by Geoffrey Carpentier I had the good fortune to spend much of the winter in very tropical areas, with daytime temperatures often well into the high 30s. Arriving home, I was anxious for a different kind of warm though. I longed for the wonderful spring temperatures I grew up with, cool nights and lovely warm summery days. Well, it seems for 2026, at least, that didn’t happen. On May 21st, we had frost warnings, not unheard of but, certainly not anticipated nor welcome! My bi

Editorial by TODD GREEN The Standard Fathers. I've had three in my life, two of them contributed more than they know. The first father I had, brought me into this world. He was a bit of a train wreck, marriage wise, but while in their lives, he was fiercely loyal to those around him, stimulating a return in kind. One of his passions was creative writing. In part, I have reaped a blessing from that lineage, and you are experiencing it now. His other main passion was being a ca

by Lauren Walker A common misconception is, when a limb or joint is injured, you should stop moving it. Some may have chronic joint pain or an injured joint, brought on by daily activity. In this case, I encourage movement for healing but we must do so safely. Necessary for Healing Part of healing an injury is bringing blood and oxygen to the injury and surrounding area. Specific exercise helps an injury by increasing blood flow to deliver essential nutrients, rebuilding surr

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley I am not a genius, or even that smart; I am just an average or normal country girl who loves God and attempts to follow His word. I, like everyone else who is honest, fail daily. God knows this will happen and has accommodated for it as we grow. It needs to be understood that following God's word is different than receiving information: that is passive and/or just educational. It remains subjective, like when one is listening to their pastor's ser

by Jonathan van Bilsen As a child, I was remarkably selective about anything which ventured near my mouth. If food looked unusual, smelled unfamiliar, or possessed a texture which suggested it might still be alive, I wanted no part of it. As the years passed, however, my culinary courage grew, or perhaps deteriorated, depending on one’s perspective. Travelling tends to do that. You become curious. You convince yourself, tasting local food somehow deepens cultural understandin

by Shawn Lackie There was a recent announcement which will have a lasting impact on the Real Estate trade, for many years to come. Real and Re/Max merged, in an $888 million deal. This has deep ramifications on a number of fronts. Real has only been around for 12 years, while Re/Max has been a major player in the trade for 50 years. Expect some other mergers to follow and maybe even some to eventually fold. Why, you might ask? A number of answers could be put forth, but the m

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley More people are living longer, due to advances in medical science. Yet, we are still vulnerable to ailments, and increase chronic conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, ophthalmology and mental illness. Other risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, ones family history, along with daily diet and physical inactivity. They are all interconnected. Your body is a complex network and an amazing design. For those who look

By Shawn Lackie If you looked up the term Market Correction in a reference book or online, you would see: “A market correction is a short-to-medium-term decline of 10 to 20 percent in a major stock index or individual stock from its most recent peak. These are considered normal, healthy market events that reduce overinflated prices and bring valuations back in line with economic fundamentals, usually lasting weeks or months.” Here are some key factors influencing market corre

by Shawn Lackie It’s a good time to dispel a few Real Estate myths. One of the largest and most oft quoted is, Open Houses only account for 2 per cent of all houses sold. Many agents pooh pooh the idea of even holding them, claiming they “Never do anything to sell the property.” Wow, there’s a real open minded ideology. I have lived by a handful of credos over the years, one of which is, to never pre-judge a situation. Expect the unexpected. That most definitely includes host

by Jonathan van Bilsen Visions of orange jumpsuits and rusty shackles ran through my head, as I confronted the policeman writing my parking ticket. I was innocent. I had parked in a perfectly legal spot and told him so, triumphantly pointing at the post clearly marked ‘Parking.’ He agreed and I was about to ask why he was ticketing me. I froze when he silently gestured toward a fire hydrant, tucked neatly behind someone’s hedge. Mouth open, I stared at the yellow cylinder, mo

by Shawn Lackie Time to take a trip back in time. You know the saying, “What goes around comes around?” Well how about a return to old time advertising and the benefits which come with it? Since 1996 we have been taken over by, what was then referred to as, this new thing called, the Internet. Many said it was just a trend and wouldn’t last. Really? Here we are 30 years later looking at the newest trend called AI. Many are saying that won’t last either. I guess what I am tryi

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Appreciating life is about learning to see the value in what’s already in your hands. Family, friends, health, or the simple luxury of enjoying your morning tea. Those are the things which truly matter. Life is a collection of stories, moments, growth and flashes of wisdom. We spend so much time chasing more, thinking those things will make us happy. Yet, in the small ordinary moments, we often overlook, happiness can reside. There are days when y

by Lauren Walker Purpose and passion. How do you live your life? I'm turning forty this year and I feel like I'm finally coming into my own. I was vacuuming my house this morning and I realized, while I dislike doing it, I can be joyful doing it. Vacuuming gave me the idea for this article, so thank you! A Joyful Shift A shift happens when you get older. I spent my twenties wondering who I was and what I wanted to be. I wasn't experiencing very much joy at all. Going through

by Shawn Lackie How long have you been living in the home you are currently in? It used to be, many years ago, you would buy a home and pretty much live there all your life, unless you had a job transfer or some other upset in your life (i.e. family death, divorce). My grandparents lived in two homes their entire married life. The first was a small home, then they built a large four bedroom home, to move into and start their family. It was also on the same street, so that is

By Lauren Walker What a lot of work and time spent! For the second year in a row, I helped to organize the Oshawa Artist Association Juried show at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery. What is a Juried Art show? For those of you unfamiliar with a Juried Art Show, it is when artists submit their work to a gallery for judging by a selected pair or individual. These judges are reputable and professionals in their field. If your work is selected, it will be included in an exhibition at

LAUREN WALKER Special to The Standard Let's take a closer look at how our emotions and physical health are connected and how we can improve that connection. Let's dive into some healthy habits. Whether it's taking a half hour to go for a walk, taking an art course or meditation. An activity that allows you to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself. Exercise You knew I'd get here sooner or later. Movement is a natural high which releases happy hormones i

TINA Y. GERBER-MCCURLEY Special to The Standard I have said this many times, God didn't promise you a life without pain, struggle or hardships. He did, however, promise to give you strength to get through it. It is important to keep those parts working properly by remaining active. Keeping body parts active as you age is essential to maintaining your independence, helping to reduce pain, and preventing further injuries. Since my visit to the hospital, last December, I will ad

by Lauren Walker My favourite go to snack is apples dipped in peanut butter. I don't mind bruises on my apples, I'll happily gobble them down any time. They may be flawed on the outside but just as sweet on the inside. The so called 'imperfections' on the outside can effect how we see ourselves and effect our physical wellness. Let's look into the mind and body connection. Emotional Wellness - There are those who find it difficult to make meaningful change because of unresolv

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley Every generation has its own battles; our parents and grandparents went through war, famine, and grew up in the middle of a worldwide economic meltdown. They struggled with high costs, job insecurity, and political conflicts. Things have not changed, and many are still overwhelmed today, as most media wants to keep us scared and agitated. Sometimes, life doesn't make sense. There are moments when the path ahead feels uncertain. Faith means believi

by Shawn Lackie “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Dickens wrote this in A Tale Of Two Cities, in 1859, but it could have been written yesterday. Need proof? Take a wander through any of the social media sites and check out the finger pointing and name calling. It is astounding; and a huge amount of the bitterness is around political beliefs. Even the Winter Olympics couldn’t escape the wrath of the political effect. The great divide comes from whether you