After all these years, I still don’t know if he meant it as a compliment or an insult, or maybe a curious mixture of both. But I clearly remember the words. He looked interested, almost amused, as he said, “You think your work is the most important thing in the […]
Columnists
The Christmas season is fast approaching and in the spirit of the festive season, it is important to practice and make time for safety. Why? So to avoid the dangers of carelessness during a time of happiness and celebration–when most people are relaxed and not alert as usual. Fire safety […]
The Canadian Red Cross has been helping Canadians lead safer, healthier lives for close to 100 years. Many of their programs and services are considered to be among the best in the world. They have been working together with partners like Fire Prevention Canada to create healthier communities. They also […]
By Linda Wiens
Quetico Centre
Quetico Centre
Most people like to pick up interesting gadgets and gifts from their travels. I tend to go overboard. Once I carried two 15-pound, vine-ripened watermelons, another time a dozen delicious fresh pineapples, through airports ’til my arms felt stretched to the floor. My take-home items since then are lighter. Recently, […]
“Concentrating on life is important. Concentrating on the laundry is not.” I found that quote someplace. Well, actually, I found it written down in a section of my Daytimer that’s reserved for little bits of wisdom. What I don’t know is who said it. Did I think it up? Did […]
Nearly all childhood unintentional shooting deaths occur in or around the home. And most of those shooting deaths involve firearms that have been loaded and accessible to children. The big problem in Canada and the United States is that many children between the ages of five and 14 have died […]
In Northern Ontario, we have three grouse–the Ruffed, the Spruce, and the Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus). It is often, wrongly, called prairie chicken but that is an entirely different bird. The Sharp-tail is a little bit larger than the common Ruffed Grouse. Its conspicuous marks are a short pointed tail, […]
It’s fall again. Autumn if you want to wax poetic. And think about it, for a minute, what would autumn be without leaves? Oaks, maples, aspens, cottonwoods, green ash all blanketing the countryside with colour. It’s because of autumn leaves that we think nostalgically and longingly of New England, the […]
It’s that time of the year again–time to start practising safe heating! Give heating equipment such as furnaces, radiant heaters, space heaters, and hot water tanks space. Remove trash and materials stored near heating equipment. Keep combustibles at least three feet away from heating equipment at all times. If you […]
“You can’t reach 80/hale/and hearty/by driving 80/home from the party/Burma-Shave.” Those were the words I read every time we went to town for groceries, every time we went to Grandma’s house, and every time we went to church. I’ll never forget that jingle. How could I? Burma-Shave and I grew […]
There are three native wild cats in the Canadian north. One of them, the Mountain Lion or Puma, apparently has been sighted several times in the past but whether it is really here or not is still a subject for debate. The smallest of the three, the Bobcat (Lynx rufus), […]
Hallowe’en is nearing and most children are thinking of pumpkins, costumes, and treats. Hallowe’en certainly is a fun time and, as a parent, I look forward to it. But we all also must understand something–Hallowe’en poses the danger of ignition of children’s costumes. While this is a rare event, the […]
