John Stall

When ever my BlackBerry goes into vibration convulsion mode across the kitchen table, the better half most often murmurs sarcastically “God’s calling.” So I was amused to hear that T.O. Archbishop Thomas Collins first learned the Pope was promoting him to Cardinal by way of a BlackBerry message, urging him to call immediately on an urgent [...]

With 80 percent of snow removal service in Toronto already contracted out and below zero temperatures helping to refrigerate garbage that might not be picked up between now and March, what’s not to like about the city’s strategy to manage what is likely to be an  inevitable labour disruption now rather than in the Summer.  That [...]

Christmas. The time of year when I most passionately celebrate the Italian  side of my family roots. No, “Stall” doesn’t sound very Italian, but don’t let the name fool you. My dad married into a large Italian family, which really means he and most parts of his Ukrainian culture were swallowed up or surrendered to his wife, my Italian mother. [...]

As long as we are sharing memories of the Gardens today as it morphs into a supermarket, I will offer up this classic interview I did with Harold Ballard the morning after Canada beat the Russians in overtime back in 1987.   The game was played in Hamilton at the Copps  Coliseum because the Ol’ coot wouldn’t let [...]

I was speaking in Calgary last week for the first time in about five years and was astounded by the physical growth of the city. The weather conditions as I flew in were clear enough to see the full scope of urban sprawl from the air. Wow, talk about fast-track growth. Like here in Toronto, the Calgary [...]

“Beam me up Scotty!” Those were the first thoughts and words that came to mind when I slid behind the wheel of a brand new Chevy Volt, the first electric car from GM. It’s because just settling into the driver’s seat, even before the car is started, triggers a sound and dashboard light show that signals [...]

As the Rick Hansen relay winds through the streets of Toronto today,  it’s hard to believe it was 25 years ago that Rick Hansen wheeled his super-charged chair through the Toronto leg of his round the world ” Man in Motion Tour ” It feels to me like yesterday that I interviewed him by phone [...]

It was one year ago today that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was elected to City Hall on his “stop the gravy train” platform. So, how has he fared in the last 12 months? I give him a B-minus. Below is my detailed report card of Ford’s performance. Click on image for enlarged view.   ———————————————————— [...]

What an awful sight. Thousands of dead birds, I mean, maybe as many as 10,000 are scattered across the pristine beaches of southern Georgian Bay, from the tourist mecca of Wasaga Beach up to 10 kilometers east and west. They are diving-type birds that feed on bait fish. As a resident of the region, I have seen [...]

Just so you know, we in some sectors of the media are regularly offered interview opportunities with authors who are coming into town to promote the books they have written, which is why you may have seen, heard or read about Judyth Vary Baker this week. Baker’s story was featured by most media agencies (including me [...]