My Son and Superman

My Son and Superman

This year during the holidays, my wife Bridget and I realized that we have reached a stage where very soon, we are going to be the two shortest people in the house. Our two older sons are now well over six feet tall and soon will surpass me in height and tower over...
Closing the Cottage

Closing the Cottage

Weathering the seasons of intergenerational cottage transfers, liabilities and the tax man. In the last few weeks, all across our country a great Canadian tradition has occurred — the winterizing of the family cottage. As long-time readers might recall, I grew up in a...
The Spookiest Time of the Year

The Spookiest Time of the Year

It’s that time of year again where people will dress up, disguise their identities and go knocking on your door, saying “Trick or Treat.” The experience at the doorstep can be either very pleasant, or highly terrifying. Personally, I’ve always been fascinated by the...
The Future of Giving

The Future of Giving

For so many of us, the nighttime sky represents peace and tranquility. One night in London this past month was the exact opposite due to a massive gas explosion. In the aftermath, our city’s generosity shows us the future of giving – and how our charitable rules...
Dreaming BIG This Summer

Dreaming BIG This Summer

50 years ago, humanity set foot on the moon for the first time – and hasn’t done it since 1972. We can learn a lot in how we approach our own planning by the epic story of the effort to dream big and make it to the moon. Sunday July 20, 1969, at 20:17...
My Friend Haydn, the Gift of Art

My Friend Haydn, the Gift of Art

We all meet remarkable people in our lives. One of the most remarkable I’ve ever met was my friend the sculptor Haydn Llewlyn Davies, the creator of “Algoma Blue,” the sculpture pictured above. As you may know if you’ve been a long-time reader, I’m...
The Bonds of Family

The Bonds of Family

For many of us, we look forward to Victoria Day long weekend, so we can spend time bonding with family after the (very) long winter. This year, my family spent some quality time with a much-loved member of our chosen family, who I’m going to refer to as John, to...