GATEKeeper’s Blog

The last few months have been challenging, especially when you’re talking about travel. I have big plans for 2022 though, and I think I have a few great ideas to make sure I’ll be going somewhere, even if all my travel ideas don’t work out.

When 2021 started, I had a lot of hope for the year. It ended up being a tough year in some ways, but it also turned out to be one of the best years for me and for The GATE. And on top of everything else, I’m celebrating The GATE’s 20th anniversary.

Twenty years ago I picked up my first Xbox controller, and it’s been my favourite console ever since.

There is nothing like an LA premiere, and Belfast had an incredible evening last night at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. It was wonderful, with Kenneth Branagh saying a few words, and topped off by star Jamie Dornan singing “Everlasting Love” at the after party.

Travel is really the act of falling in love again and again. I’ve fallen for cities, restaurants, landscapes, and cultures, and this week, on our 10-day trip in Nova Scotia, I’ve fallen for the Cape Breton Highlands.

The east coast is calling! In a few days I’m starting a 10-day trip around Nova Scotia with my family, and our first stop is naturally Halifax.

TIFF 2021 starts tomorrow, and I’ve been reflecting on all the years that I’ve been covering Canada’s best festival, and one of the most interesting public festivals in the world.

Cape Breton Island has been on my bucket list for a long time, and I’m finally planning a trip in just a few weeks. It’s going to be a fantastic fall adventure, and I can’t wait to explore Nova Scotia, enjoy incredible east coast meals, and relax on a sea-side hike.

Ontario is an incredible province, and it’s a huge place to explore. The fourth-largest province has dozens of interesting towns and cities, and includes the Canadian Shield, touches on the Hudson Bay to the north, the Great Lakes to the South, and it’s filled with stunning natural spaces.

What’s on your post-pandemic bucket list? After months of lockdowns and closures, travel and vacationing are at the top of my list, and right after I get back out in Ontario, I’m really looking forward to a beach vacation somewhere warm and sunny.