Although I’ve hiked at Eugenia Falls Conservation Area several times, researching the location for this post yielded some new information for me. I learned that the impressive waterfall was the site of an early “Fools Gold” rush when it was first discovered in 1852 (Grey Sauble Conservation, 2014). Later, the site became dotted with mills…
Author: marialegault
I spend my time hiking in nature and reading great novels.
Bechtel Park – Waterloo, Ontario
If you go to the City of Waterloo home page and navigate to the link describing Bechtel Park, you will see an cheerful, summery image of a soccer field and Gator (see the link here). However, hidden behind the fields and the Manulife Financial Soccer and Sports Complex is a gem of a hiking spot….
A January Foray in the Culinary Joys of London, Ontario
This past Friday I had the opportunity and the pleasure of returning to work with Ontario’s Southwest at the 2014 London Wine and Food Show. This event was indeed ‘bigger and tastier’ than the average trade show. Hosted at the Western Fair District – home, of course, to the famous Western Fair which happens every…
How Do You Say Happiness?
There are many situations which can cause people to feel unhappy. These situations can include unemployment, social or romantic struggles, family issues, or other more intricate ties to an individual’s physiological state. When life is static and nothing overtly negative is happening, however, these same people might be hard-pressed to define exactly what a state…
Board Games and Other Flights of Fancy
During these long, grey days of winter there are only a few things both consoling and warming to the spirit. These include tea, alcoholic beverages, a good book, and a board game. Not in that order or any particular combination – rather, they are singularly and on their own a balm for the frigid temperatures…
In the Land of Long Fingernails by Charles Wilkins
Wilkins, Charles. (2008). In the Land of Long Fingernails. Greystone Books: Toronto. I loved this book for its familiarity to my sense of place – the setting of Toronto, Ontario, is very close to my hometown of Kitchener, Ontario. It’s not often that I have the chance to read a novel by a local author….
When a Friend Gets a Job
I was very relaxed over the holiday break, partly because I am back to working at my part-time job with the Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI). Having this position lined up to start in January 2014 was both a curse and a blessing; it meant, of course, that I was able to relax….
New Year, New Job Search Strategies
This morning, the Globe and Mail released an overview of the latest unemployment figures from Statistics Canada – data which should not come as a surprise to anyone who was watching the job boards in December 2013: “The Canadian economy unexpectedly shed 45,900 jobs in December, the steepest decline in nine months, led by a…
Why Illness and Social Media Do Not Mix
For the last several days I have been (as many other people are at this time of year) struggling with a terrible cold. This tiny virus in my body comes complete with achy muscles, stuffy head, chest congestion, and frequent headaches. I can feel my body’s resources fighting it off, and the conflict distracts my…
Corvus: A Life with Birds by Esther Woolfson
Woolfson, E. (2008). Corvus: A Life with Birds. Granta Books; London. If you’ve ever walked past a wild animal and wondered what it’s like to have that creature as a pet, this is the book for you. Esther Woolfson’s life changes when she begins taking in fledgling birds of all shapes, sizes, and sounds, living…
Sit, Stay, Thrive: A Guide to Seeing the World, Making Money, and Caring for Creatures
I recently realized, in casual conversation with a family member, that I am a hard-core, long-term dog walker, house sitter, and cat caretaker. I have had sole responsibility for more animals owned by other people than I have personally owned in my life time. At the moment, I am marooned in Ethel, Ontario, due to…
A Wintery Welcome to 2014
Happy New Year to all, and I hope that you survived the holiday break with no major upsets. Here in Ontario we lived through an intense ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power in and around Christmas Day. City crews, hydro workers, and other hard-working citizens have been labouring around the clock to…
Maria Legault 