I’m now on my way back to Halifax so I can meet and greet all of you again when you get there next week for CHLA/ABSC 2008. Thank you so much to all of you who so kindly hosted me in my travels. I’m sorry I didn’t get to visit each and every chapter, but time just ran out! I hope to meet lots of new friends in Halifax as well as catch up with some old friends along the way.

I started myofficial mascot duties Calgary at the Health Sciences Library by attending the February planning meeting of the Evidence in Complementary Medicine symposium.

Taryn Lenders, Librarian at the Peter Lougheed Centre, took meon a tour of downtown. Here I’m posing with the Famous Five. They listened sympathetically as I put forth an argument that lobsters should count as “persons.”

Posing in Olympic Plaza, with a nice view of Calgary Public Library’s main branch.

I started getting homesick when I saw the old Bank of Nova Scotia building — Ireally wanted a picture of it.

At the Devonian Gardens.

I wanted to know what Calgarians do for a good time. So my hosts took me to Narah, a local hookah bar. It’s a good thing banana-split-flavoured tobacco isn’t more widely available.

Then it was off to the Wild Rose Brewery to sample the best beer in Calgary. If anyone tries to tell you I say I’ll never drink Keith’s again, don’t believe it.  Those who like it, like it alot.  When you visit Halifax for CHLA/ABSC 2008, you’ll see what I mean!

My visit to Alberta Children’s Hospital.

A million thanks to everyone who hosted me in Calgary.  I had a wonderful time!  I look forward to seeing you all again in Halifax!

Well, I had a blast in Edmonton, visiting the CHLA/ABSC chapter members there. What fantastic, legendary Western hospitality! They were so kind and sent me this note to share with all of you about my visit:

“Norman spent quality time with his NAHLA friends as well as the staff and patrons of the John W. Scott Health Sciences Library (where he stood guard over the Scott Circulation Desk). Of course, the visit would not have been complete without an evening of beer and music with Norman’s ol’ buddy Ed who took him to the Black Dog to listen to the United Steel Workers of Montreal and introduced him to the band’s singer, fellow red-head, Felicity Hamer.

NAHLA Prez, Trish Chatterley, made sure that Norman visited the favourite local haunt for Maritime expats, the Atlantic Trap and Gill, where he experienced a few pangs of homesickness.

We in Edmonton were sorry to say goodbye to Norman, but we understood that he has a lot of Chapters to visit before CHLA/ABSC 2008 kicks off and had to be on to the next location.”

Onward, now to another chapter in my adventures…

The 2008 CHLA conference promises to be full of stimulating speakers and interesting sessions, and attendees are sure to find a lot to do here.

However, in case you feel the need for a few minutes of quiet reflection, well, we have that covered as well. The Lord Nelson Hotel is located directly across from the Halifax Public Gardens, an ideal spot for quiet thought.

You can sit on a bench and rest your feet!

Maybe you’ll catch a concert at the bandstand!

Learn a little history.

Commune with the local fauna… Hey, buddy, what are you doing back there?

Or just take a little time to stop and smell the flowers.

Any way you choose to enjoy Halifax, there’s always something fun, exciting and interesting to do! See you at CHLA/ABSC 2008.

Gotta go! I’m off to the airport to catch a flight. Keep watching my blog to find out where I turn up next!

Read on.  Double-doubles and crullers will be explained in future posts. 

Q. Norman, many of these people will never have fed a lobster do you have any specific instructions?

A. Don’€™t go all fancy with the silverware. Lobsters aren’€™t big on silverware. Oh yeah, and forget the plates.

Q. Actually, Norman, I was wondering if you have a special diet.

A. Special diet? You think I’m fat?

Q. No, no. More along the lines of are you lacto-vegetarian, do you have nut allergies?

A. I’m coming down with one fast here.

Q. No really Norman, what do you need to eat?

A. Just a simple Donair, extra sauce, hold the onions. Served after the bars close.

(As a Haligonian, Norman’€™s regular diet consists of Donairs. Your community may consider Gyros as an adequate alternative for a Halifax Donair. We are confident that Norman’s body is acclimatized to Halifax Donairs and you should be advised that any other Gyro or Donair will kill him in very short order.  Watch the blog for tips on how to know if you’ve killed Norman.)

 §         What is a donair?

A variation on the doner kebab known as a Donair was introduced in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in the early 1970s. A restaurant called King of Donair claims to have been the first to serve this version in 1973.

The meat in this version of the doner kebab (Halifax donair, as it is sometimes referred to) is sliced from a loaf cooked on a vertical spit, made from a combination of ground beef, flour or bread crumbs, and various spices, while the sauce is made from evaporated milk, sugar, vinegar, and garlic. The meat and sauce are served rolled in pita bread with diced tomato and onion. This version is generally so packed with ingredients, that the pita is almost there for ceremonial purposes; the pita of any true Haligonian donair will be so soaked in sauce that attempts to pick it up will be fruitless.

This version of the donair is very popular throughout the Maritime region of Canada, and is also available in some other areas of the country, with many fast food pizza restaurants also featuring donairs on the menu. Many of them also offer a donair pizza featuring all of the donair ingredients served on a pizza crust. Donair subs are also not uncommon.

Halifax, in particular, seems to take a certain pride in the donair as its own defining fast food. There are long lines to buy them at 3:30 A.M., after the bars close. The donair sauce on its own used to be provided for free though due to it gaining popularity it is often provided for a small fee with garlic fingers or as a pizza topping (e.g., Barbecue chicken pizza with donair sauce) by Halifax pizza restaurants — even local franchises of chains not based in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Donairs are also featured in the Canadian TV series Trailer Park Boys, which takes place near Halifax. In the episode “A Man’s Gotta Eat”, Julian is found by Constable Erica Miller, “drunk, living by a dumpster behind a King of Donair” In the episode “Working Man”, a short part of the episode takes place inside a King of Donair. At another point, Ricky has to pass Bubbles his donair to climb over a fence, saying, “Don’t eat any of it, Bubbles.”

Source: Wikipedia 

Q. Norman, do you have a favourite beverage?

A. Whaddya think? Lobsters and beer go hand in claw. Name me any organism on the face of this earth better equipped to open a bottle of beer.

Q. Captain Hook? The parrot?

A. Is this my interview or yours??

In fact, this is the first of a series of interviews.  Watch this space for the next installment!