By Iris Winston “I am a painter first and a skater second,” said Toller Cranston, Companion of the Order of Canada, Olympic medalist and six-time Canadian figure skating champion. “The most important thing that people can say about me is to refer to me as a painter. The most infuriating thing is to be referred to as a skater...
Tag - March/April 2026
By Janet Gray One of the most common questions I’m asked is “When should I take my CPP and OAS?” It’s a crucial retirement decision and the short answer is simple: There is no single “right” age for everyone. The best choice depends on your health, finances and priorities. Here’s a plain-language guide to help you think it...
Newfoundland minstrel Alan Doyle is on a 48-city tour across North America for his 20th album, Already Dancing, performing with the Juno-winning P.E.I. folk group The East Pointers in Canada and the Brooklyn-based Bandits on the Run in the U.S. Following a show at the National Arts Centre in March, Alan’s headlining the Fifty...
By Rose Simpson Making new friends as an adult is hard—at any age. By midlife, routines are set, circles shrink and many people quietly accept isolation as an unavoidable part of growing older. Teresa Bowskill Playne refused that narrative. Instead, she chose something radical: to take responsibility for her health, her...
By Kristine McGinn Spring is in the air! As nature gifts us with longer days and warmer weather, we naturally shed the winter blues and embrace vitality. Top of mind for most of us is opening the windows to the spring breeze and starting on our spring-cleaning lists to tidy up and refresh our homes. Moving into this vibrant...
Now and Then By Iris Winston My friend did not enjoy the organ recitals that were a regular part of social interactions in his twilight years. He didn’t mean musical serenades. Instead, he was talking about the way many of his acquaintances regaled him with details of the dysfunction of their various organs as they aged. Now...
New biography about legendary Canadian songwriter Marc Jordan is also a remarkable tale of resilience. Now in his 70s, Marc Jordan is one of Canada’s most revered singer-songwriters. But before all the acclaim and success, he had to learn to navigate the world through sound instead of words. Living with profound dyslexia, the...
By Dan Lalande Here are three rules, according to Barry McLoughlin, for creating a good Substack column: Have something to say. Make it timely and relevant. Tell stories and anecdotes that support the points you’re making. Those are the philosophical directives behind his weekly newsletter Communicate with Power®...
Dance enthusiasts are finding their passion at DQ Ballroom and Fitness By Rose Simpson Like many little girls, Lynne Jamme dreamed of becoming a ballerina but her mother couldn’t afford the lessons. Today she is realizing her dream of becoming a dancer in her 50s as she competes in national ballroom dance competitions. “I...
By Dan Lalande The statistics, according to a recent report by the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, are daunting: One in four Canadians is a caregiver; 30 to 47 per cent of them feel anxious, worried or overwhelmed and 50 per cent have experienced financial stress due to ongoing duties. Whether those...
