Amidst the atrocities of WW II emerged brave souls who helped and sheltered Jews at great risk to their own lives. Following her trip to Germany, Star Weiss felt inspired by these seemingly ordinary people who rose to the aid of fellow humans.
An Unlikely Friendship: The German Girl and the Candy Bomber
At Remembrance Day, a story from postwar Berlin that may surprise you, a reminder that small gestures and acts of kindness — a child’s letter, a quick decision, two sticks of gum — can have unexpected, far-reaching results. At this time of year especially, I sometimes wonder how it is possible to get past […]
The Halloween Outhouses
Halloween usually conjures images of ghosts and goblins, but outhouses were often a favourite of All Hallow’s pranksters.
Why We Should All See a Concentration Camp
As Star Weiss visits the notorious Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany, she is visited by many questions: “Would I have risked my family’s safety by speaking out, or trying to help prisoners escape? Or would I have remained on the sidelines, averting my eyes and convincing myself that those nice SS men who played on our town sports teams and added music to our festivals were really just engaged in training activities behind the walls of a well-run prison?”
The Sacred Goose: On Victoria’s Galloping Goose Trail
Star Weiss, author of Havens in a Hectic World, takes us on a journey along Victoria’s famous Galloping Goose Trail, a sacred place, a meditative place — and discovers that walking can be a form of prayer.
Grandmothers as Agents of Change
Victoria Grandmothers for Africa are dynamic activists, awesome fundraisers, and part of a national movement committed to supporting the African grandmothers who are raising their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren.
On Being the Marrying Kind
When Star Weiss’ friends asked her to marry them, that is, to perform their wedding ceremony, she was both flabbergasted and incredibly honoured. How many people who aren’t marriage commissioners or ministers actually get to say, “You may now have your first married kiss”?
A Sacred Time
On a tranquil summer’s evening at Peach Lake, Star Weiss and her father set out in a canoe and the daughter learns things about her father’s life she never knew.
I Don’t Know What I’d Do Without You
When I hear the usual mother-in-law jokes and put downs, I can’t help but think about how different it is for me. On this Mother’s Day, I’d like to nominate my mother-in-law Louise Fuoco as the woman I most admire.
A Hut of My Own: Solace, Spirit and Inspiration
The Metchosin hillside where my hut sits has become my refuge, my place of solace…my sacred place, and I’ve gone there when cancer and other illnesses have almost paralyzed us with fear, have nearly broken my heart. Here, in the natural setting of my hut, I’ve always found peace.