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Among the Cossacks
Ontario - Introduction

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Mikefolio | Writing and Photography

Among the Cossacks:
A Journey into Southern Russia
This is a travel piece about Rostov-na-Donu, a city 1,000 kilometers south of Moscow. The experience was phenomenal - exposing the real Russia - a still-emergening power that is caught in a time-warp between the old Soviet days and a newly developing consumer society. Witness the contrasts in public spaces - captured in half-dozen photographs that accompany Mike's article.
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Ontario: An Introduction for the Traveler
Ontario is a land of superlatives—richest province, biggest city (Toronto) and nation’s capital (Ottawa); A staggering amount of economic and political influence resides within Ontario’s borders. It is a cultural and entertainment hotspot, and the gateway to Niagara Falls, world’s biggest-hyped scenic wonder. Cottagers, including Americans from neighbouring states like Michigan, Ohio and New York arrive en masse every summer to enjoy a weekend of sport fishing or family holiday in ‘cottage country'...
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Writing BIO
Mike has written about a wide variety of subjects and has been mostly self-published in his own magazines and at "Strongandfree.ca" (including subsites like SkateOntario and Tdot magazines).

Never shy about posing a difficult question, and motivated by his love for music, he got his start in the late 80s interviewing alternative music luminaries like: Henry Rollins, Ian Mackaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi, Bill Stevenson of All/Descendents, The Doughboys, Sloan and The Wedding Present. Mike also interviewed the key players in rising music business companies like Sonic Unyon and Raw Energy Records, Kevin Thomas, the lead activist behind a group called Friends of the Lubicon (supporting an Alberta "First Nations" band), and popular Toronto DJ Denise Benson.

As an entrepreneur with a clothing line to promote (Sick Clothing), Mike started writing for advertising and websites in the middle 1990s. This first exposure to brand development expanded into writing the copy for website clients in the 2000s. Additionally Mike wrote articles, reviews, and 'how-tos' for websites like SkateOntario and Tdot Magazine. As an authority on the Ontario skateboard community Mike was interviewed for the Outdoor Life Network TV program "Concrete Wave."

A geography major, Mike returned in 2004 to the University of Toronto to complete a minor in English. He participated in a creative writing class, led byToronto poet and novelist Michael Redhill, honing his abilites with poetry and the editing process. In 2005, Mike continued his studies with the course "Post-Modernism in 20th Century Literature." Favourite courses have also included "Urban Political Geography" and "Sub-Saharan African Literature."

These days Mike concentrates his energies on poetry, short fiction, lyrics and travel writing.

Mike's Writing Portfolio 2000
visit strongandfree.ca/portfolio/writing (for music, film and theatre reviews)

Mike’s Language/Culture/Art/Travel blog:
visit iam.strongandfree.ca