9.7 Jane's Walk

I love it when a plan comes together. It’s all about timing.

Ever since I released my first novel, I’ve wanted to participate in the Jane’s Walk Festival and lead my very own walk. After all, my book is called The Walking Man. When the incredible Erin Kang started working for the organization as the Toronto Festival Coordinator this year, she got in touch. Our conversation went something like this (I am paraphrasing).

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Paul Dore
9.6 Silent Hill

Yeah, yeah, yeah, if someone talks about the weather, means they have nothing interesting to say. They are boring. I know. Call me boring. What a shitshow it was here in Toronto this past weekend.

My girlfriend and I were supposed to drive to Ottawa last Saturday night. You know what started happening on Saturday night? Ice pellets, freezing rain, crazy wind. I read that there were over 500 collisions on Highway 401. I did not want to be collision #501.

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Paul Dore
9.5 Planning, Flexibility and Responsibility

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.

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Paul Dore
9.4 Valentine's Day

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.”

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Paul Dore