Tic-Toc This Den is Locked – Picking Blueberries in Cape Breton Nova Scotia (Caper Society)

The 60s were a magical time. Magical and unique in so many social aspects. and changin' time all over the world. Life on the Island of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia had a particularly unique social climate for children and teenagers of that decade on that island oasis.

August was the time when blueberries were ripe for the picking and moms all over the island would send their children out to pick this miracle blueberry. One of nature's most healthy foods. In the fields and on the hills of Cape Breton blueberries flourished. This little miracle of nature grew in low brush areas; especially, areas that had sustained a brush fire in the previous 2 years.

The blueberry picking venture could bring you to the hill near the Sydney Radar Base, the secret-to-this-day location called 'Blueberry Hill' in Whitney Pier, or the woods near communities like New Waterford. Blueberry picking was almost always a group outing. Ages 5 to 25 ventured out together in the early morning, with lunches in hand and dressed to protect against the heat of the noonday sun.

Each person in the picking troupe was assigned their own container into which their blueberries went. The youngest would likely have a plastic margarine container. The older ones would pick right into a 4 quart basket. I remember other people whose berries went into those old glass 1 quart milk bottles. The basket was open to the air and stopped the berries from sweating and getting mushy, a problem people had with the glass milk bottle.

Tall tales of weird nature sightings or stories of pranks-pulled were lively dinner table talk after a day of picking. There always seemed to be a practical joker in every crowd! Like when my older sister, Marie, went on a blueberry picking outing. Our cousin, Karl, was in the same berry-picking group. He brought Marie to a rich ripe blueberry patch and let her pick a full container of berries before telling her that he had 'peed' on that berry patch! Was he telling the truth? He hasn't said a word to this day!

There was one rule of blueberry picking etiquette that remained the cornerstone of social order. A simple phrase that was respected by all berry pickers, no matter their age. Simply, when a picker found a berry-ladened bush, he or she was able to claim is as their own. In an authoritative, but polite voice, the picker would call out, “TIC-TOC, THIS DEN IS LOCKED!”

Once spoken, it was clear that the blueberry patch was singularly owned by the picker who called out “Tic Toc this den is locked”. For the most part, this real-time land claim to a blueberry patch was respected. Others in the group might move nearer to the newly claimed patch. But, unless invited to pick, other pickers stayed away from that 'Tic-Toc'd' area. They would go off a find their own private blueberry bush. Soon you would hear that cry repeated throughout the day “Tic-Toc this den is locked!”

Now this cry of the wild blueberry picker was common in Cape Breton. Its origin is unknown. Was it unique to blueberry picking in Cape Breton? Did it filter out into mainland Nova Scotia and on to the continent of North America?

Respect for rules. Respect for others. Growing up in Cape Breton Island was full of these tidbits of social order. Nice memories! Blueberry picking memories are still being made today on the 'Island of Islands', Cape Breton.

Tic-Toc This Den is Locked – Picking Blueberries in Cape Breton Nova Scotia (Caper Society)

Olympic Youth Academy (OOYA) shapes our leaders (Canadian Youth - Our Future Canadian Sport Leaders beyond the 2010 Olympics)

Leadership in our Canadian youth is pervasive and active. As a volunteer (photographer), I was witness and observer to an extraordinary 4-day conference hosted by the University of Ottawa (May 11-14). This year's theme was “Making a Difference”. The delegates to this 2006 Ontario Olympic Youth Academy, were fifteen Ontario students representing their high schools. These students confirmed that our youth will bring a new order of leadership to this country, their province and their communities.

OOYA is sponsored by Sport Alliance of Ontario, OFSAA, and the Canadian Olympic Committee. The Ontario Olympic Youth Academy is held each year and serves 2 purposes:

1. To share the magic of The Olympic Games in a 'hands on' format by debating, discussing, discovering, meeting, networking, playing, laughing in an active & dynamic 4-day conference.


2. To meet Olympic athletes, coaches, organizers and managers and hear them speak about the impact The Olympic Games has had on their lives.

Working long hours, this group of engaging teenagers were involved in interactive presentations and group workshops. Through the team sports of Dragon Boat Racing and a modified Olympic Games event, the group showed their ability to focus as a unit and meet goals. The delegates developed Sports and Exercise programs that can easily and immediately be introduced in their respective schools and communities. Programs are like:

1. “Clean Play Starts with a Clean Place to Play”,


2. “Mini Olympic Days” to promote a healthy and active lifestyle to Grades 5 & 6,

are designed for both athletes and non-athletes and help shape high school students into leaders.

Appearance by guest speakers included:

1. Sue Holloway, Honorary Chair of OOYA - Silver and Bronze Olympic Medalist for kayaking (1980-Los Angeles). Ms. Holloway is the first female to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics (1976 - kayaking and cross-country skiing).


2. Shaunna Burke - second Canadian female to reach the summit of Mount Everest (spring 2005).


3. Pierre Lafontaine, CEO Swimming Canada - recently, Head coach for Australian Institute of Sport, and before that the Phoenix Swim Club of Arizona. Mr. Lafontaine led 4 and 8 medal swimmers to Olympic victories in 2004 and 2000 respectively.


4. Marg McGregor - Chef de Mission 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.


5. Greg Joy - Silver Medalist and world record for high jumping 1976 Montreal Olympics.


6. Marc Leger – 2005 Canadian delegate at the International Olympic Academy in Greece.


7. Dr. Gene Sutton, Chair OOYA and National Olympic Academy, Director of the COC Board, and Canada’s Chef de Mission for the 2003 Pan American Games team.


8. Michael Chambers - President Canadian Olympic Committee (COC).

These speakers had a profound impact on the delegates. The Academy ended on a high note with an emotional closing ceremony during which each delegate lit a candle from the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games Torch!

However subtle, a key message was woven throughout the conference presentations by the Canadian Olympic athletes, Olympic coaches, and Sports executives. And that message: to have these future leaders consider sports management, sports coaching, and sports education as career options. This message was effectively introduced and appreciated by the delegates. Some delegates openly shared their renewed consideration for sports education/management as a career choice.

Currently, there are a number of active Provincial/Territorial (PTOAs) Olympic Youth Academy Programs:

1. Quebec Youth Olympic Academy


2. Ontario Olympic Youth Academy


3. Alberta Youth Olympic Symposium


4. BC Olympic & Paralympic Youth Leadership Academy


5. Nunavut Youth Olympic Academy

As a youth sport educational forum, the various Olympic Youth Academies, are an excellent way to introduce Canadian Youth to career and volunteer opportunities and rewards associated with national, provincial, community sports management/coaching, and sports education. The Olympic Youth Academies provide an expanded opportunity to share the Canadian Olympic Dream whether as an athlete, a coach, an organizer or a volunteer.

Expanding and funding the Olympic Youth Academy Programs to each and every Canadian Province and Territory has been an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC). Each province should embrace this youth leadership forum. It is a perfect program to parallel the COC initiative Own the Podium 2010

Olympic Youth Academy (OOYA) shapes our leaders (Canadian Youth - Our Future Canadian Sport Leaders beyond the 2010 Olympics)