Affirmation Belonging Care

After 49 years, 11 months and 20 days married to Farris there are so many reasons to celebrate.

Find Farris Fall 2023

We have so much for which to be thankful! For most of the almost 50 years we were blessed with children: Kim for 49 of these years, Chris for 48, Patrick for 44, and George for 39. With thanks to their partners, Crystal, Tyler, Nea, and Katie, we have shared the last 23 years anticipating and celebrating the addition of Lilly, Miles, Gabe, Reid, Locklin, and Skyla to our lives.

Tyler and Gabe 2022

How did a supposedly happily introverted engineering student from a 4 person nuclear family with an engineer father, teacher mother, and engineering student brother find himself unable to envision a future that did not include an extroverted, people person, with lots of friends, six siblings, and more aunts, uncles, and cousins than I could count?

Find Farris Ben Eoin 2024

I have come to believe that our love is based on the complementary nature of our personalities. The A,B,C’s of my attraction and continuing love for Farris, from my analytic personality, are Affirmation, Belonging, and Care. Farris kind of Affirming Person does not always defend me as being right, but she respects and understands that I may have a different opinion, even if it is wrong! Belonging is unconditional regardless of the temperature or tension of the day or time. Care shows up where, for many reasons, it is needed. Certainly in times of physical and mental distress, Farris brings care. In times of distance resulting from inattention, dispute, aggravation, or distraction the path to restoration is care and Farris brings it.

Farris and David July 4 1975

Our Golden Anniversary is a special time for gratitude as we recall memories of our marriage and affirm the faith, hope and charity that supports our journey and pray these virtues will guide us to our Diamond Anniversary.

No Kings No Uranium

Political heat is the radiation that may indicate a dangerous attitude of “My way or no Highway” beginning to glow as Premier Houston reacts to less than enthusiastic support of renewing uranium mining in Nova Scotia.

Some Press Coverage of Uranium Mining in NS

Haley Ryan of CBC News reports that Premier Houston sent West Hants and Pictou County lengthy lists of projects and groups that have seen provincial funding.

Houston said the province has invested about $227.3 million into Hants County — aside from health care — through about 88 projects and groups since he took office in 2021.

The list of projects and funding recipients included flood-risk infrastructure, public housing maintenance, Highway 101 twinning, the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia, legions, bridges, Mermaid Theatre, ground search and rescue teams, and a bullet point item saying simply "various programs."

"These are just a few of the investments and I have no doubt that your council has many more wants and needs. We would love to be able to meet every ask, but to do that, we need the resources to move forward," (Ryan, n.d.)

Taryn Grant of CBC News reports that the Province plans to issue exploration licences for uranium this summer even as some municipalities ask the province to hit the brakes on uranium exploration in N.S.

"We just have had no communication," said Coun. Brian Connell, who put forward the motion in Annapolis.

"No one can believe how fast the province is moving on this, and many feel that that is by design," said Coun. Alison Smith, who put forward the motion in Lunenburg.

Coun. Alison Smith says the Municipality of the Distrtict of Lunenburg is not taking an advocacy position yet on uranium exploration and mining; it simply wants things to slow down. (Alison Smith/Facebook)

Smith said she was not asking for a vote on whether uranium development should happen. But she noted that there may be an opportunity to take such a stance in the near future.

Last month, Smith and her colleagues asked for a staff report on the risks of uranium mining and exploration in the LaHave River Watershed. Smith said she expects that report back next week.

"When we have more facts in front of us, we may want to take a 'for' or 'against' advocacy position," she said.

The request for a pause builds on several months of public outcry about the province's plans for uranium development. (Grant, n.d.)

In a report by Lyndsay Armstrong of The Canadian Press, published by the CBC, Mi'kmaw chiefs in Nova Scotia advise that continued failure to consult on uranium exploration is a harmful mistake. Pictou Landing First Nation Chief Tamara Young says 'The lack of consultation is unacceptable,'

In her statement, Young said the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia understand that Nova Scotia's economy is facing international pressures.

"But any resource development in Mi'kma'ki must include our consent and participation as we are the rightful owners of these lands, waters and resources," Young said, speaking as co-lead of the environment, energy and mines portfolio on behalf of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs.

Rosalie Francis, a Mi'kmaw lawyer whose firm is based out of Sipekne'katik First Nation, said the province risks further damaging their relationship with Mi'kmaw communities and sabotaging the potential uranium industry by failing to consult adequately and early.

"By choosing not to consult, it scares away investors, destroys the relationship and gets us back to starting at zero," Francis said in an interview Tuesday.

"It all comes down to trust, and this completely diminishes any kind of trust." (Armstrong, n.d.)

Taryn Grant of CBC News reports that Premier Tim Houston says the province will keep pushing for more resources development even after there was zero interest in Nova Scotia's call for uranium exploration.

The mining association said the province is "on the right track," and now needs to streamline the permitting process for mining projects.

Opposition politicians said the lack of bids on uranium licences begs questions about Houston's "agenda."

"Where is the urgency coming from when Nova Scotians didn't ask for this and there doesn't seem to be interest from industry?" said NDP MLA Lisa Lachance in a statement.

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said he was not surprised.

"Obviously, at this point right now, industry isn't looking at uranium in the province," he told reporters. "I think we need to engage with communities and take a pause." (Grant, n.d.)

Perhaps consultation with other elected representatives, possible industrial partners, and Mi'kmaw communities before executive proclamations to continue pushing for more resource development would be a more democratic process with a higher probability of offering less “smoke” and more “fire”.

References

Armstrong, L. (n.d.). https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/uranium-exploration-consultation-mikmaw-chiefs-1.7559302. CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/uranium-exploration-consultation-mikmaw-chiefs-1.7559302 

Grant, T. (n.d.). There was zero interest in Nova Scotia's call for uranium exploration | CBC News. CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/there-was-zero-interest-in-nova-scotia-s-call-for-uranium-exploration-1.7559745 

Grant, T. (n.d.). 3 more municipalities ask province to hit the brakes on uranium exploration in N.S. | CBC News. CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/3-more-municipalities-ask-province-to-hit-the-brakes-on-uranium-exploration-in-n-s-1.7558276 

Ryan, H. (n.d.). N.S. premier says municipalities who want funding must allow 'economic development' after uranium concerns | CBC News. CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/n-s-premier-municipalities-want-provincial-funding-must-allow-economic-development-uranium-1.7562763 

Responding Seriously to Housing Needs

Erica Alini, reporting for the Globe and Mail, writes that Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged billions of dollars in financing for makers of prefabricated homes to help end the country’s housing shortage.

Factory Fabricated and Shipped to Site

Mr. Carney has promised to provide $25-billion in loans and $1-billion in equity financing for companies that largely build homes in factories rather than on construction sites. The federal government will also place bulk orders of prefabricated housing to help jump-start a nascent industry, according to the Liberals’ election platform.

“We will create an entirely new Canadian housing industry,” the Prime Minister said in his first press conference since the election win.

It’s a big, bold bet that could make it faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly to build a chunk of the 3.5 million homes that official estimates show Canada needs to add by 2030 to restore housing affordability, industry insiders and academics say. (Alini et al., 2025)

Sean Silcoff, Technology Reporter and Rachelle Younglai, Real Estate Reporter, at the Globe and Mail, note that the technology is available to make prefab homes faster. And all levels of government are under pressure to create affordable housing, with many Canadians shut out of home ownership or struggling to pay rent.

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with Oliver David Krieg during a visit to Intelligent City in Delta, B.C.

 

“Now is the time to try this again,” said Peter Hass, general manager of the new venture, called Stelumar Advanced Manufacturing Inc., which expects to produce modular components for about 3,000 housing units a year once its factory opens. (Turley, 2025)

Max Fawcett, in an article in Canada’s National Observer, offers the opinion that Canada’s Conservatives still aren’t serious about housing. Jacob Mantle, the newly-elected thirty-something Conservative MP for York-Durham, rose in the House of Commons on Tuesday, June 10, to make a point about housing costs.

“My generation refuses to live in a shipping container,” Mantle said. (Fawcett, n.d.)

Fawcett comments:

For what it’s worth, I suspect many members of his generation (and mine) would be happy to live in the sort of modified shipping containers that are being designed and built right now, including the ones in his own city. But modular housing is so much more than just the use and conversion of shipping containers. It’s an entirely new approach to homebuilding, one that uses factories and their inherent economies of scale to drive down costs. They can be one or two-storey, single or multi-family, and configured in any number of layouts and sizes. In an environment where driving down construction costs is a nearly existential issue for Mantle’s generation, you’d think he would be more open to new ideas and economic innovation — especially when it promises to use more Canadian materials and labour. (Fawcett, n.d.)

George, Joel, Dave and everyone from the Prefab Homes Nova Scotia Team say:

You put the kettle on…

“Of course we handle the permits and site prep. Delivery, utility hook-ups, all the finishing’s too, that’s doing the job right - delivery in 90 days or less” (Prefab Homes Nova Scotia, n.d.)

https://www.prefabhomesnovascotia.ca/studio

 

The Prefabricated home, delivered and quickly made ready for occupancy, is being offered as a way to address our housing needs. Local companies are ready today to respond!

References

Alini, E., Raitt, L., Kelly, C., & McLister, R. (2025, May 5). Mark Carney's bet on prefabricated homes has promise – and big risks. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 12, 2025, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/article-mark-carneys-bet-on-prefabricated-homes-has-promise-and-big-risks/ 

Fawcett, M. (n.d.). Canada’s Conservatives still aren’t serious about housing. Canada's National Observer: Climate News. Retrieved June 12, 2025, from https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/12/opinion/conservatives-still-arent-serious-about-housing?nih=KO9k2fpYhTw9rlRDCmdZHAfFIG6V6Bt1OhCLrUXRVbc&utm_source=National+Observer&utm_campaign=b9cfb40fce-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_06_12_01_31&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cacd0f141f-b9cfb40fce-276932429 

Prefab Homes Nova Scotia. (n.d.). Fastest, Strongest, Most Money Saving Homes. Prefab Homes Nova Scotia. Retrieved June 12, 2025, from https://www.prefabhomesnovascotia.ca/?fbclid=IwY2xjawK3zi5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF4UDVJcTB1UTVWbURrZ3NuAR7vjtpGdmX-wwTABLuNsRrpqoM-CPLutZFfyxWA2TQ3LOPRu0PUpJjIPCQ3ug_aem_cMkxdeRY9KyWTLWnnN_HJg 

Turley, J. (2025, June 10). Mattamy Homes founder Peter Gilgan to start prefab housing factory in Ontario. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 12, 2025, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-mattamy-homes-peter-gilgan-prefab-housing-factory-ontario/ 

Reflections on Writing the Hive

I sat down to read the Sixth Book in the Hive Series by George Macpherson “Post Scarcity Sanctuary” with an expectation that the fast paced presentation of the struggle, tension, personal interplay, and political realities of creating a civilization that no longer denies the ability to live in communities that meet all our needs and shatters the myth of scarcity that permeates our economic decisions that are fuelled by greed would continue in this volume.

The Hive Series by George Macpherson

This book stars with a “Before You Begin” section that reveals the methods employed by the author to triumph over the systemic obstacles that he needed to overcome to realize his understanding, passion, and truth that “I am a Writer”

I suggest that this “Before You Begin” section should be required reading (or listening) for all teachers charged with the development of their students in growing into their full potential. The standard curriculum, the published course outline, and the traditional methodology may not support the growth of the “non-standard” learner. We need to consider what we might be missing when we constrict the mode of learning and expression to “what we have always done”.

Learning and doing are fundamental characteristics of being human that will flourish to the extent that we focus on encouraging learners and finding paths to support their passion.

The cover of “Post Scarcity Sanctuary” promises a sweeping sci-fi epic of philosophy, survival, and self discovery that explores the paradox of a future where technology has removed every barrier - except the ones within ourselves.

Thanks to George for this important artwork, not only for the inspiration and challenge of its vision, but also for his determination to be a writer and awaken our awareness of the need to encourage expression that earlier attitudes toward development of learners inhibited, contributing to our loss.

Personal notes on Pope Francis

Announcement of the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis in 2013, was of a Jesuit who had taken the name of Francis, to honor the inspiring memory of Francis of Assisi, known as “il Poverello," that is, "the little poor one." (Monti & Lentz, 2024).

Vatican in October 2021

The announcement of the first Jesuit Pope and the first to take the name of “Francis” resonated deeply with my own affinity with Jesuit and Franciscan spirituality. I remember being overcome with emotion as I put together the likely significance of this choice to the Church. In the late spring of 2015, our friend, Father Roberto Donato, kindly was our guide during our three week tour of Italy and Rome.

We attended a Papal Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the Feast of Corpus Christi at the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano and walked about 1.7 kilometers in procession to the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore where the Pope presided over a Benediction in the Piazza. The Pope has chosen Santa Maria Maggiore as his burial place.

 Laudato Si  is an encyclical letter issued on 24 May 2015 “On Care for Our Common Home” was a significant call for care of the ecological health of the earth for which we are called to stewardship. The mission identified for people in this document has become a core of my work on sharing this call for care in presentations and blog posts.

Prime Minister Mark Carney writes:

 

“At the Vatican meeting in 2014, ‘The Global Common Good: Towards a More Inclusive Economy’, Pope Francis issued a challenge that has guided me ever since. He likened humanity to wine – rich, diverse, full of spirit – and the market to grappa – distilled, intense, and at times disconnected. He called on us to ‘turn grappa back into wine’, to reintegrate human values into our economic lives. (Carney, n.d.)

Pope Francis recalled a favourite imagery of a pastor, urging that priests be “shepherds with the ‘smell of the sheep’”, grounded in the situation of their flock. (Gomes, 2021)

References

Carney, M. (n.d.). Statement by the Prime Minister on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. Mark Carney - Prime Minister of Canada | Prime Minister of Canada. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.pm.gc.ca/en 

Gomes, R. (2021, June 7). Pope to priests: Be "shepherds with 'the smell of the sheep'". Vatican News. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-06/pope-francis-priests-students-church-louis-french.html 

Monti, D., & Lentz, R. (2024, September 29). Saint Francis: Il Poverello | CFIT. Franciscan Intellectual Tradition. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://www.franciscantradition.org/blog/saint-francis-il-poverello/ 

America First Canada First

The saying "to whom much is given, much is required" (Luke 12:48) caused me some concern as a Canadian when I observe that “America First” has been interpreted by the Trump administration as the slogan for the dismantling of USAID, slashing staff at the Centers for Disease Control,  reducing staff at NOAA, and closing offices at USGS.

America First? Canada First?

Oxfam America’s Abby Maxman in a statement urged all staffing and funding to be reinstated. “The funding freeze and program cuts are already having life or death consequences for millions around the world,” said the chief executive of the humanitarian group. (WHITEHURST & KUNZELMAN, 2025)

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - The Trump administration began mass layoffs of 10,000 staffers at U.S. health agencies on Tuesday, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation, with security guards barring entry to some employees just hours after they received dismissal notices.

The cuts, which affect several high-profile agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services, including the FDA, CDC and National Institutes of Health, are part of a broad plan by President Donald Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk to shrink the federal government and slash spending. (Douglas et al., 2025)

The reinstatements have added a new layer of confusion at NOAA, which had already halted several services because of staffing issues following the cuts. They included weather balloon launches in Albany, New York; Gray, Maine; and Kotzebue, Alaska, that are critical to support accurate forecasting. The agency also closed several offices.

The cuts came just weeks before a severe storm raced across the country, spawning tornadoes and killing at least 42 people. The National Weather Service, a division of NOAA, forecast the storm, issuing public alerts that it would be a “particularly dangerous event.” 

Although the probationary workers at NOAA have technically been reinstated, they were placed on administrative leave and have not been asked to return to work. So it is not immediately clear whether the services they previously contributed to would be restored. (Bush, 2025)

“Shuttering USGS offices is a short-sighted move that will severely weaken our nation’s ability to monitor natural hazards, manage water resources, and understand how our environment is changing,” said Kristen Averyt, executive vice president for science at the American Geophysical Union, a nonprofit organization that represents Earth scientists, in an emailed statement. “This decision would undermine decades of scientific infrastructure that directly serve the American public and puts both lives and livelihoods at risk.” (USGS Faces Potential Office Closures, 2025)

Many of the ways in which America has given much to the world has been through sharing the work of top notch scientific and humanitarian aid organizations with the world to alleviate hunger, educate impoverished people, control disease epidemics, warn North Americans of dangerous weather events, and alert the world to earthquake and tsunami events.

The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40-45 NIV;KJV)

When I hear politicians proclaim “Canada First”, I fear that we may be advocating policy that mirrors the American neglect of their moral responsibility to use their riches to address the hunger, thirst, nakedness, imprisonment, and isolation of our brothers and sisters in the world.

References

Bush, E. (2025, March 19). Fired workers are reinstated at NOAA, creating confusion on heels of storms. NBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/noaa-fired-workers-reinstated-weather-storms-rcna197004 

Douglas, L., Taylor, M., & Steenhuysen, J. (2025, April 1). Trump begins mass layoffs at FDA, CDC, other US health agencies. Reuters. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-administration-begins-mass-layoffs-health-agencies-sources-say-2025-04-01/ 

USGS Faces Potential Office Closures. (2025, March 12). AIP.ORG. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://ww2.aip.org/fyi/usgs-faces-potential-office-closures 

WHITEHURST, L., & KUNZELMAN, M. (2025, March 18). Judge rules DOGE's USAID dismantling likely violates the Constitution. AP News. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://apnews.com/article/usaid-federal-judge-trump-administration-bdc919a5d98eda5ab72a32fdfe2f147d