Diane Peters is a professional writer and instructor at Ryerson University's School of Journalism in Toronto.

A vintage craft for the modern era

June 21, 2010

Robb Thak loved art and reading history and fantasy books growing up.

If you're lost, these pups will be there to find you

June 14, 2010

Michelle Limoges has a great day job. She’s worked for the Alberta Research Council for 30 years. She runs special events for the Edmonton-based organization.

A globetrotting Tupperware queen

June 07, 2010

Jennifer Schulz went from burping babies to burping Tupperware. This was not her plan. The native of Kitchener, Ont., studied early childhood education and taught in Montessori school.

The many benefits of music therapy

May 31, 2010

When we listen to or play music, we relax and express ourselves honestly. Music helps us practise language and hand-eye coordination and it builds confidence.

Unlocking the healing power of hypnosis

May 17, 2010

Most of our images of what a hypnotist does come from bad TV — but in the right hands, this technique is not about making people “very sleepy” so they can squawk like chickens.

Too busy to stoop and scoop

May 10, 2010

James Beagle has always loved dogs. His grandparents had two border collies and his own family had a boxer.

A fusion of cultures in the fusion of metals

May 03, 2010

No need to call the fire department, but John Carnes is running a homemade kiln at 1,500 degrees in the spare room in his Toronto apartment.

Seeing life in full colour

April 26, 2010

When most of us see Michelle Obama in a yellow dress or watch the blue-green world of Avatar, we think: that looks cool.

Taking business savvy to the ballroom

April 19, 2010

Most parents want their kids to grow up to join a respectable, well-paying profession.

An artist finds himself at centre of sport

April 12, 2010

David Arrigo failed Grade 9 art. It bored him. Instead Arrigo, who’s now 40, used toothbrushes and any old paint he could find to decorate friends’ jean jackets.

Many diamonds in the rough

March 29, 2010

If you make a mistake at work, your boss will probably be very annoyed with you. If Jeannine Pilon makes an error, it’s instantly worth thousands of dollars.

The art of outfitting an NHL squad

March 22, 2010

Like so many Canadian boys, Gus Thorson of Calgary grew up playing hockey.

The tech-savvy life of a BlackBerry guru

March 15, 2010

When anyone in Darci LaRocque’s family got a gift that required assembly — a fish tank, a piece of electronics — she’d always be the one to put it together.

Ensuring wellness on a grand scale

March 08, 2010

Growing up the eldest of five gave Dr. Arlene King early experience caring for others, even when it wasn’t easy. “You get to be pretty tough when you have three younger brothers.”

Forensic investigation by the numbers

March 01, 2010

If you’re looking for excitement, become an accountant like David Malamed. The 37-year-old Torontonian is a forensic accountant: He follows the money to investigate financial crimes.

Using love of food to create food you love

February 22, 2010

Sita Kacker grew up eating shepherd’s pie, poutine, curry and pineapple upside down cake.

Sussing out the science of flavour

February 15, 2010

The first time Winnie Chiu went on a date with her future husband, she nearly wrecked the mood.

Meet the guardian of the Olympic torch

February 08, 2010

This winter, thousands of lucky Canadians have had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch for a kilometre or two.

Olympic sponsorship, years in the making

February 01, 2010

Like it or not, major sports events like the Olympics need corporate sponsors to help pay the bills. And those sponsors need someone to run the show.

Real-life CSI not quite as sexy as TV

January 25, 2010

Rod Spencer has mixed feelings about the TV phenom CSI. It’s great in that it has inspired a whole new generation of young people to do forensic work. His classes at Humber
College in Toronto, which are part of the Police Foundations program, are full.

Earning a paycheque by putting recipes to the test

January 18, 2010

“Just a second, I’m going to turn off the oven.” It’s a typical workday for Jenny Koniuk — she’s in the middle of testing a batch of recipes for a national magazine.

An artist at heart, an appraiser by trade

January 11, 2010

When you love to draw and paint growing up, you can’t help but dream of becoming a professional artist.

An image consultant for both inside and out

December 29, 2009

As the new year approaches, everyone’s thinking about change. Maybe it’s time for a new look, a new image?

A Santa suit serves up a third career for Ontario man

December 21, 2009

There are few jobs that value a mature complexion, white beard and a somewhat stocky body type. But if you look the part, playing Santa like Bob McTavish does on a regular basis is a great job.

What a cheesy job

December 14, 2009

Scott McKenzie wishes he could say the dairy farm in the tiny Nova Scotia town he grew up in had a big influence on him. But his family ate cheese from the grocery store.

This guy is shucking amazing

December 07, 2009

One of Canada’s best oyster shuckers didn’t think much of the job when he started.

Hail the Master of wine

November 30, 2009

Barbara Philip only waitressed while waiting for her acting career to take off. “You’re always in a sense of denial, that this isn’t my real job. That one day I’ll get my big break,” says Philip, 43.

Keeping the crosswords puzzling

November 23, 2009

Talk about your late bloomer: one of Canada’s foremost crossword writers only started doing crossword puzzles in her 50s.

No bones about it, it’s a whale of a job

November 16, 2009

Few people will ever see a great blue whale, as the largest animal in the world is endangered.

Like mapping the wild west, but for water

November 09, 2009

As a child growing up in Mexico, Alfonso Rivera used to look out his window waiting for the rain to start. He loved seeing how the rainy season would transform cracked, dry dirt into to moist mud. “I would smell the soil and put it on my tongue.”