In his book Bowling Alone, Harvard sociologist Robert Putnam laments the seeming collapse of social structures that used to bring people together.

Putnam presents gloomy statistics demonstrating that in the last 25 years, we invite friends over 35 per cent less often, families dine together 43 per cent less frequently and attendance at club meetings has dropped by an astounding 58 per cent. He suggests this drop in “social capital” impoverishes our lives.

Putnam would be heartened to visit the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors, where civic engagement and good cheer have been the order of the day for over 50 years. The organization offers a vast array of courses and activities from hands-on art courses to physical fitness, discussion groups, performing opportunities and more. CJCS provides help and information to its more frail members.

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When former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard spoke out about Quebec sovereignists facing up to reality and abandoning their separatist aspirations, veteran political journalist William Johnson was asked by the Globe and Mail to pen an opinion piece.

“Not bad for an old has-been,” says Johnson, whose uncompromising stance on unity made him one of the most reviled political figures among Quebec separatists.

“Pit Bill” Johnson’s leadership of Alliance Quebec is remembered as the most turbulent period in the history of the now-defunct anglo-rights lobby group.

There’s no slowing down this bicycling enthusiast and resident of Gatineau.

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I’m a new mother for the third time. My 29-year-old and 31-year-old daughters will just have to get used to it. My new son is two and I had to go all the way to L.A. to adopt him.

His name is Diego and he’s a Chihuahua/miniature Pinscher mix. As you may have read on these pages, I’ve been looking for a smaall dog to adopt for months.

I visited my daughter, sister and niece Cleo for nine days in Los Angeles at the beginning of August and I got it into my head that I could just have a look at one of the shelters in the area to see whether they had my perfect dog.

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