Four years ago, I voted for the NDP in the Alberta provincial election that shocked the wor … country. Mine wasn’t a principled vote, born more out of mischief and curiosity. I certainly held no love for the splintered conservative party who had governed for 44 years but were now running as two entities. The […]
I Am Albertan and I Am Angry!
I am Albertan and I am angry! Really, really angry! Incredible Hulk in cowboy boots and white Stetson angry! The code of allegiance to the True Alberta Residents Syndicate and Social Society, or TARSandSS, requires that I say that. If I don’t, I risk being branded a traitor and hung, as some of my […]
The Unity We Don’t Know We Have
It’s election time in Alberta. Yay? You are forgiven for thinking election time is perpetual these days, what with the non-stop campaigning that goes on. There’s seemingly no end to the pep rallies, town halls, leadership contests, policy announcements, billboards, radio spots, and television commercials. And don’t get me started on the social media memes. […]
There’s No Vaccine for Layoffs
You think you’re immune, until you discover you aren’t. In February 1995, god that’s nearly thirty years ago, I grew up in a hurry. Or at least my budding work persona did. I was one of five wide-eyed geology students freshly fallen from the Ontario turnip truck in the early weeks of eight month, co-op, […]
Crimson Lake Provincial Park – review
Hanging out in a trailer while it rains during the day is one of the most underappreciated joys in life. That may sound counterintuitive since most campers are hoping to be outside enjoying the sun and warmth and beauty of the natural world. That is, presumably, the entire purpose of camping. But the odd daytime […]
Dinosaur Provincial Park – review
“But it’s a dry heat.” In my estimation, these words are worthy of a thorough flogging with a filled, 2L water bottle. I’ve lived in both humid climates and arid climates and I can assure you hot is hot. That glowing yellow ball of fusion in the sky doesn’t care how moist the atmosphere is […]
Whistlers Campground – Jasper National Park – review
Brace yourselves, folks, what I’m about to do here may be sacrilege to some of you. I’m about to write a review of Whistlers campground in Jasper National Park despite having never actually camped there. Now before you click away to watch kitten videos in hopes of calming your indignation, let me assure you that […]
Wapiti Campground – Jasper National Park – review
Rarely does a camping trip peak during the drive to one’s destination, but if you’re heading to Jasper from Calgary this is every bit the possibility. I’ll say this ad nauseam, but Icefields Parkway is a treasure of a highway. Wow! The views are beyond spectacular and last for hundreds of kilometers.
Jasper National Park – review & things to do
I sometimes wonder if born and raised Western Canadians truly understand the uniqueness of their situation with regards to the national parks system. This is especially true of Albertans and British Columbians living on the door step of the glorious mountain parks known throughout the world. Having grown up in Southern Ontario, national parks were […]
Aspen Beach Provincial Park – review – revisited
When last we visited Aspen Beach Provincial Park, back in August of 2014, our camping weekend was severely impacted by abnormally cold weather. If I recall correctly, we awoke to temperatures in the low single digits each morning and our afternoon highs only ventured into the mid-teens. Sunny or not, that is hardly the kind […]