Now in the last days of his role as Liberal leader and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks intelligently, respectfully, and with gravitas. In future years Canadian historians may describe this time as his golden hour. I provide here the full text of the Prime Minister’s address [Global News] to Canadians and Americans, and directly to... Continue Reading →
Ash Wednesday is one of my favourite times of the liturgical year. Sure, Christmas is fun; and Christianity is anchored in the Easter Festival. We enjoy communion with Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit celebrated at Pentecost. But despite the richness of all these great festivals, I still find Ash Wednesday profound and... Continue Reading →
PREAMBLE This blog, takenote.ca, features a wide variety of topics. Recently, many daily posts have responded seriously to national and global politics, and rightly so. There is, however, a limit to what we and our readers can tolerate. Sometimes we need a break from politics and the serious matters which swirl around us. So today,... Continue Reading →
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church, Penticton BC // Sunday last before Lent , March 2, 2025 // The Very Rev. Ken Gray My long time organist friend, Curt, grew up in a very conservative evangelical family in Vanderhoof BC. Following high school he attended college at Prairie Bible Institute (PBI)... Continue Reading →
UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL IMAGES AND A VIDEO "Trump and Vance have revealed to Americans and to America’s allies their alignment with Russia, and their animosity toward Ukraine in general and its president in particular. The truth is ugly, but it’s necessary to face it." -- David Frum, The Atlantic, Friday, February 28, 2025 And one... Continue Reading →
Jazz Vespers returns to the South Okanagan, in Penticton on Sunday March 2 @ 4 p.m. at St. Saviour Anglican Church, 150 Orchard Ave. in Penticton. Church or no church, newcomer or longtime jazz enthusiast, friends of the band, whatever gets you off your couch, come on out. As for the band, Justin Glibbery is... Continue Reading →
Howls of protest surged online as the CBC News special 51st State: A Cross Border Conversation was announced and broadcast on multiple platforms across the U.S. and Canada this past Sunday. This was an international co-production between CBC Radio Cross Country Checkup with Ian Hanomansing and The Middle with Jeremy Hobson. Both hosts took calls from Canadians and Americans.... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] On this my 67th birthday I wanted to write something myself about the state of the world, of North America, and of Canada. A few ideas are in development, but for now, the words below published by Robert Reich today are best shared here. They answer a question many Canadians and Americans ask... Continue Reading →
Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany, February 23, 2025Delivered by the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ashfield, MA Reposted from Margaret's Blog siteGenesis 45:3-11, 15Psalm 37:1-12, 41-421 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50Luke 6:27-38 The moral witness of a loving heart “Love your enemies” (Luke 6:27). That’s got to be one of... Continue Reading →
In facing an imperialist neighbour, Ukraine offers a cautionary tale for Canada — Lloyd Axworthy, in the Globe and Mail, February 19, 2025 Lloyd Axworthy is a former foreign minister and current chair of the World Refugee and Migration Council. He recently authored his memoir: Lloyd Axworthy: My Life in Politics. Canadians now face a... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 