There are many great teachers who instruct us on how to achieve true happiness and success. You're just not likely to find them in popular culture
I often reflect on where my beliefs come from. I can see they’ve changed significantly over time. As I’ve altered who I listen to, my thoughts and beliefs have changed, and I’ve changed for the better. In my teen years I was strongly influenced by popular culture. I loved the Who, the Rolling Stones, the…
The movie offers a fun-house-mirror examination of our souls and why we've allowed this kind of cultural plundering to go on for years
Cats the movie is worse than bad. It is offal. Its director, Tom Hooper, utterly guts the gentle soul of T.S. Eliot’s classic Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, from which the film is drawn. What’s been dropped at the paying public’s shoes is a cinematic blood sample so horrifying it could make Old Possum’s…
Domestic violence, no matter the gender of the victim, is wrong
I remember being 12 years old when my stepfather scarred my face for the first time. He had graduated to his fists from his belt some time before, and while he usually confined himself to battering me between the waist and the shoulder blades, the non-visible portions of my anatomy, occasionally he lost control. This…
Though the story of Frozen 2 is a fairy tale, it contains many deep truths
I have to admit I’m not a big fan of fiction and less a fan of blockbuster films. I prefer to know what actually happened and is happening in the world. Still, great fiction is great because it reveals deeper truths about humanity. My intention in seeing Frozen 2 during the opening weekend of its…
The shared borders with France and Switzerland have clearly contributed to a multilingual society in this very northern and beautiful corner of Italy
Newly retired and eager to explore some new territory, I admit I knew nothing of the Italian Alps. We flew into Switzerland, and then drove south through the 11-plus km of the Mont Blanc Tunnel into northern Italy. We were with old friends who know the area well because they have a son who lives…
Canada’s creative lobby may have turned its back on the world but that doesn’t mean Canadians are joining them in their quest to hide
Canada’s creative lobby may have turned its back on the world but that doesn’t mean Canadians are joining them in their quest to hide behind a big wall of regulations aimed at protecting them from foreigners. A recent study by Ryerson University’s Faculty of Communication and Design, entitled Watchtime Canada: How YouTube Connects Creators and…
Steve Schroeder talks about how the Calgary International Film Festival contributes to the city’s cultural vibrancy
Steve Schroeder is executive director of the Calgary International Film Festival, which takes place Sept. 18 to 29 this year. How has the arts/culture scene in Calgary evolved? Schroeder: I’ve been working professionally in the Calgary arts scene for almost 24 years, so my perspective on this question takes the long view. There’s no doubt…
Each of us is worthy of dignity and respect. The more we embrace this truth about ourselves, the more we can see it in our neighbours.
In his book Horton Hears A Who, Dr. Seuss reminds us, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” Being mindful of this is one of the keys to finding joy and fulfilment in life. Everyone we meet, above all else, is a person. Each of us is worthy of dignity and respect. The more…
Former Canadian Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury of Great Traits talks about how sport shaped him and helps him inspire businesses
Former Canadian Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury is a founder of Great Traits. What is Great Traits and what does it do? Tewksbury: Debbie Muir and I have taken our vast Olympic experience and distilled it into high-performance traits for the corporate world. Our Corporate Champions Program helps leaders create a high-performance culture in their organizations.…
Dale Sturges talks about the array of programs RBC offers to be recognized as a bank that stands for Indigenous prosperity
Dale Sturges is national managing director of the Indigenous Financial Services Group with RBC. Does RBC offer any unique programs or services to meet the needs of Alberta’s Indigenous community? Sturges: RBC offers a number of programs to support access to education and employment for Indigenous people, including the RBC Indigenous Talent Development Program, which…
I often reflect on where my beliefs come from. I can see they’ve changed significantly over time. As I’ve altered who I listen to, my thoughts and beliefs have changed, and I’ve changed for the better. In my teen years I was strongly influenced by popular culture. I loved the Who, the Rolling Stones, the…
