A special Dave!

He spent 15 years in prison for violent crimes.  Got out at 43.  Put his mugshot on bread bags.  Built a $275 million company.  Then bipolar disorder hit.  He survived that too.  Dave Dahl's childhood didn't prepare him for much except survival.

Born in 1963, he grew up in Oregon watching his family struggle.  His father Joe and uncle started NatureBake, a small organic bakery.  But stability never took hold in Dave's life.  Drugs found him young.  Addiction arrived before adulthood.  Crime followed inevitably.

By his twenties, Dave was cycling through Oregon's prison system.  Possession.  Burglary. Assault. Each conviction added years.  Each release led to relapse.  Each relapse led back to prison.  Four separate prison sentences.  Fifteen cumulative years behind bars.  Guards at Oregon State Correctional Institution knew him by name.  Social workers recognized his file.  Judges saw him repeatedly.

Dave wasn't unique.  He was statistic—one of millions caught in the recidivism cycle that defines American criminal justice.  Most people with violent felonies don't get redemption stories.  They get minimum wage rejection letters and permanent second-class citizenship. 

Dave's brother Glenn watched it hollow out their family.  He visited Dave in prison. He hoped for change. He watched hope fail, again and again.

By Dave's fourth sentence, Glenn was exhausted.  You can only believe in someone so many times before belief feels like delusion.  But something changed during Dave's final stretch inside.  Maybe it was exhaustion—realizing he'd spent fifteen years of his life in cages.  Maybe it was counselors who refused to give up when everyone else had.  Maybe it was turning 40 in prison and calculating how much life was already gone.

Dave got serious about recovery.  He worked programs.  He faced his addiction.  He prepared differently for release than he had the previous three times.  In 2004, at age 43, Dave walked out of prison for what he swore would be the last time.

The world waiting for him was unforgiving.  Parole check-ins.  "Have you been convicted of a felony?" on every job application.  Society's clear message: you're done.  You don't get to come back from this.  But Glenn made a decision that changed everything. 

He owned NatureBake—a tiny organic bakery in Milwaukie, Oregon, barely surviving in a competitive market.  Glenn offered Dave a job.  Not charity.  Family.  One last refusal to accept that his brother was irredeemable.

Dave started at the bottom.  Mixing dough.  Learning baking.  Hands covered in flour.  Minimum wage.  Parole monitoring.  The typical ex-con job that's supposed to be temporary before the inevitable return to prison.

Except Dave didn't just work.  He created.  He started developing new bread recipes—dense, seedy, whole-grain loaves packed with nutrition and texture.  Breads that felt substantial.  Breads with weight and purpose.  The recipes were good. Really good.

In 2005, Glenn and Dave made a decision that seemed insane: launch a new product line called Dave's Killer Bread.  Most brands hide uncomfortable pasts. They invent cozy origin stories about grandmothers and wholesome kitchens.  Dave and Glenn did the opposite.

They printed Dave's prison mugshot on every package.  Right there on the bread bag: his booking photo, his story, his fifteen years inside.  Ex-con.  Four prison terms. Second chance.

It looked like commercial suicide. Who wants to buy bread from a violent felon?  Turns out: a lot of people.  Because it wasn't just bread.  It was a statement: your worst chapter doesn't have to be your last.  People can change.  Second chances are real.

And the bread was legitimately excellent—organic, non-GMO, packed with whole grains and seeds.  The combination was explosive.  Within a year, Dave's Killer Bread was on shelves across Oregon.  Within five years, it expanded nationwide.  Within a decade, it was the fastest-growing bread brand in America.

But Dave didn't just build a company. He built a movement.  Dave's Killer Bread created the Second Chance Employment program—actively hiring people with criminal records.  Ex-cons who couldn't get hired anywhere else became bakers, drivers, managers.  The company gave hundreds of people the same opportunity Glenn had given Dave: a real job, real wages, real dignity.

Dave became living proof that the prison system doesn't have to be a life sentence.  That people with violent pasts can create value, feed families, build businesses, matter.  He spoke at prisons.  He advocated for criminal justice reform.  He became the face of redemption.

And then, in November 2013, everything nearly collapsed.  Dave had a manic episode.

He has bipolar disorder—a condition he'd managed imperfectly while building the business.  The pressure of rapid growth, constant public scrutiny, and carrying the symbolic weight of thousands of ex-cons' hopes collided with untreated mental illness.

During the episode, Dave led police on a high-speed chase through Portland.  Over 100 mph. Erratic driving.  A crash.  An arrest captured on news cameras.

Not drugs.  Not crime.  Mental illness.

Dave was hospitalized.  Treated. Stabilized.

And quietly removed from daily operations at the company bearing his name and face.

The brand kept his mugshot on the bags.  But Dave—the actual man—was no longer running the business.  Some framed this as failure. As proof that people like Dave don't really change. That second chances are myths.

They missed the point entirely.

Dave didn't return to crime.  He didn't relapse into addiction.  He had a psychiatric break—something that can happen to anyone with bipolar disorder, regardless of their past.

What mattered was this: Dave got help.  He was honest about what happened.  He wrote about it in his book Life Worth Living.  He spoke openly about prison, success, mental illness, and continuing recovery.

He told the truth most redemption stories skip: Recovery isn't linear.  Second chances aren't one-time events.  You don't get fixed and stay fixed.  You keep choosing, every day, to move forward.

In 2015, Flowers Foods purchased Dave's Killer Bread for $275 million.  The Dahl family got generational wealth.  The brand continued growing.  The Second Chance Employment program kept hiring people with records—hundreds more got opportunities they couldn't find anywhere else.

The mission outlived its founder's active involvement.  And that might be the real victory. 

Because the story was never about one perfect redemption arc.  It was about building something that lasts beyond you.

Today, Dave's Killer Bread is in grocery stores nationwide.  The packaging still tells Dave's story.  The company still hires people with criminal records.  The Second Chance program is a model for corporate social responsibility.

And Dave? He keeps living.  Imperfectly.  Honestly.  He speaks about mental health. About criminal justice reform.  About the reality that recovery is ongoing, messy, difficult work—not a destination you reach and rest.

His life isn't a fairy tale.  It's better.  Because fairy tales end cleanly.  Dave's story continues—with all its complications, setbacks, and continued forward motion.  Fifteen years in prison didn't define him.  A $275 million exit didn't complete him.  A mental health crisis didn't erase him.

He's all of it: Prisoner.  Baker.  Builder.  Advocate.  Person with bipolar disorder.  Person in recovery.  Human.

And maybe that's the hardest lesson: Redemption isn't a destination.  It's a direction.  Chosen again and again.  Especially after you fall.

Dave Dahl put his mugshot on bread bags when conventional wisdom said hide your past. 

He hired ex-cons when conventional wisdom said they're unemployable.  He spoke about mental illness when conventional wisdom said successful people don't admit struggle.  He kept going when conventional wisdom said his story was over.

Fifteen years in prison. Forty-three years old at release. Built a movement. Faced a crisis. Survived.  

Still here. 

Still honest. 

Still choosing recovery.

Not perfectly. Just persistently.

That's not a redemption story.

That's a human story.

And those don't end.

They just keep going.

Press release from Canada on Arctic Naval operations

I recently subscribed to:  News from the Government of Canada.  If you want to get this information, it's very informative!

For more Government of Canada news, visit https://canada.ca/news

News release

August 14, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have launched Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK, a serial of Operation NANOOK running from August through October that focuses on maintaining a maritime presence in the Arctic, enhancing regional awareness, and strengthening the CAF’s ability to operate effectively in remote northern environments.

During the operation, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Robert Hampton Gray will be joined by the Canadian Coast Guard and other Canadian government departments as well as naval forces from the United States, France, and Denmark, as they transit through waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago conducting activities including patrols, surveillance, community engagement, and refuelling. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied participation will strengthen interoperability and shared maritime awareness in the region.

Conducting Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK in collaboration with allies and partners will reinforce Canada’s sovereignty and demonstrate our commitment to strengthening NATO’s Arctic posture. Throughout the year, Operation NANOOK serials are conducted in coordination with NATO activities, including the enhanced Vigilance Activity ARCTIC SENTRY which contributes to NATO deterrence and defence efforts, further reinforcing collective security and resilience across the Alliance and the Arctic.

Quick facts

• Operation NANOOK is Canada’s signature Arctic operation, and Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK is one of several serials that will be conducted in 2026.

• Operation NANOOK also includes serials NUNALIVUT, QIMAAVIVUT, TAKUNIQ, TATIGIIT, and NUNAKPUT.

• Operation NANOOK serials are conducted year‑round, supporting near‑persistent CAF operations that are enabled by Canada’s permanent military presence in the Arctic and North.

• Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK focuses on maritime presence and surveillance across Canada’s Arctic and northern waters.

• Royal Canadian Navy Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels such as HMCS Robert Hampton Gray are designed to operate effectively in northern waters and remote environments.

• Environmental stewardship and respectful engagement with northern communities remain central to Operation NANOOK‑TUUGAALIK. Operations are planned and conducted to minimize environmental impact, respect local conditions, and avoid placing additional strain on northern infrastructure and resources.

• NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity ARCTIC SENTRY brings NATO activities in the Arctic together under a single, overarching operational approach. By integrating Allied capabilities, the activity enhances visibility of military movements and enables coordinated planning and execution across the region.

Rogers Scam!

I never answer calls that aren’t in my phone book on my cell phone.  Waiting to hear from a Dr yesterday, I answered my cell phone that came up no name but a local number.   The caller said “Rogers Marketing”.  He will save me 30% on a 1 year special plan.  I said “TV and Cable, I have a contract”.  He said “my internet/tv contract would cancel and this becomes effective”.   I listened.  I could get an iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung S26 for free.  Pick your colour.  I know those are high end phones.  He asked how much I pay Rogers every month.  I said “your with Rogers you should know”.  He said “we can’t access this information as I’m in Marketing”.  Then I said you've got my phone number what’s my address.  He repeated phone number he called me on.  That phone is paid for by King of Floors as I manage the business account.  He was calling about my home internet service and had no idea about any of my personal information!  Again he said  “I'm with Marketing”... I yelled scammer and hung up.  I’m so glad!  

Today, I saw this on Facebook:

Oh did I ever get scammed this last week!!!!! I got a call from what I thought was Roger’s they convinced me to upgrade my phone. The deal was better my bill was going to be 30 dollars less. I agreed the guy transferred me to sales associate. We discussed it gave info and new phone was shipped to me. The sales guy Peter said call me when you receive so we can activate the promotion. What ever ok if this will save on my bill. So I called him at the number he gave him sounded like a Roger’s line. I called him he had troubles activating the promotion so he sent me return shipping labels to return it and they would ship me a new one asap. I said forget it I don’t want it he apologized said they would credit my account 2 months for trouble. I printed out the labels looked legit and mailed brand new phone right to a scammers hands. I was on hold hours with Roger’s to be told they can’t help I need to call anti fraud Canada. Needless to say I’ll never do business on the phone with a non English first language person again I will think everyone is a scammer. I let my guard down once now I’m out 1900. I don’t know how they managed to place phone order on my actually Roger’s account unless it’s inside job I’m so confused and it’s basically impossible to get answers from Roger’s 

Share away I don’t want this to happen to anyone else #phonescams #Rogers #rogerscell #iphone 

Work says I need to sit in anti fraud class for seniors 😂

August 13 -International Left Handers Day

I should have posted this yesterday but it was a challenging day!  So a day late:

My mother was and my nephew is left handed.  When my nephew was small, my mom gave him a ball and said "throw it to me".  He did with his left hand and she was thrilled!  I remember at home trying to cut something with scissors when I lived with my mom and dad.  They were for left handed people!  My mother said she was smacked by a ruler by her teacher and they actually made her put her left hand behind her back.  She could use both hands but much prefered her left one!  She decorated cakes and used her left hand to make the roses and border and when it came time to write, she used both hands!  I'm glad things have changed and we honour it now!

I follow Wayne Cox a former radio personality in our area and he wrote this on his blog:

Thursday, August 13th, is International Left Handers Day. A day that is set aside annually to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of left-handed individuals. I’m one of them, and you may be too? The day was first observed in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, founder of Lefthanders International, Inc.

I wrote this edition of The Word 3 years ago, and in case you missed it, I thought I’d repeat it in honour of this very special day. First, some words about being a lefty down through history.

In the olden days, being left-handed was considered negative, or evil. The Latin adjective “sinister” means “left” as well as “unlucky.” And in French “gauche” means both “left” and “awkward” or “clumsy.” Lefties tend to take a pounding in many languages, including English. The word for the direction “right” also means “correct” or “proper.” And how about a “left-handed compliment” that has two meanings, one of which is unflattering to the recipient.

Studies show 7-10% of the population is left-handed, and because we’re in the minority, it means that everything from a mouse for the computer to scissors and musical instruments are typically designed for right-handers.  If you look hard enough, you can find more and more products that are designed for lefties, but that has only happened in the last 30 years.

In a much earlier time, my mother, who was born left-handed, told me tales of being smacked with a ruler by school teachers for writing with her left hand, and was forced to write right-handed.  Fortunately, that practice had ended by the time I started school.

I do remember when I was a kid, going to a sporting goods store and staring at an entire wall of baseball gloves. A wall of leather, with only a couple of left-handed gloves, and half of those would be pink or blue! And as recently as the early 60s, our Little League Baseball catcher, Morley Langton, was left-handed and had to have a left-handed catcher’s glove custom made for him. There just weren’t any in the stores, and of course this was long before “ordering online!”

When I was very young, my Dad bought me my very first baseball glove, but it was for a right-handed throwing player. Therefore, it was worn on the left hand. When we first played catch in the back yard, I would catch the ball, take the glove off, and throw the ball back with my left hand. My Dad was shocked, and said, “You’re a Silly Sider.” His nickname for a lefty.

Add that nickname to others, like “Southpaw.” That was another nickname I received over the years and always wondered where the name came from. I was told that Southpaw comes from the baseball world. See if you can follow this explanation. In the early days, baseball diamonds were designed so that the pitcher faced in a westerly direction when looking at the batter. The batter would face east, so the setting sun wouldn’t be shining in his eyes. With the left-handed pitcher facing west, his throwing arm would be to the south, hence the name Southpaw!  

We lefties have sad tales about trying to cut paper with right-handed scissors (yes, there is a difference) or having to constantly move a glass or coffee cup from the right side of the place setting to the left. And having knuckles stained blue with ink while trying to write a sentence on a piece of paper. I’d come home every day from school with my blue knuckles that had been dragged across fresh ink all day long. And try writing while balancing your hand on the coils of a coil notebook! Small things, but it’s what happens when you live in a right-handed world. I got lucky though, years ago as a birthday present, my Dad bought me a left-handed hammer!

One more whining story. The other day I paid a visit to a music store that specialized in guitars and was shocked to find it didn’t have one left-handed acoustic guitar. Not one!  Apparently, that very thing happened to the late musician David Bowie. As the story goes, David Bowie was left-handed; however, he taught himself to play guitar right-handed! Why? There weren’t any left-handed guitars in the store when he went to buy one! Jimi Hendrix played left-handed on a right-handed guitar. In the 1960’s left-handed guitars were hard to find, and when you did find one, it was usually expensive. So, he just flipped over the right- handed guitar and re-strung it lefty. And of course, no mention of left-handed musicians is complete without Paul McCartney, one of the most famous bass players who plays lefty.

There’s one advantage to being a lefty that I discovered when I was interviewing NHL tough guy Dave “The Hammer” Schultz. The Hammer was quite the fighter on ice. He wrote a book about his life as a hockey enforcer, and I interviewed him about the book on the Vancouver Show. Dave explained in his book how he won most of his fights, and I asked him to demonstrate during the interview. Dave said, “I reach across and grab my opponent by the jersey with my left hand and use my left arm to block any punches he throws, so go ahead, try to hit me!” I threw a punch and hit him on the jaw! “Hey!” he said. “Dave,” I said, “I’m left- handed.” His theory worked for someone punching with their right hand, but he was wide open for a left-handed punch. Try it at home and you’ll see what I mean. Score one for the Southpaw.

We do have some famous lefties in our ranks. Here’s a short list.  

Barack Obama
Bill Gates
Mark Zuckerberg
Lady Gaga
Julia Roberts
Judy Garland
Whoopi Goldberg
Oprah Winfrey
Albert Einstein
Leonardo Da Vinci
Rick Forchuk
And Juanita, yes, our Blue Frog’s Juanita!

A wise guy once said: “If the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and if the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handed people are in their right minds.”  

And…“Everyone is born right-handed; only the greatest overcome it.” Haha! Left On! August 13th is our day to celebrate!

Parking apps!

On Sunday I was at the Peace Arch Hospital trying to load the parking app on my phone as it was an app I didn't have and I needed to pay for parking.  I already have three parking apps on my phone!  I was having problems getting it to work.  A lady came up and said "forget the app, it's much faster to pay with your credit card".  So I put my credit card in and got my receipt.  One thing about using the app is if your parking is about to expire you can extend without going to the pay station.  

Then I saw this:

The New Westminster Police Department is warning the public about fraudulent QR codes attached to parking meters throughout the city.

Police have received numerous calls from victims who have scanned the QR codes labelled “scan to pay” on the front of the meters, and were directed to a seemingly legitimate site to enter their credit card information to complete the parking transaction. The victims later noticed that they had large amounts of money withdrawn from their personal bank accounts. One victim had $2,000 withdrawn from their account. 

New Westminster Police Department officers are investigating the source of these stickers and encouraging anyone who has used them to pay for parking in the last five days to check their bank accounts and report any suspicious activity to police and their banks.

“Our officers have already removed numerous stickers on meters throughout the city” stated Media Relations Officer Sergeant Andrew Leaver. “We would like to remind the public to be vigilant. While the stickers may appear legitimate, acceptable forms of payment are printed on signs above or on the meter.”

The City of New Westminster does not use QR codes as a payment method for parking. The New Westminster Police Department asks community members to share news of this scam with friends and loved ones.

I wonder if the meter I was trying to scan the QR code to load the app and it wouldn't work was compromised!

Imagine this happening on our coastline!

This is genuinely unbelievable.

A U.S. oil company with ties to Trump reportedly moved drilling equipment into Greenland.  They left at least 15 containers of drilling gear near the port of Nerlerit Inaat in Jameson Land, Greenland.  It was sent by the Texas-based firm Greenland Energy before securing all of the necessary government approvals.   

Greenland’s authorities responded with a clear message: nothing happens there without Greenland’s consent.

Officials made it clear that foreign companies cannot simply enter the territory, bring in equipment, and begin preparing for drilling without following Greenland’s rules.  The proposed site is also located in an environmentally sensitive area covered by international conservation protections.

What makes this especially significant is the bigger principle behind Greenland’s response.

Despite being a small Arctic territory, Greenland is making it clear that powerful foreign corporations do not get to decide what happens on Greenlandic land. Greenland has the right to determine how its territory is used and how its environment is protected.

No matter how much money, influence, or political backing a company may have, those things should not override local laws or national sovereignty.

Whatever your political views, there is something powerful about seeing Greenland stand firmly behind its authority and environmental protections.

Respect to Greenland for standing its ground.

And then this:

Two Canadian companies Stampede Energy and Deganges Logistics are supplying equipment and logistics for this illegal action.

Stampede Energy had press release saying they will not supply equipment unless they have consent from Greenland!  I can't find any information from Deganges Logistics.

This is the latest from the US company but I can't believe anything coming from the US and one wonders what the plans from the orange leader are.  Another war for Greenland? 

“It was a mistake on our part, a mistake that will not be repeated,” its managing director Roderick McIllree told Danish public broadcaster DR in late July.

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The equipment is currently stored in a hangar at Nerlerit Inaat Airport, near the village of Ittoqqortoormiit, the closest settlement to the licence area.

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The company has received a “strong warning” from the Greenland government, which in a statement last month added, “that all future logistical arrangements must be notified to and approved by the mineral resources authority before they are carried out.”

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Greenland Energy’s chairman, Larry Swets, has been described as being close to Trump.

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And at a time when the U.S. president still wishes to control the vast Arctic island, the prospect of a U.S. energy company potentially carrying out exploration activities is making people uneasy.

Kiefer Sutherland's grandfather!

 

Tommy Douglas was just 6 years old when he fell on a rock in Falkirk, Scotland, and badly injured his knee. The wound refused to heal. Within weeks, doctors diagnosed him with osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection that would trouble him for years.

Winnipeg, 1911.

After his family emigrated to Canada, Tommy's condition worsened. He spent months in hospitals, missed school, and relied on crutches while other children ran and played. Eventually, doctors told his parents there was only one option left: amputation. His family couldn't afford a specialist. Then a surgeon, Dr. R.J. Smith, noticed the young boy during hospital rounds. He offered to perform the operation for free, asking only that his medical students be allowed to observe the procedure.

The surgery was successful. Tommy kept his leg. He never forgot how close he came to losing it—or that the outcome depended on whether his family could afford treatment. He later said that no child should have to rely on their parents' financial situation to receive lifesaving medical care. That belief shaped the course of his entire life.

At age 39, Tommy Douglas became the 7th Premier of Saskatchewan, leading the first socialist government elected in North America. For the next 17 years, he worked to improve life for ordinary families through hospital coverage, old-age pensions, and rural electrification.

But one issue remained unfinished. Access to doctors and surgery still depended on a person's ability to pay.

Birch Hills, Saskatchewan.

• Douglas made a promise that would transform Canadian history:
• Universal medical insurance for every resident, regardless of income.
• Doctors' organizations and private insurers quickly opposed the idea.
• They warned it would lead to government control of medicine and drive physicians out of the province.
• Douglas refused to back down.

The provincial election became a referendum on Medicare. His party, the CCF, won once again.

October 13, 1961.

Douglas introduced the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Bill, the first plan in North America to guarantee medical care for every citizen through public funding. The criticism was immediate. Medical associations protested. Editorials predicted disaster. Political opponents called it the first step toward socialism. Yet Douglas already knew he wouldn't be the one leading the final battle. He had agreed to head the newly formed New Democratic Party (NDP) at the national level. He was leaving Saskatchewan just as the biggest fight over Medicare was beginning.

November 17, 1961.

The bill received royal assent. Soon afterward, Douglas resigned as premier. His successor, Woodrow Lloyd, inherited both the legislation and the growing controversy.

July 1, 1962.

The new law came into effect. Doctors across Saskatchewan launched a 23-day strike, closing their practices in protest. Large demonstrations filled the streets of Regina. Despite enormous pressure, Lloyd stood firm. He invited Lord Taylor, a British physician who had helped create the UK's National Health Service, to mediate.

On July 23, 1962, the Saskatoon Agreement ended the strike. Medicare survived. Within a decade, every Canadian province adopted a similar system. By 1966, the federal government established a national Medicare framework. Douglas wasn't present during the strike or the final agreement. He was focused on building a new national political movement.

Canadians voted to name the Greatest Canadian. Millions participated. The winner wasn't a prime minister, military hero, or business leader. It was Tommy Douglas. The little boy who almost lost his leg because his family couldn't afford treatment. A leader who proved that lasting change often begins with someone willing to start a journey they may never live to finish.

A little boy almost lost his leg because his family was poor… then he changed healthcare forever. And he was Kiefer Sutherland's grandfather!