Matthew R Anderson

Here's my review in The Miramichi Reader of Ken Wilson's fantastic book Walking the Bypass:

miramichireader.ca/2026/03/walk...

1. Are you currently using an AI tool for work-related tasks or projects? * Yes * No, but I would like to (PLEASE SKIP TO QUESTION 7)

My employer asks me to complete a survey on AI usage for which this is the first question (required):

Oh FFS. NO!!!!!! We won’t have privately owned jails!!

An excellent piece. Please give it a read if you haven’t already.

Some students left scrambling as Tim Houston’s budget cuts axe their summer jobs - Halifax Examiner Gwendolyn Williams discovered she couldn't return to Perkins House Museum when she called to inquire about her return, but no one answered. Later, she learned the Liverpool museum had closed.

Some students left scrambling as Tim Houston’s budget cuts axe their summer jobs
By @mmughees.bsky.social

Good day for a protest in Antigonish. Tim's got a fight on his hands.

Despite what N.S. environment minister says, Canada–Nova Scotia Nature Agreement does have timelines and unspent funding will be returned to Ottawa - Halifax Examiner Environment and Climate Change Canada spokesperson confirmed that the Canada–Nova Scotia Nature agreement itself will be in effect until March 2030, but current funding expires at the end of March 202...

Despite what N.S. environment minister says, Canada–Nova Scotia Nature Agreement does have timelines and unspent funding will be returned to Ottawa
By @joanbaxter.bsky.social

玉險 Office of the Prime Minister Cabinet du Premier Ministre Statement by Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anand on the situation in the Middle East "The Canadian government is closely following Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East and urges all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place. Canadians in the wider region should follow local advice and take all necessary precautions. Canada's position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world's worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons. Canada and our international partners have consistently called upon the Iranian regime to end its nuclear program, including at the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis and with the United Nations' reimposition of sanctions in September. Despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has neither fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted all enrichment activities, nor ended its support for regional terrorist proxy groups. Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran's oppressive regime. Canada has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, and has sanctioned 256 Iranian entities and 222 individuals in response to the regime's repression and its violence both against its own people, and persistently, beyond its borders. Canada reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself and to ensure the security of its people. Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security. The Canadian government urges the protection of all civilians in this conflict. We will take all possible measures to protect our nationals and Canadian diplomatic missions throughout the region." February 28, 2026

“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”

Well. For those of us wondering if he’d walk the walk of the Davos speech, this is a pretty big answer.

Nope.

Malice, ignorance, or both? The downstream effects of the province's cuts - Halifax Examiner How does it benefit us to discourage kids from taking the bus?

Malice, ignorance, or both? The downstream effects of the province’s cuts

Morning File by @philmoscovitch.bsky.social

Walking 1,300 km of Black history in Ontario | The Narwhal Ken Johnston walked from Niagara Falls to Owen Sound, following the boggy, buggy Underground Railroad path of early Black settlers in Ontario

New from me in @thenarwhal.ca! Moved by his ancestors, Ken Johnston retraced the Underground Railroad to Canada, logging more than 3,500 km on several freedom routes and highlighting incredible stories of success, perseverance and loss among Ontario’s early Black settlers:

We are all in this world together, and the only test of our character that matters is how we look after the least fortunate among us. How we look after each other, not how we look after ourselves. That's all that really matters, I think. ~Leader of Saskatchewan NDPTommy Douglas 🇨🇦 #canada

Today, I presented a petition in the House 📋 on behalf of constituents calling on the government to protect Canadian media from foreign interference. 📽️🇨🇦

Their concerns are now formally on the parliamentary record, and the government is required to respond. 💬

How Scholastic became a cultural rite of passage for Canadian kids | CBC Radio For decades, Scholastic has been a fixture in Canadian elementary schools, introducing children to reading while helping fund under-resourced libraries. Despite growing criticism over cost and commerc...

How Scholastic became a cultural rite of passage for Canadian kids #Canada

From classroom catalogues to crowded book fairs, the mega book publisher continues to thrive in a digital age

www.cbc.ca/radio/costof...

Well, if it's between me and the Prime Minister, I guess I understand...! 😀

A Translucent Read for a Canadian Winter There’s a bleakly beautiful quality to many stories set in northern climes in winter, a dark, dreamlike state that can settle over the entire narrative. I first felt it in the novel Smilla’s Sense …

My review of Sheila Graham-Smith's novel If, After Snow

somethinggrand.ca/2026/02/03/a...

My review of Dave Whitson's Pilgrimage: A Medieval Cure for Modern Ills, is now up! arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol13/...

Thecla - Bible Odyssey According to Christian tradition, Thecla was a noble woman who abandoned her wealth to follow Paul.

hey my little "Thecla" entry for @bibleodyssey.bsky.social is up!

www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/the...

A firm with a reputation for recommending deep cuts and layoffs has been hired as a consultant to review Nova Scotia's universities - Halifax Examiner I don't like that university programs are having to justify themselves merely in terms of the jobs that students get after graduation.

A firm with a reputation for recommending deep cuts and layoffs has been hired as a consultant to review Nova Scotia’s universities
Morning File by @timbousquet.bsky.social

The surprising theology inside today’s Advent calendars Despite their seemingly secular modern-day iteration — featuring wine, chocolate or other products — Advent calendars continue to carry the spiritual foundation of the season.

I'm on a bit of an Advent Calendar kick at the moment: theconversation.com/the-surprisi...

@stfx-university.bsky.social @theologyconcordia.bsky.social

A short thing about Advent Calendars, radio interviews, and a 12-second "cat in the snow" somethinggrand.ca/2025/12/11/a...

“Society says “young men are turning far right because of feminists” and not “young women are turning to feminism because of far right men” is because the first rule of patriarchy is to blame women for everything a man does.” meme text on black bkgd

Have a listen to CBC Radio's *The Cost of Living* Sun Dec 7 at noon on @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social, when I'm interviewed about Advent Calendars! Or listen to the podcast, on your own time at CBC Listen, maybe as you open your own Calendar window! @stfx-university.bsky.social

Statement on Christian nationalism from the Anglican Church of Canada - Anglican Church of Canada "Christian nationalism demands that Christianity be privileged by the state and implies that to be a good Canadian, one must be Christian. This ideology can provide cover for discrimination against ma...

The Anglican Church of Canada calling out Christian Nationalism for what it is, “a growing threat to pluralism and inclusion, which seeks to merge Christian and Canadian identities, conflating them and distorting both faith and democracy.”

More of this from churches in Canada please.

US hikes national park fees for foreigners to put 'American families first' 7 days ago Osmond Chia Business reporter Getty Images People take photos from Glacier Point with Half Dome in the background at Yosemite National Park. A man in a red shirt is standing at the edge of a popular photo spot with is arms spread out.

Free admission and discounted overnight stays with Parks Canada The Canada Strong Pass is back for the holidays and summer 2026! The Government of Canada is offering free admission and a 25% discount on fees for camping and overnight stays from: December 12, 2025 to January 15, 2026 inclusive June 19 to September 7, 2026 inclusive Regular fees apply from January 16 to June 18, 2026 inclusive.

The United States and Canada have some unbelievably beautiful national parks, and if you want to visit them as an international tourist next year, one country will charge you extra, while the other will offer free admission.

Remember how we are told that selling off public utilities to private corporations would make things better and less expensive ?

That was funny

From stolen Orwell to the Camino: Why this author embraced "Dirty Nature Writing" Author Ken Wilson's path was set by stealing Orwell and formalized by The Camino Walk at 50, committing to the craft. His writing evolved from playwriting to creative nonfiction and poetry, now driven...

I’ve been interviewed about my writing! Curious about what connects stolen books and long walks? Check it out!

www.oncreativewriting.com/post/from-st...

One of the three trucks in this picture can Carry full size sheets of plywood.

@mackinnonart.bsky.social, StFX / Antigonish’s own award winning editorial cartoonist, will receive an honorary degree this December. More: www.stfx.ca/news/StFX-Br... #stfx

The Conservative Party Has a Violence Problem
When former Con MP Chris d’Entremont crossed the floor to join the Liberals, he didn’t just change parties — he unleashed a fury that says more about today’s Con movement than about him. Within hours, he was getting death threats. #cdnpoli