I met Bonnie a little over a year ago up on the hill at the Summerland Ornamental Gardens on the grounds of the Summerland Research Station. Dressed in jeans and a green shirt her small frame belied her confident energy; she was buzzing around like a Queen Bee (an adult, mated female that lives in... Continue Reading →
Our Jays are on an amazing run right now. Few predicted such success six months ago. Our boys just swept the Baltimore Orioles; they lead the American league East four games ahead of their heel-nipping rival, the New York Yankees. Manager John Schneider has strengthened a fragile bullpen and continues to finesse the starting pitching... 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 →
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 →
“Imaginative, open-minded and a brilliant musician, the organist and conductor Anna Lapwood is the dream ambassador for classical music.”-- Gramophone The comments range from savour to sour. A recent Facebook post regarding the amazing Anna Lapwood — former director of music at Pembroke College, Cambridge and now resident organist of the Henry Willis organ at... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] Our extended visit to Victoria continues to serve up delightful surprises, none more exciting than a reunion with Aboriginal Neighbours friends. While never a member of the organization myself, our ministries intersected especially during my time as rector (priest) of the Church of the Advent in Colwood from 2005-2016. A summary of their... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] A favourite of our readers, five-and-a-half-year-old labradoodle, Juno, blogs on politics, art and culture, canine/human connections, and creation. She is supported by her production team PaPaw and MaPaw. To unbelievers, feel free to suspend belief, even for a moment. [Juno] “God made me fast, very fast, and when I run, I feel his... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] It has been some time since I featured a blog on photography. Today I seek to correct that imbalance. I have owned Canon equipment in the past but that predated my serious interest in digital photography. In 2005 I purchased my first set of Nikon gear, a D50 body with two lenses and... Continue Reading →
Anglicans and other mainline church preachers seek new ways to share the Gospel in uncertain times “My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (ISA 55:11-12) In Christian circles historically, the Word of... Continue Reading →
I love this woman, Sue Nelson. Not so much the woman herself; we have never met. But I watch her most mornings. She brings a tonic to my day, a spring to my step, a smile to my face. For over twenty-five years she has been the ballpark organist for the Minnesota Twins baseball team.... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 