Evan Solomon takes on the Digital World
Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Information . . . Evan Solomon! Let me be among the first to cry CONGRATULATIONS! Three years ago, I gave a shout-out to the veteran broadcaster for his brilliant coverage of the convoy occupation of Ottawa. Today I double down and say yes! The perfect portfolio! This man is…
Read MoreWhy Canada will never be the 51st state
(Nice to see this piece turn up in today’s Globe and Mail) Not long ago, playing tourist in my native Montreal, I visited the historic Château Ramezay. Built in 1705 for the city governor, Claude de Ramezay, it later served as headquarters for the American Continental Army during its brief occupation of Montreal. And in…
Read MoreGreat Lakes disaster turns time capsule
Here’s a small-press book that sets out to revitalize the history of Canada’s Great Lake steamships – and proves wonderfully successful. Frightful Disaster! by Douglas Hunter treats the mysterious disappearance in 1879 of the steamer Waubuno. The book turns that Georgian Bay catastrophe — and the deaths of 20 to 28 people – into a…
Read MoreMedal presentation reveals author immodesty
Can I let this splendid honour go unremarked in this humble space? A better man might be able to do that. But, no, predictably, I cannot. Here we see Jett Britnell, chair of the Canadian Chapter of The Explorers Club, presenting me with the Stefansson Medal at Hemingway’s in downtown Toronto. As you can see, I…
Read MoreThe Explorers Club makes my day!
Quite a thrill, let me tell you, to hear from The Explorers Club, Canadian branch, that I have been awarded the 2025 Stefansson Medal. In this month’s newsletter, you can read about it: “This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to the cause of exploration and field sciences in Canada and internationally.” I’m also excited to…
Read MoreConsidering Poilievre? Please read this book!
So here we all are, another day in the political and biographical trenches, another spectacular tour-de-force from Mark Bourrie. Last week it was Jean de Brebeuf, the week before that, Pierre Radisson. In between, the man delivered media mogul George McCullagh. You can see why some of us are getting fed up with this guy.…
Read MoreA brilliant review turns up in The Hill Times
After opening as above, Dornan writes on: McGoogan is a splendid storyteller, the author of 16 previous books on subjects ranging from the Highland clearances to the history of Arctic exploration. What these books have in common is that they tell stories about strength of character in the face of hardship and hopelessness. This is…
Read MoreHello? Who says It Can’t Happen Here?
In this three-minute video, Ken says we’ve arrived in 1934, Donald Trump leading the way. Shoutout to Nikki Wesley, who did a superb job for YourTV Halton.
Read MoreFirst Nations War Hero Tommy Prince
To mark Remembrance Day, I offer a chapter from Shadows of Tyranny: Defending Democracy in an Age of Dictatorship. It celebrates First Nations war hero Tommy Prince, shown here (left) with his brother, Morris. In January 1944, as part of Operation Shingle, Canadians led an amphibious landing near the port at Anzio, located on the west…
Read MoreCelebration of Life: Sheena Fraser McGoogan
We held a Celebration of Life for Sheena Fraser McGoogan at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. The date: October 5, 2024. To watch it, click here.
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