JANUARY 2021
ASPIRATIONAL ACTIVITY
THE ANXIETY GAP Higher rates of anxiety among younger women and girls – why?
The lies we tell ourselves and others
COVID TIMES
Getting dressed for what?
THE SIDEONE PHOTO ESSAY Venice – the beauty, the canals and an unexpected trip
THE RELUCTANT MINISTER
Using community to stop reoffending
IN THIS ISSUE... WELCOME TO SIDEONE. PG.03
SENSIBLE DOLLARS. PG.37
ASPIRATIONAL ACTIVITY. PG.04
COMING UP. PG.41
An introduction and an explanation.
Who are we really fooling?
You saved money – now what?
A sampling of next month’s stories.
A MILLENNIAL’S POV. PG.08
Covid and the value of fashion.
THE ANXIETY GAP. PG.12
Higher rates of anxiety among young women and girls.
NEW MUSIC FROM NEW PLACES. PG.17 Music to lift your spirits.
THE PHOTO ESSAY. PG.20
Venice – beauty, rain and the canals.
CONSPIRACY’S GREATEST HITS. PG.25
Paul McCartney died in 1966, well not really.
NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS… PG.29
A monthly feature of dates and facts that may surprise you.
THE SIDEONE PROFILE. PG.32
Meet Harry Nigh, a reluctant minister using community to help ex-cons.
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SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
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. ISSUE 5
Kevin Gilligan is the editor and publisher of SideOne Magazine. After years in marketing and advertising, he decided to do something he truly loves. Welcome to a new year and a new edition of SideOne. This is issue five. I launched this ambitious venture over the summer of last year with a lot of help from an amazing group of friends and colleagues. It started with a simple goal – create a magazine with stories of particular interest to our generation. As our readership and subscriptions grow each month, I think we might be on to something. I hope you agree. Here are some highlights from this month’s SideOne.
PAUL MCCARTNEY AND THE DEATH THAT NEVER WAS
In 1996, the world was abuzz with the rumoured demise of Paul McCartney. Take a quick tour through how it happened in this lighthearted look at this puzzling conspiracy.
OUR ASPIRATIONAL SELVES
We all have a certain view of ourselves – but how accurate is it? The whys and wherefores of the aspirational activities that may never take place.
THE ANXIETY GAP
A MILLENIAL’S POV
This is a regular feature that tries to bridge the divide between generations by providing a point of view that might not be as different as expected. This month deals with our Covid times and the role our clothes might play.
SENSIBLE DOLLARS
A lot of us have been spending less. But now what? How about a Covid Money Makeover?
A GOOD MAN DOING GOOD DEEDS
Harry Nigh is a minister who is tending to a troubled flock. Harry is a co-founder of an organization with a simple goal – keep ex-cons from reoffending. He’s also a really interesting guy whose view of religion might not be what you expect. We hope you enjoy these and all the other stories in this month’s SideOne. If you’d like to share your thoughts on anything you see in the magazine, please join us on our Facebook page. And again, the answer to the question of “Why SideOne?”. Because that’s where the best stuff was and that’s where we want to be.
From the onset of puberty, women are twice as likely to struggle with anxiety. Our authors take a closer look at the higher levels and the possible causes.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
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ASPIRATIONAL ACTIVITY By Elizabeth MacGregor
Elizabeth MacGregor is a regular contributor to SideOne, following a successful career in education.
The lies and misconceptions we tell others and maybe ourselves “Why yes, I practise yoga, and have been meditating
inspiration for many years. The Pilates ball may take
all my life. Just don’t ask me how often, or what time
up a corner as well.
of day, or what type of yoga.”
Why do we lie, or is it actually lying? Perhaps a better
“No, my baby never cries during the night. Perfect
description is self-deception. According to research
child. How do I know about that show that is on most
conducted in the early 2000s, we all partake.
nights at 3 a.m.? Oh, lucky guess, I suppose.”
Stephen Diamond, in Psychology Today, Nov. 3, 2008,
“I rarely eat sugar, fried food or meat. Yes, I have
reports that “we dismiss certain facts incompatible
practised careful eating all my life. What is the best
with our myth of ourselves in favour of other less
place for soft-serve? Oh, I like Dairy Queen.”
threatening and more corroborative ones. We twist
The above statements easily roll out of one’s mouth, onto a plate of other lies and misconceptions that
the truth. And we become convinced of the veracity of this twisted truth.”
believe.
HER GRANDMOTHER DIED THREE TIMES
Yoga and meditation might have been part of one’s
three times in the five years that I worked with her.
we tell others about ourselves and may even half
life in our twenties, but has been asleep in our closet, along with the mat, the foam blocks and the
I worked with someone whose grandmother died This convenient untruth gave her long weekends to travel when a day off required an excuse. I would
Yoga and meditation might have been part of one’s life in our twenties, but has been asleep in our closet, along with the mat...
classify that as a lie. I truly hope she didn’t believe it. The stories we tell others about ourselves are often things that used to be true, or partially true, that we hold onto as our self-image stubbornly refuses to face facts.
occasionally? These details may spark a realization that the truth you hold about yourself is not current. A truthful exploration about this activity and an admission of exaggeration would be good for your soul and self honesty, and a new fitness plan.
Diamond cites charismatic historical figures as
However, many of us hold onto our myths, unable
having the power to convince followers to adopt the
to admit that we are not that person anymore, or
fanciful delusions of their leaders. Thus we can see
maybe never were.
whole societies becoming victims to self-delusion.
People sometimes inflate their own attractiveness,
This can be seen in politics, religion, and cults. We hear of fake war heroes, wearing someone else’s medals to Remembrance Day parades, attracting undeserved glory. Students will cheat on tests and then publicly praise themselves for their ability to do well.
their skills, or their intelligence, trying to give themselves a competitive edge over their peers.
THE CHALLENGE “One challenge with self-deception is when we do it unconsciously, it reinforces the story we believe to
HOW WAS YOUR RUN?
be true,” according to Bill Howatt, writing in the Aug.
When someone asks how long you have been
completed on self-deception that indicates that when
running and if you run every day, only when they ask for distance details or location, would you be
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likely to admit that you used to run, or that you run
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
8, 2018 issue of The Globe and Mail. He cites a study people lie about their abilities in the workplace, this self-promotion is sometimes believed and they are
seen as being more competent, thus reinforcing the
Diamond believes a “willingness to stop our chronic
lie. The lie needs to be lived up to, though, and this
self-deception and face the truth finally sets us free.�
can create unanticipated problems.
The stories we tell others about ourselves are often things that used to be true, or partially true, that we hold onto as our selfimage stubbornly refuses to face facts.
So then maybe we start meditating regularly, start to see a personal trainer, eat less meat, or go for a short but actual run. Wading through our self-deception can improve our reality. I am not someone who makes New Year’s resolutions, but being more honest with myself and others is always a good plan. I am an avid cross-country skier. Cross-country skiing will be starting soon. I wonder where I put my skis when we moved here 13 years ago?
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By Kimberly Elliot Kimberly Elliot is an associate with a Torontobased marketing agency.
A MILLENNIAL’S POV Covid times – getting dressed for what? My mom used to work from home when I was in
Last March, amid lockdowns and social distancing,
high school. Every morning she would wake up,
I assumed my new aesthetic of bag lady chic. (I’m
style her hair, put on a bit of makeup and get fully
being generous, it was mostly just bag lady.) I
dressed in work attire. I thought she was certifiably
embraced it wholeheartedly. My clothes had to meet
insane. What was the purpose of getting dressed if
a short list of criteria: Is it comfortable? Can I climb
you weren’t going to see anyone, let alone even leave
inside a toddler-sized fort in it? Can it get food or
your house? My vain, superficial teenaged brain
vomit on it? Can it withstand finger painting with two
believed that looking good was for the external gaze
kids? I wasn’t dressing for myself, I was dressing for a
of friends and strangers. I loved clothes back then,
global pandemic where I would be seeing absolutely
too – but they were for communicating to others, for
no one outside my home; while playing Mom aka
others to see, validate and affirm my style. What is
teacher /entertainer /chef /ringmaster /puppeteer /
art if not for others to see?
artist /maid /jungle gym /horse, etc. …
What was the purpose of getting dressed if you weren’t going to see anyone, let alone even leave your house? COVID CASUAL
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more and more distanced from as lockdown went on. Covid quickly diminished getting dressed to a time-sensitive exercise reduced to the corner of my closet I reserve for sweats and my dreaded leggings. (Unpopular opinion: Leggings are not pants.) My closet was not for pleasure but function. I was no longer getting dressed; I was merely clothing myself. Come May, I was not doing well. And while there were plenty of reasons for anyone’s mental health
I used to relish in getting dressed – getting
to be suffering, mine were being compounded by
dressed as in “draping myself in identity.” It was
the new relationship I was forming with my closet.
a ritual I loved and that brought me so much joy. I
Feelings about myself became hinged on an image in
meticulously planned outfits with an intimate love
the mirror I barely recognized. I realized it was time
for subtle details. Boxy cashmere, statement sleeves,
to start getting dressed again. Cue 1950’s housewife,
burnout velvet kimonos, oversized sweaters and
dressed at all hours of the day and looking fine
patterned skirts were elements of an identity I felt
(that’s fiiiiiinnne) aesthetic.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
My closet was not for pleasure but function. I was no longer getting dressed; I was merely clothing myself. TIME FOR A CHANGE Functionality to the wind, I went to town. My days of kid’s messes, cuddles, meal making, cleaning and horseplay became occasions worthy of cashmere and skirts. A neighbourhood walk was a great opportunity for a statement sweater or dress. I styled my hair and threw on a blouse, instead of a T-shirt, whenever I wore jeans. I reconnected with my closet and showed love to pieces I had thought didn’t fit in my new lifestyle. A few small changes upended how I approached my day. Aside from one casualty – a merino wool sweater that endured an inappropriate laundry cycle at the hands of my husband and almost ended our marriage – things were looking way up.
MOM DID KNOW BEST I know why my mom got dressed and ready for work from home every day, all those years ago. Now here’s a gushy, feel-good sentiment that feels like it’s right out of an awful Hallmark channel movie – getting dressed isn’t about who you’ll see or what you’re doing. It’s about how you feel! Joking aside, style is so much a part of who I am and how I feel about myself, and getting dressed is for nobody other than me. Yes, it took an obscene number of years, with tight restrictions on where I can go and who I can see amid a global pandemic, to learn this about myself. I guess you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone, only it’s not gone but you rediscover it with new meaning. Clothes are wearable art; but not for any special occasion or for the sake of being seen and enjoyed by others, it’s art for art’s sake. And life is the occasion.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
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THE ANXIETY GAP
P
Why younger women and girls are experiencing higher rates of anxiety By Julia Zuckernick and Sue-Ann Maislin Julia Zuckernick, 25, is a post-graduate student planning to pursue a master’s degree in counselling psychology. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University and a certificate in Mediation from Durham College. Sue-Ann Maislin, 56, 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.
Let’s face it, we all experience temporary anxiety,
the age of 6, girls experience anxiety disorders more
which can include worry, restlessness, difficulty
frequently than boys, with the trend continuing into
concentrating and sleep disruption in response
adolescence and beyond.”
to life’s ups and downs. Not only is anxiety normal, it can help us solve problems, build better relationships and rise in a challenge. But for some, anxiety can become more persistent and severe and
A 2018 study from the American Psychological Association found that teens report feeling more anxious in their day-to-day life than their parents
interfere with our mood, relationships, life and work.
and grandparents. Teens experience muscle tension,
While anxiety affects all genders, younger women
sleep disturbances, and chronic fatigue, which were
and girls seem to have it worse. From the time they
once the domain of their full-time working parents.
hit puberty, women and girls are two times more
Youths have traditionally been at risk of experiencing
likely to struggle with anxiety, affecting them from
mental health problems. Yet girls and young women
childhood to midlife. Dr. Lisa Damour, a psychologist
are still more likely to live with persistent anxiety
and author of Under Pressure: Confronting the
than boys are, and we wanted to understand why.
restlessness, worrying thoughts, appetite change,
Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls, writes, “From
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Based on our research and anecdotal experiences,
girls report feeling unprepared and awkward.
we’ve discovered three themes:
As their bodies develop, their peers, parents,
1. NATURE OR NURTURE Being female is considered the strongest predictor for experiencing an anxiety disorder, but how much does biology versus the environment play a role? Research is not conclusive when it comes to gender differences and biology, but there is evidence that hormonal differences, alongside the onset of puberty, are key factors.
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and teachers begin to treat them differently; the unwanted attention adds to the anxiety. This is further compounded by influencers and images on social media, encouraging young girls to look and act more mature in their posts. Our review uncovered only sporadic evidence that biology plays a role in anxiety. There is a stronger and more compelling argument that social and psychological factors -- like conforming to impossible
Girls typically reach puberty at least two years ahead
standards of beauty, sexuality and femininity, along
of boys. Since the late 20th century, the mean age
with conflicting societal messages about gender
of girls entering puberty is declining, while for boys
roles -- play an even greater part. Girls and women
things have stayed the same. In recent years, it’s not
experience internal pressures toward perfectionism
uncommon to see girls as young as 6 or 7 develop
from a young age, wanting to look their best,
glandular breast tissue and begin menstruation by
outperform boys and men at school and work, and
age 9.
be the perfect partner, daughter and mother.
When it comes to experiencing anxiety, the age of
In our increasingly digital world, women and girls
puberty makes a difference. Increasing hormones,
are inundated with images and influencers on social
sudden growth spurts and the development of
media, sending the message that they are mainly
mature body characteristics often constitute a
valued for how they look. Generation Zs (people
stressful and confusing time for girls, but younger
born after 1996) are feeling more pressure to
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
conform and perform than women and girls in earlier
get sucked into other people’s timelines and life
generations, facing surveillance and scrutiny like
accomplishments” in the belief that their lives are
never before.
always better than your own, as Julia notes.
Being female is considered the strongest predictor for experiencing an anxiety disorder, but how much does biology versus the environment play a role?
“We are raising the first generation that spends hours each day fretfully curating and posting selfies and videos in the hopes they will receive an avalanche of likes,” Damour writes, “and it’s girls who suffer more.” The need to feel connected to and accepted by peers is not new for women and girls. Most Gen-X and Boomer women can remember being glued to their landline for hours talking to friends, or spending an hour in front of the mirror each morning to make
2. THE TIKTOK REVOLUTION
sure their hair and makeup looked perfect before
According to a study published in 2017 in the
are much more intense today for Gen Z women and
American Journal of Epidemiology, higher social media use is correlated with self-reported declines in mental and physical health and life satisfaction. Social media apps like TikTok and Instagram help people feel connected, but they can also fuel unhealthy comparison and doubts about self-worth. As social media use increased in the mid to late 2000s, we saw an increase in mental health issues among youth. Generation Zs are the first generation in history to be exposed to social media in elementary school. Social media design is linked to addictive behaviours in “users” who are constantly posting, scrolling, and reacting to get their fix. Evidence shows that receiving likes and notifications on social media is linked to increased dopamine activity in the brain. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, influences how we feel pleasure. Younger millennials were the experimental generation learning to use social media apps like Facebook in their formative years. While these platforms increased their ability to interact and have fun, they also may have fuelled feelings of isolation and inadequacy, along with a phenomenon called FOMO – fear of missing out. “It’s easy to
venturing to school or the mall. Levels of pressure girls, however. To gain approval and acceptance from friends, teenage girls post two to three times a day on their social media feeds, while their male counterparts typically do not. Additionally, Damour writes, “Girls are more likely than boys to be cyberbullied and dwell on the emotional injuries caused by their peers.”
3. NOT GOOD ENOUGH Regardless of age, we noticed a common hardship of not feeling good enough or worthy enough in women
and girls. We place a lot more internal pressure
higher than ever. On the one hand, when you finish
on ourselves than men and boys do. We also face
school, you are free to choose your own routine and
external pressures and mixed messages from society
are told the world is literally at your fingertips; on
that are directly tied to the values of being a woman
the other, traditional societal pressures are telling
or girl.
you to find a partner and procreate or risk losing
We place a lot more internal pressure on ourselves than men and boys do.
UNDERSTANDING THE ANXIETY GAP
One significant challenge young women and girls face
many complex variables involved. Youths have
is the pressure to look good. In the landmark Girls’ Attitudes Survey of 2016, which surveyed women and girls age 7 to 21 in the United Kingdom, nearly 40 per cent of the study’s respondents said their appearance was the most important thing about
There has been a significant spike in mood and anxiety disorders in younger women and girls, with traditionally been at risk of experiencing mental health problems as they move through puberty into adulthood. Social isolation, gender-based violence, economic pressures, and difficulty accessing mental health resources can contribute to this.
them.
Understanding some of the factors that lead to anxiety
This pressure extends to media influencers and
systemic level.
clothing stores that promote a “one size fits all” standard of beauty. While a few retail chains promote inclusivity, some popular clothing stores for teens tend to model their fashion to an “ideal” body type, which is often young, thin and hypersexualized. Many women and girls are left feeling inadequate or excluded if they don’t fit into these clothes or feel comfortable wearing them. The work-hard, play-hard norm of success also shapes how girls and women feel about themselves. Many Gen-X and Boomer women felt they had to work harder to prove themselves in a man’s world at work. While women are successfully participating in what were once traditional male occupations, they still shoulder the brunt of the household and family responsibilities. Women continue to face barriers, like pay inequity, sexual harassment and lack of affordable child care, making it difficult to compete. In addition, young millennial females can experience a “quarter-life crisis,” as the optimal time to have babies is nearing and the economic pressures are
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your fertility.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
is an important first step in addressing the issue at a
Our goal has been to shed light on some of the crucial issues affecting younger women and girls. We’ve drawn some conclusions from research and our own anecdotal experience as women and girls. We recognize our conclusions are based on our own ethnocentric lens, growing up and living in North America, and may not apply equally to women and girls elsewhere. As we concluded our research, Julia reflected, “From a young age I have always been my toughest critic, struggling to feel confident and rarely felt good enough. As I mature, I recognize that the women Boomers who came of age before me have really paved the way by tackling systemic barriers for younger generations in school and the workplace. Yet despite these hard-won victories, the definition of success hasn’t really changed. We’re supposed to look good, be good, work hard and play hard, pleasing everyone but ourselves. How in this go-gogo mentality are we supposed to rest and take care of ourselves?”
NEW MUSIC FROM NEW PLACES
Music to lift the spirits and bring joy to your ears
By Terry Paquet
Terry Paquet is an award-winning copywriter with more than 20 years of experience. He wears pants (most of the time). He has never been to jail (except in Monopoly).
Goodbye 2020. We won’t miss you and the thick black cloud you held over our collective heads for most of the past year. Now we look forward. With our heads held high. Our shoulders a little less slumped. And our hearts filled with hope that finally, somehow, someway, all will be right in the world.
that can change your mood in a minute. From bad to good. Sad to happy. Down to up. A sweet elixir that can erase the dark. And soften the harshness around us. This collection of artists will help you move into a better frame of mind. Because it’s finally 2021 and our mouths may still be masked, but our ears are wide open.
Music can help us do that. It is a source of energy
IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN WHILE YOU READ, CHECK OUT THIS MONTH’S SPOTIFY PLAYLIST https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tuWFviIDriODBlkM46Rpw?si=N0tDkv80Ri-JF9dNrdoFQw
LIANNE LA HAVAS
BLACK PUMAS
I first saw Lianne La Havas on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk
Long before he became lead singer for the Black
Concerts, and knew from the get-go that I would need
Pumas, Eric Burton was pulling in hundreds of
to hear more from this British singer-songwriter.
dollars a day busking on the pier in Santa Monica.
Her breezy, smooth-as-butter performance backed
That’s no chump change and for a lot of artists would
by beautiful harmonies were the welcome respite
have been a sufficient way to make a living. Lucky
I needed from the fluffy, weightless pop drivel of
for us, this California native wanted more. So Burton
mainstream radio.
headed to Austin, Texas where, by happenstance,
With influences that run the gamut from Joni Mitchell and Roberta Flack to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Milton Nascimento, La Havas has created an
he met Adrian Quesada, an award-winning guitarist and producer. That serendipitous encounter in 2018 became the happy spark that led to the Black Pumas.
impressive catalogue of neo soul/ R&B tunes. And
After a trial run performing on stage together, they
the results have not gone unnoticed. Prince recorded
shifted their focus to creating original music and
her ballad “Lost and Found” which hit the top 10
went into the studio. One year later, their self-titled
in the U.K. and led to a subsequent performance
debut album was released with ATO records. Not
with him on Saturday Night Live in 2014. Considering
surprisingly, the album earned them a Grammy
her airy, effortless vocals, adept guitar playing and
Award for Best New Artist and recognition from
proficiency at blending genres, it’s not hard to see
Rolling Stone magazine for Burton’s “tireless,
why The Purple One was so enamoured with her.
charismatic energy.”
You can even feel his influence on “Woman,” a collab with Nao in which La Havas lays her soulful pipes on a vibey groove that would be totally at home in Paisley Park. Her live, stripped-down, acoustic cover of “Say a Little Prayer” (the Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Dionne Warwick hit from 1967) underscores the depth of her musical knowledge and packs a big wallop. In an era of soulless, forgettable machinemade melodies, La Havas is an artist to remember.
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT • Woman Single by Nao - featuring Lianne La Havas (2020) • Say a Little Prayer (Live 2016) • Green and Gold from Blood (Solo) (2016) • Tokyo - Single (2015) • Can’t Fight from Lianne La Havas (2020)
The sound of what many have called an “American psychedelic soul band” is undeniably retro. Yet, their repertoire feels somehow modern, oozing a funky vibe that cherry-picks from the baskets of new soul, old blues and classic R&B much like contemporaries including Alabama Shakes, Nathanial Rateliff and Vintage Trouble. Check out what feels like a livein-your-living-room cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”, the restrained vocal performance on OCT 33, or the crunchy, trippy cover of “Eleanor Rigby”. You won’t be disappointed.
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT • Colors from Black Pumas (2020) • Black Moon Rising from Black Pumas (2020) • OCT 33 from Black Pumas (2020) • Touch the Sky from Black Pumas (2020) • Sweet Conversation from Black Pumas (2020)
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THE AVETT BROTHERS
MARK KOZELEK
The Avett Brothers are a folk-rock, alt-country
Mark Kozelek is one of the most prolific artists
band from Concord, North Carolina fronted by
you’ve probably never heard of. But once you dive
siblings Scott and Seth. They first rose to national
into his intriguing catalogue of eclectic works you’ll
prominence with the single “I and Love and You”
be glad you did. His musical journey began in 1992
the title track from their major label debut album
as lead singer for the San Francisco-based band Red
produced by none other than Rick Rubin. The
House Painters. The quartet released a couple of
collaboration wasn’t exactly welcomed by early
records before calling it quits, prompting Kozelek
fans who thought the results strayed too far from
to form his next venture, Sun Kill Moon, and then
the rougher, raw sound of previous albums like
eventually work on his solo career.
Emotionalism. But this kind of backlash happens to almost every band that attempts to take their music to a larger audience. Nonetheless, the record earned them a whole new legion of fans and praise from the likes of Paste magazine who deemed it the best album of 2009.
His collection of works are intimate, often sparse, and underproduced (in a good way). His voice is equal parts Nick Cave, Eddie Vedder and Tom Waits (in his Night Hawks at the Diner phase). In addition to a trove of original material, the man has also produced an eclectic range of cover songs in which
Eleven years later, they have 10 studio albums, four
his choices beautifully veer off into B-Side territory
live albums and four EPs forming an impressive
from a wide range of artists including John Denver
catalogue that has seen the band experiment with a
and Frank Sinatra. Perusing his works, you get the
wide range of sounds and production values.
sense that he wants to push the status quo as far as
On their latest album, The Third Gleam, the boys return to their roots with the stripped-down arrangements and effortless harmonies that the original die hards have yearned for. The songs are simple, honest and touch on universal themes like love, family and spirituality that will connect with anyone looking for a little solace in these dark times.
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT • I and Love and You (2009)
it can go. Witness Dreams of Childhood - 24 tracks of spoken word poetry with Argentinian actor Nicolás Pauls. It’s indicative of Kozelek’s fearlessness as a musician willing to go places most artists won’t.
TRACKS TO CHECK OUT • Another Day from Mark Kozelek Sings Favorites (2016) • Something Stupid from Mark Kozelek Sings Favorites (2016)
• Ain’t No Man from True Sadness (2018)
• Up To My Neck In You from What’s next to the Moon (2001)
• Untitled #4 from Third Gleam (2020)
• Famous Blue Raincoat from Night Talks (2017)
• It’s Raining Today from Closer than Together (2019)
• You Missed My Heart from Live at Phoenix Public House Melbourne (2013)
• Happy Trails from Live Vol. 4 (2015)
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THE PHOTO ESSAY
VENICE – THE RAIN, THE CANAL AND AN UNPLANNED TRIP
L,
It was a half-hour walk from the western part of Venice’s San Marco sestiere (district), where I was staying, to Cannaregio – another of the Italian city’s historic districts. The sun was setting after a rainstorm. The city was still wet from the deluge, with lights reflecting beautifully off the tiny Venetian walkways. The rain had stopped a couple of hours earlier, and I decided to walk to a pub owned by Sonja and Alberto, two people I’d met 10 years earlier during a visit to the Venice film festival.
By Michael Doherty Michael Doherty is a film and television editor based in Toronto. He is also an avid traveller. The photos and commentary are from his visit to Venice in 2019.
FULL IMMERSION On my way to the pub, I took pictures of the always beautiful Venetian canals, bridges and buildings. Arriving at the Grand Canal, I walked down a tiny passageway to the water’s edge. The sun had now set and the sky was an exquisite violet and orange. Just as I took a picture, I slipped on the damp, mossy stone and fell into the canal, camera and all. If this was a French class, it would have been full immersion. I hit my back on the way down and scraped my elbow. Completely alone, I was lucky to pull myself out. Then my camera started clicking loudly – a rather incessant, “badly damaged” kind of sound. I took the battery out, but I was too late. It died. The card wouldn’t read in my other camera, and I realized all my latest images were lost. Sitting on the stone, I tried to clean myself up as best I could, then headed for Alberto’s pub.
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SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
THE KINDNESS OF OTHERS I went to a café and asked to use the washroom. Noticing the blood on my arm, the concerned woman at the door asked if I was OK. I said no. She let me in, and I managed to clean up reasonably well before continuing on to the pub. Still soaking wet and bleeding, I must have looked a sorry sight asking for directions. I finally found the pub and told Alberto my story. He smiled. The “tourist in the canal” story is not new. We sat alone at a wooden picnic table outside in the back. My pants, shirt, and shoes were still drenched. Alberto brought something for my wound, and we shared a couple of beers and a few stories before I decided to walk back to the hotel. Once there, I used a hair dryer on the camera and the card. The camera never returned to life, but I got the card to work. These are some of the pictures I saved.
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SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
CONSPIRACY’S GREATEST HITS
By Jacques Daviault
Jacques Daviault is a Montreal-based writer and art director with a curiosity that knows few bounds.
Paul McCartney and the death that never was Everyone loves a good conspiracy story. We may not
passing, I set out to collect the clues. I had to do my
believe them, but they are entertaining. To a point.
bit to ensure the truth would come out.
In this series we’ll walk through several of the best ones – some quite compelling and some laughable, all of them indicative of our need to explain the unexplainable.
HE BLEW HIS MIND OUT IN A CAR...
Apparently, on November 8, Paul had been arguing with his bandmates during a recording session at Abbey Road and summarily drove off in a huff – leading him to being decapitated in a fiery crash on the M1 in the wee hours of November 9.
According to legend, Paul McCartney died in 1966.
Here’s an explanation of what was born, took root and
How could I have known? I wasn’t part of the British
emerged. Enjoy it for all of its intricacies, intrigue,
Invasion. I was five years old. But once I learned of his
and the attempt to provide light in the darkness.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
25
detailing the evidence. The author and editor of the Drake University student publication, Tim Harper, claimed that when “Revolution #9” was played backwards the following phrase was repeatedly heard: “Turn me on, dead man.” This was only one of a long list of clues he suggested were proof of the pretty Beatle’s untimely death.
AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING Rumours gain traction where there’s an appetite for a truth that we believe is being kept from us. In 1967, The Beatles were approaching the zenith of their popularity and quality of output. It seemed they could do no wrong, and some rock critics mused aloud that the top three pop chart spots should be kept permanently in reserve for the Fab Four. In short, nothing had tainted their image, lessened their impact, or deadened their popularity. Cue the haters ... and the assassins.
Rumours gain traction where there’s an appetite for a truth that we believe is being kept from us. And that was only part of it. Sgt. Pepper held a treasure trove of clues: Paul was the only one wearing a suit of a different colour, and a closeup of the shoulder patch on that Victorian regalia steampunk jacket he wore had “O.P.D.” emblazoned
The Beatles stopped touring in August 1966. They
upon it. Officially Pronounced Dead. In fact, it read
became studio recluses – tinkering and toying
“O.P.P.,” and was a gift from the Ontario Provincial
with endless takes, song snippets and musical
Police, given to him when they performed years
experiments. All that was left to a Beatlemaniacal
earlier in Toronto.
world was an album or so once a year. The clues are too many to list, but all are nothing No news was not good news. It was a massive Beatle
more than random dots. Data points were crunched
vacuum that needed filling. Luckily, Paul argued with
by the conspiracy theorists and connected to form
the other Quarrymen, drove off angry, and Marie-
a picture only they could see. For brevity’s sake, I’ll
Antoinetted himself. Bingo – Beatle news. Big Beatle
stick to the “evidence” on the front and back of the
news. Except it wasn’t.
Abbey Road album cover.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET?
A DAY TRIPPER’S WALK ACROSS ABBEY ROAD FRONT COVER
Indisputable clues to James Paul McCartney’s unfortunate head-losing demise began to mount. Month after month new revelations added to an enormous body of evidence. The conclusion was identical in the minds of many. All that was left was the crying and the eulogies.
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The Clue: Paul is walking barefoot. Only dead people walk barefoot... The Meaning: Being barefoot is textbook death iconography. Or so they say. The Truth: Paul’s shoes were uncomfortably tight.
The Paul Is Dead rumour caught fire after a Des
He took them off. That can happen ... but only to
Moines, Iowa, university paper published an exposé
the living.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
The Clue: Paul is holding a cigarette. The Meaning: Cigarettes were once referred to as coffin nails. The Truth: The Beatles smoked. A lot. Up to two packs a day for years. The Clue: A white Volkswagen Beetle bears the license plate 28IF. The Meaning: Clearly meant to say “Paul would have been 28 IF he’d lived”. And it was on a Beetle, a BEATLE. The Truth: Paul would have actually been 27. But never let facts get in the way of a great conspiracy theory.
The clues are too many to list, but all are nothing more than random dots. Data points were crunched by the conspiracy theorists and connected to form a picture only they could see. BACK COVER The Clue: The image of a skull is seen immediately to the left of the girl in the blue dress, near the crook of her waist. Paul is dead-diddly-dead. The Meaning: You don’t need me to help you interpret the image of a skull. The Truth: People can read anything into anything – if they try hard enough. Why that image of the four bandmates walking across the road? Simple. With no agreement on a title or a cover, they exited Studio 2 at Abbey Road. They traipsed outside under the hot August sun for an impromptu it’s-this-or-nothing photo session. The presses were waiting, the photographer was hired by the hour. So out they went, Paul with cigarette in hand. It was as plain as that…
AND IN THE END… There is no getting around it. Paul is not dead and
power and appeal.
never was. The whole Paul Is Dead coverup is a
No news was not good news. It was a massive Beatle vacuum that needed filling.
tame one by conspiracy standards. It’s 95-per-cent entertaining and carries only five-per-cent chance of causing anyone any harm. That’s not the case with other conspiracy theories. They can hurt. They can destroy reputations, and convince entire populations that red is blue, and that endless alternative truths are out there.
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However, by picking them apart, they can lose their
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
Stay tuned.
NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS… ILLUSTRATIONS BY KATE JOHANSEN
JANUARY 29, 1594
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.
Mathematician John Napier of Merchiston dedicates
JANUARY 12, 1628
his book A Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation
Charles Perrault is born in Paris. An accomplished
of St. John to King James VI, advising the Scottish
scholar of many talents, Perrault’s most noteworthy
monarch to “reform the universal enormities of
achievement will come in 1697 at the age of 69 when
this country, and first to begin at his own house,
he publishes Histoires ou Contes du Temps passé: Les
family, and court.” Napier, a man with considerable
Contes de la Mère l’Oye (Old Stories and Tales: The
reputation who is credited with the discovery of
Tales of Mother Goose). The collection would launch
logarithms, sees his book receive a popular reception.
the genre of fairy tales and included such time-
The king will eventually succeed Elizabeth I to become
honoured stories as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Little
James I of England and spearhead the compilation of
Red Riding Hood and Puss in Boots. Not everyone
the King James Bible, thus cementing his commitment
knows this, but when it came to delivering a moral
to Protestantism. And a good thing, too, because
Perrault was about as subtle as a guillotine. (Which
Napier warned in A Plaine Discovery that, based on his
wouldn’t be invented for another century, but some
study of the Book of Revelation and the development
similes are just too irresistible.) Perrault uses Little
of human history, the world would end in either 1688
Red Riding Hood as a warning that “tame wolves
or 1700. Not everyone knew this at the time, but
are the most dangerous of all ... obliging and gentle,
Napier was wrong. Presumably, he forgot to carry a
following the young girls in the streets, even into their
digit somewhere in his computations; but admit it, if
homes.” In Perrault’s version, the wolf tricks young
he had said 2020, you would have spent nine months
Ms. Hood into bed and devours her. At least the wolf
believing him.
lives happily ever after ...
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29
JANUARY 25, 1858
30
Victoria the Princess Royal, eldest child of Queen
JANUARY 16, 1905
Victoria, is married to the future King Wilhelm III of
The visiting Dawson City Nuggets face off against the
Prussia at St. James Palace in London in a ceremony
Ottawa Silver Seven in the second game of their best-
that will be indefinitely influential. Just as Queen
of-three Stanley Cup series. The trophy is available
Victoria’s nuptials established a tradition for white
to any hockey team whose challenge is accepted
gowns, so did the Princess Royal’s wedding set the
and the Yukon, giddy from the Klondike gold rush,
standard for ceremonial music. The princess entered
is eager to undertake the effort. The cross-country
to the pompous swirls of Mendelssohn’s Wedding
trip goes splendidly – other than the players’ three-
March, which will become de rigeuer for every
day dogsled ride from Dawson City to Skagway
future high-status wedding. Following the service,
takes too long, they miss their boat by two hours,
the couple exited to the Bridal Chorus from Richard
are marooned for five days, so they hitch a ride on a
Wagner’s Lohengrin – commonly known as “Here
scow, can’t disembark in Vancouver because of fog,
Comes the Bride.” Not everyone knows this, but that
detour to Seattle, and catch a train to Vancouver to
popular title wasn’t adopted until the 20th century;
board the CP Express to Ottawa. Blasted 9-2 in the
at the time, the only lyrics were in German and
opening game on Jan. 13, the Nuggets, tired from
roughly translate as “Faithful ones, come to where
their journey and rusty from a lack of practice, vow
love’s blessings shall preserve you.” Eventually the
that Game 2 will be different. It is. (Not everyone
tune gained more favour as a processional than a
knows this, but a slaughter is different from a rout.)
recessional, and wedding guests were no longer
Ottawa wins 23-2. Frank McGee scores 14 goals.
uncertain as to whether they, or the bride, were
Details of the trip back to Dawson City are lost
coming or going.
to history.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
JANUARY 12, 1966 “Camp” culture reaches new heights, or depths, as Batman debuts on the ABC television network. The
JANUARY 30, 1975
costumes, the hokey dialogue, the bizarre gimmicks,
Ernö Rubik, a sculptor and professor of architecture,
the parade of accomplished actors posing as “guest
applies for a patent in Hungary for his “Magic Cube,”
villains” for an easy payday, Robin’s infinite litany of
a 3-D puzzle in which the object is to: 1) get matching
“Holy (fill in the blank)” – it’s as if some misguided
colours in all nine squares on all six sides of the
persons thought that a made-up universe didn’t have
contraption; 2) make successful gamers feel smart,
to be taken seriously. Most memorable of all is the
and 3) make unsuccessful gamers feel downright
opening theme with its profound lyrics: “Batman.
stupid. Rubik’s Cube has since sold more than 400
Batman. Batman, Batman. Batman, Batman, Batman!
million units and is believed to be the best-selling
Nananana, nananana, nanananana ... Batman!” It had
toy in history. There are even official world records
so much subtext, as opposed to the obvious lack
for the fastest solutions, including two-handed (3.47
of substance within the Gilligan’s Island intro. The
seconds), one-handed (6.82 seconds), blindfolded
Batman theme would resound as a musical television
(15.50 seconds) and – just to make even the super-
landmark (and an earworm; you’re welcome) for
intelligent feel stupid – by a robot (0.38 seconds).
generations to come. Not everyone knows this, but
By the way, not everyone knows this, but the debate
this is one of three songs – along with “Tequila”
rages as to whether the best way to dispose of a
and “Wipeout” – that will get you rightfully kicked
Rubik’s Cube is with a 32-ounce Lousiville Slugger
out of any respectable karaoke bar. (If there is such
or by holding a large magnifying glass over it on a
a thing.)
hot day.
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
31
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.
The Reluctant Minister Harry Nigh: Using community to help stop ex-cons from reoffending Rev. Harry Nigh’s journey to
ministry that helps volunteers connect with people
the pulpit was a circuitous
in the prison system. “The program is similar to Big
one that started with a
Brothers and Big Sisters,” Nigh said, “as it provides
prison ministry. Although
assistance to prisoners who have lost contact with
his father had been a
their community support system.”
minister, Nigh initially wasn’t interested in following in his footsteps. “I became a minister rather reluctantly,” he said. “I’ve always been a person of faith, but there is a difference between Christianity and religion. I love what Jesus represents but not always what the
Years later, when Nigh was ministering to his Hamilton congregation, he received a call from a prison psychologist he knew regarding an inmate named Charlie. Nigh had worked with Charlie during his prison ministry days and had been troubled when the convicted pedophile reoffended after his
church represents.”
release. Charlie was due to be released again, and the
Nigh, who had begun working with offenders in
He asked if Charlie could be placed at a Mennonite
the 1970s, was ordained in the 1990s. He became
farm – that wasn’t feasible, so Nigh suggested
pastor of a Mennonite congregation in Hamilton,
creating a circle of support around the man.
but eventually returned to ministering to those in the penal system. Along the way, he founded two organizations, Circles of Support and Accountability, and Friends of Dismas, both of which are designed to keep released prisoners from reoffending by creating a community to support them. Now 74, Nigh is retired from the ministry but certainly not from his faith.
psychologist was worried about what would happen.
“We never planned for it to be this big,” Nigh said. “We just wanted to help one guy and then one more, but it grew.”
Nigh’s odyssey began in 1973, when he was the first
“I had heard of this model being used for people
staff person hired for an organization called M2/W2,
with developmental disabilities,” Nigh said. “As they
which describes itself as a restorative Christian
grew older, their parents wanted to ensure they had
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33
people around them who could provide community
“Our goal was to prevent recidivism and promote
and assistance.”
community,” Nigh pointed out.
Nigh assembled a group that came to be known
The two cases became the foundation for Circles
as Charlie’s Angels. They found Charlie a place to
of Support and Accountability, created in 1994 with
live in Hamilton and became his surrogate family.
the motto: “No more victims; no one is disposable.”
Charlie had been in and out of prison four times. He
Today, CoSA Canada has almost 150 branches, with
had been taken off a drug that reduces sexual urges
more in England and the Netherlands. “We never
because it was causing other health issues, and the
planned for it to be this big,” Nigh said. “We just
local police were convinced he would reoffend. “It
wanted to help one guy and then one more, but it
became front-page news,” Nigh recalled, “and people
grew.”
wanted to know who was supporting him. There was
34
a lot of publicity, but he didn’t reoffend.”
The recidivism rate for CoSA members is
Three months later, a high-risk offender named Ray
Nigh noted. “The whole idea is embracing people
was released in Toronto; a similar circle was formed
who are considered despised and dangerous, rather
around him. Like Charlie, Ray never reoffended.
than trying to wall them off and exclude them. We,
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
considerably lower than for most released offenders,
as a community, can be proactive and walk alongside
denunciation, and then incarceration,” he said, “but
them.”
there is no ritual of release or celebration of their
“We try to create a community that cares for them but also holds them accountable.” A typical case has the core member with four to seven people in their inner circle. Those people have all been screened and trained. Outside them are the professionals who manage the circle, including psychologists, criminologists and police. Most exoffenders have conditions for their release, and the
return as citizens.” He referred to these new groups as Friends of Dismas Fellowships, after the Bible story of the Good Thief who was one of two theives crucified next to Jesus. “That story tells us there is no judgment; only acceptance,” Nigh said. Nigh persuaded a local church to allow a group to meet, and what started with a dozen people soon became 120. The project then spread to several cities in meetings that are inspired by the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.
members of the circle have to understand those
“We have a format, a structure, and values,” Nigh
boundaries.
said. “It’s basically a place where people can come in
“It’s like a surrogate family,” Nigh said. “Almost all of the released offenders have lost contact with their
and know that they are home, people will care about them, and they are safe.”
families, and many have suffered significant abuse.
Participants sit in a circle to eat, sing, and share their
We try to create a community that cares for them but
stories. “Some of the best singing you’ll ever hear is
also holds them accountable.”
in a prison chapel,” Nigh added. “Our meetings are
Most of the offenders in these circles are men and many have offended sexually, often against children. Some ask to be part of a circle; others may be referred by their parole officers. The ex-offender has to be willing to make full disclosure of their offences, and of their plans. “Isolation kills,” Nigh said. “For these guys it can be very dangerous, both for them and for the people they might hurt.” In 2003, Nigh left the pulpit to return to prison work as the Community Chaplain for Corrections Canada in Toronto, recognizing that the job of a prison chaplain often morphs into social work. From his office at a halfway house in the community, Nigh decided to try to create a fellowship where exprisoners and volunteers could come together.
like a church meal, but we’re also connecting and celebrating.”
“You go from arrest to detainment, court, denunciation, and then incarceration,” he said, “but there is no ritual of release or celebration of their return as citizens.” Dismas Fellowship volunteers are trained with the goal of giving ex-offenders a place to belong. “We let people show their goodness and God-given humanity,” Nigh said.
Entering prison is an elaborate routine, Nigh explained. “You go from arrest to detainment, court,
Unfortunately, Covid-19 restrictions have forced the
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
35
meetings to go virtual, but Nigh said he was pleased
labelling and oppression. We need to embrace, rather
that recently 75 people convened via Zoom. “It’s a
than exclude.”
community of hope,” he said.
The thread that connects Nigh’s activities is the goal
Dismas takes no government money, but it has
of bringing fragmented people together. “I don’t take
recently grown large enough to hire a part-time staff
credit for it,” he said. “You start something and then
person. One current goal is to provide housing for
someone else sees possibilities.”
ex-offenders though a program known as Restorative Justice Housing. Nigh described support for exoffenders as a three-legged stool featuring a safe place to stay, meaningful work or activity, and friendship. Through Restorative Justice Housing, Dismas has managed to find one residence for four ex-prisoners and another to house two more. “It may be a small thing,” he said, “but it’s meaningful.”
“I worry that we will never get rid of the oppressive systems that divide and enslave people.” Nigh recalled a man who came up to him last year at a dinner in British Columbia and thanked him for
Nigh said he was often awestruck by the grace that
saving his life. “I’d never met him before,” he said.
can happen in the world, but he is also concerned.
“It wasn’t me, of course, but the volunteers in the
“I worry that we will never get rid of the oppressive systems that divide and enslave people,” he said.
circles.” For Nigh, those volunteers are the true heroes.
“There is a lot of anger, hatred, and divisiveness, and the evil that makes people see ‘others.’ People
“It’s great to see others pick up the ball and run with
of faith and love are called to try to create and build
it,” he said. “It’s wonderful to be part of something
models that are counterculture and show another
way bigger than yourself.”
way of doing things other than resorting to control,
SENSIBLE DOLLARS
You saved some money – Yay! Now what? By Allan Kunigis Allan Kunigis is a Canadian-born freelance financial writer based in Shelburne, Vermont. He has written about personal finance for more than two decades. He is the author of A Kid’s Activity Book on Money and Finance: Teach Children About Saving, Borrowing, and Planning for the Future, published in September. It might be a stretch to say there’s a positive aspect about the dreadful Covid-19 pandemic that we’ve been living through since early March. But there is at least one plus. A lot of us have been spending less money than usual. Of course, not everyone has more money once all is said and done, or bought and paid for. Consider the millions of people worldwide who have lost jobs or earned less money because of the economic upheaval caused by Covid-19. Directly and indirectly, so many of us have been affected. When was the last time you dined out, attended a concert, or vacationed?
And I won’t address the enormous suffering of people who have had Covid or have lost loved ones to the cruel disease. Then there are the countless exhausted and depleted front-line heroes. This has been a nightmare, clearly. And it’s not over.
ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE… But let’s shine a more positive light on one aspect: If you still have a job and have earned roughly the same amount as before Covid hit, you may have been able to save money or at least rethink how you spend it. Two-thirds of Americans said they were spending less according to a survey last August by AP-NORC, a research group at the University of Chicago. Many people have traveled less, dined out less, and spent much less on leisure and entertainment activities, albeit reluctantly. Let’s assume that you didn’t take your annual vacation. You most likely haven’t sat regularly in a nice restaurant and ordered an expensive bottle of wine with your meal. You might be saving a lot of money ordering in, cooking more, and buying your wine retail at far less than you’d pay at your favourite restaurant. As we enter a new year, it’s a great time to reflect on your changing finances and be deliberate and thoughtful about how you want to save, spend, or redirect some of these 2020 savings. And, of course, while vaccines appear to be on the verge of wide distribution, heralding a return to greater normalcy in the coming months, things might not get back to “normal” (whatever that is) right away. So, like it or not, the months ahead might offer additional opportunities to save money. Here are some steps to consider in your Covid Money Makeover:
1. CRUNCH SOME NUMBERS Tally what you had spent in a typical month in various categories before Covid hit and what you have spent over the past 10 months or so – from
March through December. Some of us are better at
sense that if we’re spending more time at home, we
tracking expenses than others. But it’s not that hard,
want to enjoy that home more and we’re willing to
especially if you pay for items in a way that’s easy
spend the money as appropriate.
to track. For example, I put all or almost all of my groceries and restaurant expenses on my credit card. That makes it easy to tally what I spend on each category each month. So, all you need are four columns on a sheet of lined paper (I’m old school) or use an app or software that makes this really easy. For each category, tally the “before” and the “after” and subtract (or add) the difference. You should be able to verify your total monthly savings with your bank balance.
2. REALLOCATE YOUR EARNED SAVINGS
If you still have a job and have earned roughly the same amount as before Covid hit, you may have been able to save money or at least rethink how you spend it.
I say “earned savings” because you deserve some credit even if it was weird providence that helped you save, rather than sheer discipline and Herculean restraint.
3. REV UP YOUR SAVINGS EVEN MORE Sure, we’re hard-wired to spend and as evidenced above, we don’t need an invitation to find new things
After you’ve taken your bow or received your Best
to spend on, but what about doubling down and
Saver’s Award, now take some time to reflect on what
using the savings discipline to save more? Maybe
you’ll do with this found money. Some ideas:
you can salt some money away for a very clear
Save it. Stash it away in your retirement account, rainy-day fund, or your grandchild’s college account. You’ll eventually spend it but you don’t need to do so now. For now, cherish these hard-
purpose. That might be a really nice vacation in 2022, once the world gets back to normal. What if you took what you did or learned in 2020 and gave yourself a challenge? Get serious and see
earned or hard-not-spent savings.
what you can save in 2021. They say, “Knowledge
Spend it on something special. Maybe you’ve
money on hand gives you options or flexibility, and
already found a great goal for this repurposed
that can be powerful, too.
money. Some friends shared how they redirected their money: One put every penny saved from not traveling or going out in the evenings into backyard renovations, including a pool (“We have less money, but we’re staying sane!”). Another said she and her husband “spent the money saved and a lot more on a garden redesign, expensive wine, handbags, and some charitable donations.” It’s certainly not hard for many of us to find new
is power.” True. And so is money. Or at least having
And just bolstering your emergency savings fund can be a highly valuable thing. Maybe you’re nearing retirement and even though all was well for you financially in 2020, that might not be the case in 2021. If you have less than the recommended three to six months worth of living expenses stashed in a liquid (easy to access quickly) account, this should be a top priority. If not now, when the saving is easy, when?
ways to spend our money. And it makes perfect
SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
39
4. PAY DOWN YOUR DEBT If you have any outstanding debt, consider “retiring
I’m all for supporting local businesses, and I actually
it” or paying it off with your Covid savings. It could
retained my local athletic club membership because
be credit card debt that’s costing you dearly in high
I really want my gym to survive Covid along with me,
interest rate charges or perhaps a car loan, or any
my friends, and my family. However, I suspended my
type of debt. Here’s your chance to wipe it off the
membership at a Pilates studio, saving $89 a month,
books.
or more than $1,000 annually. I’ve missed those good,
5. RECONSIDER ITEMS YOU USED TO TAKE FOR GRANTED Maybe you lived most of the past year without your gym or yoga studio membership. If you’re like a lot of people I’ve observed, you spent more time outside in nature, albeit with appropriate social distancing and mask wearing. I have never seen so many people running, walking, cycling and hiking.
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SIDEONE JANUARY 2021
hard core workouts, but there are so many other free and safer options to raise a good sweat. Do what’s right for you, whatever that is. But put some thought and purpose to it. There’s no better time than now to reflect and be thoughtful and purposeful about your finances. Here’s to a new year of being sensible about your dollars!
COMING UP:
A sampling of next month’s stories FINDING JUSTICE
THE SIDEONE PROFILE
deliver justice?
impact without a lot of celebrity.
OH, TO PLAY FOR THE CANADIENS
SENSIBLE DOLLARS
Is Canada’s justice system too outdated to
The opportunity that almost was.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS – AN INSIDER’S VIEW
The experience of sitting across the table, face-to-face.
THE PHOTO ESSAY - MALTA
The tiny country with the world’s 4th highest population density.
NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS… Opera, astronomy and other tales of historical silliness.
We’ll meet another Canadian who is having a big
More investing advice from our financial writer.
JANUARY 2021
