Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:03 Awesome. Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned in to the Mac city morning show. I am your host, Elliot Pierre, and I'm happy to be here today. We're going to start the show off the same way we start every show off, though, with a moment of gratitude. I know you can be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that people are spending with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hit them with you.
Speaker 1 00:00:27 Oh, she caught me, loves near listened to the next anymore.
Speaker 0 00:00:36 All right. And we're back. Okay. So the guest today is my favorite type of guest and individual. I have never met before. I know nothing about him, other from his name, but as we all know, I do not introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves because they can do a much better job at that tonight. So on that note, my man, can you please tell everybody who you are and what's your boat?
Speaker 2 00:00:54 My name is mark zebra. I'm originally from Sherwood park Alberta. So that's just the east side of Edmonton there. And I currently moved up to Fort McMurray last year, just after the flood. Perfect timing. And yeah. So I'm working here at the Fort McMurray golf club, working in the pro shop as the merchandise manager. And last year I did some accounting. Uh that's. That's what I've gone to school for. So I'm living up here in Fort McMurray and joined the beautiful city and the weather that we have so far.
Speaker 0 00:01:17 That's awesome. And very cool. It is Alberta boy coming up north. Yes, sir. How did you hear about Fort Mac?
Speaker 2 00:01:25 You know, I've played hockey around Canada, gone out east, gone to small towns through Manitoba, Ontario, and you know, just, I like for Mac, I've been up here, I visited it. I played hockey up here and I wanted something that would just get me away from the big city a little bit. I've really enjoyed that small town atmosphere, everyone knowing everyone a little bit, everyone's a little bit more of a cultured group. Everyone has each other's back and you know what the landscape and the environment with the wildlife, the fire kind of got rid of some trees, but you know, they're still growing back. Right. So, you know, I just came up here trying to look for different change in life, just trying to revamp my life a little bit. And I've gone to school for accounting and I've always been in the golf industry. So just kind of combining those two together. And I reached out to here to Fort McMurray golf club and they've been nothing but open arms with me. So
Speaker 0 00:02:10 It's been a great experience so far. Yes, sir. So you went to accounting for school? I did. Yep. So you're good at it. Aria numbers are my thing. That's awesome. Yes, sir. Accounting. I'm taking accounting level one and two and business accounting. And I can assure you. It is not my thing. Every once thing, it's a struggle. There's a, there's a job
Speaker 2 00:02:31 Out there for everybody. And I think I'm in the right path so far. So
Speaker 0 00:02:34 Yeah, I just remember when I was taking the course and I, it was years ago, so they may not do this anymore. They give you this big piece of paper and you have to like balance the book. And so I'm doing all this by hand and I put up my hand one day and they're just like, yeah, Mr. Pierre, I have to assume it counts. And still do. I have to assume that there's a computer program that can do this quicker, faster. My other courses like Microsoft learning Excel, and I'm pretty sure I can make this happen in an Excel document. We're looking at a hundred percent. Yep. Well then what are we doing here? Like you got to know the fundamentals. You
Speaker 2 00:03:10 Really do. They really break it down. They start you off, you learn everything. And then you get to the end of the year and they're like, this is the shortcut. Right. They show you how you're going to do it in the, in the industry. Right. So they really, they really wrap your brain around. And I just love it. You know, I've grown up in the business, family have played Hawk. You have gone away. I've traveled around and I've met a lot of great accountants and it's just been something I've kind of just adapted my life to. And I just really enjoy it. So I've gone to school for it and just keep on that train of being an accountant. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:03:40 Yeah. I think I need to look when it comes to tax time. If you
Speaker 2 00:03:43 Need it, if you need to hit me up, you can always hit me up. My name is mark zebra. There we
Speaker 0 00:03:47 Go. Yeah. I, uh, I have a gentleman who told me back in the day, find a good accountant, a good lawyer.
Speaker 2 00:03:56 That's all you need. That's all you need. That's all you need. And you're taken care
Speaker 0 00:03:59 Of that's right. So you said you played hockey. What level were you playing
Speaker 2 00:04:03 Hockey? So right now I'm still playing hockey. I'm on a, yeah. I play in Lac, LA Biche for the port at Portage college for the Voyagers. I'm on a scholarship up there. Hockey scholarship. Yeah. So I played all through the years. I played seven years for the Kings athletic club out in shared park. And then I ventured off out to Jordan, Ontario, red lake, Ontario and dolphin Manitoba. Wow. Yeah. So I played some junior age for three years. Then I went to college to play hockey there for as well. And I've, you know, the pandemic took a year away from my life, but Hey, we're back on track for the upcoming fall.
Speaker 0 00:04:35 Awesome. So Fort Mac has, you know, like it's a, it's a hockey town very much like hockey up here. They love it. We got some younger viewers out there. What would you tell somebody who's young who wants to play hockey on a higher level than just Phantom? For sure. Playing on a college level, you get paid for your school. You get an education behind it. What are the steps they should be putting in place at a young age to make that dream happen?
Speaker 2 00:04:59 I think what every player needs to focus on is doing what they do best on the ice. Right? Never try to become another player or never try to make your image something that it's not. If you keep focused and doing all the little things, right? You do what your coaches ask. And especially with your athletic trainer, if you're injured and you need to take some time off, really listen to them. They are professionals. They go to school to learn what the human body, not everyone knows everything about their body. And I think the biggest thing is just staying determined. Just wanting that dream. Just at 15, I told, you know, I played hockey with guys who said, I want to make it to the NHL. I want to make to the WHL. And I said, I want to just make it to college university. Right? Not that I wasn't good enough to go to those other places, but I just knew that there was a dream and I just stuck to it. And if you stay to yourself, then you'll really succeed in life.
Speaker 0 00:05:45 Awesome. So when you're at college, how are you balancing that course? Load man. Cause hockey, any sport for that matter? It's like, it's a, it's a job. It really
Speaker 2 00:05:54 Is. It's full time. It's full time. If not more.
Speaker 0 00:05:57 Yeah. So how do you balance, like learning what you're going to school for learning accounting and numbers, and then getting to practice going on the game, going to the games, traveling. How do you juggle that busy, busy lifestyle?
Speaker 2 00:06:08 I think it really depends on the person too. I found it really soothing and I F I really enjoyed it. I, uh, you go to school for the majority of your day. Yeah. But having that time with your, your team and the boys and everything like that, it really relieves a lot of stress off your day. And I really enjoy it. Like it is a lot of juggling you practice from Monday to Thursday and you play every Friday, Saturday and Sundays, your recovery day to do whatever you like, have brunch with the boys, go to the gym, get a nice detox in, do some studying for some finals. But you know, it, you, it just, everyone loves it. When you get there, you it's such a good family. It's such a good atmosphere. It starts off a little slow. You're got your first month. You're in there. It's a headache. Like, how am I going to do this for eight months and come Christmas time and you have that break or you go home, you go see your friends and family have some good Turkey dinner at grandma's house. You come back to school and you're motivated to get back at it again.
Speaker 0 00:07:04 Yeah. That's awesome. I really enjoy it. Oh yeah. It's just a positive human being in general. I try to be, I really try to be, I can feel it, man. Thank you. Cool. So now that you're in Fort McMurray, what's keeping you busy. Like I know you're here at the golf course. I know you've got a job. So what are you doing with your downs
Speaker 2 00:07:22 Right now? It's my downtime. Well, recently I wasn't a car oxen, so I was recovering from that a little bit. That's okay. Um, that's I'm in high spirits now. I'm ready to go. I'm getting back into shape for hockey. I'm trying to get my golf game back up, working at a country or not a country clubs, right? At a golf club. You really, you gotta be good at your golf or at least have fun with it. So, you know, I have fun with everything I do in life and I try to go on walks. I go explore the different things that format has to offer. Go see Mac island, go do some trails, go down by the water, go take some pictures, go for walks with my girlfriend, go to the track workout. There's so much to do up in Fort McMurray. I love it. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. I'm always busy. You meet your girlfriend up here. Did you bring her with you now? We both came up here together.
Speaker 0 00:08:05 Nice. Yup. There we go. Yeah. We ventured off together. That makes it a lot easier. When you come in, you got somebody. Yeah, for sure. When you're moving away, there's so many variables already. If you have somebody that they can go home to and there's like some form of normalcy. Yeah. That's a big one.
Speaker 2 00:08:21 It's huge. It really helped the whole transition coming up here. Fantastic.
Speaker 0 00:08:26 So in regards to hockey, we all have it. You're going to get in trouble. I know you're going to get some hate when you answer this question. Who's your favorite?
Speaker 2 00:08:36 I personally cheer for Pittsburgh penguins, but I also, from being from Edmonton, I still cheer for the Edmonton Oilers.
Speaker 0 00:08:42 When you said Pixar, Tanner didn't have me on camera. I was like, oh no, <inaudible> Edmonton. I do enjoy. I do enjoy
Speaker 2 00:08:51 The <inaudible> very much. I am an Edmonton boy, always circus. You know what it is, what it is. And uh, no back when I was young boy, my first team was Columbus blue jackets. Uh, Jody Shelley used to play for them before he went to San Jose sharks. And his mom was my grade one teacher, no way. So one day of school, we got to play road hockey, floor hockey, get autographs from him. Get to take pictures with them and get to just ask him questions. Just like this, ask him what it's like to be an NHL player. Columbus blue jackets was my first favorite team. And then my first actual NHL game I kind of watched in person was Vancouver vs. Pittsburgh penguins. And I noticed this player who came back into the league, his name was Mario Lemieux. And I had no idea who that like anything. I was so young, I was great to just kind of getting into hockey. I was already playing, but not really understanding the NHL a little bit. And I kind of just like Mario Lemieux coming out, finding out that he's one of the greatest players of all time
Speaker 0 00:09:49 Greatest if the greatest. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:09:51 In my opinion, he is. And uh, I know Wayne Gretzky out there for them to know others. He was the greatest on stats, but I really enjoyed watching and me as an overall player. And he also brought in this young guy under his wing named Cindy Crosby. So I enjoyed watching Cindy Crosby's career so far and still enjoy it to this day. So forever Pittsburgh penguins will have my heart. They've won some good amount of cuffs since I've been alive as well. Right.
Speaker 0 00:10:15 So easy to cheer for a winner,
Speaker 2 00:10:17 Easy to cheer for a winner. But I also do always, will always have a heart, a piece of my heart for the, uh, the Edmonton Oilers there.
Speaker 0 00:10:23 Yeah. Yeah. I born and raised Fort McMurray. I like Chicago black Hawks. Well, I have a great team. When I say that I get from Albertsons, like pick a team, Edmonton or Calgary. I'm like, I'll go watch them. Um, I'm all for them for sure. My team
Speaker 2 00:10:39 Is Chicago. Nothing, nothing wrong with treating for an original 16. There
Speaker 0 00:10:43 You go. So we're at the part of the show. It's called the Mac city minute. This is town or segment. He's going to ask you five questions. Okay. I don't know what he's going to ask you the best of luck. Alrighty,
Speaker 3 00:10:53 Question number one. How does the Fort McMurray golf course compared to other places you've golfed?
Speaker 2 00:11:01 Fantastic. Above par pun intended.
Speaker 3 00:11:05 Question number two. What is your favorite thing about Fort McMurray?
Speaker 2 00:11:10 Fort McMurray? Probably the atmosphere of the people and all the wildlife around it.
Speaker 3 00:11:15 Question number three. What is your favorite thing about playing around of golf?
Speaker 2 00:11:22 Honestly, the company I'm with and you know what? A couple of drinks here and there too. Doesn't help
Speaker 3 00:11:27 Question number four. What is the best part of working at this golf course?
Speaker 2 00:11:33 The people I work with for sure.
Speaker 3 00:11:35 And your final question, why do you think everyone should play a round of golf?
Speaker 2 00:11:40 Just bring it back to earth, ground you a little bit. Honestly. Just get out there, hang out with people around you, friends, family, new clients, new people, just get out there and socialize and have fun. And those have been your five questions. So when you get back into the hockey season, apart from or McMurray, yeah. I'm just two hours down the road to lock rubbish.
Speaker 0 00:12:01 Yeah. Okay. Yep. And so how many more years of hockey do you go
Speaker 2 00:12:05 Right now? I don't know. Um, but as of right now, my scholarship is five years. How many years? Or this is my third year now. So technically I still have two more seasons after this year. That's phenomenal. It's an awesome league. It's called the ACAC. We compete against Concordia McKeown, uh, Nate state, red deer college. Lots of great teams out here in Alberta fun
Speaker 3 00:12:26 Fact. The producer used to be a producer for the ACAC sports shows.
Speaker 0 00:12:33 Yeah. Look at you Tanner. Perfect. Yeah. I
Speaker 3 00:12:36 Used to do all the directing for the ACAC hockey, basketball and volleyball.
Speaker 0 00:12:41 Cool. That's awesome. Small world.
Speaker 2 00:12:44 It's amazing what people can, people you can see and meet and find
Speaker 0 00:12:47 The Jack of all trades. So if your
Speaker 1 00:12:50 Life went the direction that you like
Speaker 0 00:12:53 When you finished your scholarship, is this something you would like to try to continue to play in a different way?
Speaker 2 00:12:57 Oh, for sure. Yeah. I know. I've also got the opportunity at, uh, 11 and 12 and 13 to go overseas to Europe and play hockey in the summertime. Yeah. Got to go represent team Canada over there. So I got to go to Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Italy. And that's my dream to honestly, after college would just go play pro in Europe for a couple years. Even if it took me a decade to go play out there, I would love to go play out there. It's a great atmosphere for sports.
Speaker 0 00:13:24 It's one of those things. Um, professional sports, like, yes, you have the major leagues, like the NBA, NHL, NFL, so on so forth. But there are other opportunities to still be a part of the game.
Speaker 2 00:13:36 A hundred percent, a hundred percent it's everywhere around the world has a different view on the sport. And I think just in north America, we really liked the TV attention. Right. But when you go overseas, the way they treat you, you, you are a king out there. You're a rockstar. You rule that town, that city that you were in, people want to come see you meet you no different than playing the NHL here. But it definitely, again, like more, more north America, you see, everyone's more hyped about the TV and out there, you just get different opportunities to go see some great history to go see some great architecture. See some countries that have been around longer than Canada in the USA. That's right. That's
Speaker 0 00:14:12 Right. Very cool. Will do. Thank you so much for coming on the show for having me guys. It's been a pleasure. It's been great. Awesome. It's like one of my favorite episodes. I, when the guests come back, I don't say the show. That's an honor to be here, man. This has been great. So before I let you go, though, everybody gets a shameless, shout out a shameless plug. Anybody want to say hi to anything you want to provoke personally, maybe hockey team. I don't know. This is your segment.
Speaker 2 00:14:41 First shout out to my girlfriend. Like we talked about earlier for coming up here to Fort McMurray, John Adixen, she's an x-ray tech that works at the hospital. So if you need your bones looked at, check out the Fort McMurray. And I also have to give a shout out to my boys beings, Darien Cody, Dane Sali, Spencer bull, Spencer. They got Spencer promoting Spencer open and yeah, all the boys back home in Edmonton, keep it rock and whatever you're doing in life, everyone out there that's listening to this podcast. Just keep doing you and follow your dreams. You'll get there. You really will.
Speaker 0 00:15:10 Awesome. Well, there we go for McMurray, the rest of the world. This has been a pleasure. Thank you for the golf course for having us out. Thanks for being an awesome guest. My name is Alia Pierre. Hopefully you're having a great day.
Speaker 3 00:15:43 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
