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Tag Archives: community
Embracing the ‘opposition’
A conference I’m attending in May* that revolves around the increasing urbanization of the world and related issues, asks the question “How can citizens most effectively be involved in this massive re-shaping of the urban environment?” As it happens, this … Continue reading
Posted in change, communication, community, NIMBY, urban planning, urbanism
Tagged communication, community, NIMBY, social change, urban planning
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Condos, condos everywhere…. or, Suburbia?
Well, here we are once again reacting to another condo proposition in Roncesvalles Village. Our city councillor (Gord Perks) hosted a neighbourhood meeting the other night, the purpose of which was to provide the developers (Mattamy Homes) with feedback from … Continue reading
Posted in community, condos, conformity, creative class, fear, gentrification, ghetto, myths, politics, reflections, Richard Florida, suburban, urban, values
Tagged affordability, community, condos, feelings, gentrification, suburbia, trends
2 Comments
Halloween – the ‘junk model’
The earliest Hallowe’en I remember I was about seven. Mom had made crepe-paper costumes (made from a bought pattern) for my sister and me. I was somehow not thrilled, partly because my sister got to be a rose (her name … Continue reading
Posted in awareness, commercial, competition, consciousness, Halloween, junk, materialism, modern life, pollution, reflections, social commentary
Tagged commercialism, community, consciousness, Halloween, holidays, social commentary
3 Comments
Different drummer
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. It is not important that he should … Continue reading
Posted in causes, community, consciousness, history, Inclusion, Insight, love, marijuana, personal growth, personal power, reflections, social change, social justice, values, volunteering
Tagged community, consciousness, openness, personal growth, political philosophy, reflections, social change, values
9 Comments
‘Stigma-free’ — or Care?
If I were living in a “stigma-free zone”, what might that look like? For starters, I presume it would mean that people with mental illness would not experience stigma, or discrimination. By some miracle? It would mean ‘human rights’ principles … Continue reading
Posted in awareness, community, compassion, gay, Inclusion, mental illness, social justice, stigma, values
Tagged community, compassion, human-rights, inclusion, mental illness, social commentary, society, values
1 Comment
My “pedophile” experience
My ‘pedophile experience’ began with a cute little nine month old baby called David. And it began in the park. I was ten and living in LaSalle, Quebec. In those days most kids had the freedom to roam about the … Continue reading
Posted in awareness, child abuse, consciousness, ignorance, Insight, modern life, parenting, pedophiles, Reflection, reflections, trauma
Tagged community, dirty old man, education, ignorance, modern life, reflections, social commentary
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‘Stigma-free’ and real education…
We hear a lot of talk these days about ‘stigma’ around mental health issues. But what does this mean? It means you have to be awfully courageous to admit out loud – for example – that you are depressed (especially … Continue reading
Posted in awareness, education, fear, Feelings, ignorance, Inclusion, psychology, reflections, stigma, values, Wish List
Tagged community, consciousness, education, inclusion, psychology, stigma
5 Comments
Dancing off on a tangent…
I’ve waxed ecstatic about Swing Dancing, but there are aspects of dancing which I don’t care for. One is the learning part. If I had it to do over again, I would only go to the occasional workshop rather than … Continue reading
Posted in consciousness, dancing, Feelings, imperfection, modern life, reflections, values
Tagged community, consciousness, dancing, feelings, reflections, social commentary, values
4 Comments
‘Gay’ as I’ve known it…
I must have been 14, when my friend June informed me that there were boys who preferred boys instead of girls. “They’re called ‘queer’”, she said. I still remember some of my mixed reactions: weird; interesting; and concern that this … Continue reading
Posted in awareness, causes, consciousness, education, friendship, gay, history, homosexuality, ignorance, Inclusion, love, modern life, personal growth, Reflection, reflections, values
Tagged community, consciousness, gay, gay radar, homosexuality, inclusion, love, personal growth
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Thinking and Dreaming 
Thinking about guns….
“There are lessons here on U.S. gun culture, and the risks inherent in allowing a prevalence of weapons that makes it easy for the deranged — as the killer must surely have been — to obtain them.”* “The deranged”. How … Continue reading →