Funny how we need a day of the year to celebrate love… But, since we do, it’s good to reflect for a moment on the many kinds of love we have in our lives. Many of us know this, many wouldn’t believe it, but there’s a lot of love happening in the workplace (I don’t…

When Major General Lewis MacKenzie spoke in Barrie earlier this week, he yanked our collective chains about who and what Canadians are. He calls Canada the world’s reluctant hero, and points out that we’re the only people when voted as the number one country in the world in which to live, respond with apology… “oh,…

All of us in the photography, communications, publishing worlds in Barrie breathed a heavy sigh last week. The man who anchored much of our work died very suddenly on January 18. George Mackie’s name conjures up its individual image for every person who knew him. George would be very surprised at ripples of angst his…

Picture this… it’s 6:30 am. (I am not a morning person). I stuff the hem of my nightgown into my fleece jogging pants, add a fleece jacket and an overjacket, wrapping a scarf around my face, popping a hat on my head. Fleece mittens. Big boots. A plastic bag. And extenda-leash. It’s really dark. Ice…

When I first met Ken Wiseman he was living in his car, and focussing on his idea. And the reason I want to tell you about Ken this week is that in three years, he’s stayed focussed on his idea, moving carefully along in his business, and continuing to excel at what he does. And…

So… you’ve got one of the few full time jobs left on the planet. You commute to Toronto, grinding it out, putting in more time on asphalt than anywhere else. And somehow in the back of your mind that business idea keeps popping up, luring you. Or, you’re unemployed right now. Your employment insurance has…

By now we’ve likely all had it up to here with Millenium stories, covers proclaiming this or that person is the musician, politician, athlete, philanthropist, teacher, writer etc of the century. And it seems to me a ridiculous measurement to say that any one person is the most significant. How, unless you’ve been an adult…

There’s a nifty hair stylist operating out of her home in Barrie’s south end. Her name’s Felicia and if I was called on to use five words to describe her, I’d say: positive, optimistic, energetic, kind, gracious. She’s also a woman of few words, but her clippers tell her story. Felicia is carving out her…

For many of us, D Day is on Saturday and we’re screaming through our lives, determined that it will all be perfect, that the picture books will be true. Gifts beautifully wrapped, white linen tablecloth and napkins (ironed Christmas Eve, once they were found in the bottom of the laundry basket, washed, dried and wrinkled…

Ever look around your house and feel buried by your possessions? Well, I was visiting a friend of mine recently. She and her husband have moved into a spacious new condo. It’s sleek and uncluttered, and comfortable. What makes it feel spacious, however, is the total lack of clutter of any kind. Understated. Classy. That’s…