Barris Beat

Jewel on the Hill

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Thomas Foster Memorial, our jewel on the hill.

We were winding up our visit to the building just north of the Sandford Road, a structure my author friend Conrad Boyce called a “Jewel on the Hill,” when our wonderful guide took questions. The one I asked had nothing to do with the building, but everything to do with its namesake.

“What’s the story about Thomas Foster rewarding women for delivering the most babies?” I asked.

“In his will in 1945,” explained tour guide Nicole Greenly, “the recently deceased mayor of Toronto, Thomas Foster, awarded cash prizes to women who had the most babies in Toronto in the decade following his death.” (more…)

Barris Beat

Perils of tech empowerment

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Drones, the tech equivalent of performance-enhancing drugs?

It’s now been just over two weeks since women’s Olympic soccer players from New Zealand spotted a drone flying over their training session near Saint-Étienne, France. Police quickly detained the operator as the New Zealanders registered a protest.

Within a day, the International Olympic Committee sent the drone operator and Bev Priestman, head coach for Team Canada’s women’s team, home. As penalty, FIFA, the soccer governing body, deducted six points from any Canadian women’s winnings. Meanwhile, Canada Soccer promised:

“(We shall) seek to understand the historical culture of competitive ethics within all our programs.” (more…)

Barris Beat

Dull economy without sharp trades

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Ed Casella, master hardware specialist in Stouffville, Ont.

Some time ago, I decided to repair a door handle inside our house. (This sort of thing happens when I suffer writer’s block and need a short-term distraction.) So, I went to local big box stores looking for the correct hardware.

The only replacements they offered were huge new assemblies wrapped in that impregnable plastic. And, even if I could cut open the package, there was no guarantee the new assembly would fit my door.

“Ed’s,” I suddenly remembered. “Ed’s Hardware in Stouffville. That’s where I’ll go.” I made an appointment to see Ed Casella, drove down to meet him at his farm, and it was all I could do to keep from buying every old piece of hardware in the place – antique doorknobs, padlocks, floor grates and everything else under the sun … from a bygone era. (more…)

Barris Beat

Debate: the ultimate litmus test

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The looming 2024 presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Philadelphia Inquirer.

After accepting the Republican party’s nomination as vice-presidential running-mate to Donald Trump, last week, James David Vance returned to his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. In his first public appearance, the junior senator called President Joe Biden’s dropping out of the race and endorsing Kamala Harris as the Democratic party’s next presidential nominee “a threat to democracy.

“I’m kind of pissed off …” he continued, that he wouldn’t get the chance to debate Ms. Harris leading up to the November election. (more…)

Books

For first time, Canadians recognized for service in historic 1940 Battle of Britain

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Published by Sutherland House – Sept. 2024

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,” are Churchill’s words that set the 113 days of the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 apart from all others, as the greatest aerial battle in history.

As the German Luftwaffe sought to destroy the Royal Air Force, gain air superiority, and invade the British Isles, Commonwealth fighter pilots scrambled from U.K. airfields day after day and flew Hurricane and Spitfire fighter aircraft to thwart Hitler’s plan. They won, but paid dearly.

In his 22nd book of nonfiction – Battle of Britain: Canadian Airmen in Their Finest Hour – Ted Barris has assembled unknown stories of Canadian airmen, ground crew, as well as engineers, aeronautical designers, medical officers and civilians, who answered the call and turned back the very real threat of Nazi invasion. You know the outcome of the Battle of Britain, but now you’ll meet the Canadians who helped secure victory in the first last-stand of WWII. (more…)

Barris Beat

Escape to the cottage? Yes and no.

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A rustic cottage – thin walls, stove, up on stilts, fish flies on the screens.

They’ve been packing up for weeks. RVs all loaded. Trailers full of motorboats, Sea-doos, kayaks, flotation devices and other water paraphernalia. Oh, and they’ve got plenty of camping gear too, with food coolers and bug repellent crammed into every nook and cranny of their cars and trucks.

I asked one of my neighbours, heading out of town, how long he’d been getting ready for this summer’s great escape to the cottage.

“Since we got home from the cottage last year,” he said.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about all my friends dashing off to cottages each summer. (more…)

Barris Beat

Intoxicated by power

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He spotted me wandering around a section of the store. He came over and I explained I had something in particular I wanted to buy. Before long, he’d led me to the right shelf, pointed out several brand options, their qualities, and the price range. I was a bit surprised by his knowledge and thanked him.

“Anytime,” he said. “Here to help.” (more…)

Barris Beat

Entre Amis. Between Friends.

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Canadian and American flags flying near the Ambassador Bridge at the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Windsor, Ont. Cdn Press

It was July 1, back in 1966. I was a teenager working for tuition money at my uncle’s restaurant in Baltimore. I was wearing a T-shirt with the red Maple Leaf flag on it (it had become the symbol on our national flag the year before) and a customer at that Double-T Diner in Maryland asked me, “How come you’re wearing that red Maple Leaf on your shirt?”

“I’m Canadian. It’s Canada Day, our national holiday,” I said, “kind of like your July 4.”

He nodded as if he understood, but I quickly realized he didn’t. (more…)

Barris Beat

Can’t see the forest for the pleas

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Gerry Oldham hosts block picnic at King Street Parkette in June 2014.

Just over a week ago, my neighbour Gerry Oldham stopped by. She was on her way home from attending Uxbridge Township Council. She looked glum. When I asked her what was wrong, she got even more upset.

“Our park’s been declared surplus,” she said, her voice emotional. (more…)

Barris Beat

Parents who kill kids’ fun in sport

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Sunday afternoon football game the players enjoyed; some parents did not.

It was about halfway through the game. The plays for both teams seemed to be clicking constantly. The score was pretty close – a couple of touchdowns for each side. And among the busiest people on the football field seemed to be the volunteers moving the yardsticks as each side made their 10-yard advances to gain a new first down. Then, suddenly we heard a commotion along the sidelines.

“What game are you watching, ref?” I heard one of the volunteers shout.

“Get off the field!” came the retort from the referee crew chief. (more…)