If I read one more article about people moaning that they can't go to their family seaside cottage or send their kids to camp for 6 weeks, I'll throw something.

To be clear, my problem isn't with people missing those activities. Of course they do. It's with editors presenting the cottage/summer camp narrative as a shorthand for some universal Canadian experience that doesn't exist.

Cottages and camps are privileges not usually enjoyed by many Canadians, especially BIPOC. While generational wealth has something to do with it-- especially in the case of family cottages passed down-- so does culture.

I grew up middle class, went to private school. My summers were exclusively urban. We'd spend the odd weekend at a family friend's cottage, but my parents thought part-time property was wasteful. Camp was out of the question. I asked once, was told no, and that was that.

So instead of another cottager pity piece, I'd love an article on how lower income folks with no air conditioning are going to be working from home in cities all summer.