Calls for action, more data after Statistics Canada reports increased loneliness for immigrants

A new report by Statistics Canada about increased instances of self-reported loneliness among immigrants is sparking calls for additional data and action to address the issue. In a recently released article by the federal agency, researchers examined data gathered during the 2018 general social survey as well as information through other sources to assess the loneliness among immigrants and those who were born in Canada.

“Recent and long-term immigrants reported higher levels of loneliness than the Canadian-born. Moreover, loneliness did not appear to be alleviated by the length of stay in Canada,” researchers noted in the document.

According to the report, it was found those who were separated, divorced or widowed reported being lonelier than those who are single or with a partner. Researchers also said those who had higher levels of education had higher instances of loneliness, which is the opposite for those who were born in Canada. As for what should be done next, the report said there was a lack of sufficient samples — particularly in seniors, who researchers said are more prone to have higher levels of loneliness. While there were no specific recommendations stemming from the report, they called for additional data examining the issue as well as a broader awareness in order to potentially put in place measures to address loneliness. (Nick Westoll, Global News)

Yessiree folks. It is now our collective responsibility to ensure that immigrants are not lonely in this great nation of ours. We need more studies to collect additional data so that our tax dollars can “put in place measures to address loneliness.” After all, it is our responsibility to guarantee that nobody, especially immigrants, is lonely in Canada. We are a nation of kindness and support, we must ensure that everybody feels a part of society, that nobody is left behind. I suppose that goes with the general theme in schools, where nobody can be a winner nor anybody a loser. Everyone is equal. And what a revelation, that “those who were separated, divorced or widowed reported being lonelier than those who are single or with a partner.” I need a drink!

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Rogers announces multi-million dollar internet expansion for Quinte

A major investment in Quinte from one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies.

Rogers announced on Thursday that more than $140 million will be spent to connect more than 20,000 homes and businesses across Belleville, Quinte West, and Prince Edward County.

In a release, Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith called the announcement ‘welcome news’, saying the investment will allow his riding to be more competitive economically post-COVID-19.

Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison and Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk added similar comments, that their cities will allow residents and businesses to thrive while keeping everyone connected.

The expansion of Rogers’ high-speed internet network is being made possible through programs that include Improving Connectivity for Ontarians and the Eastern Ontario Regional Network.

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Helsinki art deco.

Helsinki central train station. This city has some of the world’s most striking art deco architecture.

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Trumpet plant

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Happy Birthday Carl!

Carl’s birthday today. Very much looking forward to spending more time with him. If/when the Costa Rica property sells. I will certainly crack some champagne with Carl. He is a kindred spirit. Possessed of a similar drive to succeed while enjoying life. Carl achieved his doctorate in advertising recently. He studied for years and now teaches at a university in England. Carl joined me in Costa Rica a couple of times. I have very pleasant memories of time well spent! We painted two of the beach cabins. He chose the color scheme. Peach, lime and violet. Bright equatorial hues. We bought all our supplies on that particular trip from Panama. Had to haul everything in through the mountains and jungle. On horseback. Carl never quite got the hang of riding a horse. One memorable day encompassed a two hour ride to a nearby school where a soccer tournament was being hosted. The teams were from all over the peninsula, and you could count on one hand the number of players who had genuine soccer shoes. Most were barefoot. Some wearing rubber boots. In one corner a local had set up a corn mash table, selling cups of tasty corn beer. This concoction had quite a kick. They tried to cajole us into a game, but no success. By the time we had enjoyed a couple of cups of mash, the motor skills were noticeably in decline. A day of much laughter and new friendships forged.

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Cruising to contact

I sit on the 5-star cruiser and begin my short ride. It’s a lady’s bike and looks it. Fat tires. Wide handlebars. Gracefully curved frame. Chrome fenders. I’ve taped a Canadian flag to the rear carrier. I must look like a slightly mentally challenged rider, sure to prompt extreme caution in any approaching car. A dinner invitation awaits me at the end of the ride. Two bottles of wine in my shoulder bag. Good company. Real, live bodies. I sense a feeling of excited anticipation amongst my friends. Everybody is craving company. Personal interaction. No Zoom. No text. Let’s meet and just talk. About anything. I’ll even tolerate some degree of pandemic in the conversation. It’s not so exhausting anymore to discuss pandemic, since most everybody has been vaccinated.

There’s a general sense of relief when talking to anybody now. And the anticipation and excitement of touch! Wow! I’ll soon be touching people. Again. Touching. Nothing sexual, although I can’t deny that would also be very welcoming! But for now, just a simple hug. A physical contact with another human being. I know I’m not alone in craving this intimacy. When is the last time you felt a warm embrace? Or did not feel apprehension when you got within less than 6 ft of somebody else. It’s been a while. Too long. The birdsong on my route is relentless. A steady stream of avian opera. They herald the coming of a new age, the age of contact. The era of touch. The epoch of comfort and contact. Humanity is making a return from the dark cave which has smothered our joy for too long. Welcome back everybody!

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It’s not business, it’s personal.

It is a frustrating thing when money comes between friends. Small amounts sometimes get lost in the rhythm of life. If you lend someone $20, that could be forgotten, although it should never be. But when you are owed 4 figure money, failure to repay on time is something that should never happen. I want to see how long this person will go before realizing they have neglected to make a payment. (It’s over a week now) And the situation has negatively impacted our friendship. From my point of view anyway. Whenever I see this person, the first thing that explodes in my brain, is that fact. You have neglected this month’s payment! How hard can it be to program a monthly reminder into your smartphone? Do you not have a day timer you could mark on the 15^th of each month? I recognize there are times when cash flow is tight, happens to all of us. But then you share that information with your personal banker. Me. I made a loan based on faith and trust. No collateral. No co-signers. Nothing. Just you and me and our shared belief in each other. And now that bond of trust is being stretched very thin. It is not yet broken, but the line won’t hold much longer. So a word of caution to all. If you borrow money from friends, and those situations are sometimes unavoidable, make sure you pay them back. On time. Every time. And if you sometimes are late in paying, tell your friend well in advance that you will be late. They will understand and accept. Saying nothing makes you look like the friendship means nothing. Borrowing from friends is a totally different transaction than from a bank. It’s not business, it’s personal.

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One in five Americans think the COVID vaccine is used to implant microchips

Most vaccine-hesitant Americans believe the government is using the COVID jab to inject microchips used to track people, a new poll found. One in five Americans surveyed in the YouGov and Economist poll said they believed the conspiracy theory that the vaccines contain microchips. Among the vaccine-hesitant American populace, that number jumped to 51 per cent. The survey included responses from 1,500 adult U.S. citizens interviewed online between July 10 and 13, and was weighted to represent the national population. Vaccination rates in the U.S. seem to be highly influenced by politics. The Republican-dominated states of Alabama and Mississippi have the lowest number of fully vaccinated people, at 34 per cent each. By contrast, two states with majority Democrats, Vermont and Massachusetts, have the highest proportion of fully vaccinated people, at 67 and 63 per cent, respectively.

It is incredible that people are influenced by “politics” when making their vaccination decision. But, I suppose that people who still believe in the Bible’s creationist theory for how humans came to populate this planet would find it just as simple to follow their elected representatives (Republican) when making such a life and death decision. I have no sympathy for anybody who chooses to not get vaccinated and then succumbs to the virus. Preventable death is a blessing that mRNA vaccines have bestowed upon us. When you can beat the grim reaper and send him from your door, why on earth would you instead choose to hasten your demise? The fact these people believe in such outlandish conspiracy theories like the virus being used to implant microchips is a sad sign that much of America is still under the influence of Donald Trump.

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Tattoo lady, a brief vignette….updated, continued.

I step around the barn and see her standing there. Dressed all in urban black. She sways to the beat of the band. I catch a glimpse of her impeccably painted orange nails. Black suede boots. Black jeans uniquely splattered with paint. Her hair swept up in a coiffed upswing. Blonde streaks knifing their way through her natural dark hair. She turns and catches sight of me.

“Hello stranger”she smiles.

“Hello tattooed lady” I respond.

She has added to the tattoos I recall. A single rose. A pair of boxing gloves. A stylishly rendered script which reads “Never lonely”.

I smile at the knowledge that I am the mentor. Never the lover. And yet, I am happy to see her. She is opinionated. Independent. No doubt she would love a lover, but alas, I am the fallback tonight. Good conversation and company. A dancing partner. It pleases me to know she is also happy in my company.

In the company of old men. This is a county for old men. Most are settled comfortably with their significant others, while others still prowl the night.

She sits on the trunk of the old Mercedes. I light my pipe. God Bud.

The go-to cannabis that never surprises, never shocks. It always brings a creative surge and mind set for original thinking. Surprising that I have not yet reviewed God Bud.

The band strikes up a Weezer tune. I’m vaguely familiar with the song but my friend knows every word. She lets her vocal chords run free. Singing on her Mercedes stage as I interpret the song, eyes closed , arms and legs moving with the music.

The host puts flame to the stacked boards. End cuts and unusable lumber left over form the stage boxes. A teepee fire. We join the throng drifting closer to the surging flames. The heat beats back the mosquitos. Scourge of country life. A ring of safety grows around the fire. Enough to beat back the bugs, but not too strong for the dancers. All hail Vulcan, the God of fire! There is a kind of celebratory mood. Pandemic restrictions almost all lifted. Crowd limits expanded. An exuberance permeates the night air. At least for the evening we are united in our joy.

The tattoo lady invites me to the village for a nightcap. A flattering suggestion, but I graciously decline.

“Have a marvelous night, young tattoo lady. Let your freak flag fly high! I shall retire to my refuge by the lake and toast you in absentia.” I’m tempted to add “in abstinence” but that would be too bold.

Age has given me some wisdom, to know when no is the right answer. My last call will be at home. Sitting on the dock with a glass of red wine and a cigar. Communing with the stars. Thanking my lucky stars that this old man can still attract such delightful offers!

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Protesters should look closer at history before toppling next statue

One of the great joys of reading letters to the editor in London’s Daily Telegraph is the wide range of intelligent and informed commentary you find there. One of the recent topics has been the smashing of the statues of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II in front of the Manitoba Legislature. And Canada and Canadians do not come off well. One letter succinctly put the episode in context.

“SIR — The daubing with paint and toppling of the statue of Queen Victoria outside the Manitoba Legislature in Canada was an appalling act of vandalism.

“There is no causal connection between a queen-empress known for deploring ‘race prejudice’ and the plight of indigenous Canadian children she was in no position to save.

“The bronze monument by George Frampton (who also created the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens) is a great work of art. Such defacement neither helps those in need today nor accurately reflects historical events.

“The same is true of the toppling of the nearby statue of the present Queen. Those responsible discredit their cause and undermine the impact of the Children’s Shoes memorials.”

The letter was signed by Joanna Barnes, Mark Stocker and Dr. Holly Trusted of the Public Statues and Sculpture Association based in Oxfordshire.

It shows how little Canadians know of our own history. Queen Victoria was not a racist. In fact, along with her husband, the visionary Prince Albert, she was very much an anti-racist and a vigorous supporter of the movement to abolish slavery. Her refusal to return fugitive slaves to bounty hunters from the U.S., led to the development of the Underground Railroad, the path to freedom for slaves. In 1847, she granted land in Windsor, Ont., for the use of fugitive slaves. Queen Victoria personally refused to return fugitive slave Thornton Blackburn to the U.S. He and his wife, Lucie, went on to create Toronto’s first taxi company.

There’s a history of the Crown’s representatives in Canada opposing slavery that pre-dates Victoria. John Graves Simcoe was responsible for making Upper Canada the first place in the world to abolish slavery, with the Anti Slavery Act of 1793, which banned the importation of slaves.

Queen Elizabeth counts her greatest accomplishment as the Commonwealth, a multicultural organization that embraces millions of people of diverse racial and ethnic origin around the world. She despised apartheid and, along with former prime minister Brian Mulroney, was influential in getting sanctions imposed on the racist apartheid regime of South Africa — against the wishes of her own prime minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher.

The Queen went further. She sent a deliberate message to the white supremacist government in South Africa by dancing with president Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana. This was a bold move in 1961 — when southern U.S. states were still segregated and before American civil rights legislation. She’s done more to create understanding between nations and racial equality than most people on this planet.

I’ve visited many fly-in reserves, talked to survivors and seen the devastation residential schools caused. The solution isn’t burning churches or toppling statues. We need to change the structure of the reserve system and scrap the so-called “Indian Act.” A start would be to rename it.

Those who would rewrite history should look more closely at it before they deface their next statue. Many of those who supported slavery were politicians who profited from the trade in humans and were elected by Canadians. The Crown’s representatives were often abolitionists. But that gets awkward.

It’s easier to blame a person in a distant land and another century for our problems than it is to look in the mirror at our own shortcomings and make changes now to bring our indigenous people into the full life of Canada. (Christina Blizzard, Toronto Sun)

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