On Thursday I had the pleasure of spending my lunch hour on the patio at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel MacDonald for a media launch celebrating 100 years of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. This year, the hotel is celebrating 100 years of luxury hospitality on the shores of Lac Beauvert. To honour this anniversary, the historic lodge has launched a series of centennial events and activities planned throughout the year, including outdoor summer concerts (featuring The Sheepdogs and Platinum Blonde), lakeside dining events, historic tours and traditional high-tea tastings. I also learned that the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has converted one of the restaurants into a new northern Italian restaurant ORSO Trattoria. Sous Chef Andrew Whiteside of the Fairmont JPL was on hand serving up a selection of their handmade pasta. While I couldn’t partake in the samples of fresh ravioli, he did walk me through the menu and assured me there were a lot of gluten free options. The help kick off the celebration – the hotel is asking social media users to share …

Two years ago I was just a block from my apartment when I saw a man walking a giant turtle. Not one to be shy in random moments like this – I walked up and said hello. I learned that his turtle liked to go for walks (he certainly scooted along pretty quickly), and that he didn’t like when dogs came up and put their dirty noses on his shell. I’m sure he has people asking him questions every time he takes his turtle for a walk, but when I told the gentleman I had been to the Galapagos Islands he seemed excited to stop and talk to me. He even offered to let me feed his turtle some apple. I walked away having one of those – I can’t believe that just happened – moments. I saw the man a few more times that summer, but I haven’t seen him since. Now that the weather is warmer I often hope I’ll run into him when I leave my place. I’m desperately seeking the Oliver turtle.