Archives
“How many of you have been to this area?” asks Dyson Forbes. We’re standing on the front porch of Mad Maple Country Inn just outside Creemore in Southern Ontario, where Forbes is about to lead us on a foraging tutorial through the forest behind the inn. I tell him I grew up here, in Simcoe County, and that my parents now live less than 30 kilometres from where we stand now. “So… Read More
We were alone, deep within the woods, when we heard it: a rustling in the trees ahead. My heart jumped to my throat. Naively, we had left our bear spray back at camp, and now we were standing in the middle of a ripe berry patch. Shaking with fear, we waited for whatever it was to emerge.
It seems as though spring waltzed in overnight in Southern Ontario. After the longest, coldest winter that many Torontonians had ever experienced—the year that will be remembered as that time a chunk of the city celebrated Christmas in an ice storm blackout and the term ‘polar vortex’ became part of our common vernacular—Mother Nature finally gave us a reprieve last week. Up until then, it felt doubtful warm weather would ever come;… Read More
It’s the little things in life that are the most wonderful. A small exchange with a kind stranger, a moment of laughter with a good friend, a taste of something homemade and pure. And when you can experience all that together under the warm sun on an August afternoon—like I did this past weekend at at the annual Flavours in the Field culinary festival, in New Tecumseth, Ontario—well, it really is pretty… Read More
Okay, let me explain. I am not guzzling wine in some sort of pity party, lamenting my singleness and crying while watching Nicholas Sparks movies. No, far from mourning the romance of Valentine’s Day, I’m celebrating it. Or, more specifically, I’m celebrating the month of February. Because February means it’s time for the Niagara region’s annual Days of Wine and Chocolate festival. Wine. Chocolate. I can think of no combination that could… Read More
It all started 10 years ago. I was going through a rough time, a period of intense stress that had left me with a severe case of insomnia and—when I could finally sleep—nightmares. My long-time friend and eternal voice of reason (and fellow mojito hunter) came to the rescue. Erika showed up at my house in downtown Toronto and told me and my roommate Shanna that she was whisking us away to… Read More
Two weeks ago, I was startled to receive an email from an associate producer at CBC Radio. She had read an article I wrote for TravelandEscape.ca, about getting lost in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and wanted me to appear on CBC’s morning program in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to talk about it. Radio has never been a medium that I would have considered for myself. I’m a fast talker and occasional mumbler, especially… Read More
To skate the Rideau Canal is to conquer the fierce February winds, and then succumb to the inevitable muscle aches that sear your legs in the days that follow. Stretching out at just less then 16 km round-trip (the size of more than 100 hockey rinks laid end-to-end), Ottawa’s Rideau Canal is the world’s largest skating rink. Starting at the base of the copper-peaked Parliament buildings and Chateau Laurier hotel, it then… Read More
Anywhere & Here 