Memory Wall

I picked up this wall-hanger thing for sixteen bucks and used it to display about 75% of my collection of buttons and pins dating from the 1970s to the 2020s. This saves a little bit of closet space and, more importantly, puts the nostalgia out where I can see it.
 

Girl on Memorial

Photograph, 1987

The Spokespeople

That's me on the left, pointing at whoever shot this photo of me and two of my fellow delegates to the 1987 Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa. I can't believe I willingly dressed in a suit for most of this week-long event. Being thin helped. 

Fanning the Flames

Here's another Centennial Flame photo I shot during my trip to Ottawa back in 1987. 

Mr. Woods Goes to Ottawa

Just before graduating from Leduc Composite High School in 1987, I was one of the handful of teens chosen to represent Alberta at the annual Forum for Young Canadians. Since we're going to be sending 308 Members of Parliament to Ottawa on Monday, I thought this would be a fine time to share some of 18-year-old Earl's photos of his journey to the Hill.

Believe it or not, sometimes I wear a suit when I'm forced to. I'm the one pointing an accusatory finger, politician-style.

Sitting in the Prime Minister's chair. At the time, it was officially occupied by Brian Mulroney. Who will fill it come Monday?

And here I am in the Speaker's throne. It will be interesting to see who replaces the respected Peter Milliken.

Rideau Canal at night...

...and in the daylight.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be Prime Minister. Nowadays I think, "Who in their right mind would want this job?" Come to think of it, what kind of teenager chooses "politician" as a career, anyway? A bit of a step down from "astronaut," my first choice.

The US embassy.

With my roommates from Atlantic Canada.

Our group.

The Museum of Civilization, not yet open for visitors.

The house on the hill. On Monday, we get to choose who works there. Remember to vote!

The Day I Sat in the Prime Minister's Chair

Just before graduating from high school, I was one of a few students from across the country chosen to participate in the Forum for Young Canadians. Thanks to the generosity of my parents and Leduc Composite High School's student council, I was flown to Ottawa to experience how the federal government works. On May 12, 1987, three or four of us split off from the main tour of Parliament. A friendly guard escorted us into the House of Commons, where I posed for this photo in the Prime Minister's chair. (I posed for another, standing in the Speaker's chair, but I don't have that one scanned.)


I couldn't help but feel awe as I absorbed the atmosphere and gazed at all the empty chairs around me. In a few hours, those seats would be filled by people discussing issues affecting millions of citizens. They'd argue and shake their fists and sometimes turn purple with rage, but as our representatives they'd hash our their differences with words, not violence. This is the great blessing of civilization. Democracy can be ugly, but how much uglier are the alternatives?

At the time I still considered myself a Conservative, though my faith in that particular ideology had been shaken by my experiences as a PC volunteer during the 1986 provincial election. Meeting Brian Mulroney in person  did nothing to bolster my confidence in Tory beliefs.

Even so, I still came out of the experience with enhanced respect for elected officials, whatever their party affiliation. I saw how hard they worked for often dubious rewards, including the scorn of the very people who put them in office. Politicians should, of course, expect such scrutiny; their job demands it. But I feel empathy for those who choose to serve.