Ian Chadwick is a veteran of 40 years in the media. He was reporter/photographer and later managing editor of Collingwood’s Enterprise Bulletin newspaper, and local radio correspondent for CBC’s Ontario Morning for a dozen years. He hosted the current events program, Politically Speaking, for Rogers TV and was co-host of the variety/interview show, Medium Rare on Rogers TV. He has written for newspapers and magazines since the 1970s.
Ian served on Collingwood Council for three consecutive terms, 2003-14. He ran for deputy mayor in the 2018-2022 council election and for councillor in 2022.
In December 2011, Municipal World published his first book about municipal issues: Politically Speaking, a guide to media relations and communications strategies for municipal politicians, boards and staff. His second book Digital Connections, on using social media for municipal politicians and employees, was released in May, 2012. His third book, Buzz, Brands & Going Viral – a sourcebook for marketing, branding and public relations for municipalities – was published by Municipal World in late 2013. His earlier book, Mapping the Atari, was published in 1982, revised in 1985.
He has also published numerous articles on municipal issues and affairs in Municipal World and Pipeline magazines from 2011 to 2020.
Ian also completed a book on Machiavelli’s The Prince for Municipal Politicians (aka Machiavelli for Mayors; a work that is still being revised as he reads new material. The earlier version can be read in his online Machiavelli blog here).
Ian was communications director for the non-profit Ontario Municipal Water Association for four years, served as a member of Simcoe County’s museum, library and archives board, and was recently a member of the Lake Simcoe South Georgian Bay Source Water Protection Committee. He currently serves as a volunteer on the board of a long-term care (LTC) facility in Ontario.
Ian continues to offer services as a freelance writer and editor, graphic and website designer, and volunteer. He has been a blogger since 2005, a social commentator, political critic, researcher, communication consultant, media relations trainer, and wannabe novelist.
He plays the ukulele, bass, guitar, and harmonica, likes music from the 1920s and 30s, listens to opera and blues, has a passion for baking bread, makes his own pasta, reads voraciously, writes frequently, and has an incessant desire to learn. Despite his preference for atheism, Ian was ordained as a Dudeist priest after re-watching The Big Lebowski. He still likes to watch scifi and monster films from the 1930s through to the 1960s, as well as Godzilla movies. His DVD collection contains many B-films from that time, too.
He enjoys 100% agave tequila, and some of his fondest memories are touring the central Mexican distilleries in three Blue Agave Tours. He also enjoys playing computer games on a PC, and has been gaming since he bought his first computer in 1977. His preference is for grand strategy, RPG, wargames, and simulation games.
In early 2020, Ian was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has been writing his cancer diaries here to document his experiences and emotions. He had prostatectomy surgery in mid-2020, followed by seven weeks of radiation treatment, and hormone therapy. He is currently cancer-free.
His home site is ianchadwick.com. His vintage ukulele music site with songsheets and reviews is vintageukemusic.com. He lists as his “likes” Chaucer, Shakespeare, Homer, Horace, ERB, Godzilla, tequila, Cicero, animals, politics, paleontology, science, grammar, and science fiction. Ian is passionate about democracy and adamantly opposed to the far-right extremists, pseudoscience, creationism, and conspiracy claptrap.
Follow Ian on Bluesky, Mastodon, and look for his Facebook pages. He is also sporadically on LinkedIn but has closed his account on Xitter because since Musk bought it, the social media platform has become a cesspool of racism, misogyny, MAGA cultists, and scammers.
Hi Ian!
Just wanted to say hi and let you know that we are pointing to your ‘In search of the blue agave’ website in our updated website (see http://www.desmondji.com/useful-links.php). Hopefully that’s cool with you.
You may want to have a look at what we’ve been doing in India with blue agave spirits since we launched products about a year ago in Goa (especially the 100% agave). Maybe you’ll decide it’s worth writing about on your comprehensive site, or on the FB page.
Cheers!
Desmond
FYI, on your page challenging quotation attributions (or, rather, the lack of them), there is one typo –“not” for “none” (perhaps mid-keystroke the mind edited “not one” into “none” (which equality should make your “mention” into “mentions”! :o) ).
Here’s the sentence :
> In fact, not [ mention [ children at all.
(-;
ps: Came to your page re the supposed Mark Twain quote, “… to fool than … fooled”.
(And then got to wondering why we’re so *ad hominen* about it, about validating it with some famous person’s origination!?)
Hi Mr. Chadwick
I enjoy your Blog . Please keep it up .
I am a proud Canadian, proud of our people, proud of what we stand for . Canada is a beautiful, peaceful nation. We are rich in natural resources, oil , precious metals and minerals, and diversity.
Our neighbours to the south have fallen victim to lies and deception once again.
Recent events should be a strong wake up call to our citizens and politicians of all political parties. America is no longer a friend that we can count on for trade, security, and friendship. We must make every effort to move on from our dependence on the USA.
My fear is that if the proposed American tariffs are only short term, and that Canadians will quickly forget about the threats and negative rhetoric coming from our neighbours to the south.
We do need to increase our defence spending, however, we are way beyond the days of tanks and guns. We must invest in nuclear weapons, and stealth methods of delivery of nuclear weapons. This approach will be our best defence against barbaric regimes and individuals. Someone once said “ we must be armed for peace “.
Going forward, we need Canadian politicians with immense internal fortitude, leadership skills and high profile. Canadian politicians have some very tough times ahead, and must deal with issues that are immensely important to our nation.
We may need to move to a different form of democracy. And we certainly have to amend our constitution and laws .
America can no longer be considered a friend , then again, perhaps Americans were never our friends.
My father served in WW2. He joined the army in 1939. He landed on the beaches of Normandy , and helped liberate concentration camps. He served alongside the British, American, and French troops . His sacrifice helped protect my generation. Let’s make sure that we protect our children and grandchildren .
God bless Canada and all Canadians.
Thank you