There are many tributes and honours being poured out to the late Ted Rogers, and the media empire he founded, built and leaves as a legacy ... from neighbourhood video stores, thru to the Toronto Blue Jays - his empire is vast, varied and simply amazing.
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But today my thoughts turn to my personal interaction with the Rogers' empire when it was in its first stages of growth while I was growing up in Stratford Ontario ... Long before the advent of Rogers Cell phones and Video stores, our local television cable provider was Rogers, and along with the community access channel that supplied a variety of locally produced shows including a sing-a-long programme that offered a weekly rendition of "how much is that doggy in the window", the repair and service crews drove around town in BRIGHT orange vans!!
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At Halloween each year the bright orange vans could be found driving around neighbourhoods helping to keep the young trick or treater's safe ... The name of this community service WAS and remains - Roger Pumpkin Patrol, and for close to 30 years, they have been "watching out for kids' safety."
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The modern, cheery red vans don't have the same pumpkiny feel as the old ORANGE vans - but the goal is the same - "keeping kids safe".
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It's the small things that Mr Rogers should be remembered for ... local cable programming, halloween patrols, The JAYS ... the many ways he has interacted with almost every Canadian, and how, in the process he left his mark on our country, our communications and ultimately OUR lives ... farewell Ted - you've made the world a better place by your presence, and we'll miss you !!
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