Don's Blog
04.21.2007:
It was one week ago today that Canada said farewell to June Callwood, one of this country's greatest humanitarians and social activists. In addition to creating 50 social organizations, she endorsed established ones including the Ontario March of Dimes. Here is a link to the tribute article OMOD published on its Web site.
Callwood is also remembered for her writing. Her journalism career included work for the Globe & Mail and Maclean's, and reporting assignments for the CBC and Vision TV. She wrote several books, and collaborated with Barbara Walters and Otto Preminger. Some of Callwood's books include: "Canadian Women and the Law" (1973), "Portrait of Canada" (1981), "June Callwood's National Treasures" (1994), "Trial Without End: A Shocking Story of Women and AIDS" (1995), and "The Man Who Lost Himself: The Terry Evanshen Story" (2000).
Affectionately referred to as St. June, she tirelessly campaigned against poverty, domestic violence and discrimination. She believed that if one witnesses injustice, one must intervene.
Though no public funeral or memorial was held, her many fans and followers led a candlelight procession Tuesday evening in Toronto. This was a great way to say thank you to this amazing woman.
Thank you June, for helping to make society more livable and tolerable for people with disabilities and other minorities.
04.20.2007:
Last night I attended a Volunteer Appreciation Night held at Bloorview Kids Rehab. I volunteer at Bloorview every Monday morning at its reception area, as a front desk greeter and customer escort. I've been doing this since June 2006. Every volunteer who has been active for a one-year period received a Commitment pin. It is now affixed to my badge.
It is very humbling to be a volunteer, and to know that people appreciate the assistance that is offered and provided.
My history with Bloorview actually goes back over 30 years, when I attended nursery school. Over the years I've gone there for an interesting mix of doctor appointments and recreational activities. I continue to play floor hockey there during the regular season.
Bloorview is Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital (non-medical). It is also one of the top care, education and research centres.
Most of the volunteers I've met - including a few close friends - tend to be loyal and long-term. The longest-serving volunteer to receive recognition last night has been there 20 years.
The appreciation event coincided with National Volunteer Week. Time to give a shout-out to volunteers everywhere!
4.13.2007:
I am happy to announce that I've got a new job! Yesterday I was hired by a research firm called Cormex to do assignments for them from home. My position began earlier this week through a series of comprehensive training sessions. I had been out of work for the past three months, and it's nice to be back.
4.6.2007:
Don wishes all visitors a happy long Easter/Passover weekend! Will return soon with more blogs and site updates.
3.9.2007:
Today I added a page devoted to last year's blogs, Blog Archives 2006.
2.14.2007:
I wish all bloggers and visitors to this site a Happy Valentine's Day. The subject of love has been written by many writers and composers through the ages. One of the greatest writings about love that I've read comes from The Bible. I'd like to share this one passage with you, because the message it communicates about love crosses all cultures, faiths and boundaries. Enjoy.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NRSV)
1.23.2007:
This has not been a good day. I just read that one of my favourite media personalities from the past died today. John Majhor (not a typo) was a popular host of radio and TV shows across North America. I grew up watching him in the mid-1980s, when he hosted a weekday afternoon show called 'Toronto Rocks.' It aired on CityTV and featured music videos and interviews. Prior to 'Rocks,' The Maj was a fixture on the AM radio station 1050 CHUM. He went on to host other programs, and was one of the original entertainment reporters on the E! Channel in the U.S. He was born in the U.S., but received dual citizenship in 1996. Last August he was diagnosed with a rare, inoperable form of cancer. Majhor was 53 years old. Here is a clip of one of his 'Toronto Rocks' segments posted on CityTV.com.
I also want to note the death of Denny Doherty of The Mamas & The Papas. Doherty was one of the founding members of this 1960s folk-pop quartet. He was the male lead singer in the group, and not John Phillips, the group's main songwriter. Doherty was born in Halifax, and at the time of his death was living in Mississauga. I saw Doherty give a presentation at the Toronto Beatles Convention last September. He not only discussed his own career achievements, but also talked about his group's connection with The Beatles. I enjoyed hearing him talk about what it was like to be part of a successful rock group that continues to be heard today. Doherty was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996, and entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Mamas & The Papas in 1998.
Thank you for entertaining us, gentlemen. We salute you.
1.17.2007:
Today I am giving a birthday salute to Muhammad Ali! The boxing great turned 65 today. Of all the celebrities I've met over the years, he is one of my favourites. I met him in 1985 during my first trip to New York City. I spotted him meeting with members of the media outside of the hotel my parents and I stayed at. He was very warm and personable to everybody, and we even managed to get a photo taken together.
In 2002, I saw him again here in Toronto at the Rogers Centre (then called the Skydome). The Toronto Argonauts football team honoured him as part of a joint fundraiser with the Parkinson Society of Canada. Though the effects of Parkinson's disease had made him progressively slower since our meeting in '85, he managed to maintain a powerful presence. It was equally thrilling to see him a second time.
Hope your birthday was a good one, champ. You're definitely one of the greatest.
1.13.2007:
Hello, and Happy '07 to you! It's good to be blogging again. My hard drive crashed two days ago and I was afraid I had lost some of my prized documents, including some of the graphics that I use for this site. Fortunately I was able to recover most of what I had before.
Earlier this week the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its inductees for 2007. Among the five inductees are Van Halen and R.E.M. Here is the official press release issued by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The induction ceremony will take place March 12 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
I was one of the first visitors to the R&R HOF when it opened in September 1995. I was also one of the museum's inaugural members. I continue to follow the success of the HOF and have its Web site bookmarked. This year marks the 22nd induction ceremony.
