The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 80: Independence is a Journey, Not an Event Dear friend, Did you know that Canada Day wasn't always called Canada Day, and that - for a long time - we legally needed permission just to change our country's laws? With July 1st fresh in our minds, I looked into the holiday’s history, and it turns out it’s been quite a journey: July 1, 1867: The British North America Act (today known as the Constitution Act, 1867) created our country by bringing the British...
11 days ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 79: Service, not to self but to others Dear friend, During the ExperienceTO: Long Branch Historical Tour on July 11th, we'll get to visit the local Royal Canadian Legion's Branch 101 and hear from its President (and Veteran) Alan Roy. Looking back in history, we find that following the First World War, numerous veterans' organizations emerged across Canada, with the Great War Veterans Association standing as the largest of 15 distinct groups. The push for...
18 days ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 78: Live a Life of Service to Others, as Inspired by Ann Marie Curtis Dear friend, While exploring the history of Long Branch on Etobicoke Historical Society’s website in preparation for the ExperienceTO: Long Branch Historical Tour, I came across the story of Ann Marie Curtis who served as reeve (i.e., head of municipal council) of the village of Long Branch from 1953 to 1962 and after whom the Marie Curtis Park and Marie Curtis Park (East and West) Beaches...
25 days ago • 3 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 77: Land Rich, Asset Poor. A 200-Year-Old Lesson from Long Branch’s First Land Owner Dear friend, I hope you’re having a great week! In preparation for the upcoming #ExperienceTO: Long Branch Historical Tour on July 11, I’ve been researching the story of Captain Samuel Smith, the very first landowner of the area we now call Long Branch. On paper, Captain Smith had the ultimate high-achieving backstory. Born in Long Island, New York, to a family fiercely loyal...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 76: Embrace Innovation to Expand Your Impact (And Other Insights From Hart Massey) Dear friend, As we prepare to explore the historic brick facades and hidden stories of one of Toronto’s most iconic neighborhoods this coming Saturday, June 13th, during the #ExperienceTO: Liberty Village Historical Tour, it’s the perfect time to look closer at the life of someone who helped built it. Every time we walk past the masterfully restored industrial buildings of...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 75: Make Room at the Table - The Beautiful ROI of Welcoming an Unlikely Audience Dear friend, The Liberty Village Historical Tour on Saturday, June 13th will start at the building that has an important story to tell. My research suggests that Irwin Toy Limited was the cornerstone of Canada's toy industry for decades. From the 1950s to the 1990s, the Toronto-based company was the country's largest and most dominant toy distributor, bringing iconic brands like...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 74: Be a good steward Dear friend, This morning is busy at my local Tim Hortons. Most people are arriving and leaving in a rush, despite it being 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday. Rather than engaging in that kind of rush, you're taking some time to read and reflect on this week's e-newsletter... and I appreciate you choosing to spend these few quiet moments here. I just finished reading Victor L. Russell's book, Mayors of Toronto (Volume 1: 1834-1899). One former mayor...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 73: Turn your setbacks into community impact Dear friend, While sitting at Brockton Village Bakery this morning, sipping on a coffee, reflecting on the past week, and reading Victor L. Russell's Mayors of Toronto (Volume 1: 1834–1899), I began thinking about the story of Thomas David Morrison. Can his life story teach us anything applicable to our daily lives, including how we approach the municipal elections taking place across Ontario on October 26, 2026?...
2 months ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 72: The Choice Between Security and Adventure Hi friend, In the recent interview with Clyde Wagner from TO Live, we explored how curiosity can lead to unexpected career pivots. Today, let's take that a step further. Once you’ve pivoted, or even while you are considering it, there is a fundamental choice we all face: Do we prioritize security, or do we embrace adventure? I recently sat down with Doru Gordan, the owner of Complete Flooring Inc. While his...
2 months ago • 2 min read