Abby is 4 years old. She was at a day camp, struggling to get into her jacket, and having trouble. The camp leader, in an effort to divert her coat-focus, asked Abby to tell her something about herself. Before Abby could comment, the little girl next to her announced, “I can tell you something about…
For nearly six years now I’ve been lucky enough to spend one day a week babysitting delightful grandchildren. Wednesdays are Gramma D day and off I go to Grey County where five little munchkins in two different households are ready stealers of my heart. When you’ve raised your own kids, managed to change diapers (cloth)…
In two years since opening their hearts and their dancing feet to Barrie, Adam Spadafora and Ashley Wren have coaxed their fledgling dance studio into a full service, fun filled place where people find their comfort on the dance floor. In fact, Lakeside Dance Studio, which has been operating from a third-floor, shared space in…
A week from this Sunday is May 31. If you lived in Barrie in 1985, that date, near suppertime, is frozen in your memory. It’s right there with where you were when John F. Kennedy was killed, and when the towers fell on 9/11. Eight people, two of them young children, died that day. A…
Business relationships. Touchstone of the Barrie business community. Friends. Involvement. A voice for business. When Debbie DeCaire joined the Barrie Chamber of Commerce in 2002, those were her reasons. A particularly active business group, the Barrie Chamber has always ridden the waves of its membership. Strong leadership, exciting programs, lots of activity brings out the…
As Diane Papais Schoneveld stood with her children at their father’s Celebration of Life in January, she was amazed by the people who turned out. “This really matters,” she found herself thinking. She and Mike Schoneveld had met while they worked in the manufacturing plant that was Volkswagen Canada and then, later, Alloyed Wheels International….
Column 143 As Diane Papais Schoneveld stood with her children at their father’s Celebration of Life in January, she was amazed by the people who turned out. “This really matters,” she found herself thinking. She and Mike Schoneveld had met while they worked in the manufacturing plant that was Volkswagen Canada and then, later,…
Column 142 The little girl is 4 when her mom is diagnosed with breast cancer. She is 9 when her mom dies. Her mom dies at home just after the little girl has been sent outside to play. Two children are adopted by their kind aunt who blends these kids with her own after…
Column 141 Barb Sinton just smiled this week when I asked her what husband Floyd did for recreation… “He worked. And he collected old cars!” Floyd Sinton found fun in seizing opportunity and making something of it. At 16 years old he borrowed $900 from his father and bought a 1949 20 passenger International…
Column 140 Eric Kay was 38 years old; he and his wife Bonnie were living in the country, outside of Barrie. Their children were little, in early elementary school. Their careers centred on social services. Life was very good. Every now and then, Eric would have a little attack; it felt like a panic…