I have found it very difficult to write this issue about prejudice, discrimination, and hate. However, I was born in the UK to parents that lived through two world wars. I don’t know if anyone quite knows the real cause of WW I. However, the root cause of WW II was the Reich’s belief in […]
Developers have their eyes set on Montréal’s Chinatown, a tiny but very accessible area of the city near the central business district. This distinctive neighbourhood just a short walk from Old Montreal, University of Montréal Hospital Centre, and McGill University, anchors Montréal’s Chinese community. Additionally, it is an area of the city where people congregate. […]
I started writing these newsletters on March 13, 2020. Prudence dictated that we fly back to Canada from the UK before COVID-19 closed borders. At that time, I was concerned that we would have to live through a three to six month shut down. Well, here we are fourteen months later and we are still […]
There are just some of the things that drive me crazy! Sustainable Fashion – An Oxymoron “Fashion” industry brands compete for the best possible “sustainable” rankings. Regardless, designers and brands pump out new styles, fits, and colours season after season. This does not encourage real sustainability. Yes, it is important to: However, it is more […]
Targeted Housing should come in many formats and could be a dynamic part of any neighbourhood.
Housing desperately needed! So, here’s an idea that will slow things down! We will tie the supply of social, affordable, and family housing to private development by applying quotas. And then, we will spend years negotiating development agreements in a process that gives uninformed NIMBYs too much influence. Despite best intentions, the plan and process […]
Any serious strategy for the ambitious development of Targeted Housing requires affordable land. Private developers scour city neighbourhoods to find the best locations. In many municipalities, market forces have driven up prices to “beyond affordable”. Post acquisition, developers spend years seeking various zoning changes for usage and density through height. Without these changes most planned […]
I really miss good bar bands. I was 16 when I started going to dance-bars in Sept-Iles. It was 1966 and while 20 was the legal drinking age in Québec, I always looked older than I was. I hope that the opposite is true now. I had little interest in the booze. I went to […]
What is the attraction of spectator sports? A good friend challenged me to write about professional sports and the role they play in today’s society. So, this is a question that I have been considering for some time now. In my lifetime I have gone through different phases: In my late teens and during my […]
Many of us have increased our TV screen time during these prolonged periods of shutdown. The “third wave” will provide even more time to have a drink, eat popcorn, and find something else to watch. So, it is time for another Netflix recommendation. Shtisel is a pearl. Seasons 1 and 2 were shown in Israel […]