Who will save the Paramount Theatre?

An event in Ottawa hopes to bring support to a threatened building, and a struggling community

Across Canada, communities are slogging through an economic downturn. Industrial cities are particularly hard-hit during such times: when their primary means of employment collapses, it often leads to moments of profound soul-searching. Saint John, NB is one such case: a city trying to find itself in the midst of tumultuous times. There are some in the area who want to find opportunity in this situation, but it’s the question of “how” that’s at issue.

Favie

My grandfather, Philip Watson Willis, taken in late 2010 when he was 93.

My grandfather, Philip Watson Willis, was best known amongst his large family and circle of friends as “Favie” – the name a product of my father’s lisping toddler attempts to say “Father.” My family has always prided itself on being articulate in speech and in writing – education always at a premium! – so I find it entertaining that this was allowed to let slide. And it stuck, too – even some of his university students knew him by this name.

Sleep is my enemy

One of cinema's most famous insomniacs, Fight Club's Narrator/Tyler Durden.

Have you ever read a study in the popular media that made you feel like a freak? At some point, we all stumble across testimony by experts, revealing that some inherent, chronic, recurring, or simply preferred part of your existence is abnormal and unhealthy, and may even lead to an untimely death. For some people, it’s body type, or how much salt you like in your foods, or how many “casual” drinks you have in a week, or how many hours you spend seated per week.

For me, it’s sleep. But do you know what? I sometimes wonder what life would be like without it entirely.