I never thought I’d see it but I was pan-handled in Ft. McMurray.

I young fellow, not properly dressed, approached me at the mall last week. Being a former downtown Vancouver resident, I quickly brushed him off. He tried a second time, pouring out the ‘just moved here from Halifax and trying to get established’ line. I just smiled and waved and walked on.

Rather ironic that the richest town in Alberta has pan-handlers?

Maybe not. It would certainly be a good scam if you played it right. There is a certain element of society who exhibit no moral standards and would happily part good citizens from their hard earned cash any way they could.

But I was still surprised that it happened at all.