tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58938746629743779942024-03-18T22:05:33.724-05:00Showcasing CanadaIn this blog I will be showcasing Canada. Its culture, history, politics, lingo, cities and towns. Just your luck you get the Canadian perspective on our wonderful Great White North, eh?
**Disclaimer: Some opinions may be my own. (See <a href="http://lastsaskatchewanpirate.blogspot.com/2009/01/hello-eh.html">first entry</a> for details.)**LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-31703591158528262182015-04-13T12:54:00.001-05:002015-04-13T13:01:19.289-05:00Showcasing Shamattawa<br />
I want to apologize for the long absence between posts. Let me tell you a bit about what I have been doing. I graduated from university in 2012, then spent a year teaching in Bangkok, Thailand. After I returned, I headed north with my spouse to Shamattawa, Manitoba, for another teaching job. Now I am back in southern Manitoba and want to catch up. I have had quite a few adventures exploring Canada since my last post.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O0zwB_lDeVUO7znVWXjBt-CJ528bYsRMvx54d6gbq42RlfCO-_mkleiNEc1uJuSXfOE6Gn9QbvDJLG_u-Q-U0Ci63v8Yz4AklIZkrZ6QimzvJ88r8bEIESZ0gEAmb4fHBPQSq9F5SVI/s1600/IMG_9936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O0zwB_lDeVUO7znVWXjBt-CJ528bYsRMvx54d6gbq42RlfCO-_mkleiNEc1uJuSXfOE6Gn9QbvDJLG_u-Q-U0Ci63v8Yz4AklIZkrZ6QimzvJ88r8bEIESZ0gEAmb4fHBPQSq9F5SVI/s1600/IMG_9936.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perimeter Aviation Flies into Shamattawa Daily, Weather Permitting, and Calm Air is used for Charter Flights.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first place I want to showcase is Shamattawa, Manitoba. I think this is especially important because very few people will ever have a chance to go there. It seems whenever Shamattawa gets press, it is not good, but that is hardly fair! I hope to write a book about it as well, so you can look for that in the future!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWVMPNbMJ_fzj9MxmXmDkWqkgRjNufxInXYk1ipSa1cuHUsTnyFAu0GI-ctMxh-k88AW1j6nxH87j-NTlF94M_MR-OlJq9fcmP7pysNkcHeIE43_lVYZ2iEyrHyl0aHLYG45ROvLeP48/s1600/1466078_10152021183271368_707537888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWVMPNbMJ_fzj9MxmXmDkWqkgRjNufxInXYk1ipSa1cuHUsTnyFAu0GI-ctMxh-k88AW1j6nxH87j-NTlF94M_MR-OlJq9fcmP7pysNkcHeIE43_lVYZ2iEyrHyl0aHLYG45ROvLeP48/s1600/1466078_10152021183271368_707537888_n.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Band Office and the Northern Store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First of all, you need to understand what it is like to live in a place that can only be accessed by plane for most of the year. There is one store, The Northern, and it receives shipments by air 2 days a week weather permitting. If there is a big storm, you have to go without. For example, we often drank powdered milk in the winter, when the store ran out of regular milk during a storm.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuXR9jiqPjSUiICpqnCpG79lv4SZxkMxvzEklJ-t5GjP9BHrzz8enquevgLix2unWmpzuoWTcZm7U3lFqbL8RylpKSEMWnz7_oHrI2ZrQRGbgJtGXbgoubMXTf-O6T8R4jmD2SGqSNmw/s1600/Ian_in_the_airplane.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuXR9jiqPjSUiICpqnCpG79lv4SZxkMxvzEklJ-t5GjP9BHrzz8enquevgLix2unWmpzuoWTcZm7U3lFqbL8RylpKSEMWnz7_oHrI2ZrQRGbgJtGXbgoubMXTf-O6T8R4jmD2SGqSNmw/s1600/Ian_in_the_airplane.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the Abandoned Hull of an Airplane that Crashed in a Storm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shamattawa is located south of Hudson Bay, where Gods River and the Echoing River meet. It is approximately where the Canadian Shield meets the Arctic Tundra, making for rocky ground, with lots of trees and no noticeable hills. This allows storm systems from the Bay to blow in from the north without warning. The land is rugged and unforgiving, but it is also peaceful and beautiful.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzut523Et6XXyfGZVHZ0PAtCuViO9OQVCOvatwtK6pIdP3QAPccuyw4tptoZ5P_0czNAD6uc1nDdB9QFKTm-Uzl99c8A6GihHcFm0Pyqtk6LFhD-2Ln2zFYGW9DAug-Bbh7dMe-bm2JA/s1600/1619238_10152187343521368_1265842841_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzut523Et6XXyfGZVHZ0PAtCuViO9OQVCOvatwtK6pIdP3QAPccuyw4tptoZ5P_0czNAD6uc1nDdB9QFKTm-Uzl99c8A6GihHcFm0Pyqtk6LFhD-2Ln2zFYGW9DAug-Bbh7dMe-bm2JA/s1600/1619238_10152187343521368_1265842841_n.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bringing Groceries Home by Toboggan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The main institutions of Shamattawa are the Northern, the Band Office, the RCMP station, the Nurse's station, the airport, Abraham Beardy Memorial School, AWASIS, and several churches. For recreation most people look to the great outdoors for hiking and fishing, or other activities. Most locals have ATVs and snowmobiles for everyday use, as well as leisure.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaljyFRFlw7o0PgcC4r5oilnJnHbzKFq3gn0ggU_3Ybg2kYG4iPL2yd_uYoUHYvf9SaFbVcyXJYL6zQ_avnMLdHRziOiMH1LiE-rC-7-CHAF4B1hbKPfyhlXwSXCYn82eDKC4fwknIQ8/s1600/hiking_near_the_river.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaljyFRFlw7o0PgcC4r5oilnJnHbzKFq3gn0ggU_3Ybg2kYG4iPL2yd_uYoUHYvf9SaFbVcyXJYL6zQ_avnMLdHRziOiMH1LiE-rC-7-CHAF4B1hbKPfyhlXwSXCYn82eDKC4fwknIQ8/s1600/hiking_near_the_river.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking Near the Popular Fishing Spot, Whiskey Point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you like dogs, there are lots that will be happy to be your best friend. They also might be helpful if you encounter any local wildlife. The area is home to several very large black bears, as well as wolves, wolverines, geese, caribou, and moose. Occasionally, a polar bear may wander through, if it is really lost. However, if you are looking for polar bears, you should probably set your sights on Churchill!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhjRxX9_Lp5qFV25QoTd9JiG1EckgMdikSHBQUxR9SImFvxDtlJj-6sfQuOeTgoU7G8_851xmzBtpfdx_diYfJ-5ug4VHUk5ePYF4-oCmLFZ2uwhBqY79A9reqwIHHiXzVnWLDQSDi-I/s1600/1238172_10151860250346368_757725869_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhjRxX9_Lp5qFV25QoTd9JiG1EckgMdikSHBQUxR9SImFvxDtlJj-6sfQuOeTgoU7G8_851xmzBtpfdx_diYfJ-5ug4VHUk5ePYF4-oCmLFZ2uwhBqY79A9reqwIHHiXzVnWLDQSDi-I/s1600/1238172_10151860250346368_757725869_n.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Bear at the Local Dump.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In January or February, when the rivers freeze over, the winter roads open for 2-3 months. This is when the community gets most of its supplies. Trucks with building supplies, fuel, school supplies, etc. make the long trek from Thompson, or even Winnipeg. People also go out to neighbouring communities, and often come home with new vehicles or trucks full of food and new clothes. The closest community is Gillam, which is approximately 200km away. It can take anywhere from 4-14 hours to get between these communities depending on conditions. There are no services on the winter roads, so you must leave prepared!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkvJAKgL-z4YD4MnrwKmHwhTKTO54iLv_RSkMhHA2oSNnTSY5lkjScac-46cSeldbcnGyzpb8HGmnzeCWkIwO12pQzMrnggrw3Qm_FP_ESzd2lNhhipgQtaKnaB0z2DjHcnletixsIVY/s1600/IMG_0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkvJAKgL-z4YD4MnrwKmHwhTKTO54iLv_RSkMhHA2oSNnTSY5lkjScac-46cSeldbcnGyzpb8HGmnzeCWkIwO12pQzMrnggrw3Qm_FP_ESzd2lNhhipgQtaKnaB0z2DjHcnletixsIVY/s1600/IMG_0553.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking on the River with our Dog Companions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Children enjoy playing outside, including ice skating in the winter, and swimming in the summer. They are huge hockey fans, and love it if someone clears some ice for them to play. In the summer church groups often come up to conduct bible camps. Teenagers sometimes join Junior Rangers for lots of camping and trips into the bush. At Christmas, Santa flies-in by airplane to bring gifts! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOLlJpoL9DM_9ZiN76ZL2W1AJxaExI7R3C0Jc2lElxJSsK-UUKDb6rAwEbWvsgU06ixKjRtrNTtP0YdC6sG3g1RvRifgNiBnQl5RsZkvyjYrTguGbc1b_-6YFermvOYYUyrunJ92SHYE/s1600/IMG_9632.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOLlJpoL9DM_9ZiN76ZL2W1AJxaExI7R3C0Jc2lElxJSsK-UUKDb6rAwEbWvsgU06ixKjRtrNTtP0YdC6sG3g1RvRifgNiBnQl5RsZkvyjYrTguGbc1b_-6YFermvOYYUyrunJ92SHYE/s1600/IMG_9632.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fly-in Santa and Mrs. Claus Give Gifts at the Airport.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shamattawa is currently building a new school that will be N-12. The current school is only N-10 and older students leave the community to finish high school in Thompson or Winnipeg. The new school should be opening in fall of 2015.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmjfkEi28iKrv9c4KxnOgOH1JI68lyxRhlj24xGzehbQ_WxeeptFyCDWfx2ftDKEePvh9rUFsFt_L8ibOtJSINVLWrKQbdjgtZf455I5oBCNlClCONpe26vVWCrngmM97H_OCe_D6SCI/s1600/1236318_10151860250406368_1439412051_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmjfkEi28iKrv9c4KxnOgOH1JI68lyxRhlj24xGzehbQ_WxeeptFyCDWfx2ftDKEePvh9rUFsFt_L8ibOtJSINVLWrKQbdjgtZf455I5oBCNlClCONpe26vVWCrngmM97H_OCe_D6SCI/s1600/1236318_10151860250406368_1439412051_n.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New School Being Built.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPEWXwPPKWb8N8-neYMiNJZv_aTu9Czv7sI31gtVKl8DZAojtuw60NXZWh2W5PQ_i4oJXg3u0KQOZRhvMbzSs_QSAGvVJrvKMvXLHZizT6a0llxpJJSz8DO1Iqnj5BqsMMIP-PNKHFys/s1600/1146471_10151882846091368_177758712_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPEWXwPPKWb8N8-neYMiNJZv_aTu9Czv7sI31gtVKl8DZAojtuw60NXZWh2W5PQ_i4oJXg3u0KQOZRhvMbzSs_QSAGvVJrvKMvXLHZizT6a0llxpJJSz8DO1Iqnj5BqsMMIP-PNKHFys/s1600/1146471_10151882846091368_177758712_n.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ABMS opened in 1989. Before that Students Attended Residential Schools.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Like many remote communities, life in Shamattawa can be challenging. Unexpectedly you can be without heat or water for hours or days at a time. If you visit places like Shamattawa you will experience absolute stillness, and in it you will find yourself. Hopefully, you will like what you find. The barren landscape and harsh winters can be isolating, so it is important to build community, and spend time outdoors. You will learn that you are stronger than you think!LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-68375112126614153602012-05-08T20:53:00.000-05:002012-05-08T20:53:17.099-05:00Manitobans Are Delightfully StubbornSo I have lived in Manitoba for nearly 3 years now. The first year for anyone is really more of some sort of test. Everyone is just waiting to see if you survive your first winter before they initiate you as an honorary Manitoban (if you stay that long.) The thing you will hear most in your first year will be "So why did you move to [insert Manitoba town name here]?" I found this question extremely annoying at first but the longer you stay here the more you realize people really want to know. It's not just the harsh winter you need to worry about in your first year either. You will be going through some sort of culture shock. Even if you are just moving from elsewhere in the country you need to make your away around your new town, make new friends and acquaintances, get used to how long prairie days are, and learn a whole new wet of local jargon.<br />
<br />
When you move to Manitoba it will go one of two ways:<br />
1) You come face to face with Manitoba and decide you need to get as far away from here as possible, ASAP<br />
2) You find something in this harsh terrain that keeps you here<br />
<br />
I know I love the ever-changing farm land, the long days, the clear starry nights, sparkling hoarfrost covered trees, and the friendly people. One thing that comes as a surprise though is that I also love how stubborn the people are here. I love that ice cream vendors are open March to October, and even if it is 5 below people will be lined up outside with their breath crystallizing into ice clouds, while wearing capris and t-shirts. It darn well better be summer, because we say so! The truth of the matter is that Manitoba does not have a season called summer. The seasons are as follows: Winter, Tick Season, Mosquito Season, More Winter. That never dampens the spirits of Manitobans though. We like our ice cream, and our slurpees... and we will walk to the 7-11 in 40 below!<br />
<br />
In my three years here, I have learned what freezing rain and snow drifts are. I have made new friends. I have taken to going to the 'Peg as many weekends as I can. (It really is the only city in Manitoba.) I have survived all of the Manitoba seasons. I have learned to love the vastness of the prairies and the deep blue of summer skies. I have developed a higher tolerance for wind. I have learned to navigate without mountains and tell the time by the sun. I have driven swathers and combines. I've learned everything I have ever wanted to know about canola and more. I've discovered the art of driving politely, and somehow managed to avoid learning the Bootstrap Boogie. (Manitobans tell me it is super easy, but maybe I am just uncoordinated!)<br />
<br />
I love Manitoba. Seriously! *finishes ice cream*LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-79151509597954619492011-08-23T14:39:00.001-05:002011-08-25T19:13:51.169-05:00Historical Sites in Winnipeg, ManitobaI spent my weekend in Winnipeg visiting some local historical sites and I thought I would share them with you. The sites I visited had to do with Metis and Fur Trade era Canadian history. <br />
<br />
~~~<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9849.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9849.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
The most well known site was of course Lower Fort Garry. At this sight you get the opportunity to interact with history. There are museum portions of this site but most of it is set up using the original buildings and items from the time period along with reenactors to bring history to life. Talk to reenactors and learn about what their roles are at the fort. Learn about the construction of the fort and all of its business and social proceedings. Don't miss the shows that are scheduled at intervals throughout the day! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9933.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9933.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
You can learn about different trades and take part in social activities. Try some bannock or take tea. Help to judge Cast Iron Chef. Get there early and watch the flag raising ceremony. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9939.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9939.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
This experience is great for a day of family fun or as a school field trip. They will even put on special activities for birthday parties! Don't miss this site on your next trip to Winnipeg. Open during the summer and also for Halloween events at the fort. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9847.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9847.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
There is an admission fee. Check their website for more details: <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/fortgarry/index.aspx">http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/fortgarry/index.aspx</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9871.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9871.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
~~~<br />
<br />
If you are interested in Metis history you will want to check out Riel House. This little-known attraction is the house where Louis Riel's family lived. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9770.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9770.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
Explore the rooms and garden with the help of your tour guide. This site is relatively quiet so you will have an opportunity to really look at things at your own pace and ask questions. You will get a better idea about Riel family geneaology and develop an understanding of the size and shape of the Red River plots beyond what you can get from a map. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9771.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9771.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
This is a must-see stop! There is a small admission fee. Learn more here: <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/riel/index.aspx">http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/riel/index.aspx</a><br />
<br />
~~~<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9830.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9830.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
The final place worth visiting is the Seven Oaks Museum. It is a museum inside a historic home near the site of the Battle of Seven Oaks. This museum is small but noteworthy and it is very unfortunate that it is often overlooked. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9831.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9831.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
The museum is city-funded and due to the low number of visitors each year it is under threat of being closed in the near future. I strongly encourage people to visit this museum. There is no admission fee but a small donation would be greatly appreciated and make sure to sign the guest book so that they know you've been there! There is a general store and then a two story home that you can explore. Ask about the inhabitants of the house or about the Battle of Seven Oaks. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9817.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9817.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
Examine unusual and interesting artifacts. Ask to view the spectacular masonry of the cellar. This place is so historically significant that staff have found musket balls and other artifacts in the yard while doing maintenance work. It would be a shame to see it close. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9813.jpg"><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN9813.jpg" width="350" height="300"></a><br />
<br />
View their webpage for their location and hours: <a href="http://www.museumsmanitoba.com/dir/winnipeg/10.html">http://www.museumsmanitoba.com/dir/winnipeg/10.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-90528556613903207492010-11-27T21:39:00.001-06:002010-11-27T21:41:06.148-06:00Definition of a CanadianOnce in a while someone does a nice job of describing a Canadian, this time it was an Australian dentist.<br /> <br />You probably missed it in the local news, but there was a report that someone in Pakistan had advertised in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed a Canadian - any Canadian..<br /><br />An Australian dentist wrote the following editorial to help define what a Canadian is, so they would know one when they found one.<br />A Canadian can be English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. A Canadian can be Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, Arab, Pakistani or Afghan.<br /><br />A Canadian may also be a Cree, Métis, Mohawk, Blackfoot, Sioux, or one of the many other tribes known as native Canadians. A Canadian's religious beliefs range from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or none. In fact, there are more Muslims in Canada than in Afghanistan . The key difference is that in Canada they are free to worship as each of them chooses. Whether they have a religion or no religion, each Canadian ultimately answers only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.<br /> <br />A Canadian lives in one of the most prosperous lands in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which recognize the right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.<br /> <br />A Canadian is generous and Canadians have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return. Canadians welcome the best of everything, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services and the best minds. But they also welcome the least - the oppressed, the outcast and the rejected.<br /> <br />These are the people who built Canada. You can try to kill a Canadian if you must as other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world have tried but in doing so you could just be killing a relative or a neighbour. This is because Canadians are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, can be a Canadian.LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-25264504851609825242010-11-23T19:28:00.008-06:002011-08-23T14:43:50.780-05:00Some Manitoba Winter Terminology-40 degrees Celsius - This is also about -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Very, very cold. Sometimes it gets even colder than this during a Manitoba winter. When it gets this cold even the locals try to avoid going outside. To understand how cold this is picture the air sparkling because there are literally frozen crystals suspended in the air... that's right! It is so cold that the air begins to freeze. If you throw a bucket of water out your door it will freeze before it hits the ground. This is very hard to prove as there is danger of you camera freezing also. Electronic lose battery power from being outside in this extreme cold for any period of time. It is not out of the question to warm up your car in order to avoid walking to blocks in this temperature!<br />
<br />
Snow Drift - For those of you unfamiliar with Manitoba snow, it is drier than snow found in other regions. It is also lighter and blows around in the air. It blows across the highway looking like rapids on a river, and obscuring your view. A snow drift is where this light snow is blown into a mound.<br />
<br />
Block Heater - This device is attached to your car battery to keep it warm enough that your car will start. The block heater must be plugged in when you are parked for any length of time. It will plug into any regular electrical outlet but you will need a special extension cord. Make sure you find the one that is for up to -40 degrees Celsius. The ones that are good up to -50 are preferable if you can find one. One nice feature most of these cords have is the ability to light up on the end so you can find them in the dark. You may need more than one length of these cords depending on places you normally visit. <br />
<br />
Scarf - This item, generally viewed as a fashion accessory everywhere else actually serve a functional purpose. They are worn across the face to prevent nose and lungs from freezing when one tries to breathe outside in Manitoba winter. If you own glasses it is advised you either get some anti-fog spray or invest in contact lenses.<br />
<br />
Freezing Rain - Basically what it sounds like. The bane of Manitoba winters because it creates extremely dangerous driving conditions.<br />
<br />
Hoar Frost - One of the more beautiful aspects of Manitoba winters. When the temperatures are just right during the night hoar frost forms. The trees are literally encrusted with white ice crystals when you wake up in the morning. You have to see it to understand just how beautiful it is.<br />
<br />
Long Johns - Long Underwear. Last winter my parents bought me some as a joke. I didn't consider it one. There are days where you just need to have long underwear if you plan to be going anywhere, including long car drives. Sometimes your car's heater just can't compete with a Manitoba winter.<br />
<br />
Thermal Socks - Specialized really warm socks. Worn for the same reason as Long Johns, it is way too cold not to!<br />
<br />
Slurpee Run - A trip to 7-11. Ok, so this is more of an all-season term but I am putting it here just to emphasize that Manitobans think it is a good idea to be going on a Slurpee run when it is 40 below. It is not the Slurpee capital for no reason! There is so logic to this. When you enter a house after being outside in the Manitoba winter you literally have to start stripping layers, and even so you may find yourself feeling too warm. Slurpees or ice cream work as good temperature regulators.<br />
<br />
Mukluks - A form of winter boot made of leather that were first created by the First Nations people.<br />
<br />
Skidoo - A very useful thing to have if there is a black out during a Manitoba winter storm. Can navigate the streets better than a car to get you necessary supplies. A hand-crank radio is also a wise idea so you know where to get said supplies. Even better would be a generator.LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-20065265813527798922010-11-10T07:15:00.002-06:002010-11-10T07:18:32.022-06:00In Flanders Fields<span style="font-style:italic;">By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)<br />Canadian Army</span><br /><br />In Flanders Fields the poppies blow<br />Between the crosses row on row,<br />That mark our place; and in the sky<br />The larks, still bravely singing, fly<br />Scarce heard amid the guns below.<br /><br />We are the Dead. Short days ago<br />We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,<br />Loved and were loved, and now we lie<br />In Flanders fields.<br /><br />Take up our quarrel with the foe:<br />To you from failing hands we throw<br />The torch; be yours to hold it high.<br />If ye break faith with us who die<br />We shall not sleep, though poppies grow<br />In Flanders fields.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm"><img src="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/in-flanders-field-copy-of-original-signed-001.jpg"></a><br /><br />---<br /><br />LEST WE FORGET!<br /><br />I encourage fellow Canadians to take time out of their busy schedule tomorrow to remember the soldiers who bravely gave their lives for our freedom.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S8gRx8tWJmI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S8gRx8tWJmI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-12314332861210029282010-07-01T11:34:00.002-05:002010-07-01T11:44:39.371-05:00Happy Canada Day Yet Again!I am proud to say I will be spending this occasion serving the people of Brandon, MB their donuts and coffees from one of the 3 Brandon Tim Horton's locations! By the way if you are feeling festive go to your local Timmies and check out the Canada Day donuts! They have white frosting and red sprinkles shaped like maple leaves! <br /><br />--- <br /><br />In honor of Canada Day I will be showcasing the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg, MB! <br /><br /><img src="http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/Renjisan/DSCN8643-1.jpg" width="300" height="400"><br /><br />This is where our coins are made, while the paper bills are made in an Ontario location. The Royal Canadian Mint also holds contracts for making coins for many other countries, including the USA. Due to the secret nature of their process (you wouldn't want tons of counterfeits around) no pictures can be taken of the machinery used in the coin making, however there is a guided tour you can take to watch how coins are made! Other highlights include you being able to hold a bar of solid gold! This is definitely an excellent way to spend Canada Day learning more about our fabulous country!LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-22788760713470753512010-02-23T09:53:00.002-06:002010-02-23T12:04:24.402-06:00Canadian Olympic Medals 2010I am proud to say I was able to watch 4 Canadian gold medals last week and a couple silver. I had tears in my eyes watching Maelle's gold medal run for snowboard cross. And I was on the edge of my seat for the narrow hockey victory over Switzerland and saddened when we lost to the USA. I regret that I will likely not get to see much of the rest of the Olympics now that reading break is over because I don't own a TV but I'll try to get down to the tv lounge sometime this week for some more hockey games. 10 Olympic medals so far Canada! Bravo! Here's the break down:<br /><br />Gold Medalists<br /><br />VIRTUE Tessa<br />MOIR Scott<br />Figure Skating - Ice Dance<br /><br /><br />MONTGOMERY Jon<br />Skeleton - Men's<br /><br /> <br />NESBITT Christine<br />Speed Skating - Ladies' 1000 m<br /><br /> <br />RICKER Maelle<br />Snowboard - Ladies' Snowboard Cross<br /><br /> <br />BILODEAU Alexandre<br />Freestyle Skiing - Men's Moguls<br /><br /><br /> <br />Silver Medalists<br /><br />GROVES Kristina<br />Speed Skating - Ladies' 1500 m<br /><br /> <br />ST-GELAIS Marianne<br />Short Track Speed Skating - Ladies' 500 m<br /><br /> <br />ROBERTSON Mike<br />Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Cross<br /><br /> <br />HEIL Jennifer<br />Freestyle Skiing - Ladies' Moguls<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br />Bronze Medalists<br /><br />GROVES Kristina<br />Speed Skating - Ladies' 3000 mLearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-76134965195699318912010-02-12T23:38:00.002-06:002010-02-12T23:54:02.992-06:00Vancouver 2010 Winter OlympicsSo I stayed up to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremonies and I have to say I was very impressed. It was unfortunate that not all of the tiers on the torch rose but to be honest the ceremonies were amazing. They showcased Canadian culture in a way that puts this blog to shame! The music, the dancing, the light show and fire shows! All fantastic! I especially liked the tributes to First Nations groups. What I was not impressed with was the commentary on NBC and perhaps even more so the commercial breaks! Show the sponsors before or after but don't break up live footage of the Olympics! Really!!! <br /><br />Although I am sure I'll have lots more to say in the days to come I am writing this tonight because I wanted to draw your attention to one person who was a part of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. He is the British Columbian beat-poet Shane Koyczan. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was back in first year English at Okanagan College in Kelowna, British Columbia. Shane Koyczan put on a show for us. My prof that year was a wonderful woman who chose mostly local poets for us to study in class. She had in fact taught Shane creative writing at Okanagan College. Check him out on Myspace: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/shanekoyczanandtheshortstorylong">http://www.myspace.com/shanekoyczanandtheshortstorylong</a><br /><br />That all said let us remember Georgia's luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili who sadly had a fatal accident in practice and now will not be able to cherish the memories of the 21st Olympic Winter Games. The hearts of the world mourn for him and his country tonight.LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-30108995473612156882009-12-31T12:05:00.001-06:002009-12-31T12:10:54.796-06:00Canadian Tire Money<a href="http://smartcanucks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/canadian-tire-money.jpg"><img src="http://smartcanucks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/canadian-tire-money.jpg"></a><br /><br />Not to be confused with actual Canadian currency, Canadian Tire Money is a currency that is only valid at Canadian Tire Stores. It is a sort of coupon loyalty. Each time you shop at Canadian Tire you will receive Canadian Tire money on top of your regular change. This can be saved up and then used to purchase more products at Canadian Tire. However it is the brunt of many Canadian jokes because any good Canadian knows it just collects in your kitchen drawer and never really gets used. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.dougadams.ca/CTCCC/Sandys/CanadianTire20logo.jpg"><img src="http://www.dougadams.ca/CTCCC/Sandys/CanadianTire20logo.jpg"></a>LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-66175439648437760812009-12-17T00:30:00.001-06:002009-12-17T00:30:39.988-06:00Liberty! Equality! Freedom!This was the slogan of French-Canadian reformers in Lower Canada when they demanded responsible government. They changed the name of their political party from Le Parti Canadien to the Patriote Party. This was a major snub to Britain because it was a reference to the Patriots in the American Revolution. As it turns out the British were not eager for a reminder of the Boston Tea Party or any subsequent events. In fact it was the American Revolution that made Britain so uneasy about giving Canadian colonists political power. The British Government believed it was their being to slack with the American colonies that had caused the Revolution when they introduced more cumbersome bills. <br /><br />The Patriote Party, lead by L.J. Papineau drew up the 92 Resolutions, outlining their demands for control of revenue, responsible government and control of patronage. Lord John Russell, Colonial Secretary in British Government, responded with the 10 Resolutions, basically stating that there would be no changes and sending British troops into Lower Canada. The result was a more radical movement. The Sons of Liberty and other such groups sprang up. Protest meetings were held in the summer of 1837. There were riots and street fighting. British military commander Sir John (Yes everyone English was named John) Colburn was planning unrestrained military force against the reformers. The Richelieu district seemed a likely target! 800 Patriotes (only 200 armed) fought 300 British soldiers. Papineau runs to the United States at the first sign of trouble. 152 die. The Patriotes were butchered at St Dennis! Then at St Eustache martial law is imposed. 99 rebels are condemoned to death although only 12 were executed. 58 rebels were sent to Australia. Of all the fighting in Lower Canada there were a resulting 325 deaths, only 27 were British soldiers. <br /><br />In Upper Canada it is much the same after the War of 1812-14 the colonists began to focus on the Alien Question. (The British Crown has instructed that no land be given to Americans, a problem for the Late Loyalists that stream into Upper Canada some time after the American Revolution. The British Crown also says that the Oath of Allegiance is not to be administered to Americans meaning that citizenship is in question for 50% of the population and these people are not allowed to vote). After 1815 new immigrants came from Britain, but they were well-educated and accustomed to British institutions. They are shocked to find that there is no responsible government in Upper Canada! Robert Gourlay does a survey in Upper Canada and calls for a commission of inquiry... but he is banished. His supporters fuel rebellions in Upper Canada.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Thus ends today's awesome Canadian history lesson! Hope you enjoyed!LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-10665370394307008242009-07-07T18:36:00.000-05:002009-07-07T18:58:27.476-05:00Canada DayIt had been my intent to write a post about Canada Day on July 1st... because that is Canada Day. Of course being the patriotic Canadian that I am instead I spent the day making and eating pancakes, visiting Tim Horton's, wearing red and white and maple leaves and watching the fireworks in town with my friends. <br /><br />So what is Canada Day? Originally called Dominion Day, this Canadian Holiday is the celebration of the anniversary of Canada's confederation in 1867.<br /><br />Canadians celebrate this day mostly in a laid back manner. The main event in most communities is a public pancake breakfast or a giant cake unveiling in a park, often accompanied by games for young families and live music. In some communities there are fireworks in the evening. It is not uncommon to see people wearing red and white and an abundance of Canadian flags. There are Canadian flag hats, Canadian flag capes, Canadian flag tshirts, etc. Some people will paint their faces with red and white or die their hair or even play a frisbee game with a Canadian flag frisbee. Temporary tattoo Canadian flags are a staple and easy found in any dollar store throughout Canada. Despite the odd appearance of celebrators on Canada Day they do not usually do much more than hang out in the park or sit in the local pub with a beer and some friends. <br /><br /><a href="http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/multimedia/index.html"><img src="http://media.canada.com/7a4062bf-1caf-45d2-b39d-5aeb6b020806/Canada%20day2.jpg"> <br><i>http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/multimedia/index.html</i></a><br /><br />Perhaps the most lively of Canada Day celebrations takes place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Thousands of Canadians make the pilgrimage to the Parliament buildings in order to listen to music, wear Canada flags and watch fireworks and possibly a performance by the Snowbirds.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.snowbirds.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/nr-sp-eng.asp?cat=3&id=271"><img src="http://www.snowbirds.forces.gc.ca/v2/_as-cx/grfx/news_images/webrez/Canada_day_FP_CombatCamera.jpg" width="500" height="350"><br><i>http://www.snowbirds.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/nr-sp-eng.asp?cat=3&id=271</i></a>LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-53750991931740934652009-04-12T14:30:00.000-05:002009-04-12T14:50:52.639-05:00TimbitsThere haven't been any entries here for awhile and for that I apologize. I had intended on doing an entry on maple syrup but I was waiting for the correct snow conditions to do this... you may wonder why but that's a surprise. At this point you'll have to wait until next year to find out. <br /><br />With this possibility postponed I have been hatching a new one. Therefore this article is on Timbits. for those of you who don't know I recently was hired on at Tim Hortons and will soon have the inside perspective on all things Tim Hortons related.. including Timbits. But for now some facts and a lot of silliness:<br /><br />What are Timbits you may ask? These tasty treats are donut holes and one of the trademark products of Tim Hortons. You can buy them separately or in boxes of 10, 20 or 40. They come in a varity of flavours. (Basically almost every flavour Tim Hortons donuts come in.) A tip for ordering Timbits: Unless you ask otherwise they will usually give you an assorted box of Timbits. If you happen not to like raisins it is crucial you remember to specify "no Dutchies". <br /><br />Timbits are highly affordable treats and therefore very popular. <br /><br />Now for some silliness. This idea was inspired by the following Youtube video:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CUTMeJZBHuM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CUTMeJZBHuM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />For this part of the entry I enlisted the help of a group of fellow Canadians to come up with a list of possible uses for Timbits (besides eating of course). This is what we came up with (please note I do not endorse all these ideas):<br /><br />1. "like timmy's timbits?? cause well i know ppl that throw them at hookers."<br /><br />2. "Tossing them up in the air to eat them? And I'm not talking about a gentle throw here...gotta be at least higher than a 2-storey building. The honey dip ones work best, because they're softest if you miss with your mouth (and not with the rest of your face)...but the chocolate ones have the smallest diameter and are most likely to be caught with no fuss. Of course, they're also the densest, and tend to hurt the back of the throat."<br /><br />3 & 4. "Hmm...other uses...there's always bribes for students, or stacking them. Any records on timbit-stacking?"<br /><br />5. "Well, I think that at Christmas, you could use florist wire and make a beeee-uu-tiful and edible Timbits wreath. Start with a wire wreath base and intersperse the Timbits with shiny little plastic globes and ornaments that can be recycled by the recipient. Wire everything in place using fine florist wire and deliver asap. Tacky, but tasteful at the same time...if you get my drift..."<br /><br />6. "get tooth picks stick in the timbits and make a timbit caterpillar i guess"<br /><br />7. "What about a Timbits necklace? That would have to sit for a few days, too! Remember making the ones you made out of macaroni when you were little? Timbits would be much tastier, if a tad messier, (get grease spots on your shirt) and would be a good snack for a hike. Except that it would attract wildlife....you'd have all the bears in the forest following you..."<br /><br />8. "one of my friends just suggested juggling!"<br /><br />9. "you could make a timbit gun... like a potatoe gun... but smaller? They would make good projectiles...."<br /><br />10. "They would work well for Katamari Damashi too... rollin rollin rollin."<br /><br />...and of course more could have go thought of I'm sure but that's a good sampler...<br /><br />Enjoy some Timbits today!LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-56932129318856458752009-01-10T09:33:00.000-06:002009-01-10T09:35:50.437-06:00Poutine<a href="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c273/panademona/DSCN7466.jpg"><img src="http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c273/panademona/DSCN7466.jpg" height="225" width="300"></a><br /><br />This tasty Canadian dish consists of fries, gravy and melted cheese! Mmmm, mmmm! Artery clogging goodness! <br /><br />If made traditionally, as in Quebec it would be fries, gravy and cheese curds, but don't bash it until you try it!LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-24600120510959990882009-01-09T03:00:00.001-06:002011-08-24T01:02:33.876-05:00Money Lingo and FactsEngland has pounds, Japan has yen ... what does Canada have? <br />
<br />
The answer is we have dollars and cents the same as the USA. However our bills and coins are different and some even have different names.<br />
<br />
1 cent is called a penny. A Canadian penny has a maple leaf on one side and a picture of Queen Elisabeth of England on the other (as does every Canadian coin). Pennies made in 2008 or later are not fully copper, only copper coated due to the expense. (It cost over 7 cents to make a penny when I was 7 years old.) You can tell these coins easily because they stick to a magnet.<br />
<img src="http://www.postmodernsass.com/blogger/uploaded_images/penny-756761.jpg"><br />
<br />
The 5 cent coin is a nickel. It has a beaver on it.<br />
<img src="http://www.pajamadeen.com/images/canadian-nickel-beaver.gif"><br />
<br />
10 cents is called a dime and has a famous ship called the <a href="http://www.brigantineinn.com/explore-the-area/tall-ships/bluenose.php">Bluenose</a> printed on it. <br />
<img src="http://www.brigantineinn.com/images/ships/dime_ss.jpg"><br />
<br />
The 25 cent coin is called a quarter. The picture on the quarter is of a Cariboo.<br />
<img src="http://www.albertacoins.com/storefront/images/uploads/25cx1962xpl.jpg"><br />
<br />
Here's where things get really shaken up compared to American money.<br />
<br />
We have a $1 coin. This is called a loonie and depicts a loon on it.<br />
<img src="http://people.sauder.ubc.ca/faculty/cenfetelli/loonie.jpg"><br />
<br />
Our $2 coin is our largest value coin. It is called a toonie and has a gold center depicting a polar bear and a silver ring of metal around that. If you get a toonies from 1996 you can stick it in the freezer and the gold center will pop out. Then you can put the silver ring on a chain and make a mighty fine necklace! Of course no one would do that... that would be defacing the coin and be disrespectful to the Queen! Toonies older than year 2000 are made slightly different so that the centers do not pop out as easily when frozen. <br />
<br />
Also if you flip a toonie upside down the polar bear's feet look like penguins! Neat eh?<br />
<img src="http://www.rocky-mountain-tour-guide.com/images/Toonie-150.jpg"><br />
<br />
Canadian bills come in the denominations $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Each bill is colour differently and has a number of anti-forgery devices utilized in the design as well as braille for the blind. The new bills are especially interesting to look at with the hologram foil and intricate pictures as well as quotes, etc incorporated into the design.<br />
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/76/Canadian_bills2.jpg"><br />
<br />
Using an old $50 or $100 bill can be tricky. Many places will not take them due to the large amount of forgeries in circulation.<br />
<img src="http://www.dietsrevealed.com/global/images/fifty%20dollar%20bill%201.jpg"><br />
<br />
Also of note are the collectors coins in circulation. Most of them are quarters but there are some in every coin denomination. Look for them in your change! Some even are painted with red poppies, etc.<br />
<img src="http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/pix/quarter_pink.jpg"><br />
<br />
There are also on occasion 50 cent coins in circulation. If you get one keep it!<br />
<img src="http://shoebox.heindorffhus.dk/natsym-Canada-50c-coin.jpg"><br />
<br />
<em>***Money is not to scale in pictures.***</em>LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-63039701679328667712009-01-09T02:38:00.000-06:002015-04-13T13:36:03.447-05:00The Last Spike<br />
<br />
The Last Spike is well marked in Canadian history books. It was the final spike joining Canada from coast to coast at last by a "ribbon of steel". The Last Spike was driven in on November 7, 1885 by Sir Donald Smith at Craigellachie. Sir Donald was a former Hudson Bay Trader and a member of the original Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Syndicate. His cousin, Gearge Stephen was in fact, the President of the CPR from 1881 to 1888. The railway was completed later than had been promised by Prime Minister Sir John A Macdonald in 1971 when British Columbia joined Canada. On of the conditions of BC joining confederation was the promised railroad which Macdonald said would be completed within 10 years. <br />
<br />
Despite the hardwork put in, mostly by unpaid Chinese workers, it took a 14 years to finish the railroad, the worst of which was carving out track in the Rocky Mountain region of British Columbia and Alberta. Explosives, including nitroglycerin were used and the project had high casualties among workers. It was a dark passage in Canadian histories that so many workers, most Chinese, were killed. The Chinese workers were poorly treated and paid only $1 per day. With this they had to pay for their food and accomodation. White workers were paid $1.50 - $2 per day and food and accomodation were provided. In addition white workers were given less dangerous jobs.<br />
<br />
The CPR still operates today, although more as a freightline and not entirely on the original route which it was built.LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-80838703167820112182009-01-08T13:46:00.000-06:002009-01-08T14:48:01.121-06:00Showcasing Vancouver<center><img src="http://www.canadarentals.net/images/vancouver_night_cityscape.jpg"><br><a href="http://www.canadarentals.net/city-view.cfm?CityID=2">http://www.canadarentals.net/city-view.cfm?CityID=2</a></center><br /><br />I'm afraid I have very few pictures of Vancouver cityscape despite a number of visits there over the years. Therefore I borrowed this one and gave the site above.<br /><br />I chose Vancouver as the first Canadian city I'd showcase because recently a very rare phenomena has been occuring there.. and that would be snow. <br /><br /><center><img src="http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20090106/1159-292.jpg?size=l"><br><a href="http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=a56154b8-228f-453a-b90c-9d05bdc4e611">http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=a56154b8-228f-453a-b90c-9d05bdc4e611</a></center><br /><br />Now the majority of British Columbia and the majority of Canada for that matter is well acquainted with snow. Vancouver however is ill-equipped to deal with snow when it has it, which is infrequently. Instead they mostly get rain. The problem with not having snow often is that people do not know how to properly remove it, drive in it, etc. There can be a lot of accidents. The roads don't get cleared fast enough for the traffic volume because the city does not have enough snow removal equipment at its disposal. <br /><br />In the light of the large snowfall in Vancouver this year the rest of BC welcomes Vancouver to their ranks. Finally Vancouver has snow! Now you know what almost every other town deals with all winter every year!<br /><br />But this entry is not really about snow or the rest of BC. It is about Vancouver so let's do this properly.<br /><br />Vancouver has a population approaching 600,000 making it the largest city in British Columbia. (And third largest in Canada.) It is located on the West Coast of Canada roughly above Seattle, Washington (USA). Vancouver gets an average percipitation of 1,219 mm per year. That's 48 inches! Average temperatures for January are 3 degrees Celsius (37 F) and for July about 18 degrees Celsius (64 F). <br /><br />Vancouver is a major Canadian port and supports a lot of industry. Fishing, mining, forestry, computer software and biotechnology are just a few industries flourishing in the city. In recent years Vancouver has become like Canada's little Hollywood. It is a hub for the film industry. Tourism is a major industry as well.<br /><br />Vancouver will also be the site for the 2010 Winter Olympics! <br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/-/32678/q0c15c/index.html"><img src="http://www.vancouver2010.com/gfx/00/34/77/-/34776/prop=data/n0vfa9/34776.png"></a></center><br /><br />Vancouver was a site of First nations villages as early as 500 BCE and Captain Vancouver landed there in 1792. Vancouver was initially named Granville and was a sawmill community in the 1870s. Granville was renamed for Captain Vancouver in 1886 when it was incorporated. <br /><br />Vancouver is a diverse city that attracts people from all over the world to come live there. Because of its location on the Western Coast it attracts a lot of immigrants from Asian countries in particular. <br /><br /><center><img src="http://z.about.com/d/govancouver/1/0/U/1/-/-/ChineseNewYear.jpg"><br><a href="http://govancouver.about.com/od/chinatown/ig/Chinatown--Vancouver--BC/Chinese-New-Year-Vancouver-BC.htm">http://govancouver.about.com/od/chinatown/ig/Chinatown--Vancouver--BC/Chinese-New-Year-Vancouver-BC.htm</a></center><br /><br />Events worth seeing include: the Chinese New Year Festival (January 26th this year!),International Bhangra Celebration (last weekend of January), Chutzpah Festival (the week of Hannukah), Vancouver International Children's Festival (last weekend of August), and the Annual Symphony Free Concert (First Sunday of November).<br /><br />Tourist attractions that are of interest include: the Vancouver aquarium, the Steam Clock in Gas Town, Grouse Mountain, Whistler Ski Village, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Science World, Burnaby Village Museum and Minter Gardens. It also is worthwhile to take cruise or rent a boat. You never know what sea life you might spot!LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-77355808401772979912009-01-08T03:33:00.000-06:002009-01-08T03:50:35.593-06:00Tim Hortons<a href="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7453.jpg"><img src="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7453.jpg" width="300" height="225"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.timhortons.com/en/index.html">Tim Hortons</a> is a coffee and doughnut store chain. Originally a Canadian chain, it was then bought out by an American company. However we Canadians still call it our own and it is a popular meeting place... perhaps because coffee and a doughnut there is offered at such great value. <br /><br /><a href="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7451.jpg"><img src="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7451.jpg" width="225" height="300"></a><br /><br />Tim Hortons (or Timmies/Timmy's as it is often called) has put out iced cappucinos (ice capps) in recent years which have become popular among Canadian youth. <br /><br /><a href="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7452.jpg"><img src="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7452.jpg" width="225" height="300"></a><br /><br />And of course there are Timbits. Who can have a function without a box of 40 doughnut holes?! <br /><br /><img src="http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/uploads/timbits2.jpg"><br /><br />Tim Hortons is also known for its Roll Up The Rim to Win contests... Keep Rolling! Best of all, it is 24 hours in many locations!<br /><br /><a href="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7454.jpg"><img src="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7454.jpg" width="300" height="225"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7456.jpg"><img src="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7456.jpg" width="300" height="225"></a>LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-90552794940951317512009-01-07T17:40:00.000-06:002009-01-07T18:53:43.587-06:00Canadian HumourCanadian Humour is a bit of a strange phenomena... extremely common but strange, especially to an outsider. <br /><br />Some ground rules... <br /><br />The majority of Canadians have a very good sense of humour. Canadians like to laugh at everything... their country, other people's countries, their politics, other people's politics, situations, controversial issues... everything. Sometimes it may seem inappropriate. In fact if they are making fun of your country, religion, or anything else that may be related to you... don't be alarmed. It is probably not necessary to take offense. A Canadian in their next breath may turn around and make fun of their own country, religion, etc. It's just what we do. Everything is funny... sometimes even when it is not funny. <br /><br />Another thing to look out for, especially if English (of French depending on the situation) is a second language to you is sarcasm. Canadians use a lot of sarcasm. You can be having a perfectly serious conversation and then sarcasm will be thrown in there out of the blue. Sometimes a whole conversation may be sarcastic. If you are not from Canada and you miss the sarcasm usually Canadians will apologize and point it out to you... unless they decide given the context that it is more humourous not to.<br /><br />Another popular type of humour in Canada is comparative humour. Generally this type of huomur involves Canada comparing Canada and the USA. Again this is not usually a cause for offense! Hold on while I explain. Canadians and Americans get along quite well. The reasons for Canadians to compare themselves to Americans are simple. The first one is American politics. Often what Canadians mean when they compare Canada and America is actually they are comparing American politics to how things are done in Canada. Often Canadians may hold different political opinions than those in office in the USA. The problem in this humour is it often appears in a more generalized form so it sounds like a Canadian is comparing Canadians to the American public rather than say... the President of the USA. (Being well travelled I personally try to stay away from such generalizations because they can harbour resentments when the humour is misinterpreted). The other reason Canadians feel the need to compare themselves to Americans is an issue of Canadian identity. Canadians and Americans are similar in many ways... however in recent years there has been a strong desire among Canadians to create an identity that makes them stand out from the USA. This has come about due to the larger size, population and economic power of the USA but was perhaps sparked by beer ads a number of years ago that where aired by Molson Canadian with the slogan "I AM CANADIAN". For the record a lot of the information that was supposed to highlight Canadian achievements was false and should not be quoted! After all, even Canadians should know better than to let beer do the talking! So yes, comparative humour is usually meant to be harmless but it sometimes goes too far and something should be said to stop it. <br /><br />There is also comparative humour between provinces, towns, cities and regions within Canada. This can also go too far at times. Canadian humour may have different variations depending on the region as well. For instance Newfoundland humour is not entirely the same as British Columbian humour, which is not the same as Albertan humour, Torontonian humour, or Quebec humour. I could give you reasons for this but it would involve using comparative humour...<br /><br />The last "serious" aspect of humour I want to discuss is Canadian comedians and celebrities. Humour in media is not limited to comedians and political comics. If you were to watch CBC (the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) you would even find humour in the news... generally involving annoucers bantering back and forth between segments. Canadian humour also finds its was into Canadian music. A prime example of this is the <a href="http://www.arrogant-worms.com/">Arrogant Worms</a>. (Also of note to Canadians... the song "War of 1812" is not an Arrogant Worms song! It is sung by the band Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie. Look it up! Another Canadian fact!) True there are lots of great Canadian comedians who are humourous as a profession: <a href="http://www.rickmercer.com/">Rick Mercer</a>, the cast from <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/22minutes/">22 Minutes</a>, and <a href="http://www.redgreen.com/">Red Green</a> just to name a few!<br /><br />You may be wondering why this entry which has some truly controversial content in it would come first. Simple. It seemed best to get it out of the so that when I am using humour later on in other entries you'll recognize it. (Hopefully.) Now let's stop being so serious for a moment. I'm going to include a few jokes here that are by Canadians and about Canadians. (Laughter Encouraged... even if you don't get it.)<br /><br /><strong>You Might Be Canadian If...</strong><br /><br />1. You bring a portable TV on a camping trip so that you don't miss Hockey Night. <br />2. You can repeat the entire Molson's Canadian 'The Rant'. <br />3. You know all the words to "If I had a million dollars" by The Barenaked Ladies, including the inter-stanza banter between Steven and Ed. <br />4. You dismiss all beers under 6% as "for children and the elderly." <br />5. You hum David Foster's '88 Calgary Olympics theme in the shower. <br />6. You know that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) don't always look like that. <br />7. You make up patriotic lyrics to go along with David Foster's '88 Calgary Olympics theme. <br />8. You cried when Gus "drowned" on Road To Avonlea. <br />9. You remember when Alanis Morrissette was "Too Hot To Hold". <br />10. You think there isn't enough of Peter Gzowski to go around. <br />11. You think it's normal to have a grain elevator in your backyard. <br />12. You watch MuchMusic constantly, in the hopes of occasional fleeting glimpses of The Tragically Hip. <br />13. You have an Inuit carving by your bedside with the rationale, "what's good enough protection for the Prime Minister, is good enough for me!" <br />14. You can sing "O' Canada" in French and actually know what the words mean. <br />15. You send angry letters to the CBC demanding the return of the Hinterland Who's Who spots so you can finally find out what happens to the arctic ptarmigan in winter. <br />16. You participate in Participaction! <br />17. You think Peter Mansbridge is sexy. <br />18. You stood in line for hours for Another Roadside Attraction tickets. <br />19. You killed your best friend for Another Roadside Attraction tickets. <br />20. You think Great Big Sea isn't Atlantic-centric enough. <br /><br />21. You go check out the unabbreviated version of this list: <a href="http://www.indefual.net/canada/jokes/mb-cnd.html">http://www.indefual.net/canada/jokes/mb-cnd.html</a><br /><br />---<br /><br /><strong>Top 10 Reasons to be from British Columbia</strong><br /><br />1. Weed <br />2. Vancouver: 1.5 million people and two bridges <br />3. The local hero is a pot-smoking snowboarder <br />4. The local wine doesn't taste like malt vinegar <br />5. Your $400,000 Vancouver home is 5 hours from downtown <br />6. A university with a nude beach <br />7. You can throw a rock and hit three Starbucks locations <br />8. There's always some sort of deforestation protest going on <br />9. Cannabis <br />10. If the weather's bad, wait five minutes.<br /><br />---<br /><br />How do you get 100 Canadians out of a swimming pool on the hottest day of the summer?<br /><br />Just yell "Ok now, everyone out of the pool!"<br /><br />---<br /><br />A Canucklehead goes into a Tim Horton's in Gander and notices there's a "Roll Up The Rim To Win" Contest going on. So, he rolls it up and starts screaming;<br /> "I've won a motor home! I've won a motor home!"<br /> The girl at the counter says, "That's impossible. The biggest prize is a car".<br /> But the person keeps on screaming, "I've won a motor home! I've won a motor home!"<br /> Finally, the manager comes over and says, "I'm sorry, but<br />you're mistaken. You couldn't have possibly won a motor home because we didn't have that as a prize!"<br /> The person says, "No, it's not a mistake. I've won a motor<br />home!" They hand the cup to the manager and he reads..........<br /><br /> "W I N A B A G E L"<br /><br />---<br /><br />there will be more Canadian jokes in later entries!<br /><br /> <br /><em>***The owner of this blog does not share the views of anything said by people that are linked from this entry, but may still find these views funny!***</em>LearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893874662974377994.post-22294386975740960132009-01-07T16:41:00.000-06:002009-01-07T17:22:08.103-06:00Hello Eh?<center><a href="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7450.jpg"><img src="http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j213/ketchup7_photos/DSCN7450.jpg" width="225" height="300"></a></center><br /><br />This entry is going to be unlike all the other entries in this blog because in this entry I am going to give a brief introduction to myself and my background and why I decided to start this blog. The rest of the blogs will be about Canada... many different aspects of Canada! The only things about me in other entries will be stories involving me in situations a Canadian often finds themself in and me expressing my opinions on different aspects of Canadian culture. I hope you enjoy.<br /><br />At this point I would like to offer up a disclaimer. This blog will contain a number of facts about Canada. It will also include my opinions and the opinions of other Canadians I know on different aspects of Canada. Some of these views may be regional and some may be my own from my experiences living in Canada for all 20 years of my life. This disclaimer goes out especially to any Canadian audience this blog may recieve. If my views aren't yours that's ok. You are free to include your own thoughts on anything showcased about Canada... which is everything basically. I just ask you keep you opinions polite. I am also not looking for a debate unless I am showcasing Canadian Politics. Polite comments are welcome. And your opinions are welcome as long as the a phrased politely and not meant as a challenge to me. This blog is NOT about me!<br /><br />That said, a bit of background information...<br /><br />I am a 20 year old Canadian girl. I currently live in a small community in the interior of British Columbia, within a 20 minute drive of the American border. I have not lived here my entire life. I spent a lot of time living near (and in) Kelowna, BC both as a small child and an adult. I was born in Red Deer, Alberta and lived there for the first 6 months of my life (excluding the 2 weeks time spent travelling up to Alaska with my parents in their Volkswagon van under the light of the midnight sun). I am an avid traveller. I have visited many places in BC as well as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon and done extensive travelling in all the Western States of the USA. I have also been to Mexico and Japan. My next trip goals (when I have money) will be visiting Australia and then either doing a cross Canada road trip or visiting the UK. I have been in Girl Guides as well as Boy scouts and I am currently a Scout lLeader at the Beaver level. I also am hoping to move to Brandon, Manitoba in the fall to continue my schooling as I am working towards a teaching degree. I take a great interest in Politics as well as Canadian history... especially history involving the First Nations and Metis. I speak French as a second language, although I am sadly out of practice. <br /><br />My interest in all things Canadian comes from a lot of things. The main one is travelling and meeting travellers/immigrants here in Canada. I also took some anthropology courses and they were fascinating. There are so many different ways of thinking and doing things all around the world! As a Canadian, the Canadian identity is something that has fascinated me. I wanted to create this blog first off to show what a great place our country is by showcasing different towns and cities I have visited and/or lived in. I also want share pieces of Canadian history and culture and give opinions of what it might mean to be Canadian. I hope other Canadians who stop by will be inspired to share some of their ideas of what it means to be Canadian too. <br /><br />For everyone else I hope you laugh a bit, learn a bit and sit back and enjoy being entertained!<br /><br />*PanLearningLifelonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265646039721172412noreply@blogger.com1