This is one of my favourite tracks produced by Phil Ramone

Thank you Ray Cohen

Last Sunday (March 24) I was shocked and saddened to read the death of Raymond Cohen. He was the founder and CEO of the Canadian Abilities Foundation (CAF), the Abilities Arts Festival, and the publisher of Abilities magazine. He died of a sudden, undisclosed illness at the age of 64.

Cohen provided me with some of my earliest experiences writing and editing in a professional setting. I first met him during the summer of 1994, when I did a volunteer internship with Abilities magazine. It was while volunteering that summer that he published a short travel piece for the issue I helped prepare. I also assisted with updating the database and editing other submissions for the magazine. This led to other articles and volunteer opportunities with Abilities.

Cohen was also a regular presence at People in Motion, an annual exhibition showcasing products and services for people with disabilities held every June in Toronto. We usually spotted each other and say hi. In fact, he made a point of saying hello to every person he met.

It is through these experiences that I gained professional writing experience, and hands-on knowledge about the publishing industry. We even had at least one conversation on how to develop professionally, which I found extremely beneficial.

Another thing we had in common is that we both received the Diamond Jubilee Medal last February. Unfortunately we didn't cross paths during the gala. It would have been good to celebrate and share some of the evening with him.

Cohen was always friendly and hospitable, and deeply passionate about affirming the needs and rights of people with disabilities. This is what I will remember most about him. His support and admiration for the disability community is greatly remembered and missed.

Thank you Ray. You will never be forgotten.

Interesting facts about Pope Francis I

Pope Francis I

Habemus papam!

Last Wednesday (March 13), Jorge Mario Bergoglio, aka Pope Francis, became the new pontiff of the Catholic Church. He is the 266th pope. Yesterday I collected some facts about him, courtesy of CHFI 98.1 FM (Toronto):

He was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He's the first pope of the Western world and the Americas (not the first non-European pope as some have reported).

The first Jesuit pope.

The first to take the name Francis - after St Francis of Assisi.

We also know that he's 76 and only has one lung. He lost a lung to severe fungal pneumonia when he was a teenager. Doctors say that should not interfere with his ability to do his job, or travel.

RIP Stompin' Tom Connors