Watchdog - Joe Cooper

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COLUMNIST ARTICLES

Counting your blessings should be first task of new year

So what are we in for this year, given the roller-coaster ride that we just finished in 2008?

Certainly the economy is going to be the No. 1 issue confronting everyone as we begin to see exactly...

Compassion is the true meaning of the season

Yes, the Christmas season is upon us again, along with the conflicting messages as to what the next week really represents to us.

For some it is a religious holiday, while for others it is a time...

Clearing sidewalk snow shows respect for neighbours

Well, we certainly had a taste of the winter to come this past week with the some of the first heavy snow falls of the season.

Some weather experts are predicting that we may actually beat the 1939...

Radicalism on the right or left does not serve Canada

As I said in columns written during the recent federal election, the only issue that was really in the forefront was Stephen Harper and nothing else.

We saw how quickly the election disintegrated...

Sounds of music will fill East York

With an early show of snow, brisk weather, and an uncertain economy, this year's winter looks like a challenging time for many people.

Yet it is also a traditional time of renewed hope, where the...

Take a walk on the Yellow Fish Road

Have you noticed the fish that have shown up in our neighbourhood recently, most noticeably the ones on our streets?

They are hard to miss, being a very distinct yellow in colour, and they seem to...

Canadians can celebrate American election

An American friend of mine who is currently living and working in East York recently commented to me on how impressed she was on how closely Canadians follow the American elections.

She found many...

More info needed on Pape LRT plans

When I was visiting Japan during the winter of 2007, I had the opportunity travel on some amazing public transportation systems.

In addition to the famous Shinkansen "bullet train" that...

Going green can save you money

I spent much of last weekend enjoying the glorious blue sky and warm sun while looking at the fall colours.

As always, I am amazed at the good fortune that we have living in such a peaceful area...

Political cure for economic ills requires painful remedy

Three hundred million dollars later, Canada is still being led by a minority government that may prove to be dysfunctional.

Worse, this federal election has had to be one of the nastiest on record...

Why I vote and you should, too

I went to vote in one of the advanced polls the other day and I was little annoyed at the way one of my fellow citizens was behaving.

They were being a little loud in their voice and making some...

Economic turmoil easy to predict, difficult to recover from

So do you really understand what has happened over the past two weeks regarding the economy?

More importantly, are you prepared for what is going to be happening next, and do you have a plan...

Economy the missing issue in election campaign

If you take a walk around the neighbourhoods that makes up East York you'll notice something interesting taking place.

I'm seeing very few election signs on people's lawns, which is unusual because...

Bocce tournament celebrates Logan Greenfield

Sometimes a community is noted for its great buildings or for having been the site of an important historic event.

For one community on Danforth Avenue, it's a big open spot of land that means more...

Stephen Harper is the only issue in this federal election

My personal history contains an interesting fact, and that is that during my childhood and adolescence I lived within walking distance of the home of a future prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper...

Garden tour a treat for residents

As I wrote in an earlier column, I've decided to help reduce my personal carbon footprint by using public transportation as much as I can.

I've also been walking as often as possible in order to get...

CNE a reminder of the value of community participation

I'm about to make my annual pilgrimage to the Canadian National Exhibition this weekend, but unfortunately it has become a journey that is a mixture of anticipation and dread.

The anticipation comes...

Is East York still a distinct community?

While many of us are in "holiday mode" thanks to the warm weather, the truth is that the problems and issues that are facing East York don't take a vacation.

Many people use the summer in...

Explosion underscores need to be prepared

About four in the morning last Sunday I was wakened by what I knew to be the distinct sound of a propane explosion.

I had heard that same sound about 40 years ago when a propane depot near the town...

Olympic Games in danger of slipping into mere spectacle

With the summer Olympics in Beijing, China now finally underway, it's worthwhile taking a look at what this event actually represents.

The original Olympics were held every four years for nearly 11...