Dad. Father. Pop-pop. Whatever you might call the ol’ guy is irrelevant, this is finally his day! Often buried in the holiday hierarchy somewhere near the bottom of the list, correction: after looking through Canadian holidays, it’s the clear ‘winner’ for last place overall. It’s not that we don’t care about Father’s Day, but it has this natural unassumingness to it, similar to many of our dads. But this year remember a few things he deserves- time and that feeling of importance. They both go hand-in-hand.
In my opinion, Father’s Day shouldn’t be just another cliche. One of the best parts of it is stirring up old memories. Think of a few ways your dad has influenced your life, more than just superficially – maybe some really good advice he may have given you. Or think of some situations where he has done something that left a lasting memory. Share those with him. That’s the kind of things that will make him feel important.
Maybe take him out for a round of golf, tell him his drive was great even if he’s 30 yards behind you. Grab some groceries and fire up the BBQ (and make the burgers below), get some lessons from the guru, slide in a few Bobby Flay comparisons. Head down to a baseball game, soak up some sun and reminisce. Ultimately, it’s not what you do, it’s simply doing it.
Whether he’s a quiet, sit on the couch, small talk and sip a light beer-type (my dad) or the life of the party, mile-a-minute, Energizer bunny (the father-in-law), find something that suits him and go have some fun. Stay off your phone and enjoy the moment.
Remember all the times your dad threw a ball, walked, ran, played with you? Return the favour and do something active with him. Sport and Wellness has free access for dads* on Father’s Day. Come down and lead him through a workout or grab a basketball and keep that life-long series of 21 running.
Even if it doesn’t land on June 17th, make an effort in the next couple weeks to see your dad. If that’s not possible, take a look to your left and right; there might be a dad nearby sporting the white Sketchers and/or Charlie Sheen look. Tell them you appreciate them. They deserve it.
*Must accompany guest. All other guests (spouse, family members) must pay regular access rates.
Burgers, Bacon and Asparagus
Indulge a bit, don’t be afraid of bacon. Everything in moderation.
Ingredients:
- 300g extra lean ground beef
- 2 whole eggs
- 10 trimmed asparagus spears
- 5 pieces of bacon
- 2 large white potato
- Burger buns and desired fixings
- 2 carrots
- 1 small white onion
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 3 jalapenos (optional)
- Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Wash and quarter large potatoes into wedges, rub with olive oil, rosemary, salt and pepper. Grill for about 25-30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and golden brown.
- Blitz carrots, onion, garlic and jalapeno (seeds removed). Add mixture to ground beef and form burger patties with “well” for egg. Place on top-grill (indirect heat) and add cracked egg. Add a pinch o salt and pepper to the egg. Grill for 25 minutes.
- Cut bacon lengthwise and wrap around individual asparagus spears. Use toothpicks to secure each end, add a pinch of pepper, place these directly on the grill and rotate occasionally until bacon is cooked to desired level (roughly 10 minutes).
Follow these steps and everything should finish up at the same time, adding an extra level of impressiveness for dad to admire.
By Greg Curran
Greg is a Bachelor of Science, Nutrition and Food Science graduate from the University of Alberta. He has been with the MacEwan University Sport and Wellness welcome desk team for six years.
