By Doris Villemaire My father Clarence Brazier was born in Magnetawan, ON, into a farm family of 6 children in 1906. His father (my grandfather) had an unfortunate accident with dynamite while blasting stumps; as a result my grandfather became blind and was no longer the family breadwinner. The family dynamics were changed forever. My… Read More It’s Never Too Late to Learn Something New

Dec 2015 Many of us have been told to be thankful for what we have – for food, clothes, the roof over our heads… We’ve heard of sayings like, “Count your blessings…” and others that encourage the message of gratitude. And many of us are thankful – it seems the moral thing to do. However,… Read More Gratitude: Not Just an Old Cliché

Dec 2015 By Anje Bruch-Hilkers How does the health care system in Canada work? I did not even ask when I came to Canada almost 20 years ago now. Who needs doctors and hospitals when you are healthy, right? I would find out.    One morning, I burnt my belly, by spilling hot tea on… Read More Tough Challenges Call for Tough Decisions

By Bessie Grimes: It all started the day four-year-old Susie visited her Grandma. “She has a cat; a nice one that purrs all the time. She let me pet it.” Howard and Isobel looked at each other. Howard’s mother didn’t have a cat. She hadn’t had one for years. “Are you sure you weren’t just… Read More Optical Illusion

By Shirley Cambray: I didn’t want to leave my owners but they moved from the farm to a high-rise apartment in Toronto.  Not the life for me.  They were kind and took me to the park every day to exercise in the dog run, but one day I’d had enough and I just kept running. … Read More A Day With Tucker and Friends

By Bessie Grimes: Susan Bentley, President of the Fatso Club’s Banquet Committee, set out the guidelines for the October Feast. “You know the rules. Each person spends a minimum of $100.00 on the dish of his or her choice. Each dish must contain at least 1000 calories per serving and be as rich and decadent as possible.… Read More Maple Syrup Pie

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of a dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”  – John Fitzgerald Kennedy Most of us know that exercise is good for us. We’ve heard about the many benefits of being active, such as, increased energy, stronger immune… Read More How Does Fitness Improve Your Mental Health?

By Bessie Grimes: Some think that if you quit your job, you’ll sit around all day. But that’s not how it really is; at least, that’s what they say. Clubs and hobbies call out to you, “Come here and let’s explore The opportunities you have; out there’s an open door…” Travel is also an option… Read More Poem: A World of New Adventures

By Shirley Cambray Another long, cold Ontario winter was finally at an end, and The Willows Retirement Home had been decorated to welcome Spring.  Small vases of yellow and white Daffodils graced the tables for dinner, set with napkin-wrapped cutlery on frilly place mats, artistically decorated by Grade Eight students at the local school.   The staff… Read More Feature: A Life Well Lived