What really happened to my father 50 years earlier? — Have you ever tried one of those genealogy websites? It seems tracing your family tree has become a popular hobby. Millions of people around the world have logged on to see what the sites can tell them about their family’s history. My niece decided to trace our family’s lineage to see where it might lead but we got more…

One of the things I love the most about travel is how everyone has different expectations and must-sees wherever they go. When people think of France they usually think of the lights of Paris or the azure blue seas along the French Riviera. …

I didn’t get it until I was middle-aged — Use it or lose it has never been more important than when it comes to physical fitness. The older you are the more important it is to begin some kind of exercise program. …

Remember when love was naive and innocent? — Where I grew up, every summer we would celebrate Klondike Days, a tribute to the Canadian Gold Rush in the 1890s. Edmonton was considered the Gateway To Canada’s North because it was the last big city before gold miners traveled north to the Yukon where the Gold Rush was underway…

A to Z of my favorite travel destinations — V is for Venice — Before I had ever been to Italy, I had been warned that Venice was a city best to be avoided. Sometimes that even came from other Italians.

My Special Relationship With Hawks — I believe the hawk is my spirit animal. I have felt a strong connection to these majestic raptors for at least half my life. It started on one of the saddest days ever. We had just returned from my dad’s funeral and I decided to go to my friend’s farm…

A treasure trove of literary riches — My dad was a voracious reader. He read all the time but his favorite place was propped up in his bed, where he would devour book after book. Some weeks he would zip through a few books, especially paperbacks. He would take more time reading political or history tomes. When…

A to Z of my favorite travel destinations — U is for Udaipur — As I get down to the end of this alphabet challenge it is getting tougher and tougher the lower down the alphabet I get. I didn’t have trouble with most of the previous letters and could probably do a few more places for each letter. But now that I’m on…

A man who was larger than life — I lost a good friend tonight. He had more than his share of medical issues throughout his life, but they had been getting worse and more frequent in recent years. And today you can’t turn on the news without being reminded about what a remarkable person he was. The Honourable…