This is the first newsletter posted from my own site. There are still some bumps to fix but I've got it working enough to keep my Friday schedule. 

Canadian Inspiration

Trains used to go east, west, north, south and all over Canada. I feel sad when I see places the train tracks have been pulled up. Wouldn't it be so much better to bring back railways to Canada, not just for passenger trips but all that shipping they used to do too. How is it not better than keeping all those transport trucks on the road? (Considering fuel, traffic, accidents, wear and tear and assorted other issues). Trains seem like a much better option.

I love train travel across Canada. My brother and I did it as children, just the two of us from Western Canada back to Toronto and even then we caught the bus from Union Station out to our home in Port Union. It was a great trip.

Even before that long trip, I visited my Grandparents, taking the VIA Rail from downtown Toronto out to Woodstock, Ontario. I enjoyed seeing old movies about train travel, especially the rail cars for passengers. My brother and I explored as many of the cars as we could during our trip. We saw one with bunkbed sort of accommodations, but they looked messy and plain. Pretty sure they were no longer in use so it was strange they were still included on the train. I would guess some of the staff used them if they had a long shift for the cross Canada journey.

Your inspiration this week is to remember or (even better) travel on a train, somewhere in Canada to somewhere else in Canada. You don't have to spend a lot or go far. There are local groups who are keeping the shorter lines open with scheduled trips, usually on weekends. See what you can find.

• The Canadian Railway Preservation and Restoration Association
• Canadian Railroad Historical Association and Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum
• Canadian National Railways Historical Association
• Canadian Pacific Historical Association
• Toronto Railway Museum
• Railroad Equipment Restoration Association Canada
• Rail Fans Canada
• Rail Pictures.ca
• Canada Rail
• CN Rail - History
• Via Rail - History
• VIA Historical Association
• Government of Canada - Heritage Railway Stations of Canada
• HeritageRail Alliance

The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore: An Illustrated History of Railway Stations in Canada - Ron Brown

Ron Brown writes many Canadian history book, including more about Canadian trains and stations in Canada.

Canadian People

Merna Forster is from Victoria, BC. She ran a (successful) national campaign to have women depicted on Canadian money. She received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General in 2018. Also, the History Award for Popular Media (the Pierre Berton Award) in 2016. She is part of the Unsolved Canadian Mysteries History Project. The list of her awards and achievements is longer, read more. 

Merna runs the site - A Guide to Women in Canadian History

If you want to read more about Canadian women, Merna has written two books:

• 100 Canadian Heroines: Famous and Forgotten Faces
• 100 More Canadian Heroines: Famous and Forgotten Faces

Canadian Places

Thunder Cape, Port Arthur, Ontario. The Sleeping Giant. https://www.ebay.com/itm/388151399956

Thunder Cape, Port Arthur/ Fort William, Ontario.

Canadian Things

Did you know the Canadian Tuxedo was started in Vancouver?

Bing Crosby had been in BC for a fishing trip.  Afterwards, he wanted to check into the Hotel Vancouver. But denim was not something people would wear to a fancy place like the Hotel Vancouver in 1951. A fancy hotel does need to mind its reputation and keep up standards for their clientele. A bellhop recognized Bing Crosby and all was resolved.

Levi Strauss & Company decided to create a fancy suit, tuxedo,  made with denim as a bit of a joke. Levi's called it the Canadian Tuxedo and presented it to Bing Crosby. Bing wore it once, at the event, but chose not to keep it. Maybe it was too fancy for his laid back style. The jacket was sold again in 2024.

I still hear people refer to someone dressed in denim as wearing a Canadian Tuxedo.

If you want something fancier than the standard denim and denim look - Amazon.ca has a denim suit.

Please help me support my fondness for groceries and the occasional new print book.

• PayPal Me
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One last thing… A Canadian Link or So

Transport Action Canada, Canadian citizen transportation advocacy group, founded in 1977.

Gordon Lightfoot - Canadian Railroad Trilogy

Canadian Military History

Canadian Register of Historic Places

National Trust for Canada

Canada's History

This was originally, my first Canadian Culture newsletter/ ezine.

If You Have Nothing Good to Say Just Post Some ASCII Art

Substack says “Readers love clarity”. Sorry readers, you may not find much of that here. I tend to overthink but I work better when I stop thinking so much and just start - even if it is not recommended by Substack or almost anyone else. Starting is the biggest battle, for me. Like that quote about showing up.

“Half the battle is just showing up” Stephen Hawking

Long ago I wrote for a site called BackWash - The Internet by Personality. You can find it with the Wayback Machine/ Internet Archives, otherwise it is gone. Not even the Wayback Machine saved it all. Sadly. My plan is to write about Canada by Personality, mine. I only have mine to work with.

I am Canadian. I’ve tested myself by living elsewhere. I came back. A lot like “The Cat Came Back” a Canadian classic. Other places have grander views, different politics, more history... I love Canada. I live in Ontario. The West Coast is beautiful with mountains and orcas. The East Coast has red dirt and the endless seeming ocean. But, Ontario has less water damage. That’s something.

As an actual topic, because people might think there should be one. What does make something Canadian (or other location of your choice)? Is it enough that it is made by a Canadian, in Canada? Or does it need government inspection, social media seal of approval, a DNA test…?

Being born in Canada and living in Canada, most of my life, will just have to do. Besides, no one else is here to save you from my idea of what is Canadian.

Secondly, culture is a pretty wide area. I will try to stick to topics in the realm of Canadiana.

Following this is the ASCII art, as noted earlier. I make my own ASCII art, just MS Notepad, my fingers and my brain. Nothing especially Canadian today but made by a Canadian while in Canada.

One last thing… A Canadian Link or Two

Fireside Canada - A podcast about Canadian legends, lies & lore. You may not have heard about International Beaver Day on April 7th. Add it to your calendar for next year. I will try to watch for other relevant dates/ events. Even if I don’t find and post them before they happen.

In 1950, Harry Wasylyk (from Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Larry Hansen (from Lindsay, Ontario) invented a disposable green polyethylene garbage bag intended for commercial use. At first there were sold to the Winnipeg Hospital. Using them for residential garbage came long later.

A Toronto man, Frank Plomp, invented a plastic garbage bag in 1950 as well but it didn't catch on. Maybe he didn't try to sell it, or just not enough.

With so much plastic in our environment now... Still what would we do if there were no plastic bags and only paper bags for everything? A lot of liquid mess would need cleaning up. Maybe someone will come up with the next great idea in garbage bags which are strong, don't leak (usually), and don't end up floating in the ocean, or otherwise being an environmental problem.