By Michael Shapcott Phil McIntyre-Paul is practically royalty in the beautiful Shuswap in the central interior of British Columbia. He helped create the Shuswap Trail Alliance more than two decades ago. Over that time, he has helped nurture more than 350 greenway trail projects โ drawing in fifteen Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, three levels of... Continue Reading →
Protecting Liberty, again
Ours is not the first generation to take up the cause of the protection of liberty. Whether Canadian or American, we are likely not the last. We typically associate such struggles with failed states often in the global south and elsewhere--Myanmar, South Sudan, Russia, El Salvador, China. We have memories of two world wars from... Continue Reading →
Panic and polished fingernails — Anne Lamott
Here's an inspiring piece by Anne Lamott published a few days ago in the Los Angeles Times. A cartoon in the New Yorker decades ago showed two prisoners chained to the wall at the wrists and ankles, well off the ground, in a jail cell, in a cave. One man turns to the other and... Continue Reading →
No Dog for Donald โ Ten reasons why Donald must never have a dog โ by Juno
Juno is very popular five and a half year old labradoodle who lives in Summerland in the Interior of BC, Canada with his owner-friends, PawPaw Ken and MawPaw Kathie. Juno is a prolific blogger and astute political analyst. Answering the question I was asked the other day, โshould Donald Trump have a dog?โ I answered,... Continue Reading →
Diet and exercise
A sermon preached for the congregation of St. Stephen Anglican Church, Summerland BC Canada on Sunday March 9, 2025 -- The First Sunday of Lent -- The Very Rev. Ken Gray Donโt get me wrong. After many years, Kathie and I how have a family doctor, right here in our little town of Summerland. Hallelujah.... Continue Reading →
Hail the disconsolateย ย ย
A prophet cannot know that all will be well, that those in power will wake up and mend the damage they have caused, and that peace will prevail. The mystic can never be certain that union with God will be the outcome of longing for God. They must rest in unknowing. Unknowing is not always... Continue Reading →
Maryโs testament
A self-described mother, daughter, sister, friend, nurturer, provider, ย volunteer, ย mentor, philanthropist, simple, complicated, mighty, weak, [and photographer] I am... me. Mary Scheidegger Adams has done what we all should now do. She has written her assessment of โwhatโs going onโ right now. She lives in Salmon Arm in the interior of British Columbia. She writes... Continue Reading →
Canada eh!
Resistance to the Trump/Musk horror show is growing. In the US, social media now includes a variety of mea culpa statements by Trump voters. Many are hard to verify and may be fakes. That said, I am reminded of that stupid woman who admitted on the BBC a day following the โleaveโ victory that she... Continue Reading →
Bravo Trudeau โ An appropriate and proportional response to Donald Trump
Now in the last days of his role as Liberal leader and Canadian Prime Ministerย 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 Ministerโs address [Global News] to Canadians and Americans, and directly to... Continue Reading →
Truth Telling — Introducing Ash Wednesday
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 →