Hi there. Welcome back as we continue our series on finding steadiness in the shifting seasons of life. In our younger years, we often approach happiness with a sense of caution. We’ve all felt that nagging worry that if things are going too well, a setback must be lurking just around the corner. This “waiting … Read more
Hi there. Welcome back to “Your Canadian Senior Moment.” Yesterday, I attended the funeral of a colleague who was only two years older than I am. Moments like those have a way of pulling the rug out from under your feet. They force a quiet, sombre reflection on the timeline we are all traveling and … Read more
Someone suggested last week that I should share some of my school day memories in this Monday, Remember When segment. As it just so happens I have a lot of them so I’ve decided to do this in parts. At the moment I’m not sure how many parts that will be, but hopefully it will … Read more
Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re celebrating with a lifelong partner, family, or just treating yourself to an extra-large chocolate, we hope your weekend is filled with a bit of extra warmth. It’s been a reflective week here, and amidst the colder winds, it’s nice to have a day dedicated to the people who make the … Read more
“Can You Feel It?” — Calgary Welcomes the World On February 13, 1988, the eyes of the world turned to Calgary, Alberta, as the XV Winter Olympic Games officially began. It was a defining moment for Canada. The Opening Ceremony at McMahon Stadium was a spectacle of western hospitality, despite the freezing temperatures and the … Read more
The Secret to a Long Marriage (Is It Two Blankets?) This Saturday is Valentine’s Day. If you walk into any store right now, you are bombarded with red hearts, expensive chocolates, and cards that say, “You are my soulmate.” That is the Hollywood version of love. But those of us who have been married for … Read more
A Text Message Will Never Last 50 Years With Valentine’s Day coming up, millions of digital messages will be sent this Saturday. Emojis of hearts, quick “Luv U” texts, and funny GIFs. They are instant, efficient, and… completely temporary. I was rummaging through a box in the closet recently and found a bundle of letters … Read more
“Going Steady” and The Terror of the Front Porch I read an article the other day about how young people date now. Apparently, they “swipe left” or “swipe right” on their phones. There is no introduction, no nervousness, and certainly no meeting the parents—at least not at first. It got me thinking about the Rules … Read more
When I was growing up on the Canadian Prairies, the Eaton’s Christmas catalogue was the most read publication in our house. That is saying a lot, because any printed material was highly valued. The Country Guide and The Western Producer were near the top of the list, but the Christmas Catalogue was in a league … Read more
“This Sunday, I want to share a personal story about friendship and how it sometimes shows up in unexpected ways.” Today I want to tell you about a guy called Ross St. Quintin. Ross lives in a suburb of Perth, Australia, with his lovely wife, Jan. They have three grown daughters and a few grandchildren … Read more
Happy Weekend, Friends! Love is in the air this week… but unfortunately, so are the scammers. With Valentine’s Day coming up next Saturday, we want to start this roundup with a very timely warning. 🚨 Scam Alert: The “Sweetheart Swindle” The week leading up to Valentine’s Day is the busiest time of year for Romance … Read more
“Canada’s Sweetheart” Strikes Gold On February 6, 1948, 19-year-old Barbara Ann Scott of Ottawa skated her way into history—and our hearts. At the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, she won Canada’s first-ever gold medal in figure skating. It wasn’t just a win; it was a coronation. Skating on an outdoor rink that had been … Read more
We have spent the last few days talking about connection—how to find a safe, quiet corner of the internet to meet friends and share hobbies. But community isn’t just about chatting. It is also about growing. There is a Japanese concept called ikigai, which roughly translates to “a reason for being.” It suggests that happiness … Read more
Yesterday, we talked about the “noise” of the internet—that feeling of being in a crowded room where everyone is shouting. Today, let’s talk about the alternative: finding a room where people are actually talking about the things you love. One of the great myths about getting older is that our circles naturally shrink. We retire, … Read more
It’s Tuesday morning. The coffee is hot, the house is quiet—maybe a little too quiet—and outside, the Canadian winter is doing its best to keep us indoors. For many of us, this is the time of day when the iPad or the laptop comes out. We log on, looking for… well, something. A distraction? A … Read more
We’re going to spend some time this week talking about the internet and how we connect today. But long before Facebook, Twitter, or “Group Chats,” we had the original social network. The Party Line. If you grew up on the Prairies like I did (or really, anywhere rural in Canada back then), you know exactly … Read more
Good morning, friends! We hope you are keeping warm. As we turn the calendar from January to February this weekend, the winter carnival season is officially kicking into high gear across the country. Whether you are brave enough to venture out into the snow or prefer to watch the festivities from a warm window with … Read more
Welcome back to our Friday history recap. We have some interesting bits for you this week. January 30, 1923: The Birth of CN Rail On this day, the Grand Trunk Railway was officially integrated into the Canadian National Railways (CNR). This was a massive moment for Canadian infrastructure. The federal government took over the struggling … Read more
We often look at our lives through the lens of the everyday—the chores, the shifts, the quiet moments on the porch. We tend to think that because we weren’t world leaders or famous explorers, our stories are just “ordinary.” But if there is one thing I have learned in my 70-plus years, it is this: … Read more
From the 60th Parallel to Miami, and All Points Between They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I’m not sure who “they” are, but I suspect they never spent 43 years wrestling a long-haul rig through a whiteout blizzard in the Kootenays or navigating the sweltering, … Read more