True Stories

Eternally Yours: Reflections on a Lifelong Romance

"Our years together were spent sharing our dreams and happiness, our worries and sorrows. We were blessed indeed. This wonderful man will be in my heart eternally."

In the Winter of ’81, Something Strange Washed Up on the Bay of Fundy’s Shores

How one town rallied around an amazing, unexpected visitor.


What Was Causing Little Kelly’s Uncontrollable Muscle Spasms?

The child's debilitating symptoms were a medical mystery, until a doctor discovered a genetic mutation so rare as to be...


Those Three Little Words

Remembering to say “I love you” can make all the difference in the world.


I Never Knew How to Communicate With My Dad—Until I Wrote Him an Email

It’s hard to talk to dads sometimes. The roles we often expect our fathers to play—protector, provider—can make them seem...

This Young Woman Was Haunted By the Sounds of Elevator Music and Seagulls Squawking—But Nothing Was ...

The auditory hallucinations were only the beginning of her terrifying medical mystery.


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My Funny Valentine: Hilarious Valentine’s Day Stories That Are Guaranteed to Make You Grin

Want to make your sweetheart smile? Check out the funniest Valentine's Day stories in Reader's Digest history.


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Doctors Thought This Ontario Teen Had E. Coli—Until Her Organs Started Failing

But if it wasn't the raw cookie dough Claire had eaten, what could possibly be causing her body to shut...


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This Was the Coldest Day in Canadian History

On February 3, 1947, the temperature in the Yukon plunged to a bone-chilling (and record-breaking) -63°C.


An Inseparable Pair

The heartwarming story of how a mutual love of classic cars helped forge a special bond between friends.


I Was Diagnosed with ADHD as an Adult—My Difficult Life Finally Made Sense

For 30 years, Tracey Mellis struggled with a miserable, messy life. Then she found out why.


What My Mother-in-Law’s Dementia Diagnosis Taught Me About Caregiving

We weren’t prepared for my mother-in-law’s dementia—or the care that she truly needed.


Why Newfoundland is the Kindest Province

When this vacationing family found themselves in need of a car in Newfoundland, a local's random act of kindness left...

I Worked at a Logging Camp in the ’40s—Here’s What It Was Like

Before the age of chainsaws and transport trucks, farmers from Ontario—my father and I included—would travel to a logging camp...


The Harsh Truth About Santa

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through my head, were the haunting three words my friend Julia said: “Santa’s...


Remembering Childhood Winters of Yore

Taking a snowy stroll down memory lane.


How Staying Up All Night Became My Family’s Favourite Christmas Tradition

Spanish for “good night,” Noche Buena is the Filipino Christmas Eve feast that begins at midnight and lasts far into...


How Silly Stocking Stuffers Became My Family’s Favourite Holiday Tradition

'Tis the season to pull the perfect prank! A heartwarming story of how a much-missed father's legacy of laughter is...


90 Years Ago, I Was Touched by a Random Act of Kindness That Defined the Christmas Spirit

The Great Depression hit our family hard, but there was light amidst the darkness.


Remembering Our First Christmas in Canada

In the winter of 1963, this Irish family celebrated their first Christmas in Toronto. The snow was like nothing they...



Rick Mercer: As Kids, My Brother and I Stole the Perfect Christmas Tree

In this excerpt from his book, Talking to Canadians, Rick Mercer confesses to a yuletide heist that made for an...

Police Pulled Over This Car For Driving Too Slowly—and Found No One Inside!

From joyriding picnic tables to ghost passengers, these funny driving stories go off the beaten track.


How Cree Code Talkers From Alberta Helped Win the Second World War

Coded messages based on the Cree language made it difficult for the enemy to monitor and decipher Allied transmissions during...


This Was One of Canada’s Darkest Days During the Second World War

On July 25, 1944, 320 soldiers in Canada's Black Watch regiment faced three times as many German soldiers. Where was...


If You’ve Got Mice, This Story Will Convince You to Call the Exterminator

A rare disease transmitted by the microscopic mites that live on mice turned one woman's life upside-down.


How a Metal Shaving Kit Saved This Canadian Soldier’s Life in WWII

It wasn't until Pte. Clem Mageau's commanding officer noticed a hole in his knapsack that the young soldier realized his...


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10 True Crime Movies That Will Chill You to the Bone

Telling yourself "it's only a movie" won't work with these terrifying true crime films. Lock the doors and prepare for...