Columns
The recent death of Robert Redford made me think of how one remarkable individual can change so much.
Just over 13 months ago, in the Aug. 23, 2024 issue of The Citizen, I had a bit of fun at the expense of Utah, whose government had directed the ban of 13 books. (In it, I intimated that Keith Roulston had some sort of private and unsavoury affair...
Clarity is no longer possible in our fractured age, for society has split cleanly in two: port and starboard. Once minor nautical distinctions, these orientations now determine not only one's politics, but one's very humanity.
Of course, raising a child of any stripe is a challenge, but I remember when we had Tallulah (Jess and I did not find out the gender of either kid ahead of time) thinking I had my work cut out for me as the father of a girl I had no shot at understanding.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent right wing supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, will most likely only speed the rapid decline of democracy in our neighbour to the south.
My own worst enemy, B-A-N-A-N-A-S, The kids aren't alright
Failure to produce a topic this week is not, as some detractors might suggest, evidence of laziness, incompetence, or the looming death of culture itself.
This week we have a report from Goderich Town Council that has played out in other townships before. Goderich Town Council plans to ask its neighbouring municipal councils to pay up for their parasite residents blatantly using Goderich's facilities...
We attended a matinee performance of Radio Town: the Doc Cruickshank Story last week. It seemed like a full house, perhaps with visitors from the Thresher Reunion attending.
Keeping them honest, Taking over, The world needs more Canada
Born on Feb. 25, 1923 to Joseph and Mary Ann Brophy, was a little girl who was destined to become a part of the Western Ontario stage. Margaret Helen Brophy, the daughter of Irish Catholic immigrants, grew up during the Great Depression.
Factual integrity is important to us, and it has come to our attention that last week's Chaff contained several inaccuracies of a serious nature. We wish to correct the record in the spirit of transparency, accountability and respect for the truth.
My father, a 33-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service, when I reached bar-going age, urged me to never attempt to break up a fight alone.
Vicious compliance, The rocky road to Croatia, Goodnight to a legend
Seeing, in last week's Citizen, that the featured tractor at this weekend's 64th annual Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion is Mike Courtney's 1951 Minneapolis-Moline Model U tractor brought back memories for this old farm boy.
Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan, relaying sentiments from Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, said something that couldn't help but perk my ears up at last week's Huron County Council meeting.
An alarming number of people are claiming that they "went" to the Oasis reunion show in Toronto on Sunday. But let us be perfectly clear: this is a lie.
Last week, Ontario's Minister of Education Paul Calandra told the municipal councillors at the annual convention of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario that he thinks school trustees are "outdated" and "old" and he's thinking of getting rid...
What is a slender, frail-looking plant with beautiful blue flowers that produces fibres strong enough to be used as a covering on fighter aircraft and seeds that are used for feed for livestock? If you guessed flax, you would be correct.
Up in the air, We'll take it from here, A fitting tribute
Most of you who read this column will know that I've been reflecting on the passage of time a lot recently.
Hungry spectators and competitors alike know that once the final furrow is plowed at the Huron County Plowing Match, another tradition waits just beneath the surface, literally.
Our evenings often include watching a new series on Netflix and recently that has included two shows that have made us totally uninterested in the U.S. President's suggestion that Canadians should be delighted to be asked to join the United States.