top of page


The story behind the person - Janna Guido, Never Say Never
by Jonathan van Bilsen I first met Janna Guido, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Ward 2, Scugog Township, at the Scugog Library, in Port...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Aug 19, 20244 min read


If Life Throws You Lemons…
by Jonathan van Bilsen Whenever people travel, there is inevitably the unexpected which happens. This was the case when I went to...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Aug 19, 20242 min read


Birds of a Feather
by Jonathan van Bilsen NASA constantly searches for better ways to feed astronauts, especially on long space missions. This is certainly...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Aug 7, 20242 min read


That's all folks
by Jonathan van Bilsen After five years and sixty episodes of my travel show, photosNtravel, it has finally run its course. Although I...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jul 24, 20242 min read


Jamil Jivani, Taking Politics by Storm: The Story Behind the Person
by Jonathan van Bilsen I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with our newest member of parliament, Jamil Jivani, a resident of...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jul 17, 20244 min read


Joe who?
By Jonathan van Bilsen I seldom write about politics in this column, but events of late have made me wonder, when is enough, enough?...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jul 17, 20242 min read


Who's on First?
By Jonathan van Bilsen I have often wondered who the first to do something was. For example, who was the first person to look under a cow...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jul 9, 20242 min read


Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
by Jonathan van Bilsen In my early twenties, I had a great job being an announcer on a radio station in Owen Sound. The station, CFOS,...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jul 3, 20242 min read


Streaming and Screaming
by Jonathan van Bilsen Like so many of you, I subscribe to a number of streaming services which no doubt, have great programming. I am,...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jun 26, 20242 min read


The Story Behind the Person: Jasmin Reville, Dance, Dance, Dance
by Jonathan van Bilsen Many of you have attended the theatres in North Durham, especially the old Town Hall 1873, in Port Perry. There...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jun 19, 20244 min read


Buckle Up!
By Jonathan van Bilsen Many of you may have recently heard about the devastating turbulence encountered, on a flight from London to...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jun 19, 20242 min read


Nickel and Diming to death
by Jonathan van Bilsen Last week I flew back to Toronto, from a few weeks of fun and travel in Europe. The trip and everything associated...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jun 13, 20242 min read


Does this float your boat?
By Jonathan van Bilsen Under the expansive blue sky, at the historic Harland & Wolff shipyard, in Northern Ireland, where the Titanic was...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Jun 6, 20242 min read


Did you know...
Did you know, the clear liquid found inside young coconuts has a surprising application? It can serve as a substitute for blood plasma,...

Jonathan van Bilsen
May 29, 20242 min read


Hot off the press
by Jonathan van Bilsen It is, once again, time to look at the etymology of phrases. Ever wonder where some of our frequently used sayings...

Jonathan van Bilsen
May 22, 20242 min read


An Elephant Never Forgets
by Jonathan van Bilsen One of my favourite animals on the planet are elephants. I respect their intellect, cherish their family values...

Jonathan van Bilsen
May 8, 20242 min read


Planes, Trains and Automobiles
by Jonathan van Bilsen Many people, including those I know and many I do not, worry about what is going to happen to our environment in...

Jonathan van Bilsen
May 1, 20242 min read


How do I look?
By Jonathan van Bilsen I have always been intrigued at how we handle waste. The Dutch, for example, recycle 57 percent of their collected...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Apr 24, 20242 min read


The Story Behind the Person: Dr. Amita Dayal, There is a Book in All of Us
by Jonathan van Bilsen Being a physician certainly has its challenges and most often, the work can be quite demanding, so where does...

Jonathan van Bilsen
Apr 17, 20244 min read


Break a leg
by Jonathan van Bilsen I have always been a fan of musicals, and have seen most of the major productions when they are hosted in Toronto....

Jonathan van Bilsen
Apr 17, 20242 min read
bottom of page




