A few months ago, I received a package from Skate Canada Archivist Emery Leger. Inside was a stack of speeches my father David Dore made in the 1980s and 1990s. My father was the Director General of Skate Canada and then Vice-President of the International Skating Union (ISU). He was first known as a great public speaker during his time at Skate Canada, who was able to clearly communicate his direction of the sport in this country. Through strong leadership, my father had a vision of what could be accomplished. There was a common thread throughout these speeches; he continually outlined three elements he felt were essential to being a successful leader: planning, flexibility and responsibility.

Read More ...

Read More

I spent Valentine’s Day alone. Don’t worry, I was happily at the theatre, so don’t cry for me, Argentina. I hadn’t planned to venture out into public on that particular day. I mean, when you’re single, the last thing you want to do is be out amongst the beautiful, shiny, happy couples celebrating their coupledom. Alas, I wanted to see this particular play and the only ticket available was on February 14th.

I didn’t really notice until walking to the theatre and being obnoxiously confronted with people carrying heart balloons and bouquets of flowers. Right. Valentine’s Day. Somewhat secure in my ability to do public things alone, I approached the box office to pick up my ticket. The person at the counter found my name and said, “Here is your one ticket.”

Read More ...

Read More

From as long as I can remember, I always enjoyed going to the movies. All during my 20s, I saw a movie almost every week, most of time by myself. I loved sitting alone, waiting for the lights to dim. Once the movie started, we were all equal in the dark - it didn’t matter if you came with your significant other, friends or by yourself. I loved watching the trailers for upcoming movies. Not that long ago before the internet, the trailers were the only way to find out what was coming soon. I never felt lonely watching movies in the theatre, on the contrary, I felt a strong sense of community. All of us strangers, yet communally taking part in the same activity.

Read More ...

Read More

I’ve been 40 years old for just over two weeks, so I am now officially an expert. No, 40s are not the new 20s, don’t say this to anyone who just turned 40. Besides, who wants to revisit their 20s? Not me, I am unusually comfortable being in my 40s. Twenty years ago I thought I had everything figured out, but really was just a complete mess. But now? Now I have everything figured out. Completely. There is no way that I will feel differently in another twenty years when I’m 60.

I’m not only an expert on being 40, I’m what the kids refer to as an ‘influencer’. A person who holds a certain amount of expertise on a very specific subject and who can influence the opinion or behaviour of others. That’s me, the world’s first influencer on being 40. In an attempt to sway you into appreciating my newly crowned stance as an influencer, I present to you the following curated list of things I’ve noticed about myself since turning 40.

Read More ...

Read More