When Barrie was a small city, or a big town (say, 26,000 people) its economic development activities were performed by the Chamber of Commerce. Local business people opened their factories to show other business people through. In those days Barrie’s economic foundation centred around manufacturing… Copaco on Innisfil St., Lufkin Rule (later Cooper Tools) on…
Brick walls. Large. Impervious. Thick. Formidable. Fearsome. They happen in our relationships, with our kids, with our physical health, with our mental health. They happen with our work. Sometimes they happen all at once, without warning. Other times they sneak up on us, ignored until the wall is so big we are immobilized. Beverly Bayley…
I was chatting with a young photographer recently. He’s excitedly awaiting the birth of his and his wife¹s first child. Full of enthusiasm and energy, he talked about her maternity leave and his parental leave opportunities. I smiled. Then I celebrated back in 1978 when we had just won six weeks’ maternity leave. It was…
I’m thinking back to the 50’s right now, to that ever popular and much maligned Leave it to Beaver television show. TV was in its infancy and as I look back at its innocence, I realize that while I came to reject some of the principles espoused (especially for dress & stockings & pearls &housemopped…
When Jake* was born his parents had all the excitement, expectation, and generous enthusiasm that every parent has for their baby. They involved him in infant swimming lessons, took him for bike rides on his infant carrier, and moved their lives to completely embrace him., Of course, board books were a big part of Jake’s…
There’s a story out there about an American who¹s name is Charles Plumb. During the Vietnam War in the late 60’s, early 70’s, he was a fighter pilot. He flew from an aircraft carrier. He flew 75 missions before he was shot down, captured and interred in a Communist Prisoner of War (POW) camp in…
Sometimes it takes an outsider to see potential. You know how it is… you get used to what ‘is’ and complacent about what could be. Sometimes until it’s too late. Jim Taylor, City of Barrie Director of Planning Services, was eloquent Monday night, as he looked back to community leaders in the 1960’s. There must…
Well, as we undecorated the tree last night, tucking angels into their boxes, and hoping the vacuum has enough oomph to suck up a bucket of needles, it gave time for reflection. So much focus and energy concentrated on a week or two of winter lights, tissue, laughter and love. Kid two is back at…
One week from today, millions of Canadians will pause. Whether it’s to celebrate the Christian message of the birth of a saviour, or to recognize the importance of peaceful generosity, this is the season of grace and love. (It can also be the season of over-used credit cards, harried shoppers,bitter ‘arrangements’, loneliness, and greed.) Several…
It all started with my new group of business startups. We went through each member of the group, expressing our ‘wish’ items. You know, when you start a business, financial resources are usually stretched to the max. I generally publish a ‘wish list’ for my clients so that people who can help out, can do…