“This Language-Soaked Life” Part Four
From 1975-77 Maybin, still a “non-professional,” taught English as a volunteer for the Immigrant Services Society (ISS) in Vancouver. His students were South Asian women, many of whom had recently arrived and were illiterate, terrified, and … Read more →
“This Language-Soaked Life” Part Three
Following an unrewarding series of “language” lessons with a Japanese university professor, who, while collecting a fee from the student, spent most of the lesson time talking about “the intricacies of Shakespeare’s plots in English (his … Read more →
“This Language-Soaked Life” Part Two
The Language-Soaked Life Part One. At 19 he spent six months in Malaysia, where he lived for a time in an Iban longhouse in Borneo, sleeping under a basket of human skulls; spent a weekend at the mountaintop palace of the Sultan of Kedah; endured … Read more →
“This Language-Soaked Life” Part One
It’s 8:00 AM and Canadian expat Don Maybin has just arrived at Café de Crie, his favourite coffee shop in Fujisawa City south of Tokyo. As soon as the coffee shop staff see the tall Canadian coming through the door they begin preparing his regular … Read more →
Father Goose is Alive and Well
George Burden discovers that Father Goose is alive and well and living in Canada. His real name is Bill Lishman and you’ll read his story and say, “Oh, I know about him.”
Guitars in the Woods
Darcy Rhyno gets to know guitar maker Russel Crosby who, with his beautifully-made instruments, excels at his craft — yet he struggles to get the word out from his house in the Nova Scotia woods.
The Unforgettable Mentor
Writer Lorne Daniel pays tribute to a Martin Oordt, a man who mentored willingly and joyfully, with no expectation of return.
The Sound of Falling Stars
In a world where rising stars are celebrated, Katy Henderson loves the grace of falling stars. And in a brash time when bigger is considered better, Katy is mindful of things that start small. No wonder her band is called Katy Henderson and the Falling Stars and her debut CD is called “all things start small”.
A Woman’s Place – Aung San Suu Kyi Released But Not Free
The ruling junta in Mynmar has just completed elections this week which once again illegitimately returned them to power held only by the violence of the gun. Their release of Aung San Suu Kyi after the elections is an attempt to gain some measure of legitimacy from the west; but it won’t work of course.
The Jesuit and the Homies: It’s All about Kinship
The ongoing sexual abuse crisis has cast a shadow over the Catholic priesthood and has many wondering what the clerical culture of the Church has to do with the life and mission of Jesus of Nazareth. Father Greg Boyle and his work with gang members in Los Angeles remind us of how the ministry of a priest can mirror that of the carpenter’s son.
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