As women around the world banded together to send a collective message to the new U.S. president about equal rights and freedoms, there were other signs from Mother Earth that didn’t go unnoticed – by me at least.

In three seemingly unrelated stories (there could be more) – large numbers of animals were found dead: Dolphins washed ashore in the U.K., and dead pelicans and false killer whales were discovered along the Florida coast. Sad news indeed. And no real answers on why. Innocent animals are always the first casualties, but no one appears to be sounding the alarm. Please tell me I’m wrong. There must be something in the water…We’re poisoning our beautiful world and this is just another resounding reminder of the true cost of our complacency.

This weekend, it was incredibly warm in Toronto and while I was out walking with a friend and her dog we spotted several robins on a lawn. Yes, robins – in January. To me, these birds are always the first sign of spring. Alarming and concerning. This is Canada after all, the true north, in winter.