Welcome to a curated selection of essays, reflections, and stories that capture the essence of The Rowanwood Chronicles. Whether you’re here for thoughtful analysis, personal narratives, or cultural commentary, these pieces offer a window into the diverse tapestry of ideas we’ve explored.

🌾 Agriculture, Agri-Food & Value Chains

Transparency on Tap: Why All Canadian Cider Should List Sugar Content
Listing sugar content on cider labels isn’t just good policy for public health, it’s a smart, simple step toward harmonizing our food and drink economy.

The Global Food Supply Chain Is Shifting – And Canada Must Be Ready
The global food supply chain is undergoing a period of extraordinary change, driven by a volatile blend of climate instability, geopolitical realignment, digital transformation, and shifting consumer expectations.

Canada’s Non-Timber Forest Products Industry: A Sleeping Giant in the Agrifood Sector
Beyond Canada’s huge timber trade lies an equally vital and dramatically underdeveloped resource sector: non-timber forest products.

❤️ Being Human: Relationships & Reflection

The “True Love Will Change Him” Myth
One of the most persistent cultural myths about relationships is the idea that “true love” can fundamentally change someone’s nature.

From Work Husbands to Instagram Crushes: Embracing the Messy Beauty of Human Bonds
The rise of microcheating discourse reflects a growing tension between our social conditioning, and our relational reality. Maybe instead of drawing stricter lines, we should be blurring them with intention.

Declutter Before You Croak: Tales from a Swedish-Inspired Senior
Decluttering isn’t a chore. It’s a gift. Not to you, necessarily, but to the poor sods who’ll have to clean out your place after you go.

💼 Business Insights & Lessons Learned

Elbows Up: How Canada’s Cooling Ties With America Expose U.S. Insecurity
With Canadian travel, spending, and goodwill toward the United States in steep decline, Washington’s defensive tone reveals a superpower under pressure and struggling to cope.

Why I Always Start With Quebec When Researching Canadian Federal Projects
After decades of consulting across Canada whenever I’m tasked with researching a new federal project, my first instinct is to see what Quebec is doing.

Strategic Pricing Adjustment to Accelerate User Growth and Revenue
Proposing a strategic adjustment to ChatGPT’s subscription pricing that could substantially increase both user adoption and revenue.

🏘️ Community & Social Commentary

A Path to Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Living
The 15-minute city concept is redefining urban planning by creating neighborhoods where residents can access essential services and amenities; such as schools, grocery stores, healthcare, parks, and cultural hubs.

Volunteerism in Canada: A Changing Landscape Across Time and Geography
Volunteerism has long been woven into the fabric of Canadian society. From informal acts of neighbourly support to highly structured programs run through non-profits and public institutions, the practice of giving time and effort without monetary reward has played a vital role in community building, social cohesion, and service delivery.

When the Witness Holds the Gavel: The Constitutional Perils of Reverse Disclosure
Canada’s lower courts are now bearing the brunt of an ill-conceived and constitutionally fraught innovation in sexual assault law: reverse disclosure.

🎭 Culture, Sport & Media

Skates Over Seats: Why Ottawa Prefers the Rideau Canal to the Arena
Winterlude is here, and Ottawans, along with the tourists are really getting their money’s worth this year, with consistent sub-zero temperatures, smooth ice, and new food franchises.

From Isak to Woltemade: Murphy’s Cross Keeps the Toon Dream Alive
The Magpies have lost Alexander Isak, and the Toon Army is keen to see how Jacob “Murph” Murphy fares without his long-partner in crime.

Comedy Meets Legacy: Why Lower Decks Is Star Trek’s Most Endearing Spin-Off
Star Trek: Lower Decks is a delightfully refreshing addition to the Star Trek franchise, masterfully blending humor, heart, and reverence for its source material.

📊 Economic & Financial Insights

Lansdowne Park: A Case Study in Public-Private Partnership Failure
In the heart of Ottawa lies Lansdowne Park, a public asset that has undergone over a decade of controversial redevelopment under the banner of public-private partnerships (P3)

Allies Reclaiming Autonomy: The Growing Shift Away from U.S.-Made Military Equipment
Across NATO and allied nations, governments are increasingly rejecting U.S. defence options or cancelling long-term contracts, favouring domestic or European alternatives that offer control over manufacturing, maintenance, and upgrades.

What Did You Expect? The Fall of Mill Street and the Fate of Craft Breweries in Corporate Hands
Fans of Mill Street Brewery are in shock after Labatt announced it was shutting down the North York brewery, and shifting production to its industrial-scale facility in London, Ontario. 

🌍 Environment & Sustainability

We Are “So Fucked”: Suzuki’s Stark Warning and What Comes Next
David Suzuki, Canada’s most revered environmental voice, has issued a warning with unusual bluntness and finality: “We are so fucked.” Speaking in recent weeks, Suzuki declared that “it’s too late,” stating that the global fight to halt climate catastrophe is effectively lost.

The Essequibo Equation: Venezuela’s Bid, Guyana’s Boom
Guyana is flush with oil – Black Gold. The kind that redraws maps, tilts economies, and ignites old rivalries. For Venezuela, long mired in economic freefall and domestic strife, it is an irresistible provocation.

Harvesting the Sun Twice: The Rise of Agrivoltaics in Canada
In the ever-evolving landscape of Canadian agriculture, a quiet revolution is taking place; one that blends innovation, resilience, and sustainability. At the heart of this shift is agrivoltaics,

🌐 Global Affairs & Geopolitics

Francesca Albanese and the Anatomy of a War
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, has become one of the most influential, and controversial, voices in global human rights discourse.

From Limehouse to Left Populism: Why Corbyn’s New Party Feels Different
Jeremy Corbyn, a figure I would once have dismissed as unelectable, has just launched a new left‑wing party with Zarah Sultana, aimed squarely at the people Starmer’s Labour has abandoned, and those appalled by Britain’s foreign policy silence over Gaza.

Rethinking the “Middle East”: Why Greater West Asia Works Best
The term Middle East has long been used in Western discourse to refer to the region spanning from Egypt and Turkey through to Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. A number of alternatives have been proposed, each with merits and limitations, but Greater West Asia emerges as the most appropriate and equitable option.

🧠 Health, Wellbeing & Systems

A Municipal Remedy: Why North Grenville Should Open Its Own Healthcare Centre
With a growing population, and increasing concerns over access to primary care, it’s time for the Township of North Grenville to consider a bold, but practical move: establish its own municipally-operated healthcare clinic.

Assigning Ontarians a Primary Healthcare Provider is a Win-Win
Just as the province automatically assigns schools for our kids when we move, or as they age, we need to assign a primary care provider to each family member.

Patients Are Not Property: Time to Rethink How We Regulate the Sale and Retention of Primary Care Rosters
iit’s time we take a hard look at how patient rosters are handled, or mishandled, when physicians transition or leave their practices.

🏰 History & Heritage

Duddo Five Stones: Northumberland’s Sacred Circle in the Shadow of Giants
The Duddo Five Stones, nestled atop a gentle rise in north Northumberland, are a compelling testament to prehistoric endeavours in the British Isles.

The Delusions of Authoritarians: Why it never ends well for Fascist Leaders
Fascist and authoritarian leaders rarely see themselves as doomed figures in history. On the contrary, they often believe they are exceptional, capable of bending the course of history to their will.

The Lost Republic: How America Abandoned Reconstruction and Built the Wrong Nation
The United States stands today on the foundation of an unfinished revolution. The Civil War, often portrayed as the crucible in which the nation was made whole, was followed by a period of unparalleled opportunity to remake the republic.

🎨 Leisure, Creativity & Travel

Oman – the Land of Mountains, Seas, and Mist
Oman, situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, is a nation with a rich history, and distinctive culture shaped by its geography, strategic location, and traditions.

Paraguay – South America’s Hidden Gem
Paraguay is a landlocked gem in the heart of South America with a tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty that quietly enchants all those who visit. It doesn’t clamour for attention like its more famous neighbours, but that’s part of its charm.

The Scottish Smallpipes and the Northumbrian Smallpipes: Cousins in Tradition
The British Isles produced an array of bagpipes, each rooted in the culture of its region. Among the most distinctive are the Scottish smallpipes and the Northumbrian smallpipes.

🏡 My Intentional Community

Living the SoPoRA Life: A Light-Hearted Take on Choosing Autonomy
Solo Polyamory and Relationship Anarchism require a level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence that can feel like a full-time job some days. But the rewards? Oh, they’re worth it.

Pints, Paint, and Purple Hair: Dating a Grandma Who’s Anything But Grey
Dating a 60 year old, grey-haired grandma with bold blue and purple streaks is like sipping a craft beer flight; unexpected, full of flavor, and just the right amount of fizz!

Going With The Flow
I try to live my life grounded in the teachings of Taoism and Zen Buddhism, seeking balance, simplicity, and a deep connection to the present moment.

🗳️ Political Analysis & Governance

The Ghosts at Wounded Knee and the Politics of Honour
What began as an effort to disarm a frightened group seeking refuge ended in slaughter. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced that the soldiers who received Medals of Honor for Wounded Knee will keep them and said the soldiers “deserve those medals.” 

A Dangerous Symbol: Why Alberta’s Citizenship Marker Is a Badge of Exclusion
A government that tattoos its citizens with a loyalty stamp is not protecting democracy. It is manufacturing division; a blunt instrument that will stigmatize newcomers, invite profiling, escalate privacy risks, and do virtually nothing to solve the narrow problems the government points to to justify the changes.

Nation-Building by Design: The Strategic Nature of Carney’s Infrastructure Agenda
Canada is entering a new phase of nation-building, one that blends urgent economic needs with longer-term structural transformation. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, the government has moved decisively to put infrastructure back at the centre of Canadian economic policy.

🔬 Science, Space & Innovation

Hosting Your Own AI: Why Everyday Users Should Consider Bringing AI Home
The rise of high-speed fibre internet has done more than just make Netflix faster and video calls clearer, it has opened the door for ordinary people to run powerful technologies from the comfort of their own homes.

Mapping the Future: Why the Cahill-Keyes and AuthaGraph Projections Matter
The way we represent the world on maps has shaped our understanding of geography, politics, and culture. Traditional projections, like the widely used Mercator, have long been criticized for distorting the relative sizes of continents, reinforcing a Eurocentric worldview.

Yellowstone Supervolcano: What the Science Really Says in July 2025
Social media has once again erupted (pun intended) with dire warnings that Yellowstone’s “supervolcano” is about to blow. TikTok doomsayers cite minor earthquakes, thermal features, and even routine geyser activity as harbingers of catastrophe. But is there any truth to these claims?

🏛️ Social Systems & Institutions

From Dystopian Fiction to Political Reality: Britain’s Digital ID Proposal
The UK government argues this Digital ID will tackle illegal working and make life easier for businesses. Perhaps it will. But at what cost? We will have built the very infrastructure that past generations fought to reject: a system where your ability to live, work and move depends on a state-issued credential.

When Crown Corporations Forget Their Purpose
Two of Canada’s most visible Crown corporations, Canada Post and VIA Rail, seem to have lost their way. Both were created to knit together a vast and sparsely populated country, ensuring that every Canadian, no matter how remote, had access to essential services.

Time for a Change: Rethinking Canada’s Outdated School Calendar
The time has come to revisit the structure of the academic year. Updating the calendar to reflect 21st-century realities would not mean abandoning heritage, but rather honoring the purpose of education itself: to provide all students with the best possible chance to learn, grow, and succeed.

🚆 Transportation & Infrastructure

Hydrogen Vehicles will Win the Day in Canada
While Electric Vehicles (EVs) are currently leading in urban and passenger markets for green energy cars, hydrogen is going to be the future in heavy-duty transport and regions, like Canada.

The Return of the Northumberland Line
After more than 60 years, passenger services have returned to the Northumberland Line, reconnecting rural Northumberland to Newcastle and the wider UK rail network.

The State of Geomatics in Paraguay
Paraguay’s mapping and cartography landscape is undergoing significant transformation, driven by technological advancements, collaborative initiatives, and institutional reforms.