Chris Balicki

Location: Merrickville, Ontario, Canada

Member Since: 15 January 2002

Professional Associations

 Travelwriters.com

Introduction

Hello Chris: Thank you so much for the "Five Great Places to Get Seasonings and Sauces" article in today's Ottawa Citizen. (Saturday, November 29, 2008). It has already drawn a number of people to our store, and they all indicated that they enjoyed your entire article. I liked the photo you did too! No doubt we will be hearing comments in the coming weeks and months. Many thanks again. Alison Steele-Myers & Rob Myers, Co-owners, Chilly Chiles, www.chillychiles.com

"Very well written, a compelling story (about the Golden Boy). Many thanks. John B. Thorpe, Communications Coordinator, Communications Services Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba

"Hi Chris! I received the copies of Good Times and was most impressed by the article! Calls and emails are coming in daily. I liked the fact that you wove details throughout the story and I laughed throughout recalling the memories we shared walking along the trails in Nova Scotia. The feature has been very successful for the company in terms of enquiries from prospective walking guests and I have had wonderful conversations with many. This publication was certainly a good fit between Good Times and Scott Walking Adventures! Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you again... Kind regards." Angela & The Scott Walking Team, Hubbards, Nova Scotia

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. An amazing report. We have had such great response already. Incredible." Maria Goyanes, Manager, Pueblo Ingles, Madrid, Spain.

"Thank you for your article in good times. The phone has been ringing continuously since the article came out. There it goes again!" Joy Clarke, Communications Manager, Kawartha Voyageur, Ontario Waterway Cruises, Inc.

"Since I retired three years ago, I have been talking about combining a trip with volunteer work, like the vacations Chris Balicki describes in the article "Have Heart, Will Travel" (September). These volunteers do make a difference. Thanks - now I'm definitely going to do it." Marian Harvey, Hamilton Ont.

Whether my travels take me around the corner, or across the city, the country or ocean, I always love introducing readers to the places I've been, the people I've met, and the experiences I've been privileged to enjoy.

A professional freelance researcher and award-winning journalist and travel writer, my pieces have ranged from 100 to 3000 plus words. They reveal a sense of place, and are filled with quotes, anecdotes, vivid imagery, fascinating facts, and when appropriate,my own unique sense of humor. My articles have included destination pieces, profiles of intriguing local personalities, history-based features and reviews of spas and inns. As well as travel articles, my published credits include interviews with well-known people in the news, humor pieces and articles related to health and contemporary living issues.

As a contributor to good times, Canada's Magazine for Successful Retirement (paid circulation of 160,000) I have won seven National Mature Media Awards (annual Chicago-based awards which honor the best in published works aimed at a readership of 50 or over) including a 2006 Silver Award for "Have Heart Will Travel: These volunteers help to build a better world."

Publishing Credentials

Ottawa Citizen, Good Times, Fifty-Five Plus, Legion Magazine, North American Inns, Spalife, Cowboys & Indians, Reunions Magazine and other regional newspapers.

Awards Received

Seven (Chicago-based) National Mature Media Awards which honour the best in published material aimed at a readership that is 50 or over. Eleven eastern Ontario's Valley Writers' Guild awards, received in the Guild's annual international fiction and non-fiction writing competitions.

Clips & Samples (View All 15)

 Five Great Places to Get Seasonings and Sauces , Ottawa Citizen

 Golden Boy, Legion Magazine, September/October, 2008, (circ. 370,500)

 Adventures Afoot: Exploring Nova Scotia, Good Times, Canada's Magazine for Successful Retirement, November, 2007 (Circ. 160,000)

 Visit Spain or Italy for a Song!, Good Times, Canada's Magazine for Sucessful Retirement, March, 2007

 The Colonel's Canal, Legion Magazine, March/April, 2007 (circ. 370,500)