The Victoria Day weekend is behind us, which means it’s practically summer. Which makes it a great time to get out and explore great areas of Canada. Here are a few of my faves from my travels over the past few years. SOUTHWEST ONTARIO After spending most of my spare time in Ontario in regions north of Toronto, I started visiting this part of the province on a regular basis about 10 years ago. Amherstburg is a growingly sophisticated town with great shopping and food. Former Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chief Richard Peddie owns a couple of lovely stores, Read more
horses
CHATHAM, ONTARIO – Andria Dyer is standing at the edge of a fire in a pretty glade of deep green trees at TJ Stables, singing a song about giving thanks to the creator. I don’t understand the words as she’s singing in Ojibwe, but I know the word “Miigwech” means “thank you,” so I can at least pick that up. In fact, the precise words don’t seem to matter. Dyer, who is Ojibwe from Chippewa of the Thames First Nation and whose indigenous name is Running Deer, is clearly pouring her heart and soul into the song. Her voice rises Read more
LOS ANGELES – It’s impossible to encapsulate a city of such diverse neighbourhoods into one, so I’ll keep this focused on Hollywood and downtown L.A., which has seen an incredible resurgence – resurrection, even – since the bad old days when this correspondent toiled nightly in what was then a wasteland at Fifth and Figueroa. SLEEPING The Roosevelt, a Thompson property, was home to the first Academy Awards ceremony, which lasted only minutes (if only). Marilyn Monroe used to do photo shoots at the palm-surrounded pool and used to sleep there regularly, amongst other things. There’s a cool, old-fashioned, two-lane Read more
