Op-ed / Rant

The unremarkable facades along Barrie’s main streets blend into the familiar landscape—until one day, a police cruiser idles at the curb, and the sign on the door quietly flips to ‘closed.’ For months, these mushroom shops operated in full view, their presence so ordinary they seemed invisible. The true risk, it turns out, was hiding

The allure of a tinted windshield appeals to many—privacy, style, a hint of mystery. But when Ontario’s traffic laws meet the realities on the road, seeing eye to eye becomes more than a figure of speech. It’s a matter of public safety, written into law and enforced in communities like Barrie for reasons that reach

In the early morning, fog clings to the silent streets of Orillia, and where once a row of benches stood, there is now nothing but damp concrete. It is strange how absence can speak so loudly—how the simple removal of a place to sit can echo questions about who is welcome, and who is not.

Calling a robotaxi may soon be as simple as tapping an app, but for those who once vowed to boycott Tesla, the decision to hail one should be a test of conviction and commerce that goes far beyond convenience. Tesla’s robotaxi vision stands at a volatile crossroads. Elon Musk’s repeated assurances that driverless cabs would

School’s out, the sun is finally obliging, and Barrie’s parks pulse with laughter. For parents, though, summer comes with its own kind of heat: a constant simmer of concern, made hotter by one more thing to worry about this summer—dangerous social media trends lurking behind innocent screens. It’s easy to dismiss viral challenges as a

One word can change the weight of a tragedy. When Kingston police labelled a woman’s killing as “femicide”—for the first time in their history—it wasn’t just a matter of vocabulary. It was a signal. It reflected a growing recognition that the language we use shapes how we understand violence, how we measure it, and ultimately,

If intimate partner violence were the result of rabid dogs roaming Ontario, the province would not hesitate to act. Yet when faced with the stark reality of such violence—persistently lethal, statistically overwhelming, and devastating for thousands—the Ford government continues to resist calling it what it is: an epidemic. Ontario’s refusal, even after committee hearings and

A hush of anticipation lingered over the velvet-draped tables as Marine One’s rotors thundered overhead, delivering not just a president but the orchestrator of modern political spectacle. It was no ordinary dinner—it was a transaction dressed up in black tie, with access sold by the coin and influence measured in cryptocurrency decimals. At the heart