With thanks to June Maffin I am pleased to share an insightful poem by Brian Bilston. June writes: “I believe that living in the US these days is 'Freedom with a Trigger.' ... 'Justice in a Holster' ... 'The Pulled Vote, Not the Cast Vote.' Thank you, Brian Bilston. Your words in your "America is... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] I spent my first nineteen years in Victoria. I return to visit frequently. I have lived in neighbouring communities from Sooke to Sidney and places in between. I know it well. Obviously things change over time; I get that. But what Gene Miller proposes below is a transformative vision which could, if enacted,... Continue Reading →
I started piano lessons when in third grade at school; I was around eight years old at the time. I remember my first lesson. (For Victoria friends, my first teacher was Robin Wood – I lasted about three lessons): Right hand only — C D E - E F G - switch fingers 5/4 -... Continue Reading →
Something totally different today. A test of memory for all my loyal readers, and those who arrive at this page by accident. (Lucky you.) An investigative challenge for those who enjoy the variety of personalities named in the over 680 posts viewed 103,000 times by over 64,000 visitors. This year, 2025, the volume of traffic... Continue Reading →
[Cartoon by Joe Wos] Three simple letters, PBS. It’s arguably one of the best known and revered acronyms in the US today. Along with CBS, NBC, and ABC three-letter acronyms identified the media landscape throughout my childhood and coming of age in the 1960s and 1970s. Now add to that FOX, CNN, and international sources... Continue Reading →
Almost-six-year-old Labradoodle, Juno, is a famed dog blogger. Follow her here for her thoughts on dog park politics and canine pedigree. I was one of eight or so members of a litter of Labradoodles born at a Kamloops area breeder almost six years ago now. MaPaw and PaPaw came up shortly after we were born... Continue Reading →
Years ago I suggested to a justice-seeking colleague that we should investigate the role of humour in our social and ecological justice advocacy. We can be awfully serious, I said. Off-putting even. She replied that the context — human rights abuse; the climate crisis; avaricious market hegemony — didn’t lend itself well to comedic treatment.... Continue Reading →
A sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, July 20, 2025 for the congregation of St. Stephen, Summerland — The Very Rev. Ken Gray Every once in a while I stumble across some very beautiful language, sometimes poetry, sometimes prose. It’s good, if after one hearing I want to go back and hear it again,... Continue Reading →
A Sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church, Penticton BC - Sunday, July 13 2025 – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – The Very Rev. Ken Gray Mainstream media has not focused on a very special event that occurred a few days ago in New York City; church media certainly has however. the... Continue Reading →
Friends, As we struggle to make sense of all that is going on in our world and communities right now, I have increasingly been remembering familial stories about living with atrocities. Both of my parents were born during the Second World War, and stories about those years shaped my imagination growing up. These were stories... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 