B.C. senior solves mystery, talks chicken, and sings song on wonder-filled walk
When Barry Devonald went for a walk that day he was striving to solve a mystery surrounding an unexpected sound.
“It goes, ‘Awhoooo,’” Barry says, re-creating what seemed like an animal’s howl.
When asked what he thought caused it, Barry laughs, “A guy going, ‘Awhooo’!”
It certainly wouldn’t be a wolf, seeing as he lives so close to downtown. But then again, there is that neighbour’s chicken.
“I’ll call it,” Barry says after walking over to a fence and imitating a clucking chicken. “Bwak-ak-ak-ak!”
Barry says he first learned to parlez in poultry while growing-up in Northern England.
“This woman used to throw the seeds around to get the chickens to come to her and she would go ‘bwak-ak-ak-ak,’” Barry smiles. “So I try to do the same.”
Barry says the chicken usually comes when he calls and he stops to feed it. Although there’s no sign of it today, Barry is undeterred. His mission remains.
“I’m always looking for something that might attract my attention,” Barry says.
And more than walking around his neighbourhood, Barry says he prefers to wander.
“Most of the time I find something that’s interesting,” Barry smiles.
Which brings us back to that day he was searching for who or what had been howling.
“Oh! It’s here,” Barry smiles, pointing to a large white dog peering out from behind a fence. “There he is!”
Barry calls the creature a “wolf dog” and says he couldn’t be more wonderful.
“It makes me happy,” Barry says.
So happy, the canine’s call of the wild might lead Barry to answer in song.
“I may wander where I please,” Barry starts singing, showcasing his years worth of performing experience.
“I think singing adds to the happiness,” he smiles.
But you don’t need to be a trained singer to get that bursting-into-song sort of feeling.
All you need to do is start looking for the wonder that surrounds you, Barry says, and really see it.
“And this would be a magic world to me,” Barry continues singing on his way back home, with a smile on his face.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CEO of N.B. potato chip company taking 'extended leave of absence' after arrest
The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.
Trudeau says Liberals 'strong and united' despite caucus dissent
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Liberal party is 'strong and united,' despite efforts from within his caucus to oust him as leader.
Memorial growing outside Halifax Walmart where employee was found dead
A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.
Search efforts begin at Prairie Green Landfill: Manitoba government
A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.
'Canadians can breathe a sigh of relief': Bank of Canada Governor on interest rate cut
The Bank of Canada made a sizable cut to its key lending rate Wednesday from 4.25 per cent to 3.75 per cent as the global economy continues to expand. The half percentage point cut is the fourth rate cut in a row by the central bank as inflation dropped from 2.7 per cent in June to 1.6 per cent in September.
'Things are very hard here': Popular Toronto crossing guard asks community for help finding work
He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
BREAKING Turkish jets strike Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria following attack on defence company
Turkiye’s air force struck Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria on Wednesday in apparent retaliation for an attack at a key state-run defence company that killed five people and wounded more than a dozen others.
Air Transat laying off hundreds of flight attendants, says cuts are temporary
Air Transat says it is laying off as many as 400 flight attendants, but plans to bring them back to work at some point.
Justice Department warns Elon Musk that his $1 million giveaway to registered voters may be illegal
The Justice Department warned Elon Musk’s America PAC in recent days that his US$1 million sweepstakes to registered voters in swing states may violate federal law, people briefed on the matter told CNN.