BY CARMEN MARCUS It was the summer of 1984 and Lady Di was just about to marry my toy gorilla, Gogo. My mum was standing watching the rain and then she did something extraordinary. She thrust her hands through the glass pane of the back door. My dad grabbed Lady Di’s (aka Barbie) long wedding […]| The Writers' College Times
A prenatal diagnosis is often accompanied by the pressure to abort, leaving most parents feeling unsupported by the medical community and society at large. In our series “Stories of Prenatal Diagnosis,” we share testimonies of parents who received a diagnosis while pregnant and their personal experience in handling it. Today’s story is from “K. Y.” […] The post Stories of Prenatal Diagnosis: K. Y. appeared first on Secular Pro-Life.| Secular Pro-Life
In "Fellow Rovers," Jeremy Nolan tells the story of a bikepacking getaway with his dad and reflects on what the short but unforgettable journey meant to both of them. Read his heartfelt tale of midnight animal encounters, punchy climbs, and bonding over a new shared experience here... The post Fellow Rovers appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
When the doors open on September 16 at The Warehouse Event Venue in Toronto, a new kind of gathering will begin. One Table, Restaurants Canada’s new, signature gathering, isn’t about spectacle—it’s an invitation for foodservice and hospitality leaders to connect, collaborate, celebrate, and look to the future. The event will bring together members of Restaurants […] The post One Table: Setting the Table for What’s Next appeared first on MENU.| MENU
The Inside Track on Furnishing a Restaurant That Works With Eugene Honcharuk, Founder of Contract Supply Corp. When it comes to furnishing a restaurant, it’s easy to focus on the visual impact—the colours, the shapes, the Instagrammable moments. But for Eugene Honcharuk, founder of Contract Supply and one of Canada’s most trusted voices in commercial […] The post Pull Up a Seat appeared first on MENU.| MENU
Few chefs can claim to have stepped into a professional kitchen at 13. Fewer still can say they spent the next two decades immersed in the pursuit of Michelin stars, executive titles, and ultimately, restaurant ownership. Chef Romain Avril’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary—not just for how early it began, but for how […]| MENU
BY ANNA STROUD I was in my fourth year at university, studying towards a Bachelors degree in Journalism and Media Studies. I chose writing and editing as my specialisation and for our final term we worked on a narrative long form piece under the mentorship of Rian Malan – the Hunter S Thompson […] The post The Best Writing Tip I’ve Ever Received: Keep it Real appeared first on The Writers' College Times.| The Writers' College Times
My favourite singer once told an interviewer that he started singing at the age of four. He said that by the time he was eight, all he wanted to be was a musician. He now has more hits than he remembers and more awards than he can count. I sometimes wish my writing journey was […] The post My Writing Journey – by Nkaela Mocumi appeared first on The Writers' College Times.| The Writers' College Times
BY HEINRICH VAN DER WALT “You know, you should write this stuff down,” Anton said. We were sitting on the back porch of our farmhouse, looking out over the grassy backyard. It was a typical sweltering summer in the Karoo, the only respite from the heat coming from the ice cream cones we were […]| The Writers' College Times
Once a month or so, the Secular Pro-Life blog features a short interview with a pro-life atheist or agnostic. (See the full series of interviews here.) Although Secular Pro-Life is not exclusively for atheists and agnostics, historically they have played a key role in the organization. As they become more prominent in the pro-life movement generally, we’re […] The post Ask a Pro-Life Agnostic: Anonymous appeared first on Secular Pro-Life.| Secular Pro-Life
Short on time and seeking a logistically easy bikepacking getaway, this spring, Izzy Wedderburn and a friend hopped on a quick ferry ride from England to France for a few days of pedaling along the Petite Tour de Manche route. In this piece, Izzy offers a reminder that even a small trip has the potential to be a big adventure. Read it here... The post Where is the Rest of France? appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
The MENU Unplugged Podcast is back with a new format, new hosts, and fresh momentum. The MENU Unplugged Podcast has returned—with new purpose, edge and relevance. Restaurants Canada relaunched the podcast in early June in collaboration with hospitality consulting firm Benchmark Sixty, founded by Jim Taylor, who now co-hosts the show with Derek Smith, founder […] The post The Voice of Foodservice, Amplified. appeared first on MENU.| MENU
I have been an avid traveller—an Indian passport holder who has crossed borders into over 50 countries. This passport, ranked 87th on the global mobility index, has shaped my journeys not only by wh...| Mad In South Asia
I’ve been in the hospitality industry long enough to watch the cycle repeat: panic over staffing shortages, a scramble to recruit, and the inevitable turnover that comes from treating retention like an afterthought. Lately, I hear the same refrain from operators across Canada: “We’re hiring—but we can’t seem to find the right people.” The job […]| MENU
Find Tristan Bogaard's reflection on bikepacking from Cologne to Amsterdam without a phone or GPS at the Ryzon Off Grid event here...| BIKEPACKING.com
At 86, Mavis faces the daily challenges that come with age. A kind, resilient woman, she’s been in contact with Deafblind UK for over two years now, and every Tuesday, ... Read more The post Mavis’ Story: How befriending has brightened her world first appeared on Deafblind UK.| Deafblind UK
For Melissa Lugo, participating in this year's WeedSac event in New Mexico for her second bikepacking trip ever reinforced that traveling by bike is as much about the adventure as it is about connecting with the land and its history. Find her reflection from the 2025 WeedSac paired with a selection of photos by Jeremiah Curtis here... The post Rolling Through Resistance: Bikepacking the Sacramento Mountains as a Fronteriza appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
Tucked inside the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa, 1 Elgin is a culinary stage for Canada’s diverse flavours. With a menu that evolves seasonally and a commitment to locally sourced ingredients, the restaurant offers a refined yet inviting dining experience, making it a must-visit for theatre-goers, foodlovers, and top chefs from across the country. […]| MENU
A pilot’s story of navigating burnout with resilience, using radical honesty and small daily shifts to reclaim her wellness.| Virtues For Life
The idea of the “third place” has captivated hospitality for decades. Restaurateurs, hoteliers, and bar owners chase that elusive in-between—a space that’s not home, not work, but something softer, freer, and more human. Think of the neighbourhood bar that remembers your name, the café that welcomes laptops and late-night conversations, the hotel lounge where locals […]| MENU
The central crisis in many women’s lives is whether to be a woman or a person. In India, when a girl child is born, she is simultaneously a child and a woman — the shadow of ‘Sita-the ego id...| Mad In South Asia
Sixteen-year-olds McKenna Marino and Cruz Blue were the youngest riders to complete this year's Pinyons and Pines. Read their stories...| BIKEPACKING.com
Why did we start the project? བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས། Tashi Delek! My name is Esteban Kong, and I have been part of the Costa Rican Tibetan Cultural Association for over 8 years. After experiencing Tibet…| The VIEWS project
Shingo Gokan didn’t set out to change the cocktail world. In fact, if you’d asked him at any point in his early years behind the bar, he would have told you he was only staying long enough to learn something useful before returning home to Japan to take over his father’s metal manufacturing business. But […]| MENU
In Conversation with Jeremy Bonia: Sommelier, Restaurateur & Outgoing Chair of the Restaurants Canada Board of Directors For more than a decade, Jeremy Bonia has stood at the crossroads of hospitality and advocacy, balancing the immediate demands of running restaurants with the broader fight to shape national policy. As he steps down from his extended […]| MENU
Gabby Peyton knows what it means to grieve a restaurant. Not just the food, but the people, the rituals, and the way sliding into a favourite booth feels like coming home. A food writer, restaurant critic and author of Where We Ate: A Field Guide to Canada’s Restaurants, Past and Present, Peyton isn’t just fascinated […]| MENU
The numbers don’t lie: women make up 58 per cent of entry-level foodservice positions, yet that representation drops sharply as they climb the leadership ladder—only 30 per cent of management roles are held by women, and just 11 per cent ever reach the C-suite. It’s a familiar story across industries, but in foodservice—where women have […]| MENU
The Stagecoach 400 is a beloved annual bikepacking race in sunny Southern California that's been challenging and inspiring riders for nearly 15 years. In this piece, founder Brendan Collier reflects on the event's ongoing history and how it has evolved to keep pace with our ever-changing world. Read his perspective on the Stagecoach's past, present, and future here... The post Moving with Time: The Evolution of the Stagecoach 400 appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
While bikepacking through the Balkans and the Caucasus last year, Weronika Szalas lucked her way into a couple of unplanned opportunities to experience the landscape by horseback. Find her story of how two chance encounters led to unforgettable experiences in Albania and Georgia here... The post Horsebiking: Adventures on Two Wheels and Four Legs appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
With lofty goals and a plan to carry only the bare essentials, Mark Hansen and David Reynolds set their sights on the inaugural Bikepack the Bay event in California, a 265-mile dirt-focused bikepacking route looping the entire Bay Area. Find a race report from David with film photos from Mark here... The post The Long Way Round: Bikepack the Bay 2025 appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
After 337 days, 20 hours, and 17 minutes, riding over 29,000 kilometers, Robbie Danger Webb set a new Guinness World Record as the first openly transgender person to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle. Find a stirring written reflection from Robbie with photos from their massive achievement here... The post The First Trans Person to Cycle Around the World appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
In his latest story, Evan Christenson heads to Chile to ride pieces of the infamous Carretera Austral. The internet abounds with questions about the well-trodden route, including how hard it is and what’s needed to ride it. Evan meets several unconventional characters along the way, and they inspire his fired-up response to the classic questions. Read on for more… The post Touristas: Pieces of the Carretera Austral appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.| Inspiration Archives - BIKEPACKING.com
Restaurants Canada is Unlocking the Power of Community For more than 80 years, Restaurants Canada (RC) has been the national voice of the foodservice industry, advocating for policies that support growth, providing industry insights, and fostering connections across the sector. Much like the industry it represents, RC thrives on collaboration, adaptability and innovation. And, just […]| MENU
To Worry (or Not) about Medicines given to Help You Sleep I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in December 2010. Following the diagnosis I was put on anti-psychotics and I regularly visited my ...| Mad In South Asia
Perseverance wasn’t something I was born with. It wasn’t innate, but I learned it—and it helped me overcome addiction.| Virtues For Life
"I came to the only logical conclusion that the 'fetus' is a separate living human being that deserves life, much like any other."| Secular Pro-Life
The acceptance of abortion makes it harder for women who dearly want but lose their children to get any consideration.| Secular Pro-Life
"It's scientifically, biologically evident that in the embryonic stage it is a non-parasitic human life, and all human life deserves protection and human rights."| Secular Pro-Life
K.F.'s medical team stepped up and did all they could to support her and her unborn baby with spina bifida and many other disorders.| Secular Pro-Life
A.O.'s daughter was diagnosed with a slew of complications but never once regretted being her mother for as long as possible.| Secular Pro-Life
"While pregnant I read my first embryology book and became fascinated about my pregnancy and my offspring developing inside me."| Secular Pro-Life
"I advise anyone who has a sudden change in their hearing to seek medical attention immediately. Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency."| RNID
"I’m a massive advocate for health and well-being and I would say that looking out for your hearing now is an investment for your future health.”| RNID
Annie M. faced the added stress of an uncaring doctor after her prenatal diagnosis, before finding a compassionate provider. Support is key!| Secular Pro-Life
"While pregnant I read my first embryology book and became fascinated about my pregnancy and my offspring developing inside me."| Secular Pro-Life
Mike and Adele share how Skye’s hearing has brought the family closer, and public misconceptions about people who are deaf.| RNID
Sarah talks about difficulties communicating with the general public, and being a role model for people from the black and deaf community.| RNID
When he was a child, Shakib had mumps and his hearing in his left ear deteriorated. He shares about navigating life before and after having a hearing aid.| RNID
Kori is a deaf spiritual life coach. Here she shares about how she found herself as a deaf person in a hearing world.| RNID
Sheila talks about the highs of being able to hear again with a hearing aid, the lows of isolation, and championing her son's hearing loss journey.| RNID
"Do not give up or become deterred. Your continued voice allows for opportunity and opportunity allows for change."| Secular Pro-Life
Let me start off by saying I don’t think this will ever reach you, but I must say my part nonetheless. I was gifted your book during a very recent peculiar moment in my life, a time when I had s...| Mad In South Asia
Katie Thomas from our partner, Contacta Systems Ltd., shares what inspired her to run for RNID, what kept her going and how she smashed her fundraising target!| RNID
