We spent the weekend at our cottage on Lake Baptiste (25 minutes from Bancroft Ontario). The cell service is not great, so we tend to stay offline while we are up there. It was much chillier than in the city even in early fall, but despite that my wife and both boys jumped into the lake this weekend. It was too cold for my European blood, so I stayed on the dock and took photos.

We also did a 3km hike without my youngest son asking to be carried, which was a great accomplishment. Both boys enjoyed looking for frogs and throwing rocks.

While back in the city, I came across a Reddit post that upset me a little. Ok, it upset me a lot. Someone hiking near Devil's Thumb, close to Lake Louise, found that a person had left a marker near a rock, inviting others to write on it. This is graffiti, which is a form of pollution - the exact opposite of what we want in our provincial parks.

Part of what makes Canada's parks and trails worth visiting is that people generally leave them alone. That's not a small thing, and it's not automatic, it's a shared agreement that everyone using the space has to keep. Whether you've been coming to these trails your whole life or found them for the first time this year, the ask is the same: leave no trace.

I'm passionate about nature and hope to continue share this passion with this community of newcomers and lifelong Canadians alike.

One of Canada's largest private English-language schools closed this week and filed for bankruptcy, leaving over 1,000 students stranded mid-program. This is shortly after EC English closed it’s Canadian operations in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, and now globally.

It's a serious disruption if you or someone you know was enrolled, and it raises a fair question: what does this do to Canada's reputation as a place to come and study English?

I have some history here as I got my TEFL certificate from EC English in Malta and I also interviewed with ILAC when I got back from South Korea. Back then, it was expanding fast.

I don't have an answer to what the closure means long-term, but it's worth watching, especially if you're weighing private language schools against other options.

If you're looking for a lower-risk way to learn English right now, the LINC program offers free classes across the country and doesn't carry the same risk a private school does. These programs are only available for certain visa holders though.

To help you get together, network and socialize.

Fast Friends Toronto | Meet New People (Ages 21–40) | Saturday, Sept 26, 7:00 PM | Stout Irish Pub | A recurring low-pressure social mixer for newcomers and locals alike — most people come solo. | Details

Newcomer Settlement Services (with CCS) | Wednesday, Oct 1, 9:30 AM | Springboard, Toronto | Weekly drop-in to connect with settlement staff and other newcomers. Free.

BC Culture Days | Sat–Sun, Sept 26–27 (runs through Oct 4) | Various venues across Vancouver | A province-wide series of free, interactive arts and community events — an easy, no-commitment way to get out and meet people. | BC Culture Days

MOSAIC English Conversation Group | Wednesday, Oct 1, 5:00–6:00 PM | MOSAIC Engage, #206 – 2555 Commercial Drive | Free drop-in conversation group built for newcomers to practice English and meet others — no sign-up needed.

Move. Mingle. Connect | Saturday, Sept 26, 11:00 AM | Cold Beer & Pizza (1019 17 Ave SW) | Free fitness session followed by food, drinks, and socializing.

Newcomers Desk & English Conversation Groups | Ongoing weekdays/evenings, check branch schedule | Calgary Public Library (multiple branches) | Drop-in support and conversation practice — a relaxed way to meet fellow newcomers. | Details

Meet New People This Saturday (National Social Networking Group) | Saturday, Sept 26, 8:30–11:00 PM | Downstairs Terrace @ Sir Winston Churchill Pub, 1455 Crescent St | Hosted introductions and rotating icebreakers — most guests come solo. Tickets from ~$15.

Mundo Lingo Montreal – Plateau Mont-Royal | Wednesday, Oct 1, 7:00 PM | Bar Clébard, Plateau Mont-Royal | Weekly multilingual social — wear flag stickers and chat in whatever language you like. Free.

Newcomer Social | Saturday, Sept 26, 10:00–11:30 AM | Halifax North Memorial Public Library | Weekly drop-in for newcomers to practice English over coffee and meet new people. Free, no registration.

To help you find your next role.

General Labourer – Material Handling | Full time | Harbour Grace, NL | $17 per hour | Full Description

Housekeeper | Full time | Burnaby, BC | $22–$24 per hour | Full Description

General Construction Labourer | Full time | Niagara Falls, ON | $27 per hour | Full Description

General Labourer – Landscaping | Full time | Concord, ON | $43,181/year (~42 hrs/week) | Full Description

Food Service Supervisor | Full time | Cranbrook, BC | $20.15 per hour | Full Description

*Every response to a poll or correct answer to a quiz gets premium members an automatic entry for our monthly prize draw.

The prize for September 2026 is a $25 gift card of your choice.

And we feel should be on yours too.

We are always looking for feedback and engagement from our community.

Let me know. I will reply to each email I receive.