Exquisite Corpse

My political career began and ended in Grade Four with a bid for class president. My contenders were Suzanne—the monied vote; Suzy—the af...

Poor Liz Truss Begat a fuss So certain, she In ideology She went all-in for the pedigreed To pay for it— “Well, there’s no need, T...

I arrived a little early for the job interview. He bounded down the stairs to meet me at reception. He had a Woodward and Bernstein vibe. No...

Heading home, one of the guys from the construction crew offered me twenty bucks for my English-to-Spanish phrasebook, specifically because ...

September’s storms reminded me of my own month of tropical traumas, in 1999—a year I basically lived in a boardroom or on a plane. First, I ...

“My father’s holding his breath so he doesn’t give it to me,” says Mom, pointing to an old photo. I'm sitting in her dining room, where ...

Yesterday we said goodbye to another wonderful human. I listened to the eulogy, engaged in trying to subtle-cry, my tears indulgent and my...

I will remember the Queen as gracious and dutiful, a reassuring symbol of honour and stability. She was a link with the past, but wisely ada...

I finally got to talking with one of the other fathers waiting in the schoolyard, and it turned out we’d both attended the same school. We...

At first it was a slight reduction in brilliance as she walked down a busy street. Shortly afterwards there was a palpable dimming caused pe...

It’s good to have the CNE back. It’s also good to have reminders of being “Canadian,” like the Ex itself. It was also good to see the Canad...

You’d think the squirrels would get the message. The minefield of barriers, the chicken wire around the tulips. All ineffective. They are ve...

“So, in this one Elmer Fudd’s a Mountie, and he sees Bugs on a wanted poster, and they end up doing a bunch of chase gags through the snow...

“It’s a thing?” I asked the person preparing to wax my schnozzle.      “Oh yeah, you’ll love it. I do mine all the time.” She pressed tiny T...

Tiny baby, eyes closed, snuggling against Mummy, Little puppy, wide eyed, rolls for rubs on tummy,  Bouncy puppy, running at rabbits, pe...

Loudly lamenting the plight of the bees We ban single-use plastic and plant a few trees Recycle our bottles, compost our corn husks Then dem...

Siko’s death was peaceful but profoundly sad. As we do for everyone close to us who passes, we lit a candle and kept it burning. Afterward...

Night shirt plastered to clammy skin, thinning hair askew, she places her shaky hands in mine. I pull her up from her bed. Past midnight, th...

Here’s how it works . . .      The first blade pulls the whisker away from your skin, allowing the second blade to cut it even closer, befo...

“Martin, you're just sitting there, thumbing through their horrible comments. Go outside and get some air.”      “I will, Kath, in a w...