Today’s post is a tribute to my old alma mater, EllisDon Corporation. Geoff Smith, President of ED was in Monaco (yes, the real one, next to Italy) last week representing Canada’s nomination for International Entrepreneur of the Year, in a prestigious award ceremony hosted annually by Ernst & Young. That’s serious recognition and one EllisDon can be justifiably proud of. When I joined the firm…
Watch what you feed your best friend
Pet food and treats is an issue that seems to be worth mentioning again as I just read that Costco is still carrying pet treats that have been responsible for kidney failure in animals. There are a number of treats that should be avoided but the most problematic seem to be the ones imported from Asia. There are no federal controls on the content or…
Fathers and the family tree
My 88-year-old Dad just planted a new variety of apple tree in his back yard because he “likes to watch them grow and bear fruit”. He already has several fruit trees and enjoys nurturing them through the various seasons. He’s had some success with grafting and at one point had four varieties of apples on a single tree. Obviously he doesn’t put much stock in…
More geezer pleasers please
Last week my guy and I went to see The Grand Seduction, a light-weight movie about the efforts of the residents of a remote Newfoundland harbour community to attract a doctor. If they could land a doctor then they could convince investors to build a waste disposal facility to provide jobs for locals no longer employed in the fishing industry. As fans of Rick Mercer…
Not fooled by vanity sizing
There is no way on earth I’m a size 6, despite the fact that my Not Your Daughter’s Jeans and Club Monaco summer pants bear a label that says I am. Blame it on a sly marketing technique called vanity sizing. That’s when clothing manufacturers cheat a bit by lowering the size number to make buyers feel better and more likely to purchase. At the…
Don’t never talk to strangers
Yes. It’s a double negative, intentionally. Now that I’m retired and not rushing head-down in a panic all the time, I have more time to observe life and in particular, to people-watch. This new preoccupation has led to an increase in my engaging strangers in quick conversation which usually takes the form of a comment as I’m passing by. Food courts seem to be particularly…