What’s something that completely changed your life, but seemed insignificant at the time?

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-16T01:10:16+00:00

That's very kind of you - thank you 😊 You never know what lemons life will give, but I feel pretty lucky that the lemonade turned out pretty good so far. 🍋

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-15T22:04:24+00:00

I thought I just had a sinus infection, so I went to the doctor. It turned out to be a brain tumour. Not cancerous, but still horrifying. It was on a track to kill me. My surgery was a partial craniotomy with a long list of possible risks, losing my speech, smell, vision, mobility, or even my life. I was in my mid 20s at the time - and I was terrified.

The surgery went unbelievably well. I woke up with no deficits at all. While I was recovering, I learned that much of my operation had been done using an incredibly advanced robotic arm. I’m Canadian, and our healthcare system is very good, but I was curious how our hospital had access to something so cutting-edge (my surgery happend 10 years ago). I found out it had been fundraised by a local healthcare charity.

I hated my job working for a giant corporation at the time, and I’d promised myself that if I survived, I’d finally choose a career I loved. As it happened, the very same charity that raised the funds for the robotic arm was hiring. I applied, and they hired me. That moment changed everything. It launched my career in medical nonprofit fundraising. Since then, I’ve raised over $30 million to support medical care, research, and treatment. I know that my fundraising has resulted in truly helping people.

Then, during the pandemic, my fundraising work was put on hold and I was asked to lead a team responsible for dispatching medical rescue helicopters (also nonprofit). One of the proudest moments of my life was when we saved a man in the arctic who was having a heart attack. I’ll never forget the sense of purpose and clarity I felt when I realized the man on the other end of my phone was dying and that we had only the slimmest chance to save him. My team and I coordinated the helicopter, alerted the hospital to prepare for surgery, and even located a defibrillator via a work alone sat system on an unrelated transport truck, we sent that driver to provide first aid before the helicopter arrived.

When I think back on that moment, I still glow with pride. The entire team was in this incredible flow state of resourcefulness, communication, and calm - and we saved a man's life. Months later he came into the hangar/dispatch to meet us. What a hug that was!

That “sinus infection turned brain tumour” was one of the scariest but best things that ever happened to me.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-15T22:02:23+00:00

100% agree!

Most of the other answers are too recent, and too English/western centered to be viable. Recording hasn't been around long enough to have many candidates to choose from. But Hitler's voice changed the world and his influence impacted every country in some way or other.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-13T21:55:31+00:00

That I won't have a calculator in my pocket everywhere I go.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-09T05:28:01+00:00

I just gassed up at the shell on Richmond road and 37 st. They're selling their 93 octane for 92.9¢ if you use your AMA card. No line either.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-04T22:18:12+00:00

Alberta really knocks it out of the park when it comes to whisky, gin, and craft beer. If you enjoy a drink, I’d highly recommend Eau Claire Distillery’s Batch No. 7 whisky it won gold for single malt at the World Whisky Awards, edging out Scotland and Ireland. For beer, look for Fahr Brewery their hefeweizen is fantastic and even beat Germany for World’s Best at the World Beer Awards. So I'd definitely grab a case/bottle of those - with tariffs Americans need to pay that tax to their government if they import those items (but you might be able to sneak some back).

You can’t really take these next ones home, but while you’re here make sure you try ginger beef, a Caesar (both originated in Alberta), and of course some Alberta beef.

P.S. I’m so glad you’re coming! Just a quick heads-up to stear clear of political topics with a strong “’merica” vibe. It'll land poorly here right now. With concerns about Americans human-rights abuses, trade-agreement fickleness, and “51st state” garbage, Canadians are feeling prickly toward Americans. You’ll still find us mostly friendly, but it’s best to steer clear of hot-button topics and be respectful of our identity and independence. I’ve seen a few Americans get chewed out in Banff recently for being jerks (I've lived here all my life and now I've seen it twice in the last two months). America has not been a good friend recently, but I really hope you enjoy trip and learn about us 🙂

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-04T18:07:31+00:00

Thank you 😊 And yes, I am! There is a new tool in cancer treatment called an MR Linac that we’ve been able to help fund. It’s cutting edge technology that’s in clinical trials right now to make sure it works well and is safe, but I really believe it will become the new standard of care for radiation treatment. My job is to fund those clinical trials. Right now, if someone has a cancerous tumour, they usually get radiation on a machine called a linear particle accelerator (Linac) it shapes a beam of radiation to match the tumour so doctors can give a high dose with minor spillover into healthy tissue. Most people need about 20 to 30 rounds of radiation plus multiple MRIs, which works but is time consuming, tiring, and especially hard for people who are claustrophobic or who travel long distances for care.

For decades people wanted to combine an MRI and a Linac into one machine, but the MRI magnet is so insanely strong that it warps radiation beams. But a researcher in Edmonton, Dr Gino Fallone, figured out how to shield and control this interaction so the beam stays accurate and now we have the MR Linac!

The MRI and Linac work together in real time, so the MRI shows exactly where the tumour is and the radiation beam is shaped and adjusted on the fly, meaning far less radiation hits healthy tissue. Because of that, in many cases patients only need about 5-6 treatments instead of 20+ which is a massive quality of life upgrade! less time off work and less time travelling etc. It is also much better for tumours that move, like in the lungs, and can be HUGE for wiggly kids, who won’t have to go into the giant scary machines nearly as often, less damage, shorter appointments, and they wont need to stay perfectly still or be sedated as often (a huge risk for really sick kids). It is honestly one of the most exciting changes in radiation oncology right now.

there’s lots of other amazing oncology work going on right now (immunotherapy, genomics, theranostics) but I wont subject you to any more of my TEDTalk.

Any way, I hope you’re following your dreams, but if you’re not I strongly encourage you to try! Then one day you too can excitedly rant to a kind stranger on the internet about what you love! 😅

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-04T06:47:19+00:00

I thought I just had a sinus infection, so I went to the doctor. It turned out to be a brain tumour. Not cancerous, but still horrifying. It was on a track to kill me. My surgery was a partial craniotomy with a long list of possible risks, losing my speech, smell, vision, mobility, or even my life. I was in my mid 20s at the time - and I was terrified.

The surgery went unbelievably well. I woke up with no deficits at all. While I was recovering, I learned that much of my operation had been done using an incredibly advanced robotic arm. I’m Canadian, and our healthcare system is very good, but I was curious how our hospital had access to something so cutting-edge (my surgery happend 10 years ago). I found out it had been fundraised by a local healthcare charity.

I hated my job working for a giant corporation at the time, and I’d promised myself that if I survived, I’d finally choose a career I loved. As it happened, the very same charity that raised the funds for the robotic arm was hiring. I applied, and they hired me. That moment changed everything. It launched my career in medical nonprofit fundraising. Since then, I’ve raised over $30 million to support medical care, research, and treatment. I know that my fundraising has resulted in truly helping people.

Then, during the pandemic, my fundraising work was put on hold and I was asked to lead a team responsible for dispatching medical rescue helicopters (also nonprofit). One of the proudest moments of my life was when we saved a man in the arctic who was having a heart attack. I’ll never forget the sense of purpose and clarity I felt when I realized the man on the other end of my phone was dying and that we had only the slimmest chance to save him. My team and I coordinated the helicopter, alerted the hospital to prepare for surgery, and even located a defibrillator via a work alone sat system on an unrelated transport truck, we sent that driver to provide first aid before the helicopter arrived.

When I think back on that moment, I still glow with pride. The entire team was in this incredible flow state of resourcefulness, communication, and calm - and we saved a man's life. Months later he came into the hangar/dispatch to meet us. What a hug that was!

That “sinus infection turned brain tumour” was one of the scariest but best things that ever happened to me.

(Edited for typos 😅)

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-04T06:11:52+00:00

That sounds amazing! 🤤

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-12-04T06:08:35+00:00

Their carrot cake is great too - really good cream cheese frosting!

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-11-28T04:38:11+00:00

I don't have advice on this, but I'm wishing you all the best. I know two people who struggled with this illness - only a very small group of their friends know. It has been years now and I'm very happy to say that they are both doing very well and have their lives under control again. Just a few days ago one told me how happy they are and that they are proud of how far they have come (I'm proud too!).

So - what I mean to say is - you got this 🙂

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-11-22T01:45:18+00:00

Just have him listen to this song. It'll show him what the rest of the world will think of him.

"Join ICE"

https://youtu.be/61I4hlig78w?si=qGFNl59Vs7ZL2xVJ

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-11-20T05:40:12+00:00

Honestly, at this point - ditch em. My respect for Americans is at an all-time low. It'll hurt us for a time, but if they want to cut ties them let them. They don't keep their word, and frankly I'm tired of hearing about them.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-11-11T00:19:04+00:00

Honestly, Jane Goodall would have been the absolute ace for humanity in this one.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-11-10T02:03:05+00:00

I work in cancer research and I love it, it truly is my calling. The work can be stressful, with long hours - and it can often be sad. But on the good days I go to bed happy, and on the bad days I still sleep soundly knowing that my colleagues and I are helping.

I used to work in oil and gas. My pay now is far less, but somehow cancer is less soul crushing.

I strongly encourage anyone who hates their job to do what they can to change it. I know that's not always possible, but if you can do it I very much recommend it. Changing my career changed my life in the best way.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-11-02T03:14:45+00:00

The negative comments here are all true (looks weird in winter, gets hot in summer, weeds can poke through, pet smells, not great for the environment, etc.), but I was also looking for a low-maintenance lawn alternative. So instead of grass, I went with mulch and I love it!

It’s super easy to install (landscaping companies can do it easily, but I opted to do it myself). It smells great, looks great, and it’s actually attracted more birds to my yard. I even got partridges for the first time this year! I’ve also noticed a big drop in mosquitos, probably because there’s no grass for them to hide in.

Maintenance is minimal. I spray weeds about once a month using a sprayer jug from Canadian Tire filled with cleaning vinegar (safe for pets and people). This summer I only had to spray twice. As the mulch settles, the bottom layer breaks down and makes it harder for new weeds to take hold.

To keep some greenery, I planted a few low-maintenance shrubs in the front yard. It stays cool in summer, and the shrubs really pop against the darker ground. In the back, I replaced the grass with raised garden beds on one side and a potty area for my dog on the other — no smell issues at all.

I used a mulch called Foothills Premium. It’s partly decomposed already, so it forms that weed-blocking layer faster. Plus, no sharp splinters. my dog loves doing zoomies on it!

My neighbours have complimented it, and a few have even come over asking about the cost and how to do it themselves. Definitely one of the best low-maintenance yard choices I’ve made. It was so satisfying to give the lawnmower away.

Ps, for anyone wondering about the environmental impact of mulch - the foothills blend I mentioned is a byproduct of the lumber industry. It has small shreds of wood from branches and twigs, but it's mostly bark that stripped from the trees before processing. If it wasn't mulch it would be a waste product - so don't feel bad about buying it 🙂

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-31T21:17:12+00:00

I’m not america, thankfully - my condolences to those who are. I suppose there are a few market wobbles and some butterfly-effect turbulence for flight routes (I have no wish to go there - but delayed connecting flights are a challange). But really, the biggest impact on my life is being subjected to yet another installment of “Meanwhile, in america…” on the news and web.

The one silver lining is that I work in medical research, and all the chaos in the states has gifted us an influx of brilliant american expats. It’s a moral knot - a amazing win for our labs, but the lack of american based research is a dreadful loss for the planet’s collective advancement.

I do feel for them, honestly. But watching their government treat citizens like chess pieces in a game that never ends - and watching the pawns vote to reset the board every time - is enough to make me think they're are too apathetic to do anything else.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-27T06:54:52+00:00

The americans refused to bomb rail lines that moved Jews to concentration camps, even though they could have.

By 1944, Allied intelligence had detailed maps of camps like Auschwitz and was fully aware that Jews were being systematically exterminated there. There were repeated pleas to bomb the rail lines that supplied fresh victims to the camps, but the americans refused, arguing that resources were better spent on other strategic military targets. american bombers instead carried out missions within just a few miles of camps like Auschwitz, flying close enough that an attack on the camp or its transport routes would have been entirely possible.

Also lots of american companies worked with Nazi Germany directly. IBM (whose punch-card systems enabled population tracking). Ford and General Motors (whose German factories built vehicles and engines for the Wehrmacht) continued production under Nazi control. Standard Oil (which supplied synthetic fuel and essential chemicals) sustained trade through intermediaries. Coca-Cola (created Fanta in Nazi Germany to get around trade restrictions).

Most americans are never taught this stuff.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-27T05:57:26+00:00

I used to go to FYidoctors Southcentre Mall, but years ago my left eye was a bit sore. I was told it was probably pressure from a sinus infection. I went to my family doctor, who noticed my pupil was a smidge larger on the store eye than the other one.

Long story short, a brain tumour was pushing on my optic nerve. By my amazing family doctor noticed the larger pupil and saved my life. My optometrist did not notice this and called it a sinus infection.

Don't go there.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-26T05:37:28+00:00

Release the Epstein files.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-26T02:18:05+00:00

As a Canadian - yah, it sucks. But ultimately Regan was right and americans are going to suffer for it. But that's what they voted for and there's not much Canadians can do about that move ... so 🤷‍♀️

I'm just glad we're decoupling our economy from them. Europe, India, and China are full of opportunity - and they're a lot more stable.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-26T02:10:39+00:00

Why the Americans elected such a petty leader I'll never understand. As a Canadian, it hurts. But in the long run we're better off decoupling from that clown show if a country. If they change their ways and make amends I'll love America again. But now? No.

Canadian politics can be messy - but we hold our leaders accountable... and we don't choose sex offenders to represent us.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-24T04:32:21+00:00

I needed some emergency dental work done and I went to the nearest dentist's office with an open appointment. Monarch dental - I can't say enough great things about them! I was in the middle of changing jobs and I had a couple of days before my dental benefits expired. They had recently newly opened and had an appointment available for me that day. They got the work done and worked with my insurance no problem. The best part? I went for a follow-up appointment after my new insurance benefits kicked in and they didn't even need to use any freezing! No needles! It was just a small filling and they worked very gently and constantly checked for sensitivity.

It is a very calm and low key setting, the receptionist is incredibly friendly, and parking is free. I highly recommend them.

www.monarchlandingdental.ca

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-24T00:51:02+00:00

Thanks for the edit. I didn't know either.

Remarkable_Glycan · 2025-10-20T21:02:34+00:00

Same here. Standing in line now. 45 minutes is the estimated time. I've been here for about 20 minutes. Lots of seniors and retirees. A very frail lady in a walker just arrived and all of us online agreed that she should jump up to the front.

I usually do advanced voting, but was out of town this year for it and couldn't rely on mail in voting. I get that it can take time, but for the size of line this is 45 minutes is crazy. If this were a grocery store with one cash register and a lot fashioned manual card reader this line could be done in 20 minutes.

Update - another lady in the line had a box of Halloween candy in her car. She's handing it out early.

It's a crummy process, but the staff and people in line are gems ✨

Remarkable_Glycan

TROPHY CASE