Meeting His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto- Christmas, the Pope, and Angry Birds

     I think it was about half way through high school that I finally decided I no longer affiliated with any form of religious beliefs. It's not that I had an event in particular that lead to a falling out, it's just that, well, religion in its many forms isn't something everybody associates with. With that in mind, in no way did I think I would ever be driving through downtown Toronto on a hot August day with my photographer Victoria, trying to find the office of His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto. It hadn't even been a week since I had returned to North America from a trip to the South Pacific, and I was off to meet one of the most respected religious leaders in my province, let alone my country. Now, even though I'm not religious, I think Pope Francis may be one of the coolest guys around. That's one of the many reasons why I thought it would be really interesting to meet The Archbishop. In the 2013 papal conclave to name the successor to Pope Benedict XVI (only five months before my steaming hot drive to downtown Toronto), three Canadians had the chance to cast their votes. Three, out of the only 115 total electors worldwide. Thomas Cardinal Collins was one of these three, one of these only 115. I found that pretty amazing.
     After searching far and wide for a parking space, and getting lost trying to find the Offices of the Archdiocese of Toronto (why do I even mention getting lost anymore, I've never not been lost on a way to an interview), Victoria and I arrived, both a little nervous. This man oversaw 1.8 million Catholics in the Greater Toronto Area, and was only the sixteenth Cardinal in Canadian history. I don't believe you need to be Catholic to understand the respect this man generated from his community, and the influence he had over many. Surprisingly to some, it wasn't in fact Pope Francis that the Cardinal and I were to be speaking about that hot, August day. In fact, we were talking about something months away. I wanted to finally ask someone in a position of power in the church a question that had been on my mind for, well, years. These days, what do they think of non-religious individuals celebrating Christmas? Because trust me, on that (hopefully snowy day), I'll be like millions of others. Ripping open gifts with a grin on my face, drinking eggnog, and stuffing in that, well, stuffing. Like every interview I've done, my conversation with Cardinal Collins at some points went way off topic, and I soon realized, like many I've spoken with, the Archbishop is one of the coolest people ever.

 The Archbishop listens while I explain Canadian Stories

Photo by Victoria Alexander

     I remember going to Guelph earlier this year to see a singer named Hannah Georgas in concert. While thrift shopping in the time before hand, my friend Sydney pointed out a massive church that sat on top of a hill. I've been lucky enough to go to both the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec, and the well known Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, yet I never expected a church so close to home to have the same effect on you. Little did I know then, but years before, young Thomas Collins went there himself, to the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, with his father.

     Although everyone in his family was religious, the Cardinal's father, Thomas, was a very prayerful man. The future Cardinal was in awe of his fathers dedication to his beliefs. This continued on even when Thomas Sr was faced with some medical issues. As the future Cardinal was entering the first grade, if he can recall the time line correctly, his father was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This was followed by strokes in the years to come. During those years, he maintained his patience and love in times of immense suffering. Thomas Cardinal Collins lost his father at the age of 20, back in 1967. In those years of difficulty for the family, the way that his father dealt with the suffering, the way he accepted it, had profound impact on his sons life. Thomas Cardinal Collins realized the power of faith. 

     Growing up, many individuals who were devout in their faith continued to earn the respect of young Thomas. There were the nuns from his time in public school (the Cardinal informed me they dressed just as you would see on television), there was "old Father Newman", who the Cardinal joked was probably twenty years younger than he is now when he received the "old" title, there was Father Lloyd Ryan, and then, in the early years of high school, Father John Newstead, who had the biggest impact of them all. Father Newstead was one of the future Cardinal's high school teachers, providing His Eminence with an awe for English literature that would last for years. This impressed me, because I always tended to find high school English rather boring. Father Newstead would take the youth to ordination ceremonies, in which I was told new priests are named. The teacher also brought young students to the hospital to visit patients, an outing he did every single night, as he recalled the times he was young in the hospital with what the Cardinal recalls to be emphysema, and no visitors. It was in grade eleven that Father Newstead suggested Thomas become a priest, advice that would change his life. After finishing high school and a university degree, Thomas decided to take the advice, and start the road to become a priest. 

     After earning his undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and English Literature at St Jerome's University in Waterloo, Ontario, the future Cardinal then went to London, Ontario. He studied Theology at a Seminary, while getting a Masters in English at Western University. The work started piling on, but like myself, Thomas liked a challenge. In his words, "the more I study, the more I enjoy what I'm studying". I couldn't put it better myself. School wasn't over for him then though. After London, Thomas was off to Rome for three years to continue his education, at around thirty years old at this point. Thomas studied the bible at the Pontifical Bible Institute, and a Doctorate from the Gregorian University. It was while overseas that times as a student became difficult. As his explained it, "I studied a summer of Greek, summer of Hebrew, summer of Greek and Hebrew, summer of German", it all just became too much, and by November of his third year, "I was just shaking." Making it home for Winter Break, and speaking to his bishop, he was told he just needed a break. His three weeks were spent at home, catching up with his mother. At the time, the future Cardinal didn't realize just how much this quality time meant. His mother was much more ill than he knew, and passed away from leukemia a few days after he next returned home. 

     After various positions in churches of Southwestern Ontario, at age 50, Thomas Collins was named a Bishop, on May 14th, 1997. At this ceremony, Thomas was allowed to have two priests present. One of them was one of the easiest choices he could of ever made- Father Newstead, the one who set him on this path.

                                                     The Archbishop explains his time in Rome

                                                                Photo by Victoria Alexander

     Only a month after being named a Bishop, Thomas received some news. He was being relocated, and was named the Bishop of St. Paul, Alberta. I asked if it was difficult to make this sudden move, one province for the majority of your life, then a sudden move with minimal notice. He informed me that tears were in fact shed, tears from his heart. Friends would be missed, and his two sisters who still live in Guelph more so, but his brain told him this was the right thing to do. As a Priest, I was told, you make an oath of obedience to your Bishop. As a Bishop, you make an oath of obedience to the Pope. If the Holy Father asked for this to be done, then he knew this was what he needed to do.The little town of St Paul had a sign that Thomas remembers to this day. It read- "A People Kind of Place", in which it really was I have been told. He was ready to start his new life. Things were made easy when he made new friends and colleagues, and the whole time he was there, his sisters would always fly down to be with their "baby brother" for Easter and Christmas. It ended up only being a year and a half that he was in St Paul, as he received a phone call one day over coffee. While sitting with his staff (only about three people), he received a message from the Nuncio in Ottawa. The Nuncio, I was informed, was the Pope's representative in Canada. Pope John Paul II had a new plan, a higher one, for (at the time) Bishop Thomas Collins. In 1999, he was named Archbishop of Edmonton, which in short means he was the head Bishop for the Metropolis of churches around the Edmonton area, if I understood correctly. Within a week, he was gone from the town of St. Paul. 

     Again, Edmonton wasn't that long either. Yet, in the time he was there, after 26 years and 168 days as Pope, John Paul II passed away, to be succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI. Therefore, in 2006, it was Pope Benedict XVI that had a message for the Nuncio to give to Bishop Collins. He was to return to Ontario, and become the Archbishop of the largest and most populous city in Canada, Toronto. Travelling was all part of the job, as with one who is in the army, likened the Archbishop. Sometimes, this could be in the most extreme circumstances. An example given by Thomas being Pope Francis. Like Pope Francis, Thomas entered the Sistine Chapel and could of been the one named Pope, yet Thomas had the chance to return home, and Francis will now never be able to call Argentina home again. In the words of Thomas, "once you're a Priest, you're a feather on the breath of God." The people at the Archdiocese of Toronto (where the Cardinal's office is) are like a family to him now, and he's happy to say he things this is his last stop. Unless he becomes the Pope, I joked. 

Thomas Cardinal Collins in a Maple Leafs sweater- St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

Photo from The Canadian Press

     As can be seen in the photo above, the Cardinal likes having fun. What I'm sure can't be grasped from the photo is that this was taken on days before Pope Benedict XVI would be naming Bishop Thomas Collins to the College of Cardinals, as I mentioned, only the sixteenth Cardinal in Canadian history. According to recent numbers, there are roughly just over 200 Cardinals worldwide (with Cardinals Collins, three in Canada), with the role of advising the Pope when he calls on them, and electing a new one upon the death or stepping down of the current Pope. To Thomas Cardinal Collins, it was an honour. As I've mentioned, I'm not religious, but I can fully understand the pride Thomas Cardinal Collins must have felt. Receiving the red hat and red robes of a Cardinal, and the Cardinal's ring given to him by the Pope, was one of the greatest experiences in his life. But, even though you're entitled to vote for a Pope (as long as you're under 80 at the time of the Pope stepping down or passing on), the opportunity doesn't often arise. In the case of recent Toronto Archbishops who have been named Cardinals, Cardinal Archbishop James Charles McGuigan (1894-1947), had the chance to be part of the conclave which named Angelo Roncalli as Pope John XXIII, Cardinal Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic (1930-2011) had the chance to name Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, whereas Cardinal Archbishop Gerald Carter, one of the most respected religious leaders in Canadian history, never had the chance to partake in a Papal conclave. After only one year as a Cardinal though, Thomas Cardinal Collins did have the honour (as mentioned), and was one of the 115 who had the chance to name, in my eyes, one of the coolest people of 2013 (and Time Magazine's Person of the Year), Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Benedict.

 Cardinal Collins with Pope Benedict XVI

Photo from The Catholic Register

     But, of course, I said I still need to touch on Christmas, and Angry Birds, which is how I wanted to wrap up. Right as my time with the Cardinal Archbishop was wrapping up, I asked what he felt about how non-religious interviews such as myself celebrating Christmas, commonly known as a Holy Day, and how he celebrated it himself. Well, he told me news that I found relieving, it really didn't matter to him if I celebrated, or not. To him, celebrating brought all of us closer to the Holy Day, and to each other. With that, although it's become rather commercialized, he hopes that some may take the time to think of the word, "Christmas", and it's breaking apart into "Christ's Mass". Maybe, some people may be encouraged to listen to that message one year, which would make the Cardinal very happy. Although I'm not sure my views on Christmas would of changed, I'm glad to hear that the Cardinal supports my families celebration of Christmas. Since the Pope trusts him, I'll take his word that's it's okay for me to celebrate today. Yes! It's Christmas as I'm writing this last paragraph. It's snowing out, as I hoped for, and my dad just brought me a steaming cup of tea.

      It's cool to know what the Cardinal is doing right now too. Last night, as he informed me, he celebrated midnight mass in Toronto, finishing his night rather late. After that, he heads to Guelph to the home of his sister, and takes a long nap on the couch. Something I can easily relate to. About this time, I think the Cardinal would be waking up from his name, and getting ready for dinner with his sisters' families. Then, they'll exchange gifts, and enjoy their time together. Happy to be all back home together, in the same province again. Big sisters, and little brother.

       As I was leaving the Archbishops office, I was glad to have learned more about religion, and happy to have been able to meet with such an influential person. I sincerely hope I have the chance to sit down with the Archbishop again, as I feel we have many more stories to share with each other. Including, yup, Angry Birds. I couldn't help but notice the Angry Birds stuffed animal in his office (it was the red bird). That, in my eyes, was the best way to end the interview. I'm not allowed to tell the College of Cardinals or Pope Francis, I was told, but that bird may be his favourite cardinal. He placed the stuffed animal on his shoulder, and whistled the Angry Birds theme. It was officially decided then.

      Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, is a very, very, cool guy. 

With that, the Cardinal and I bid farewell.

Photo by Victoria Alexander

Rob Dyer; Enjoying the Ride

     I think my photographer Victoria asked me to consider interviewing Rob Dyer about five times over the span of a few months. But, when I say she asked me five times, I want you to know that's a couple times a day. “Seriously though, look into it.” or “If you're going to consider Rob you should do it before this date, he's busy over the next while.” or “Have you emailed Rob Dyer for an interview yet.” After a while, Victoria did something she has never done, and I found it absolutely hilarious. When she learned I still hadn't messaged Rob, she took asking him upon herself. I was getting to it... I swear. She attended a music festival in Toronto called “Riot Fest”, where her idol Rob Dyer, founder of the charity “Dream Love Cure” and the “Skate4Cancer” movement had a booth set up to sell some of his` merchandise. She asked if she could talk to him for a second, and explained the Canadian Stories work, asking if he would ever do an interview. With a grin, he said he would love to and gave Victoria the contact information. People ask me how I get in touch with people, all I can say is sometimes it's as easy as asking.

     Needless to say, Victoria didn't stop there. “Have you emailed Rob yet?”, “Have you emailed Rob yet?”, “Have you emailed Rob yet?”... on and on until finally, I sent an email to Rob Dyer. Again, didn't end there. “Have you arranged a time yet?”, “When are we going to interview Rob?”, “You should mention this in your Rob interview”, I think I'm getting my point across, I know for sure that Victoria was. Finally, with much excitement when I told Victoria, I had an interview time arranged. November 16^th, at 4:00pm. Two hours after the time I had arranged to meet with Holocaust Survivor Judy Cohen, my interview posted last week. I mean, it was two hours after first arriving at Judy's house. More than enough time, right? Apparently not...

Victoria and Rob at Riot Fest

Photo provided by Mariah Etten

     We hustled out of Judy's condo and into my car, time was not on our favour, as my maps told me. After checking our estimated time of arrival, I was shocked to see 4:01pm. No way was I being late, it was maybe time to go a little on the other side of recommended speeds. Until we were detoured for a closed road. And another. And another. I'm not making this stuff up, and you can imagine how mad I was getting. Upon finally getting to the Skate4Cancer shop on Queen Street, and finding a parking spot, Vic and I took some deep breaths. We were stressed, anxious, excited, and well, felt extremely bad for making Rob wait.

     Running around the corner to his shop and opening the door as fast as possible, I first laid my eyes on Rob (hmmm, that sounds a little romantic, don't mean it that way). Covered in really cool tattoos, and a weak attempt at a Movember moustache (sorry man, cold hard truth), he had a massive grin while listening to a customer. Like, actually caring about what they said. Made me realize just the type of person he was. He hugged them on their way out, and thank them for stopping in, then turned to Victoria and I. When I introduced myself, I was also granted with a massive hug and a big “thank you so much for coming”! We sat down on his store windowsill, and I was finally ready to ask some questions, which is why I was shocked when he had a fair bit of his own, first.

     He asked me if we had spoken to anyone else today, and I told him the story of Judy Cohen. Amazed, he told me how beautiful of a story her's was, and was glad I could share it. Then we came to the topic of hometowns, and after I was surprised he knew Ingersoll, he was surprised I had interviewed someone from his hometown of Newmarket. We touched on the story of Cliff Thorburn, and Rob was amazed at the story of a man who followed his passion so far. Now that I think about it, Cliff may not have been from Newmarket, but still, I loved how amazed Rob was by stories. Just like I was, that's why, with excitement from Victoria and I, we started talking about Rob's.

Rob laughs at my stories!

Photo by Victoria Alexander

     If you ever meet Rob (I highly suggest it), you'll see he's one of the most outgoing people out there. But that's not really how it was in high school, he told me he was sort of an introvert. During breaks, he would go outside and see kids skateboarding. A thing he would come to fall in love with. They were all there, having a blast in their group, but at the same time doing there own thing. It was something that immediately appealed to him, so right away he went and rented all the skate videos he could find (you know you're getting old when...)

     He never really stopped after first learning in grade nine. For as long as Rob could remember, his mom had been suffering from skin cancer. With this, and the struggles of high school, skateboarding became a way to get through the harsh times and the best times of life. It was like his punching bag. About a year before Skate4Cancer started, another challenge would arise. His mother was diagnosed with brain cancer. Rob was only 18, and of course, things became really hard for him. Skating is what he turned to. Together with his mother and some friends, they worked on one final idea. With his inspiration Terry Fox in mind, he played with the idea of taking his skateboard and riding straight across America. From California, through the southern states, and up the east coast, ending back home in Newmarket. About six months into his planning, his mother passed away. As I've read online, Rob also lost his grandmothers on both sides, and a friend, to cancer. Five months after his mother passed away, he started his skate. Those months and that journey became a way to keep his love for her alive, and for him to keep her memory alive as well. Their last project. He was only 19 when he started the journey of a lifetime, the same age I am now. Skating across 19 may have been a crazy idea, but he was glad it started then. Back when anything could be possible, and as Rob showed many, it was.

     His journey wasn't over. From America, Rob skated across Canada. Through New Zealand. Through France, and coming up, Australia round two. The dedication in that alone is phenomenal. Round one through Australia had to come to an abrupt stop part way through the journey, when one day Rob was struck by a car to finish. The job isn't over I was told, he needs to go back. The awesomeness of this guy is crazy, allow me to put it into perspective. Rob has skated 25438 kilometres this past decade. That's more than skating from Toronto, Ontario to London, England, and back, twice, plus some. Crazy. All for cancer research.

     It took a while for the Skate4Cancer name to get around, about five years according to his memory. Rob hosted events such as music tours in which he would sell his merchandise, with all the money going as a donation to Wellspring for cancer research. This year, about four months ago, he opened his shop in downtown Toronto. It's crazy to think that all the money from the store as well is going to charity, it really shows just how awesome some people are. What makes it better though, is that Rob is learning from his experiences. Back when he was going through his losses from cancer, he just wished there were more people there outside of his family group that he could speak to, he's decided to now be one of those people. If you're ever having a bad day and just need someone, they're always around at the shop to chat. He told me this is a massive journey, a massive battle we're all on, and he understands how just being there as a set of ears is one of the best things he could ever do.

Rob and I think about the future of Skate4Cancer.

Photo by Victoria Alexander

     I looked around the shop and just had to ask, where do you think all of this is going? With a laugh he told me he has no idea, and looked around at the shop too. He's young, he told me, he really lives day to day. Rob got up, shook my hand and gave me a hug. I gave it right back with a smile, glad I met him, and listened as he turned around and added;

     “In skateboard jargon, I'm really just enjoying the ride.”  

"I'm no therapist, but I promise you this:

I will listen, I will care."

Photo of Rob and I by Victoria Alexander!

Judy Cohen- 70 years after Auschwitz

      A poem written by Judy Cohen, after she publicly told her story for only the third time;

I stand in front of you

and see your innocent stares,
looking at me, anticipating a personal account of my
pains and nightmares.

How do I begin?
How can I make you understand and feel
the deep scars that I carry
fragile and still easy to bleed?

How do I tell you about human created hunger
hopeless, no-end-in-sight,
when, perhaps, you just had a good meal
and feel full and warm inside?

How do I tell you about constant fear
in the pit of the stomach, the nauseating kind
when, hopefully, you experienced only
goodwill and peace in your short life?

How do I tell you about losing family and friends
in a matter of minutes
by moving thumbs in white gloves,
belong to a Nazi
a so- called human being?

How do I tell you about the odor of burning flesh,
tortures and killings of innocent people
that were planned cold bloodedly, years before!
drinking and singing around the table?

How do I tell you about Auschwitz-Birkenau
the efficient killing machine
where mothers, babies, children and the old
marched to the "showers" and out as smoke?

How do I tell you about being torn from
all my loved ones in my teens
when you only know and should know
the warm embrace of family and peers?

How do I tell you about
the genocide of six million and more
during which my family lost eighty one,
when you can happily look at yours and declare
missing: NONE.

I do however, know to praise
those wonderful few, defiant and brave,
at great risk to themselves,
reached out and helped many lives to save.

I stand in front of you
and see your innocent stares,
but having heard it all
your gaze is no longer there!

You have lowered your eyes
so sorry! I saddened you,
having heard a witness
now, you become a witness too.

To inform and teach my story is told.
I urge you to be fair-minded and bold.
For it is up to you, THE YOUNG
how the future will unfold.

Let us create a society
free of hatred and hunger
where respect for each other
glows like a beautiful ember.

     The author of this poem, Ms Judy (Weissenberg) Cohen, until a few months ago, was a stranger to me. Now? She's a personal hero. It's weird the impact someone can make on you so fast, so powerfully, without them even realizing. It becomes even stranger when my initial motives of meeting her are brought into the picture, for when I think of it now, they were selfish. Selfish, immature, and uneducated. I feel it's only respectful to tell the true story of my "discovery" of Judy. 

     The Holocaust of World War Two has always been a subject matter that I found interesting. It was one night, sometime in July, that I decided to research if there were any Canadians near where I lived that I could have the chance to sit down with, and hear the atrocities of those years first hand from. That was my interest, to hear, as Judy put it in her poem, "a personal account of her pains and nightmares." I realized, months later, how immature, and quite frankly rude, that was. During my research, I discovered the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Centre. At the bottom, I found a contact link. This link then lead me to a list of speakers and survivors affiliated with the Centre, and on that list I read a short biography of several individuals. Among the many, was Judy. In her section, I read how she survived Auschwitz- Birkenau, known as one of the worst death camps in the world. A camp where over 1.1 million people died. 

     An email was sent, a contact made, and my work was explained. Judy was interested in meeting. 

Judy in her living room, answering one of my questions. 

Photo by Victoria Alexander.

     My schedule became bogged down with school work, other interviews, and my job. It was then that I received some news, Judy informed me she was in the middle of some health concerns. The thing was, Judy didn't let this stop her. She still wanted to meet me, still invited me over to her house for us to sit down and have a chat. I'm smiling as I write this, because Judy only ever seems to email me around midnight. Most nights, it seemed, I would be lying in bed and receive an email from this incredible 85 year old woman about how her day went (I always loved asking), and that recurring question as to when I was coming down. One line from her read; "don’t give up on me. Somehow, sometime we will get together.". I couldn't help smiling. After five long months of cyber-interactions, a time and date was set. On a Saturday November 16th, at 2:00pm, I would finally meet Judy. 
     Of course, after I picked up my photographer and long-time friend Victoria from back home in Ingersoll, my stress grew. Not only my deep-seated, often recurring road rage when trying to understand GPS directions, but the worry that I wouldn't live up to the expectations of Judy, whom I felt I had become quite close with in the span of our near 50 email interactions. Once I, once again, got lost on the way to her place, all I was worried about was not being late. With a minute to spare, Victoria and I made it to the condo building, introduced us to the concierge who knew we were coming, and got in the elevator. Shoes were tied, shirt was straightened, the hall was walked, and I knocked on her door. That's when, for the first time, I heard Judy. Yelling "come in", I sighed nervous and did just that.

Downtown Debrecen, Hungary. 

Photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Debrecen_town_square.jpg

      Judy was in a family of seven children, growing up in an eastern Hungarian town. Her father was a metal worker, a trade her older brother would later become a partner in. When she was born in 1928, the first Anti-Jewish law came out in Europe, in her home country of Hungary, limiting the numbers of Jewish youth entering university. Her personal childhood life was pretty peaceful, but around her the environment was changing. "Whatever anti-Semitism was happening in Hungary, it never effected me." She had memories of singing in public school, acting in the plays, and bonding with friends. A recurring thought that Judy had in those years was one of safety. But, in 1940, at age 12, her father's business licence was taken away.The country stopped funding Jewish schools, and Judy was forced to work in order to pay for her tuition, so she took up tutoring. In 1944, her town become occupied by German soldiers, and her life was forever changed.The holocaust was beginning. Judy was only 15.

     Judy looked up at me from her couch, to the one I was sitting on. She told me how it's impossible to describe what happened next, not even because of the personal trials, but because it's impossible to explain how the experiences effected the 15 year old girl she was. She told me then how she was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, then forced to go to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, eventually forced into a slave labour camp in which she was forced to build airplane parts. When the war was coming to an end, she was sent on a death march with other prisoners. Forced to move away from the front lines and inevitably die before being liberated by Allied troops. She was just over 16 when she was saved.

      Alone at the time of her safety, Judy had no idea what to do. It was then she united with what she told me became her "camp sisters". Friends from childhood she found during their own liberation who she could stick with, since, as she told me, being alone was another death sentence. Upon making it home, she found what was expected. None of her family was there, although, to her joy, this soon changed. After a while came the youngest of her brothers, she found out she wasn't alone. Together the two further learned that one of their sisters was in a displacement camp in Germany, with this news, the two left Hungary for good. Unfortunately, they learned that the three of them were the only survivors from their family. Judy's parents, sister, and nephew were killed upon their initial arrival in Auschwitz. Her two sisters she was with in Auschwitz starved to death shortly after Judy was moved to Bergen-Belsen. Her eldest brother was enlisted into the Hungarian army, unarmed, to walk in front of the troops in case of landmines. Upon being diagnosed with typhoid fever, he was put in a hospital which was then burnt to the ground when Axis forces were retreating. Is this what I wanted to hear? I realized then that I was wrong, this wasn't what I wanted to hear. I think what I really wanted to hear was the answer to one of the hardest things to imagine. How did Judy move on? How could you? When Canada slowly opened their doors to Jewish immigrants who survived the war, Judy and her sister received contracts to become garment workers in Montreal, which they moved to fulfill. Her brother came overseas a few months later. 
     It was 1948, she was 19, and ready for a new life. The same age I am now, and already with so much behinds her. Canada became a haven, and Judy had no interest in ever returning to Europe. Her union offered French classes, and she decided to learn English from McGill. With her new grasp of language she decided to get a business certificate, and eventually moved to Toronto to be with her new husband. She had herself two children, and she told me "she lived a normal, middle class life." 
     “Our lives became normalized. We still had a lot of psychological trauma, but we were normalizing.” Life, as it were, as a habit of coming full circle. As it did with Judy, fifty years after her imprisonment.

Judy Cohen and I, Photo by Victoria Alexander

     It was 1993, the year before I was born, Judy told me, that things changed again. We sat in her living room, about 40 minutes into our chat, when Judy told me about her now adult children. Her husband was slowing down, she had just turned 65, and in only three months, she would be retiring. When her lunch break came one day, she decided to take a walk in the Bay and Bloor street corner where her workplace was. Down the street, she saw a group of protesters holding signs, and chanting. She then heard, loud and clear; "white power, we want more white power". Leading the group was a man she noticed from television; the now deceased white supremacist and neo-Nazi Wolfgang Droege. Like a blast back in time, she was face to face with individuals such as the ones who ruined her childhood, who murdered her family. Droege walked up to a pedestrian and informed them how black slavery never happened, victims simply made up the story. Before he could even mentioned the Holocaust, Judy walked up to him, right in between Droege and the pedestrian, and informed the street walker that "this man is nothing but a bloody Neo-Nazi". She feels she wasn't a hero that day, but I have to respectfully disagree. Judy stood up to her past, evident when Droege took a step back into the crowd. Judy, it seemed, found her voice.
     When her retirement came, when went to the Holocaust Centre and asked what she could do to help. That was twenty years ago, twenty years of speaking to student from Victoria, British Colombia to Sydney, Nova Scotia. She learned that as a witness, it was her responsibility to make sure something like this never happened again. Some days she questions if what she's saying is really sinking in, especially after watching the news. “I try to enjoy what is still enjoyable in each day," she told me, "and there is always something to enjoy.”

     I realized that I in fact heard what I wanted to hear from Judy. Even with something such as the holocaust, we can move on. We can find happiness. What an incredible lesson, from an incredible lady. Judy Cohen told me that as a witness, it was her responsibility to share her story, so this never happens again. She told me that by listening to her, I became a witness too. By sharing her story will all who read this, you've now become witnesses too. 

The incredible Judy Cohen and I.

Photo by Victoria Alexander.

Talkin' sex with Sue Johanson

     Midterms in university suck. Studying constantly for "Developmental Psychology: Childhood Through Adolescence" or "A Survey of Modern Asian History" really gets to you after a while, and drives pretty much everything else including your name and social life from your mind. One thing that, try as I may, I couldn't seem to forget was this image in the back of my mind of an 83-year-old lady testing vibrators on actor Tom Selleck's (rather nice) mustache. Now, this isn't some weird confession to a daydream I've once had, it's a video I saw on YouTube. To top it all off, Conan O'Brien was in the background making a variety of disturbed faces and the 7 foot, 425 pound wrestler "Big Show" was giving a booming laugh overtop of it all. But hey, that's just Sue Johanson for you, no boundaries. She then went on to teach Big Show exactly why "bigger may not be better" when it comes to sex, and teach Conan some basic sex toys he can make at home. Keep in mind that when I watched this, I was an 18-year-old (just turned 19!), and Sue was 83. It wasn't weird to hear what she was teaching, just weird because of her age (no offence, Sue). But I'd have to say the thing that topped the whole video off was the knowledge that I would be calling Sue Johanson the next day. All I could think was "what the hell am I getting myself into", little did I know it would be my funnest interview to date.
     Now, it seemed that everyone over the age of about 23 knew just who Sue Johanson was, including my parents. When I called my mom one day to catch up, I mentioned I'd be interviewing her. "You know, the lady from the show 'Talk Sex with Sue', my mothers reply was a laugh, and an 'of course I know who Sue is! How couldn't I'! Well, I was sort of confused. I guess she may of been more well known than I expected. From then on, when explaining my interview work to others, I'd bring up Sue and everyone would laugh and give the common 'really?! have fun with that one'! I was getting confused. I mean, an 83-year-old sex educator, I knew it would be interesting, but I didn't know just why everyone loved her so much. So I went to the ever trusty YouTube to see some clips of her show, and, well, Sue's just Sue. Let's say that. Finally, I had a way to explain her to people my age. The time had come, it was time to call Sue. "The Sex Lady", as my friends had come to refer to her as. So I sat down in my room, arranged my questions, and rung up her cottage number. Hilarity ensued.

Sue Johanson, photo retrieved from

http://www.terry.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sue.jpg



      Back in 1970, Sue Johanson started part one of the journey that, in my eyes, makes her a Canadian icon. I had read online (ever handy Wikipedia) that the then forty year old nurse opened "the first birth control clinic of it's kind in North America." But that's really all it said, which doesn't really explain anything. So, I started off our chat by asking just what that meant. It was a clinic just for kids, and it was 100% free. It provided services related to sex that children may of felt uncomfortable approaching family doctors for, with full anonymity, based out of a high school in the North York area of Toronto (Don Mills Collegiate). It provided children on the spot with contraceptives, pregnancy diagnosis, referrals, counselling, all without needing to talk to their parents. Now, I didn't really think that was allowed, or how a clinic like that would of been viewed, but in the span of the three minutes I had been chatting with Sue, I understood she wouldn't be offended in my asking. I learned two valuable things from her: first, in Canada, children of any age can be prescribed birth control without parental consent, and secondly, nobody ever voiced a concern about the clinic. According to Sue, "kids were having sex without a single clue about anything", so the free service was appreciated by many. Sue continued "we didn't even have to advertise, the grapevine among teenagers is absolutely awesome." An 83 year old describing anything as awesome is awesome in my books, this was the start of "that sex ladies'" journey. In the following 25 minutes, I learned Sue was so much more than that.
     The realization of her's remained in her mind. Kids were having sex, but didn't know a thing. Schools weren't teaching anything, "and parents sure weren't", so she decided to go back to school herself and take all the courses she may need to teach it sex, in a school, but not as a teacher. She felt by not going in as a teacher, she could have more freedom. That's how Sue started speaking in schools as a nurse from the Department of Health, with one goal in mind. Teach sex, no boundaries.
     She told me she started in high schools, but the real enjoyment came from public school. To Sue, the best was grade sixes. She told me she "LOVES, LOVES LOVES" grade sixes. She continued; "They're just so spontaneous, weren't shy, weren't bashful, just asked anything. They'd just put up their hands and say, Sue.. what's balls? So we went through... what's another word for balls? Nuts, they may say. Plunkers, they may say. Good. What else have you heard about them? Someone would say dink", and she would correct them, "No, that's not testicles, that's a penis". Just like that, no boundaries. Well, she was becoming more and more known, time for colleges and universities.

Photo retrieved from: http://www.nndb.com/people/699/000044567/sue-johanson-1-sized.jpg

     Popularity for Sue was gaining fast, and soon speaking engagements in schools took her nationwide. After a while, she began her own radio call in show on Q107 out of Toronto, opening up her straightforward education to adults as well, which in itself was a hit. With it's affiliates across the nation, Sue was being heard around the nation, from St. John's, Newfoundland to Yellowknife, to Vancouver and US border cities, she didn't really care though, it was fun. From this, she started a television show (solely voluntarily, earning no income from it) on Rogers Television, doing about 50 shows a year. Although the show was only supposed to air in Toronto, she noticed something odd. She'd be walking down the street in Regina, Saskatchewan (whoa, just spelled Saskatchewan without spell-check), and people would notice her. It was then she learned her show was being "bicycled" around the nation. Meaning, they were showing it Canada-wide due to popularity. Man, Sue Johanson was becoming a big deal. 

     The Women's Television Network (WTN) asked Sue if she wanted to start a weekly show, which she agreed to (this was the show, I learned, that made her big). The Talk Sex with Sue program was a massive hit. I watched some clips, and needless to say, learned a lot. I mean, I'm sure anyone would. The problem with having radio and television programs 'simocasted' at the same time though soon arose. If she was using a flip chart to explain reproductive organs, or explaining the use of a sex toy, she'd have be way more descriptive on television than was needed for those listening on radio. Therefore, after 13 years, the radio show ended, "which was a shame." On record, I laughed when Sue mentioned sex toys. It may be immature, but hey, I'm young. It's funny when a senior mentions sex toys. From there, Sue was picked up by the Oxygen Network in the States. Over the span of half a decade, she was running two shows at once. A Canadian one, with Canadian callers, followed by an American one for American callers to call in with their questions. Sue was explaining sex North America wide, and couldn't be happier doing it. It's like a mindset I've always had, you never know if somethings going to work unless you try it. After 17 years on television though, things came to an end. New rules were implemented stating certain guidelines for what can be aired at certain hours, bumping Sue's show back many time slots. Unfortunately, her whole crew was volunteer and had other jobs to consider. A good thing came to and end, and she misses it terribly, more so, she misses the people she spent nearly two decades working with. I guess you never really think of things like that when a show ends.

     I had to ask, "what were some of the things talk about most." Sue told me it all depended on age. For young boys, it was how to make their penis longer. For girls, either how to make their boobs larger or smaller. For women? Well, Sue just told "us women should receive an Academy Award for how dramatic we made our orgasms seem. They were cataclysmic, well at least that's what the men thought." So essentially, how to reach that better orgasm. She told me though today the emphasis is on intimacy and emotion (from both sexes), something she's very glad to hear. Two things I learned from Sue, that quite frankly are two of the most amazing things about her, I didn't find online. I would love to share them.

     In season six of Sue's show, she introduced Dr. Keith Loukes to answer questions from homosexual viewers, an amazing addition in my opinion. She informed me if sex wasn't getting enough sex, homosexual sex was getting even less, so she was happy to include it. But the thing that touched me the most was a story she told me about her time during the AIDS epidemic. She knew many affected, and took them in to stay at her cottage where she was able to provide full care to them, whenever they may be in need. She told me she was a nurse, it was the least she could do. I think it's inspiring. Another thing she did was amazing in my opinion, and that was speaking in jails. In a complete volunteer role, she spoke at anywhere from Don Jail in Toronto to Kingston Penitentiary to groups of prisoners, explaining sex. To her, she say groups of uneducated men who really never learned the true, meaningful role of sex. Sue told me "those boys were so poliete to me, and I never had an issue. They always had great questions, and I was glad to answer." Sue saw people, as people. That's whats great about her. After her years of sexual education, Sue Johanson was awarded the Order of Canada in 2001 by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, an honour that meant the world to her.

Sue explains, retrieved from
http://gnt.globo.com/gsat-images-web/fckeditor/image/350-sue-johanson.jpg

     But wait!! This is Sue Johanson we're talking about. We can't leave without something no-boundaries sexual. I asked Sue if their was anything that ever made her uncomfortable, and she replied no... but there was one question that sticks out, that when asked, she had to try as hard as possible to hold in her laughter. When I asked what it was, I couldn't hold mine in...

     "Well, it was this 80 year old lady who phoned in. She asked me, 'Sue, what's the best way to give my husband good head with my fake teeth in.'" 

     Yup, that's Sue Johanson for you. 

Sue leaving nothing to the imagination, retrieved from

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3493/3195236181_5b66589792_z.jpg

      

Josh Tiessen- Hanging Out with an Art Prodigy

     Back in June, 1995, I would of been a strapping almost one year old exploring my home down in London, Ontario, Canada. While I was discovering all I could on this continent, Josh Tiessen was born thousands of miles away, in Russia. How ever slim the chances may of seemed at that time, just over eighteen years later, both of us still only teenagers, we managed to meet up with each other at The Josh Tiessen Studio Gallery, in Stoney Creek, Ontario. We had the chance to talk about the adventure his life has been so far, and the one mine has been over the past ten months or so. Before we managed to sit down for an interview, Josh (such a polite guy...) asked how I had heard of him. Well, that in itself is a pretty funny story.

     This may sound like a really high-aiming dream, but it's one I've sort of always had. I've always wanted to have the title of “Top 20 Under 20”. You may of heard of the title before, (maybe a top under 30 or 40), but it's a pretty simple one to understand if you haven't. Pretty much, you've excelled in relation to others your age in a variety of possible fields, be it science, charity, the arts, or business, among many other options. I was bored one fine evening, and quite frankly decided to look at “my competition”, or what I was up against. It was Josh's write up that caught my eye right away, and it was for a pretty random reason that I was drawn to it. His bow tie. He had a massive bow tie on, and I thought it was absolutely amazing. It reminded me of Bill Nye the Science Guy for some reason. I figured I may as well look into this guy, after all, one of my dreams was always to go into art history when I'm older. His work I saw on his website was amazing, I decided I would try to meet him. An email was sent, an email received, and I was invited down.

Nice sign, Josh! Photo by Victoria Alexander

     When I arrived at the gallery in Stoney Creek, I faced an odd problem. I had no idea how to get into the place. I did what I thought was the best idea, and called the phone number at the end of his emails to see what I should do. I was surprised when it wasn't him who answered, but his dad. I'd never had to deal with the parents of people I've interviewed, but then again, I'd never interviewed someone my age. The phone was passed to Josh, and laughing, he went to the window and pointed my way in. What a way to first meet. After meeting Mrs Tiessen and looking at some amazing art done by Josh, I sat down in a very comfy armchair, and, well, you know the story of what he first asked me, how I knew him. But my first question for him was completely different. I was really curious about him being born in Russia, and asked if his family was of Russian descent. Nope. His parents were professors there, while at the same time doing some humanitarian type work based out of the city Krasnodar, if I heard him right, by the Black Sea.

     Josh stayed in Russia until the age of six, back when I was strapping seven year old, but while I was making my way through life at Bonaventure Public School, it was in Russia that a certain Russian nanny started noticing something in the young Josh, he was enraptured in art. She held up stuffed animals and would teach the young artist lessons on perspective and dimensions, with his parents smiling to the side, I would take the nanny's lessons with a bit of a smile too, Josh was only a young boy after all. By this time in my life, I had already won a Tim Hortons art contest for colouring really, really well in the lines. I won ten dollars, so take that Josh.

     Josh then left Russia to settle down about two hours from where I was, but again, what are the chances we would meet? Around the age of ten, I moved to the country-esque community of Ingersoll, Ontario, the place I would call home until university. Josh on the other hand joined a youth club, sort of like an after school program. While doodling on a name tag, he was noticed by a local artist by the name of Valarie Jones, who felt that Josh may of had some special talents. She asked the Tiessen family if there would be any interest in her mentoring Josh for a bit after school, once a week, so she could pass on some of her knowledge to the young artist. They agreed, and since Josh was home-schooled, there was some freedom in his schedule. It worked out perfectly. She would never touch his work, only teach some side lessons or give one or two words of advice along the way. During this time, he was introduced to acrylic paint and canvas, the medium he would stick to for the rest of his career.

Josh Tiessen and his art, by Victoria Alexander

      So, as I said, I've always had a huge interest in art history. I'm a big fan of some of the artists who rose to prominence in the French Revolution such as Jacques-Louis David and Eugène Delacroix, and I've been blessed enough to see some of both of their works in person at the Louvre, in Paris. But this is about Josh, so I thought it best to ask who some of his inspirations were. I was happy to hear Canadian painter Robert Bateman was up there on his list, because I knew that those two have had the chance to work together. When Josh would visit his grandfather, he would flick through a book of Bateman paintings that was kept on the coffee table there. With these in mind, Josh himself would work on nature paintings. Then, some started telling him that his work even reminded them of Bateman's. Well, as Josh told me, it could of just been family and friends saying that to make him feel good. Regardless, he took their advice and sent an email to Bateman, with some of his work attached. Not only did he received a reply, he also received an invitation. The famed painter invited Josh, only 15 at the time, to British Colombia for a week to study under him. It was what Josh called “an amazing experience”, and I bet it was! He had his work critiqued, and some pointers or advice given. One of them being that Josh should be upping his price for his work. Well, when someone like Bateman tells you that, you should probably listen.

     Now, I've had many crazy job aspirations over the years, but I think Josh had me beat. He had two, a painter, or a NBA player. After his first art exhibit though, he realized maybe art was the route for him, and “looking back at [my] chances at the NBA, for a short, white kid, well, they were next to zero.” His first show, arranged by Valarie but prepared by Josh, was a success. It was at the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington, and the first painting sold was surprisingly to a nurse, someone he didn't even know. That, Josh told me, made it seem all the better.

     I mean, I feel that the hospital show would be amazing. But sometime afterwards, Josh heard of an online contest for young artists. You were to submit an image of a piece of art online, and try to earn as much votes as possible. The top-voted pieces would be judged, and the three winners after judging would be put on display at the National Art Gallery of Canada. Josh, highly surprised, told me that he had been one of the paintings displayed, one of the greatest experiences he's had. CBC picked up on this, and reported about the winners. But another media source would help propel Josh's career, without really knowing it. That was the Huffington Post, with their article “10 Art Prodigies You Should Know” published July 27^th, 2012. Josh, and some of his work, was listed in the article, but Josh had never referred to himself by the title “prodigy”. For those that may not know a prodigy, under one definition, is “a person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional abilities”, which could be anywhere from music to math, or, of course, in art.

     The Tiessen family received a phone call from a professor researching prodigies who said she was based down in Ohio State University. She called to say she believed Josh was in fact an art prodigy, and wanted to come down to do some tests to find out for sure. After checking out her credentials, they invited her up and, as Josh told me, he's not really sure how, but in her time here she deduced that he was in fact a prodigy in art. But not just that, it was also deduced that he brother, a year younger than Josh, who excelled in music, was a music prodigy. He felt sort of weird having the title, but it did help spread his name as an artist, so it had it's benefits. Now him and his brother, Zac, are part of a study of 24 prodigies to track down just where some of these skills may have come from.

Josh and I chatting in the studio gallery (Mr Tiessen in background!)

Photo by Victoria Alexander

     Josh and I only had a short time together, but I had to ask one massive question before I left. See, I can't sit still for more than five minutes unless I have music playing (right now it's Young Forever by Jay Z feat. Mr Hudson), and I had to know, does Josh listen to music while painting? I would hope so! He paints about 8-10 hours a day, I would need at least something. He laughed and said of course he does, he loves it. Before he thought it would be a distraction, but now it helps block out all the little outside noises of a house, which I fully understand. But then, he one-upped me. He also occasionally listens to books, debates or lectures. Now that's dedication. It ranges from lectures to electronic pop, fair enough I guess.

     Next week, Josh will be down in Arizona for his first ever international art show, the the Tempe Center of Arts are part of the International Guild of Realism, in which he's their youngest member. That's pretty impressive in my books. It was great driving down and meeting Josh, and even cooler when he brought up the fact that he read my interviews before me coming, made me glad to hear.

Ever polite, as we were leaving, Josh apologized for realizing he wasn't wearing any socks (it's your house man, no worries), and laughed about what his mom called his duck feet. I know it may be random to add that last part, but I mean, those NBA teams may want to know about that before scouting the only known male art prodigy in North America, Josh Tiessen.

Josh and I in front of "Glimmer of Hope"

Photo by Victoria Alexander

     If you would be interested in seeing some of Josh's work... check out his website: http://www.joshtiessen.com/! 

Of Gentlemen and Cowards pt. 2- Road to David Letterman

      The room around me was pretty empty, furniture wise at least. I was sitting on a questionable stool, with my photographer, Victoria, to my left. To my right, sitting on an amplifier, was Simon Edwards, singer in the band Of Gentlemen and Cowards. Across from me sat Josh Dawson, bass player for the band, and to the right of Josh sat Christian Fedele, guitar player. We all just finished laughing about how strange the band coming together was, but we were only started on their adventure. A group of four guys meeting at McMaster University (drummer Jake Warren was at work) and making it all the way to performing on the David Letterman show to millions, the start of a journey that's only just beginning.

     Although I'm writing this post weeks later, listening to music played on speakers by my roommate, I feel like my time with the boys down in Hamilton was only the other day. By about five minutes into our casual interview, I decided from now on I wouldn't question an interview opinion from Victoria again, these guys were awesome. Since then, she's suggested two other interviews that I should consider, needless to say, a certain Rob and Olivia are being planned now. Anyway, the band.

     Since Josh, at first, was the odd one out, it took a short while for them to reach the level of comfort their at now. Josh and Simon I was told became (in a short while) best friends and worst enemies. I understand what he meant right away, I can name some of those for sure. Josh and Christian right away bonded over shared musical interests, where as Jake and Josh took a bit longer to form a bond. They decided make a big decision right away, something that I would think would be a challenge for a newly formed unit. It was a decision that in a way seems really obvious, but at the same time one I never considered a band taking the time to do. They had to decide the future, and see if each of them had the same idea of an “end goal”. Where the wanted the band to end up and a unit, and how much work needed to be put in to reach their goal. They told me that they all had the same goal in mind. They decided Of Gentlemen and Cowards were going to be the next The Beatles.

     Okay, so that was followed by laughter as well, from all five of us there. Obviously that wasn't a reasonable goal, or one that they have ever seriously considered. But they all agreed that if they could be musicians full time, as in earn enough money from their shows to support a life for themselves, then they would be happy. After a short few weeks of practice came January 21^st, 2011. Their first show. There was about eight people present, and it wasn't really their best. Simon dedicated a special number to his girlfriend, with a chair pulled up to her and everything. I was told they still poke fun at him for it, so, sorry Simon, had to bring it up for the other three guys.

     After that, they decided that the only reasonably thing to do was to go all out and get their name known no matter what. Between January and March they spent about $100.00 to record five songs and get the EP out like crazy. They laugh at the fact that this was their cheapest recording but their one with the most copies distributed. Man, the music industry can be a cruel. On March 5^th, after their album boom, they played a show and sold about 150 tickets, packing the place. They looked at all the faces and knew something then. It was official, they were rock stars.

Josh (left) and Simon (right) performing at Supercrawl

Photo by Victoria Alexander

     Fast forward a few months. To a show in Ottawa, with the boys ready to kick off another concert on their first tour. Some shows had an okay amount of people, then there was this show. They paid the bar owner some money to ensure that their was no cover fee for those who came to the show. They spent the whole day advertising and getting their name out, and were excited at the interest people showed. It was time to begin, and the boys were about to play their first note to the crowd. But, there was no crowd.

      Not a single person showed up.

     Who would of expected that this moment, one that would personally crush me, would be one that would help pave their future? Well, it did. It was their musical epiphany. This wasn't going to be easy, there were going to be challenges and difficulties along the way. A thing they said once or twice before meant something more in that moment than it ever had or would before. No matter how many people were in the crowd, zero in Ottawa or millions watching on Letterman over a year later, they were only ever playing for four. Simon, Jake, Josh and Christian. They played to, and for, each other that night.

     The tour ended and they made their way back to McMaster. Chris, the sociology student who doubled as a sales manager at bootlegger, Josh who was in classical music as well as his job as a barista and baker, Simon, the engineering student who did research for the university, and Jake in his sociology program were back to their hometown. Back to their busy lives. They had to plan as much practice as they could around their education (they're all serious about their academics, and school is a high priority) and their work (they're university students after all, money was essential). Simon planned their master schedule, and social life took a hit, but one thing was different... they were playing shows (even better news... people were there!). Being in school helped form a solid and supportive fan base, allowing them to play formals, coffee houses, and even formal events all the way up to their university president. Things were looking up. That was when Josh heard about the contest that would lead to the bands biggest achievement to date.

Every band needs that one cover. (L to R): Josh, Simon, Jake and Christian.

Photo used with permission of Simon Edwards.

     As Josh described it, “I was on a site that gives bands opportunities to submit stuff.” Thanks Josh, elaborate. One contest he entered was related to a lower-budget movie called simply “We Made This Movie”. If your song received the most votes, it would be in the background of one scene. It was called the “Red Bull Sound Stage Choice Competition”. There were about 2000 to 3000 applicants, so he really had no care about the results. In the very fine print there was a memo, the winner would perform on their song The David Letterman Show. Still, it wasn't something Josh noticed. The band was really busy at the time, so they decided not asked people for votes. As one could guess, there weren't chosen by number of votes, and their slight chance was over. Then, they got an email.

     The producers of the movie had their twenty songs picked, but they also decided to choose another four songs from the entries to be in the movie as well, out of the remaining songs that were unsuccessfully voted in. Among them, the Of Gentlemen and Cowards song (one of my personal favourites) Save Me. That wasn't all, the boys found out they now had a one in twenty-four chance of a trip to New York. Now their thought processes changed. They had to be on Letterman.

     They took off with their voting plee to their collection of fans, Simon even taking time off work to be able to Facebook message anyone he could. Trying to be as successful as possible, they named their voting plee “Get McMaster on Letterman”. It was now up to their fellow university students to help them win their contest anyway they could. Tweets went out and statuses shared. They became stressed, under-slept, and cranky.

     They were in first, then fell to second. It was back and forth fighting for the last few days of the contest. Desperate times called for desperate measures, they reached out to celebrities via Twitter. It was the last thought they had as a last ditch effort. In the last twenty minutes of voting, they received a tweet from Dallas Green telling people to vote for them. They then received retweets from champion hockey player Hayley Wickenhesier and television host George Stroumboulopoulos. They thought they were in first, after not checking for a while, with twenty minutes to go. But within those twenty minutes of the contest remaining, the website for voting went down. They didn't see who was in first, they had no idea if they made it or not. An email was received.

     The winner would be announced in four days.

A photo of the boys meeting Letterman, courtesy of Simon Edwards.

     It's hard to draw the suspense out when I told you earlier that they did in fact have the chance to play at Letterman, but I tried, hope you it was thoroughly suspenseful! They won! They were going to perform on Letterman!

     They were flown down to New York and escorted around in shiny black escalades. They were rock stars after all! This was their second musical epiphany as a band. Their fans came together and helped them win an amazing opportunity. Their fans. Maybe they could make it after all.

     The boys think they broke a record, “the only band to grace the Ed Sullivan theatre with less than 1000 Facebook likes, or even a manager.” Walking in, and during sound check (during which they had the chance to jam with Paul Shaffer, leader of “The World's Most Dangerous Band”, providing the music for the Letterman show since 1982. As they were about to walk on stage, they looked at their Facebook page.            They made it, their 1000^th “like” on the page.

     Ya. These guys were rock stars.

     With excitement, they reminded each other their motto. No matter who was watching, they were playing to four. They were playing to Simon, Josh, Jake and Christian.

     They saw their cue, and made it to the stage.

     Months later, I said goodbye to the guys, with the plan that we would keep in touch. Weeks later, I'm here finishing up their interview. On my iPod, I have a song playing called “Save Me” by a group of four guys from Hamilton, Ontario. A group of four guys who randomly met at McMaster University with big hopes. A song played live on the David Letterman show.

     Believe it or not, as much as Letterman was amazing, another part of their collective journey stuck out as a highlight. A certain type of fan. One who wasn't one of their friends, one who wasn't family or even a friend of a friend. Their highlight were the fans who were actual fans. Ones who gave them the time of day, the applaud and the cheer solely for the sake of musical merit.

      I found out Victoria was one of the first such people, and I'm glad she helped me get the chance to meet the four guys from Hamilton. The soon to be bigger than The-Beatles, Of Gentlemen and Cowards.

With the band. Hopefully we meet again!

Photo by Victoria Alexander