FEATURED POST

Governing By Gimmick

We all know that politicians can be opportunists sometimes, not necessarily for venal reasons like personal financial gain, but to win the hearts and minds of voters. So, for example, if the current zeitgeist is all about the escalating cost of living, the opportunist politico will miraculously find ways to look as if they’re doing something to address the problem, when what they’re really offering is a flashy gimmick. I am referring, of course, to our very own provincial gov

1 day ago3 min read

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Governing By Gimmick

1 day ago3 min read

Depave Paradise, Dig Up A Parking Lot

We use it to build everything from skyscrapers and shopping malls to plazas and highways, and currently, some 70% of the world’s population lives in structures built from it. Today it ranks as number two on the list of the world’s most consumed substances, second only to water. It’s that ubiquitous “wonder” material called concrete, celebrated by architects and city planners everywhere because it’s cheap, strong and so malleable it’s capable of taking almost any shape. Better

Jun 263 min read

Out on a Limb is Launched!

Well it’s been quite the whirlwind these past few weeks, beginning on May 20th with the official launch of Out On A Limb: Saving the Urban Canopy at Winnipeg’s McNally Robinson Booksellers. My friend and fellow author, Ariel Gordon was a superb host, and we had a fantastic standing room only crowd of tree lovers. Much to my delight - and shock, quite frankly! – Out On A Limb has been on the nonfiction best seller list at McNallys for the past 9 weeks. So, huge thanks to those

Jun 122 min read

Don’t Let Fear Of Change Determine Your Vote

It is a truth universally acknowledged that human beings don’t just dislike change; we fear it. And that’s as true for moving house as it is for getting a divorce or ousting a political incumbent. That’s because our brains are hardwired to seek comfort and security, not uncertainty. We may not be happy with a person or situation, but at least they’re familiar. So we stick with it, whether it be an unhappy marriage, a job that we hate or a politician who doesn’t reflect our va

Jun 63 min read

Where Are Cities In Carney’s Nature Strategy?

So, the long awaited federal Nature Strategy has been released and while there are a couple of things to praise, there's a lot that leaves me frustrated and angry. On the praiseworthy side is support for indigenous leadership and input, culminating in two long awaited projects finally being scheduled to move forward – the northern Seal River Watershed, a protected area right here in Manitoba, and Wiinipaawk, another indigenous led project on the Quebec side of James Bay. Add

May 73 min read

Why Life in the Slow Lane is Better...and Safer

Before I begin this story, I should first confess that I once suffered from a serious affliction – that nasty urban disease known as road rage. Maybe it was the result of living in Montreal for 20 years - a city where every driver thinks they’re competing on a formula 1 track, and woe betide the driver who doesn’t hit the gas as soon as the light turns green. In truth, my case of road rage was so bad that my partner – a reasonable, calm type of man – frequently asked me to re

Apr 274 min read

OUT ON A LIMB: THE STORY OF A BOOK

In August 2024, my friend Emma Durand Wood, one of the co-founders of Trees Please Winnipeg, approached me about writing a book on the urban forest. It would be part of The City Project, a series of compact, accessible books exploring everything from city finances, active transportation and urban trees to the decolonization of public spaces. My first reaction was a feeling of high anxiety, despite the fact that I’d already written more than a dozen op-eds for the Winnipeg Fre

Apr 234 min read

Welcome to My Blog! It’s time to talk about nature, climate, and a whole host of other things!

They call me “the tree lady” - I’ve been called worse! - because I’m passionate about protecting and expanding Winnipeg’s urban forest. But first and foremost, I’m writer, filmmaker and environmental activist with a wide range of interests. In addition to publishing a novel and short stories, I’ve written and directed more than a dozen award-winning science and nature documentaries for CBC’s The Nature of Things With David Suzuki.

Recently, I’ve written a series of opinion editorials for The Winnipeg Free Press on urban issues, from climate change and trees to downtown renewal.

Contact

FEATURED POST

Governing By Gimmick

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Governing By Gimmick

Depave Paradise, Dig Up A Parking Lot

Out on a Limb is Launched!

Don’t Let Fear Of Change Determine Your Vote

Where Are Cities In Carney’s Nature Strategy?

Why Life in the Slow Lane is Better...and Safer

OUT ON A LIMB: THE STORY OF A BOOK

ABOUT ME

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