Todays’ show is about The Lorraine, a building, #620 and has always been my favourite building in Calgary, I’ve always wanted to live here, only had the opportunity once years ago to visit it and it was…disappointing. BUT this article written by Heidi Klaassen for The Sprawl (an undefended local journalism platform) right here in Calgary wrote the story that I believed and still believe is why I love The lorraine…
Heidi Klaassen is a born and raised Calgary writer of fiction and non-fiction. She works for the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society and her eco-friendly label, Hekkal & Hyde. She lives in Calgary with her husband, sons and rescue chihuahuas.
When I reached out to Heidi about producing this article she’d written, she was thrilled and in turn reached out to The Sprawl for their permission – which they granted. Heidi is an author and is shopping her current novel around for promotion she also belongs to and works at the Alexandra’s Writers’ Centre who support local creative writing through learning and shared experience.
If you’re from the Calgary area and know this building, do you have any stories to share? When I mentioned I was in this building once, I was back in 2015 or so, I was there for a meeting and was so excited. When you enter in the Lobby true to Heidi’s story the floor is black and white checkered tiles, the wood and structure takes your mind back into a fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast with it’s opulent wood work. I was meeting an architect, and was so awe struck that I got to be in The lorraine that I can’t even remember what the meeting was about!
Upon closing I sure hope you loved this story as much as I did and thank you to Heidi for letting me share her story. Heidi has quite the talent, not only does she write – articles like this one, fiction and non-fiction novels but she also runs an incredible eco-friendly artisan bags shop on etsy, these are hand made (they say made by ‘two hands’).. bags, clutches, napkins and more…
I perused her site and found a couple of adorable items
1) reusable snack bag – sandwich bag – hand printed with a rustic heart bag – this bag is shown with fish crackers toppling out of it, a modelled print fabric and is just perfect to slip into your handbag or your kiddo’s lunch price $13.
2) reversible fabric napkins – who doesn’t love a nice cotton napkin, I LOVE them, $48 dollars for a set of six in a variety of of prints and options polka-dots, flowers, abstract so many options to choose from
Well I think I’ve covered my theme in whole EAT – we will take a set of 6 reversible napkins please READ – this tasty article about the lorraine – CREATE as some of you know I love a good sewing project – between these handmade bags, napkins and clutches of Heidi’s we can check off all of the boxes.
Hey everyone it’s Valerie here, for todays episode as we continue to count up to our 100th episode is about a fallen officer, summer camps, this is when I start into the background recordings, my life in signs, a milestone birthday, a podcast winner and more, enjoy todays part 2 of 5 episode…
Episode 21 – Calgary Summer Camps for a 6 yo For all of you parents out there – this is a great go to article pre-covid obviously for summer camps & top pick for our house is….
Episode 23 – Calgary Pay Attention This quick segment is discussing Calgary languages first English, second is…? What language do you speak?
Episode 24 – Calgary History: William (Bill) Shelever 1977 This was a true group project using voices from other people to make this story come alive. Another top post I’m extremely proud of – this falling officer, new baby in his young wife’s tummy & a prisoner in the end who wants conjugal visits.
Episode 25 – behind the Shelever Episode Rookie Cop Shot and how many podcaster voices make this story come to life and where they came from – that made this previous episode happen – such a great collection of talent showcasing an important subject matter.
Episode 26 – Review: Ten, 5 & Humanity A lingering Episode why? Because of a man, down on his luck, with his special orange rock, a vegetarian go to family style restaurant with an even nicer washroom and the kindest act of Humanity!
Episode 27 – Vsquared Promo Take One A great go to for first time listeners, we answer the Why’s, questions about the Calgary weather, Interviews with Wardens, expatriates, crime and being summoned…Anything here sound delicious to listen to check it out!
Episode 28 – Compass? Which Way! UGH are you like me and you have no honing device a fun episode where we talk about internal compass.
Episode 29 – New Podcasts for U Where it’s a series or a story told over a few episodes or something like NPR this is a great list of some of my favs. A small down full of Dicks and serial crime with a little Helen Gimlet uncovered. A great go to for the best podcasts.
Episode 30 – Signs Signs Everywhere is signs My entire career is based on signage and here’s the one project that changed me, the international wing of the Calgary International Airport or the IFP Project.
Episode 31 – Merry Christmas A personal Christmas story about my childhood, with the two side of my family after divorce – made my auntie smile, can you hear the fire place crackling and the people chattering, I can… Merry Christmas from me to U!
Episode 32 – Vegas Baby! A first getaway after becoming parents, a milestone birthday and our 17 Anniversary, a dogs tail remains safe and a 20’ doll comes to life! (Artwork Updated)
Episode 33 – Pure Vietnamese Kitchen I love Vietnamese food, why? Because who doesn’t like a great bowl of soup with the freshest ingredients, this is my families favourite place for Vietnamese!
Episode 34 – Friends What does it mean to have a true friend, trust and loyalty and savouring the moment of this person – Amber!
Episode 35 – Mental Health Podcast Challenge I won an award for this write up, it was true and honest and I believe we all go through bouts of mental health challenges – if you never feel low or sad, you don’t get to enjoy true happiness as you don’t have a comparison!
Episode 37 – Loco Parentis: Student vs Institution In this episode I discuss the role the schools play on behalf of parents – they act as a parent to our children, this is the trust we place on teachers and schools, is this line blurry? (Artwork updated)
Episode 38 – Concrete at The Glenbow A cast cement art piece representing our Calgary, Alberta heritage, oil, wheat, cowboy hat and chinook arch.
Episode 39 – Taxi! This is when I started to play with recording backgrounds and using this in my shows…this was such an interesting conversation with a Taxi Driver from Pakistan and his family story, yes we discuss OBGYNs.
Episode 40 – Activities for Kids & Parents In this episode I talk about group sports with kids and parent as London and I started taking karate together – and boy was this successful.
Episode 41 – Banff Mountain Getaway One thing about me is, I love the mountains, love the sun on my face and the snow all around me, I love to walk in the snow…here’s a trip we took through the mountains of Banff, which is about an hour and a half from where we live, lucky right?
So what did you think about part 2, it’s been amazing to go back and revisit these shows, so much I’ve learned about myself (love the winters) and about this great city that I’ve put down some serious roots. My favourite episode about humanity and the man with his orange rock, the dogs safe tale, our chinooks and more – all links to this shows of course in the show notes along with updated episode artwork.
The next week, it’s a recap of the last 99 shows, an intro to the show, a snippet for each episode and I’m squeezing in 20 shows per episode..If you’ve missed any over the years this will be a great recap. I had so much fun looking back, I’ve remastered these also
Thank you for hanging with me throughout all 99 shows…
Well 2020 has been a year of changes, growing and getting back into my personal growth. It’s been a long year, having been laid off at the end of January 2020, then covid erupting, learning how to be a teacher – can I add this to my resume? Diving into Audio Books as a side gig turned serious gig. EATing – READing and CREATing at every possible turn, with DiY projects – cooking and consuming books veraciously – to keep my sanity.
This has been a year of incredible life marks, that will forever change me and you too likely. Let’s celebrate my 100th show!
So if you’re new this show, thanks for stopping by as this will be a great introduction for you and my style of show…if you’ve been with me from the start, these snippets shall take you back…some 3 years ago.
Todays show is a collection of snippets from my first 20 episodes and the variety that the listeners have come to love, a haunted wedding location, safety, intruder, warden, expatriate, foodies, inventions, investigations and more.
To keep you entertained London my 9 year old daughter will be taking over the microphone and providing you with show titles and details for parts 1 and 2…
Episode 4 – Bowling Anyone? Alarm Clock & Beer Tidbit A great family night of free bowling at Craft Brewery – my 6 yo (at the time) waking by alarm clock – she still isn’t a morning person – and the best beer tidbit slash benefit in beer pouring you could ask for – is in this episode – take a listen (artwork updated)
Episode 5 – Intruder in Mount Pleasant No need for me to even read these show notes, my 6 year old and I caught a burglar in our garage robbing us, stealing our things, sitting in my car…touching my stuff, Take a listen!
Episode 6 – Broadcasting for Corrections INTERVIEW: My first guest is my step-sister Janice and discussing her incredible job in communications, writing and public relations, we get personal about her car accident that took her out of grade 8, our parents meeting and her career involvement.
Episode 7 – Interview with a Warden From the interview in Episode 6 with Janice, this interview is with her fiancé This interview shows the kindness of this warden and even tho the people we are speaking of (they may have something hidden in a hole in their body and not being their ears) are still people, they still matter, maybe what they did was unsavoury but that was their action not their whole character. This was a two part episode.
Episode 8 – Expatriate in Quatar Born in Calgary Well I was at my parents for Christmas so I did a whole slew of interviews and my dad in his quiet ways shared his story about working as an expat overseas, and about being born right here in Calgary – what a lifetime of travel my dad, Michael has conquered. This was a two part episode.
Episode 9 – Calgary Tower vs Wellingstons vs The Keg If you are from Calgary and Western Canada these 3 places are a must stop for food. The as I compare my 3 favourite places…which one do you think comes in at the top? Sky 360, Wellington’s of Calgary or The Keg?
Episode 10 – I’ve been Summoned…have You? I have always wanted to be on jury duty, since my dad was on jury duty when I was in my teens – the victim of his jury duty case was a girl named Valerie…here’s my (almost) story of Jury duty!
Episode 11 – All Hail The Ceasar & Ginger Beef Did you know the Ceasar cocktail made with Worcestershire sauce, vodka and Clamato juice along with Ginger beef – sliced thin ginger beef in a candied ginger coating – were created in Calgary…here’s the deets!
Episode 12 – Q & A between Mom and 6 year old Daughter By far a show that’s gone down in our history as a family, we loved making this episode and have wanted to do more – something that is worth doing with your kids – so hilarious. Also remember at the top of the show – this is where most podcasts flounder – episode 12 and I’m still grooving!
Episode 13 – Thrifty Princess Consignment Interviewing the store owner at the time was so fun! How she got into owning this great consignment store and the haunted happenings within the store itself. Did you know there’s a hole in the dirt wall beneath the store that….take a listen
Episode 14 – Enjoying Summer in Calgary This episode is kind of like an ode to Calgary and what it has to offer up! Village Ice Cream – try the 2 hills Earl Grey – in a back alley with great views to a container market – you cannot miss have having a bulldog at Julio Barrio’s – well used to have one, as this place didn’t make it through Covid!
Episode 15 – Investigating Calgary in the 1970s I was looking for a great story about Calgary so…I went old school and headed to the Library with daughter in tow…I found these two cases which btw are my top two listened podcasts of all time…this episode is the sneak peak on these.
Episode 16 – New Show Music – Auditions – InterView This episode I sort of own this podcasting thing more & more…first my professional produced music by a local Artist Jason Schnell (he’s also my hubby’s cousin) then I audition for a drama production called Girl in space – received the nicest rejection letter & I narrate for a another podcast called Forgotten News – stories from Long ago I’m a guest on another Calgary show called Mess Hall Podcast – food and good convos
Episode 17 – InterView with Jason Schnell – TASCAM 40 The guy that wrote my original show music and our Q and A InterView style- if he could interview or meet anyone he would pick, Jesus – listen here to find out why? (Artwork updated)
Episode 18 – Calgary Cold Case 1976: Patsy McQueen & Eva Dvorak This is my top viewed blog and podcast of all…this is a Calgary, Alberta Cold Case story from 40 years ago, date 1976. 2 girls 11 years old go missing, bodies found – and it’s still cold – listen to this clip – there’s a follow up show in progress (artwork updated)
Episode 19 – Turk + Valerie, 17, yellow, furniture The Significance of Anniversary’s even from the Governor General in Canada, meaning of gemstones, colours and more specifically the number 17 -my favourite number. And our 17th Anniversary, yes I call my husband Turk (artwork updated)
