Northern Routes

What’s in a tweet? Thoughts about social media.

Social media plays a major role in today’s world—instant communications, opportunities for engagement and the creation of networks of communities that one could never reach in conventional ways. I have made friends with people through common values and thoughts that were shared on Twitter and Instagram, yet I have never met some of them in person. Being online 24/7 has its advantages, but for me, a judicious presence is important to my well-being. I have observed behaviours on social media that have been informative and poignant, but I have also seen racism, nastiness, and unfettered behaviours that worry me. Over the past 18 m...

Is the pandemic an Olympic endurance test?

The 2020 Summer Olympics was held from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in Tokyo. It took a year longer than expected, but the opening ceremonies looked much like any other—athletes from around the world marched in with the flags of their countries and Japanese culture and artistry was on display. Here’s a sample of how Canada performed, and as always, the moments of achievement that make us all proud and verklempt with joy. Andre De Grasse set yet another Canadian record as he ran to the gold medal in the 200-metre final with a time of 19.62 seconds, having already captured the bronze medal in the 100-metre event. Swimming, my fav...

Where there is smoke, is there a fire?

It was late Sunday late afternoon in Sudbury, I was reading a book on my balcony and warm hazy air began wafting over my vista. In the distance I saw grey clouds. The smell of fire began embracing the breeze. Quickly the air became thick and unbreathable, and I felt the onset of a migraine and chest wheeziness. The jet stream had picked up and the effect of forest fires were being felt across Northern Ontario. I had heard about this in the Northwest, in BC, and Alberta but it doesn’t feel real until it hits close to home. Climate change is no small matter. The reports of flash flooding in Europe, devastating scenes of forests being dec...