The Gritty Business of Sio Silica

Who knew sand could be so controversial? Sio Silica, a company that detractors derogatively refer to as “an Alberta Company”, has proposed a large project to extract high-grade silica sand in eastern Manitoba for the manufacturing of solar panels, among other potential uses. Alberta or not (we won’t get very far if our economy is…

Around: Boston

I spent a few days in Boston. What follows is a disjointed series of pictures observations from that trip. Getting Around Look at Boston on google maps and you’ll see freeways cutting through the middle of the city. Route 90 shoots west, straight through the historic Back Bay neighbourhood (or should I type “neighborhood” because…

#WPG22 Candidates: Part 2

I covered the top two candidates in my last post. There are 9 more, and unfortunately I don’t have time to cover them all. I probably don’t have time to do any of them justice to be honest, but I feel compelled to at least post something because many of them are worth consideration. Below…

#WPG22 Candidates: Part 1 – Murray and Gillingham

I have no connection to any candidate, and no clear preference yet. I may not know who I’m voting for when I walk into the booth, but I reviewed the platforms of the candidates for mayor in the 2022 Winnipeg election, paying particular attention to the issues I highlighted last time, to help myself make…

A bit of Portland

The customs officer studied my passport. “Where are you going?” “Portland” I answered. “Have you been there before?” “Nope, first time.” “Are you bringing brass knuckles?” “Um .. no. Do I need them?” I’m not certain it’s legal to bring brass knuckles in my carry-on, but apparently it is advisable if you’re staying in downtown…

The uncertain future of Blumberg

The future of the Blumberg golf complex has been uncertain for the better part of a decade. It was 2013 when the city-owned property outside of city limits was declared surplus. Throughout that time the complex, which includes an 18 hole and a 9 hole golf course, has managed to evade the wrecking ball, but…

What is the right jet for Canada? – UPDATED

My earliest memory of the murky world of military procurement was back around 1991 when PM Brian Mulroney announced the purchase of 50 new EH101 helicopters to replace our ancient fleet of Sea Kings, knowing he would likely not be around to see the sale through. As expected, new PM Jean Chrétien cancelled the order…