Bouquets

Open Letter to Bassano:

As a former resident of B-Town and proud graduate of the esteemed Bassano School of Performing Arts, one can’t help but have a sense of pride in thecott place I grew up. The town has been getting a facelift of sorts over the last few years and upon inspection, one has to say things are looking good. As I retained my personal key to the school from 1990, I helped myself to a late night tour and really was impressed by the upgrade. Just across the street the pool and arena cohabitation upgrade was awe inspiring to say the least. The enablers of both projects really have accomplished greatness against staggering odds. Another reflection that I have pondered is the amount of influential and special talents that have blossomed from our innards. It is safe to say that Mike Toth has been a proud ambassador for Bassano throughout his media-sports pilgrimage. I’m sure the rest of Canada has heard ad nausea of Mike’s proud little town.

In the past few years a few special athletic talents have represented as well. Cody Jensen play 250 games in the WHL and has yet to have his jersey retired in the confers of the Centennial Arena. Perhaps that day is coming? Brian Maloney is the first professional player of recent memory to call Bassano home. After an impressive career at Michigan State, Brian played 4 seasons for the Atlanta Thrashers and Ottawa Senators top farm clubs respectively. Presently he toils away in Germany amongst many former NHLers. While athletes aren’t the only talents to be our exports, they seem to be more recognizable.

The teachers in our community need a little shout out as well. Some of my fondest memories were finding creative ways to circumvent ethical exam practices in classes of the great Dave Miller, Ron Wickson, Stew Heron and Tom Huckerby. Needless to say I was able to improve their district standing through such improvisations. Molly Douglass was influential as much or more than all of these, and her dark/grey hair interchange was always a joy and has led to fruitful political career. I am sure that the present scholastic leaders are exceptional, especially the ones with the name Singular attached to the classroom doors. Of course, that’s just unbiased speculation.

I was informed that Bassano had gifted the world with a model recently. I know the area has spawned many beauties to the east and to the south but this young Kargaard lass made Bassano proud. While far from a model of any sort, the extroverts, Reo King has carved a career in equine massage/out riding/entertaining the masses for many years. One of a very short list of horse massagers in the world, Reo has travelled North America working on the best race horses, polo and, rodeo stock of our era. He has stretched his skill set to bull riders and any passerby with an ailment. Reo will one day find the elusive in his travels, the perfect mare.

Finally, and the most topical of last, is the venerable Daryl Jones. Most know some of his story. The Reader’s Digest version is that he went to Yale on a hockey scholarship after a junior career at Weyburn. While Yale can open more doors than my Medicine Hat College diplomas, and being a clever young intellect, DJ has turned that into something special. A year after kicking the tires on possible buying a junior hockey team down east, his group is on the cusp of purchasing the Phoenix Coyotes. Talk radio shows, TV spots and the odd Hockey Night in Canada interview has not changed the persona of Edna and Andreas’ youngest lad. Daryl may appear to have a perfect life though recently admitted that he doesn’t want to lose all his hair before he finds a wife to walk down the aisle of our Community Hall.

With apologies to all the other great forces of our community, I challenge you all to embrace what you have in Bassano, what it has to offer, and to be proud of what it has turned into.

Scott Kelly, Medicine Hat, via Bassano.