As my first husband and I approach our 38th year of wedded bliss, it occurs to me that there could be pre-marriage tests… you know, the activities one could undertake during that rosy courting stage that might ‘test the metal’ of the potential relationship. Having just completed our eighth household move since walking down the…
Bruce Crofts is a nice person. He sees the best in people and refuses to be defeated by the worst in people. He operates on the sunny side of life. With this attitude, he’s ideally suited to be starting a business devoted to preventing slips and falls… in entryways, bathtubs, bathrooms, restaurants, hospitals, even. And…
“Our life is not measured by the breaths we take, but rather by the moments that take our breath away.” Printed on a slim bookmark, accompanied by the unison flight of doves and the applause of the hopeful, last Friday morning saw the official sod turning for Hospice House. A news item, for sure, with…
Last Thursday I joined three others at Eastview Secondary School to sit on a judges panel of a very different kind. Usually judges are choosing the ‘best’ at something: art, music, speech-making, sports. But last Thursday we were participating in Youth Philanthropic Initiatives, a unique program borne out of earned wealth by visionary Canadians. Let’s…
Anne Murray performed in Kelowna Tuesday night. Victoria Wednesday night. She will do 27 live shows between April 15 and May 23 when she graces Toronto with the final curtain. For 40 years Anne Murray has lived her very talented life, given the world’s music industry absolutely stellar moments, received with great grace at least…
It was the winter of ice and accidents. We watch the disasters on the news and cluck our sympathies to one another, sending out wishes for goodness along the way. The freak trailer gate accident that took the lives of a senior couple two weeks ago … it makes us pause and wonder with sadness….
I read in a financial magazine that 95% of Canadians live within 30 days of bankruptcy. It’s stimulating to imagine your ability to earn screams to a stop, you don’t have a partner, you have a couple of kids. How long could you last? Louise Stinson says it’s a good way to step into the…
What makes a person ‘significant?’ It’s a good question for all of us as we strive to live lives that matter. Two weeks before he died, I found my way to RVH and 4CNorth where the nurses pointed to a room near their station. As I tip toed in, there lay Alf Lower. In his…
During Olympic season we see lots of television advertising about the child who aspires to win Gold, the kid with the hockey bag, lugging it out the door to practice with an NHL contract on his (or her) radar screen. With Barrie being a hockey town, we’ve certainly sent our share of minor hockey players…
As I was wheeling out of the grocery store last week, a kindly man proffered a bunch of daffodils. I went back to use my debit card and get the cash he needed, and it occurred to me that the Salvation Army kettles, and the Cancer Society daffodils and lots of other person-to-person campaigns are…