My Scottish love affair is steeped in a need for mountains and water to soothe my easily-overwhelmed nature, and marked by my affection for its people, many of whom are lifelong friends now: they are warm, friendly, generous, and chat as readily as I do with newcomers back in Canada.
Continue reading Scotland is full of friends you haven’t met yetRock fiction writer’s first live concert since lockdown on trip to the UK
On Dec. 10, 2019, I stepped out on a whim to see Frank Turner reunite with his former band Möngöl Hörde at Lee’s Palace in Toronto. It was a loud punk rock set, and a great end to the year’s busy concert calendar.
And then the world pressed “pause.”
Continue reading Rock fiction writer’s first live concert since lockdown on trip to the UKNKOTB announce tour with Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue
While performing in front of a live audience on The Kelly Clarkson Show, New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) announced their upcoming Mixtape Tour 2022 with artists Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue.
Continue reading NKOTB announce tour with Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley and En VogueBreakdown of ‘Stay’ by Zedd, Alessia Cara
Four years after the song was released I found myself writing an out-of-this-world comment on the video for Zedd’s track Stay featuring singer Alessia Cara on YouTube and it got so wordy that I decided to turn it into a post for Core.
Continue reading Breakdown of ‘Stay’ by Zedd, Alessia CaraThe Difference Between the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
- New statutory holiday in Canada – September 30, 2021
Orange Shirt Day is based on the story of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, who was sent to St. Joseph Mission Residential School when she turned six. The shiny new orange shirt she was wearing when she arrived at The Mission was taken away from her and she was forced to wear a uniform. Webstad introduces each video on the Orange Shirt Day website and she tells her own story.
Continue reading The Difference Between the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt DayEvents to commemorate NDTR
These are some events and things to do on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) including the special lighting on federal buildings, Indigenous films, radio and TV programming, art exhibitions and connecting with authors online.
Continue reading Events to commemorate NDTRNe-Yo’s new single release video is dance floor inspiration
R&B singer Ne-Yo’s just released video and single evokes a sense of nostalgia for what could have been. The song captures a sentiment many people are feeling these days and it’s a classic scenario they’ve come to expect in Ne-Yo’s videos over the past two decades – with guilty pleasure.
His songwriting skills remain top tier but is it possible that his delivery has gotten better?
Continue reading Ne-Yo’s new single release video is dance floor inspirationSultans of String go global with local ambassadors of world music [article | video]
This ambitious, diverse, inclusive and passionately political album puts the band face-to-face with a VIP roster of global ambassadors of music, some of whom are recent immigrants and refugees to Canada, as well as important Indigenous voices. All are masters of world music who communicate with each other through the global language of sound.
Afro-Colombian musician finds refuge in Canada’s largest city
Toronto-based, New York Times and Billboard-charting global music supergroup Sultans of String have released their brand-new single, Mi Santuario, featuring the four core Sultans as well as an incredibly talented and inspiring special guest, Juan Carlos Medrano.
Continue reading Afro-Colombian musician finds refuge in Canada’s largest cityMuhammad Ali left a vacancy that no one can fill
The day Muhammad Ali died in the summer of 2016 was a beautiful and sunny day much like the personality that shone from the man himself. After hearing the news I continued on with my day in a haze of disbelief thinking that it wasn’t true even though his departure was not so unexpected.
Continue reading Muhammad Ali left a vacancy that no one can fill