My Favourite C's Memory - Pt. 1 of 12

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - I found it almost humourous when I was asked to jot down my 'favourite' memory as a member of the Vancouver Canadians organization. Humourous because I found myself almost laughing at the fact I couldn't really think of one particular moment in time that perhaps meant more to me than others.

I have worked with some wonderful people and still work with a group of colleagues that I hold dear to my heart. My fortunes have overflowed with the opportunity to call three Northwest League Championships for our home town team on the radio as well as countless other individual moments.

Thanks to positive relationships with managers and coaches alike, I have been witness to the rare and special moment when a player is called into the office and told he is about to take the next step toward becoming a Major League Baseball star. Those moments are extremely memorable, and yet not my 'favourite'.

In 2008, I had been with the Canadians for about a year and a half. This after spending the previous five years working exclusively in radio at News1130 and CHQB 1280AM in Powell River. I had always loved baseball, and this job with the Canadians was one of the few opportunities that I would have considered leaving the broadcast industry for, and eventually did.

When I first came to the Canadians in 2007, I had a four-year old son, named Nolan, and a three-year old daughter named Jayda. Both came from a previous relationship, and I was the dad who would get to see his children on every second weekend. It's tough when you are a quote "single-father", having two kids and then add the schedule and rigors of professional baseball. The travel, the focus and the demands are tough on the best of families, much less one with the type of uniqueness that I had created.

In the summer, to both of my children, I was a vapour trail. Always working tirelessly to try and not only make a name for myself, but make a living so that I could support them in their upbringing whether I was at home or not. Parenting can be thankless at times, and can be especially thankless when you feel that you are nothing more than a person who every month simply pays child support and 'hopes' to see your children when the right opportunity arises.

I have gotten much better in more recent years as my kids worked as hard as I did to maintain our relationship and maybe even exceeded my expectations of what love is truly capable of. I don't recommend how we did it, but we all understood that dad hadn't "left home", he was just working as hard as humanly possible to give the best that he could. To those fathers (and mothers) out there in a similar situation, yes, it can be hard cultivating a relationship with your kids in the event you have separated from your partner. Nothing and I mean nothing means more to a child than time spent together and simply giving it your best every day. By no means do you have to be perfect, but you do have to try.

My favourite Canadians memory has nothing to do with baseball. It has to do with the act of one man whom I have always had a lot of respect for. Yes, he's within the baseball circle, and further to that he's my boss. But I will never forget what Canadians president Andy Dunn did for me one Christmas season when this part time father was really having a tough time feeling confident about his efforts as a parent.

In years past, the Canadians would put on a Christmas event where local fans could come by, bring a non-perishable food item for the local food bank and maybe even buy a fresh-cut Christmas tree from a guy named Gord who would set up shop down the third base line.

We would offer up hot chocolate and give discounts out of the team store, and overall just try and spread a little holiday cheer, and yes, Santa Claus would always make an appearance for fans of all ages.

This particular year, in 2008, we set "Santa" up in the home clubhouse so that kids could come and visit with ol' Saint Nick and share their wishes for the holiday season. 

It was my weekend as a father, and my daughter Jayda was brought in to the ballpark because a) I had to help out, and b) because hey, Santa was here.

This particular year, Santa needed a helper because he was likely a little busy up at the North Pole getting things ready for Christmas, so, Canadians president Andy Dunn decided to suit up. I remember the moment as clear as a bell because it was the first time I had ever heard Santa speak with a southern drawl, and because surely Santa could have come up with a better pair of hand warmers than the batting gloves that this particular St. Nick threw on.

But, the laugh was hearty, the costume was spot on and the heart was definitely in the right place.

A few kids would hop up on Santa's knee, and proceed to eagerly rattle off the names of countless toys and wishes all in hopes that come December 25^th, they would be in luck. I am not sure how Santa does it, but more often than not, he does.

My daughter Jayda eventually got to the front of the line and jumped up on Santa's knee, this while I remember scrambling for my camera to try and get the obligatory photo of my kid with the jolly one. But as I felt around, looking for my device, I stopped for a few seconds and just listened.

Santa was telling my four-year old daughter about how much her dad loved her and even though there were days when he wasn't at home, that she should always remember how much she was loved and how proud he was of her.

I stood there thinking, "What boss does that for you?" 

What boss takes the time not just to dress up for the holiday season, but also to go out of his way to give a little girl the belief that her dad thinks she is the most important thing in this world. 

I remember it like it happened five seconds ago, and at times, I feel as if he was speaking perhaps to his own kids who at that very moment were three time zones away, thousands of miles away, likely thinking of their own father who loved them as much as I loved my own daughter.

Baseball is a tightly knit fraternity. It is built on the shoulders of many people who sacrifice time spent away from their families so that we can deliver a product that we can all be proud of. It's not always glamourous in the Minor Leagues, but it is fun. Fun because of the people who surround us and understand what it means to have to leave your family behind at times.

Our families are the lifeline to our happiness both at home and here at the ballpark. Without them, this all means nothing. What has gotten me by for the past nine years is having two amazing children who have sacrificed so much for my happiness, a loving wife who understands that this is just 'what I am', and people like Andy Dunn who on a cold December afternoon made my four-year old daughter feel loved, and made her father feel like he was actually more than perhaps he thought he was as a parent.

That. That is my favourite Canadians memory.

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Next Week:  Canadians General Manager JC Fraser reflects on his favourite Canadians Memory. Look for it here at www.canadiansbaseball.com on Monday, November 23^rd, 2015