Dr Joe MacInnis- Diving, A Way to Get to Work

     I'm a massive fan of the Titanic. From the moment when I first heard of the legendary shipwreck, I knew I wanted to go. Wanted to explore the depths of the ocean to see the regal ballroom doors. If I couldn't do that, at least be on the water in a boat, right on top of where the ship is now buried by gallons of water. That would be a fair compromise. Having the chance to interview the first Canadian to work on the Titanic wreck was a step in the right direction in my eyes. Not only that, this man was the one to discover parts of the northernmost shipwreck in the world, The Breadalbane of 1853, later discovering the rest with help of coast guard vessels. He has led and organized publicly funded dives to the well-known SS Edmund Fitzgerald which sank in Lake Superior, finally, he is well known for being the first scientist in the world to scuba dive under the North Pole. In my eyes, Dr. Joe MacInnis is the one of the most interesting Canadians I've ever spoken to. With a career as rich as his though, I can only provide a short walk through of some parts today.

     After Dr. MacInnis walked me through some interview pointers that he had picked up over his own years of experience and work, I believed I was ready to ask him some questions. I started with asking about a story I had read in regards to what seemed to be his first professional work after earning his Doctor of Medicine. Once Dr. MacInnis had finished his junior internship, he had his mind set on working with one man, the famed entrepreneur and inventor Edwin Link. With no idea how to reach him, he was finally able to make a person-to-person call. Link agreed to meet for only 15 minutes the next day. The meeting concluded with Dr. Joe MacInnis being offered the role of full-time doctor for Link's new Man-In-Sea project. It seemed like his goal was accomplished. As I said though, that was the story I read (quite frankly, on Wikipedia). So I wanted to know more about it. I had assumed that he received the role based on academic superiority compared to others, and I was surprised when he told me that he “didn't think he was going to get it, because [he] had bad grades and wasn't a good student.” I must say, the answer confused me. So Dr. MacInnis explained that he's what he now knows is “emotionally intelligent”, his enthusiasm and belief in the work allowed him the chance to enter this role, which changed his life.

The famed Edwin Link, who gave Dr. Joe his first chance at a job.

Photo retrieved from http://www.starksravings.com/linktrainer/elink.jpg

     Later I would have it explained to me that diving isn't his job, and that's not how he sees it. Diving is but a way for him to get to his work is all, whether with Edwin Link, or a man he had the chance to become close to starting in 1969. The man was the newly elected Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau. As Dr. MacInnis told me, “he was in a high stress job, and diving was a way to take some stress away. This gave him the chance to be the explorer he always was.” They had the chance to form a mutual mentorship. Knowledge shared with each other from complex political topics to the skills of diving. Together they did over fifty personal dives, but as Dr. MacInnis reiterated, it was a relationship based on exchange: on respect, information, trust and insight. The sharing of important things such as these, show real friendship. He had the chance to form relationships through exchange among many other well known names such as Farley Mowat, who I myself have had the chance to speak with a few times, and Edward Schreyer who was then the Governor General of Canada.

The wreck of the great Titanic, Dr. Joe was the first Canadian to see this sight.

Photo retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Titanic_wreck_bow.jpg

     After hearing this, our conversation shifted to his current fascination. One that quite personally sounded incredible in my eyes as well. This was in regards to some work he's been doing which is the basis of his newest book titled Deep Leadership: Essential Insights from High Risk Environments. Studying the characteristics and speaking to the workers building the International Space Station, working two miles under the Ocean or more recently, travelling to Afghanistan to speak with solders, he had the chance to learn about their special form of courage, showing him how they can preform in work while their life is on the line.

But, alas, eagerness brought me back in the past of the life Dr. Joe MacInnis, I wanted to know more of his Titanic experience. I had asked if, like myself, this was possibly a childhood passion of his- to find the wreck. I was pretty shocked when he explained how his involvement was quite frankly, rather coincidental. He had a friend who was working on finding the wreak, and asked if Dr Joe would be interested in coming with them. Well, he had read about the Titanic in a book or two while younger and had heard a song about it, so he figured why not. That's how the first Canadian to work on the Titanic wreak made it there, a coincidence, and I'm actually glad it worked out that way. In my eyes, it's a more interesting tale, not to mention just an all around more Canadian one... "oh ya, once by a fluke I ran into the Titanic", that was a me quote not him by the way.

     All in all, from what I learned when speaking to Dr Joe MacInnis, an adventure could be a simple as a way of getting to work, an interest fuelled with an option, or a question asked to you. This could lead to discovering and experiencing some of the world's most interesting sites, landmarks and historical areas. It can lead you to become, in my eyes, one of Ontario.. or Canada's, most interesting people, just like I feel Dr. Joe MacInnis is. I'm glad I heard of him, and glad we had the chance to chat.

Dr Joe MacInnis

Photo retrieved from http://www.a-speakers.com/speakers/joe-macinnis/

Josh Dueck- Back-flip on a Sit-Ski

Interview with Joshua Dueck

     A friend of mine asked me to try interviewing one of his skiing icons. It should be known, I'm not a skier, and I don't follow skiing. So when I first heard the name “Josh Dueck” I had to do the ever trustful google search and see what I could learn. It was a sad story that I started reading, but when I finally had the chance to Skype Josh over my reading week, he became an inspiration. From what I have learned, his story has inspired many more besides myself. Pretty impressive for being only 32 now and learning to ski at the age of 13 on a field trip in his hometown of Kimberly B.C.

     His story may have gone one way, but took a drastic turn when he was 23 years old, ten years after learning how to ski. It was his first run of the day and there wasn't a cloud to see in the sky, he went to preform a trick he had mastered instead of a simple jump to check the hill. On the run, he gained to much speed, the front flip started late. A full rotation was complete, but he was still higher than expected. The second rotation started, and that's when Josh fell, face first from a height of ten stories. Waking up in the hospital, all Josh could muster was asking his father to pull the plug. He was paralysed and didn't see any reason to continue living. He was then, and always will be, a T11 full paraplegic from just above the waist down.

     Now, Joshua Dueck is widely known in the ski community, for he's still a skier. Being paralysed from the waist down did nothing to stop him from his passion. Using a Sit-Ski, Josh worked on getting back to the snow. As of the 2010 Winter Paralympics, Josh is one of our nations silver medallists in the men's slalom sit-ski event and as of February 3^rd, 2012 Josh became the first person in history to preform a backflip in a sit-ski over snow, an act that was seen by thousands online and granted him an invite from The Ellen Show only a few days after the act was achieved.

     All of this can be found online, but it was after he woke up in the hospital that I wanted to ask some questions to Josh. My first was simple, when did he learn that sit-skiing was an option for him and what went through his mind when he heard it. I was pretty shocked when he told me it was the doctor who told him, only two hours after he had broken his back in the accident. Once the doctor saw the x-rays and noticed Josh wouldn't be able to ski again, he informed him of the option. There was no hesitation for Josh to get back to skiing, he knew that this is what he would do once he was medically cleared.

     The year after his accident Josh took a break from, well, his regular life. As he states on his website, “2005 was a year full of wonder and curiosity as I explored the world from my new perspective”. When I asked him what he meant by that, he told me how he bought himself a nice Toyota Celica and travelled “all the remotest corridors of Western Canada”. Seeing family and friends who weren't able to make it to the hospital. As straight forward as it was, I had to ask because I was so curious.

“Josh, how successful were you on your first sit-ski run?”

The reply was what I expected, “Not successful in any traditional sense of the word.” Followed by a laugh.

     He explained to me how a run he could previously do “with his eyes closed, backwards”, now took him two hours to do. It was a hard learning process. Once he found his balance, day three, everything came back to him. The love of the mountains, of trying something new, of exploration, of doing something that you really enjoy and entering what he calls “a flow state” were the world quiets out and he's only focused on the skiing, that's what kept him going to that third day when it all fell into place again.

     Then, Josh and I had made it to his jump. The back flip that would be viewed by thousands. I asked him how and he felt when he decided to do it. He knew he could do it, but the fear was there. It was one of the hardest things he ever had to wrap his mind around, and he was terrified. After the training was complete and it was time to do the jump, his fear shifted to excitement.

     The practice tries were all successful. Then the snow trial.. a perfect ski away after only the second try. Then laughter from Josh. He told me that this was something that he never viewed as being “the first to do” or even thinking that it would be a cool idea. Now, afterwards, he guesses it's a big deal.

     Josh's life has no doubt changed. The accident has brought him to ski-skiing, and with the jump, Josh helped bring sit-skiing to the public eye. He was been able to represent Canada on the world stage. He was awarded a gold medal in the 2011 Aspen Mono Skier X in the X Games, and a bronze in the 2012 games. 2010 brought Josh his first paralympic medal. Being on Ellen was humbling and amazing for Josh, after all, he thinks she's hilarious and incredible. For the Rick Hansen Concert of Heroes, he was starstruck when he was introduced to the crowd by David Suzuki, a man he says “is just another man who's trying to figure out the world one day at a time, and doing a good job at it”.

     A few weeks before Josh spoke to me, he had been skiing in Italy and Switzerland. Coming up, he will be going to Spain. Yet he wanted me to know, although he's been to some of the best ski areas in the world, it's the people that make the trip. He could be on a beautiful mountain in a far away country or maybe in a small hill in a backwoods area. Who he's skiing with make the moment.

     Joshua Dueck told me as we finished up that if he's learned anything, it's don't let anything get in the way of your passion. Whatever the passion, or the obstacle may be. After all, Josh wanted to represent Canada in the Olympics and win a medal. Not even breaking his back got in the way of that.

     I think the man probably knows what he's talking about. 

Mark Hominick- UFC to Fatherhood

     When I called Mark Hominick to double check that our interview was still a go, he had to fight to make his voice heard over his young daughter who was rather upset at the time. Parenthood isn't the fight Hominick has been dealing with most of his life, but it's one he knows will be more rewarding. The fight that he's used to? Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). For until recently when he retired, Mark Hominick was one of the elite athletes that thousands watch weekly. An industry shown worldwide, and known as the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world. An industry where the objective is to, simply, win in a real fight using any form of martial arts you're trained with, from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Muay Thai. Only the best in the sport can fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Hominick is one of the best for his weight-class. That's why it was exciting to talk to him. Not to mention we went to the same high school (him a while before me) and shared some teachers, that was for sure another reason I wanted to talk about his career and life now. Interesting Canadians always get to me, but interesting Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute students? Even better.

     When Hominick went to enter the Octogon for his first professional fight, he thought he would be nervous, and who wouldn't be? Around 20 years old at the time, only a little older than I am now, he entered to fight Richard Nancoo. Nancoo came into the fight with a record of five career wins, one draw, no losses and professional bouts for four years- versus the small country boy Mark Hominick. A realization befell him, he wasn't nervous anymore while walking up. He was prepared, excited, and wanted to get fighting. Obviously, prepared was right. Two minutes and thirty-four seconds into the third round, referee Yves Lavigne called it. Hominick wins with a technical knockout using punches and elbows. A great start, to an eleven year career. A career of excelling in the Featherweight division (136-145 pounds), working with his mentor the late Shawn Tompkins, a round of pushups in the Octogon after every win and fighting for the world title.

     I had to ask right away, what did his family think of his UFC career. In a way, it was the answer I was expecting. They weren't really fans of it, and I guess that's agreeable and relatable to every parent, Hominick now included. His mother never attended a fight, Hominick thinks it's probably since it would be rather nerve racking for her. His wife preferred to watch live, saying it was better than on television. His late father on the other hand did what I feel parents are best for, worked as a support system. The elder Hominick would go watch his son fight, then leave after (not watching any other fights). Showing that he was always there for his son, not the sport. Then I asked about what his young daughter thought in regards to it. Being to young to verbalize, she would point to his wounds and say “ow”. This was something that he didn't want his daughter to witness, but the bumps and bruises were reminders of his violent work. This was part of the reason he retired, so his children didn't have to see this all the time. As he says, when his children are as young as they are, it's better that they don't get the full vision of it or really watch his bouts. It's hard for them to realize that this is martial arts as a sport compared to fighting out of anger. In my opinion, it's hard to remember watching the fights and knowing they have parents who may be watching, spouses sitting in the crowds or young children at home, all watching their loved one fight. This is only another job though, and every job leaves its mark. Hominick strongly believes that his parents would of much preferred that he stuck with his four business degree from the University of Windsor, maybe that's in the cards for the future though.

     Business degrees are for another day, back to the fights. Hominick has made appearances in stadiums from Quebec to Hawaii, Alberta to Texas, Illinois to Nevada and others in between. When asked, his personal favourite was Montreal, Quebec. This is where he spent his first few years, feeling like he became on of Montreal and Quebec's own. Needless to say, fighting in Las Vegas on the Vegas strip (fight capital of the world) sticks in his mind and always will. His most memorable was a fight that made UFC history. UFC 129, hosted at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Only eight months after the legalization of mixed martial arts in Ontario, they planned on hosting a bout. All 55000 seats sold out, making a gate revenue exceeding $11 million dollars, this was the night Hominick would be facing the Brazilian Jose Aldo for the UFC Featherweight championship. This event broke records, including shattering gate records not only for Mixed Martial Arts in Canada, but in North America. With a final scoring of 48-45 for Aldo, Hominick just barely missed the title.

     A year and a half (and three fights later), Hominick released the news that he would be retiring from fighting. He had children, and a wife. They wanted to start settling down as a family. As he says, “the hardest part of the UFC is the constant grind”. Training six days a week, for hours at a time. From now there's the idea that he'll do some sports analyst jobs for FOX news and Sportsnet, maybe living up to that business degree, but not nearly as much fighting.

     Going back to his small home, he's proud to be back. He get's to be with his same friends from elementary and high school. He get's to raise his children in an atmosphere that's meant a lot to him and that he knows is a good one. He reminds me that no matter what you do, you should follow your passion. If you really believe that this is something you want to do, UFC or otherwise, nothing should be able to get in your way saying otherwise. From a small town in Ontario, with a population of 1748 came a man who fought in front of 55000. Anything can happen if you try.