I moved to Yellowknife on Nov. 13, 2018. I moved out of the city — and the Northwest Territories altogether — on July 2, 2019, so I lived there for a little more than seven and a half months. At the moment, I live in Iqaluit. Before I moved to Yellowknife, I lived in Halifax. I worked as a video journalist (VJ) there for more than three years. I moved to Yellowknife to do the same job but for a different news network. I’ve wanted to work as a VJ in the North, which is defined in this context as the northern part of Canada (not just the one territory), for years. Once, while working as an edito ..read more

Atlin Mountain, near Atlin, B.C., pictured from Monarch Mountain Trail on July 3, 2021. (Steve Silva) Monarch Mountain Trail is a few kilometres south of Atlin, B.C. I hiked it on July 3, 2021. I recorded a video that provides a good idea of what the hike entails (terrain, views, and such). I arrived at the parking lot, next to Warm Bay Road, at around 11:15 a.m. I was a little surprised that I was the only person there at the time. The trail starts across the road. Monarch Mountain Trail, near Atlin, B.C., pictured on July 3, 2021. (Steve Silva) According to the provincial government, the hi ..read more

A room in the AC Co. store and warehouse in the Forty Mile townsite in Yukon, pictured on June 21, 2020. (Steve Silva) The Forty Mile, Fort Cudahy and Fort Constantine Historic Site is located about a two-hour drive north of Dawson City, Yukon. I visited the Forty Mile townsite on June 21, 2020. The other two areas are across the Fortymile River. I have a fascination with ghost towns. This was one of the best preserved sites I’ve visited. People do use the area for recreation, and there are staff accommodations, so it’s a “ghost town” with an asterisk. It’s located at the confluence of the Yu ..read more

The view of Skagway, Alaska, from near Upper Dewey Lake on Aug. 18, 2019. (Steve Silva) I went on a somewhat spontaneous two-day trip to Skagway, Alaska, in August 2019. Several people in town told me that hiking to Upper Dewey Lake (UDL), though quite strenuous, was worthwhile. Some said it was the best trail in the community. So, I decided to go on the hike the next day. The trail is part of the Dewey Lakes trail system. While relatively simple to complete, it was physically demanding, seeing as I hadn’t hiked anything as formidable for a year or two. A cabin next to Upper Dewey Lake in Skag ..read more

A view from the north side of Gros Morne Mountain, pictured on Aug. 31, 2017. (Steve Silva) I don’t know if the locals warn every tourist they see, but many definitely warned me: Gros Morne Mountain (James Callaghan) Trail is incredibly challenging to hike. For my skill level, I’d say they were right. That said, and maybe it’s already implicit when viewing photos taken at the top of the mountain, completing the hike is incredibly worthwhile, too. I got into hiking when I moved to Halifax in 2015. I was (and still am) a little obese, but I have decent amount of stamina and strength. I hiked reg ..read more

The Los Angeles building that represented a funeral home in the TV show “Six Feet Under,” pictured on Dec. 3, 2014. (Steve Silva) “You can’t take a picture of this; it’s already gone.” But I shot a picture of the house anyway. Multiple pictures, in fact. I visited the ‘Six Feet Under’ (SFU) house in Los Angeles on Dec. 3, 2014. It’s located at 2302 W 25th St. According to a plaque on the property, the building is called the Auguste R. Marquis Residence (Filipino Federation of America). It was built in 1904. Its historic-cultural monument number is 602. Something was being shot&n ..read more

The building called the ‘House of the Book’ on the American Jewish University’s Brandeis-Bardin Campus in Simi Valley, Calif., pictured on Dec. 4, 2014. (Steve Silva) The “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” was a childhood favourite of mine. Regardless of how it has aged, the TV show will always be special to me for its nostalgic value. I have a fascination with seeing firsthand the settings featured in movies and TV shows, and the show’s Command Center has been on my radar for years. During a road trip through western United States, I visited the filming location of the exteriors of the fict ..read more

In October, I moved from Toronto to Regina for a new job. Here’s how the drive to the city went. The drive I had never before attempted a drive of this length, so I was a bit worried. In the end, it turned out to be a fine experience. I saw a decent chunk of the country, and it was nice having some time to myself. There were some boring parts, but they weren’t as bad I thought they would be. Probably the best tip I could give anyone going on this journey, especially solo as I did, is to not pay attention to how many more kilometres are left; just keep going. Based off what I read online, alon ..read more

A 1 line train derailed in New York, New York, on May 29, 2013. (Steve Silva) UPDATE: The MTA plans to restore service by Thursday morning rush hour, according to its website. A southbound 1 train derailed during Wednesday afternoon rush hour, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck inside — all said to be uninjured — for more than an hour. The train stopped partly inside the tunnel that starts at West 122nd Street and Broadway in Morningside Heights. “It almost felt like, for people on the train, like somebody pulled the emergency break. That’s what it seemed like. In fact, that’s what we first ..read more

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