By Jonathan van Bilsen History has a habit of hiding in plain sight. It is often the smallest, most unremarkable details that are overlooked, set aside, or forgotten entirely. And yet, when chance brings those fragments back together, they can form a story far larger than any one moment. This was one of those occasions. I arrived in Canada with my family on August 14th, many years ago, unaware at the time that the journey itself would later take on a deeper meaning. We flew f

by Jonathan van Bilsen Christmas always carried its own collection of memories, but there was one which never faded. It went back more than fifty years, to when I was in my early twenties, and somehow found myself hosting a local television talent show, in Peel Region. Our very first taping took place during the first week of Christmas, which already felt like a risky choice. The show was called Cowboy Pete’s Talent Time, and there I was in a television studio, dressed head t

by Jonathan van Bilsen I never planned to spend a night in jail, but then again, few seventeen-year-olds do. Most people never see the inside of a cell, unless it is on television, and that is probably a good thing. It is certainly not the Marriott. Still, I can honestly say, I have done time in ‘the Big House’. It all started with a heartbreak. My first, in fact. She was the prettiest girl in my class, and for two glorious weeks, I thought we were destined for greatness. The

by Jonathan van Bilsen The very first time I went to Beijing was in the late eighties. The tallest building was no more than three stories high, and individuals were not allowed to own cars. It was a city of unadvertised adventure, and I fell right into the middle of it. It was my last day in the capital city, en route to Singapore. I had contacted the airport to confirm my flight, only to be told it was overbooked and I would not be able to leave on schedule. I have never be

By Jonathan van Bilsen Those of us fortunate enough to remember the sixties (or at least part of them), have two remarkable events logged...

by Jonathan van Bilsen I had only been to Whistler once before, many years earlier, so when my friend Jim suggested we head into the...

By Jonathan van Bilsen One thing travel has taught me over the years, is that mishaps are often the highlights. I have seen wonders, met...

by Jonathan van Bilsen I find it interesting how certain memories tend to stay with me forever. I remember the very first time I went to...

by Jonathan van Bilsen Thank you all for taking the time to read the first instalment of my new column,  ‘Not Part of the Plan’ . Over...

by Jonathan van Bilsen I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who reached out to say they missed my "You’ve Got to be...

by Jonathan van Bilsen The popularity of gluten-free eating has soared over the last decade, with many claiming it leads to better...

by Jonathan van Bilsen Juan Coronado’s name has circulated widely among music enthusiasts for years, and meeting him in person offered a...

by Jonathan van Bilsen I have been writing this column for 13 years, which means I have written nearly 300 of them. I love the...

by Jonathan van Bilsen By now, you will be aware, we are heading into a provincial election. I will, once again, be hosting the live...

by Jonathan van Bilsen During these extraordinary times, it is refreshing to find an article capturing how people in the United States...

By Jonathan van Bilsen There has been much discussion about Canadians, potentially, paying a 25 percent tariff on goods going to the...

By Jonathan van Bilsen Now they have a new leader in the south, I wanted to address the ultimatum being discussed in Ottawa, regarding...

by Jonathan van Bilsen There is something exciting about seeing a new business take root in Scugog, especially when it brings fresh...

By Jonathan van Bilsen Have you noticed how the second week of a two-week trip always seems to slip away faster than the first? It is as...

by Jonathan van Bilsen January 6th marks the Epiphany, a feast day celebrating the journey of the three wise men to Bethlehem, where they...