Posts

Showing posts from May, 2024

link of the day: how ontario marked the first-ever mental health week, in 1951

Image
  Chatelaine, May 1951. A busy month of posts for TVO winds down with a look at some initatives, primarily in the educational sector some initatives, primarily in the educational sector , in Ontario around the time of Canada's first Mental Health Week in 1951.

link of the day: how red lobster reeled in ontario diners in the 1980s

Image
  Windsor Star, November 12, 1983. With Red Lobster in the news due to its bankruptcy filing, it seemed like a good idea to revisit the chain's entry into Canada , starting in Windsor in 1983. I ate at the original location a lot when I was a kid, discovering a love for garlic shrimp, seafood gumbo, and escargot (though I missed the hush puppies served up in their American restaurants). And yes, I did rummage through the treasure chest.

link of the day: how alice munro fought book-banning in ontario

Image
  Sault Star, March 2, 1976. For TVO, I mark the passing of Canadian literary legend Alice Munro with a look at some censorship battles she was involved with , affecting her work and other authors (mostly Margaret Laurence) in the late 1970s in Peterborough and Huron County. Also: why people at public meetings can be really annoying.

link of the day: how ontarians protested grocery stores in 1966

Image
  Windsor Star, October 29, 1966. Protesting/boycotting Loblaws for high prices is nothing new. Back in 1966, housewives targeted the chain, and other major grocers, during an inflationary period, admit the backdrop of government hearings into pricing. My latest piece for TVO looks at how these protests unfolded, and how a veil of secrecy surrounding the Weston family's business holdings was drawn back. Let's just say your jaw might drop at the flow chart...

link of the day: bill 99

Image
  Editorial cartoon by Rusins Kaufmanis, Ottawa Citizen, March 24, 1964.  For TVO, I look at the furor surrounding Bill 99 , legislation that the Ontario government introduced in 1964 to increase police powers that was so bad, even the minister responsible was concerned about it.