Covid vaccine in stock for the spring
Monday reminder to get your spring Covid-19 vaccine. Available from your family physician or pharmacy. Seniors, Indigenous populations, LTC or other congregated living, and anyone who is immunocompromised should get their booster (six months since last dose), and first doses for infants 6m+
Spring flowers in bloom
I’ve heard from so many patients that it has been a long and difficult winter. Indeed it has, globally. This morning the sun is finally shining and there are signs of spring.
Wishing everyone a peaceful, healthy weekend. Shabbat shalom.
On Yom HaShoah we remember 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
My grandfather’s four sisters and parents were murdered in concentration camps.
As a Jewish Canadian, I was threatened 2021-2025. The Crown just decided to drop this court case. Nothing done. What use are hate laws?
@cbcnews.ca
Somewhere east of Kaladar, Ontario, a moose just walked out onto highway 7, stood next to the car in front of us, then sauntered back down to a roadside bog. Majestic. Dangerous. We’ve only ever seen moose from a distance (while canoeing in Algonquin Park). I love Canada 🇨🇦🫎
Have a peaceful weekend.
Yesterday Trump threatened to wipe out an entire civilization.
How is it that life goes on as usual for anyone in the United States? The man is unfit to lead and ruinous for us all.
This is the only US president whose Easter message merits repeating. Imagine if instead of anyone quoting that other message—yes, we all know how rude and violent and unintelligent it was, no surprise there—we all opted instead to amplify decency.
Snow covering our cottage garden April 4, 2026
Meanwhile in Canada… Too soon to start gardening this weekend.
Family doc here:
Patients are testing positive again for Covid-19. These are sick children, adults, and seniors because someone else went out and infected them.
If you have any plans over the long weekend, please test, isolate, and mask if you must go out.
Your friends and family will thank you.
Marc Chagall
Tonight is different from any other night: Passover begins. More than a seder, 4 glasses of wine, matzah, Miriam, Moses, the exodus of Jewish slaves from Egypt, for many of us it is time to consider modern plagues and suffering, to reaffirm commitment to tikkun olam, healing the world. Chag sameach.
Shabbat candles March 2026
We are in need, globally, of all the light we can add. Have a peaceful, healthy weekend. Shabbat shalom.
Had a swim with Hector’s dolphins in Akaroa this morning (world’s smallest dolphins, only found in New Zealand). Saying goodbye to New Zealand and heading back to Canada now. 🇳🇿🇨🇦
Night sky, Doubtful Sound, NZ
Night spent on Doubtful Sound, New Zealand
Kea (New Zealand parrots), McKinnon Pass
Finished the incredible Milford Track: 53 km hike in Fiordland National Park, from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. These beautiful jouvenile kea (endangered New Zealand alpine parrots) were playing on a rock as we descended from McKinnon pass.
About to leave for our four day trek across the Milford Track, New Zealand…
Mount Cook, Tasman glacial lake and glacier — our adventure in New Zealand begins!
With my two daughters last November
Happy Women’s Day. May the entire world be a safe place for our cis and trans daughters.
I've heard that less than 5% of Ontario doctors voted in the first week of the @ontariosdoctors.bsky.social elections.
You've got a few more days to vote (until March 10).
Please participate in this process so that whomever you choose has a proper mandate from colleagues.
Have a peaceful weekend
Hamantaschen
On the holiday of Purim, it is customary to bring friends gift baskets of sweets and hamantaschen (delivering mishloach manot). A patient brought me a basket today. Very thoughtful. We baked last night and will hopefully share with our friends, unless our children ate them all…
Hamantashen are shaped like Haman’s three-sided hat. Ours are filled with cherry and chocolate. They can be prune, poppyseed, whatever.
Someone commented they’ve never heard of Purim. A story of the ancient Persian empire, 4th century BCE. A virulent Jew hater, Haman, advises the king to have all Jews killed. The king is married to a woman, Esther, who reveals her Judaism and thwarts Haman. We tell the story and eat hamantashen…
Photo circa 2006, middle child often in costume
Chag sameach.
Happy Purim, friends!
(Photo circa 2006, middle child often in costume. Possibly to go to a Purim spiel, but just as likely nothing to do with the holiday.)
Sharing a health care moment that warmed my heart this week:
Call with an RN, after patient was admitted to hospital.
Me: Thanks for reaching to to primary care, and thank you for taking such good care of my patient in hospital.
RN: Thanks for the care that the patient received in the community.
Sadly, yes.
In preparation for tonight’s state of the union address for our American neighbours, here’s my best Canadian advice: POTUS banks his presidency on a population that is susceptible to his indifference to truth, morality, ethics, decency. The rest of us can Immunize ourselves against indifference. 🇨🇦
OBSP clinic
Mammogram done! As a family doctor, I encourage every woman 40 and over to get routine breast cancer screening. Early detection saves lives. If you don’t have a family doctor, you can now self-refer to the Ontario Breast Screening Program.
Dearest MD colleagues in Ontario, OMA voting opens today, Monday Feb 23 (until March 10). Please participate in the @ontariosdoctors.bsky.social elections. If you haven’t already done so, you can read the President-Elect and Board of Director candidate statements here: www.oma.org/about-the-om...
Nevertheless, proud of Team Canada, from coast to coast to coast. 🇨🇦
Hockey on our lake
Across the country, we are awake and ready to cheer on Team Canada. 🇨🇦
Sauna buried in snow
Meanwhile in Canada, for those of us who (dare I say it??) don’t watch hockey (but of course wish Team Canada well)…
Have a peaceful, healthy weekend.
Shabbat shalom 🇨🇦
In last night’s @ontariosdoctors.bsky.social town hall, the question of the gender pay gap was raised (you’ll be able to watch the recording next week).
As a candidate for OMA President, I can tell you that we have decades of research (see below). We need more action.
www.cmaj.ca/content/196/...
Thanks!