Bridge Over Troubled Water

After emigrating to Canada forty-three years ago and being away from my Muslim community ever since, I received a call from them. ”We are trying to bridge the gap between our business community and that of Calgary’s. Would you be interested in joining our committee?”...

Nations Apart

“Pops, can we go visit Italy this summer? I have a social studies course on it next September.” How could I refuse? “Lex, if you want to understand a country better, you should compare it to another completely different in character. How about if we start in...

The Most Precious Gift of All

Taking Chris to buy a suit for graduation, we took a shortcut through an alleyway that linked the downtown parking lot to the mall. Out of a large garbage container, a head popped up. It was a homeless man rummaging through a restaurant’s swill, searching for food....

Better Than Me

The biggest mistake of my life was teaching The Monster to play Gin Rummy. It was Nanny, my English foster mum who first taught me the game as a child. Recalling those days through adult eyes, I now realize it was a way to spend time with me , all the while asking how...

Journey Cake

If I had to join a two-hour-long queue, my favourite would be waiting in line at Lynden Pindling Airport in Nassau, The Bahamas, a day before Christmas Eve. Imagine a freezing, wind-swept desolate Canadian winter. Then imagine the welcoming arms of Caribbean warmth....