During the 1950s, Charlie’s Barbershop was in the heart of Great Village. It was a two-story building, with the shop on the ground floor and an apartment above it. Charlie’s shop was a single room with large windows facing the road. A red and white striped pole spun outside the door, the universal symbol for … Read more
The Rolling Classroom: Manitoba’s Iconic Tree Planting Cars To understand why this story is so dear to my heart, you will need to know about my relationship with entertainment. For the first few years of my life, entertainment was self-made. We had a radio that ran on big old dry cell batteries that were quite … Read more
From what I was told, William McLean was born in Scotland. He’d travelled by ship across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada. It must have been a scary decision to leave your country and begin a new life in a foreign country. However, he married Alice MacDonald, and together they started their married life on a … Read more
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
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
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
Hi Folks. Today we’re beginning a brand new series that we hope will keep us going for some time to come. We’re calling it REMEMBER WHEN and each week we will focus on something commonplace in most of our lives. This week’s Remember When is about my first car. Â They say you never forget … Read more
My mother and Muriel Henwood had been best friends since their early school days. Their friendship continued throughout the war years, and even after they were both married. Muriel’s husband, Henry Brine, was a miner who worked underground in the Springhill coal mines. During the summer months, Muriel and Henry often visited us on the … Read more
Food Scams Targeting Seniors Hi there! Welcome back to our Monday series, The Food & Memory Connection. Last week, we explored disappearing Canadian recipes. Today, we’re shifting gears to something that makes my blood boil: the food-related scams specifically designed to target seniors. These aren’t just annoying marketing tactics—they’re deliberate schemes that prey on your … Read more
The Disappearing Recipes Hi there! Welcome back to our Monday series, The Food & Memory Connection. Last week, we covered kitchen safety. Today, we’re exploring something bittersweet: the traditional Canadian dishes that are quietly vanishing from our tables—and what we lose when they disappear. These aren’t just recipes. They’re pieces of Canadian history, regional identity, … Read more
Kitchen Safety After 60 Hi there! Welcome back to our Monday series, The Food & Memory Connection. Last week, we talked about eating well on a fixed income. Today, we’re addressing something that doesn’t get discussed enough: kitchen safety as we age. Because the kitchen—the heart of the home, where we’ve cooked thousands of meals—can … Read more
After 30 years of marriage, Laura, his wife and soulmate, lost her fight with cancer. They’d known it wasn’t a winnable fight, but as a team, they’d laughed and cried through all the operations, chemo, and radiation treatments. In December, just a few days before Christmas, she passed away in her sleep at home. The … Read more
The confetti has been swept up. The noise of the party is gone. Now, we face the quiet of January 1st. But in Canada, the first day of the year has its own unique set of rituals—some dignified, and some downright crazy. The “First Footing” Especially here in the Maritimes, with our deep Scottish roots, … Read more
The Party Night Long before we worried about “curated playlists” or catered appetizers, the best New Year’s Eve parties happened right in the living room. The furniture was pushed against the walls. The rug was rolled up to make a dance floor. And in the dining room, the table groaned under the weight of the … Read more
The Soundtrack of Memory For a certain generation of Canadians, New Year’s Eve didn’t sound like rock and roll or screaming crowds in Times Square. It sounded like “The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven.” For nearly 50 years, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians were the official soundtrack of December 31st. Whether you were … Read more
When my twin brother and I were about seven or eight, there was an outbreak of measles at our school. Measles is caused by a virus that spreads rapidly. In the early stages, when kids coughed, sneezed or talked, they would unknowingly spray droplets in the air. Anyone close enough to breathe in the droplets … Read more
Hi there, and Merry Christmas from Canadian Senior Moment. Christmas morning. Even saying those words brings it all back—the early wake-up, the excitement, the family gathered together, the chaos and joy all mixed up in a few precious hours. We’ve celebrated dozens of Christmas mornings in our lives. As children receiving. As parents giving. Now … Read more
Hi there. Welcome to Canadian Senior Moment. Christmas Eve. Even now, decades into adulthood, those two words carry a special kind of magic—the anticipation, the rituals, that feeling that something wonderful is about to happen. Tonight, as Christmas Eve arrives once again, let’s take a moment to remember how we celebrated this special night then, … Read more
When Food Doesn’t Taste Right Anymore Hi there! Welcome back to our Monday series, The Food & Memory Connection. Last week, we talked about cooking for one without giving up. Today, we’re addressing something many of you have mentioned but rarely gets discussed openly: what happens when food just doesn’t taste right anymore. Maybe your … Read more
When to Say “No Gifts This Year” (And Mean It) Hi there! Welcome back to Canadian Senior Moment. This week we’ve explored thoughtful budget gifts and the power of experience gifts. Today, we’re tackling the hardest topic: when it’s right to say “no gifts this year”—and how to do it with confidence, love, and zero … Read more