FEATURED POST

Who Will Vote For Trees?

In July 2026, Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a small Quebec town, made international headlines. And no, it wasn’t the result of murder and mayhem or a catastrophic flood. The headlines were about a remarkable resolution passed by its town council, making Terrasse-Vaudreuil the first city in the world to recognize the rights of trees. The town’s resolution, based on the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights crafted in France by La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus and author Ricardo Rey, reco

5 hours ago3 min read

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Who Will Vote For Trees?

5 hours ago3 min read

Democracy Depends On Your Vote

Some years ago, I did some pretty in-depth research on ancient Athens and its democratic system of government as part of a documentary film I was pitching. It was actually a lot of fun because I was looking at ways their democratic beliefs and practices were both similar and different from ours. And some of the differences were quite striking, like the fact that only Athenian-born males 18 years-of-age and over could participate. Or the fact that their executive branch was se

Sep 104 min read

Democracy Just Became A Civic Election Issue In Winnipeg

Scott Gillingham should be worried – very, very worried. Not just because he’ll likely win the upcoming mayoral race for no better reason than the lack of a tenable, progressive alternative, but because longtime, and in some cases, progressive councillors are currently quitting his administration. And they’re not going quietly. Just take Sherri Rollins’ recent announcement that she would not be seeking re-election. When she cited the reasons why she won’t be running again, sh

Aug 143 min read

It Isn’t “Just the Weather”

I was reading The Guardian the other day, which is one of the best, if not the best, newspaper for climate change coverage. I say this, despite the fact that it still siloes the subject into a special section called “Climate Crisis and Environment.” It also continues to publish front page headlines like “June Heatwave Kills about 2700 in England and Wales, data says” with no reference to climate change, until you hit the body of the story. Which, quite frankly, is better than

Aug 34 min read

Whatever Happened to Public Service?

So what exactly does the term “public service” mean? Well, I’m not talking about the winsome waitress named Kelly, who introduces herself as your server for the night. Nor am I talking about Gurinder from the garage, who services your car. What I’m referring to when I talk about public service is that rare and courageous individual who enters public life to do good. The kind of civil servant or politician who chooses public life, not because they lust after power, notoriety o

Jul 223 min read

Governing By Gimmick

We all know that politicians can be opportunists sometimes, not necessarily for venal reasons like personal financial gain, but to win the hearts and minds of voters. So, for example, if the current zeitgeist is all about the escalating cost of living, the opportunist politico will miraculously find ways to look as if they’re doing something to address the problem, when what they’re really offering is a flashy gimmick. I am referring, of course, to our very own provincial gov

Jul 63 min read

Depave Paradise, Dig Up A Parking Lot

We use it to build everything from skyscrapers and shopping malls to plazas and highways, and currently, some 70% of the world’s population lives in structures built from it. Today it ranks as number two on the list of the world’s most consumed substances, second only to water. It’s that ubiquitous “wonder” material called concrete, celebrated by architects and city planners everywhere because it’s cheap, strong and so malleable it’s capable of taking almost any shape. Better

Jun 263 min read

Welcome to My Blog! It’s time to talk about nature, climate, and a whole host of other things!

They call me “the tree lady” - I’ve been called worse! - because I’m passionate about protecting and expanding Winnipeg’s urban forest. But first and foremost, I’m writer, filmmaker and environmental activist with a wide range of interests. In addition to publishing a novel and short stories, I’ve written and directed more than a dozen award-winning science and nature documentaries for CBC’s The Nature of Things With David Suzuki.

Recently, I’ve written a series of opinion editorials for The Winnipeg Free Press on urban issues, from climate change and trees to downtown renewal.

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FEATURED POST

Who Will Vote For Trees?

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Who Will Vote For Trees?

Democracy Depends On Your Vote

Democracy Just Became A Civic Election Issue In Winnipeg

It Isn’t “Just the Weather”

Whatever Happened to Public Service?

Governing By Gimmick

Depave Paradise, Dig Up A Parking Lot

ABOUT ME

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