By Steven LarocqueThis is my first column after my last vacation break of the year. It was a little later in the calendar than when I usually take one, but it was fine nonetheless.I like to call my holidays radical vacations.Not because I travel or go whale watching or do

Thumbs down to school strikes.Whatever the argument, whoever’s right (if anyone ever is more so than the other), there’s only one loser and that’s the student body.The current college strike is especially troublesome because you’re talking about (mostly) young adults who are spending their own money, or taking on

By Darlene WroeI am grateful for my safe and quiet space, with good people close by, and living in town where everything I need is only a short drive away.But there is a part of me that yearns for the dark spaces of the country.Sometimes as the clock hands inch

At this time of year, Legion members and their pipe bands, cadets and schools, public works crews and police, and volunteers and journalists as well, are all readying for a major occasion.On November 11, communities will be out marking Remembrance Day.This year is the 100th anniversary of some major battles

Area activities and special projects are very dependent on consistent grant funding, individual donations, and the support of volunteers in order to continue to happen.For many of these events or developments, the fact is that they were created through volunteer labour, long hours spent in organizing and contacting other participants,

I grew up in Northern Ontario and we had rifles and shotguns in our house.Relatives in Cobalt, Haileybury, New Liskeard, Matachewan, Lorrain Valley – and most people we knew - had guns.They were used for hunting birds, rabbits, moose, sometimes deer. I don’t remember anybody hunting bear back then (the