Category: community

Posted on in canadiana, community, nature, travel

Tales from the Rock

1965 poster promoting Newfoundland as the Happy Province

While Newfoundland is known for its rugged coastlines, desolate but breathtaking barrens, and magnificent mountains, anyone “from away” who has visited this beautiful land will tell you it’s the warmth and friendliness of the people who make Newfoundland such a special place. In the 1960’s, the provincial government even adopted the tagline, “the Happy Province” for Newfoundland. Every local had a story. Here are some of my favourite tales from the Rock.

****

“Arya here fordasquid?” We had just walked through the front door of Parkers Blue Water Inn in Triton when a friendly bustling woman with a broom in her hand greeted us in a strange tongue.

“Pardon,” I said, thinking she was speaking a foreign language.

“Are ya here for da squid?” she said, pointing to a plastic bag on the floor.

I still didn’t have a clue what she was saying, but luckily she gleaned we weren’t there for the squid, but to stay for the night. She explained her husband was a squid fisherman and there was a lady coming by that morning to pick up an order of squid. We watched some local fishermen fish for squid in the bay as we ate our supper that night. It’s been one of the best squid fishing years in Newfoundland with the lads sometimes hauling in a catch of $5,000 a day. “Are ya here for da squid” became our mantra for the trip.

***

We had stopped to see the exhibit at the Gander airport, once the largest airport in the world. With the 25th anniversary of 911 coming up, the stories and images of the 38 planes and 7,000 passengers stranded in Gander when the US shut down its airspace was especially poignant.

I heard one Come from Away story a few days later as I was standing in the Brigus tunnel. A gentleman told me he was a Search and Rescue pilot based out of Gander when the 38 planes were rerouted and landed in Gander. He was a critical member of the team during those first few chaotic days when they were trying to get people and dogs and monkeys and cargo off the planes.

He and a buddy had been told to help unload one plane from Antwerp which had a bunch of sealed bags in the hold. They didn’t know what to do with the bags, so they carried them to the back of one of the hangars and stored them behind a stairwell. A few days later, the RCMP, special security and Belgian officials started interviewing airport personnel about where the bags had gone. Nobody seemed to know what had happened to the bags.

They finally asked him, and he said, “Right, sure, I know where they are,” and led them to the staircase. They opened the bags to ensure nothing had gone missing. The one RCMP officer said to him, “Did you know what was in the bags?” When he said no, the officer told him there had been $6 billion in bonds and notes.

He later told me, “I know they were looking for Come from Away stories. I probably should have shared that story.”

***

On a rainy afternoon in St. John’s, we took refuge at the Newfoundland Embassy pub. I sat next to Fred who was elegantly sipping a glass of port while listening to traditional Irish session players. Fred looked like Captain Ahab from Moby Dick. He had a long white beard and twinkly eyes and the gift of the gab and was only missing the yellow sailor’s hat. I commented that his drink choice was very sophisticated and he asked the waitress to get the bottle down from the top shelf, then proceeded to tell me the story of Newman’s Port.

In the 1600 and 1700’s, Portuguese port was one of the favourite spirits of the British artistocracy. Bottles of port were shipped to London each year. In 1679, in what can only be considered a serendipitous act of fate, one of the vessels carrying the precious cargo was targeted by privateers and beset by a fierce storm forcing the ship off course and across the ocean to St. John’s where it became stranded over the harsh winter.

When spring arrived, the ship continued on its voyage to England. When it finally landed, they noticed something extraordinary: the port that had spent the freezing winter in Canada tasted significantly smoother and richer. They didn’t know whether it was the humidity or temperature, but the wine aged in Newfoundland was superior. The company started aging all its port in Newfoundland, and if you find an older bottle today, it will say “Matured in Newfoundland” on it.

The practice stopped in 1997 when the Portuguese government decreed that all port must be bottled in Portugal. Fred entertained me with his stories and one liners, like “There are no volcanoes in the Avalon peninsula. Do ye know why?” I took a sip of beer as I shook my head no. “Because there is no lava there.” (Avalon backwards spells ‘no lava’.)

*****

“Come here, it’s hidden, but it’s very interesting,” said Danny O’Brien at the top of Signal Hill in St. John’s. He wanted me to see the remains of the taproom built on the cliff of the battery to keep the soldiers away from civilians on George Street. At one time, the tap room and later barracks were a bustling concern, but the inhospitable weather on the hill drove the soldiers into town and the taproom was left to ruins.

I learned a lot about Danny in the short conversation we had standing on the hill overlooking the city. He spent the early part of his career working long days in construction, then suddenly found himself with time on his hands when he went to work as a facilities manager at Memorial University. He started running and was planning to run a half-marathon in October from Cape Spear to St. John’s. In his spare time, he picked up and drove hikers on the East Coast Trail to the next leg of the trail.

***

Many of the stories we heard in Newfoundland were captured in song. At the Captain’s Pub in Twillingate, Mike Sixonate regaled us with a story for every song. Mike was also the guy who screeched me in. One of my favourite stories was about him saving up enough to buy a sailboat, then sailing it around the lighthouse to find a safe berth before a big storm.

His famous line was “your first trip to Newfoundland is a bit like a spank on the arse. You’re not sure if you like it, but it starts to grow on ya.” Mike’s coming to Ontario at the end of October to play a series of dates with Arthur O’Brien of The Navigators. You can find the list of his Ontario venues and dates here. Here’s Mike singing The Twillingate Tickle.

***

At the Cozy Tea Room in Twillingate, we met Joyce, one of two sisters who ran the shop. Joyce was turning 80 next year and shared the same birthday as me but wasn’t sure how much longer she was going to keep the tea room open. When we expressed our surprise that some of the local restaurants and attractions were already closing down for the season, she said we had to go see the polar bear in the Durrell Museum and told us the story of the bear.

One day back in March 2000, she was having a cup of tea when she looked across the bay and saw a polar bear in her neighbour’s back yard. She called her neighbour on the phone and said, “Edith, you’re not going to believe this, but there’s a polar bear in your backyard!” The bear had made land on an ice flow and was wandering through the village. Due to safety risks, the authorities put the bear down, but the hide was returned to the town for the museum.

Polar bear in the Durrell Museum in Twillingate

***

At Gros Morne National Park, we got to know some of the people who work in the park and call it home. On our first night, we attended an Indigenous sharing circle at the Lobster Cove lighthouse and met Marcella, the park’s Indigenous interpreter. Sitting in a circle with people from around the globe, we learned about the Mi’kmaq peoples, their traditions and way of life. Marcella said we could ask her anything, and the session, which was supposed to be an hour, turned into a two and a half-hour intimate experience where we discussed residential schools, Truth and Reconciliation and the connection to the land we all live on.

Woman demonstrating Newfoundland ugly stick

Gros Morne’s Indigenous interpreter, Marcella, demonstrating the traditional Newfoundland ugly stick

We learned the connection to the park was strong for the people who worked there. Earlier that day, we had chatted with two of the crew members of the boat that took us up the Western Brook Pond fjord. They spent their winters in the park, hunting and snowmobiling and showed us pictures of the park blanketed in snow. Later that evening, we sat around the wood stove at one of the park’s comfort stations with three young guys who were taking their Masters in Physiotherapy at the University of Toronto and Walter, one of the park wardens. What started out as a quick stop to charge our phones quickly turned into an impromptu party, with the guys grabbing their smores and me our bottle of Cabot Maple Cream.

When Walter found out our new friends had forgotten to pack a pot with their gear, he loaned them one of his own he keeps as a stash to help campers in the park. He brought a load of wood and even built a fire for us and told us stories of moose hunting in the park. When hunters shoot a moose there, they have to take it out in chunks on their backs. One time, it took him and his friends eight hours to transport a huge bull they had shot. He had an impressive set of moose antlers he loaded into the truck to show us. What a great guy.

Man holding moose antlers

I’m grateful for all the wonderful people we met during our brief time in Newfoundland. Hopefully some day, I’ll be lucky enough to hear more tales from the Rock.

Posted on in arts, community, entertainment, health and wellness, lake living, lifestyle, retirement

The best kind of tired

Two women at an outdoor music festival

It’s been a busy stretch and I’m tired. But I’m very grateful because it’s the best kind of tired. The kind of tired you choose.

The kind where your face still has a warm glow on a cool summer’s evening after spending most of the day in the fresh air and sunshine. The kind where your eyes burn in the back of their sockets from too many late nights catching up with family and friends and listening to music under the stars. The kind where you feel physically tired from leading an active life.

When I was working, I was tired all the time but it was the worst kind of tired.

The kind where your mind was frantic and stressed, thinking of a million things at once. The kind from running non-stop from the moment you woke up until the moment you flopped onto the couch at night in an exhausted heap.

The kind where your back and shoulders ached from sitting in a chair for eight hours a day, five days a week. The kind where you became cross-eyed and glassy-eyed from staring at a screen until your eyes start seeing double from the eye strain. The kind of tired no one chooses.

This week’s #HappyAct is to choose the best kind of tired. Or just screw it, and go for a nap.

Ed. note: the picture above is of me and my friend Cathy Christmas at the Mackinnon Brothers Back to the Farm musical festival. Cathy was at two of the same music events as I was this past week so I’m sure she’s the best kind of tired right now too.

Posted on in arts, canadiana, community, entertainment, pop culture, travel

Forever Hip

New Tragically Hip mural in Kingston

This is a big week in Kingston. It’s the tenth anniversary of The Tragically Hip’s final concert and the limestone city has been buzzing with Forever Hip tributes and events all summer long.

I remember the first time I saw the Hip. It was at Ontario Place in 1991, the days when acts were free with admission to the grounds, and you’d spread out on the grass under the stars. There was an elderly Chinese women in front of us, and as soon as The Hip started playing, she started gyrating and dancing, her arms and legs flailing from her tiny body like she was possessed. That was the power of The Hip.

Fast forward to August 20, 2016. The Hip’s emotional final concert. Armed with will and determination and grace, too, frontman Gord Downie captivated a nation and gave the performance of his cancer-ending life, his poise, strength and spirit emanating from the stage. Courage, my word.

The Hip will forever be our hometown boys. VisitKingston has a list of all the Forever Hip events happening this week. Must sees are Choir, Choir, Choir featuring the songs of the Hip in market square this Thursday at 7 with special guests Miss Emily, The Abrams and Abby Stewart. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the lads shows up to join the singalong. And you won’t want to miss the showing of their final concert on Saturday night. It will be a night to remember and to honour our hometown boys.

If you’re from out of town and planning to come to Kingston this week for Hip celebrations, here are some Hip spots to check out:

  • The Hip sign at Slush Puppy Place
  • The new mural of the band opposite Hotel Dieu hospital on Brock Street
  • Music from miles around, a free exhibit in City Hall sponsored by Empire Life chronicling the musical roots of the limestone city, with Hip artifacts including Gord’s hat from their final performance
  • Gord Edgar Downie pier
  • The commemorative stone in market square with the lyrics, “Everybody was in it for miles around”

Have a hip week.

Posted on in community, entertainment, sports, travel

Rodeo kings

It was my first rodeo, and it was a buckin’ good time.

On Saturday night, we went to the Lansdowne Rodeo. I’ve never been to a rodeo and I thought it might be a shticky, gimmicky event like WWE wrestling, but I was wrong. It was a ropin, stompin, buckin’ hell of a ride and good time right out of the gate.

We arrived at the Lansdowne Agricultural grounds and parked in a big field. Spectators were already tailgating as the moon and stars started to rise in the sky above the water tower. We staked out our seats in the grandstand, then checked out the food trucks, and vendors while sipping on ice cold beers. I liked being able to pet the heifers and the sheep in the pens.

At 7 pm sharp, the action started with the bull riders. These were no tame bulls. These were massive 1,800 pound bulls who kicked their hind legs, flailing and thrashing the minute they left the pen. They can actually leap up to four feet in the air and have been known to vault over a fence. A few of the competitors were able to stay on past 8 seconds for the highest scores. One guy got hurt when the bull stepped on his leg.

One thing I’ve learned: bull riding is the craziest, most dangerous sport I’ve ever witnessed. Why anyone on God’s earth would willingly get up on a buckin’ bull is beyond me, but man, it was exciting.

Next was steer wrestling where riders wrestle a calf to the ground and breakaway roping where female riders rope a calf. It was incredible to see the athleticism of the competitors riding at breakneck speed while whirling the rope around their head, waiting for the perfect moment to lasso the cow. A third event, tie-down roping involves the rider roping the calf, then dismounting and tying three of its legs together as quickly as possible.

If you really want to appreciate the speed and skill of the riders, then barrel racing is your event. A rider on a horse bursts out of the pen and rides hellbent around three barrels strategically placed in the ring. The speed of the riders as they streaked across the ring was incredible.

They even had an event for kids six and under, mutton busting. Picture a five-year old wearing a helmet clinging onto the back of a sheep for dear life. I muttered under my breath, what parent would allow their child to try to do this, then laughed when the little boy two seats down from us took top prize for staying on the longest.

Between events, the music was pumping and Gildo the rodeo clown entertained the crowd.

At the end of the night, we hit the after party and danced to our favourite country songs in the big historic barn.

The Black Creek Rodeo Company is a family run business based in Edwards Ontario. You can find a list of their upcoming rodeos in Ontario on their website, including a special Broncs and Tonks Rodeo and Concert in Ottawa at the end of August featuring Dean Brody and the Reklaws. Or you can listen to their La Grange Rodeomax podcast to hear the history of rodeo in Ontario, their bucking bull breeding program and the skinny on all the events.

This week’s #HappyAct is to break out your chaps and cowboy hats and get yourself to a rodeo this summer.

Lansdowne Fairgrounds
Cowboy hats
Sheep in a pen
Cattle in a pen
Cowboys at the Lansdowne Fair
Posted on in arts, community, entertainment, Historical, travel

Make Kingston your happy place this summer

I have now lived more than half of my life in this beautiful corner of eastern Ontario, calling the area north of Kingston home. Dave and I often say it was the smartest decision we ever made (including having kids!)

And yet, I’m often astonished how many people I meet from southern Ontario or Quebec who have never been to downtown Kingston. They’ve stopped here travelling between Toronto and Montreal. But their only impression of our fair city is a plethora of gas stations and fast food restaurants off the 401.

Kingston is, in a word, simply…wonderful. From its vibrant patios and waterfront, to its historic buildings and world-class tourist attractions, thriving arts and music scene, and festivals all summer long, it delights all ages. So in the spirit of Destination Canada and travelling local this year*, I invite you to explore Kingston this summer. Here is my top ten list for things to do in the limestone city.

  1. Watch the Queen’s Golden Gaels football team, hot off their amazing 2025 season take on their rivals at Richardson Stadium in August or September. Our newly rebuilt stadium (in 2016) is a true gem. Catch some rays, have a beer and cheer on the Gaels to victory.
  2. Do a haunted walk. Kingston has many haunted buildings (I worked in one—the Empire Life historic building). Hear the grisly and ghostly tales and admire the architecture as you ramble through some of our wonderful old neighbourhoods.
  3. Kingston Penitentiary Tour. I’ve done this tour three times and it never disappoints. Tour the grounds and the cellblocks of Canada’s most notorious prison. After, spend an hour at the Kingston Penitentiary Museum, one of my favourite little museums in Canada.
  4. Tour the SS Kewatin, the beautiful steam passenger vessel older than the titanic at the Great Lakes Museum. Kingston was lucky enough to secure this grand old dame in 2023. I haven’t toured her yet—it’s on my list for this summer.
  5. Movies in the Square: Still one of my favourite things to do on a Thursday night in the summer. Downtown Kingston will be announcing their line-up soon.
  6. Stroll or bike along the waterfront. Most people stick to Confederation Basin near city hall. Venture further west to Battery Park, City Park, the walkways behind the Tett Centre (stop at the Juniper Café for a coffee or cold beer) towards Lake Ontario Park.
  7. The downtown is a hub of free music, festivals and events in the summer months. My recommendations: HomeGrown Live featuring all local performers this Saturday, May 2 (get there early—all the venues get packed as the day goes on!), Art after Dark later this month and Buskers Rendezvous in July. Hot off the presses: Kingston has replaced its popular BluesFest with a new festival called The RoadTrip Music Festival on September 12, 2026.
  8. Take the free ferry from Kingston to Wolfe Island and listen to some live music and have a drink at the Wolfe Island Hotel or spend the day at Big Sandy Bay Beach ($20 per person and a kilometre hike in)
  9. Fort Henry is always fun to visit, but elevate your experience by taking in one of their special events or sunset ceremonies. Plan to have a beer at the battery bar overlooking Lake Ontario and Kingston—one of the best views around. Admission to the fort is free for kids 17 and under with the Canada Strong Pass.
  10. Number ten is a toss up between hiking at Lemoine’s Point, and exploring the streets of Barriefield, a heritage village. If you choose Barriefield, be sure to stop into the Frontenac County Schools Museum, a quaint one-room school house.
  11. BONUS Number eleven! Admission is free to Bellevue House, the home of Sir John A. Macdonald from June 19 to September 7 as part of the Canada Strong pass again this year.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t urge you to spend at least one day hiking, fishing, or biking on one of our beautiful trails or lakes in South Frontenac where I live.

This week’s #HappyAct is to come to Kingston and spend a few days this summer. For all my friends from out of town, consider this your invite to come visit us. I’d be happy to play tour guide for you!

Queen's Gaels playing at Richardson Stadium

Queen’s Golden Gaels playing at Richardson Stadium

Movies in the Square in Kingston

Watching Wicked last summer in Market Square

Kingston sign

When Dave’s cousins Alison and David visited last summer from BC, we had to take their picture in the Kingston sign!

Posted on in community, environment, lake living, lifestyle, mental health, nature, Technology and social media

Happiness in a dangerous time

Mist on a shoreline of a lake

“One day you’re waiting for the sky to fall
The next you’re dazzled by the beauty of it all”

I was listening to a cool chill mix on Spotify the other day, and they played Bruce Cockburn’s Lovers in a Dangerous Time. This line seemed to personify how we’re all feeling right now, waiting for the sky to fall like Chicken Little*.

We all have different coping mechanisms. I’m ashamed to admit mine is to retreat into my writing and to my little lake where I can watch the mist rise on the shoreline, listen to the birdsong, and wait for the spring crocuses to appear. Escapism at its finest.

In my heart, I know this is no solution. I wish I was a better person. I wish I was like Carol, the wife of a fellow proctor at Queen’s University who officially retired years ago but keeps working at an outreach program operating out of one of the churches in Kingston, helping people on the street get warm food and shelter. Her response to the unfathomable problem of homelessness and drug use is to volunteer and make a difference.

Or like the millions of Americans in all 50 US states who took to the streets in the No Kings protests yesterday to raise their voices against Trump and his administration’s policies.

That’s not me. I choose to cope by living my small life, making a difference where I can.

Perhaps the ever wise and socially and environmentally conscious Cockburn has provided us with the answer. When the world seems out of control, look for the dazzling beauty in it all.

A magnificent sunrise or sunset. A child’s smile or laughter. The first snow drops or bluebells peeping through the frozen ground. Signs of hope and renewal.

Now it’s your turn to share. What do you do to cope when the world seems to be falling apart and you’re waiting for the sky to fall? Leave a comment below.

 *a European folk tale about a chicken who believes the world is ending

Posted on in ageing, arts, community, health and wellness, mental health, science of happiness

A new prescription for better health in Canada

Heart with puzzle pieces

In November 2025, The Toronto Star ran an opinion piece called, “How the arts can help cure the loneliness epidemic. It’s called a social prescription and it’s catching on.”

Social prescribing is a relatively new philosophy and practice in health care. It involves health practitioners writing prescriptions for their patients to participate in social or physical activities, just like a prescription for traditional medicine.

Instead of asking, “what’s the matter with you?”, health care professionals ask, “what matters to you?” to prescribe activities that help patients build strong community connections improving their overall health.

The United Kingdom has been at the leading edge of social prescribing. In 2023, doctors in the UK wrote more than one million social prescriptions for patients to participate in social, cultural and nature activities. These patients saw their doctors 40% less than the regular population saving the health care system $2,400 per person.

Social prescribing is starting to take off in Canada too. A University of Toronto researcher started the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) in 2022 in response to the after effects of COVID-19. A national organization anchored by the Canadian Red Cross, it connects people and practices, shares knowledge and gathers data to influence policies to strengthen health and community care. There’s even a Social Prescribing Day in Canada (March 19) and week, filled with lectures and events.

I have to confess when I first read about social prescribing, I was a bit put out. Have we really come to a point where we need to rely on health care professionals to tell us to get out of the house and get active or be social? There is enough strain on the health care system already. I’m pretty sure my doctor has better things to do than discuss whether signing up for a watercolours class, drum circle or swimming lessons would improve my mental or physical health.

Some of these programs however can be expensive, even cost prohibitive for individuals. One solution is for insurance companies to offer a certain amount of coverage each year ($200-$400) as part of their benefits program for employees to participate in these types of programs, similar to the amounts allocated for physio, massage and chiropractic services.

Another solution is for employers as part of their health and wellness offerings to subsidize these programs. It’s not as crazy as you think. Good employers now offer a wide array of perks or provide financial support for programs and services that contribute to their employees’ wellbeing, such as gym memberships, fitness equipment, and educational courses.

As someone who writes, I was interested to find out that one of the organizations CISP has partnered with is the Writers Collective of Canada, which runs between 20-30 free workshops a week in major cities across Canada.

I can attest to the great value, friendship and social connection I’ve discovered through the writer’s and badminton groups I belong to through the Kingston Seniors Association.

And it’s not just seniors who can benefit from social prescribing. According to CISP, social prescribing can result in 3,900 fewer cases of adolescent depression and 3,500 years of additional schooling completed by Canadian youth aged 15-17 experiencing signs of depression.

This week’s #HappyAct is to sign up for a new activity and write your own prescription for happiness–give your doctor the day off.

Posted on in community, environment, travel

Find community connection in your own backyard

High speed train and proposed route

Special guest blog by Alison Taylor

I had some time to reflect over the holidays and decided that in 2026 I would become more involved and aware of the things going on in my community.

Recently retired, I wanted to find more purpose in my days. Don’t get me wrong, living in the country I have plenty of time for long walks, reading and writing, connecting with friends, shovelling snow and embracing wind chills.

However, I wanted more, so I started reviewing local news, and websites and was surprised at how much is going on in my little corner of the woods.  

What also surprised me was how much joy it brings to connect with my fellow “Stone Millers” (what I call those of us who live in Stone Mills Township northwest of Kingston)  

So far this year, I have attended a weaving demonstration at a local museum, an agricultural land use meeting to understand how land is designated in the province, and will be attending an open house for the proposed southern route for the Alto high-speed train rail proposal in eastern Ontario.  

So much going on in my neighbourhood.

The transition from working full-time to retirement can be tricky, but I am finding new ways to discover happiness in my own backyard.

I predict some great local connections in the months to come and look forward to being an active and well-informed “Stone Miller”.

Ed. note: Alto is a crown corporation that was established to plan and deliver the high-speed rail project in the Toronto to Quebec City corridor. The speed of the trains will reach 300 km/hour and the cost of the project is projected to be $80 billion. Alto is evaluating two rail routes between Peterborough and Ottawa, a southern route through more heavily populated but ecologically sensitive South Frontenac, and a northern route near Highway 7. A route along the already established corridor north of Lake Ontario through Kingston is not currently under consideration. If you want to find out more about this project and make your opinions known, Alto is holding a series of Open Houses this month. You can also complete an online form to share your feedback. The times for the Open Houses appear to be the same for all locations.

  • February 18: South Frontenac (11 am – 3 pm and 5-9 pm at Storrington Lions Club, 2992 Princess Rd., Inverary)
  • February 26: Peterborough
  • March 4: Perth
  • March 5: Madoc

Posted on in community, family, Food and drink, Historical

The pick of the crop of breakfast places

Me standing in front of The Orchard Family Restaurant in Mississauga

A few weeks ago, we met my brother at the Orchard Family Restaurant in Mississauga for breakfast.

Whenever I go to the Orchard, it’s like a trip down memory lane. You see “The Orchard” was a regular Sunday morning ritual for my family when I was a child, and especially once my mother passed away.

The Orchard is almost as old as I am. It opened in 1966 a block south of Hurontario and Dundas and was owned by two friends, Angelo Mazaris and Louis Velianou from Florina, Greece. Louis’ son Tom runs it today. An interesting fun fact: my Mom was born in a house on Argyle Street, just a few streets from the Orchard where my grandparents owned a greenhouse for years in the 1930’s. The Orchard was literally in my Mom’s backyard. I’m guessing they called it the Orchard because in those days, that entire area of Mississauga was full of apple orchards.

Back in the 80’s, there was always a long line up at the door to be seated. I loved watching my Dad when he walked into The Orchard. It was like an episode of The King of Kensington or Cheers where everybody knew his name. As soon as my Dad or brother Don were seated, one of the waitresses would come up and give them a hug or kiss. The owners Angelo or Louis would wave in greeting from behind the open counter as they were flipping eggs on the grill.

They say our sense of smell triggers the most powerful memories and that was true with The Orchard. The unmistakeable smell of fried bacon, the intoxicating aroma of the best coffee in town, and that greasy smell of oil from French fries or hash browns that always made your stomach grumble.

At the end of breakfast when we offered to pay for the bill, my Dad would always say, “you can leave the tip”. You paid at the counter on the way out and no one used a debit or credit card in those days–it was always cash.

The Orchard was more than just a breakfast place for our family. As we got older and moved out of my Dad’s house, breakfast at The Orchard was often the only meal we ate as a family together each week. The place where we shared what was happening in each other’s lives. The staff there became an extension of our family, familiar faces on a Sunday morning. And when my father passed away, it was the place we went to honour him and to continue the tradition.

Today, there’s an entire slew of chains serving up breakfast, but few offer the same family feel of a restaurant like The Orchard.

This week’s #HappyAct is to find your favourite breakfast spot that makes you feel like family and help yourself to a big greasy breakfast.

Posted on in community, global relations, relationships

Seek the true narrative

Poster that says "Live your life in such a way that if someone was to ever speak badly of you, no one would believe them"

I’ve been thinking a lot about narratives and filters lately, both on a global scale but also on a micro level and how people can create their own narrative based on filters that skew how they see things.

I’ve seen this in some of the relationships in my personal life—people seeing things very differently based on their experiences and filters. It’s led to some interesting conversations.

It’s only natural to derive our opinions and views based on the experiences and influences in our life. We all do this. But it seems to me there are more people concocting disturbing and trenchant narratives, often based on misinformation or their warped view of the world and this is causing seismic rifts in our personal lives and in the world.

The scary thing is when people see the world through artificial filters and false narratives, the narrative becomes justification for their actions. They stop caring about what others think, and believe what they want, often despite the facts. The narrative becomes their truth.

So how do we resist creating false narratives in our minds?

  • Actively seek differing opinions.
  • Don’t rely on a single news source. I had a conversation with one person recently who gets all their news from The Epoch Times. They took every word as gospel.
  • Try to see things from other people’s perspectives and filters to build understanding, compassion and forgiveness.
  • Don’t be afraid to question someone else’s narrative. If something doesn’t add up, do your own research.
  • At the same time, challenge narratives you’ve created in your own mind. Are you seeing things clearly? What have you fabricated? What filters are you applying?
  • Know there can be truth on both sides sometimes.
  • Accept that most things aren’t black and white.
  • Remember, actions always speak louder than words: Live your life in such a way that if someone was to ever speak badly of you, no one would believe them.

These are interesting times. We are more divided than ever. If we are going to rise above our own human frailty and fragility, we need to seek the true narrative.