Holidays

A Pint of Guinness with Emily Carr in Broadmead

(This post was originally published on 2022 – we think you will enjoy it again!) Today Broadmead is an upper-class treed neighbourhood of fine homes and manicured lawns – but of course it wasn’t always that way. Broadmead’s history comprises a varied mix of hard work, horses, religion, burial grounds, famous battles, brewers, and war …

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Gung Hay Fat Choy

Last weekend, the Chinese community celebrated the lunar Chinese New Year, which this year heralded in the “Year of the Rabbit.” The rabbit is the fourth animal in the zodiac sequence of twelve and is seen as the luckiest. People born in the year of rabbit are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded and ingenious. …

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Witch in Black

Witches and Wizards

(Originally posted in this Blog on September 21, 2020) If, like me, you’re feeling a wee bit “witchy” as Halloween comes around again, here’s a piece of witchcraft history to ponder on. For instance, did you know that it was on September 22nd in 1692, 328 years ago, that the last eight witches in Salem were …

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Friday the 13th

According to Donald Dossey, a folklore historian, the origin of the Number “13” being unlucky originated with a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party in Valhalla. A trickster god named Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the 13th guest and arranged for the god Hoor to shoot another god, Balder, with …

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An Unforgettable Mother

Motherhood!  The dictionary defines it as “the state of being a mother or having the spirit or qualities of a mother.” And so what is a mother? Again, according to the dictionary, a mother is a creature who “creates, nurtures and protects.” Today we will once again celebrate Mother’s Day. We will honour mothers who …

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