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…
Column 139 When a few people come up with an idea, help it take shape, and watch it sell out almost instantly… well, you just know you’re onto something great. Early last fall when I wrote about the inaugural four sessions for Barrie’s first Third Age Learning, I also signed on almost immediately. Imagine!…
Patricia O’Connor has been appreciating and working with people on the Autism spectrum, particularly people with Aspergers Syndrome, for many years. They are frequently brilliant, focussed and gifted with great attention to detail. But, just as frequently they are challenged with social relataionships. They are sometimes anti social, and usually very very anxious. Often, despite…
Picture this: it’s your husband’s birthday. (or your significant other) You want to do something different, something that includes fellowship with good friends, good food, great wine, and a permanent reminder of a special evening. So you book for 10 people at Canvas and Cabernet. When you arrive, you’ll have the choice of a number…
Column 136 You can just feel the energy of the Christmas season in the air. Christmas music concerts. Beefed up TV commercials, the suggestion to a child that asking Santa for one gift would be enough, discussions about who’s going where on ‘the day.’ A few friends gathering to make cookies. Others celebrating over…
Column 136 “No, Diana, that doesn’t go in the dumpster! It’s going to one of the grandchildren!” “I’m going to try to take this.” “Let that go for the Goodwill box.” As pragmatically as she has selected music and played the keyboard, Marge Wagner is dealing with the downsizing of a lifetime of possessions….