____

news

August 16th, 2019 - work on the ground & online

Hey y’all,

How have you been? No, I mean it – how have you been? Shoot me a text someday you people!

As for me, as so often, I have to start this newsletter by saying that it’s been awhile, but that that’s because I’ve been keeping busy and doing well! In my defense, I don’t need a defense – I’m sure you're doing just fine without my babbling.

latest moves

No latest moves to report on. Still in Canada, still in Montreal. After a long winter, followed by a short spring, summer arrived. Seasons. You get it.

winter's firm grip

latest happenings

Well, let's see... there was my family visiting me in May!! Our planning had identified mid-May as a safe bet, season and weather wise, but the surroundings of our chalet north of Montreal still looked a bit under the weather and only hesitantly green:

hesitant green

Back in Montreal, spring bragged with an abundance of color, finally. We explored plenty and I was delighted to share this city and my life in it with my family.

Tulips in spring at the botanical garden in Montreal

spring arrival

Montreal

Quebec City

I’m happy to be back in this lively city that is always up to something and a beautiful patchwork of diverse cultural influences and varied vibes.

night cycling event

How I spend my days in these days? Same as everybody. Live some, work some, live a lot, work a lot, home, roam, friends.

power outage at the supermarket

ghost wrap

at the "beach"

projects on the ground

Over the last couple of months I got the chance to document some activities of the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC), a wonderful nonprofit organization in the field of social isolation/connectedness. I will let the photos and captions do the talking.

brainstorming session at coworking space in Montreal

brainstorming new ideas for the welcome sessions for asylum seekers

special Olympics

A visit to Roxham Road, an inofficial border crossing between the US and Canada. Due to ever harsher immigration policies in the US, many refugees try to seek asylum in Canada instead. At official border crossings they would be denied entry into Canada since their asylum claim needs to be processed by the first safe country of arrival (in this case the US). As a consequence of crossing at the unauthorized port of Roxham Road, they are detained by Canadian immigration officials and then brought to Montreal to claim asylum there. While Canadian border officials at first maintain a serious tone to warn people against crossing, they are welcoming as soon as people actually take the step across the border. Meanwhile, Janet McFetridge, deputy mayor of nearby Champlain, N.Y. greets asylum seekers with warm words and necessities like warm clothes. Here is an interesting read about Roxham Road, published by the SCSC.

Urban Heat Conference, bringing together speakers and discussion groups to address urban challenges in the context of global warming

Welcome Hive, an initiative to connect newly arrived refugee families

MilesAstray now friendly to your mobile

In most countries more than half the internet users now surf on mobile devices. I’ve been neglecting this majority out of love to the desktop version of MilesAstray. But no more I say – it’s launch day. Stop by the brand new, shiny, super friendly mobile version of MilesAstray.com on your phone and let me know what you think!

prints & Etsy shop

I recently started printing some of my work for wall décor and opened an Etsy shop with selected pieces (more to come). Shipping only in Canada and the US for now, but of course you can always get my art digitally for local printing.

So if you feel that your walls could use a little Miles, shop by here:

shop