Castor canadensis
Turns out my frost-driven pace along the morning trail takes me past new-fallen trees that the night marauders of Slab Creek have targeted. Actually Gord, my neighbour up the road, tipped me off that beavers were going at the trees in the park. I asked him to keep them at the swings, slides and sandbox—there […]
Singularity and the body cam
Edmonton MP Peter Goldring issued a press release that had folks scratching their heads a few days ago. Even after an emergency re-education meeting with the Prime Minister’s Office, followed by a swift retraction, they were still shaking their heads. And that includes me. The retraction was unequivocal: “Earlier today, I issued a press release […]
HO, HO, HO
I am seriously up to my neck in ho, ho, ho. I must be getting old, because it seems as if we just put away all of the decorations and here we are again. The parades have passed. The streets and shop windows are looking their festive best. If you’re a celebrator of the Merry […]
Post Cereal hockey cards
About this time last year, I was pleased to report that the Post Cereal Corporation was unveiling a series of junior hockey cards on its cereal boxes. I have discovered that Post is at it again. My grandson, Hunter, is most pleased with the results. I caught up with Hunter after his game last Saturday […]
A toast
This week, the town of Wellington is saddened and diminished by the passing of two talented men in the prime of their lives. Drew MacCandlish, whose floral designs enhanced so many County weddings, has left a legacy of inspired plantings in the threeacre Oeno Gallery sculpture garden at Huff Estates. For three seasons of the […]
Law our mothers wrote
You may have noted that the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a conservative think tank, recently named the Supreme Court of Canada its “policy maker of the year.” This was an edgy choice, given the Court’s traditional role as an interpreter and applier, not a maker, of the law. The Court earned this award for its decisions halting […]
In any language
Here’s the deal in my world. Santa Claus is coming to town. Yep. As far as I’m concerned, that’s what happens in December. As many of you know, I believe in Santa Claus. And I believe if you’re older than seven, you are old enough to become Santa Claus. I believe in the holiday season […]
Social responsibility
The LCBO was formed in 1927, by the provincial government, to provide alcohol in a socially responsible manner to the citizens of Ontario. Since then, the LCBO has revamped its stores and become perhaps the largest purchaser and retailer of alcohol in the world. We have come a long way from the time when you […]
Non-decision decisions
Someone recently asked Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg why he always wears a grey T-shirt. The questioner actually got a $50 answer to a 99 cent question. It went, in part, like this: “I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything […]
Gift horse
At this time of year, I think of Christmases past. Do you remember when your mom or dad said things like “Never look a gift horse in the mouth?” I do. When I was a kid, I figured I didn’t have a problem since there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in H E double hockey sticks […]