If we stand in front of a map of the world and put a mark on countries of the poor, countries torn by war, natural disaster, political strife, the globe takes on an air of futility. What can I do? I’m one person. Nothing I do can make a difference. Talk to the Habitat for…
Larry Hurd was sitting in his media room, editing video on his i-Mac. Itwas Wednesday morning. He was focussed on the business video he’d completedfor a website. His newly launched business, Manic Media, was taking shapein his Gilford home studio. He reached absently for the phone when it rang… “Larry Hurd. ManicMedia,” he answered. As…
When Matt Goreski looks at an athlete’s body, he’s looking at the whole picture. As a strength coach with a background in human kinetics, Matt says what’s important is the athlete, their sport, their past injuries, and their goals. Whether it’s a figure skater or a hockey forward, a runner or a football player, each…
When Dave Wittick arrived as the new music teacher in Kapuskasing, it was a dream come true for him. He began a love affair with teaching and a love affair with a young local woman… both relationships have turned into his life’s contributions. As a young couple, Dave and Margo Wittick arrived in Barrie in…
It’s so hard to sit on the sidelines and feel powerless. It’s even harder to figure out how to do something. Though we live in the land of milk and honey, we are faced with our own national dilemmas. But across the ocean, the continent of Africa houses the most disadvantaged people in the world….
I don’t know about you but I have a running grocery list on an antique piece of slate in the kitchen. And until I watched An Inconvenient Truth (the Al Gore film about Global Warming) I didn’t think too much about what was on it. The film made the point that we can reduce gas…
A lot happens at 102 Maple AV in Barrie. This busy house is home to Elizabeth Fry Society, its workers and its members. The basement of the building houses one of this community’s biggest outreach programs… the Grocery Assistance Program. Yes, it’s a second ‘food bank’ and quite necessary for a city this size. Paula…
If you’re a woman, this is for you. If you’re a man, this is for someone you care about… daughter, partner, sister, mom. This event asks the following questions: Have you a healthy, successful balance with your career, family, friends, community and self?Do you wish you had more energy at the end of the day?Are…
Last weekend, onlookers gasped as pumpers from Barrie’s Fire Department activated every possible water system to fight a downtown fire. Michael Brocklebank and Kateryna Kolotylo stood among the crowd, their hearts in their mouths, their futures pounding in their ears. One pumper redirected its power stream next door, and the wooden sign above their european…
In life, there is death. Sounds trite and true, at the same time. But, death leaves us often angry, often sad, and sometimes in awe. When John Alexander died in Barrie two weeks ago, the effect rippled through this community. John’s life touched thousands of people. His death was premature. And those who knew John…