It's very likely that, unless you are a Canadian of a certain age, you have no idea who this guy is. Well, his name is Stompin' Tom Connors and with song titles like "The Hockey Song", 'Emily the Maple Leaf" and "Bud the Spud" he's a canadian icon of epic proportions. So, watch this space for occasional salutes to famous, infamous and even notorious Canadians. Like this one right here...
WHO IS OLIVIA POOLE? Well, I'll tell you...
Olivia Poole grew up on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota and, with her family, moved to British Columbia in the 1950's
As a mother of seven, what came next seems to have been written in the stars - or at least next to those hooks in the ceiling...
Because Olivia's invention was none other than that barf-inducing thrill ride those of us born in the 50s and 60s call The Jolly Jumper. Combining traditional native design and modern technology Olivia artfully answered the question that had been stumping parents for generations:
"Where can I hang my kids when I get bored with them?!"
The Jolly Jumper - consists of a harness which is suspended from the ceiling. The baby is seated in the harness with his/her feet touching the floor. In this position, he/she can bounce up and down, strengthening muscles and keeping him/herself amused at the same time.
By 1959, Olivia and her husband had a factory in North Vancouver which produced several thousand Jolly Jumpers a month. The Pooles later sold the business but their product remains popular. It is estimated that one of every five Canadian babies uses a Jolly Jumper.
Oddly one in every five Canadian adults has or has had a substance abuse problem at some time in their lives - coincidence?!?!
LOOK AT THOSE HAPPY CANADIAN BABIES! JUMP BABIES JUMP!
i referred to the jumper as my 3rd arm. nolan loved his and would spend a good hour in that thing a day. when i would him out, he would hate me for another hour.
Posted by: tamara | February 18, 2005 at 09:46 AM