Five Countries You Can Call Home With Ease as an Expat

 With the cost of living skyrocketing in Canada, it’s no wonder that young people are looking for places to move to that offer a better life experience, cheaper cost of living, proximity to adventure, or a nicer view.  The average Canadian is heavily taxed and endures beyond reasonable wait times

How the new ETIAS will affect Canadians travelling to Europe

 Contrary to several press claims, the E.U. Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is not a permit. It is a screening system designed to enhance security in European Union countries. Visitors to E.U. member nations will not have to visit a consulate before leaving home to apply for ETIAS clearance. Obtaining an

Planning the perfect sports trip to Europe

 There are few things more exciting than planning your next vacation overseas. Some people seek sun, others have the thirst for adventure, while many are simply inspired by the desire to see somewhere new. It’s also often an opportunity to chase your favorite hobby and, while Canada is home to

Moonfruits Hoping to Draw in the Crowd for Next Release

 Images supplied by Moonfruits. He was nine when his parents asked him if he wanted to start playing the guitar. He took that guitar, practiced his scales and for the next 12 years led about a dozen different bands. He wore morph suits. He had an alias. She was a

The State of the World Economy

 We are facing a rerun of 2007-2008 with more dire consequences and a longer duration than we experienced then. The first blows will surface as a result of the collapse of the European Banking System. Last September, I wrote Where Now-Why Volatility. The Grand Surprise.    "The U.S? The end of

The Facts About Algonquin College’s Saudi Arabian Campus

 Algonquin College has been engaged in international activity since 2004 through partner institutions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. We began working with the government of Saudi Arabia on reforms and improvements to that nation's technical and vocational college system in 2009 through a campus in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Céad Mile Fáilte: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

 I’m of Irish descent, and like millions of other Irish Canadians, the pull towards visiting my ancestral homeland has always been strong. My great-great-grandparents came to Canada from Waterford in County Cork in the mid-18th century at the height of the potato famine, and my Irish heritage has held a

Wallis Giunta: Ottawa’s Opera Star

 It was a pivotal moment in her life, when as a teenager, Wallis Giunta realized the power of opera. “I used to sit in the wings every night after my part was done and watch the finale of the opera,” Giunta recalls, thinking back to her time in the adult chorus

Great Britain and Ireland, A Contiki Adventure – Part 1

 Above: Ruins of Hadrians Wall, England Great Britain and Ireland are popular destinations for travelers from all around the world. These two European islands, settled in the North Atlantic Ocean, have so much to offer both for tourists seeking out popular destinations and off-the-beaten-track travelers. Great Britain is made up of four

Bringing Order to Chaos in the Debate on Marijuana?

 In the midst of Presidential Primary races in the USA, a federal election in Canada and myriad internationally supported and jurisdictional laws in place on the issue elsewhere on earth, marijuana has quietly dominated the media, political and business landscapes. Yet little, it appears, seems to be understood by the

Honouring Our Veterans

 While members of the Métis Nation fought alongside other Canadians in wars and peacekeeping initiatives, their contribution has rarely been recognized. That is starting to change. In  the  past,  Métis  veterans,  like Métis fought in both World Wars, the Korean War and other conflicts such as Afghanistan, and have also served

Marion’s Way

 One of my favourite quotes is from U.S. President John Kennedy. He said: “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”That is a question every person in Canada should reflect upon as we watch the disastrous human tragedy unfolding before our eyes in Europe as millions of innocent

Remembering the Past to Look to the Future

 This year  holds  special  significance for the world, as it marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the creation of the United Nations as well as the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. In May, a special plenary

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism: It’s Complicated

 There seems to be a general agreement that the Memorial to the Victims of Communism—Canada a Land of Refuge is a worthy project. However, controversy surrounds the current proposed location and design. Canada, a Land of Refuge— More than a Memorial “People are trying to make this political,” says Ludwik

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Norman Baker

 2015 marks the Year of Sport and the 60th anniversary of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. In recognition of these important milestones, OLM will be featuring Honoured Members of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in a weekly Profile piece. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and

Sable Island: A Dream Come True

 All photos © Bill Freedman Like a lot of people on this tour, I first heard of Sable Island as a child—a storm at sea, a shipwreck, the people perish, the horses survive, swimming to the shores of a desert island. The story grew in me to become something of

Margaret Chwialkowska Illustrates Reflection in Annex Gallery Exhibit

 All photos by David Barbour  Ottawa-based artist Margaret Chwialkowska’s solo exhibition, “The Illusion of Reality,” brings a marvelous must-see energy to the Ottawa Art Gallery’s Annex Gallery at Ottawa City Hall. In this collection, Chwialkowska delves into the theme of reflection. Her work explores the evolving natural landscapes and the mind

From Shepherding Sheep in Cuzco to Shepherding Souls in Canada

 When Nicanor Sarmiento Tupayupanqui was grazing his sheep on ochre hillsides surrounded by towering mountains reaching up to 3,600 meters above sea level, he never imagined in his wildest dreams where he would eventually end up living and working. Nicanor was born in the Quechuan community of Lares, in Cuzco, Peru. From

Crimea Uncensored: A Look from Inside the Peninsula

 Photo courtesy: Igor Mazurov, Flickr In 2014, on a sunny August day, my spouse and I were on our way to Crimea. We were driving along the shorelines of the Black Sea, curving green hills of the Caucasian Mountains. I have been following the Crimean crisis from home in Ottawa, watching

What Really Stands Behind Eurasian Economic Union?

 Above: From left: President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the Treaty of Eurasian Economic Union in Astana. The treaty came into force January 1, 2015. | Photo courtesy: Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA Novosti Media has paid little attention to the Eurasian Economic Union

Must Read: The Thin Black Line by Simon Gervais

 Prepare for a whirlwind of a read. Simon Gervais’ newly released debut novel The Thin Black Line, is a must-read thriller based right here in Canada’s capital city. A first time novelist, Gervais delivers a heart-pumping, nerve-racking story with a climactic ending you won’t see coming. In The Thin Black

Beauty Beneath

 To the average person, Tornillo, Sapelle, Marupa and Ipe might seem like the names European soccer players. However, they are actually the names of art materials to Frank Diaz, owner of Buena Vista Flooring. “When you’re working with wood, stain, colours and custom designs, you can do anything. When the

Disney will deliver in ways beyond your imagination

 When it comes to creating an extraordinary world of escape, there is nobody who does it better than Disney. Whether you are nine or 90, it is impossible to come away from a Disney experience and not be amazed by it, even awestruck, and completely relaxed and renewed. Disney has

Why ISIS and its friends must be opposed

 On the eve of the outbreak of the Second World War, and even for a while in its early stages, many in Canada were opposed to going to war. While amongst them, there were a few proto-Nazis and Nazi sympathizers, the vast majority were merely isolationists, pacifists and some on

Italian Retreat

 When we think of Italy urban centres like Florence, Rome and Milan probably spring to mind. But leave the hustle and bustle behind, slow down and soak up life and the beauty and tranquility of Italian village life. Tranquil Tuscany Located 15 minutes from the medieval city of Siena, there’s