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Heartbreak in tumbler ridge, bc

2/11/2026

On February 10th, Canadians learned of a tragic shooting that happened at a high school in the small rural community of Tumbler Ridge, BC.

An event like this is absolutely heartbreaking. Seven people, including the shooter, were found dead at the school; I believe two more are hospitalized in critical condition; and approximately twenty-five more people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. There are two more people who were found dead inside a home and police have confirmed that they were the mother and stepbrother of the shooter. With a population of only around 2,400 people, I would believe that every single person in this community will have been directly impacted or will be closely connected to a family that has been directly impacted by this tragedy.

There is no doubt that this event is horrifying, shocking and atrocious. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s emotions were visible when he spoke about the loss that the families, friends, community and our country are feeling. I am comforted, however, by the outpouring of compassion and support that is coming from all over the world. One from President Zelenskkyy touched me to the core. With all of the horrors he and the people of Ukraine are dealing with - that he took the time to send condolences speaks so highly of who he is as a person.

Recently, a Canadian asked their Commonwealth friends in Australia and New Zealand to keep watch while Canadians slept. When Canadians wake up, they take over the watch while Australians and New Zealanders sleep. It has been a light-hearted exchange with folks saying that they’ve left out munchies and beverages for the “watchers”. This morning, the exchanges are decidedly different in tone – full of empathy, love and concern.

I’ve also noted a similar outpouring of support from some of our American neighbours, most notably folks in Minnesota who mention the support they have received from Canadians during the “occupation” of their state by ICE agents and their wish to stand with us as we have stood with them.

I have also seen numerous messages from the UK, including one specifically from King Charles, from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain to name just a few.

In a world that has been feeling increasingly dark, I am so incredibly grateful for everyone who is sharing their compassion, being beacons of light and love. Together, we can and will overcome the darkness.

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DRAWING BACK THE CURTAIN ON DARKNESS

1/26/2026

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I think that most folks will agree when I say that we are living in challenging times. Ukranians are in their 4th year of battling against Russia. The current US administration wants to own the western hemisphere like some sort of deranged real estate transaction. Tariffs are causing difficulties for many businesses and definitely add to the increased cost of goods and services for our American neighbours. As a Canadian, it feels like we are under a daily barrage of threats – and then I look to the strength of Minnesotans who are bravely fighting these threats personally, not figuratively.

I was having such difficulty thinking of a topic about which to write this month. I didn’t want to add to the darkness. On the other hand, writing something fluffy just seemed completely disingenuous.

I have read many comments from people ranging from “Stay out of politics. Just stay in your knitting lane” to “I’m just one person, what can I do?” If you know me at all, you will know that I don’t limit myself to a single lane, especially when it comes to something that will affect my friends, my family, my country’s sovereignty. I understand how overwhelming the darkness may seem. So – what can we do for one another? Be a safe place where your friends and family can share their difficulties. Be a safe place for yourself, too. Don’t hold yourself to unrealistic standards. Don’t always be the “strong, silent type”. In the darkness, do your best to bring hope, to share the light. We can do that through the written word. We can do that by making informed purchasing decisions. We can do that by supporting those who are striving to make this world a kinder, better place.

Just this week, our wonderful Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a number of affordability measures designed to help Canadians who are struggling with the rising cost of living. While this made me feel proud to be a Canadian, what made me feel even more proud were the comments from fellow Canadians who would not be benefiting from these new measures as their incomes were too high. Rather than complaining, they as a whole were saying, “I don’t qualify for the rebate. I support it anyway. I believe not every benefit has to be for me. But if it helps another Canadian, I’m 100% for it and in agreement!” (a direct quote from Angela Williams on Threads, shared with permission)

I have shared, with permission, a couple of original images by Tara Shannon, the “Rabbit and Bear” author, artist and illustrator who lives in northern Ontario. Her inspirational words combined with the simplicity of her artwork have an incredibly soothing effect for me. I hope that, through sharing, they bring some light to your day. Do be sure to give her a follow on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky. Her website is: tarashannonwrites.com or search social media sites for "tarashannonwrites".

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We are not experiencing "Peace on earth, goodwill to men"

12/11/2025

I did not write this month's blog. I am sharing, with permission, Nancy McClure's excellent evaluation of the most recent political manoeuverings by the US administration. We are living in dark times. We must strive continuously to be the light.

artwork by Tara Shannon

Shared from Nancy McClure:

People keep telling me I’m “not writing from a Canadian perspective”. So let me be uncomfortably blunt: everything I write, whether it’s about Washington, Moscow, Venezuela, or the moon, is through a Canadian lens. Because in 2025, there is no such thing as an American crisis that stays on the American side of the border. What happens there reaches us in real time. Economically, militarily, socially, digitally and emotionally.

Anything I write about the U.S. is about Canada. And this week, the danger became impossible to soften.

Two months ago, Pete Hegseth stood before senior U.S. military leaders and said the quiet part out loud, not hinted at, not theorized, not coded. No, he declared, “We don’t fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill… Just common sense, maximum lethality, and authority for war fighting.”

Maximum lethality. Untie the hands, intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill. That is not doctrine nor strategy. That is permission.

So when the world watched the evolving, contradictory explanations around the second strike on an alleged cartel drug boat, one that looks chillingly like a war crime, none of us should be surprised. The guardrails are gone. They told us they were removing them. They said it right into the cameras.

And as Canadians we’re supposed to shrug and say, “U.S. politics are weird right now”? This isn’t “weird.” This is destabilization and destabilization doesn’t need a passport to cross borders. My nephew, who served his entire career in the Royal Canadian Air Force and now continues with them in a civilian role wrote something earlier this year that I keep returning to. I’m paraphrasing, but he described standing on a tarmac in Afghanistan watching Star Spangled Banner draped coffins being loaded onto a plane. He talked about serving beside Americans who lived, laughed, fought, bled, and grieved as brothers, never caring what flag was on your shoulder as long as you showed up. He believed, deeply, that those same American generals would never obey an order to turn their military against Canada. He believed it was unthinkable. And in March, I believed that too. But this is not March. And the United States is not the same country it was even eight months ago.

Last night’s National Security Strategy should have stopped the world in its tracks. Instead, it barely caused a ripple because we’ve all become numb to shock. But we cannot afford numbness. Not here in Canada. There are references that clearly indicate we are viewed as a vassal state. If you look up that term, it means the following. ‘A state that has a mutual obligation to a superior state or empire, similar to a subordinate in a medieval feudal system.’

This is how Trump’s America now views Canada. Not as an ally. Not as a partner. Not as a neighbour with whom it shares the longest peaceful border in the world. But as a subordinate with obligations to an empire.

Read that again. And if you still think Trump is a “good guy,” and that the far-right radical politics sweeping across North America are some kind of righteous populist uprising, then you’re reading the wrong post and the wrong blogger or exactly the one you needed.

People often tell me that my writing calms them. But today, I don’t think I can do that. Today is not about calm. Today is about clarity. About looking at the shift happening south of us, militarily, politically, psychologically, and understanding that Canada is not insulated.

And yes, of course we need to pay attention to what’s happening right here at home, not to hide from the global picture, but because what’s unfolding in Alberta is part of that global picture. The erosion of institutional trust, the attacks on journalism, the flirtation with authoritarian rhetoric, the manufactured chaos, it all mirrors, almost perfectly, what we saw in the U.S. before their political centre collapsed. And the truth is, action always begins closest to home. We can’t fix the entire world, but we can damn well protect the ground we’re standing on. If we don’t get our house in order here, if we don’t recognize the direction these currents are pulling us, then political chaos becomes a gift to anyone who sees Canada not as a nation to respect, but as a chess piece to be moved.

And as much as this fear sits in my chest like a stone, I remain grateful, profoundly grateful, that Mark Carney is the one steering the ship in this moment. Steady when the world is lurching. Calm when our neighbour is convulsing. Focused when others are consumed by rage, impulse, and decline. But leadership can only work when a country understands the stakes.

I wish I could tell you everything will be fine. I wish I could offer comfort instead of warning. But the truth is that Canada is vulnerable. Not because we are weak, but because the reality around us has changed faster than we have been willing to admit.

And the most dangerous thing we can do right now, as Canadians, as Albertans, as people who love this country, is pretend that the ground beneath us isn’t shaking. I am still optimistic. I wouldn’t write any of this if I weren’t. I believe in us. I believe in what we can be. I believe in our capacity to meet the moment. But optimism is not the same as denial. And today, the truth is simple and unavoidable: When an unstable superpower drops its guardrails, every nation in its shadow had better wake up. Because history does not wait for those who refuse to see it coming.

exhaustion

11/5/2025

I’m exhausted.
Yes, it was a very busy summer and fall season at the studio – and for that I am always very thankful. And, yes – adding the new wool pellet product line is also exhausting as it has been, at times, an exercise in frustration due to issues like equipment malfunctions. Then there is the added responsibility of entering into my third year as President of the Central Coastal Tourism Partnership, our region’s local tourism association for businesses involved in the Island’s tourism industry.

But what’s noted above is not what is at the root cause of this feeling of fatigue. It is the constant bombardment of news dealing with the repulsive actions of certain political leaders.
It’s been less than 10 months since Trump assumed the role of US President and, in that short period of time, he continues to threaten to destroy Canada’s economy in order to gain unfettered access to Canada’s critical minerals and water. His “ICE” force, supposedly there to keep US citizens safe from illegal immigrants, is nothing more than masked Gestapo agents who are permitted to violently arrest and detain citizens and immigrants at will. He has ordered military strikes on, to date, 16 boats supposedly smuggling drugs, killing at least 66 people. All without the approval of Congress. His behaviour is that of an autocrat who decides what direction the government will take on any given day based on his personal whims through the use of Executive Orders. If his mouth is open, a lie is forthcoming.
Canadians have their own delightful political leaders. Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, went into the 2025 federal election under the assumption that he would become the next Prime Minister of Canada as his party held a 20 point lead over the Liberals. Not only did he not win the election, he lost his own seat in the Ontario riding of Carleton, a seat he held for 20 years. He had to boot out another Conservative MP in what is likely the most right-wing riding in Canada and run for election there in order to secure himself a seat in the House of Commons. Since then, he has been a constant volcanic eruption of divisiveness and anger. He is now threatening to bring down PM Carney’s minority government over a budget that has been developed under the leadership of a highly experienced world economist. The vast majority of Canadians do not want to go through another federal election not even 6 months since the last one. We are looking for stability, cooperative leadership, and might I even add adult behaviour in the House of Commons.
I can’t even begin to touch on the horrors of the wars between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Gaza. Suffice it to say we are witnessing some very dark days.
Is it any wonder that I am feeling a sense of emotional exhaustion. And I know that I am not alone.
I truly believe that is why there was such unabashed joy as my fellow Canadians and I watched the Toronto Blue Jays take on the L.A. Dodgers in the World Series. The Dodgers were last year’s World Series champs while, in 2024, the Blue Jays were the team in dead last position. The general consensus (outside of Canada) was that the Dodgers would easily sweep the series, but they only managed to eke out a win after going into overtime in Game 7. While Canadians would have dearly loved to have seen the Jays win, they have nonetheless been inspirational. They played with heart, with tenacity, with an unmatched level of team spirit. There was a true camaraderie among the team members. They demonstrated the value in fighting the good fight and never giving up even when the odds seem to be stacked against you. They were a shining light in these dark days.

It is that very light that gives me hope. It helps me to see that perhaps the tide is turning. In yesterday’s US mayoral and gubernatorial elections, every Trump-approved candidate lost. And also yesterday, a Conservative Member of Parliament crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party, expressing his disillusionment with the tone and leadership of the Conservative Party. He feels that the decisions being made by the Conservative Party were not aligned with what his constituents want.
Will we get through these dark days? I hope so, but we will not emerge unscathed. There will be scars; trust has been broken. But I must believe that good will ultimately overcome the evil of greed and narcissism. And, in the meantime, I will do my best to take deep breaths and to remain so very thankful for good friends, family and the knitting community who supports Knit Pickers PEI through your purchases, your referrals, your promotion and your wonderful companionship.

a needed lesson about wool production

8/7/2025

A couple of days ago, I received an e-mail from a customer. She was upset because, when she got home, she weighed her skeins of wool and they were not all the same weight. She felt that I had either shortchanged her, or this particular supplier was ripping me off. She commented that she was well connected in her local fibre community and this did not reflect well on my shop.

Now, I don’t weigh every single skein of wool that comes into the studio. In fact, before this e-mail, I didn’t know anybody who weighed their wool to ensure that the label matched the number on the scale. I knew right away that it was time for some wool lessons!!!

When you purchase a skein of wool, it will come with a label that gives you the weight of the skein (i.e. 4 oz/113 g) and yardage (i.e. 215 yds/196 m). Some suppliers go a step further and add the word “approximately”. Why is this? Because there are a number of factors that will impact these measurements.

First, it’s important to know how a skein of wool is created at a mill. After the wool has been spun, it is wound onto bobbins, plied, then wound onto cones, after which it is taken to a machine that will wind up the skein. The operator can program the machine for a specific yardage. This ensures consistency in the length of yarn in each and every skein. If the wool is going to be sold in its natural colour, it will then be removed from the skeiner and twisted into the familiar shape of a hank or skein of wool.

So, imagine you take this single skein of wool and weigh it – and it comes out to exactly 113 g or 4 oz. Now you wind a number of skeins of wool and take them to the dye bath. Today, you’re going to make green, purple and red colourways, and leave some of the wool in its natural white state. Did you know that dying wool can affect the weight of the skein? Red and purple are the worst culprits because, in order to create these rich colours, you require more dye than you would use if you were creating a soft pink, green or blue. Have you ever noticed, when you are knitting, that red or purple wool feels a little thicker than a white wool? That’s because of the dying process. When the wool goes into the dye bath and it comes out again, the yardage in the skein of wool has not changed, but the weight may have changed.

So – if you purchase a skein of red wool and a skein of white wool, both perhaps a worsted weight from the same manufacturer and, when you take them home and weigh them, they are both exactly the same weight, you will have more yardage in your white skein than in your red skein! That is why the yardage indicated on the skein’s label is more accurate than the exact weight. Dying affects the weight of the skein but not the yardage.

If you would like to see spun wool being wound into a skein, take a peek at Fleece and Harmony’s video at the link below. Fast forward to approximately 1:13:30 to see the skein winder in action.

https://youtu.be/_Yg1kJU0mPU?si=4vfazwauMrvT06XD&t=4410

Hope this helps to alleviate any confusion. And, as always, happy knitting!

eXHAUSTION AND ANXIETY

7/10/2025

I am tired, exhausted, feeling numb. Every single day there seems to be a new atrocity from our southern neighbour. Threats against Canada’s sovereignty, tariffs designed to destabilize our economy (PS – it’s not working), lies told about Canada to turn Americans against Canadians. There is no massive amount of fentanyl flowing across the border from Canada to the US. There are no El Salvadorian gangs crossing the border in massive numbers. There is no 400% tariff on US dairy. Canadian fishers are not stealing fish from American waters. And, believe it or not, US representatives from Wisconsin and Minnesota sending a letter to the US Ambassador to Canada complaining about the smoke from forest fires in Canada. Are you serious?!?

Then there are the Nazi-like atrocities happening in the US. Donald’s Dachau. The Republicans may refer to it as Alligator Alcatraz and the public may refer to it as Alligator Auschwitz. It is Donald’s Dachau. Auschwitz was built in Poland. Dachau was built in Germany and Hitler was very proud of it. Trump and Temu Barbie Kristi Noem toured this concentration camp and joked about escapees needing to learn how to dodge alligators. Generators are constantly kicking out, meaning that the prisoners have no access to water. Food is infested with maggots. Necessary medications are denied. And who is sent to these concentration camps? Human beings who have been ripped from their families by masked, armed ICE agents, fully reminiscent of the Gestapo. These human beings have no charges brought against them, no access to legal council, no rights whatsoever.

We have Alberta Premier Danielle Smith cozying up to Trump like he is her shining beacon of hope. We have Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Federal Conservative Party, losing his election and thus his seat in the House of Commons, getting a “do-over” in an Alberta riding to the tune of a minimum of $1.5 million while he continues to squat in Stornaway. He is no longer the leader of the official opposition and is not eligible to stay in Stornaway as he does not have a seat in the House of Commons. Yet there he squats in a fully-renovated residence that costs roughly $15,000 a month, plus the expenses of a personal driver, chef, groundskeeper…but he has voted against pharmacare, dental care, $10/day childcare for average Canadians. Canadian news channels continue to interview Poilievre, seeking his opinion on issues facing Canadians – but do they give any airtime to Bonnie Critchley, the person who is running against Poilievre in the Battle River/Crowfoot riding? Nope. I would love to see Poilievre lose this byelection too and then disappear into thin air. I wish Bonnie Critchley all the success but I fear that, in this highly conservative riding, a person running as an independent candidate has little chance of winning. Then we will be once again subjected to Poilievre’s divisive, anger-fueled rhetoric and antics daily in the House of Commons.

I fear the kind of world we are leaving to future generations. Hate speech has become commonplace with folks hiding behind keyboards and spewing nastiness. The US has become a fascist state. Russia continues its attack on Ukraine; Israel continues its genocide of Palestinians (no, this is not anti-Semitic. You can despise the actions of a country’s leader without hating its people). I look at the beautiful, innocent faces of my great niece and great nephews and wonder what the world will be like when they come of age. Will democracy still exist? Will our planet still exist?

I will continue to fight; I will continue to speak out against evil. I do have hope as I see world leaders unite to support one another through trade deals, and as folks from all over the world boycott US travel and goods. I am thankful that we have such a competent leader as PM Mark Carney. Yes, I will continue to knit in hopes of alleviating a little bit of the stress and anxiety I feel. And I thank you for the many kind words you have sent my way. Stay strong, my friends!

Today (june 5th) is world environment day

6/5/2025

Thanks to @commonsearth, I discovered these wonderful facts:

Studies have shown that people who spend 2-3 hours a week in nature are on average 20% more likely to report high overall satisfaction with their lives than those who spent no time outdoors.

photo courtesy of Central Coastal Tourism Partnership

In fact, spending as little as 20 minutes outside significantly lowers stress hormone levels. You can spend that time active or even simply sitting and knitting!

An Environmental Health Perspectives study following 100,000 women found that greater exposure to nature was associated with a 12% decrease in mortality rates.

Walks in nature boost our brain’s memory capabilities – the same is not true for walks in a concrete jungle urban environment.

photo courtesy of Central Coastal Tourism Partnership

Spending time outside decreases inflammation in the human body!

photo courtesy of Central Coastal Tourism Partnership

Individuals who spend more time in natural environments report greater concern for the environment and are more likely to support initiatives that support environmental sustainability.

photo courtesy of Tourism PEI

Sounds to me like, if you are planning to take a vacation, PEI might just be your perfect destination!

Knitting has always been political!

5/6/2025

Earlier this week, I wrote a post about how the world was reacting to our recent federal election. In an e-mail I read from former Ontario NDP MP Charlie Angus, he included a quote from a Ukrainian journalist, Victor Kravchuk, who wrote in his piece entitled The Nation That Could Never Break: “I'VE NEVER WALKED YOUR STREETS. Never seen your beautiful lakes. I don't really know your provinces, your debates, or your daily worries. But this morning, from a war zone half a world away, I was reading about your election. And for the first time in days, I exhaled. A small, almost invisible breath. Relief. Because what you chose is not just a leader. You, my Canadian friends, you chose goodness in a collapsing world. And you saved more than just your country. You saved a piece of hope for all of us.” In my post, I commented, “I felt such a surge of national pride. We don't often think of Canada as holding the spotlight on the world stage. Yes, we are strong and valued contributors to world democracy and we will always defend it with every ounce of our being. But, as a nation, we have usually been overshadowed - sort of like being the younger sibling of someone who is very vocal about their achievements. No longer. We have stepped out of the shadows and are standing up for the things that we value here in Canada - and the world is taking note.”

One response I received? “I’m unfollowing because you seem to be all politics lately and I am searching for knitting things that take my mind off all that.” Admittedly, approximately 25% of my more recent posts have included commentaries on politics and other national and international events. We here in Canada are living in unprecedented times. Never in our nearly 160 year existence have we been threatened with annexation by a country that we used to consider to be our neighbour and closest ally and whose citizens were like family. We were just involved in an election where a major political party was supported by Elon Musk and JD Vance and whose platform consisted of 3-word slogans including “Canada is Broken” (so far from the truth). The leader of this political party screened all questions from the press and would not allow follow-up questions. His most rabid followers harassed people in the voting lines, carried “F*ck Carney” flags and promoted the truckers’ convoy with flags bearing swastikas and support for Trump.

Yes, I am a knitter. Yes, my business and related social media accounts are designed to share that love of the fibre arts and to ideally help folks learn what they may need to enjoy knitting as much as I do. But that doesn’t mean that I exist solely as a form of escapism. There is a person behind this business who is horrified by much of what has been taking place lately. I have stated on numerous occasions (and still stand behind the statement) that, if I do not speak out against what I see as atrocities, then I am complicit. To expect that a knitter will never speak of politics means that you don’t know history. Tricoteuses (French knitters) were known for knitting the “red cap of liberty”, a symbol of the French Revolution. It is claimed that these tricoteuses watched the public executions in Paris while knitting these symbols of freedom and liberty. In “A Tale of Two Cities”, Madame Defarge, the ringleader of les tricoteuses, used stitches related to specific letters of the alphabet to create a list of names of those who were condemned to die. More recently, knitters and crocheters united to create “pussyhats” that were worn to protest Trump, his misogynism and objectification of women. So many pink “pussyhats” were made that the US sold out of pink yarn!

Knitting is a wonderful tool for relaxation and creates a community. During our weekly “Ewe Love to Knit” nights, we share what’s on our needles. We also share our lives. Many a night, our conversations revolve around current events and politics. Perhaps it is the calming effect of knitting, but never once has a battle broken out during these chats. That’s why I find it so surprising that a small number of folks think that knitters should keep politics and social discourse out of their social media feeds. I am not the only person/business in the knitting community who has faced backlash in this regard. In 2020, Loretta Napoleoni wrote in The Power of Knitting: “A good knitter always has the courage to undo her work and fix a big mistake.” If we as knitters can find the mettle to frog an entire sweater that is not turning out as it should, we also have the resolve to recognize mistakes in the real world and do everything in our power to correct them in order to leave behind a better world for those whom we love and those who follow in our fibre footsteps.

stress management during perilous times

4/2/2025

The month of April is “Stress Awareness Month”. I don’t know about you – but I know that I’ve been feeling rather anxious with everything that’s been going on. This anxiety can make facing challenges, obstacles and deadlines seem overwhelming.

I believe that we are living in a moment that is historical. Democracy is on the line in the US. Canada’s very sovereignty is under threat. And we are not alone in dealing with threats of annexation – look to Greenland, Panama, Gaza….

But we cannot let the darkness overwhelm us. There are glimmers of light – and these glimmers are getting brighter by the moment. Greenland sent Vance and his wife home with their tails between their legs, clearly demonstrating that Greenlanders would not welcome anyone who is threatening their country. Senator Cory Booker orated for over 25 hours on the floor of the Senate, breaking the previous record held by Strom Thurmond whose 24 hour and 18 minute filibuster was intended to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. It’s so important to note that Senator Booker did not read “Green Eggs and Ham”, nor did he recite election laws from each US state. He spoke eloquently and passionately on the damage that has been done to the American government, its people and its international reputation since Trump’s inauguration. And, on the same day as Senator Booker‘s marathon speech, the State of Wisconsin elected Judge Susan Crawford to the Supreme Court, beating her Republican opponent Brad Schimel despite Elon Musk’s attempt to buy Schimel’s win by giving away million dollar cheques.

Canada, too, has its heroes. Charlie Angus, recently retired MP for Timmins/James Bay, has been extremely vocal in his fight against Trump and his fight for Canada. Canadian actor and comedian Mike Myers made the expression “Elbows Up” a rallying cry for Canadians when he appeared on Saturday Night Live. Now Charlie Angus is bringing his “Elbows Up” speaking tour to locations all across our nation. Our Prime Minister Mark Carney has been firm in his position that Canada will never be the 51st state, that our French language requirements are not up for negotiation, that we will fight tariff for tariff in Trump’s unjust trade war designed to destroy Canada’s economy. He is strengthening our relationships with our European allies. He is working with our Premiers to reduce our interprovincial trade barriers, thereby thwarting the potential damage of Trump’s tariffs. And we can’t forget the Canadian public. The people of this country created a grassroots movement, boycotting American goods, avoiding travel to the US to such a degree that cross-border bookings on flights to the US for spring/summer 2025 are down by an astounding 70+ %!

It's incredibly admirable that we Canadians, through our purchasing power, are playing such a vital role in our fight for our country. But it is equally important that we take care of ourselves at the same time. I spoke about glimmers of hope. However, the term “glimmers” has taken on a more all-encompassing meaning. If you strive to live more in the moment, enjoying the small blessings that life gifts us each and every day, you are living a life of gratitude which, in turn, helps to regulate your nervous system. A friend said just today that he doesn’t immerse himself in the news on a daily basis. We have only so many laps around the sun and he doesn’t want to waste time being anxious about things over which he has no control. I know that I have in all likelihood completed 75% of my laps. After losing my brother and having two sisters face serious health challenges this past year, I am more aware than ever that time is both precious and fleeting.

I’m also very thankful that I rediscovered the joy of knitting. Mental health professionals often use knitting to ease anxiety and depression symptoms. Knitting’s repetitive motions create a sense of calm, lowering your heart rate and reducing cortisol (a stress hormone). Knitting promotes mindfulness, bringing a sense of calmness and purpose – similar to meditation or yoga! Like working puzzles, knitting keeps our brains active. And I love that, more and more, you are seeing people gather together to knit and enjoy one another’s company. Social isolation and loneliness are serious threats to both our mental and physical health. Whether you’re looking to improve focus, reduce stress, or simply relax, knitting might just be what the doctor ordered.

Let’s create a new habit in April. Let’s focus on managing our stress using whatever methods work for us as unique individuals. Yes, there may be battles ahead. If we reduce our stress, we will improve our physical and mental health and be more resilient to any challenges we face. Elbows up and happy knitting!

Canada Marches Forth and Files for Divorce

3/5/2025

Trump has been the US President for a little over 6 weeks. During that time, he has threatened to annex Canada and plans to do so by destroying Canada’s economy through tariffs. This despite the fact that Trump himself negotiated and signed the trade deal between Canada, the US and Mexico during his first administration. I can’t even begin to count the number of times he has completely disrespected our Prime Minister by calling him Governor Trudeau. He threatened tariffs, gave a month-long reprieve, and then enacted these tariffs on March 4th, 2025. One day later, he has given a one-month exemption to automakers. Two days later, he has given a suspension on CUSMA-compliant exports until April 2nd, 2025. His policies are up and down like a toilet seat.

For the last 30 days, Canadian citizens initiated their own rejection of Trump’s initiatives. And this latest suspension or delay of tariffs will not have an impact on Canadians who are saying "Buy Canadian - Bye American". We are boycotting American-made goods – from orange juice to Campbell’s soup to kitty litter. Trips to the grocery store are taking much longer these days as folks are carefully reading labels and putting back on the shelves items that are not “Product of Canada” or “Made in Canada”. If we can’t find a Canadian replacement for something (like oranges since we don’t grow those here), we look for goods from anywhere else – just not the United States.

People are also changing their vacation and business travel plans. People are not attending conventions being held in the US. Families who had planned vacations to Disney World or perhaps were going to take in a Broadway play or enjoy some sun in Puerto Rico have now determined that there are so many wonderful alternatives. Canada is the top source of international visitors to the United States, with 20.4 million visits in 2024, generating $20.5 billion in spending and supporting 140,000 American jobs. Even a 10% drop in Canadian tourism will have a huge impact on the US economy.

Restaurants in Canada are changing their menus. They are only going to be serving food that has been sourced in Canada.

And, you know what? Once these new supply chains, these new travel destinations, become a part of Canadian habits, why would we go back to purchasing from a place that doesn’t honour its trade deals or respect its neighbours and allies? (And, yes - I have correctly spelled honour and neighbour - sorry, 'Merican English!)

The first month of Trump’s administration was the equivalent of a trial separation. Canada is now filing for divorce. We are through with the abuse. We won’t stand idly by and take a beating from a bully. Canadians can hold its head up proudly on the world stage; the US, if they continue on this path, will stand utterly alone, broken and impoverished. Other countries are looking to Canada as a shining example that nobody needs to bow to a dictator, even if that dictator used to be a former ally.

Winston Churchill said, “Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Dhar Mann noted that trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair. I fear that Canada’s relationship with the US is irretrievably damaged. At some point in the future, we may return to a friendly relationship but that trust and faith in our American neighbours and partners have been broken.

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Knitting has always been political!

stress management during perilous times

Canada Marches Forth and Files for Divorce

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