Our car was defended effectively against the full impact of Baboon pirates thankfully.

I wrapped up on the oceanfront and headed back to the car to find my fellow traveller Chris pointing at something around the car. The Baboon which wasn't far from the car was one of three horizontal walking, enormous toothed Cape inhabitants. It did not approach me and I realized for a few minutes I had entered into its range. I was fortunate the Baboon didn't want my camera bag and didn't use the body slam technique deployed against the car.

This experience was an example of the lure of nature taking over and leading me into troubled waters. A lesson learned about the risks of jumping ahead before carefully judging potential threats.

Regardless, I would replay the steps over since being on the coast with the waves crashing was a memorable aspect of the visit. These occasions I've experienced elsewhere without the Baboon part, specifically in the far North within Eeyou Istchee, places that come to mind include Whapmagoostui on Hudson Bay, Wasanipi at Sturgeon Falls, Smokey Hill at Waskaganish among other places such as the St Lawrence River and Leek island on the beach facing west on Lake Ontario. Oh, and then there is this place Lac Mistassini James Bay, Northern Quebec.

Places where we're just visiting.

Embedded within an Industry Trade Mission

Experience, People, Take away

Travel to South Africa in support of building client organizational brand.

Top of Table Mountain, overlooking Cape Town and Cable Car

Cape of Good Hope, Overlooking both Atlantic and Indian Ocean

Joshua the Tour Guide with his Friend selling Crafts

Botanical Gardens with Table Mountain in the Background. Victorian Influence

Trade Missions 
are comprised of a group of individuals in pursuit of new business opportunities in foreign countries. They're often newsworthy as they represent a movement among those who set out toward building relations within a specific area of interest or objective. Mining Indaba is an event that is staged in Cape Town, this convention is the largest South African coming together of industry types from around the world to the continent to advance their interests in all things related to mining. The event is a corporate festival under the convention center roof where a parade of exhibition stands line up. Stands in all shapes and sizes that display both country and corporate brands. The event is unique as are similar events in other industries, only for a few days at a place and time those in the mining community and onlookers alike witness the roll out of a major industrial complex on display.

The Canadian pavilion was well positioned among exhibition stands, traffic flow rarely eased off. Australia had the largest booth akin to a fortress walled in with multi levels. Their presence next to kiosks with more open concept stands gave the impression of a dominant player in the African market. The Chinese opted for a more modest stand, theirs was open concept with no barriers to those onsite. 

An interview with the Honourable Jean Charest which unfolded at the Canadian Pavilion in Cape Town. Mr. Charest a friend of the James Bay Crees of Eeyou Istchee was instrumental in putting in place Municipal Government status for their Nation while in office as Premier within the Quebec Legislature. Mr. Charest extended the interview on behalf of the Canadian Council on Africa the client who sponsored my travels and brand building activities within South Africa.

                                   

Canadian Pavilion among delegates 

While on the ground our very thoughtful and careful tour driver Joshua drove us to a number of famous world wonders combined with walking tours of the city this added much to making the trip to Africa memorable.

Vineyard within mountain valley

Camps Bay, modernist dwellings with extensive glass on Oceanfront, Le Corbusier would be impressed

Township dwellings en route from the Cape of Good Hope

Rhinoceros at Safari Park



The Rising Africa Magazine growing trade between Nations through contract publishing

Taking Publication Design to the global marketplace in collaboration with clients

Working in close collaboration with the leadership at the Canadian Council on Africa, including their stakeholders we're now coming to launch day with Canada's leading trade magazine building networks and relations among African and Canadian corporations and governments. 

The magazine celebrates trade between nations.  This media utilized gordongroups contract publishing model. 

Here's my attempt describing gordongroup's process as a primer for those interested in some specifics about how clients today leverage the value chain we offer in support of their publishing, by extension brand building activities. 

Together We Stand Firm

Watch the Documentary

Hello Robert;

I viewed your expansively meaningful documentary film, "Together We Stand." Its a brilliant movie and a major document of record on an extremely important chapter in Canadian history. I especially enjoyed the treatment of language, subtitles and such. Congratulations to you and your crew and to those whose testimony provides the core content of this classic depiction of Canada's growth on the middle ground of Crown-Aboriginal compromise through the elaboration of treaty relations.

In the journey ahead, I believe Canada needs a film describing the whole narrative of Canadian development through Crown-Aboriginal treaties of alliance. To the best of my knowledge, my article in the Canadian Enclyclopedia on "Aboriginal Treaties" is the main try to date to lay out the bare outlines of the larger story. This mega-narrative of treaty-making was one of the main conceptions before me in trying to internationalize the idea of Aboriginal and treaty rights through my authoring of "The Bowl With One Soon" series.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/indian-treaties

Thanks for your tremendous contribution by bringing to the forefront a very inspiring episode in Canadian nation building.

Yours Sincerely,

Anthony J. Hall

Professor of Globalization Studies

University of Lethbridge