An online home where I write, teach, publish, and explore
By Michael DowningAll photos by Michael Downing and Jacklyn Downing except as otherwise noted North to "The Bruce' We left our rustic cabin in Goderich and headed directly toward the Bruce Peninsula. Known to locals as "The Bruce," this segment of land juts out northwestwards from the rest of Southwestern Ontario, pointing towards Manitoulin Island. Manitoulin Island,... Continue Reading →
We drove from Pinery Provincial Park to Stratford, Ontario which took about an hour. We parked on Erie Street which was fitting considering that we both grew up in Erie County, Pa. We backed into a spot and Jackie's attention was immediately called by a sign that said "Oysters," so we went to Lovage and... Continue Reading →
We drove from Pinery Provincial Park into London, Ontario and had breakfast at Katie's Kitchen on Oxford Street. The food was fresh and the people were kind. We had internet access so we got caught up as best we could. We went to Walmart to get some essentials and then the real adventure began. I... Continue Reading →
Long Point, Ontario, Canada has always played in my imagination because when I was a kid growing up in Erie, Pa., sitting on the shoreline with my friends, we could often see Long Point, some 30 miles to the north. Conditions had to be just right but we could see it. Swimmers who swam across... Continue Reading →
We left for our big 2025 Canadian Trip on July 1: Canada Day. We prepped the van and left Union City, headed north, up Route 89 to Interstate 90. From there a short drive into Buffalo and across the Peace Bridge. Customs went without a hitch and we wrapped around the tight right turn, out... Continue Reading →
By Michael Downingwith Reilly Fitzgerald "Ferryland Lighthouse" (2024) by Reilly Fitzgerald. 18"X24" acrylic on canvas. Many who see Reilly Fitzgerald's art and learn of his long-term physical challenges note the juxtaposition between a life of pain and a painting style that consists of bright and colourful images. In other words, you might never know his... Continue Reading →
By Michael Downingwith Reilly Fitzgerald “I remember taking a trip as a young adult, in the late 1980s, to the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's,” Reilly told me one morning in an email. The HSC is the main medical facility in the province and where Memorial University of Newfoundland’s faculty of medicine is located.... Continue Reading →
By Michael Downingwith Reilly Fitzgerald Reilly Fitzgerald was born September 13, 1967 in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. His mother had been staying with her parents in Cupid's Crossing for the latter part of her pregnancy, and his father was in Wabush working at Wabush Mines to establish the family’s future home. When the... Continue Reading →
By Michael Downingwith Reilly FitzgeraldSometimes, certain things are just meant to happen. In late 2024, I deleted my Threads account. But just before I left, I was lucky enough to bump into the colorful and truly magnificent art of Reilly Fitzgerald, of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. I was struck by his work right away: Color... Continue Reading →
By Michael Downing As we drove south on York Boulevard into Hamilton, we couldn't help but notice the magnificent Hamilton Cemetery, which runs along the right side of the road, directly across from Dundurn Castle. Neither of these sites were on my scouting radar, but it was nearing dinner time, so we made a mental... Continue Reading →
My Writing Wanderland 