Treatment = public safety
The frustration over the social disorder unfolding in communities is entirely understandable. People are angry. They are tired of being told they lack compassion or don’t grasp the complexities of what’s happening. What they see is a system applying bandages to fractures that clearly need a cast to heal what is shattered. This week in…
Appreciate gift of library
As you age, Christmas becomes a bit more nostalgic. After tucking into a big meal, grazing on snacks, and lounging in matching holiday pajamas, the question of “best gift ever” inevitably comes up. And the answers are almost always about something unwrapped decades ago – a cherished memory tied to a moment under the tree.…
The Limits of Involuntary Care
It seems so simple. So basic of an idea that you wonder why it has not been implemented yet. It is involuntary care. As communities across the province grapple with street disorder and a sense of insecurity, involuntary care is seen by many as a solution. Politicians of all stripes have offered it up to concerned…
Cons Soul searching
Now the hard work begins. For those who have been entwined in the internecine conflict that has consumed the Conservative Party of British Columbia it might seem like the end. John Rustad is out, let the healing begin and the guns turn to target David Eby. If only it were so. In a post on X after…
Gambling on addiction
Hockey Night in Canada is now unwatchable. And not because of the on-ice product. Instead of insight into players and tactics, now it is a steady inundation of betting and betting-adjacent talk disguised as coverage. It is nauseating to be honest, distracts from the game and poses a danger to both the sport and consumers.…
Tackling Nimbyism
People always want a solution to homeless encampments, right up until one is provided. It’s like NIMBYism on steroids. And it happens everywhere. We’ve just seen it in Surrey and Penticton. So, in the spirit of not just complaining, what can we learn from past experiences and use as a building block? People can’t just…
Okay, Blue Jays
After dress rehearsal in the church which would host our production, the director – a sophisticated and elegant woman – looked me in the eye as the cast lounged and asked a pointed question: why does the city give so much to sports and not the arts. “Cause the Cougars can draw 6,000 fans a…
Best option: Leadership Race
John Rustad is a nice man. In fact, he’s a good man, a decent man – even has a hint of John Major without all the pizzazz. But if he truly wants to ensure the longevity of the movement he’s helped revive, the best thing he can do now is call a leadership race. As…
Lost middle ground
The New Democrats – the national version – are disappointing. Those were the first words I jotted down for this column. For the first time in years, I can write them without worrying about the ramifications for an employer. But before I could continue, a news alert arrived: Charlie Kirk had been shot in Utah.…
Action: Vid works
Back when newspapers held a firm grip on daily life, a study struck me like a bolt in my ink-filled heart. It revealed that the story I had laboured over was the fourth most important part of the reader’s experience. First came headlines, followed by photos, then cutlines, and then, if the reader was still…
Outrage in X Teacup
The tempest-in-a-teapot that was the Sydney Sweeney/American Eagle affair was equal parts amusing and illuminating. Amusing, because both the left and right fringes found something to be outraged about. Social media howled in indignation, the noise spilled into the mainstream, and even the President weighed in. Illuminating, because it served as a reminder of how…
Knowing your limits – in the wild and with AI
Getting my hands dirty – literally – is something I genuinely enjoy. The problem? I’m spectacularly inept when it comes to anything involving construction skills. Demolition and destruction? I’m your person. But when it comes to building, it’s best to assign me the humble task of handing over tools or cold drinks. Maybe I’ll hold…
Hello World!
The dark side. Spin doctors. Twisters of truth. Or as one wag in the British Columbia press gallery named them: fart catchers. All different monikers assigned to those whose profession is communications professional. The daily task to get good PR and negate negativity as much as possible. And now, as traditional media recalibrates and social…
42nd & Grace 