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thethirdperiod.ca is where I write about family, travel, golf, activism, and other stuff that crosses my mind.
I’m a retired business executive with a wonderful family and a full, rewarding life.
Now, in the third period of life, I’m sharing the experiences we’re having—the fun, the discoveries, and the adventures that come with this stage. We’re enjoying our family, grandchildren, friends, and the activities that keep life interesting.
And who knows? We may even go into overtime.
Note: The image shows the original time clock from Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
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Should Private Collections Cost Public Officials Their Jobs?
An article in the Toronto Star this morning caught my attention, and I thought it was worth exploring the implications of the situation it described. Niagara Region Chair Bob Gale resigned his position, effective immediately, after it was revealed that he had purchased a signed copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf . Gale had served as regional chair for 84 days after being appointed by the Ontario government following the death of the previous chairperson. Documents confirmed by
tgandco2
25 minutes ago4 min read
Ontario’s Online Gambling Boom Is Creating a Problem Gambling Crisis
In June 2022, I posted an article on this blog about online gaming—specifically sports betting. You can read that article here . In that post, I was trying to make a few key points. First, online gaming—particularly sports betting—had become far too easy and largely uncontrolled following the government's decision to allow private operators into the market on April 4, 2022. Essentially, you now have an online casino and sportsbook in your pocket 24/7. It’s always with you—whi
tgandco2
1 day ago5 min read
Ontario Education Policy: The Real Impact of Ford’s OSAP Changes
Doug Ford has always struck me as an “anti-education” kind of guy. He doesn’t have a university degree and dropped out of Humber College. Presumably, there was no university degree requirement for him to join his family’s multi-million-dollar business. In fact, Ford has never held a job outside the company his father started or politics—first at Toronto City Hall and now provincially. His populist style gives me the impression of someone who may be insecure about his lack of
tgandco2
2 days ago5 min read
Women’s Hockey Is Thriving — Should Canada Follow Its Lead?
Teresa and I recently attended a Toronto Sceptres game, with the team hosting the New York Sirens. We’ve tried to make this an annual tradition ever since the Sceptres moved to Coca-Cola Coliseum at Exhibition Place. In their first year in the league—when they played at the rink above the Loblaws at the old Maple Leaf Gardens site—tickets were nearly impossible to get. These days, access is still competitive, but far more realistic. And from the moment you start planning th
tgandco2
Jan 85 min read
Kyoto and Tokyo Highlights: The Perfect Start and End to Our Japan Trip
Sakura - Cherry Blossoms were certainly a highlight of our trip to Japan. Everywhere we went in Kyoto, we saw the beautiful flowers This is my last post about our 7‑week adventure in India and Japan. For this one, I’ve combined our visits to Kyoto and Tokyo. That’s not meant to downplay how amazing these two cities are—far from it. Teresa and I have visited both before, and I’ve written about them on the blog, so some of what we saw this time was a repeat (there are certain t
tgandco2
Dec 26, 202517 min read
One Week in Okinawa: 7-Day Itinerary for Beaches, Culture & Hidden Gems
We never got tired of looking at the beautiful water in Okinawa As you may know by now, this is a post in a series about our 7-week adventure in India and Japan. Given this would be our third trip to Japan, we wanted to explore areas we hadn't visited before. Okinawa had always been on my list, and with 5 weeks in Japan, we easily fit it into our itinerary. Like all my travel posts, at the end of this article, you'll find links to related blog posts (other destinations from t
tgandco2
Dec 26, 20257 min read
Baseball in Japan: Catching a Game in Osaka & Exploring the City
Outside the Canada pavilion at Expo 2025. As I mentioned in previous posts, our 2025 trip to Japan was our third visit to the country. On our first trip, I did a day trip to Osaka, taking the bullet train from Kyoto while Teresa was busy with her Ikebana course. On our second visit, we stayed in Osaka during plum blossom season. The plum blossoms are almost as beautiful as cherry blossoms—and much less crowded. That time, we also used Osaka as a base for day trips to Kobe and
tgandco2
Dec 26, 20258 min read
Hiking the Kumano Kodo: Itinerary, Tips & Guide to Japan's Ancient Pilgrimage Trail
Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau is a must-stop before you start the hike. After seeing so many cherry blossoms in Kyoto, it was a bonus to see them again while hiking the Kumano Kodo. As I mentioned in my overview post of our trip to India and Japan, Teresa and I had originally planned a five-week vacation in Japan. Since it was our third trip to Japan, we were determined to explore new parts of the country. Teresa and I had previously completed the French route of the Cam
tgandco2
Dec 26, 20259 min read
Discover the Magic of India in Just Two Weeks and Why It Could Be Perfect for You
The Taj Mahal - I really can't get enough of this photo India: Not for Everyone… But Unforgettable Let me start by saying that calling India “not for everyone” is an understatement. That’s not meant as criticism—travel is personal. But if your idea of a perfect vacation involves a month in Florida, two weeks at a Caribbean resort, or leisurely days strolling through Paris or Florence, India might come as a shock to your system. That doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it—India is e
tgandco2
Dec 24, 202511 min read
Exploring India and Japan: Highlights from Our Seven-Week Adventure
The Taj Mahal is definitely the number one highlight in India ... Amazing! Kinkaku-ji - The Golden Temple - my favourite religious site in the world What an adventure! Two weeks in India and five weeks in Japan. It was such an incredible trip that I’m going to write about it over a series of blog posts. This post provides an overview of our journey, and I’ll then dive deeper into specific destinations—India, the Kumano Kodo, Okinawa, Kyoto, Tokyo, and the World’s Fair in Osak
tgandco2
Dec 23, 20255 min read
Top 10 Affordable Wines Under $20 for Every Occasion
The title above is definitely misleading. I don’t think there is a definitive “top 10” list for anything. It’s probably more accurate to say this is a list of my 10 favourite wines under $20. For those of you who follow my blog, you know I publish and regularly update an article on great wines under $20. I just updated it, and if you want to see the full list (definitely worth a look), you can find it here . But if you prefer a shorter list or you’re one of those people who j
tgandco2
Dec 19, 20254 min read
Delicious and Affordable Wines Under $20
This is my most popular blog post, so I try to update it regularly. You definitely can still get fantastic wines for under $20 (Canadian!). Introduction Wine lovers rejoice! Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or just starting your wine journey, finding a great bottle that doesn't break the bank is always a delight. This is a refreshed version of my original 2020 list, updated with the latest prices and availability. Let's dive into some fantastic wines you can enjoy for un
tgandco2
Dec 19, 202510 min read
What is the Third Period? Embracing Active Retirement with Family, Travel, Wellness, Fitness and Golf
I have been going through my website, updating a few articles and deleting some that were for a very specific time. I thought I would edit and update the article I posted to launch my website in April 2020. I have updated our family photo to include our three grandchildren. Any other updates will be in red below. So, let me start with the name of my website — The Third Period . The idea reflects where I am in life: the final third, with a nod to hockey, the greatest and most
tgandco2
Dec 18, 20253 min read
Is America in Decline? A Canadian Retiree's View on the Rot in US Society Today
I don't often post politically oriented articles. My fundamental view is that each person is entitled to their opinion, and as long as that opinion doesn't infringe on my (or others') way of life, have at it. I don't really care what you think. For example, let's take the controversial topic of abortion. You can believe whatever you want on the subject; I don't care. However, when you take actions that inhibit others, whether that is harassing patients outside an abortion cli
tgandco2
Nov 20, 20257 min read
Should You Hike the Inca Trail or Take the Train to Machu Picchu?
I love looking at this photo over and over again ... visiting the Machu Picchu site on a perfect day gifted us memories of a lifetime I am definitely behind in updating my blog. I have yet to post about our trip to India and Japan in the spring. Those posts are coming, I promise. However, given that I have just returned from hiking to Machu Picchu, I thought I would write an article about my most recent trip while the memories are still fresh in my mind. In some ways, the dec
tgandco2
Nov 20, 202511 min read
Rethinking Taxes - Is it Time to Feel Better About Paying Taxes?
Introduction Taxes are often viewed as a necessary evil, a burden that we all must bear. But what if we could change our perspective on...
tgandco2
Sep 25, 20257 min read
Australia East Coast Itinerary Tips: Campgrounds, Restaurants, Campervan, Hiking and more
The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road Teresa and I spent five amazing weeks in Australia. It was our first visit, and we chose to drive the east coast—starting in Cairns/Cape Tribulation in the northeast and finishing along the Great Ocean Road near Melbourne. We spent most of the time in a campervan and treated ourselves to two gorgeous Airbnbs in Sydney and Melbourne. This is my third post about our trip. The first post is an overview of our 5-week itinerary (link here ).
tgandco2
Sep 11, 20256 min read
The 8 Best Australia Tours We Did - Unforgettable Experiences Worth Booking
Teresa and I recently returned from five amazing weeks in Australia. It was our first visit, but not our last. Given Australia's size, we realized we could only see part of it. We chose to drive the east coast, starting in the northeast, Cairns/Cape Tribulation, and finishing at the Great Ocean Road/Melbourne. I have posted three articles about our adventure on my blog. Our Amazing 5-Week Itinerary in Australia - click here for an overview of our trip. I hope it will give yo
tgandco2
Sep 11, 20255 min read
The Perfect 5-Week East Coast Australia Itinerary: A Complete Travel Guide
Spectacular sunrise at Cape Tribulation. Just one of many beautiful experiences during our 5 weeks. Australia has always been on our list of travel destinations. After COVID and family obligations, we were lucky to be able to go in the fall of 2024 - spring in Australia. I am going to post three blogs about our 5 weeks Down Under. This one will be an overview of our trip, how we developed the itinerary, our mode of travel and overall impressions of the areas we visited. The s
tgandco2
Feb 23, 202510 min read
Is health care in Ontario a disaster?
Disaster is probably too strong a word, although many would say it is not strong enough. I think the Ontario Health Care system (OHIP)...
tgandco2
Jan 21, 202513 min read
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