iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I've never seen Lake Winnipeg so placid.

calm lake, four people walking on pebbly beach in foreground.

Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Great to see @danmanganmusic.com at the WECC last night (with the fab Secret Beach opening). Lovely intimate moment at the end.

Dan Mangan standing on a chair in the middle of a crowd performing with no mic. He is illuminated by ond light at his feet.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It was a spectacular morning to celebrate National Truth and Reconciliation Day at The Forks.

People wearing orange are gathered around the Oodena Celebration Circle. spectacular, finely patterned sky overhead

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

15 years ago today, I was at the first #NHLJets 2.0 exhibition game with @chestnutfez.bsky.social. Jets were still replacing the dominant Moose branding in the arena. Adults shedding tears. Buff electrifying the crowd with big CBJ hits out of the gate. Such a charged and fun atmosphere.

winnipeg arena interior pregame from the high seats, slight shroud of fog in the air.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Sean Burns and Lost Country celebrated their fresh new release at Sidestage tonight. Great songs, great show and kick-ass band. tidal.com/album/554480...

five piece band on stage, man wearing coveralls and playing double bass singing in centre

five piece band on stage, man wearing coveralls and playing double bass singing in centre. wider angle view shows rapt audience

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Golden Hour Cafe on Corydon is still getting things sorted, but I lucked out and came in during a few soft launch hours. Looks cosy! (2nd floor). I'll take a coffee joint that has chairs with some padding anytime.

cozy looking padded chairs and tables in café. row of windows out to the street.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I imagine all who care to know, know this already. The legendary Ami is back.

falafel place storefront with a handmade sign in the window: "Ami is back"

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Yikes. Blues prospect. Heatstroke is no joke.

Leonard Aragon, another attorney representing Mayich’s family, told KTAR News on Tuesday that Mayich flew in from Ottawa, Canada, less than a week before his first practice in Arizona’s heat, which he claims was led by a former Green beret who pushed the athletes to their limit and beyond with a military-style workout. He also alleged that the student-athletes would be punished for stopping or drinking water.

“He didn’t have a chance to get acclimated. He wanted to make a good impression for his teammates, for his coaches, for himself on his new team,” Aragon said. “And eventually, Matthew apparently suffered heatstroke and passed out and the ambulance was called, and now he’s … at Barrows St. Joe’s and receiving phenomenal care, but he’s there in critical condition. … Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good.”

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Local crooner Sam Singer opened up. I'd love to hear more! He has shows coming up including at King Cobb Sept 16.

4 pc band on stage, middle person singing and playing guitar

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

It's been a minute since Deep Dark Woods were in town, and they were sounding fine at The Park tonight.

Ryan Boldt from Deep Dark Woods in spotlight on stage

Deep Dark Woods, 4 pc band on stage bathed in blue and purple

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

It depends on where you are. Google has owned up to this. Canadians will see "Lake Ontario" but Americans will see "Lake America". blog.google/products-and...

a graphic "what Maps users will see":
In the USA: Lake America
In Canada: Lake Ontario
In the rest of the world: Lake Ontario (Lake America)

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Great to see Ridley Bent with Chris Dunn-lovely evening for a yard concert. Thanks Wit's End.

Side view of two men performing music outside

two men wearing hats, singing and playing guitars

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

...Or try her Imagination Library donation portal (pretty cool you can really zero in on your target, even a small First Nation) donate.imaginationlibrary.com

On the donation page, there is a drop down where you can choose one of any number of communities/First Nations in Manitoba and other provinces.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

NYT gift article www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/w...

The Canadians also pressed the United States for a level of certainty that the deal would not be scrapped overnight by the Trump administration. But the United States maintained that it would retain all power to change tariff policy against Canada at any time, irrespective of the agreement, officials said. Mr. Carney would say in his seething Saturday address to Canadians: Sometimes, the United States signature is “written in pencil.”

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I was a big music magazine guy in 80s and 90s. Today it's the same artists as 30-40 years ago. The current magazine demographic is old and narrow. The one I might have bought was $27 + tax. Nope. Still sad about the passing of an era.

rack of many music magazines mostly of artists from 70s and 80s

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Let's just say I'm glad I went. It's too late to come today but you can still go tomorrow/Sunday (new location). August 23rd - Winnipeg Walmart - 3655 Portage Ave. 10 am - 4 pm

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

It will be hard to beat tonight for a gloriously perfect #Winnipeg summer evening. Broke Spokes on Sookram's patio.

trio performing on outdoor patio, patrons seated in foreground

trio playing and singing (double bass, acoustic guitar and electric guitar)

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

We wound down our trip in Dublin--wandering through Trinity College, down Grafton (taking in the buskers), and down through St. Stephen's Green and Iveagh Gardens. Last dinner in The Church Cafe Bar. We walked back through Temple Bar area (skipping the overpriced offerings). Lovely trip. -30-

church converted into a restaurant with multiple levels. pipe organ in background.

building lit up at night time. tight security measures.

stately building in Dublin, water in foreground

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

During this session in Gortahork, this woman sang a capella - THE most magical moment. I felt privileged to hear and see this. /12

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

We had many great musical pub experiences, but the most magical was a trad session we came upon in Gortahork. /11

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Then we were off to spectacular Donegal. Just a few of the highlights were the Glenveagh Castle/Park area, Dunlewey/Poisoned Glen and Horn head (the furthest north we travelled in Ireland). /10

my partner in foreground, castle in background

picture of lovely valley, ruins of church and lake in foreground

selfie with cliffs and ocean in background.

mountains, hills, my partner posing in greenery, and sheep in foreground.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Then we were off to County Mayo (staying on a rural AirB&B near Belmullet). Many highlights including the Erris Head Loop Walk (one of my favourite memories of our trip). 9/

sea and seaside cliffs. a person is climbing a ladder to cross a rural fence. Sheep are far in background.

woman wearing cap looks out over Atlantic ocean from top of green and rocky hill.

sky, sun, sea, hills, and sheep in foreground.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Members of the Mahon family retained the manor until about 1980. Mahon family members sold art pieces to maintain some revenue, replacing them with copies--and living in fewer rooms as the manor deteriorated beyond what they could afford to repair. Now part of the estate is a Famine Museum. /7

interior of Mahon estate (drawing room?). assorted portraits on walls.

tour of interior of Mahon reading/library room

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Word got back to Strokestown about appalling conditions on the ships Mahon used to ship people away, as well as the subsequent death that ensued. Mahon was the first of the wealthy landlords to be assassinated during The Great Famine. My ancestors left for N. America shortly after in 1849/1850. 6/

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Denis Mahon was the wealthy landowner during The Great Famine, living in style in his manor as people were devastated & dying (including on his estate as tenant farmers). He shipped hundreds of folk he evicted on "coffin ships" to Quebec in 1847, many of whom died on route.

exterior of Mahon Manor, with weathered but majestic columns at front entrance

wide angle view of large manor. Grey skies.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Next up was Strokestown, County Roscommon. It's inland and fairly central (not a typical tourist destination). My great great grandparents left here during The Great Famine, so I did do a few graveyard crawls to see if I could see any family names. 4/

outside gates of ruins of church and cemetery

old weathered gravestone with old style cross motif

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

More from Skerries. It was a great place to adjust our clocks to Ireland time. 3/

angular metal Tidy Towns statue on beach of Skerries

fishing boats anchored at Skerries, lovely sky

foodie pic - two different fish/seafood plates, side of potatoes and assorted greens, and a Bulmers cider.

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

These were our wheels for the two weeks in Ireland. It was a sleepless overnight transatlantic flight. One vivid memory is getting behind the wheel at the airport rental parkade in Dublin, feeling exhausted, reviewing the drive to Skerries, thinking "drive on left, roundabouts clockwise). 2/

Small four door black car parked in Skerries neighbourhood

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Back from our trip to Ireland as of Friday. It was a trip of a lifetime. We landed in Dublin and spent a few days in nearby Skerries (AirB&B right on Irish Sea). 1/

view of the Irish Sea from our AirB&B window

Skerries peninsula with a row of restuaurants/pubs/stores, narrow highway and Irish sea to the right

My partner walking along the beach. Cloudy but spectacular sky

stunning sunset against Irish sea. dramatic hidden sun shooting out rays of light against dark, cloudy sky

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Oly Backstrom @olybackstrom.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Something new cooking up on Corydon. "Coffee by day, sangria by night". Looks promising 🤞

two story building with "golden hour cafe and bar" sign, cozy looking outdoor seating. opening soon

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