Writer's Bloc
Canadian food retail sales on a downward trajectory
The release of retail data by Statistics Canada last week has provided valuable insights into the dynamic nature of food retailing in Canada. Contrary to...
Gene editing approval crucial step to global food security
The environmental approval of gene editing by Marie-Claude Bibeau, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, went largely unnoticed by the mainstream media...
Remote workers, be careful what you wish for
The pandemic forced the world to learn how to work together in isolation. As we emerge from the fog of viral war, many employees are left with memories of...
Poll finds dissatisfaction with local action on homelessness in B.C.
It is safe to say that British Columbians remain dissatisfied with the way in which elected officials – including B.C.'s new premier and new municipal...
Canadians deserve more affordable, better-tasting gluten free products
Most Canadians don’t know that May is Celiac Awareness Month. Almost 400,000 Canadians have been clinically diagnosed with celiac disease. That’s...
Poll shows British Columbians most likely to dream about ‘next big thing’
The COVID-19 pandemic made some Canadians realize that it was possible to work without commuting to the office. Research Co. and Glacier Media wanted to take a...
Grocers’ demographic party may be coming to an end
Canada’s population grew by more than one million for the first time in its history in 2022. The population in Prince Edward Island grew the most, with a...
Canadians want more food price freezes, and competition
Many surveys suggest that Canadians firmly believe grocery chains are profiteering from food inflation and pushing prices higher unnecessarily. Meanwhile, many...
NDP community benefits agreements create policy conflict for new premier
The messy dispute surrounding Indigenous participation in a new hospital project in Duncan provides a cautionary tale for Premier David Eby about the need to...
Dairy producers not milking the system
A video of an exasperated Canadian dairy farmer, Jerry Huigen, went viral recently. For probably the first time in Canadian history, a Canadian dairy farmer was...
Grocery receipt mistakes costing Canadians plenty
If you’re not checking your grocery receipts for errors before leaving the store, chances are you’re overpaying for some of your groceries,...
Many Canadians skeptical of new drinking recommendations
It looks like we all need to drink less alcohol. Last fall, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), a national organization that provides...
Grocer code of conduct could help reduce loss of trust in sector
A grocer code of conduct is coming to Canada. The United Kingdom and Australia, where grocer oligopolies exist, have a similar code already. This is great news...
We all pay for grocery store theft
Grocery theft has always been a major problem, but with food inflation as it is, shopkeepers now fear the wrongdoers more than before. In December, some...
Announcing corporate bonuses requires tact and empathy
With a new year starting, we hear announcements about bonuses in food retailing. (Grocery store chain) Metro recently announced it offered five top senior...
Pharmacist’s tips on preventing illness this winter
The past two years have been fraught with talk of viruses and vaccines. Between COVID-19 and the flu, there has not only been a lot of conversation around the...
How to make a New Year’s resolution that sticks
Broadcaster and motivational expert Earl Nightingale tells us, “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal.” Many of us come up with...
Let’s hope 2023 brings us some relief on the food front
As a follow-up to a very busy 2021, the year 2022 was truly filled with many food-related stories. Food was top of mind for many for the entire year. Reflecting...
Staying safe in a dangerous digital world
Cyber crime has dramatically increased over the past couple of years. We see it in the news all the time—data breaches, social engineering attacks,...
Nutrition tips for enjoying a healthier, balanced holiday season
The holiday season is here and with it comes parties, traditions and lots of yummy foods. Contrary to popular belief, there are no foods you should feel bad...