This is the third and final instalment of a summer campfire ghost story. The open door revealed a scene like nothing Shainie had ever seen. Shafts of sunlight entering the broken windows and cracks in…
The cabin at Ghostly Point
By Jim Poling Sr. Published July 7 2016 This is the second instalment of a campfire ghost story. See the first part here . A local legend told that on nights when the grey mist following…
The cabin at Ghostly Point
Summer without campfire stories? No way! Here’s one of mine that we will publish in three parts over the next three weeks. Grey twilight fell across the far shore of Shkendang Lake obscuring bit by…
The art of splitting wood
By Jim Poling Published June 23 2016 It was a long ago scene from a time before invention of smart phones that take video. That’s unfortunate because what I saw then would have made a…
The joys of gardening
It has been excellent weather for the vegetable garden thank you Ms. Weatherwoman. The peas beans carrots and corn are jumping so it looks like we’ll have veggies galore later this summer and into the…
Night in the forest
Evening shadows arrive like cloaked ninjas descending silently into the treetops. Soon all light dims into non-existence consumed by the night. The forest is a different world in the dark. Anything living or travelling in…
A forest fable
It was the beavers those clever industrious engineers who had the idea: Turn house building into an industry that would create jobs and build a strong economy benefitting all forest creatures. The industry boomed. Prefab…
ColumnsColumns
The age of information 'lite' By Jim Poling Published May 26 2016 You might recall from school days the story of the young Greek guy who sat beside a pool saw his image reflected in…
Coming from America
The Canadian customs officer feeds my passport into the scanner then looks up and asks: “What are you bringing back with you?” I supress the urge to say what I always want to say after…
Meeting Rusty
So here I am in California getting to know Rusty. He was withdrawn and wary at our first meeting. That’s understandable considering he spent his earliest days in the mean neighbourhoods of Los Angeles. Now…
The Shoal Lake Caper
It is remarkable how small events often mark major change. There was such an event last week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent last Thursday at the Shoal Lake First Nation in Manitoba which has been…
Lines on the road
By Jim Poling April 28 2016 The last few stubborn patches are gone finally but in a way it is sad to see the snow go. Snow covers more than just autumn’s decay. It hides…
The death of Billy Skead
By Jim Poling Published April 21 2016 Billy Skead was buried during the winter but the question continues to prick the conscience of his troubled aboriginal community: Why did he die? Medical reports say Billy…
Annoying white noise
Published April 14 2016 I t has come to this: If you sat in front of your television set for 10 straight hours (God forbid!) you would be bombarded with roughly three hours of commercials.…
Better Bitters
A guided tour through the art science and history of our favourite 7000-year-old beverage with beer columnist Brent Milcz. In part one of our journey from grain to glass we discussed malt and what it…
ColumnsColumns
Open mouth insert . . . By Jim Poling I think it is time that Justin the Good sat down for a serious heart to heart with his No. 1 policeman RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson.…
The wearing down of America
People continue to shake their heads and ask how Donald Trump the vulgarian who inherited all his money got to be a U.S. presidential contender. The answer will not be found by studying the man.…
Spectacular Spain
By Linda Coneybeare Travel Plus Hola! I am just back from a week on the Costa Tropical in Andalucía Spain. My sister and her husband wisely decided to spend the winter in Spain so that…
Starting with malt
A guided tour through the art science and history of our favourite 7000-year-old beverage with beer columnist Brent Milcz. As a brewer talking about how beer is born is a bit of a rabbit hole.…
Canadian drama at its best
We’ve seen the final episode of Downton Abbey but the finales of two real-life Canadian dramas will be aired within the next few weeks. A verdict in the Jian Ghomeshi sexual assault case comes down…
The window
By Jim Poling I t was one of the those wood frame windows they built into 2 ½-storey family homes 100 years ago. Perhaps four feet tall and 2 ½ feet wide with a push…