The Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park is an expansive nature reserve on southern Baffin Island near Iqaluit, the capital city of Nunavut. It features the Sylvia Grinnell River which cuts through the landscape and flows out into Frobisher Bay, providing a stark contrast to the endless tundra that expands as far as the eye can see. …
It was March 2020. The flu-like illness we had all heard about on the radio was globally abound and had finally arrived on our doorstep. It was a plague that cancelled all plans and ran everyone into lockdown wherever it spread. As plans ground to a halt, feelings of uncertainty seeped into the cracks of …
As the plane began its descent into Cusco, I looked out my window to see the red tiled roofs of an unfamiliar city. As we got closer, more of the city’s details appeared, and the more I saw how different it was from what I was used to. I had navigated through airports for 1.5 …
It was just after 1 am when I banged on the door to the hostel. After several attempts, someone finally let me in. But my hopes of a place to stay were soon-after crushed by two simple words: “we’re full”. I couldn’t believe it! I booked a room, I swear! After a lot of double …
Hundreds of elephants dead in Botswana…the culprit? Cyanobacteria [1]. These elephants aren’t the first account of a mass murder at the hands of these toxin-producing bacteria. In 1979, 148 people became very sick on Australia’s Palm Island from unknowingly drinking toxin-contaminated waters [2, 3], and in 1996, 76 people died in Brazil from exposure to …
Examining Cyanobacteria at the University of Konstanz Read More »
When I stepped out of the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, I was greeted by the sweet earthy smell of the air, the commotion of the city, an unaccustomed style of clothing… I was in a land so far and different from home and yet felt at ease while buzzing with excitement for …
I was eating a chocolatine, a type of unforgettably delicious chocolate croissant, as I tilted my head back to fully view the grandeur of the massive structure before me. It was a cathedral unlike any other, some of you may know it: the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I was half expecting Quasimodo to jump out …
Deciding to renovate a van into a home is a big undertaking but an exciting step towards fulfilling a dream that some may have. Before even starting a van renovation, or before even buying the van, it’s a good idea to have a detailed plan on what you want to use the van for and …
Think about how much time you spend indoors… In general, people spend over 70% of their time inside (Health Canada, 1989). With all that time spent inside, think about all the dust you’re inevitably breathing in…It’s a lot! Dust is something we can’t evade when indoors. Unfortunately, it’s a repository for contaminants, mainly semi-volatile organic …
Why would someone give up modern comforts to live in a small, tightly packed van? It just doesn’t make sense…or does it? I was intrigued by Vanlife for the unrestricted freedom it provides and for the concept of living a more minimal lifestyle. Less things means more happiness, or so they say. I’d rather fill …