Rose's Cantina

  As winter turns to spring, Katrina's Army is stepping up its efforts to cover the waterfronts around St. Catharines/Niagara in all ways possible in hopes of finding the Army veteran who went missing on New Year's Eve -- three months ago. There have been many developments, mostly positive in her case: The family finally has possession of her home, car and dog and evicted her ex-boyfriend who had changed the locks on the house. Her bank account has finally been frozen. A reward of $20,000 has been posted by her family for information leading to Katrina, no questions asked. A legion of volunteers have been putting up posters everywhere, and are meeting many times a week for ground searches. This is a well organized effort, so as not to waste anyone's time looking for her in places that have already been searched. There are a number of fundraisers taking place that are helping the family with their expenses. It's been a long road for them since all of the family are from ...

  There are people who come into your life for a purpose, who are sent by some divine spirit to lift you up, help you out, and support you in times of need. Trevor Lanyon was one of those amazing people. He sadly left this Earth in February as a victim of a car crash in Sarasota Florida where he made his home for many years. He was only 68. I met Trevor when I was living a Disney princess' life in 1989. He was dressed in a morning suit, and opened the door of St. James Manor in the town of York in England. My husband Dan and I were on a long delayed honeymoon, and I was six months pregnant with my daughter, Marissa. Dan was a work-a-holic and never had time for vacations that didn't involve conferences and high level meetings, so this trip was big. I left my two older children, Nicholas and Stefan in the care of a babysitter and off we went to explore the British countryside.  Trevor was an assistant butler at the manor. He also served as the night bartender, and served us our...

  Today, Ashley's friends and family joined together to wish her well on her next adventure. I like to think that Ashley is not gone as long as people remember her spirit, her smile, and her love of the big adventure.  Over the 32 years she spent on this planet, Ashley touched the hearts of everyone who met her. She challenged her cousins, friends, nieces and nephews to always to push the envelope, to do better, to be better. As her Aunt Patty said today at the service, Ashley was always there for people whether she was driving them home after a party, or helping to organize one. She was a bright and shining light in the world, and she is now taking her act on the road. Even on her worst day, Ashley brought out the best in people. People started fundraisers and search parties, they flew drones over the treacherous landscape. She reminded everyone that in this life we all need to do our part. And she continues to make her mark. In her name, people are calling for our society to...

Sometimes, I am in awe of the women in my family. I think about the sacrifices made by my grandmothers and aunts, and the strength and grace of my cousins who often stare down adversity.  I come from a family of widows. My grandmother Ina Crown mourned her first husband who died during WWI. My mother Vera buried her own soldier husband, my father Russ, after he died as a result of PTSD at only 34. As a little girl, I watched the women close to me struggle, and cry when they thought I wasn't looking. I was always looking, and learning.  I still am.  Against all odds, they soldiered on. They were Steel Maples, standing tall against every storm.  In my own generation, I have marveled at the sacrifices made by my cousins to raise whole families on their own, and to deal with many mental and physical health challenges, and I am humbled watching Ashley's family endure the loss of their lovely girl whose only fault was picking the wrong guy. We've all been there. The Simpso...

  Katrina (Trina) Blagdon disappeared from her home in St. Catharines, Ontario on New Year's Eve 2021. She was last seen at a sub shop at 6 p.m. There have been no sightings of her since. Please read the message below this post and help if you can! RS A message from Trina's friend, Mara Morgan:  Katrina after all these weeks as I sit here crying writing this it breaks my heart that I still don’t know anything about what has happened to you. You were such an outgoing person and so kind, funny and compassionate that I could not imagine anyone hurting you on purpose. I am praying you are alive and well and needed some alone time. I have been trying to find pictures of you in Afghanistan, so people can see the kind of person you are, strong, resilient and hard working. I must say I am very happy to have found two of the most beautiful pictures that show the essence of your soul. The smile that lit a room and the soldier in uniform ready for all. One is the day we all lined up to g...

If Katrina Blagdon inexplicably walked off to end her life, only she would know why. Friends and family might have mentioned to the police that she was depressed or in despair. But those haven't been the words that have been used to describe her. She was looking forward to returning home to Nova Scotia. She had just spent time with her boys. She had been chirpy and happy -- her usual demeanour -- on her posts on Facebook. Katrina was an open book, according to all who knew her. She wasn't a drug addict or mentally ill. She was a seasoned soldier who had seen it all on a tour of Afghanistan. She settled in St. Catharines to start her civilian life as a homeowner with savings and was the proud owner of a lime green Jeep. No. Katrina did not off herself. She did not accidentally fall into Martindale Pond during a brisk midnight walk around her neighbour. And it seems unlikely that if she were planning her own demise that she would be having a submarine sandwich with her boyfriend ...

Embed from Getty Images I wanted to share the observations of a Facebook friend who lives near the downtown core. It pretty accurately describes the scene, and offers some insight on what's to come.   As someone living near downtown, I’d like to share some firsthand observations about the “Freedom Convoy” that is occupying the city, as some people continue to believe it is a peaceful protest for truckers: • There are some semi trucks, but the vast majority are pickup trucks. 95% of them have Ontario or Quebec plates: they did not drive across the country, they largely came from nearby. • The occupiers are 99% white and 90% male. I’m told that 90% of Canada’s truckers are vaccinated. The occupiers don’t represent truckers or the broad population of Canada. • The signs and rhetoric do talk about “dropping the mandates”, but many of them also believe COVID or the vaccines to be some kind of conspiracy or hoax. These people do not seem to believe that the pandemic is real. • The h...