I am Washington โ neither the city nor the state. I am not a character in the novel which bears my name. (For the record, I am white, not black.) I am a brand name, almost brand new washing machine. I am one of a generation of household appliances replete with special features, but sadly... Continue Reading →
Downtown Victoria: A “psychologically necessary” vision
[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 →
Donald Trumpโs war on climate science has staggering implications
Thanks Geoff Strong for sharing the Facebook post Ralph Keeling is a distinguished professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and president of the Keeling Curve Foundation Even a policy of โdrill, baby, drillโ would imply more climate research, not its evisceration, says Ralph Keeling. If you have seen one graph on the subject of climate... Continue Reading →
The meat in the belly of my brother
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church, Penticton BC โ The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, August 3rd 2025 โThe Very Rev. Ken Gray Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." I remember the death of my motherโs parents, my grandparents, Maxwell... Continue Reading →
How to stop the ruthless men who play with our lives and the life of the world
In a recent op-ed in the New York Times, David Brooks gave an answer to a question we are all asking: When will the political chaos in the United States end, and how will that come about? Some place their hope in the 2026 mid-term elections. By that time however congress itself may be so... Continue Reading →
The Frightening Lesson from Texas โ Political failure in the face of the climate disasters
Reposted from Charlie Angus / The Resistance Jul 11, 2025 "By almost any measure, anyone born after 1990 is finding themselves in a new geological era, navigating a world fundamentally different from the one Baby Boomers and Gen Xers inherited. The chances of anyone alive today experiencing a year as relatively cool as 1996 are... Continue Reading →
Catholic bishops from Latin America, Africa and Asia demand climate justice โ Such great leadership in โtimes such as thisโ
Reposted from Jim Hodgson on 2nd Jul 2025 In a new document, Catholic church leaders from across the Global South blasted the โopenly denialist and apathetic stanceโ of โso-called elites of powerโ in the industrialized world who pressure their governments to back away from much-needed mitigation and adaptation measures. Preparing for the next United Nations... Continue Reading →
On disruption
[Ken Gray] Yesterday on Canada Day I suggested that a core part of Canadian identity is a desire for, and an experience, of freedom. Already thinking along such lines I appreciated this following post from the Centre for Action and Contemplation (Richard Rohr) on the act of freedom. When freedom becomes more than a concept,... Continue Reading →
A visit to the grocery store โ How Canadian is that?
"Where are the Canadian carrots?โ Kathie asks. โTheyโre still in the groundโ I reply. As for lettuce, we can access local supply from Okanagan Falls back home, while on holiday options were more limited. We snatched some American cucumbers from the stalls by the store entrance but later exchanged them for some Canadian veg we... Continue Reading →
Imagine Studio Cafรฉ — Striving to cultivate creativity, innovation and leadership for all ages and abilities to achieve their full potential
One of the most difficult decisions facing visitors and residents of Victoria is deciding on a favourite coffee shop -- First-world problem for sure. A friend recently directed us to the Imagine Studio Cafรฉ nestled in Victoriaโs historic James Bay neighbourhood. She heard it was good food and drink, and really interesting. She was right... Continue Reading →