Columns

Life on the Gwaii

If I Could Bark

This is not a title I invented myself. I recently saw a video about a man and his dog, and the message intended by the filmmaker has stayed with me. The main reason it still resonates is the emotion, the honesty and the depth of the bond be

Jeff Bear · 2026-03-27

Life on the Gwaii

Pet Peeves

Can a dog have a pet peeve? Well, I am a pet. But am I a peeve? The origin of this word, of course, is from America. While a pet is something cherished, a peeve is short for peevish, meaning ornery or ill-tempered. The phrase was used ironi

Jeff Bear · 2026-01-16

Life on the Gwaii

The Year I Took the Long Way Home

It is that time of year for reflection. Christmas is soon to arrive. The time was once widely celebrated as a season of giving and of sharing precious moments with family and friends. Every person and every family creates their own memories

Jeff Bear · 2025-12-18

Life on the Gwaii

How the Grinch became my Best Friend

My best man friend Jeff wanted me to wish all the HGN readers a Berry Merry Christmas. He knows I do not like berries, and Christmas, well, I never understood what all the fuss is about. Like, a man with a white beard dressed up like a red

Jeff Bear · 2025-12-18

Life on the Gwaii

While my dog gently gets old

I recently read an article in The New York Times by fellow pet lover Judith Newman about her dog Monty that resonated with me. The article’s heading is what drew me in. It reads, “The feeding and care instructions we leave say as much about

Jeff Bear · 2025-11-20

Life on the Gwaii

How many dog lovers are on Haida Gwaii?

We see people walking by our house all the time with their dogs but I have never stopped to do a census on the dog population here but by all estimates many people have dogs. Do they love their dogs? Was it a result of pandemic times? Did t

Jeff Bear · 2025-10-14

Life on the Gwaii

The Racial spin in tennis

Cord ball. Only tennis players know the term. That’s when a tennis ball hits the top of the net during play and trickles over and lands fair and square on the opponent’s side. Often, although not a rule, players hold up their hand as though

Jeff Bear · 2025-09-11

Life on the Gwaii

BOYZ POV

OK. I swore I would never get political. But I don’t know why all the dogs in America are mad — barking with no meaningful message. The M.A.G.A. (Make America Growl Again) is running amok. Treats, food, Milk-Bones — everything is getting cr

Jeff Bear · 2025-04-13

Life on the Gwaii

Indigenous Language Sanctuary

Indigenous languages as a global phrase takes in so many old and original cultures throughout the world. The emphasis at home in Canada is on the distinct languages facing the dangers of extinction. What if we create Indigenous Language San

Jeff Bear · 2025-03-29

Life on the Gwaii

A rez dog POV

Jeff got sick, sneezing and coughing up technicolour goodies into that tasty white paper they always throw away. So I woofed, saying I could do another one for him and the good people at Haida Gwaii News. This time, I won’t bore the readers

Jeff Bear · 2025-03-24

Life on the Gwaii

Trees

When was the last time you spoke to a tree? When was the first time you heard a tree talk back? Never? That’s common. But if you listen closely, you may find bewilderment. Western hemlock, red and yellow cedar, and Sitka spruce make up the

Jeff Bear · 2025-02-22

Life on the Gwaii

A RezDog POV

Authors note: In 2015 my family moved to Haida Gwaii. Marianne Jones is my wife and she is Haida. I am Maliseet from New Brunswick And our furry family member is Boyz Jones, from Belgium, via Alberta. Hello everyone. Woof. My name is Boyz J

Jeff Bear · 2025-02-01