Sometimes my friends from other provinces and countries laugh and joke about Saskatchewan.  "What are you doing there?"  "Is there even stuff going on in Saskatchewan?"  "Why the heck don't you move somewhere practical and less... cold."

I will now answer those questions with one answer:  Rae-Dawn Arabians.  I recently had the priviledge to cover an event that had been an annual showcase in Saskatoon for 10 years.  Not many people know about it, but those that do, enjoy it emmensely every year.  And who wouldn't?  The event is called "Arabian Nights" and is hosted by Murray and Shirley Popplewell on their purebred Arabian Horse Farm, just outside of the city.  Every year they travel all over North America, showing their stunning horses with the goal of acheiving excellence.  Since there isn't a world class Arabian horse show in Saskatoon, the Popplewell's felt that they should have a place to show their friends, family and close acquaintences what they do.  So they host their own show, right on their own farm.

This year was a special year.  Not only were they celebrating their tenth anniversary, but the Popplewell's also celebrated ten years of having their very talented and dedicated trainer, Claudinei Machado working with them.  Claudinei helped the Popplewells raise the standards on their farm with nothing less than absolutely breath taking results.  With his help, the determined couple were able to find the perfect stallion and breed not only Canadian National Champions, but American as well.  The interesting thing to make note of is that no Canadian Arabian horse has won the Canadian National Championships for 35 years... until Rae-Dawn entered the ring with Bey Ambition and his offspring.

The most valuable jewels form under great pressure.  Murray and Shirley Popplewell create great pressure for themselves, as does Brazilian diamond, Claudinei in their standards for attaining perfection.  They will continue to sparkle with some of the most beautiful horses you will ever see.  They are honest, kind, hard working and down to earth... and this girl wishes them all the best from the bottom of her heart.

I have nothing more to say except... Just watch the video on SaskTel Max Local on Demand Channel 48.  It is in the "Just Added" section of the menu called "Rae-Dawn Arabians" or just click on "Rae Dawn Arabians" to watch it in HD online.  Cheers!

You can also check out:  www.rdarabians.com 

When I was a child, I wanted more than anything to be a famous actor.  I didn't know how I could do it, I just knew that I'd be brilliant at it.  I was also able to do many things... not always well, mind you, but I got by as being competent.  Because of this ability to be a "Jill of all trades", I figured it had to be because I was going to be discovered and be a famous actor.  Well, I also hate rejection and the ratio of 1 acting gig in 100 auditions didn't really appeal to me... and besides, once they found out I could work behind the camera... sigh.

Thankfully I discovered myself.  I discovered that I have a great love for telling other people's stories too and they are usually so grateful that we noticed them.  It is this little bit of happiness that drives me to blog today and share with you one of my recent productions.  I had the amazing opportunity to be producer, video journalist and editor on this one... doesn't happen very often.  I also got to maul many wonderful felines.

The documentary is about an amazing organization called SCAT Saskatoon Street Cat Rescue.  These passion people, made up mostly of volunteers, go out of their way to make sure that every feral, lost and abandonned kitty finds a home.  I was so inspired by the beasties themselves.  So many different characters in the group and I was really thrilled with the lovely little mother, who at full term walked up to a human and said, "help".  She is featured in the story with her litter of 4 kittens.

 You always hear about how great dogs are and how they are man's best friend.  But not all of us are dog lovers.  I do love dogs, but my lifestyle isn't appropriate for keeping a dog.  So I am thus a cat person and just like the wonderful Joy, also featured in this piece, my cat, Demon (came with the name) walks on a leash, does tricks and likes to bonzai the locals.  How can you not love a cat that forces the neighbourhood children to come to your patio doors to tell you to move your cat because he is on the sidewalk and won't let the kids ride their bikes past him?  I've also had to hold him back from trying to take on a dogs.  He also has a supreme love for luggage.  My other cat, Kuro is just a cute polydactyl (has thumbs and 6 toes on his back feet) who is always happy to support homework, movie watching, cross dressing, having a nap and giving him cake.  Both my cats are part of the family.

So many of us really love our cats and so with that I share the story of SCAT and hopefully it will inspire you to get involved in taking responsibility for these most amazing creatures.

Many special thanks to Sasktel Max Local on Demand and Bamboo Shoots for making this production possible.  Thank you to Erindale Animal Hospital and Petsmart for taking the time to work with us on this documentary.  And lastly, so much thanks to the volunteers who helped to make this story so great. 

One of the great things about working in the Community Television industry is the fact that all the stories that we cover are true.  We do documentaries of all kinds, as well as covering sports and music events, and the people that we visit are all interesting and have a story to tell... sometimes more than one. 

In the case of the City of Weyburn, Lu's Train Station had been responsible for helping people get in shape for 11 years.  We had covered Weyburn's Biggest LuSer for a couple of years and then last year they came up with a new and final program: "A New Lease on Life" which inspired people all over.  This became a 3 part series.  part 2, part 3a, part 3b.  This is one of the catalysts to my losing 30 lbs and getting my life in order.

The crazy thing about what we do here is the fact that everything we cover is a new learning experience.  I recently got to visit the Western Development Museum Curatorial Centre in Saskatoon, SK to create a 2 part documentary series on the museum and the mandate that it has in Collecting and Preserving the History of Saskatchewan.  The museum did post a clip from part one and I am tickled that they did so.  The Western Development Museum: Collecting and Preserving the History of Saskatchewan

We also get to cover music events like CD Release concerts of some of our local musicians.  We have covered concerts like: Jeffery Straker, Theresa Sokyrka, Little Miss Higgins, Connie Caulder and the list goes on and on and on... and sports... good Lord I could go on forever on the amount of sport events we cover.

One of the other pleasures in my editing life is onlining a show called "Max Magazine".  This themed bi-monthly show features 3 stories  from around the province and is hosted by Brad Grass.  I have to say that it is very amusing coming up with things for Brad to do.  My favorite episodes have Brad motorcycling, kyacking with his kids, belly dancing and the best of all: Roller Derby. 

Some of our stories end up on mysask.com which is great for those who don't have Sasktel Max at home.  Although the stories are only clips, you do get a pretty good idea of what they're about.  The Therapy Dog story that I have linked to is one that I produced and edited.  Max Magazine is also featured on there.

One of the most interesting stories that I was lucky to cover was about Psychic Medium Barb Powell in Saskatoon, SK.  The experience was really quite surreal. The interview at the beginning was fairly relaxed and I learned a lot about Barb and her talent... then we got to experience a session.  I cannot tell you how intense I found it.  Only some of the events and people talked about that day made their way into the story, but I can tell you that I left feeling very strange and yet honoured to have the opportunity to learn a little bit about someone else's life and afterlife.  The reason I mention this particular story is that I am currently working on another story about Barb.  It's "A Day in the life of a Psychic Medium" and this time Barb is working on a special 'cold case' on a brutal murder 50 years ago.  You'll have to check out Local on Demand to see it as soon as I finish it.

So there it is.  Lots of stuff we do here and the stories are informative and fun.  Sasktel is passionate about this province and telling stories is their way of sharing the people of this province with everyone else. 

Booyaa!

Hello to all of you interested in finding out a little bit about this person writing this note.  This is my first blog ever and I'm hoping that it works. 

I was trying to think about what my first blog should be and then it occurred to me that you probably don't really know who I am.  I think that it's somewhat important to know who you're working with... to an extent and sometimes people have skills you had no idea they had.  This will not be a 50 page bio... that would be silly.  It will, however let you know who this girl is who is trying to type without hitting the backspace button too often. 

This girl was born in Thunderbay, Ontario a long time ago... yes, I'm oldish in years, but don't let that fool ya... I'm generally a good natured goof that enjoys fantasy novels, Manga, animation and many other very fun things.  Honestly, I don't believe my birth certificate and I couldn't be all growed up if I tried... besides, I'm rarely taken seriouly.