Embracing the Opportunity
The experts predicted the pandemic would produce a baby boom, with all those young parents-to-be sitting at home having nothing else to do. But the experts were wrong: they obviously hadn’t taken into account the adverse effects on fecundity that Netflix-binging would have. Instead, according to a report in last week’s Globe and Mail, Canada’s […]
She/her/hers
I think I might be old. Yep, I could be. The thing is, if I don’t look in the mirror I’m just sort of thirty-five-ish. The mirror, however, doesn’t lie. Like any “old” person, I don’t mind the seniors’ discounts or the government pensions. Sometimes I get a bit upset when I’m called “Ma’am” or […]
The earth is good to me
It’s Sunday. I’m writing this column. The last of our Thanksgiving guests have just departed. The house is quiet, once again. I am thankful for the chaos. I am thankful for the quiet. It’s been much more than a decade since I wrote my first column for The Times. I am grateful to Rick who […]
Three Takeaways
At the end of last week, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its decision in the appeal against Doug Ford’s 2018 downsizing of Toronto city council. The move was made by Mr. Ford after the candidates for 47 seats on the council had already begun their campaigns. Fortyseven wards became 25 wards; and people had […]
I know better
When I was a kid my mother often said, “You should know better.” In most cases, I should have known better. But I do remember asking how I could know better if I didn’t know what I was supposed to know better. My mom told me to use my head, then gave me “the look”. […]
After Justin Trudeau
As this article was written on Monday—before the election results had come in—it looked like Canadians had bought themselves another minority government, probably a Liberal one. What does that mean for Justin Trudeau? Is he near the end of his political shelf life? For those who want him to pack up and go, two minorities […]
Good Day Campers!
Well, well, well, LOML and I finally did get to have a camping experience this year. In spite of ten and half hours of torrential rain on our first night out, we had a great time. We weren’t here, in our house. We weren’t glued to the media offerings on COVID-19 cases. We weren’t depressed […]
The tennis versus the debate
It’s all Justin Trudeau’s fault. If he hadn’t precipitated the federal election, there wouldn’t have been a leaders’ debate last Thursday night. And that would have avoided a viewing conflict between the debate and the remarkable win of Layleh Fernandez to advance to the U.S. Open women’s singles final. Msl. Fernandez took the scalps of […]
Forever 9/11
Before 9/11, people used to ask, “Where were you when the lights went out in 1965?” That question would open the door for the outpouring of oodles of stories. Those stories were about being on a bus or stuck in traffic or waiting in a line or being at work or cooking a meal or […]
Labouring the day
Labour Day Weekend! When I was an employee, Labour Day Weekend hailed the end of the summer and if I played my cards right I could line up a five day weekend. But, by the time this hits the Times’ boxes, Labour Day 2021 will be in the history books. At our house, Labour Day […]