Skip to content
John Swart

John Swart

After three decades co-owning various southern Ontario small businesses with his wife, Els, John Swart has enjoyed 15 years in retirement volunteering, bicycling the world, and feature writing. At the Voice of Pelham he won the George Cadogan Memorial Outstanding Columnist Award, and Outstanding Columnist in the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. His column The Balanced Life appears weekly on PelhamToday.

Recent Work by John

COLUMN: We don’t need American fruit, vegetables

COLUMN: We don’t need American fruit, vegetables

Canadian farm produce with a few non-American imports provide all we need for year-round nutritional health
COLUMN: The health risks of normalizing obesity

COLUMN: The health risks of normalizing obesity

Body positivity, yes, but where is counterproductive social media taking us, asks John Swart
COLUMN: Cancel culture comes to bicycling

COLUMN: Cancel culture comes to bicycling

Removing bike lanes isn't really about bikes, columnist says
COLUMN: What are the secrets to marital longevity?

COLUMN: What are the secrets to marital longevity?

Lessons learned over 50 years apply beyond marriage — and aren't mysterious at all
COLUMN: Travel might be great way to beat 'premature aging'

COLUMN: Travel might be great way to beat 'premature aging'

Columnist says he isn't convinced by findings of much-publicized new study that outlines potential benefits of travel
COLUMN: What you need to know about Dead Butt Syndrome

COLUMN: What you need to know about Dead Butt Syndrome

Otherwise known as Gluteal Amnesia, and you definitely don't want it
COLUMN: Who needs Hercules when stretch therapy will do?

COLUMN: Who needs Hercules when stretch therapy will do?

Assisted stretching is a rapidly growing industry, columnist writes
COLUMN: Sleep vs hydration — finding the ideal balance

COLUMN: Sleep vs hydration — finding the ideal balance

Cutting out liquids before bed can have unexpected consequences
COLUMN: Total absorption is the key to 'Flow'

COLUMN: Total absorption is the key to 'Flow'

Call it 'in the zone' or 'in the groove,' flow means no holding back
COLUMN: Is your happy place on a walking trail?

COLUMN: Is your happy place on a walking trail?

The correlation between physical activity and happiness is genuine
More work by John >