Cory Ashworth2013-05-22T13:20:30-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=cory-ashworthCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Cory AshworthGood old fashioned elbow grease.Vancity Fair Questionnaire: Lizzy Karp The Rain City Storytellertag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.31969162013-05-03T12:14:52-04:002013-05-03T12:15:02-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/Vancity Fair is an interview project that asks compelling Vancouverites to complete The Proust Questionnaire to expose their thoughts, values and life experiences.
Lizzy Karp is co-founder of the live storytelling series Rain City Chronicles and A Good Book Drive. Rain City Chronicles, with sell-out shows across the city, is a magical night of true stories, music, connection, inspiration and that indescribable feeling that binds us together.
Your favourite virtue.
Humor + charity (close tie).
Your favourite qualities in a man.
A good heart, big laugh, book and street smarts, a creative spark, athletic predisposition, appetite for adventure and lover of dogs. Is that too much to ask for?
Your favourite occupation.
I come from a family that works with sick and dying children and have nothing but admiration and respect for anyone who does their job.
Your chief characteristic.
Sensitivity. It helps me connect to the world with immediacy and care, but can sometimes backfire when I'm a big softie.
Your idea of happiness.
A long, sunny hike with pals and my boyfriend - somewhere we've never been before - followed by a leisurely dinner with special wine and then... dancing. A nice coffee and a treat is happiness on a daily scale too.
If not yourself, who would you be?
A Bassett Hound.
Your favourite poets.
I've always loved poetry so this list could go on. Some of my favourites include: Anne Michaels, Billy Collins, Lorna Crozier, Alan Nolan, E.E. Cummings, etc.
Your favourite heroes in real life.
Anyone who dreams up an idea, and makes it happen, no matter how small. Also, Ira Glass.
Your favourite food and drink.
I grew up in America, so any good, traditional Mexican food melts my heart. That includes margaritas and palomas too. Drink-wise I'm constantly sipping coffee and tea - one of the reasons why I love living in Vancouver most.
Your pet aversion.
Like pet peeve? Apathy. We have the ability to find information about anything, and connect with others about that passion, and create real change. Apathy is just laziness with a fancy name.
Your favourite motto.
If not now, when?
(This article first appeared on Vancouver Is Awesome.)]]>Vancity Fair Questionnaire: Tegan Quintag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.30955082013-04-21T13:30:39-04:002013-04-21T16:42:14-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/Vancity Fair is an interview project that asks compelling Vancouverites to complete The Proust Questionnaire to expose their thoughts, values and life experiences.
Musician and LGBTQ rights advocate Tegan Quin, of pop/rock band Tegan and Sara, is on tour promoting her band's seventh album Heartthrob. Fact: No amounts of cheap champagne, frozen grapes, or hot chilli chips could persuade Tegan to share her favorite baby names.
Tegan and Sara will play a hometown show, at West Vancouver's Ambleside Park, with Fun. Saturday August 31.
Your favourite virtue.
Honesty.
Your favourite qualities in a man.
Strength, sensitivity, humour.
Your favourite qualities in a woman.
Humour, sensibility, strength.
Your favourite occupation.
Musician.
Your chief characteristic.
Humour. Lot's of jokes.
Your idea of happiness.
White sand, a warm ocean, the person I love next to me, a margarita and a good book.
Your idea of misery.
Too much time on a white sand beach! Kidding! AS IF! Um. Waiting. My idea of misery is waiting.
Your favourite colour and flower.
White daisies.
If not yourself, who would you be?
Right now? Hilary Clinton. Or Justin Bieber.
Where would you like to live?
I'd like to try a month in Costa Rica. Or Berlin.
Your favourite prose authors.
John Irving, Augusten Burroughs, Richard Ford, Margaret Atwood.
Your favourite poets.
I'm not a big poetry person.
Your favourite painters and composers.
Oh my god. I don't know. Everyone who makes art is my favourite. Thank goodness for art.
Your favourite heroes in real life.
Barack Obama.
Your favourite heroines in real life.
My mom. Gloria Steinem. Hillary Clinton. Fran Lebowitz.
Your favourite heroes in fiction.
Truly do not have an answer. I read SO much. The list is so long.
Your favourite heroines in fiction.
Oh lord. I have no idea. It would be impossible to even narrow it down. It would take too long.
Your favourite food and drink.
I could live on a cheap dry glass of champagne, frozen red grapes and a bag of Mexican chili chips.
Your favourite names.
I can't tell you that. Then you'd steal my baby names.
Your pet aversion.
What does this mean? Like what pet don't I like? All of them. I like cats only. Or why I don't have one...because I'm never home. Or ... ? I mean..I don't understand. ha.
What characters in history do you most dislike.
Too many to name. The ones everyone dislikes I suppose.
What is your present state of mind.
Anxious and scattered (mainly because of how complex this questionnaire is. JK)
For what fault have you most toleration?
Over eagerness/interrupting.
Your favourite motto.
"Model through it" (Tyra Banks said that).
(This article first appeared on Vancouver Is Awesome.)]]>Vancity Fair Questionnaire: Jonathan Snelgartag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.30349512013-04-09T12:51:10-04:002013-04-09T12:52:23-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/Vancity Fair is an interview project that asks compelling Vancouverites to complete The Proust Questionnaire to expose their thoughts, values and life experiences.
If you hit up Nelson the Seagull in Gastown you'll be sure to spot co-owner Jonathan Snelgar baking some of Vancouver's best bread or pulling one passion filled coffee.
Nelson the Seagull offers a great new way to pay it forward too: Suspended Coffee. The concept, modeled on the Italian "caffe sospespo" tradition, is to purchase a coffee in advance for someone who may not be able to afford one. This nice simple act of kindness allows anyone to come in and either buy or claim a coffee. Jonathan notes, "We live in a low-income area and feel that this custom suits our cafe well."
Your favourite virtue.
Bravery
Your favourite qualities in a man.
Polite and funny.
Your favourite qualities in a woman.
Confident, sense of humour.
Your favourite occupation.
Chef
Your chief characteristic.
Accent
Your idea of happiness.
Eating a bowl of hot noodles in the freezing cold. Maybe in a sailors pea-coat... Definitely in a pea-coat.
Your idea of misery.
Not being able to speak to my mom whenever I want.
Your favourite colour and flower.
Blue and daisies
If not yourself, who would you be?
Douglas Adams (except alive)
Where would you like to live?
New York
Your favourite prose authors.
Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Albert Camus
Your favourite poets.
Alfred Tennyson
Your favourite painters and composers.
Rembrandt and Wagner
Your favourite heroes in real life.
Nelson Mandela
Your favourite heroines in real life.
My mom and sister.
Your favourite heroes in fiction.
Dirk Gently
Your favourite heroines in fiction.
Trillian Astra
Your favourite food and drink.
Bread and coffee (Pizza and beer an honourable mention)
Your favourite names.
Maximilian, River, Otto.
Your pet aversion.
Gherkins
What characters in history do you most dislike.
Hendrik Verwoerd
What is your present state of mind.
Sleepy
For what fault have you most toleration?
Poor grammar.
Your favourite motto.
"Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all." - Dirk Gently
(This article first appeared on Vancouver Is Awesome.)]]>Jill Barber on Fat Peonies and Calabrese Pizzatag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.29765112013-03-31T00:54:53-04:002013-03-31T02:55:31-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/Vancity Fair is an interview project that asks compelling Vancouverites to complete The Proust Questionnaire to expose their thoughts, values and life experiences.
Singer songwriter Jill Barber loves Vancouver, all shades of pink and really fat peonies. As her newly released album of classic French covers called "Chansons" tops jazz charts in Canada, Jill is working on writing her next record.
Your favourite virtue.
Grace
Your favourite qualities in a man.
Intelligence, Tenderness, Humour
Your favourite qualities in a woman.
Confidence, Intelligence, Natural Beauty
Your favourite occupation.
Reading the paper with my morning coffee.
Your chief characteristic.
Romantic
Your idea of happiness.
Eating food from my garden.
Your idea of misery.
My loved ones being taken away from me.
Your favourite colour and flower.
All shades of pink, fat peonies.
Where would you like to live?
The south of France, during the winter months.
Your favourite painters and composers.
Currently I'm obsessed with the art of Holly Farrell.
Your favourite heroes in real life.
Stephen Lewis, kids like 16-year old Evan Weins, who start gay-straight alliances in their schools.
Your favourite heroines in real life.
Journalist and human rights activist Sally Armstrong, home care workers.
Your favourite heroes in fiction.
Atticus Finch
Your favourite heroines in fiction.
Lizzy Bennett
Your favourite food and drink.
Calabrese Pizza from Pizzeria Farina, Negronis
Your pet aversion.
Mean dogs
What is your present state of mind.
Optimistic
For what fault have you most toleration?
Ignorance
Your favourite motto.
"A Dame that knows the ropes isn't likely to get tied up". -Mae West
(This article first appeared on Vancouver Is Awesome.)]]>Vampire Weekend Burn Saabstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.29584182013-03-29T13:28:27-04:002013-03-29T13:28:44-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/Vampire Weekend, with their first album in three years, rates really high on my list of excitement.
The Brooklyn quartet drop their new album Modern Vampires of the City May 14 and will headline Squamish Valley Music Festival August 9-10 with Queens of the Stone Age.
This week, Laurie Logan and I talked with Ezra and Rostam from Vampire Weekend on 102.7 The Peak in Vancouver:
We noticed that the album cover for 'Modern Vampires of the City' was taken in 1966, on one of the Smoggiest days in New York history. Why did you guys decide on that photo for the cover?
Rostam Batmanglij: There is something grabbing about it, because on one level it clearly looks like New York, but in another way it does have a quality of something mystical, or mythological about how it portrays a city. It could have been New York from the past but it could be New York from the future too
What role does New York City play on this album?
Ezra Koenig: We wrote most of the songs in New York, it's always been our home base. It's where the album was conceived. There were some other trips and we did go to LA to finish it, but New York is the starting point for this album.
So when you guys are writing it, is it in your apartments in Brooklyn?
Ezra: We do a lot of the writing and recording at Rostam's apartment.
One of the new songs that we are playing right now and loving is "Diane Young." Who is Diane Young?
Ezra: Apparently there are quite a few Diane Youngs out there in the world. We've been told there's someone who works for the British Music Industry named Diane Young. And there is a dermatologist on the Upper East Side, who specializes in anti-aging called Diane Young. But we didn't have any of them in mind when we wrote the song. It just came out that way, just a character that developed out of the song.
In the song "Diane Young" a lot of people are picking up on the Elvis-like inflections in your voice Ezra, what inspired that sound?
Ezra: I think when Rostam sent me the original beat that had this driving slightly '50s punky thing happening, it was natural to take on that kind of rhythm when I came up with something to sing on top of it.
In the video for your song "Diane Young," you guys burnt a Saab. What inspired that?
Ezra: Well the opening line of the song is, "You torched a Saab like a pile of leaves." There is a lot of dicey behavior in the song.
Were you guys actually there during that music video shoot? What was going on behind the scenes?
Rostam: We couldn't be there because we were in Austin for South by Southwest. But we wrote out very detailed emails of exactly what we imagined happening, and we were very lucky that we could find people that could help us execute our vision.
Rostam, was it one of your friends that inspired the actual visual?
Rostam: Yeah it was actually my friend Borna who is actually a video artist, and he was talking about the Phantom Camera. Which is this camera that shoots 1,000 frames per second and it got me thinking about how we could shoot this video and see what came out of it. So the actual video is only five seconds of time, if you can believe it.
Rostam, you have been working on a lot of side projects too. Have you found that that time spent way from Vampire Weekend is making its way in to your music now?
Rostam: I have always felt that all the music I make is connected in some way. I feel like it's good to have a lot of creative out lets, there have been songs that I have started on my own that I thought would never be part of Vampire Weekend, and when they did become part of Vampire Weekend I was happy that happened. To me it is just the process of discovering where things should go.
Is it true that you guys [Ezra and Rostam] spent more time writing together for this album?
Ezra: Yeah this is the first album that we had to actually think about writing. Previously most of the work was finishing songs, we started the album with more or less all the song writing ideas there. This one we really needed to figure out how to write songs. We found that it required some trial and error and some experimentation.
Rostam and I took a writing retreat, which is something we have never done. It's funny because some bands only write that way. Some bands only meet up and go out of town and write the album in a week or two. Where, as for us, we had never tried that before, we found it very fruitful.
We're right in the midst of taking applications for the PEAK Performance Project. What advice would you give new bands starting out, that might help them win something like the PEAK Performance Project?
Ezra: Don't be afraid to play really short sets. If you come out and play for 15 minutes and really pick your best songs and bring a lot of energy that is way better then playing 30-40 minutes. Keep it focused.
Rostam: People only remember the first and the last songs. If you are playing songs people have never heard before they will remember the first and the last, they aren't going to remember what is in the middle.
You guys sold out two shows in Vancouver the last time you were here. What about the city stands out for you?
Ezra: I remember loving the weather, it wasn't too cold but it was still grey and really vibey. Vancouver has its own aesthetics. I have a lot of visual memories from Vancouver, like looking out at the water the first time we came, or seeing all those glass buildings downtown, it really sticks with you.
]]>Sam Sullivan Reveals His Favourites For Vancity Fairtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.29524012013-03-26T15:36:23-04:002013-03-26T15:47:27-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/Vancity Fair is an interview project that asks compelling Vancouverites to complete The Proust Questionnaire to expose their thoughts, values and life experiences.
Sam Sullivan, former mayor of Vancouver and CEO of Global Civic Policy Society, has created a speaking series that brings a broad cross-section of Vancouver together to discuss inspiring ideas and features everything from a dog psychologist to an urban farmer and particle physicists.
He's currently running for the B.C. Liberals to win the Vancouver-False Creek seat in the May election.
Your favourite virtue.
Wisdom.
Your favourite qualities in a man.
Empathy.
Your favourite qualities in a woman.
Empathy.
Your favourite occupation.
Writer.
Your chief characteristic.
Strategy.
Your idea of happiness.
Learning.
Your idea of misery.
Not learning.
Your favourite colour and flower.
Amaryllis, teal.
If not yourself, who would you be?
Talleyrand.
Where would you like to live?
Fort Vancouver.
Your favourite prose authors.
Daniel Wood, Joseph Heath.
Your favourite poets.
Li Bai.
Your favourite painters and composers.
Rachmaninoff.
Your favourite heroes in real life.
Aaron David Gordon, Socrates, John Stuart.
Your favourite food and drink.
Alpha sushi, Mai tai.
What is your present state of mind.
Feel fortunate.
For what fault have you most toleration?
Being driven.
Your favourite motto.
"We are driven." (Japanese car company)
(This article first appeared on Vancouver Is Awesome.)]]>Vancouver Bands Sing It Forward For Downtown Eastside Music Schooltag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.25228142013-02-01T14:18:41-05:002013-04-03T05:12:01-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/Sing It Fwd (#SingItFWD) concert benefitting The St. James Music Academy was a huge success for organizers David Vertesi, singer and bassist for Hey Ocean! , and Ambrosia Humphrey, vice-president of HR at Hootsuite.
We call it passion in practice. We had seen and experienced a growing gap in terms of the cultural and arts vision of the city and the province and one of the many issues that really concerned us was youth arts and opportunities for youth to engage in arts in music specifically. So we created our initiative vision — to create an example of the rippling benefits of the power of connecting drivers in the community to take action, mobilize instead of compartmentalize, and hopefully share the story forward to inspire other people to do the same.
What is something you wished everyone knew about the St. James Music Academy? (SJMA)
How authentic and genuine they are! Ambrosia has worked with a lot of non-profit organizations in the past and this was one of the most transparent and full-hearted we have had the pleasure to work with. They keep their cause grassroots and are very careful not to deviate from their objective — ensuring that through their programs, they are driving social transformation for the next generation in their community. Everyone who works there or with them are aligned unquestionably ... and a lot of fun.
When asking people to get involved in #SingItFWD I heard you asked everyone to "just do what they were good at." Where did that whole idea come from?
When we approached people to take part in #SingItFWD we wanted there to be an equal value proposition for everyone so that everyone walked away full and ready to take action, not drained or disconnected.
We had done this event the year before and this year a lot of the people came back and asked us to get involved again. When we asked why, they said that they loved giving but they also walked away something that helped them as well — videographers were able to work with artists they wanted exposure to, artists were able to jam with the kids and the videos were great content promotion for them to carry forward. The reciprocity vibe is completely different too because people feel like we are all working together to do something and to help each other as apposed to one group helping another.
What was your goal for this year's #SingItFWD?
Our goal for the event itself is to raise $50,000 for St. James Music Academy after-school programs. We are pretty close now and are hoping to secure some additional donations in the next few weeks.
Our bigger goal is to drive awareness to the importance of youth music education in this city and continue to build relationships to create opportunities. Finally, it is about pushing it forward — mentorships, volunteer opportunities and evangelists to keep this on the forefront of people's agendas.
What do you hope the students of SJMA get from this event?
So many things. A lot of kids love these bands and I know a lot of the bands participating in #SingItFWD and wanted to make them all feel a part of something powerful, make them feel special, and ultimately hope they have a really great time doing it. At the core of it you just want people to have fun and then realize the greater impact.
What type of people have the biggest influence on your life?
People who lead through example, people that don't go out there and make big statements like "This is what we're going to do everybody"; they say "This is what I do" and truly role model through their actions. I think people gravitate towards that passion and purpose. It's empowering.
Who are those people?
My parents, my girlfriend Ambrosia, my close friend Shad are very much like that. Rob Dire, who runs Skate for Cancer in Toronto, he's a guy that just does it, he takes matters into his own hands and has something that is important to him and he works on it and it has turned into a whole movement. It's people like that, that have shown me the best way to influence people is to lead by example and I think #SingItFWD does that, we've created this event that showed people that through time, energy and collaboration you can really achieve a lot.
What's next for #SingItFWD?
As much as we are encouraging other people to have a positive experience with #SingItFWD — I think Ambrosia and I ourselves have had a positive experience with #SingItFWDso we're going to keep doing it! Staying focused on our community, on what we know, and trying to help drive success there. We will also continue to find opportunities to challenge others to do the same. There is a lot of focus outward especially with the world being as interconnected as we are but I think you can really strengthen your community, your city, your country and your world by trying to create positive change where you live.
Where can people donate and get further information on #SingItFWD and SJMA?
We are all over the Internet: www.singitfwd.com, Facebook, Twitter and people can donate directly to SJMA online. One hundred per cent of the proceeds go to SJMA and tax receipts are emailed instantly. Simply include "Sing It Fwd" in the tribute portion.
]]>Oprah In Vancouver: Strombo On Travelling With Lady Otag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.25460332013-01-24T18:14:54-05:002013-03-26T05:12:01-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/George Stroumboulopoulos would be the best choice. Last night by chance, I sat next to George who's been travelling across Western Canada with Oprah Winfrey for her inspirational speaking tour.
During the third period of the Canucks game, I asked George if he would call into my radio show to tell us what it's been like to interview one of the world most celebrated women. This morning, George called, and I asked him:
How has the progression of shows with Oprah been so far? You've already visited Edmonton and Calgary?
They are a little different for me in that I am building on the relationship each successive night. I didn't know her the first night, I only spent a few minutes talking with her briefly beforehand in rehearsal. Second night, there is a little more of a base, more of a relationship between the two of us. Tonight, there will be even more of a base because she opens to me a bit more, I open up to her a bit more and she understands where I am coming from. I don't ask the same question or have a plan. I re-invent the interview as it goes in the moment. I'm excited because it's been really cool. The other night in Calgary was a blast.
What have you liked about this experience so far?
Every night is not the same experience. Interviewing an interviewer is so much fun especially when you're talking to someone like Oprah. Every now and then, when I'm on stage with her, it dawns on me that she's Oprah Winfrey. It's an interview... a conversation... you're just trying to delve into the person and connect that person to the other people in the audience and it's odd when you realize "Oh wait, you're Oprah — you're enormous, you're like the biggest."
When I saw The Oprah Winfrey Show live in Chicago there was a crazy energy. Do you get the feeling that you're in an Oprah environment when you see her in these big arena?
I assumed it would be a big deal, but when she walked on stage that first night in Edmonton and I saw the crowd — the energy reminded me of being really little when my mom took me to a Billy Graham concert — it was like that. It was like the first time the UFC had a match in Montreal and Georges St-Pierre came out — I thought the roof was going to come off the building. I bet you it was louder in Edmonton that first night then when the Oilers won the [Stanley] Cup. I have never seen that, man — I was like WOW! What a thing.
What's been the highlight so far?
The highlight was not an onstage moment but an offstage moment. We were staying in a hotel in Calgary and the night before the gig there was a really funny moment. Oprah got out of the car, she's walking into the hotel and people were saying hello and she said hello back, and it was really nice. A couple of dudes said hello to her and I'm laughing inside because what no one's realizing is that Oprah is saying hello to the Tragically Hip.
Staying in that same hotel that night, there was members of the San Jose Sharks, Oprah Winfrey and the Tragically Hip. I looked around and thought: right now, in Edmonton, 25 below, all that snow out there — this place is a hot spot.
Are you coming tonight?
Yeah I'm bringing my mom...
That's amazing, there's a lot of them. This place is to moms what an illegal betting service is to The Hells Angels — that's what this is like.
What did you know of Oprah before this event?
I've never been to a taping of her program but she's doing things which can't be understated: this idea of trying to help people have a better life by helping them find their own way is huge. It's incredible how many people feel like she's the one to get them there. It's pretty special.
She's like a prophet for people...
She really is man, it's almost like what it would have been like, for me, if Bob Marley had come on stage. I was really impressed with how serious she was and how unwavering she was. She's talking about some heavy stuff, really really deep stuff for people emotions but she's not being overly nurturing either — she's being so real and it's been so fun to watch... you got to just see.
You can hear excerpts of my conversation with George Stroumboulopoulos on PEAK Mornings here.
]]>Oprah In Vancouver: Good, Bad, Ugly Confessionstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.25299782013-01-23T15:28:25-05:002013-03-25T05:12:01-04:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/
My Oprah confession: I would do anything for a chance to meet her. I'd wear a Tina Turner wig for a year, I'd eat a 67-pound wagon worth of fat, or I'd quit my radio job hosting PEAK Mornings for a chance to ugly cry in front of my television hero: Oprah Winfrey.
I found out Vancouver's Oprah Confessions were a little different: some good, some bad, and some ugly. For a week, 102.7 The Peak gave away tickets to "An Inspirational Evening with Oprah Winfrey" in exchange for listeners' Oprah Confessions.
Here are some of my favorites:
"I love Oprah so much that I name every inanimate item (my car, bike, coffee machine, etc.) Gayle." — Tessa, Vancouver
"I confess that I think Oprah is totally overrated but my stepmom loves her and I need the brownie points!" — Victoria, Vancouver
"When I was a little girl in 1987, my Mom and I watched Oprah every day after school. I loved Oprah so much (she was my idol) that for Halloween this little freckled red head demanded my Mom dress me up like my Oprah. My Mom tried so hard to talk me out of it but I insisted - so she teased my red curls as big as she could and tried her best to cover my freckles, gave me long drop earning, shoulder pads but to my disappointment I looked nothing like Oprah. Near tears I convinced her to put some dark paint on my face (I know...I know..I was 8!!!). For me that did the trick and I happily headed out to trick or treat with the neighbourhood kids with only a couple of strange looks from the neighbours." — Shannon, Port Moody
"My fondest Oprah moments were watching with my Grandma (who wouldn't miss a show) - laughing, sometimes crying, and usually folding laundry. My grandma, still to this day, doesn't wear earrings because someone 20 years ago on the Oprah show said you shouldn't, if you wear glasses... this trend stubbornly continues with her hair style and clothing choices. Similar to the talk show legend, my Grandmother has been through a series of immense hardships in her life and continues to give the world to her family and friends. If we could share this with her it would be giving back to someone who has given so much in her life." — Sarah, Vancouver
"Pickle brine is my all-time favourite beverage. I'd rather win a jar of pickle brine than go to Oprah's show." — Serisa, Vancouver
"There is no one on the planet I loathe more than Oprah Winfrey. Some might be appalled by that but I don't care. I am a proud Oprah hater!! However, my sweet mother loves Oprah and she would LOVE me forever if I won some tickets for her. I am also very poor and can't afford them. Although few can - have you seen the prices? Only Oprah herself might be able to afford to go!! Pretty please with sugar on top? I would be willing to sit through Oprah Winfrey for my momma. If that's not love then I surely don't know what love is." — Rae-Ann, Vancouver
"I'm winning these for my mom because she loves Oprah. In fact, one year, at Christmas dinner, in the folly of my youth, I mocked Oprah. You know what my mom did? My mom, being the fan that she is, asked me to go home. That's right. She kicked her own daughter out on Christmas, for Oprah. That's how big of a fan she is. The biggest secret of all is, now that I'm older, I'm kind of a fan myself. But don't tell my mom that. She's already right about too many things." — Joanna, Vancouver
]]>Coming Out Changed My Lifetag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.22213822012-11-30T16:43:33-05:002013-01-30T05:12:01-05:00Cory Ashworthhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/cory-ashworth/
It would take a few handfuls of girlfriends, over two decades of denial and seven full years of hiding on the other side of the planet -- in China -- before I learned to let go of my fear, my shame and the idea that being gay was wrong.
In China, from the outside looking in, I had it all. Career-wise I had worked my way into the Chinese media scene. I had a national radio show that broadcast to millions across the country and I became the first foreign VJ to host a program on MTV China. Yes, the perception and prestige was there -- it looked amazing, but on the inside I was afraid and felt so alone.
China, in many ways, was my test drive. I was a miserable closet case and realized in order to feel a way I had never felt I had to do something I'd never done. So, I broke up with my girlfriend, I started hooking up with guys and quickly realized that other men were the missing piece of the puzzle that had been so void in my life. I came out to my friends and quickly realized my success was meaningless, so I quit my jobs, got rid of my car, packed up my apartment and bought a one-way ticket back to Vancouver. I was ready to come home and to come out to my family.
As a gay kid, you live a life hungry for a sign that you're normal. You might look up the word "gay" or "homosexual" in the dictionary in hopes of finding a definition that describes who you might be. An explanation of why you're the way you are and a reassurance that you're not alone.
I grew up never finding that definition and although I lived in the most loving, understanding and supportive household, I feared that if I came out, my entire family would hate and reject me. No Google search or god could have told me otherwise -- I was terrified but knew regardless of their reaction I had to be true to myself.
Coming out changed my life. I told myself from that very day on I would never tell another lie. I lived a lifetime of being untrue and the liberation and ease that came with that truth and authenticity of coming out set me free. After four years of being home in Vancouver, I got back on the radio and knew I eventually wanted to be out and open about my sexuality in public.
Right in the heart of a string of gay teen suicides, I interviewed political activist Dan Savage about the anti-bullying campaign he launched called the It Gets Better Project. What I didn't expect was getting this Facebook message after that interview aired:
"Hey Cory, for what its worth, I want to apologize for how I treated you back in high school. What I did was wrong and I make no excuses for my actions. I have a young family now and I've come to realize how destructive my behaviour was back then. I hope things with you are well and wish you continued success in life."
I told him: " ... those past moments have made us who we are today. I feel lucky to have lived the life I've lived and wouldn't change a minute of my past. For me, this is yet another one of life's many lessons and for that I am grateful. I completely accept your apology, I've gained respect for you and hope for a loving future for you, your family and your two daughters."
My dream today, is that every single human on the planet, regardless of all pejoratives, has the courage to come out to say this is who I am, I am proud of me, I want to spend my life celebrating who I am. Let go of shame, regret and any external pressure to be anything less than yourself. The freedom of declaring this is me -- I am --will set you free to live a life of full potential.
(This article first appeared in The Vancouver Sun. Republished with the author's permission.)]]>
