This is how my MSN gallery assignments work:

Step 1: I suggest a topic or am given one.
Step 2: My editors determine the number of slides involved.
Step 3: I cry myself to sleep over the compensation.
Step 4: I write the gallery copy, select corresponding photos, yadda yadda yadda, and make my deadline like no deadline has ever been made before.
Step 5: The gallery is posted and the Pulitzer people start calling. Leave me be you bow-tied devils!
Step 6: The gallery is somehow used to sway elections in Burkina Faso.

Somewhere between steps 4 and 5 a few of my genius selections are occasionally nixed. A record-setting four slides in my new "20 incredible moms who made history" gallery, for instance, were given the old heave-ho, apparently because they deal with religious subjects or refer to mothers who gave birth to greatness but were not historically great themselves. I tried to argue the second point — you’ll understand why soon enough — but gave up when I realized that arguing takes time, and time is money, and money is the root of all evil, and Roots makes sweatpants, and sweatpants are a sign of giving up.

So because today is Mother's Day, and because this is my blog and I can post whatever the hell I want (insert evil laugh), here are the four slides that missed, but deserved to make, the cut:

Grace Sutter
When Grace married in the early 1950s and settled on an Alberta farm, she probably didn’t expect to raise seven sons and not a single daughter. It wouldn’t have surprised her that her sons played hockey — they’re Albertans, after all — but there’s no way she could have known that six of the seven would make it to the NHL.

Writer’s note: A mom raises seven boys, six of whom go on to play and coach NHL hockey, and she’s not historically great? Seriously? Come ON.

Mary Ball Washington
The mother of America’s first president was instrumental in molding her first-born son, George, into a true icon of history. An orphan at 13 and a widow at 35, Mary never remarried, instead choosing to manage her family and property herself. She was seen as a difficult woman by many, but she did things her way — especially when it came to her nation-building son.

Writer’s note: George Washington said his mother “was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.” But did he always answer her texts? Even when he was powering his wig? I doubt it.

The Virgin Mary
Two of the three great monotheistic religions have mothers as central figures. (Muhammad was orphaned at an early age, which takes Islam out of the picture.) For the 2 billion Christians out there, the mother of Jesus Christ is about as good as it gets. After all, according to the Bible, Mary gave birth to the messiah after being impregnated by God, spirited him away when his young life was in danger, witnessed his resurrection, established the Stations of the Cross...the list of blessed deeds goes on and on.

Writer’s note: I think I’ll send Mary a signed copy of 1,000 Places To See After You Die. The Aramaic edition, of course.

Jochebed
Judaism, meanwhile, celebrates the heroism of Moses’s mother. Tradition has it that Jochebed, who was also mom to Aaron and Miriam, hid Moses for three months when the Egyptians ordered the death of all newborn Hebrew males. Then she united him with his destiny by setting him afloat on the Nile in a reed basket that was found by the pharaoh’s daughter. Moses was reared in the Egyptian court, and the rest is history.

Writer’s note: If you’re not Jewish, is it sacrilegious to think Jochebed was kind of hot? Asking for a friend...

​When tragedy strikes cities around the world — in recent years in Paris, Nice, Miami, London, Las Vegas, and in far too many others — my first instinct is to make a B-line for them. I suppose part of me wants to make sure that tragedy hasn’t dimmed their lustre. Thankfully, the healing process always makes cities stronger, and I have no doubt this will be the case with Toronto, my home for more than 20 years.

Of course, since I’m already here, Toronto’s enduring greatness surrounds me every day. And IMHO, these 11 spots are where it shines the brightest:

Toronto Islands Park
A 15-minutes ferry ride from the foot of Bay St., the car-free and bike-friendly Islands feel like a faraway slice of cottage country. I’m especially fond of Ward’s Island, home to one of Toronto’s finest stretches of sand, the bucolic Island Cafe, arguably the best disc-golf course in Canada — E.T. Seton Park also has a superb track — and a community of whimsical cottages that’s straight out of a Tim Burton flick. Plus, few places are better for admiring the stunning downtown skyline.

St. Lawrence Market
I love visiting this massive covered foodie paradise on weekdays in the early afternoon, and making a meal of sampling the wares at the scores of vendors spread over the market’s two floors.

Horseshoe Tavern
I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve taken the stage in the same checkerboard-floored venue celebrated in the Tragically Hip’s “Bobcaygeon.” The ‘Shoe, along with spots like Massey Hall, Lee’s Palace and the Opera House, make Toronto the ultimate Canadian destination for live-music fans.

Hockey Hall of Fame
This 57,000-square-foot shrine features 15 exhibit areas cover everything from a vintage replica of the Montreal Canadiens' dressing room to an interactive area where you can snap pucks at a computer simulation of goalie Ed Belfour. My only quibble: Why isn’t an entire wing devoted to the Calgary Flames?

Canada’s Wonderland
I have a thing for roller coasters, and the country’s largest theme park has the Western Hemisphere’s greatest variety of them. There’s Leviathan, Wonderland’s tallest, and Vortex, Canada’s first suspended roller coaster. To quote a visiting cousin: “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

Royal Ontario Museum
I’m not really a museum person, but the ROM wins me over every time. Behind its trippy "Michael Lee-Chin Crystal" façade more than six million items are housed in 40 galleries, with world-class collections showcasing dinosaurs, Near Eastern, African and East Asian art, and European and Canadian history.

The Scarborough Bluffs
This 14-km-long sedimentary escarpment provides a dramatic backdrop for more of Toronto's best beaches, a network of marsh-crossing boardwalks, and an expansive marina that’s home to fishing charters that gave me an afternoon of salmon fishing I’ll never forget.

Kensington Market
Just west of Chinatown, this warren of streets takes its neighbour’s ethnic energy and adds a dose of bohemian style. Ramshackle storefronts house everything from vintage clothing boutiques to taco joints, while street performers swallow swords and do their best Dylan impressions for passers-by.

Distillery District
This collection of brick heritage buildings and cobblestone streets is transformed into a festive wonderland in December, and in summer practically overflows with outdoor patios. The Mill Street Brew Pub, for instance, pours more than a dozen house beers.

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
For aquarium enthusiasts such as myself, it doesn’t get much better than the shark-filled “Dangerous Lagoon.” The 2.5-million-litre display is home to scores of the 450 water-dwelling species that call Ripley's home, and can be viewed from below via a glass-domed moving sidewalk that’s the longest of its kind in North America.  

High Park Zoo
Toronto is home to Canada’s largest zoo — which is fantastic — and this isn’t even remotely it. But set as it is in the city proper’s largest and best-equipped park, this free-admission menagerie is charming in its own modest way...kind of like Toronto in general.

I’m hunched over my laptop, searching desperately for a travel story idea that will yield a sure-fire assignment and/or Pulitzer.

At the same time, I’m terribly distracted by the impending NHL playoffs. One browser window is devoted to the latest family getaways in Calgary. Seven others, however, are devoted to the career statistics of Calgary Flames players I’m hoping to draft for my playoff hockey pool. (See how I snuck that in there? Sorry Kings fans!)

Then I notice a newly arrived email from Robin Esrock, a friend and fellow travel scribe who knows all about really good ideas. He undoubtedly had one when he came up with The Great Canadian Bucket List, which has been the biggest-selling travel book in the country since its launch in 2013.

“Heyza Adam,” the note begins. “I'm giving a talk in Toronto on Saturday, April 25. Last time round Rob Ford smoked crack and totally Ford-blocked me. This time I'm promoting my three new expanded regional books: Central Canada, Atlantic Canada and Western Canada (pictured above). If you know any editors/writers who might be interested, fire away!”

I’ve compiled more than my share of bucket lists, but none of them can touch Robin’s coast-to-coast compendium of more than 100 places and experiences. Still, the great thing about bucket lists is that they're all different, and comparing mine with Robin’s, or my wife’s, or that of REO Speedwagon’s frontman, is part of the fun.

Story ideas, hockey pools and bucket lists are swirling in my head when it hits me: Why not run a Great Canadian Travel Draft, where poolies pick Canuck experiences they deem bucket-list worthy? I fire off a few emails to fellow writers and bloggers who might be keen, and in a matter of minutes – OK, by 11 a.m. the next day – I’ve assembled a crack team (not in a Rob Ford sense) of GCTD participants: Myself and Esrock, as well as the talented and terrific Karan Smith, Jim Byers and Vawn Himmelsbach, all of whom host blogs that are required reading for travellers. (A few of our relevant photos appear at the end of this post.)

After my daughter Ava randomly determines the draft order – note to parents: do not let eight-year-olds throw lawn darts indoors – it kicks off with Jim’s first overall selection at exactly 11:18 a.m. EST. (He tries to take Connor McDavid, but then I explain the concept more clearly and we’re good to go):

ROUND 1
Byers: “Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail drive. Joyful views combined with joyous music. You'll find one of the world's best drives, with a road that snakes along the Gulf of St. Lawrence and rises and falls in thick forests of deep green alongside small fishing villages and some of the world's best golf courses.”

Himmelsbach: “Hiking the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland and Labrador, where you can take in stunning views of the rugged Atlantic coastline, often in complete solitude.”

Smith: “Surfing, eating, beach walking – take your pick in Tofino, B.C., the ultimate end of the road town.”

Bisby: “Flying by float plane to Virginia Falls, NWT. The two-hour bush flight from Fort Simpson to Nahanni National Park is almost as thrilling as standing near the crest of this cascade, which is twice as tall as Niagara Falls and infinitely more picturesque.” 

Esrock: “Polar Bears in Churchill. No brainer. The world's most southerly population of polar bears, fogging up your camera lens while you stand on a Tundra Buggy. Attracts wildlife nuts from around the world for the unique experience it offers, plus the chance to experience a few days of life in a remote northern town.” 

That's all for now. To follow the rest of the draft please check back on Monday, and think about where you would pick...

GOLD: Besides further cementing the Calgary Flames’ status as the greatest hockey franchise in the history of the universe, the team’s massive OT win in Philadelphia last night has made Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ “Get away for game day” offer all the more relevant. Now, four of Canada’s seven NHL teams are in playoff position, and until April 30 the lodging chain is offering 20 per cent off nightly stays at participating properties across Canada (not to rub it in, but even ones in Toronto, Edmonton and Ottawa). You have to book via the “Get away for game day” page to get the discount, which is sometimes limited to weekends or weekdays. The playoffs, meanwhile, start April 15. Go Flames go!

SILVER: Consider it a late-winter hedge: If you stay at the Ritz-Carlton Montreal (pictured below) and the weather warms up, you’ll get to explore Canada’s most vibrant city in only a sweater (or a Flames jersey, which I recommend). But if the temperature drops, as we all know it will, then the luxurious hotel’s “The Colder the Better” package will save you some cash. Available for all suites with fireplaces, guests automatically save a percentage off room rates based on the below-zero temperature outside at check-in. Minus 25 degrees when you stroll into the lobby? Save 25 per cent. If the mercury dips further, save even more. The package includes herbal teas, hot chocolate, chocolate-flavoured marshmallows and spiced Speculoos cookies in your suite; cocktails and breakfast at the Maison Boulud restaurant; complimentary parking; and a late checkout. It’s available until April 30 and priced from $720 per night based on double occupancy (minus the chilly discount, of course).

BRONZE: It’s worth noting that every deal on this list includes most of Canada’s March Break weeks. But this one does not include the kids – and good thing too. From March 16 to 20, the lovely Ste. Anne’s Spa (pictured below) in the rolling Northumberland Hills east of Toronto is offering 20 per cent off all-inclusive day trips. For $175 a person, you get a $120 spa allowance, a three-course lunch, afternoon tea and use of the various spa facilities. Consider it an adult March Break. Call 1-888-346-6772 to book.