In 2010, Colonel Russell Williams was chosen news maker of the year in Canada.

The year had started so well for this decorated colonel. He was a rising star in the ranks of the air force that managed Canada’s largest military airfield. As a pilot, he had flown Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, the prime minister and many VIP guests in military airplanes.

Disclaimer : Before I delve into my narrative about serial killer Robert Pickton, I would like to apologize to all the innocent pigs that were hurt and used in the commission of his crimes and whose reputation and memory I am about to tarnish. I am sure that they never intended to roll in the mud with him or hoink 3 times for a street worker.

On June 8, 1989, a 44-year old Canadian nurse named Cindy James was found dead in Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver. She had been drugged and strangled, with her hands and feet tied behind her back. 

The Shafia family murders took place on June 30, 2009 in Kingston, Ontario. The Shafia sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar 17 and Geeti, 13, along with Rona Amir Mohammed, 50, were found dead inside an automobile discovered at the bottom of the Rideau Canal. They were the daughters of Mohammad Shafia and his wife Tooba Mohammad Yahya. Rona Amir Mohammed was the first wife of Mr. Shafia in his polygamist household. 

On July 30, 2008, 22-year old Tim McLean, boarded bus 1170 to return home to Winnipeg, Manitoba after finishing a stint as a carnival worker in Alberta. It was 12:01 p.m. when he took his window seat at the rear of the bus.

Recently, I had the pleasure of discovering an older movie called “Six Degrees of Separation”, a film adaptation of a play written by Pulitzer Prize winner John Guare.

The story was inspired by real-life con artist David Hampton who impersonated Sidney Poitier’s son and managed to fool many people in upper crust circles.  In the movie, Stockard Channing was magnificent playing a socialite married to art dealer Donald Sutherland. Will Smith got jiggy with it and gave a super performance in the role of David Hampton. This movie is a real gem.