As YouTube’s crazychicktwo I have been promoting my community since 2012. This video is from our local Museum: Leduc #1 Museum + Energy Discovery Centre. The event raised money for local charities with a Rib Cook Off. All footage on this video was from the same location, over 3 different decades. Our business owners, town workers, counselors and volunteers were working hard.
Being a Google Local Guide enriches my life. I am inclined to get out there, learn new things and meet my heroes. Here I am; a cat lady, give a former commander of the International Space Station ( pictured on the Canadian 5 dollar bill) a bottle of wine with cat astronauts on the label. What a laugh!
As I’m not afraid to be goofy and embarrassing, I film and commentate our Devon Days Annual Parade for seniors and shut-ins. Most of the town is in the parade, so they also need to watch my footage. The greatest compliment I ever got was from a former resident in England. I got the privilege of making her homesick!
Each of us in this part of Alberta is a member of Treaty Six! As a Google Local Guide I have enjoyed living 15 minutes from the Enoch Reserve. When you learn about the first nations values, you quickly learn that they are us. Most aspects that we are proud of about being a Canadian comes from our original peoples. Look at these colors. I get to share my love for dance, art and cultures as a local guide.
Only a 5 minute drive from Devon is the University of Alberta Botanic Garden. What a privilege to map this garden. The Aga Khan made a beautiful garden that makes one feel like they are visiting the other side of the world. I literally took 1000 pictures and visited on such a calm day that the airplanes left stripes in the sky that decorated the reflecting ponds. It would take 2 days to do the gardens justice, but come out during their special events. How lucky is Devon to be right beside this world class show? The biggest event is the Christmas Luminary-grab your tickets in Sept. to avoid disappointment. Our local U of A students find summer jobs here that come with friendships that last a lifetime.
Being a local guide helps me see the world without leaving the area. Every June the U of A Botanic Garden hosts The Kurimoto Japanese Garden Spring Festival. I love the photography that day. I sneak around watching the pros take pictures, then take pictures from their angles. Most of us Canadians are only one to three generations from our old countries. This makes us unique and special. This festival includes: dignitaries, Japanese food, marshal arts, origami, flutes, dance, tea ceremony, swords, and drums! This is a MUST!
Showing the world our local talent brings me joy. Our high school Drama students and the community theater actors get together at the Taste Of Devon for Make-A-WishNA. Devon children can hug their favorite princesses, heroes and villains. Taste Of Devon is the Friday night of Devon Days. It is celebrated with rides, food trucks, book and craft sales, beer garden, live music, all on the main drag!
Local Devon ballet dancers are fantastic volunteers at the Taste Of Devon! The Arts are strong in our town. I enjoy making dance videos for ballet and Ukrainian Dance as crazychicktwo on YouTube!
Being a local guide has helped me break the ‘ice’ in our town. I feel comfortable approaching businesses to take pictures. Here is my front yard. This helps me break the ice with neighbors. Each year my yard has been Frozen, Star Wars, Jurassic Park or Aliens. With every new person you meet, there is another story to uncover.
As a Dance Mom, Band Mom, and Drama Mom, I find myself in the right place at the right time. Camera always at the ready for mapping. This is the Ukrainian Date Night at the U of A Botanic Garden. The evening was one of Dance, Ukrainian food, choir, traditional instruments, and colorful costumes. I want the world to see my corner of paradise.
As a mapper, my camera is usually hot and batteries are often dead at sporting events. Sports bring in lots of $$$ to our community. Great people watching as well. As I work in a senor’s home, I pay special attention to how handicapped people and seniors are treated at large events. They literally can ask me anything, I have found out all the procedures.
Recently, I studied another local guide in my area. He had pictures of plates of fried food and french fries that had one million more views that my page. It forced me to examine my life choices. My new Google Local Guide attitude is now one of ‘Ferris Bullar’s Day Off’. I enjoy trying new places, being a Trailblazer and making mistakes so that others won’t have to.
Many of my crazychicktwo videos have the hashtag #FunForSeniors. As I work in a senior’s home, I enjoy exploring new activities for the elderly in my community. Maybe they don’t get their advice from the cell phones, but their kids sure do!
As a mapper I enjoy showing people having fun! Perhaps my pictures will get folks off the couches so that they can enjoy a more active lifestyle? I enjoy showing people that they too can be silly. Wouldn’t it be fun to be the one that people gossip about?
This summer my goal is to map community gardens. I want to talk with the experienced green thumbs. I’ll get to know my Farmer’s Market members. Something different for me. Gotta keep it fresh!
Being a google mapper has given me the courage to walk up to celebrities that I idolize. Here I am with a Grey Cup Ring attached to Don Narcisse, a Hall Of Famer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders! Mapping really puts me out there.
Finally, I hope to map the work of charity events in and around my community. So many people need help and the camera can help encourage people to change the world. I hope to discuss this aspect of mapping at the Connect Live 2019 Summit, if chosen. I have watched and commented on most of the application videos. I want to meet these like-minded people. Of coarse, some will be punished for calling me “Mam”! Working on this application has been difficult and life-changing. Thank you for your consideration. Laurie Keindel (Crazy Chick #2)