I'm thrilled to join the Rooster family and promote our beautiful city full of beautiful people, places, and events. I truly believe Saskatoon is Western Canada's underdog and that if we pay it the attention it deserves, others will do the same. 

The entrepreneurial spirit in Saskatoon is - in a word - contagious and inspiring. (Okay, so two words.) 

This past Saturday was a perfect example of that very spirit, as myself, twenty-some friends, and about a thousand of Saskatoon and surrounding area's finest dolled up to celebrate Lows in Motion, the fundraiser brain-child of my friend and Energizer bunny Travis Low. At twenty-five, Travis sits as chair for the fundraiser's committee board, was recently appointed Executive Director for Parkinson's Society of Saskatchewan, and is nationally recognized as a major player in Parkinson's activism and awareness. Not bad for a quarter century's worth of work, right?

After the diagnosis of both his grandfather and father with this neurodegenerative disease, Travis emerged onto the scene with purpose and co-founded the Lows in Motion “Shaker”, an event that has ballooned from an initial turn-out of about 300 to Warman's town hall in 2009 to a crowd of well over 1,000 at Prairieland Park this year. 

We laughed at (with?) Josh Blue, winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing.

We danced to Absofunkinlutely, a prairie-disco/reggae/funk group native to Saskatoon.

We drank a lot of wine.

So why put Lows in Motion on your radar for next year? Well...

a) All proceeds from the event are put right back into education, advocacy, research, and support services for Parkinson's disease. In other words, your money helps to put our community on the map as a force to be reckoned with.

b) Even by starving student standards, tickets are cheap! This year, an early-bird price of $53/pp got you access to a live comedian, band, midnight lunch, and a silent auction full of swag both local, national, and international. (I had to peel my boyfriend away from a signed Rory McIlroy flag...)  

c) It's an excuse to suit up - need I say more? 

and...

d) There's a photo booth. Again - need I say more?

(Photo cred: Forte Ideas)

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A big kudos to Travis for an unforgettable night. I'm looking forward to seeing you all out on the dance floor next year! 

/jr