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The Royal Military College Memorial Arch: Truth, Duty, Valour
This past September, as I was nearing the end of my first major rowing tour in two years, I came across a monument that reminded me of Paris’ Triumphant Arc de Triomphe. You see, I was touring Ontario’s stunning Bay of Quinte and Thousand Islands. On this particular day, we had departed Kingston, Canada’s first capital, entered the mouth of the mighty St. Lawrence river, and rowed past the historic Royal Military College and Fort Henry. The sun was shining, the wind calm and the scenery breathtaking. It was a perfect day of rowing. And as our rickety school bus returned us from Gananoque, our landing point, to Kingston, I…
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The Lavender Labyrinth of Laveanne
In the shadow of Ontario’s mighty Ganaraska forest, lies a magical respite from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. And within it can be found a mystical lavender labyrinth. I’m referring to Laveanne Lavender Fields. I had the good fortune of spending a wonderful afternoon there this week with my dear friend Carla and her pixie of a grandson, Kaiden. Lush Lavender Upon our arrival, we were greeted by row upon row of gorgeous lavender shrubs, each about to reach full bloom – ten thousand of them in all! A Bee Paradise And we weren’t alone. For, happily buzzing among the cerulean blooms were, among other things, an industrious group…
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A Quilt Community
The last weekend of May is a special time in south-western Ontario. On this weekend for each of the past 52 years, a small community has come together to host a unique charitable event that benefits the less fortunate around the world in a big way (to the tune of $14,000,000 since 1967). It is the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. The heart of the Sale is a quilt auction featuring handmade quilts donated by quilt-makers from around Ontario and beyond. But this Sale is so much more than that. Supported by local businesses and churches, as well as more than 2000 volunteers, this is truly a community event. That…
