Canadians have traditionally held social democratic values while supporting centrist political parties. Canadians support universal single payer public health insurance, public pensions and a social safety net, all of which, at the federal level, have …
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THE FIFTH COLUMN: Celebrating the Natural World @ Beaver Pond Park – Schedule and Photo Contest
Algonquin Union Presents: “A Living Temple” – South March Highlands
Honouring Grandfather William Commanda
Beaver Pond Park (end of Walden Dr., Kanata)
Saturday Sept 10th, 6am – 11pm
(click on images to enlarge)Union-Algonquin-Union
Donations We…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Richard’s GPS Trail Maps Website Adds South March Highlands Maps
I have added the following maps of the South March Highlands (SMH) trails to my Richard’s GPS Trail Maps website.
South March Highlands Trails
South March Highlands Conservation Forest Intermediate Mountain Biking Trails
South March Highlands Kana…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Riding the Desecration Highway
This afternoon I rode over from Bridlewood, via the Trans-Canada Trail, Huntmar Drive and Old Carp Road, to the South March Highlands K2 trailhead to put up posters for the September 10 Celebrating the Natural World @ Beaver Pond Park and then returned…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Algonquin Union Presents: Celebrating the Natural World @ Beaver Pond Park
“A Living Temple” – South March Highlands
Honouring Grandfather William Commanda
Beaver Pond Park (end of Walden Dr., Kanata)
Saturday Sept 10th, 6am – 11pm
(click on images to enlarge posters)
Union-Algonquin-Union
THE FIFTH COLUMN: Jack Layton – In His Own Words
August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Friends,
Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. You…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Much Ado About The Wrong Thing – Canadian Forces DisIntegration
As a political scientist and somewhat of a historian I prefer our system of government based on a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. I also appreciate the role that our historical links to the United Kingdom play in our multicultural …
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: When Beavers Abandon Their Dam: Heron Pond, South March Highlands
This summer a breach in the dam at Heron Pond in the South March Highland was discovered that appeared to be a natural occurrence. In such cases the beavers will usually repair the dam, but this did not happen and it appears they have abandoned the dam…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: The Geology of Kakakiwaganda Lake (Rock Lake)
Every summer we spend about a week at our favourite Bed and Breakfast Whispering Pines On the Bay which is about half-way between Sudbury and Killarney Provincial Park. Not only does it have gracious friendly hosts and interesting guests from all over …
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Three Things Every Casual Cyclist Should Know
While I am by no means an expert, as a serious cyclist there are some things I have noticed that I would like to share with my readers, some of whom are thinking about taking up cycling in a more serious manner.
1. Almost everyone has their bicycle se…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Solving Urbandale’s Beaver Pond Forest Subdivision Marketing Dilemma
The normal method of promoting house sales by telling buyers their houses will be close to the wilderness of the South March Highlands probably isn’t going to work for Urbandale, because reminding potential buyers that they just clear cut the Beaver Po…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: His Spirit Will Live on: Grandfather William Commanda (Ojigkwanong/Morning Star)
How does an atheist write about the death of a great spiritual leader. It would be hypocritical to use the conventional references to his passing on to a greater place or going to meet his creator. But there is nothing hypocritical in speaking of his s…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Dumping Shit in The Ottawa River
This blog post contains graphic language because there is no way to pretty up dumping shit in the city’s drinking water source.If I were to walk into the Ottawa River and take a crap I would probably be arrested, and not just for indecent exposure but …
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Ottawa: Proud of It’s Municipal Water Supply and It’s Pathways – The Disconnect
Ottawa is very proud of the quality of it’s municipal drinking water supply and goes to great lengths to assure people they do not need to buy bottled water.Ottawa is also very proud of it’s shared recreational pathway system which, along with the NCCs…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Scary Bear Soundtrack Performs "Beaver Pond Forest"
I recently had the opportunity to hear Scary Bear Soundtrack perform both their acoustic and rock versions of “Beaver Pond Forest” live and I have to say that I prefer the rock version of it, and of all their music. Those women can really rock and thei…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Riding on the Hottest Day of the Year
Knowing it was supposed to be the hottest day of the year I decided it would be a good day for a hybrid ride, but not being a fool I set out at 9:00 in the morning when it was only about 25 degrees with a humidex around 30, and headed towards Westboro …
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Back From The Great Green North
The Fifth Column has been idle for a few weeks because the Fifth Columnist has been on vacation in Northern Ontario.We spent about a week at our favourite bed and breakfast, Whispering Pines on the Bay between Killarney Provincial Park and Sudbury. Af…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Announcing Kanata’s Paradise Lost – World’s First World Heritage Subdivision
The following is a fable, but like all fables it contains hidden (and not so hidden) truths.Yes, for the first, and undoubtedly last time in the world, you can own a house on a World Heritage Site. Only in Ottawa, the world’s “Developers Rule Capital” …
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