Originally posted to the newsletter for Ontario Barn Preservation, August 2025. (The last one I wrote any part of).

HERITAGE PRAYER

We keep forgetting all of those who lived before us. We keep forgetting those who lived and worked in our communities. We keep forgetting those who prayed and sang hymns in our churches before we were born. We keep forgetting what our fathers have done for us. We commit the sin, Lord, of assuming that everything begins with us.

We drink from wells we did not find. We eat food from farmland we did not develop. We enjoy freedoms which we have not earned. We worship in churches which we did not build. We live in communities we did not establish. This day, make us grateful for our heritage. Amen

cf. Cumberland Historic Village, near Ottawa - in the vestibule of Vars Knox United Church - adapted from a prayer in the old Covenanters' Church - 1804, Grand Pre, Nova Scotia.

How can you know people who lived before you were born? At best we have photographs, maybe a painting from the days with less technology. I do think about the people who would have dug the farmland, the wells and dealt with all those huge trees long before my family came to Canada. I have regrets for the trees even though I had no part of bringing them down, burning their stumps, and whatever roots they still tried to shoot up. 

I think everyone who is a part of OBP (or reads this far in the newsletter) has an interest in our history. Did you know they call old architecture 'built heritage' now? I guess someone decided to shine it up with a new phrase. 

I am grateful for our heritage. I am glad to be here, in the world, to see what there is of it in this time I'm living in. I will never see it all, freshly built. I will not likely be here when the last barn is gone. I wasn't here when the first one was raised. Do you ever wonder about farther afield than our own time and space, other lives lived on other planets? OK, that's getting a bit too far off topic. But, I do wonder if they have agriculture, farms, barns, and a built heritage too. 

Posted by Laura

In case you missed it!

Canadian Vintage Radio Society 

The Moving Past - A collection of Canadian archival films.

Farm & Food Care Ontario

P.E.I. Heritage Buildings - Site by C.W. Jeffery

The Canadian Railway Preservation and Restoration Association

Ontario Truck and Tractor Pulling Association

I don't like seeing people treat animals like infants or babies. Why are people so needy?!

Feeding young animals with bottles past the time they are able to eat or drink without one. I've had cats and kittens in the past. Kittens can eat solid food and drink from a saucer very early on. Something like this (image below) is just humans treating them like infants. Think of the animal - not yourself. Give the animal some respect. Do not try to find psychological support from a pet or animal. You're asking too much. You need other human beings, your own species at the very least, for that. Don't make a pet your baby blanket.

Kittens can fend for themselves long before any human child - in terms of actual time/ age. That animal you are bottle feeding was walking when you (at the same age) were unable to lift your head.

Grow up! Are you uncomfortable talking, interacting with other people? Well, how do you think that animal/ pet feels? Stuck with you babying it instead of letting it live its own life.

A pet or animal can be a companion - not your security blanket.

An adult animal is an adult, not a fur baby. Pets are not your babysitter.

• She her disappear
• to man made stereotypes
• Identity gone

There is an ad for an insurance company, here in Canada. I see it almost everyday, if I have the TV on. The ad shows a cartoon drawing of a family: man, something and child. There is no definite woman. But the man is certainly a male. The child is certainly a child. What could have been the woman, possibly the Mother, is ambiguous in order to be either gender, gender neutral, faceless, token, either/or.

The child is just a child, smaller but more boy looking than anything to make it seem like a girl. The man is not neutral - it/he is taller, muscular, physically a male for sure with facial hair to make it clear. The other is less tall, short hair, sexless clothing, no facial hair, no breasts, no figure, no gender.

Every time I see that ad I feel women are being lost, replaced, forgotten, pushed aside. I am sad but too weary of the fight to feel angry - most of the time. What will the world do when there are no human women/ females? Will they go after female animals next? Does that seem so far fetched?

This whole thing seems like something out of science fiction to me. After all the years to fight for rights - now to be denied even an identity. Didn't see that one coming. It still seems like extreme fiction but... its happening every day.

When there are no women, men and children will die, age out and disappear. Are women becoming a rare species? Or just nothing at all. Something found in an encyclopedia or history. Its very discouraging from my view as a woman, born female, still female. In England you can choose to be identified as a biological woman, but not as a woman. Woman is gender free, gender misplaced.

I'll tell you a story, once upon a time there was man, woman and child. That's where the story ends.