The Order of St. George & Becoming a Dame - Part 1 of 2

The Order of St. George & Becoming a Dame - Part 1 of 2<br /> <br /> On September 29th, I along with 31 others became Chevaliers in the Order of St. George.<br /> The Investiture Ceremony took place at Kingston Ontario's St. George's Cathedral.<br /> <h3> How I came to be invested into the Order</h3> I was sponsored into the order by Allan Plett who is the Ops Manager for 3 C.A.V. (Canadian Army  Veterans Motorcycle Units). I have been an honorary member since 6 months after C.A.V. started about 16 years ago. As a member of the media I don't officially pay dues with any riding club.<br /> <br /> I do however wear their crest proudly as a supporter member. <br /> <br /> Both my mom and dad served and I was born on the Armed Forces Base Churchill Manitoba.<br /> My now deceased brother, Jim was born in Downsview Ontario and had been a cadet who got his glider pilots wings.<br /> <br /> I myself applied to join the military, I took my medical, wrote my exams and waited for two years.<br /> There was a hiring moratorium on at the time and when I got my call to basic training the day I was getting ready to leave for California, I chose California. I ended up getting to work on jet engines and learning anyway.<br /> <br /> I admire our military. The Canadian Military is filled with a lot of very noble people, doing work that most of us don't have the courage or the will to do. Most of these people answer a call to service that starts in their soul.<br /> <br /> It has its ugly side, but that happens in every organization.  Look around you and you'll know what I mean. Religious leaders doing heinous things, police officers sometimes not much better, doctors and nurses who violate trust...and they make it very hard for those who answer those callings that are pure of heart and truly pushing forward good things.  It happens in the soccer mom community, the football dad community, it happens in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, it's the human condition.<br /> <br /> As organizations go, the Canadian Military is an organization that I have dedicated a lot of my effort and time to supporting because while imperfect (such as the human condition is), it's an organization that for the most part is filed with noble, honourable people of their word.<br /> <br /> I lived first hand the devestating results of military spouses, one with what we now call PTSD from physical and mental abuse and trauma as a kid, and the other who was a pugalist, and also suffered from trauma in his youth.<br /> <br /> Unlike the veterans and Silver Cross families and cadets that I work to support today, I am a civilian and therefore as a rape, physical and mental abuse trauma survivor, supports are not as accessible. At least there are supports available to our veterans and their families as a group, and even if not perfect they sure are evolving in a hurry.  As a civilian, you fall through the cracks and when you live in a city like Grande Prairie, where doctors are here in order to qualify for citizenship, and you lose your doctor when they move to Calgary or Edmonton, it can take as many as 15 years to get another one.<br /> Just ask me. I know our city is working on it, but it's tough to get skilled doctors to live in this cold but beautiful place.<br /> <br /> Dealing with the challenges, the triggers, on your own can be difficult, but working with veterans, talking to them, becoming friends with them, you learn from them various coping methods and you grow, evolve.  Homeless veterans and people like me, well we have something in common, we are all but unidentifiable for outreach to get help. We are virtually faceless.  But together we help each other.<br /> <br /> Sorry for being a little long winded; I guess I could have just said I identify with them, but you wouldn't have any understanding as to why.<br /> <br /> When I was sponsored into the Order of St. George, I had to provide my CV, outline the charitable work I have done, have that vetted and then my application had to go to the board for approval.<br /> It was an interesting process that took the better part of a year. <br /> <h3> Getting Ready for the Investiture</h3> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW77l8qrE96PPK7p0nGM1DGumVJR2k-YqK2WHLEWF63Q7nSASUyWIpKeB6E8E5uUUQk0keRiokUPtglsv8_5YxqMn74EPY5XWTHtD9h9plM_LRu2F2GTJrvcmu1vO2BjalrxHK/s1600/IMG_1232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW77l8qrE96PPK7p0nGM1DGumVJR2k-YqK2WHLEWF63Q7nSASUyWIpKeB6E8E5uUUQk0keRiokUPtglsv8_5YxqMn74EPY5XWTHtD9h9plM_LRu2F2GTJrvcmu1vO2BjalrxHK/s320/IMG_1232.JPG" width="320" /></a>I needed a gown for the gala after the ceremony and was talking to my friend Kim Newberry, a <br /> Camrose Alberta Cadet mom whose cadet corps I have sponsored for various things, about this dilemma, I had no idea where to even start and wanted some advice.<br /> <br /> Kim recommended a place called <a href="http://tishsfashions.com/" target="_blank">Tish's Fashion and Finery</a>. <br /> I was told this was a woman's fashion boutique with a selection that would blow your mind and she got me a fitting appointment for the morning of the Run to the Hills Rally in Two Hills since I'd be in the area already!<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgyirYhURtsMAJNDVFnDsuh_ja5oMAqa-59P3VTak20dIBz1wvMi8d5sSZYpAGbZkXJa6UDcI_G_9UDJSfePGVY-SVoyXrFqsj5yw3QaY5yPUeNN81TpNeUkdiVDs0-SKZ05q/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgyirYhURtsMAJNDVFnDsuh_ja5oMAqa-59P3VTak20dIBz1wvMi8d5sSZYpAGbZkXJa6UDcI_G_9UDJSfePGVY-SVoyXrFqsj5yw3QaY5yPUeNN81TpNeUkdiVDs0-SKZ05q/s200/IMG_0166.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6VDraXgxR8pFLbzDpYROZ2GYapGXGFkVwSeKnujd68Uv5URmNd603vSTLZrXAM5L2xkNudMek7hqxyrhVtOqCRtcv55v6pzzvwa695qX92Z-1Ltk4NqOqlGSnqpvSQUqWu_F/s1600/IMG_4156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6VDraXgxR8pFLbzDpYROZ2GYapGXGFkVwSeKnujd68Uv5URmNd603vSTLZrXAM5L2xkNudMek7hqxyrhVtOqCRtcv55v6pzzvwa695qX92Z-1Ltk4NqOqlGSnqpvSQUqWu_F/s200/IMG_4156.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMnNY0MJlJyLFVCzQSUFYPbm28yf_7JaKufdrS1SXBQwnuHkzsNjKOfN7zi7yQAC9rVOzZQM4mym7ehvdxE7lBTZ9rdScZCRHrMLcyFaR497uwd79oij92IMtpd18EPphkTbx/s1600/IMG_0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMnNY0MJlJyLFVCzQSUFYPbm28yf_7JaKufdrS1SXBQwnuHkzsNjKOfN7zi7yQAC9rVOzZQM4mym7ehvdxE7lBTZ9rdScZCRHrMLcyFaR497uwd79oij92IMtpd18EPphkTbx/s200/IMG_0610.JPG" width="150" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr8n2K9H_DhVZmGoLYtNI4O3jMIFF4RmrnonSdwlumjn1ubTWw6WPwMhkzr8WEaRQ8ARwz-DIAjYJ2LLOp-h2CWLjc0CQDea6skY5sGo2HM3lrU6HCF2ZoOvPYU_yaAC-ed8C/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr8n2K9H_DhVZmGoLYtNI4O3jMIFF4RmrnonSdwlumjn1ubTWw6WPwMhkzr8WEaRQ8ARwz-DIAjYJ2LLOp-h2CWLjc0CQDea6skY5sGo2HM3lrU6HCF2ZoOvPYU_yaAC-ed8C/s320/IMG_0649.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <br /> The sales lady I dealt with was named Donna, and she was the most patient, kind hearted person inthe world.  I haven't worn a dress other than to the odd Christmas party or funerals in the last 25 years since I quit modelling for part of my living. I had NO clue what would look good on me. She let me try on 7 or 8 dresses, all were beautiful but....<br /> <br /> She served me coffee, chatted with me about the event and made sure to help me select dresses that would wow and while all of them were spectacular....when friends and family saw me in the dress that I ultimately chose, their comments had me blushing. <br /> <br /> <b>And then you could have knocked me over with a feather when I was told the dress was a gift from Tish for the volunteer work I do for the cadets and veterans. </b><br /> <br /> Apparently this is something Tish does frequently. She picks out someone that she sees needs/deserves to feel beautiful and she helps make that happen.<br /> <br /> So ladies, if you find yourself needing something to make you feel fabulous, may I recommend a dress from <a href="http://tishsfashions.com/" target="_blank">Tish's Fashion and Finery</a> in Camrose Alberta!<br /> <br /> <b>Suffice it to say, that not only did I feel special, I felt beautiful.</b><br /> <br /> After the gown, I needed to go purchase some dress clothes as we postulants would have 3 functions to get through before the gala and the gown!<br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa90Pd2v2N84sBhfS6_56mmu7Re4GZaF6Wx8o_2HHUqnDJvqDHog5ZazyAxB82mZ2s4lOsc1OLmmR9CKibtZEW3Vj74KXEoSlfquQThP7UVxKuRpwUY7YrBfTdxoRLoEJfHVB/s1600/IMG_9240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa90Pd2v2N84sBhfS6_56mmu7Re4GZaF6Wx8o_2HHUqnDJvqDHog5ZazyAxB82mZ2s4lOsc1OLmmR9CKibtZEW3Vj74KXEoSlfquQThP7UVxKuRpwUY7YrBfTdxoRLoEJfHVB/s400/IMG_9240.JPG" width="300" /></a>It was a whirlwind time filled with learning about the Order in Canada which was brought here in 2003 by the Grande Master Gareth Green. The Order of St George has been around since 1326.<br /> <br /> When it started here in Canada it was largely ceremonial but now the Order of St George in Canada is a working Knighthood that supports our military, veterans, cadets and many programs that support our youth.<br /> <br /> To learn more about the Order of St. George and the Foundation visit: <a href="http://www.orderstgeorge.ca/">www.orderstgeorge.ca</a><br /> <br /> Next time, photos and videos from the meet n greet, the ceremony, dinner and my thoughts on being a part of this organization.<br /> <br /> Until then, if you are blessed to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you,<br /> <br /> Renee "Belt Drive Betty" Charbonneau<br /> Editor & Rider and Dame in the Order of St. George.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

The Order of St. George & Becoming a Dame - Part 1 of 2

The Order of St. George & Becoming a Dame - Part 1 of 2 On September 29th, I along with 31 others became Chevaliers in the Order of St...

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Meet in Marathon for Wish of A Lifetime

In 2005 Wayne Brand, a Marathon Ontario rider, crashed his motorcycle with his step daughter on the back. She suffered some pretty bad injuries and went through some surgeries, but for the most part, she's doing well these days.<br /> <br /> Wayne on the other hand struggles with partial paralysis, short term memory loss (although his long term memory is crystal clear) and was moved into long term care in the Marathon Hospital a number of years ago.<br /> <br /> I was contacted in mid August by an organization called <a href="https://wishofalifetime.ca/" target="_blank">Wish of A Lifetime Canada</a>. They have an American parent office in Colorado for their US wishes and a Canadian branch in Toronto for Canadian wishes.<br /> <br /> They had been Google searching motorcycling to see if they could find a partner that could help make a Senior's wish come true. (Wish of A Lifetime has a group of employees who support making wishes for Seniors com true.) Our seniors are more and more isolated, often times they have little or no family close by, and therefore very little socialization. The mission of Wish of A Lifetime is to enrich the lives of seniors by reconnecting them with others of like mind  and their own passions, helping get them out of the house, out of the hospital and helping them regain that sense of purpose, of life force, helping to enjoy life again.<br /> <br /> Shannon, the co-ordinator I was to end up working with explained Wayne Brand's story to me and asked if I thought I could help them. <br /> <br /> I said "No, I don't think I can, I know I can."<br /> <br /> I asked Shannon to give me 4 hours, and after a number of phone calls, I had John and Jean Rose of the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Marathon-Royal-Canadian-Legion-Br-183-111816785570804/" target="_blank"> Marathon Legion </a>(both avid riders) willing to help us in the task of hosting a poker run.<br /> Turns out that Wayne is a member of their Legion.  They also found a gent with a side car, and because of an engine failure,  <a href="https://www.excaliburmotorcycle.com/" target="_blank">Excalibur Motorcycle Works Ltd. </a>in Thunder Bay sent a complete stranger out on his Ural side car to ensure Wayne would go to his party in style!<br /> <br /> I also had the help, guidance and support of Ted, Jessica and the whole crew at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tbharleydavidson/" target="_blank">Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson.</a><br /> <br /> I went back to Shannon with what had been accomplished in the course of an afternoon and she was thrilled.  Over the next few weeks, Jean and John Rose of the Marathon Legion worked their CANS off, getting the word out to the regional riders, all of the Legions on the route and getting a penny auction and BBQ set up for the day of the event, September 22nd, 2018.<br /> <br /> I created posters, reached out to riders and Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson reached out and printed posters.<br /> <br /> I flew into Thunder Bay on the 21st of September and friends from the Superior Riders, Dave and Violet Alderdice who live in Kakabeka Falls just outside of T-Bay,  agreed to pick me up, put me up and put up with me for the next three days!<br /> <br /> It was so good to reconnect with these two, I gotta tell you I love them big time! They are just the sweetest, kindest people in the world.<br /> <br /> Anyway, on Friday I was apparently supposed to join the HOG chapter for lunch, but I misread the email and thought it was for dinner time, so we headed in to pick up the motorcycle I was to be riding and I found out I had let the HOG Chapter down. <br /> <br /> I felt like crap.  Ted and his girlfriend decided we'd make up for the missed meal by going out to a local hotel for a meal with myself and Dave and Vi. <br /> <br /> The weather in Thunder Bay was turning cold and rain was forecast for the day of the event. Sigh, Mother Nature has played havoc with a whole lot of fundraiser this season. I had gotten Dave to take me to Canadian Tire BEFORE I had picked up the Sport Glide (A FUN little bike) where I proceeded to buy $35 worth of Hot Shots for my feet, hands and core.<br /> <br /> GOOD THING I DID.<br /> <br /> We got up bright and early on Saturday, and I headed into the dealership so I could get some interviews done. Dave and Vi would ride in on their Goldwing a little later.<br /> <br /> I interviewed Jim, the gent who made sure that the Sport Glide I was going to be riding was good to go...he's quite the character, I gotta tell you!<br /> <br /> I also interviewed Katie and Ted for Facebook Live.  In spite of the cold weather, and it was cold 4 degrees, we still had 10 bikes show.  Ted the owner decided that with all his obligations, he'd be better off driving the chase vehicle and he let me ride his Road Glide,  a 2018 with 5,800 K on it...OH I WANT ONE....so bad....what a gorgeous machine.<br /> <br /> Anyway, we headed out knowing that e were stopping every hour and we road literally, one hour at a time.  When we got into Nipigon, our first stop, the smell of home made perogies fried onions was the smell that assailed us. I had to buy a dozen to take back to Dave and Vi's to add to dinner on Sunday!<br /> <br /> The Nipigon Legion pulled out all the stops! Donuts, coffee and hugs, lots of hugs.<br /> <br /> It was cold and over cast, but I think we all felt the same, it was worth it to be cold, we were looking forward to making a man's day...We pulled into Schriber to be met by at least another 15 bikes!  Again, the Legion was warm and inviting with free coffee!<br /> <br /> The pack headed out to the Marathon Hospital, there Jean and John had arranged for a side car to meet us there and we planned on bringing Wayne to the Marathon Legion in the side car.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> Wow, all I can say is Wow.  The emotions were so high, so raw, so grateful - the smile on Wayne's face, the tears in his wife Barb's eyes.  As a matter of fact I don't think that anyone had a dry eye.<br /> <br /> Once at the Legion, there were BBQ'ed burgers and hot dogs, French fries and beverages. All free to the rider.<br /> <br /> I interviewed John and Jean and some of the riders who participated and then I got to interview Wayne and Barb.<br /> <br /> Wayne's words sum this day up the best....Watch this short video of the day<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b51Oj9doVtI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b51Oj9doVtI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div> <br /> I wanted to stay overnight as had been originally planned and take in the band and the rest of the festivities, but the forecast for rain and howling winds was even worse for Sunday than they were for Saturday night and so back the Thunder Bay we went, and freeze, OMG I haven't been that cold and wet in a long time.<br /> <br /> Thank goodness for the Hot Shots which I shared freely.  We made it back in one piece, soaked through the rain gear, and frozen to the bone, but we did it.<br /> <br /> It was such an honour to be a part of Wayne's wish coming true and I just hope and pray that now that the community knows this man misses them, that they remember to stop in and spend some time with him.<br /> <br /> I can't thank Thunder Bay Harley-Davidson: Ted, Jessica, Jim, Katie and the gang, the great folks from the Marathon Legion: Jean and John for all their hard work to bring the other Legions on board and to set up the BBQ, the Penny Auction etc...<br /> <br /> Because of their efforts and the support of the Northwestern Ontario Motorcycle Community a local man won $600 on the poker run and just over $1000 went to Wish of A Lifetime Canada to help more Canadian Seniors get a wish...<br /> <br /> WHAT AN HONOUR - thank  you Wish of A Lifetime Canada for Reaching out to me!<br /> <br /> Belt Drive Betty,<br /> Editor & Rider<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> To see other photos from this event, visit our Canadian Motorcycle Events Pages on Facebook:<br /> <br /> <b>Erins Photos: </b>https://www.facebook.com/pg/CanadianMotorcycleEvents/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1414952151982344<br /> <br /> <b>Michael Beno's Photos: </b>https://www.facebook.com/pg/CanadianMotorcycleEvents/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1414950801982479<br /> <br /> <b>Dave Alderdice's Photos: </b>https://www.facebook.com/pg/CanadianMotorcycleEvents/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1414948961982663<br /> <br /> <b>Jerome's Photos: </b>https://www.facebook.com/pg/CanadianMotorcycleEvents/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1414947308649495<br /> <br /> <b>My Photos: </b>https://www.facebook.com/pg/CanadianMotorcycleEvents/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1414938245317068<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Meet in Marathon for Wish of A Lifetime

In 2005 Wayne Brand, a Marathon Ontario rider, crashed his motorcycle with his step daughter on the back. She suffered some pretty bad injur...

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