SEPTEMBER 2020
THE EMPTY CITY: A PHOTO ESSAY
A chilling yet beautiful look at Toronto in lockdown
ARE WE THAT DIFFERENT? A millennial’s view of baby boomers
COVID THROUGH THE AGES
The mental health impact on different age groups
FIVE BANDS THAT AREN’T THE ROLLING STONES THE SEPTEMBER RETURN
How will it feel to be the one opening the doors?
IN THIS ISSUE... WELCOME TO SIDEONE. PG.03
An introduction and an explanation.
THE SEPTEMBER RETURN. PG.04
An insider’s look at what it would be like standing inside the doors of our schools as students return.
ARE WE THAT DIFFERENT? PG.10
A millennial shares her view of her parents’ generation.
COVID THROUGH THE AGES. PG.14
THE SIDEONE PROFILE. PG.35
This month we meet Jason Thorne, the young planner leading what many see as Hamilton’s rebirth as a dynamic city.
DON’T LET YOUR EMOTIONS TRIP YOU UP. PG.38
A sensible guide to keeping your cool while investing.
COMING UP. PG.43
A sampling of next month’s stories.
The mental health impact on generations is as different as the disease itself.
FIVE BANDS THAT AREN’T THE ROLLING STONES. PG.18
An introduction to some new bands worth adding to your playlist and ours.
IN PRAISE OF OLDER BASEBALL. PG.22
No baseball early in the season led to an appreciation for a not-too-distant era that our writer calls Whole Baseball.
THE CITY IN SHUTDOWN. PG.26
Early morning walks created images of an experience that’s unlikely to be repeated.
NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS… PG.31
A monthly feature of dates and facts that may surprise you.
02
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
FOR THE GENERATION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. Editor and publisher: Kevin Gilligan Contact Email: sideone@gilligangroup.net Mail: P.O. Box 43503 Leaside, Toronto, ON M4G 3BO Phone: 416-489-9257 SideOne Magazine is published monthly online @ www.sideonemagazine.ca SideOne Magazine is a division of The Gilligan Group Inc.
WELCOME TO
FOR THE GENERATION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
Kevin Gilligan is the editor and publisher of SideOne Magazine. After years in marketing and advertising he decided to do something he truly loves. SideOne comes from a simple observation. Many of
than the how-tos that seem to populate so many of
my favourite magazines don’t seem quite as relevant
today’s magazines.
or as interesting as they used to. Is it me or is it them? And do others feel this way? Well, the answers to those questions didn’t take too long to find. Yes, the magazines had changed. They changed their content to stay with their traditional age groups but not their aging readers. That left a lot of us left out. And the magazines on retiring and
Some of them have been so kind as to join me in building SideOne Magazine. We’re the generation that changed everything and that’s more just a catch phrase. As a generation, we have much to be proud of. We’re not perfect by any means but we sure have achieved a lot – not
aging just don’t cut it.
something most younger people are aware of but
Many of my favourite magazines don’t seem quite as relevant or as interesting as they used to. Is it me or is it them?
changed so much. And the restrictions on personal
This got me thinking and brought me back to the joy
compelling.
some are. Some know of the protest movements that behaviour and appearance that were put to rest. I think those years of change left many of us with a strong curiosity for what goes on beyond the obvious. That’s where we’re going to put our efforts: Bringing you stories from a different perspective to give you a monthly read that’s interesting and
of publishing from my days as a student newspaper editor and lead me to connect with other student
I hope you enjoy what we have to say and that you’ll
journalists from years gone by. Some of the names
drop by our Facebook page to share comments or
in our pages may seem familiar from those days or
start a discussion.
from other places as those writers went on to their careers.
Oh, and why SideOne? Because Side one was always the best side. Something we hope to live up to.
You know, there’s really good writers out there looking for a place to put stories that are a bit deeper
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
03
THE SEPTEMBER RETURN By Elizabeth MacGregor
Elizabeth MacGregor is a former teacher, guidance counselor, and Head of Guidance at Toronto area school boards.
Fear of the unknown replaces the joy of new beginnings. My teacher friends post their fears of a September
fived her charges at the end of each class, stopped
in-school return to class, on Facebook and Twitter.
doing that last March, fearing the virus. Her students
They write of compromised immune systems, elderly
became disengaged, and finally told her they felt she
parents, the fear of walking into a school, with
didn’t care about them anymore. She now fears how
hundreds of students, and accidentally touching a
to make social distancing, masks, and no change
door, a wall, or a student running to hug them, and
rooms a part of her teaching day.
then bringing Covid home to their families. They worry about standing at a classroom door, mask on, welcoming new students, whose masked faces they have never seen before, or standing in front of their class, unable to fully see the expressions on the faces in front of them. The quivering lips of a frightened student, ignored in a masked expressionless face, until the eyes fill with tears. The shy student, terrified of answering questions, their fear invisible behind their mask, could be traumatized by a prodding teacher. Teachers fear for the physical and mental health of themselves and their students. A physical education teacher, who formerly high-
A physical education teacher, who formerly highfived her charges at the end of each class, stopped doing that last March... A technology teacher worries how to teach robotics when you must physically touch apparatus to teach, and then return home healthy to greet her three children under the age of twelve. A teacher of children with special needs, whose students regularly engage in physical contact, hugging each other, or throwing punches, depending on the child
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
05
and the day, wonders how to curtail this activity,
school I have worked at had its own return to school
without touching them.
protocol, and the similarities were greater than the
A kindergarten teacher weighs the pleas of her parents to forgo her salary and take a leave
The middle weeks of August were spent mentally
of absence. Many of her friends have already
preparing for the week of registration at the end of
submitted their applications. Retire or return is the
the month. I would approach the school wondering
question on the older teachers’ minds. Their loss
what would await me. As I entered, the smell of fresh
of pension concerns may be put aside by their fear
wax and the shiny clean floors symbolized signs of
of contracting this virus. They do not share the
a new beginning. As the year progressed, the floors
optimism of youth or their lack of fear of dying.
would accumulate grime and look old, unless there
WITH ANTICIPATION COMES EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD As July wanes, I always feel the gentle tug of the school year approaching. Schools still have their “Have a Safe Summer” signs up, while there is increased activity of tradesmen and custodians around the buildings.
06
differences.
was a special occasion to pretty the school up for, and it was striking how much nicer the school looked with clean floors. The optimism of the September opening was mirrored by their shine. Hugs to returning teachers and secretarial staff, listening to embellished summer vacation stories, would start most encounters. Teachers would wander into the building to organize their
Having retired in 2018, this is a reminder of how I
classrooms at a leisurely pace, while I and my team
felt in late summer and fall for many years. Each
of counsellors would work to match students with
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
classes, teachers with courses they were qualified
container that has hung on the wall for years. If not, a
to teach, and take phone calls from worried parents
quick visit to our washroom to wash my hands after
who needed us to not put Johnny in the same class
touching the back door that 2,000 students would
with a student he fights with.
walk through in September. However, would there
THIS YEAR PROMISES TO BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SORT OF THING Speaking to teacher friends, I hear only fear this year. Administrators, teachers, teaching assistants, secretaries, cafeteria and custodial staff, bus drivers, and students are being asked to roll the dice on getting very ill, perhaps dying, simply by returning to school, a place of work, a place of learning. I keep trying to picture this. We have been isolating at home and now the risks of transitioning all these people to a busy environment are being assessed. Can contact tracing work with so many households involved? I imagine entering the school, with a mask on, with no hugs, no shared stories, grabbing some hand sanitizer if anyone has remembered to fill the
be soap on hand, since the board stopped supplying soap a long time ago. The paper towels would also be absent unless a staff member bought some.
Administrators, teachers, teaching assistants, secretaries, cafeteria and custodial staff, bus drivers, and students are being asked to roll the dice on getting very ill. I try to picture a student entering my office for counselling, both of us masked as required in a small inside space. Laughter, banter, storytelling, are all tricks of teaching and in the counseling office these strategies help students in an uncomfortable,
15
unnatural setting. Teenagers do not freely bare
was that a full return to school in September will be
their souls to adults. You earn their trust. With
unsuccessful. These were highly motivated, hand-
masks covering their faces, the student with
picked students for this experiment. The masks
suicidal ideation, with anxiety, depression could
started to slip down their faces, and boredom set in
hide so easily. I can imagine misinterpretation of
within a few weeks.
my attempts at humour due to not seeing my facial expression. The relationship between us would be stilted and perhaps ineffective. A private school teacher in the United States recently documented the results of a return to school experiment that took place in May, in anticipation of September. He wrote how difficult it was for his students to pick up on humour when he spoke, since the teacher and students wore masks. The students could not see irony in his facial expressions, so his lessons fell flat. His style of teaching was one of warmth and engagement and without humour, his students were bored and not absorbing his lessons.
08
IS IT POSSIBLE TO SOCIALIZE IN A SOCIALLY-DISTANCED WORLD? I cannot imagine students not hugging and kissing as they greet each other on the first day of school. The corridors in a high school are always jammed when school starts and finishes and every time a period ends. The noise, the laughter, the horseplay teens engage in while walking through a school would not respect the rules of social distancing. This is how and where they socialize. The burst of September craziness seen in Ontario schools is energy difficult to harness.
The value of in-person teaching was being sorely
As we see more youth get this disease, my heart
compromised by the mask wearing. His conclusion
aches for parents, students, teachers, support staff,
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
administrators and the difficult decisions they will
psychologists as a reason to return to school in
have to make.
September. They feel that students are lonely
Do you send your child, and then maybe they get sick and bring the disease home? Every year, at every school, many students are ill by the end of September with colds and flu. Students have come to my office to see me, coughing and sneezing on my door, on my desk, on my phone as they called their
and bored, and lacking social enrichment. Social interaction opportunities will be minimal or severely limited by the wearing of masks, no recess, no mingling, no eating lunch in a cafeteria, social distancing and shortened days, all of which are being suggested by various boards of education.
schools has dropped. Teachers have been buying
As we see more youth get this disease, my heart aches for parents, students, teachers, support staff, administrators and the difficult decisions they will have to make.
vacuum cleaners, paper towels, tissues and cleaning
I see teens around my neighbourhood gathering in
supplies to clean once their students have gone
large numbers with others who are not part of their
home. This was before a pandemic.
family. While kids need to socialize they will have to
parent. I have had students who were sent to school so sick they have slept in my office. I have had sick parents come in and insist on shaking my hand to introduce themselves. Will students wear masks? Will their parents, who casually wander into offices, wear masks? And all of this is taking place as the cleanliness of
practise social distancing and teachers will not be They do not believe the schools will be able to
able to supervise all the places students can find to
supply enough soap, hot water or paper towels
connect with each other.
for the many times a day students would need to properly wash their hands. They are also aware that
CAN THE SYSTEM HANDLE THE PRESSURE?
many students never wash their hands at school. It’s
The education system, having been starved for
not their habit. Supervision will be required, but by
funding for so long, is not an agile entity that
whom?
can transform itself without a lot of financial and
And what about supply teachers, who go from school to school, potentially spreading the virus in the same manner as personal support workers in long-term care did? If a student falls ill, do the whole class and their teachers get sent home? Or, do they send the whole floor of classes home? How about the teachers
planning help. A successful plan would need to include more buildings, reduced class sizes and more teachers. This is unlikely to happen. Education delivered in person won’t continue into October without a robust plan. No plan is not a good strategy, especially in a pandemic.
who rotate from class to class, in high school? Does
A return to school should not be allowed to
every teacher who came into contact with that
mimic the long-term care scenario seen in many
student stay home?
jurisdictions or it could start the second wave.
SOCIAL STIMULATION AND THE REALITY The argument that kids need the social stimulation
I hope this isn’t the case and that our places of learning remain safe places for teachers, students and families.
of school is being suggested by parents and
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
09
A MILLENNIAL’S VIEW OF BABY BOOMERS Arch-nemeses in the battle for top of the pecking order? By Kimberly Elliot
Kimberly Elliot, a millennial, is a marketing associate with a Toronto-based marketing agency.
Division is in vogue. And the wheels of generational
suite of existential issues younger generations face.
war between baby boomers and millennials keep
Millennials: entitled, sheltered, lazy and directionless
turning (yawn). Society would cast us as arch-
“snowflakes”…Moving on.
nemeses in a battle for top of the pecking order, exploiting us for our supposed differences. But we’re
10
Generalizations are harmful. They perpetuate
not that different – let’s unpack why.
bias and keep those wheels of division turning. If
You’ve heard the stereotypes. Boomers: out of touch
been born innately as I know them to be – innovative,
and old-school; unsympathetic enablers of the
entrepreneurial and passionate activists. On the
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
boomers are so awful then millennials must have
other hand, if the millennial stereotypes hold true
quo in the 60s and 70s made their children into
then we are a sort of Frankenstein’s monster. And
“everyday change makers”. And if we’re discussing
none of that makes sense.
pillars of identity – distrust of institutions, fighting
A GENERATIONAL VACUUM
for those both like and unlike ourselves – you couldn’t necessarily discern between our two
Boomers and millennials aren’t so different for the
generations.
simple fact that no generation exists in a vacuum.
In fact, boomers and millennials have had similar
The moral run-off of boomers assault on the status-
crosses to bear, just decades apart. Nuclear war
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
11
the existential threat to the former, climate change
today, boomers have effectively passed the torch –
the latter – each generation’s answer: protest. The
because the work is never truly done.
women’s and civil rights movements of the 60s and 70s are echoed in millennial contributions to “Me Too” and “Black Lives Matter”. If today’s gay pride parades are a form of protest and celebration of gay rights, let’s not forget that the first pride was not a parade, but a riot. And the modern environmental movement was started when Earth Day began in 1970 – after 20 million Americans demonstrated across
Our succeeding generational movements have
their country.
been propped up by the foundation laid, the values
RISING TO THE OCCASION
taught and the lessons handed down. But for the work of our parents and grandparents in their fight
If you ask me, boomers rose to the occasions that
against the status quo, millennials would have
called upon them. And then they grew up, got
insurmountable change to enact in a much different
jobs, bought houses and had families. ‘Adulting’ as
society. Or maybe not; because nothing would be as
millennials call it. But if you look at how millennials
we now know it today.
approach activism and causes important to them
12
Generalizations are harmful. They perpetuate bias and keep those wheels of division turning.
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
Our succeeding generational movements have been propped up by the foundation laid, the values taught and the lessons handed down.
TAKE NOTE:
The only thing that should separate baby boomers
pride-started-revolutionary-riots-advocates-point-
and millennials are the 20 to 50 some-odd years
movement-s-radical-roots-n1221416
between us. We’re more alike than we’re led to
MILLENNIALS ARE EVERYDAY CHANGE MAKERS https://casefoundation.org/blog/millennials-the-riseof-the-everyday-changemaker/
“FIRST PRIDE WAS A RIOT” https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/
believe – because our values can’t be acutely defined
FIRST EARTH DAY IN 1970;
by our birth year; and neither can our differences.
https://www.earthday.org/history/
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
13
COVID THROUGH THE AGES How does age impact our mental health?
Sue-Ann Maislin has a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and Adult Education from the University of Toronto and a post-graduate certificate in Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion from Centennial College.
If you’re like most Canadians, you might find yourself
and Mental Health report that inappropriate coping
at least somewhat more anxious, restless and
strategies and risk-taking behaviours, like overeating,
distracted since the start of COVID-19. Perceptions
increased substance use, and problem gambling
about mental health are changing. The public and
have increased. It’s no wonder, given the constant
world experts believing that we are headed for a
uncertainty, distancing norms and conflicting
mental health crisis in the coming months. There’s
information about the virus.
1
worry about what the future will look like and the impact COVID-19 will have on older and younger generations. It’s been at least five months since the start of the pandemic in Canada, and many of us are still worried about getting sick with the coronavirus and the effect it will have on our friends, family, colleagues, and the economy. The Canadian Mental Health Association and the Centre for Addiction
14
By Sue-Ann Maislin
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
STRESSFUL ALERTS Our screens are flooded daily with stressful news alerts about COVID-19, and stepping outside the house to go to work, do a little shopping or meet a friend for coffee might feel like walking into a minefield. Issues like high rates of unemployment, how to best restart our troubled economy, and how to get our children back to school top the list of
concerns. Add the ominous news that a second wave
we are experiencing a period of collective grief and
of the virus is expected, and you can understand
mourning, as we come to terms with so many losses
what is keeping us up at night.
at once. Loss of familiar routines, social connections
2
It may seem like you’re adjusting on some days, but on others your head is stuck in the sand and your heart is pounding. You might feel sort of okay but not quite yourself. Despite having food on the table,
and stable employment are common sources of grief. And of course, many of us had prior challenges that have compounded during the pandemic.
you might find yourself struggling but don’t know
AGE DOESN’T MATTER
why. Sure, there are things you feel grateful for right
Canadians of all ages are experiencing a wide range
now, but you can’t stay motivated or focused when
of mental health symptoms, some of which disrupt
it comes to important tasks. You’re restless, and
our ability to function and may require professional
distracted by the smallest things. These experiences
intervention. While medical and support resources
are normal, predictable responses to a situation that
are available, the stigma attached to mental health
is anything but normal and predictable. Author May
disorders is among the many barriers standing in the
Pang describes this as “feeling COVID-ish,” saying
way of recovery. Although we’re experiencing this
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
15
struggle together, age does matter when it comes to
Kids,” may be in a better position to cope with the
the mental health of Canadians.
ambiguity surrounding COVID-19, having learned to be independent and cope in tough times at an
TEENS AREN’T EXEMPT Teenagers and young adults are considered at lower risk of experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19,
and Mental Health, these adults have lower rates of anxiety, depression and risk-taking behaviours since
yet nearly 40% are still worried about contracting the
the start of the pandemic than younger Canadians.
virus.3 Canada’s youth has been disproportionately
On the other hand, mid-life adults are often literally
affected by mental health challenges since the start
caught in the middle of the crisis, simultaneously
of the pandemic, reporting twice the level of anxiety
balancing work, childcare and eldercare
about the social, psychological and economic
responsibilities, without access to the same social
impacts of the virus, compared with their older
supports, like schools, daycares or help from
counterparts.
extended family before the pandemic. According
Although we’re experiencing this struggle together, age does matter when it comes to the mental health of Canadians.
to research conducted by Cambridge, Mass.-based
34
Young people have traditionally been at risk of experiencing mental health problems, which have only intensified.3 They continue to face barriers to stable employment and affordable housing, and are at higher risk of developing mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety and substance-use disorders. Social isolation, gender-based violence, economic pressures, as well as difficulty accessing mental health and addictions resources, may be contributing to a mental health crisis among our youth. Since the onset of COVID-19, youths are experiencing higher rates of substance overdose and suicide, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
16
early age. According to the Centre for Addiction
MIT Age Labs, Gen-Xers are the most likely of all generations to be worried about the impacts of COVID-19, especially about the health of loved ones and continued economic hardship.
BOOMERS IN GOOD SHAPE Interestingly, older adults appear to experience less anxiety and fare better when it comes to mental health than younger generations, with some exceptions,3 5 boomers typically enjoy more financial stability and are less likely to contend with workfamily conflict,6 but see COVID-19 as a threat to their individual health and are deeply concerned about its effects on loved ones.7 Social isolation is a significant risk factor for older age groups. About one-third of people with depression are age 65 or older, indicating older adults are at increased risk of mental health problems. A joint study by Baycrest Health Sciences and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is under way to help determine the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on older adults.
HOW ABOUT MID-LIFE CANADIANS?
To avoid mental health problems, many Boomers
Most of the research on mental health impacts has
are prioritizing social connections with friends
been conducted on youth and seniors, with less
and family, as well as maintaining active, healthful
known about mid-life Canadians (40-59). However,
routines during the pandemic.8 While adults age 60
some experts claim that adults that identify with
or more have concerns about becoming infected with
the values of Generation X also known as “Latch-key
the coronavirus, careful planning and adherence to
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
public health and hygiene guidelines can make day-
relationships, change in mood, heightened anxiety,
to-day living safe and meaningful. Balancing safety
negative feelings, detachment from people, difficulty
with the need for social connections is important to
controlling substance use, or thoughts about suicide
maintain good overall health for seniors, now and in
that last two weeks or longer, or start to impair your
the future.
ability to function, are signals that it’s time to speak
Global experts expect our mental health to worsen in the coming months. Despite the fact that we are collectively struggling, only one-third of Canadians who need mental health services in Canada will receive them. There’s little doubt that the coming months will be
to a doctor or a qualified mental health provider.
FOOTNOTES:
1. https://ontario.cmha.ca/news/new-data-showsmajority-of-ontarians-believe-mental-health-crisiswill-follow-covid-19-impact/ 2. https://www.conferenceboard.ca/(X(1) S(hfhjbl0ox1pk1d3vfch04sea))/focus-areas/ health/how-has-covid-19-impacted-canadiansmental-health?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 3. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mentalhealth-and-covid-19/covid-19-national-survey
tough on all of us as we learn to navigate life in the era of COVID-19. Global experts expect our mental health to worsen in the coming months. Despite the fact that we are collectively struggling, only one-third of Canadians who need mental health services in Canada will receive them.9 Age is only one of a myriad of factors that influence our mental health. Whatever our age, stage or generation, there are many things we can do to improve our mental well-being. Personal coping strategies, like daily physical activity, leveraging social and psychological support systems, and finding a way to take meaning from the madness can help all of us ride out the storm. If you are feeling down or struggling for a couple of days, practise
4. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82003-x/2020004/article/00003-eng.htm 5. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dailyquotidien/200527/dq200527b-eng.htm 6. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ magazines/panache/who-is-affected-more-bycovid-19-pandemic-millennials-or-boomers-theanswer-is-not-that-simple/articleshow/76940016. cms 7. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82003-x/2020004/article/00003-eng.htm 8. https://theconversation.com/social-isolation-the-
self-compassion and recognize that you are doing
covid-19-pandemics-hidden-health-risk-for-older-
your best. Don’t be afraid to share your issues with
adults-and-how-to-manage-it-141277
someone close to you. Remind yourself and your loved ones that it’s okay not to be okay.
9. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/healthand-fitness/health/one-in-six-canadians-said-they-
It’s also important to know when you or someone
required-mental-health-care-in-2012-statscan-
close to you needs professional help. Disrupted
report/article14394402/
sleep patterns, lower energy, difficulty concentrating, loss of pleasure from important activities or
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
17
FIVE BANDS THAT AREN’T THE ROLLING STONES
Stuck in a musical rut? Put these artists on your radar. By Terry Paquet
Terry Paquet is an award-winning copywriter with over 20 years of experience. He wears pants (most of the time). He has never been to jail (except in Monopoly).
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not saying that the Stones are bad... I’m simply stating that there’s a ton of new music out there that’s worth listening to. Yes, music was unbelievable back then. Raw. Raunchy. And real. No drums from a can. No auto-tuned pap. No manufactured singers who wouldn’t know a
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT • Blues Hand Me Down from The Bomb Shelter Sessions (2011) • Not Alright By Me From the EP of the same name (2020) • Run Like The River From 1 Hopeful Rd (2015) • Rocket Man Single (2019) • Nancy Lee From The Bomb Shelter Sessions (2011)
drumstick from a fish stick. But the truth is once you
ANDERSON .PAAK
get past the shit commercial radio is force-feeding
If you’re like most people my age, you probably
us today, you’ll find a treasure trove of incredible
aren’t enamored with rap. But .Paak takes the genre
artists out there. All of whom are making music that
and infuses it with just enough of that old-school
will keep you young, and restore your faith in, well,
soul that it just might turn you into a believer.
music.
Influenced from a young age by Stevie Wonder and
So if you’re tired of listening to Hey Jude and All Along the Watchower and ready for something new (that in some cases sounds old), here are five artists/bands that are worth some regular rotation on your personal playlist.
VINTAGE TROUBLE On vinyl, this band is as tight as a (insert your own lewd reference here). But it’s on stage where the quartet delivers a masterclass in rock ‘n roll with all the unbridled, anything-can-happen tension you’d expect from bigger, more seasoned artists. Think Rolling Stones, The Who, AC/DC, Kiss and Lenny Kravitz- all of whom they’ve already opened for. I first saw them at a free outdoor concert during The Montreal International Jazz Festival back in the summer of 2014. To say they blew everyone away with their swampy mix of Sam Cooke, Led Zeppelin, and Chuck Berry is an understatement. Discover them now. Thank me later.
Curtis Mayfield, Anderson .Paak is on a mission to make people happier with his music. And you can feel the joy in just about every track. Of course, that’s not to say he won’t stray into heavy topics. On his latest single, Lockdown, .Paak veers into protest territory asserting his voice in these tumultuous times and revealing that we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of what he’s capable of.
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT • Make It Better (featuring Smokey Robinson) From Ventura (2019) • Tints (featuring Kendrick Lamar) From Oxnard (2018) • Kutless From Yes, Lawd (2016) • Celebrate From Malibu (2016) • Lockdown – Single (2020)
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
19
H.E.R.
JD MCPHERSON
Her first national exposure was on The Today show,
If you love the groove of Little Richard and Jackie
where, at the age of 10, she played piano and sang
Wilson, then JD McPherson is just what the musical
the Alicia Keys hit, If I Ain’t Got You. It was clear for
doctor ordered. After being fired from his high
anyone watching that day why this child prodigy was
school teaching job around 2009, McPherson dove
put on earth. Flash forward 10 years and Gabrielle
headfirst into his first album Signs and Signifiers
Wilson, known as H.E.R. (for Having Everything
recording the whole thing in an attic. The resulting
Revealed), already has 2 Grammys on her mantel for
12-track CD earned him recognition from Rolling
best R&B performance and Best Album. An artist in
Stone magazine as an artist to watch and from
every sense of the word, H.E.R. is a beacon of hope
that point on there’s been no turning back. He’s
in a sea of sameness. “I think real music is coming
not breaking musical boundaries as much as he’s
back, real lyrics,” said H.E.R. in a Vibe interview.
injecting new life into 1950’s rock ‘n’ roll that any
“A lot of people are using real instruments, which
purist, young or old, can appreciate.
is really cool to hear. I think it’s in a good place, in an authentic place. We’re not really in the age of gimmicks anymore.” Amen to that.
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT: • Fate From I Used to Know Her (2019) • I Can’t Breathe Single (2020) • Hard Place From I Used to Know Her (2019) • Best Part (featuring Daniel Caesar) From H.E.R. (2017) • Every Kind of Way From H.E.R. Volume 2 (2017)
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT: • North Side Gal From Signs and Signifiers (2011) • Crying’s Just a Thing That You Do From Undivided Heart and Soul (2017) • Head Over Heels From Let the good times roll (2015) • Lucky Penny From Undivided heart and soul (2017) • Style Is A Losing Game From Undivided Heart and Soul (2017)
GOV’T MULE After all that ranting about new music, I’m ending with a band that’s been around 25 years. Sue me. Yes, they’re not that new, but chances are they may have slipped under your radar. For fans of southern rock, you can do no wrong with Gov’t Mule. And if your first listen invokes the badass groove of the Allman Brothers Band (ABB), you’re not wrong. The line-up features Warren Hayes, long-time guitarist for the ABB and drummer, Allen Woody (RIP). Founded in 1995, Gov’t Mule is a potent mix of southern rock, soul, blues, jazz, country and sometimes a heaping dose of reggae thrown in for good measure. Grab your bottle of JD, sit back and enjoy.
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT: • Unring the Bell From High and Mighty album (2006) • Broke Down on the Brazos From By a Thread (2009) featuring ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons • Soulshine From The Deep End Vol.1 (2001) • Dreams and Songs From Revolution Come… Revolution Go (2017) • I’ve Got Dreams to Remember (featuring Toots Hibbert) From Dub Side of the Mule (2015)
TO HEAR A COMPILATION OF MUSIC FROM THE ARTISTS IN THIS ARTICLE, CHECK OUT THE SIDE ONE SEPTEMBER PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY. https://open.spotify.com/ ist/4k71MPa1oRgAX78kGjLxBc?si=9eBSvOmrSbCmJmhWvkigIg
IN PRAISE OF OLDER BASEBALL
By Neil Laverdiere Neil Laverdiere is a retired newspaperman who spent most of his 33-year career at the Edmonton Journal and the Montreal Gazette. He’s covered topics ranging from junior hockey to haute couture, and can name the 1969 Baltimore Orioles pitching staff without using Google.
I watched a rollicking baseball game the other day.
the midst of a deadly pandemic? Hold our beer,
Mets vs. Phillies. It had everything for the eclectic
said sports-talk radio hosts, team owners and
fan: clutch hitting, aggressive baserunning, flashy
commissioner Rob Manfred.
defence, gritty pitching offset by episodes of comic wildness. It was an early-season match, and both clubs seemed to sense that the outcome could dictate their fate for the season. The Phils staged a rousing comeback in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 7 before eventually winning 9-8 in 14 innings.
This was an NBC Game of the Week from April 1986 I’d unearthed on YouTube during the peak of this year’s COVID-19 outbreak.
Even the broadcasters were caught up in the swells
Facing the bleak prospect of a summer without MLB,
and calm of this lengthy baseball voyage. Vin Scully
streaming decades-old games on the Internet seemed
and Joe Garagiola ...
the only plausible alternative for seamheads like me. The Korean Baseball Organization on ESPN just
Scrrratch! Wait, what? Joe Garagiola? The very same.
didn’t have the stuff.
Full disclosure: This was an NBC Game of the Week
Granted, not every “classic” ball game on YouTube
from April 1986 I’d unearthed on YouTube during
is a classic. I happened on a 1986 Indians-Yankees
the peak of this year’s COVID-19 outbreak, when the
pitchers’ duel between knuckleballers Tom Candiotti
very idea of playing Major League Baseball in 2020
and Joe Niekro that could accurately be labelled
tested the credulity of reasonable people. Who’d
Passed-Ball-a-Palooza. But that Mets-Phillies folderol
be reckless enough to want to start the season in
was among more than a dozen games from the 1980s
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
23
I viewed online from the socially distant safety of
was how the game was played. Those artificial turf
my couch in Montreal. It soon dawned on me that
fields put a premium on speed and defence. Relief
comparing these decades-old tilts with baseball
pitchers like Goose Gossage and Bruce Sutter
in the 2020s was like looking at fraternal twins:
became superstars. (Pop quiz: Name an outstanding
They’re generally identical, but the contrasts can be
reliever on a 2020 MLB roster.)
pronounced.
But the most appealing aspect to me of Older Ball was how the game was played. Those artificial turf fields put a premium on speed and defence.
There were plenty of mashers back then, but the intent was to get runs on the board any way you could. Put the ball in play. Use your speed. Steal a base. Manufacture a run – or two. There seemed to be so much more movement then. Hitters strode to the batter’s box with dispatch, and woe betide anyone arrogant enough to fiddle obsessively with his batting gloves when he got there. Pitchers arrived from the bullpen in good time. Even a so-called “game-delayer” like an intentional
There was a different look to the venues, certainly.
walk averaged 29 seconds, according to my own non-
Multipurpose stadiums with artificial turf were
peer-reviewed research.
common, as the wave of building nostalgia-inducing baseball-only parks hadn’t begun. The concept of
Call it the era of Whole Baseball, when even teams
designing ballyards to look like amusement parks
in the DH-driven American League used every tactic
wasn’t in vogue, either, thank heaven.
in the book to win. For me, viewing those bygone games was a tonic to the swing-for-the-fences style
24
There was a different look to the players, too.
of modern ball. Instead of a daily Home Run Derby,
Uniforms back then were designed for the sleek and
I wish baseball could go back-back-back-back to
the slender, and high-cut socks were still de rigueur.
when it relied less on the long ball and more on small
No one dared to wear their uni pants like pyjama
ball. (Let’s agree that it’s unfair to compare bygone
bottoms, and the Hunter Pence Flooded Basement
baseball with the rump 2020 season and its jerry-
Collection hadn’t hit the runways yet.
rigged rules changes.)
But the most appealing aspect to me of Older Ball
Alas, the 1990s ushered in the steroid era and its
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
juiced-up home run totals. Eventually, extreme
baseball this year. We can log online to follow any
infield shifts became integral to the game, drastically
contest we choose, focus on specific innings, peruse
altering its look and feel. The result: Modern baseball
up-to-the-nanosecond box scores festooned with the
offence has evolved into an all-or-nothing deal: Blast
informative minutiae that make baseball so different
one over the fence, or strike out. Major League teams
from other sports. Who’s umpiring at home plate in
swatted a record total of 6,776 homers in 2019, a
the Rangers-Athletics game? How’s the wind blowing
whopping 21% more than the previous year.
at Wrigley Field?
The concept of productive outs has been diminished.
use of talent, as long as there’s a reasonable return in
I can’t help but feel that even though we’re seeing more baseball, we’re also seeing less.
homers. (Looking at you, Chris Davis and Joey Gallo.)
Want a change from your team’s TV broadcasters?
But when Major League hitters whiff a total of 42,823
Take the feed from the opponent’s TV booth. Or
times, as they did in 2019, it’s no wonder fans plead
their radio crew. Or your team’s radio crew. We
for batters to just get wood on the ball somehow.
stream games on laptops, cellphones, tablets, smart
Savvy batsmen who’d slap a ground ball the opposite way to advance a runner have been replaced by big swingers and 30-degree launch angles. Whiffing 200 times a season is no longer considered an ineffective
I’m not some cowhide counter-revolutionary, ready to throw my old spikes into the gears of the baseball machine to preserve a romantic version of the game. Advanced technology underpins the analytical data that shape contemporary baseball, making it a stat freak’s paradise. Who’s the ERA leader in the National League? Ah, yes, but who’s the tERA (True ERA) leader? Devoted baseball fans have gone to
watches. The game itself has become ultra-portable and ultra-accessible. I viewed a recent Giants-Rockies game on a cellphone on my back porch, as the aroma of barbecued sausage and fresh basil from my landlady’s back garden perfumed the evening air. Major League Baseball’s easy availability would make a fan from decades ago think he or she had ascended to baseball heaven.
WAR. They’ve also gone to wRAA, LIPS, FIP, WHIP
But in baseball heaven, we wait longer for the final
and BABIP.* Modern ball’s alphabet soup is not to
score. Despite efforts to speed up the timeless game,
my taste, though. I will leave it to sabermetricians to
the average nine-inning MLB game in 2019 lasted 3
marvel at the SIERAs. I just want to watch the game.
hours, 5 minutes – far more than the 2:44 average of
And watching the game is so much easier now.
a nine-inning game in 1986.
Technology has been a godsend to the tens of
I can’t help but feel that even though we’re seeing
millions of fans who were temporarily starved of
more baseball, we’re also seeing less. *WAR – Wins Above Replacement wRAA – Weighted Runs Above Average LIPS -- Late-Inning Pressure Situation FIP -- Fielding-Independent Pitching BABIP -- Batting Average on Balls in Play SIERA -- Skill-Interactive Earned Run Average WHIP -- Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched
THE CITY IN
By Michael Doherty Michael Doherty is a film and television editor based in Toronto. His most recent project was put on hiatus for 3 1/2 months. This led to early morning walks with an iPhone and small pocket camera in hand. The results are here along with his thoughts from those walks.
SHUTDOWN
Many of my walks were through the University of Toronto campus - a calm and quiet oasis in the middle of the city. There, I witnessed the environment change from late winter through spring to summer as the flowers and trees went through the seasonal cycles.
Meanwhile, the city went through its own transformation. During the pandemic’s early shutdown, almost no one was on the streets and it felt like I had the whole city to myself. Over the 3 months, activity slowly returned and it’s now almost back to its bustling self. But for a brief period, I got to experience the city in a way I probably never will again. Â
NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS…
SEPTEMBER 12, 490 BC This, since the 19th century, has been accepted as the most probable date of the Battle of Marathon,
By John Chaput John Chaput was raised in Montreal, has lived in Western Canada for about 45 years, and is seriously thinking about settling down there. A retired journalist and editor, he is the author of three books about Saskatchewan sports history. He is also an amateur actor and has won two awards for his performances at Theatre Saskatchewan festivals.
SEPTEMBER 8, 1504 Michelangelo’s statue of David is unveiled in Florence.
in which a thoroughly outnumbered force of 10,000
Immediately and ever since hailed as a masterpiece
Athenians drove away an invading Persian army.
of sculpture, like any great work of art it carries its
The battle would also bring forth the legend of
own load of history and controversy. The actual piece
Pheidippides, the courier who ran 240 kilometres
of marble had long been intended to become David,
in two days to Sparta to seek military help for the
but it was originally commissioned to Donatello 40
Athenians, then ran back to Marathon, was sent on
years earlier and, following his death, another artist
another 40-kilometre jaunt to deliver news of the
began work that was abandoned in 1474. Michelangelo
victory to Athens, and promptly dropped dead when
was hired in 1501 and he spent more than two years
he announced the result. Not everybody knows
finishing the job. Although the original has been safely
this, but the earliest known telling of the story of
stowed indoors since 1873, a replica now stands in
Pheidippides (by Plutarch) doesn’t appear until five
the same spot outside the civic government building
centuries after the battle. And the story probably
in Florence, where the statue was long regarded as a
is hooey. Think about it: If you were desperate for
symbol of autonomy from rival Italian city-states and
reinforcements or eager to announce a triumph,
papal authorities. Not everybody knows this, but it
wouldn’t you send somebody on horseback? Even in
is not considered coincidence that David’s sombre
490 BC, there was such a thing as cavalry.
backward glance is directed towards Rome.
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
31
SEPTEMBER 28, 1885 Rioting breaks out in Montreal over what measures should be taken to combat a smallpox epidemic
SEPTEMBER 4, 1682
32
that had gripped the city since the previous spring. Authorities were advocating vaccination against the
Edmund Halley observes a comet. Not everybody
disease, but reaction was drawn upon language lines,
knows this, but at the time he didn’t think it was a
with many francophones denouncing inoculation
particularly big deal. Some 25 years later, though,
as an “English” treatment that would poison their
after applying Isaac Newton’s new theories to the
children. When an afternoon session of the city
gravitational effects of comets passing near Saturn
council cut the appropriation for vaccination from
and Jupiter, Halley deduces that the comet he saw in
$5,000 to $2,000, three French councillors warned
1682 is the same one that was recorded in 1531 and
of an impending riot and were proven correct by
1607 (the latter by Johannes Kepler). Halley would
sunset. Windows of the public health office and
ultimately predict that the comet would be back
police headquarters were smashed and mobs
every 75-76 years. He was proven correct in 1758 but
vandalized a number of public buildings and the
by then he had been dead for 16 years. By the way,
homes of health officers. The Montreal epidemic
no one is truly certain of the correct pronunciation
was the last smallpox outbreak recorded in any large
of the famous astronomer’s surname. In his lifetime,
city. By the time it subsided in November, there
it was variously spelled Halley, Haley, Hailey, Hayley,
would be nearly 6,000 fatalities and 13,000 people
Hawley and Hawly; so, every 75 or 76 years, there’s a
left disfigured – 90 per cent of them francophone and
new debate on how to say it.
most of them children.
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
SEPTEMBER 25, 1932 SEPTEMBER 19, 1893
Glenn Gould is born in Toronto. He would become famous as much for his eccentricities as for his
Legislation is passed in New Zealand that makes
inspired interpretations, especially those of Bach.
the country the first to institute universal women’s
Gould was one of the first classical pianists to
suffrage. Women had been accorded voting rights
recognize the potential of recorded music. He
in some parts of the world, but New Zealand was
gave his last public performance in 1964 and
the first to give all its women the franchise, putting
devoted himself exclusively to recordings until he
it decades ahead of almost every other country
died shortly after his 50th birthday in 1982. Not
on earth. Women would not be eligible to run for
everybody knows this, but September 25 is quite
legislative office until 1919, none would be elected
a common birthday for celebrities in the arts and
until 1933, and it would be 1947 before one was
popular culture, like TV journalist Barbara Walters
appointed to the cabinet. Gender distribution has
(1929); singer/songwriter Ian Tyson (1933); actors
become more equitable in recent times, and 49 of
Michael Douglas (1944), Mark Hamill (1951),
the country’s current 120 Members of Parliament are
Christopher Reeve (1952), Will Smith (1969) and
female. Furthermore, three of New Zealand’s last five
Catherine Zeta-Jones (1969, and yes, the one married
Prime Ministers, spanning 14 of the past 23 years,
to Michael Douglas); supermodel Cheryl Tiegs
have been women – including current PM Jacinda
(1947); and basketball star Scottie Pippen (1965).
Ardern, whose leadership has helped make the
You know what else they have in common? Their
country one of the most successful in containing the
parents all had a good time on or about the previous
Covid-19 pandemic.
Christmas Day. Do the math, people!
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
33
THE SIDEONE PROFILE By Phyl Newbeck
A resident of Jericho, Vermont, Phyl Newbeck is a freelance writer for a variety of newspapers and magazines. She is the author of Virginia Hasn’t Always Been for Lovers: Interracial Marriage Bans and the Case of Richard and Mildred Loving
Jason Thorne: Overseeing Steeltown’s Resurgence Jason Thorne’s official title is General Manager of
interested in city building, it’s not just planning and
Planning and Economic Development for the city of
economic development. I look at all the pieces as
Hamilton, Ontario, but he’s quick to remind people
building blocks for the city, working towards the
that he is not professionally trained as a planner.
same goal.”
In fact, Thorne’s background is in environmental activism. After getting his degree in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph in 1996, Thorne spent a decade exploring environmental issues ranging from the protection of forests, farmlands, and natural spaces to improving air and water quality with organizations ranging from the Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence to the Bruce Trail Association. “As I understood the issues better,” he said, “I realized how it tied into how cities are designed and I became interested in the planning field which I hadn’t initially appreciated.” In 2014, Thorne obtained his first municipal job when he was hired to work in Hamilton, which just happened to be his home town. The department he oversees includes land-use planning, economic development, and by-law enforcement, as well as business licensing, transportation, tourism, and culture. “I take no credit for the organization,” he said “but Hamilton has realized that if you are
PROTECTING CULTURE Music is one of those building blocks and one of Thorne’s goals was to protect Hamilton’s concert venues which had been struggling due to development pressures. “We saw cases where residential development was happening adjacent to a music venue,” he said “and people would complain about the noise, forcing the venue to take actions to mitigate the impact.” Thorne started examining what other jurisdictions were doing to protect their live music culture and came across the “Agent of Change principle” created in Sydney, Australia. “It puts the onus on the agent of change, i.e., the newly built structure,” he said. Two years ago, Hamilton implemented their version of the principle which requires new residential developments to be the ones to take action to mitigate noise by doing things like installing triple pane windows or orienting bedrooms away from the existing music venue.
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
35
I realized how it tied into how cities are designed and I became interested in the planning field which I hadn’t initially appreciated.
BIKE OUTREACH FOR NEW CANADIANS AND LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS
One of Thorne’s favourite pastimes is exploring cities
new Canadians and lower income residents. Not
on his 30-year-old steel frame Cannondale bicycle.
only does that segment of the public get a steeply
When he was young, he biked back and forth from
discounted membership fee of just one dollar a
his home at the top of the Niagara Escarpment to
month, but users can pay with cash if circumstances
destinations in the lower part of the city which holds
prevent them from obtaining credit cards.
the downtown core. He doubts he could do the same
Thorne said it’s too early to see if Covid-19 will
thing today, so one of the city’s new programs, the Mountain Climber, provides bus service with bike racks starting at the bottom of the escarpment and ending at the top. “We’re trying to remove a barrier to cycling which precludes anyone who isn’t a really fit cyclist,” he said.
36
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
For the last six years, Hamilton has had a bike share program but Thorne recognizes there are still obstacles which prevent some residents from using those bikes. A local group has created a program called Everybody Rides which does outreach to
have an effect on urban planning. “I’ve heard it suggested that there will be a reluctance to build or live in high density dwellings but I haven’t seen that yet,” he said. “We’re still seeing projects move forward and I think that will continue.” Thorne believes the pandemic will change how people look
at public spaces like parks, sidewalks, and rooftop gardens. “It’s interesting to see people discovering the importance of neighbourhoods and access to amenities,” he said, “People are thinking about what they can reach via a 15-minute walk in terms of parks, stores, and playgrounds. It’s more about
What has happened over the last five years has been really exciting. Thorne has worked all over the world but he was
design than density.”
excited about coming home to Hamilton. “The fact
TRAVEL - A GREAT EDUCATION FOR PLANNERS
took the job,” he said. “I’m pleased and proud of the
Thorne believes the best education for someone in
when it’s the streets you grew up on and you can
his position is travel. “You should see as many cities
see a vacant heritage building brought back to life.
as you can,” he said, “Not just New York, London
It’s more rewarding.” Thorne noted that Hamilton,
and Paris, but also Columbus, Ohio and Burlington,
considered one of Canada’s Rust Belt cities, had
Vermont.” Prior to working for Hamilton, Thorne’s
some depressing times in the 1980’s and 90’s. “What
biggest project had been a regional development
has happened over the last five years has been really
in West Africa. “In some ways it was obviously very
exciting,” he said. “It’s professionally and personally
different,” he said “but there were similarities in that
rewarding to see the city you love and grew up in
a lot of the work was listening and learning about a
thriving.”
that this was my hometown was one of the reasons I work I’ve done in other places, but it’s very different
place.”
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
37
SENSIBLE DOLLARS Don’t Let Your Emotions Trip You Up
By Allan Kunigis Allan Kunigis is a Canadian-born financial freelance writer based in Shelburne, Vermont. He has written about personal finance for more than two decades. His A Kid’s Activity Book on Money and Finance: Teach Children about Saving, Borrowing, and Planning for the Future was recently published. What a wild ride it’s been in the financial markets throughout 2020. How have your nerves been? Did you manage to hold steady and NOT follow your worst impulses earlier this spring when it seemed that the financial world was collapsing? As investors, emotions are not our allies. They can cause us to do the exact opposite of what we should do, like buy high and sell low, definitely not the way to become the next Warren Buffett.
2020 HINDSIGHT It’s easy to look back with 2020 hindsight from the relatively safe, sane perspective of mid-summer and shrug our shoulders at the modest 3.2% overall loss in the value of Canadian stocks from January 1, 2020 through early August 31, 2020. But let’s go back to those fretful days and see what, if anything, we can learn. How were you feeling in late February and throughout March, when market volatility spiked and fear gripped the globe? How did you react?
The 38% drop in the Canadian stock market’s major
Were you tempted to sell all or some of your stock
benchmark, the TSX Composite Index, from February
holdings? Did you? If so, how has that worked out for
20 through March 23 was enough to rattle the nerves
you? Did you see opportunity when markets started
of even the most experienced, rational, Spock-like
to plunge and did you seize it? Or did you keep a
investment professionals. But how did YOU handle
more zen-like long-term perspective with your major
it? Were you tempted to bail out and convert your
investments, taking the philosophical view that “this
stocks to cash and stash it all under your mattress? I
too shall pass?”
hope not. Locking in a 38% loss? Ouch!
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
39
EMOTIONAL RESCUE Our emotions can really trip us up as investors. We can’t ignore them, of course, but successful investors are able to keep their emotions in check. Before I suggest how you can conquer your most dangerous and worst impulses as an investor, let’s first look at why we tend to get so emotional about money.
At times of financial market stress, what you need is thoughtful reflection and perhaps a chat with your investment advisor. First, to state the obvious, we are human. Unlike Spock, we are not Vulcan. While we have allegedly evolved from our roots as cavemen, when we literally
40
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
had to run for our lives in the face of predators, we still have a lot of the same “fight or flight” adrenallaced impulses woven into our DNA, and when confronted with danger, it jumps to the surface. However, in response to the modern-day emotional distress of seeing a small fortune wiped out of our investment account in a single day, or a large chunk of our life savings erode throughout a long, painful month, the best course of action is not to act ASAP. In fact, it’s the opposite. At times of financial market stress, what you need is thoughtful reflection and perhaps a chat with your investment advisor. Maybe even some time with your therapist?
FEAR AND GREED Financial markets are said to be driven by just two emotions: fear and greed. While that’s an
oversimplification, there’s plenty of truth there. It’s
challenging times in the financial markets. If you
easy to get greedy and want to make a lot of money
have a strategy in place to keep you on track
ASAP. And when you see stocks rising in value day
towards clearly articulated goals, it’s easier to
after day, it’s hard not to buy into that sentiment,
ignore the short-term gyrations of the market.
which former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan
Instead, ask yourself: Does my plan still make sense?
Greenspan famously called “irrational exuberance”
Has anything changed beyond the market’s daily
back in the dot-com boom of the late 1990s.
volatility? If not, keep on doing what you were doing
It’s easy to get greedy and want to make a lot of money ASAP. And when you see stocks rising in value day after day, it’s hard not to buy into that sentiment.
–– saving, investing, and focusing on achieving your long-term goals.
2: UNDERSTAND YOUR EMOTIONAL CUES AND REGAIN CONTROL Recognize that you are human and that you will feel emotions when the market gets a little crazy. By understanding these triggers and how you react, you can do a better job of assessing them for what they
Fear is the flip side of greed. It can be just as
are, understandable human responses to challenging
dangerous for investors. When the market is
situations. And then you can act consciously to
crashing and you see the value of your investments
counter them, rather than succumbing to the herd
crumbling by the day, it’s easy to succumb and be
instinct
afraid of losing even more money, and want to sell. This type of fear and greed are both forms of “herd behaviour.” When it seems that EVERYONE is buying or selling, you don’t want to be left out. The modernday term is “fear of missing out” or FOMO, not to be confused with MOFO, which might be what you want to scream as you see your account balance evaporating!
FIVE-STEP PLAN
Instead of falling into this emotive gut-reaction roller coaster, here are five effective ways to stop your emotions from leading you down the wrong path.
1: HAVE A PLAN AND FOLLOW IT “If you fail to plan you are planning to fail.” Those wise words are reported to have come from
3: LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE TO FINANCIAL NEWS While being informed is good, too much information and the wrong kind of information can be harmful for us. Think about the business model for financial media. They need to keep readership and viewership high so they can earn more in ad revenue. What could be better and more effective than appealing to those dangerous primal emotions of fear and greed?
Instead of falling into this emotive gut-reaction roller coaster, here are five effective ways to stop your emotions from leading you down the wrong path.
Benjamin Franklin. Whether or not the American
But rather than pay more attention to the Wall
statesman said them, they do ring true. If you have
Street or Bay Street roller coaster, why not pay less
a clear financial plan, that can guide you through
attention? I’m not advocating burying your head
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
41
in the sand. But perhaps you could seek wisdom
Medium-term: Enough to cover up to a decade’s
rather than information. Why not read a book by
worth of living expenses in income-generating low-
someone credible like John Bogle, the founder of
volatility investments, including bonds and some
Vanguard Investments? His Little Book of Common
dividend-paying blue-chip stocks.
Sense Investing describes “a simple and effective investment strategy for building wealth over the long term.”
10 years, if you have sufficient assets, suitably
Or how about a timeout? Forget about finances and
concerns, you can afford to invest the rest more
investments during turbulent markets and garden,
aggressively for the long term. That way, a big chunk
play a sport, read a novel, or play with your kids or
of your investments can potentially outpace inflation
grandkids. Life is too short to fret over finances all
and keep growing over the long term despite the
the time. And your blood pressure might improve.
market’s short-term ups and downs.
4: BUILD A NICE STASH OF EMERGENCY CASH
PLAN TO BE CALM
A lot of this advice is “nice, but…” It’s easy to say
You might be reading this article after the market has
“don’t worry,” but harder to do if your money
calmed down along with your emotions. But if you’ve
is ALL tied up in stocks. Everyone should have
been paying attention to financial markets long
enough cash to cover at least a few months worth
enough, you know that won’t last forever.
of living expenses set aside in something safe, like a bank account or certificate of deposit/guaranteed investment certificate (GIC). If you have a half-year’s worth of money sitting in a safe, stable investment, for example, you’ll be able to breathe easier. And if
invested, to cover your short-term and medium-term
Think about how you’ll react the next time you feel that mad urge to BUY or SELL. And remember the wise words of Rudyard Kipling, slightly modified here:
you’re nearing retirement and have more than a year
“If you can keep your head when all about you are
of money in low-risk accounts, you’ll breathe an even
losing theirs… you’ll be a wealthier – and healthier –
bigger sigh of relief.
man or woman!
5: FIGHT BACK TEARS WITH INVESTMENT TIERS You can take things even further by creating a threetiered system of investments. Short-term: Up to two year’s worth of money in a safe stable set of investments, such as bank accounts, GICs, short-term government bonds.
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs… you’ll be a wealthier – and healthier... 42
Long-term: To cover your needs beyond the next
SIDEONE SEPTEMBER 2020
COMING UP:
A sampling of next month’s stories CONCUSSIONS: A FEMALE PERSPECTIVE
THE SIDEONE PROFILE
LIFE ON THE RESERVE
SENSIBLE DOLLARS
The differences in incidence and experience.
The experience of a big-city dweller who moves to a reserve in northern Quebec.
FIVE BANDS THAT AREN’T THE ROLLING STONES
More new bands worth adding to your playlist and another Spotify list for you to enjoy.
THE WOMAN IN THE RED DRESS
A photo essay from Croatia and the story of the woman who inspired it.
NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS… More dates and facts that may surprise you.
We’ll meet another Canadian who is having a big impact without a lot of celebrity.
More investing advice from our financial writer.
SEPTEMBER 2020
