For Your Interest: Emojis. Part 2. Real Messages. Real Feelings.

Introduction from Part 1. Text speak and emojis have taken over social, business and personal expression. It’s in advertising & marketing, all over direct messages (DMs), on social media, across webmail, and even schools & governments  https://hungarytoday.hu/fidesz-government-billboard-campaign-emojis-natl-survey-soros-migration-taxation/ have jumped on board. Facts: 92%* of the people on the internet use emojis. 97%** of U.S. adults text at least once a week. 10* billion emojis…

Canada needs a national Youth Climate Corps – we’ve proven it works

Recent years have been immensely disruptive, between climate change and extreme weather, a global pandemic, systemic racism and economic turmoil. We need big, interdisciplinary solutions to address these big, interdisciplinary problems. As we move past this uninspiring election, we need to move forward with unifying and inspiring action on the climate crisis and the many…

For Your Interest: Emojis. Part 1. Real Messages. Real Feelings.

The most common way of interacting and communicating online today is in short bursts of 3, 4, 5 letters and mini pictographs. Text speak and emojis have taken over social, business and personal expression. Here is an example: abt2 dl rn🙏 ttyl  👀 boyf🚪. The plus side is convenience, the ability to connect across cultures and faster communication. Why type…

The conditions of work are the conditions of care

By Linda Silas and Pat Armstrong. COURTESY of QUOI Media Group Inc. As Canada faces the reality of entering a fourth wave, COVID-19 continues to take an immense toll on Canada’s long-term care sector, where conditions have reached crisis proportions for residents and staff. We’ve known for many years that Canada’s population is aging and…

For Your Interest: Summer 2021 Playlist. Real Music. Real Entertainment.

August 2021: Mid-summer is an ideal time to update a music library, add some new songs to the gym playlist, or discover a new tune you’ve never heard before. From Top 40 pop, easy listening to disco, salsa and down boogie, here are 8 selected songs with a sunny mood to sample and enjoy. Early morning soundtrack, lounging outside, road trip repeat, sundown special, socializing/get together worthy?  Listen. Decide.…

Indigenize the Senate

I agree with those who say this is an era of Matriarchs. The appointment of Inuk leader Mary Simon as Canada’s 30th governor-general is a vital step towards recognizing the significance of Indigenous Peoples in Canada’s past, present and now future. A northerner with decades of experience and a woman grounded in culture, she represents a…

For Your Interest: Jesse Owens. Real Speed. Real Glory.

Facts: Jesse Owens was the world’s first global sports star. Before Pele, before Ali, before Michael Jordan and Serena Williams, Jesse Owens was famous across the world…as a man and model athlete. In less than one hour, he proved three times that he was the best. In front of 90,000* people, he delivered the performances which moved his name from first-class sportsman to greatness. James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens created…

COVID-19 can be an opportunity to eliminate low-value health care

The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched health care systems across Canada beyond capacity. Surges of COVID-19 have strained available beds, exhausted health care workers and resources. To cope with these surges, some regional and provincial health systems delayed all non-essential procedures, tests and surgeries. Canadians’ health-seeking behaviours have changed over the past year with steep drops…

For Your Interest: Jen Psaki. Real Communications. Real Skill.

The most high profile and important Communications job in the world is White House Press Secretary. It’s a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week position where the Secretary has to deliver on all the press needs of the U.S. President and handle the relationship with the media. Last month, in a press Q&A, a reporter from Newsmax…

For Your Interest: Instagram. Real Influence. Real Reach.

Instagram is the main influencer, online id, photo album, advertising poster, direct messenger, cash machine and “social status” meter in life today. It’s the all-in-one internet & social media tool which is pulling the strings of business, connecting stars to fans, reaching into all communities and literally shaping the day-to-day thinking and lives of society in 2021. Starting a new…

A Tree Grows in Trout Lake

Eight years ago early in June, news and images of hundreds of thousands of people crossing the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul between Asia and Europe went viral. A simple environmental sit-in, also dubbed as #OccupyGezi, in reaction to the demolition of trees in Gezi Park, transformed into nationwide and worldwide rallies after the police used…