All posts by George Walters

George Walters is a Canadian columnist and author with more than forty years of writing experience. For over twenty years he has written a weekly column for Postmedia Network — Canada's largest newspaper chain — never missing a single week, publishing fifty-two stories a year. Combined with his work in Reader's Digest Community Voices, World News, Country Living, The Country Register, and farm and rural lifestyle magazines across Canada, he has published well over two thousand stories drawn from everyday life. He writes about farm work, fishing, old trucks, and the kind of people you only find in small towns — but just as likely he'll hand a voice to a weathered telephone pole, or turn his eye on something happening in the world today and tell you exactly what he thinks about it. No subject is off limits. If there's a story in it, George will find it. He has been called a philosopher of everyday life, a description that came up more than once during his television appearances over the years — and it's not hard to see why. His writing has a way of making the ordinary feel worth sitting with. He is the author of eleven books, including yearly short story collections and the Clay Moretti Files mystery series. Clay is a fifty-year-old private investigator who drives a 1967 Ford Galaxie, smokes cigars, and operates by a code the modern world gave up on a long time ago. The cases are present day. The man handling them is not. All titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon. Together, George and his wife Ruth have also created Elmer Finds His Way, the first in what he hopes will be a long series of children's books. Ruth did all the illustrations, as she has for every one of George's books — and beyond that she designed and painted the covers as well. Her work is woven into every page of everything he has published. A few words from readers: "I pulled up a kitchen chair and read your story three times." "You have a way of making a person homesick for a place they haven't been to." "Thank you for writing things that make old people and kids feel the same way at the same time." All my titles are available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.ca here.
George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

From the Desk of an Old Storyteller on May 2/2025

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Good Morning Folks… Out here, every fence line has a story to tell, and I’ve written half of ’em.

She’s another cool, rainy morning here in Port Loring, and along with that, the wind has picked up a bit, which makes things feel just a touch worse. The good news is, we still have power—and it looks like the sun will show herself tomorrow.

Weather for Port Loring, Ontario

Today, Friday, May 2, it’s a cool and rainy day. We’re looking at a high of 48°F (9°C) and a low of 34°F (1°C). The skies are overcast, and rain is expected throughout the day, so it’s a good idea to keep the rain gear handy. Winds will be light, so it won’t feel too breezy.

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, things should improve a bit. Expect a high of 55°F (13°C) and a low of 34°F (1°C). The day will start with some cloud cover, but we should see some sunshine peeking through as the day goes on. It’ll be a bit warmer, so a nice change after today.

All in all, a good weekend ahead to get out and enjoy a bit of nature—just keep an eye on the skies in case the weather changes.

Highway 522 has picked up some, traffic-wise, and we can expect a lot more as the days move forward.

On another note, yesterday wasn’t a great day, so my wife and I headed into North Bay to pick up some supplies we needed. Along the way, we met a lady who had seen some of the things we have for sale on Marketplace and Kijiji. While we were there, we also filled up our gas cans… since the power was out, I figured it was best to top them up. With the way the weather has been lately, it seemed wise to have a little extra on hand.

Once we were finished, we stopped off for a pizza at East Side Mario’s and enjoyed a nice drink. After that, we picked up a coffee at our local coffee shop and headed home, taking in everything nature had to offer. All in all, it turned out to be a great day.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today, with the weather not being so good, I’m planning on scanning a bunch more newspaper columns from years past that I wrote. I have boxes of them, so by doing this, we’ll have them all in one place and no large boxes to move. Which will keep my busy for most of the day.

So, with that, I’m off for some grass-fed sausages we bought, along with a boiled egg. After that, we’ll enjoy our hot cup of cocoa and have our regular morning chat. Then, we’ll see what the day has in store.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Weather, What's Happening

From Dawn to Desk: Stories in the Making on May 1/2025

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Good Morning Folks… Coffee’s hot, pen’s ready, and the buds on the trees are slowly starting to show themselves.

It’s a frosty and cool morning here in Cottage Country, with the mercury waking up at 28.9°F (-1.7°C).​ And as my old Dad used to say: “George, a warm May can fool you fast, but the ground don’t lie. Feel the soil, not the sun.”

🌤️ Port Loring Weather Forecast

Today – Thursday, May 1

Clouds will linger through the morning, giving way to periods of rain by afternoon. The high will reach around 55°F (13°C), with a low dipping to 42°F (6°C).​

Tonight

Expect continued rain through the evening, tapering off overnight. Temperatures will settle near 42°F (6°C).​

Tomorrow – Friday, May 2

The day will start with rain and drizzle, transitioning to cloudy skies by afternoon. The high will be around 53°F (12°C), with a low near 39°F (4°C).​

Highway 522 is bare and dry this morning, and we are seeing a touch of sunshine which is slowly getting rid of this frost we had through the night. Which in turn will make things good for traveling.

On another note, with the power out yesterday morning, my wife and I took the opportunity to go through items we’ll be adding to our spring garage sale. All in all, it turned out to be a productive day, and we got a lot done. There’s still plenty more to go through, but little by little, we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, today I’ve got a bit more computer work that needs my attention, and if the weather warms up a little, I plan to head out to the woodworking shop to start tidying things up. With everything that’s been going on around here the past few months, it’s gotten to be quite a mess, but it’s nothing a little time and effort won’t fix.

So with that, it’s time once again for the breakfast my lovely wife has made for me. Afterward, I’ll see what the day has in store. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you can plan all you like, but the weather, the world, and life itself often have a way of writing their own script.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, My Opinion Only

When the Cities Decide

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Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

I farmed for a good portion of my life, and like many others out in the country, I believed in voting. But truth is, it’s getting harder to feel like it matters much anymore.

Canada’s set up so that each riding gets one seat in Parliament, but the ridings are based on how many people live there, not how much ground they cover. So cities, where the population is stacked in tight, end up with more ridings. That means more votes in Parliament, and more say in who forms the government.

In the federal election we just had, most of the rural areas voted one way, but the cities swung things the other. You could see it plain as day on the map—huge stretches of blue across the countryside, but that didn’t tip the scales as the cities made the call.

Now we’ve got another minority government. That means the leading party didn’t win enough seats to go it alone, so they need support from another to stay in power. Right now, the Bloc is backing them, and like always, there’s a deal involved. They’ll want something in return—funding, programs, whatever lines up with their goals.

Meanwhile, farmers—both out west and here in Ontario—just keep at it. We grow the food, mend what’s broken, and carry the load. But when it comes to shaping the future, we’re not at the table.

This isn’t about stirring things up. It’s just calling it what it is, the system’s tilted, and until that’s fixed, rural folks won’t get the voice we deserve.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, News, Information & Events, Weather, What's Happening

Starting the Day, One Story at a Time on April 30/2025

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Good Morning Folks… You know, years ago, a Handshake Meant Something and So Did Your Word.

She’s a cool morning here in Cottage Country, folks. The kind of morning where your breath hangs in the air and the coffee pot works overtime, … if you’ve still got power, that is.

Today in Port Loring, we’re enjoying plenty of sunshine, but temperatures will stay on the crisp side. The high should top out around 50°F (10°C). A great day to be outside if you’re bundling up, though not ideal if you’re relying on electricity to get things done.

Tonight, expect clear skies and a real dip in temperature, down to about 31°F (-1°C). If you’ve got a wood stove or generator, it’ll earn its keep tonight. Otherwise, an extra blanket or two wouldn’t hurt.

Tomorrow, we’ll see increasing cloud cover with afternoon showers rolling in. The high will hit around 55°F (13°C), with a low near 43°F (6°C). Good weather for rain barrels, but not so great for any outdoor chores that need dry ground.

And a quick note for our neighbors: Hydro One is still working hard to restore power after yesterday’s storm knocked out electricity across our region, including here in Port Loring. The latest estimate has power being restored sometime between 5:00 PM and 11:00 PM tonight, depending on location and storm damage. Crews are out, and they’re making steady progress, so hang tight and check on your neighbors if you’re able.

​And as of this morning, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, there are no reports of washouts or major road damage along Highway 522 near Port Loring. The road is currently bare and dry, making it suitable for travel.

So yeah, it’s been an interesting few days here in and around our area with the power being out and all. For us, though, we’re making out just fine. Years back, I had my son and my wife’s brother—who’s an electrician—set us up with a generator system. It’s wired right into the house, so we can keep the essentials running when the grid goes down.

The generator handles our well pump, oil furnace (though we’ve got plenty of wood if we need it), a few lights, and some outlets—like the one I’m using right now for my computer. It’s a comfort knowing we’ve got things in place to keep on going, no matter what the weather throws at us.

That’s the thing about living in the country: you have to be ready for just about anything. You can’t depend on modern-day conveniences to always be there when you need them. I was raised that way—preparedness was just a part of life. So, even with the power out for a couple of days, life around here hasn’t changed much. Feels like a regular day, really.

We were lucky, too. On our last trip to town, I topped off two 20-litre gas cans while the price was down. That gave us just the edge we needed, and the timing couldn’t have been better

So what are you up to today, GW?

Well, with the power being a bit restricted and the air outside still holding a bit of a chill, I figure I’ll spend some time working away here at my computer. I’ve got a couple of story ideas floating around in my head that I’d like to get down, but then again, I might turn my attention back to scanning old newspapers.

I wrote for quite a few over the years and have literally hundreds of clippings tucked away. Bit by bit, I’ve been scanning them so we can have everything stored digitally. It’s a lot easier than hauling around heavy boxes full of old newsprint.

My son’s been helping out by backing everything up, too—which is a good thing. You can’t always count on modern technology to hold steady, and those computer hard drives have a funny way of giving up the ghost when you least expect it.

So with that, I’m off to enjoy my breakfast that my little woman’s made for me. It’s simple but just right—some warm Shredded Wheat with a touch of honey, a piece of toast with grass-fed butter. After that, we’ll settle in with a hot cup of cocoa and get into our regular morning chat.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]

George's Writers Corner, Weather

Medium Range Weather For Port Loring Ontario Canada

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Only On The Walters Post

Port Loring, Ontario – Medium Range Weather Outlook

As we move into the last week of April and early May, Port Loring is expected to experience a shift in weather conditions. A cold frontal boundary now moving across the Great Plains will be followed by a second, somewhat stronger, system later in the week. Now, while this will raise the risk of thunderstorms across the central United States, the impact here at home will be much different.

Following the passage of these systems, a cold pool of air is forecast to settle over Ontario and Quebec. This will bring cooler temperatures to our region and prevent any sustained warm-up as we enter May.

Daytime highs in Port Loring are expected to hover between 50°F and 54°F (10°C to 12°C) through much of the period, which is several degrees below seasonal norms. Overnight lows will be quite chilly, often dropping to between 30°F and 37°F (-1°C to 3°C), especially after a cold front sweeps through.

We should also expect more cloud cover than sunshine, with occasional light rain showers scattered through the week. It will not be a washout, but the grey skies and cooler air will certainly be noticeable.

While the central parts of North America are expected to enjoy a stretch of warm and dry weather, Port Loring and much of the Great Lakes region will remain under the influence of this stubborn cold upper low.

This pattern is typical for our area in early spring, when early warmth tries to push north but gets blocked by lingering cold air.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW

All my books are available on my Amazon Author Page.

If you purchase a book, a brief Amazon review really helps new readers discover my work—it means a lot.

Support my writing: Support My Writing

In Closing, I Would Like to Wish You Well!

George Walters | [email protected]