Columns

Every year around this time I'm handed the onerous task of combing through the province's salary disclosure list, also known as the "Sunshine List" and shining a spotlight on the public employees in our community who make $100,000 or more.

While my colleague Denny tends to spill a lot more ink on this issue than I do, I'll say that I don't often agree with North Huron Reeve Bernie Bailey.

It's interesting that politicians and ordinary voters often express concerns for future generations when it suits their argument, but ignore the plight of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren when it goes against their views.

Living in a bubble, Mo' money mo' problems, The cross-border mindset

On a recent episode of Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy on CNN, which by now must be on the Mount Rushmore of television shows or movies that I mention too much in my writing, Tucci visited Tuscany and learned all about its famous saltless bread.

It isn't that I like to be the guy sitting there wagging his finger at people. Really, it's not. I'd much rather use this space to reminisce about better times, talk about my experiences as a dad and look to the future of our community...

While there are undoubtedly rewards for living a long life, one of the disadvantages is that you outlive most of your contemporaries who knew you. I thought of that as I read last week's brief account of the life of former Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey...

Opposite ends, Diminishing prospects, Bending to the racists

Is it time to move on?, Priorities, On the inside looking in

The day last week's issue of The Citizen came out (March 11) marked one year since the last normal thing I did. Yes, on March 11, 2020, Jess and I took a trip to Toronto and the world has certainly changed in the 12 months that followed.

Last week The New York Times shared a "Nanaimo Bar" recipe on its Instagram account which got some Canadians, especially some west-coasters, a little hot under the collar, and justifiably so.

Experts tell us that there are some things that will never go back to pre-pandemic normal when the COVID-19 crisis finally ends. One of the changes is likely the death of the dream of automated education.

As the pandemic drags on, people seem to be getting in touch with their angry side. Here at The Citizen in the last few months we've received a number of letters from people that are just dripping with rage.

Last year, just as my birthday was about to hit, I decided to tackle a column that was about my next 35 years (as I was turning 35 at the time) and, while that column never saw the light of day, it does mark an interesting point in the pandemic cycle.

A group of us talked on Zoom the other day about the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and Mitzi Magoo sent me a few entries from her diary that illustrate her year of the pandemic.

Waste not, want not, Champing at the bit, Reaching out

Over the past year I've watched in wonder as my four-year-old daughter has proven time and time again that she (and likely her entire cohort) is stronger and more adaptable than most adults in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine last week and the other vaccines on the way, Canadians at last have the hope of returning to something like pre-pandemic normal in the not-too-distant future.

Last year I did a story on Alvin and Pam McLellan's 1969 Pontiac Beaumont, which Alvin was restoring for their 40th wedding anniversary. During that time, I spoke with Alvin about his day-to-day vehicle...

Buttergate, The cost of the soapbox, Three fingers pointing back

Reading the room, Into the shadows, Private power problems

Last week Facebook, with Mark Zuckerberg at the helm, took its next step against real journalism by blocking out true news sites, along with some collateral damage that could really harm the people of Australia.

My late friend Greg Sarachman and I talked a lot about politics. He said in recent years he could see a marked shift in The Citizen's editorials and columns into the political realm, taking stances with which he personally agreed...

Living is learning, and sometimes we learn that what at first seems illogical has logic behind it after all.