I have been approached to assist with revisiting and reviving Music Peterborough – an organization that will both promote the incredible talent in our music scene and take on an advocacy role for the people who work within it. I urge all of you to “like” the page and join in the process of shining […]

As a dad who writes a regular parenting column, this is the kind of piece (see below) I think a lot of dads would love to read — and a lot of moms (who generally have it way worse off than us dudes). Parents, you see, love to know that they are not alone in […]

While the Vinyl Café is no longer the “must listen” program that it once was, when it comes to Canadian radio, you don’t get much bigger than Stuart McLean. With his passing, he joins a select pantheon that includes the likes of Peter Gzowski, Lorne Green, Barbara Frum, Bert Niosi, and Danny Gallivan. Over a […]

This is something like the sixth year in a row that I’ve taken part in publicizing Bell Canada’s Let’s Talk Day. It’s one of those rare social media “events” that I actually believe in getting behind. Because of that, allow me to apologize for posting some re-runs in this blog. It’s a busy time in […]

A stench slowly fills the room. “Do you have a stinky bum?” “I don’t have a stinky bum, Daddy.” “Are you sure? ’Cuz I kinda smell a stinky bum.” “I don’t have a stinky bum, Daddy.” “Can I just check?” “I DON’T HAVE A STINKY BUM, DADDY!!!” Screams are screamed, real tears are cried. a […]

The latest edition of TRENT Magazine is currently making its way to mailboxes (and email boxes) across the country and around the world.  This edition features a fascinating piece on the conflicts between ethic minorities and LGBT movements by Trent Professor Momin Rahman. Prof. Rahman’s research is in the area of LGBT citizenship with a particular […]

When I can’t sleep at night, I make memes out of things that cause me to not sleep at night.

I just sent my most recent column off to Local Parent Magazine, which reminded me that I hadn’t posted any of my more recent ones of late.  The October one is on the front page of the site, so relatively easy to find.  I’ve added links to the August/September, June/July, April/May, and February/March pieces below. […]

I chatted with bestselling author Linwood Barclay earlier this autumn as part of my #TrentVoices Literary Series. Our discussion hit on (among a host of other things) Linwood’s early experiences working with Margaret Laurence, the difficulty of writing humour, getting shout-outs from Stephen King, the (not-so) secret Peterborough origins of his crime-story setting of Promise […]

I was left to my own devices with the toddler tonight, so I did what any sane individual would do and threw a square dance for the 23-month-old and her coterie of stuffies. I played guitar, sang, and called the steps, making sure that each plush plaything got its fair share of floor time. I […]