al etmanski

I enjoy being a full time dad and step dad to our five adult children, four daughters and a son. I thrive in the company of my grandson. Our specialities are talking about death, Lego dinosaurs, making walking sticks and cracking fart jokes. Like everyone I’ve had my fair share of upheavals. My most recent one has cracked open my heart. As a result I’m falling in love with the world. Every day a little bit more.

My lifetime as a community organizer has taught me the importance of rallying the lovesick and broken hearted. And the value of that chip on my shoulder becoming compost.

I’ve written four books and I’m curating another one about caring in Canada.

These days I’m learning to be a sheet pan chef. I’m also a flower arranger in training. Plus I am trying my best to stay away from nouns, the word ‘but’ and far too many adjectives :-)


My website is a little out of date. Still it will give you a sense of what I’m about.