Lives & Legacy

How does a society lose sight of the big picture?

It is springtime in our little corner of the world. All the unmistakable signs are there. The leaves are out, the temperatures are pleasant, and the black flies and mosquitos are coordinating their assaults. This year there is an added bonus — the Habs are in the playoffs. And, they’re winning.

Government is often seen as something amorphous or complex to many Canadians. The census has a real impact on our daily lives, so it’s vital we ensure this “snapshot” of who we are is accurate.

I clearly remember that first garden. Everyone remembers their first garden.

Television is working hard to keep you occupied with escapism, supernatural twists and turns, and a good old-fashioned tear-jerker. Get comfortable. Here’s your new batch of small-screen premieres. 

In a world where everyone is rushing to judge others, it is harder and harder to show courage of conviction. But every so often, this courage is put forward.

Over the past 10 days or so, I’ve attended the funerals of the mothers of two of my oldest friends in the world. “Sadly” is the word that comes to mind, of course. Oddly enough, however, I came away from each experience feeling uplifted. Even joyful, which might sound like an unusual takeaway from a pair of funerals, but there you have it.

As the Oct. 5 provincial election draws nearer, the tone of Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has become more shrill and anti-Canada. He is preparing the way for a “Oui” in the referendum campaign he will, no doubt, promote ad infinitum over a four-year mandate if elected. I have been casting about for a group to deliver a counter message for the “Non.” The convention panel might be the group.

As those recent photos of space from Artemis II so majestically show, the horizon is not fixed. It all depends on where you’re watching from. A hot new gardening trend is adopting this fresh point of view.

Bookended by soft-hearted stories from the lands of Jane Austen, Hollywood and sentient octopi, the rest of this edition of viewing suggestions has more adrenaline than any one episode of The Pitt, which we are all missing except for the gory bits. Well, there are occasional gory bits on tap here as well. Be prepared to look away or to wipe away a tear.