It’s been just over two weeks since more than 300 Nigerian school girls were kidnapped and some were forced into “marriage” with their abductors. Their families and advocates around the world are trying to get the word out and apply political pressure with the social media campaign BringBackOurGirls. Closer to home, hashtag #MMIW represents an important conversation regarding over 800 …
9 to 5 doesn’t work with women today
When you’ve asked someone how things were going, how many times do you hear the answer “Busy?” How many times have you yourself provided that answer or spiced things up a little but adding “Things are good … but busy?” We’re racing towards something, and sometimes I wonder if it’s one big heart attack for all of us. I can’t …
Bike trail meeting planned
In my last column, I brought to light the issue of the proposed Fish Hatchery fence that would close off some trail access at Hiawatha. It was widely reported in local media and on the CBC. David Orazietti, our MPP and the Ministry of Natural Resources, did not release specifics about the location or cost of the proposed fence, but …
Mario Richard lived for earth, wind and fire
My last column, which ran on August 28th, was about my phenomenal experience tandem B.A.S.E. jumping in May with new found friends, Mario Richard and his wife Steph Davis in Moab, Utah. I didn’t know it at the time of writing, but my partner in flight caught his last air on August 19, 2013. Mario Richard, originally of Quebec City, …
Remember, lack of attention at the wheel can be lethal
May was road-safety month, a well-intentioned attempt to remind people of the importance of the rules of the road. Less than two months later, after being cut off twice on my motorcycle and having seen some crazy mistakes, I’ll echo that safety comes from not only following rules, but avoiding distracted driving. Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers. The Ministry of …
Share the road…It’s the law
There is a whole section in the driver’s handbook written on “sharing the road with other road users” (Section 2.3.2), and yet, I am keenly aware that it isn’t going so well out there. So far in July I’ve noticed two collisions reported in the paper between bicycles and automobiles. In the first incident reported on July 5 by the …
Great way to spend Canada Day
On the heels of a mediocre year of events celebrating the Sault’s 100th birthday and the bicentennial of the War of 1812, I can confidently say that few events have wowed me lately. The Passport to Unity, Relay for Life, BonSoo Gourmet Dinner at Sault College, and Buskerfest events are truly notable; and I can now add the Canada Day …
There are limits to genetic testing
Genetic testing recommended to anyone with a suspicious family history Angelina Jolie stunned the world when she announced that she’d had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery after finding out that she had a “faulty” gene linked to breast and ovarian cancer. For the first time ever, I became interested in a Hollywood boob job. Jolie has put “a …
Get your motor running
I was never one for joining clubs, but on this particular occasion, I’m proud to say that I now belong to the fraternity of motorcyclists. On Sunday I completed M1 exit motorcycle training and I’m itching to get out riding. Given that I’ve been waiting over twenty years to learn to ride a motorcycle, another week, month, or year before …
Anti-tattoo discrimination?
A front page headline recently read: “Parents face discrimination” with a half page photograph of a young tattooed couple posing back to back with their arms crossed. As I read on I was expecting horrible tales of their inability to find work, or rent an apartment, or that they had been the victims of some attack, but it was more …