Colin Mochrie is an award-winning, multi-talented performer and writer, born in the 1950s in Kilmarnock, Scotland, setting foot on Canadian soil in 1964, where he has since remained. You may know him from 12 years on the successful TV show Whose Line is It Anyway?, and for the comedy series Getting Along Famously for which he was co-creator, executive producer, writer and star with his wife Debra McGrath.

He has appeared in many Canadian comedy series, is a sought-after featured performer in several films – and will host the Canadian version of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Resident of Toronto’s Leaside, Colin performs more than 100 live improv shows per year with Brad Sherwood. In 2009 Colin and Brad performed at the National Press Correspondents Dinner for the US President and the executive branch. Recently seen performing live in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre, at the Gilda’s Club benefit It’s Always Something, he spoke with Tempo Toronto about life beyond 50. (And, by the way, he is a really good person.)

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In the spirit of sharing, she had the vision to create a magazine that would inspire fellow third-agers living in and around Toronto to sometimes escape from their roles as parents, grandparents, employees, housekeepers, caregivers and adult children and try something different just for themselves. Tina’s third-age achievements include learning to ride and winning first prize in a novice dressage competition, getting a pilot’s license, piloting a helicopter, qualified in sailing, rescue SCUBA diver, cross-country and downhill skiing, canoeing and camping in Algonquin’s back-country, winter camping in a self-built quinzy, dragon boat racing for charity, tried on-line dating and met her dearly beloved of 7 years, discovered a talent for watercolour painting, became board member with several charity and not-for-profit organizations, graduated with an MBA and Masters in Management, and bought a Vespa. Now 56, she’s not even close to stopping!

“I come from a simple background. If I can push the envelope during my third age, then anyone can. I am motivated to explore all that life has to offer, and continue to embrace new opportunities.”

Tempo Toronto is only about encouragement and inspiration. It’s all positive. We want to open doors to persuade you to try something new, something that perhaps wasn’t even on your radar. And, most of all, Tempo Toronto is all about being positive and staying active in mind, body and spirit. We ask you to join our community by registering, and get connected to other inspirational people.

We ask you to comment on articles, and provide content to help us build the online community that works for you.

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Most days find Ronnie Arato at her keyboard from mid-morning to late afternoon. She continues to research and write novels for children: a passion that came to her late in her writing career when she made a shift from freelance corporate writing.

Inspirational action: Published first novel at 65

Now 68, she had “Ice Cream Town”, her first children’s novel, published three years ago. She has published five books since she was 60, including two reference works earlier on, with one more novel due out this Fall, and three others in the works. Her book “Courage and Compassion” was Canadian Living’s Editor’s Pick in the Spring, It seems that Ronnie has hit her stride.

It wasn’t always this way. Born in New York and growing up in Los Angeles, to then become an elementary teacher, somewhere along the way she got married, had children, and moved to Toronto. She didn’t get back to teaching after the children came along, but instead started a writing career doing corporate publicity and public relations, as well as some journalism and writing and editing for not-for-profit organizations.

But, she had always wanted to get back to working with and writing for children. “This is what I had always wanted to do. I love dealing with children, I love the research, and I really enjoy learning new things,” said Ronnie. “So at 60 I thought to myself if I don’t do this now, then when will I get around to it?”

When she got serious she did a lot of networking with already published children’s writers, and joined a writers group. She attended industry events in Toronto where she got to know the publishers in person. Great strategy! When she submitted a proposal, the publishers already knew who she was, and that had to help.

“Then it was a lot of really hard work,” Ronnie explained. “I rewrote ‘Ice Cream Town’ three times, for example. Then the publishers took months to get back to me. You really have to have the patience of Jobe to do this.”

Though there isn’t a fortune to be made in writing for children, Ronnie does this because she loves it. While she still does some corporate work, she is concentrating on her new-found career as a children’s author, including going to schools to do readings, which keeps her in touch with her grades 5 to 7 audience.

“My writing introduces children to people, cultures and ideas they may not have been exposed to before. Many children in Canada don’t know about our own history or our heroes. I am most comfortable writing historical books, both fiction and non-fiction, and children enjoy learning how children lived a century ago. My book that comes out in the Fall, “On a Canadian Day”, has nine stories of children at pivotal times in Canadian history, such as a young girl coming through Pier 21 as a new immigrant.”

“By the time I get to the age of 90, I will become an overnight success!”, she joked.

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