This was originally posted to the Squidoo network when I was accepted as the “Oh Canada” Contributor.
Why become the Squidoo Contributor for “Oh Canada”?
First, I am Canadian. Born in down town Toronto, grew up in and around Ontario but mainly in the town of Port Union (which became Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto). I have travelled across Canada on the Via train, Greyhound bus, and by camper van, staying in youth hostels and the odd fancy hotel when the budget stretched enough. I’ve been from the ocean in Vancouver out to the ocean on PEI (Prince Edward Island). I have yet to be north enough to see the Canadian tundra – but I have been to Timmons and Thunder Bay at least twice.
Secondly, I really love to find out about Canadian art, history, culture, people, places, traditions…. all of it. When I see the word Canada on something it pops out at me and I will read whatever it is about. Even something I would otherwise not have an interest in or not even like all that much. I absorb Canadiana, greedily. That doesn’t mean I immerse myself in everything, there is only so much of me I can give, but I like to know the good, bad, and the ugly so I can create a whole picture of what Canada is and who we, as a people in the world, are.
I think it is a shame for people to say they are Canadian if they have not done some travelling to see Canada and meet more of the people than they find in the area they begin in. Canadiansare told we don’t have a real identity so we often defend ourselves with what culture, art and history is uniquely our own. That is a shame too because it just shows how well we know Canada is the country which people think of as nice but don’t really know who we are.
So, that is why I have taken on the challenge, the project, of being the Contributor for “Oh Canada”. I want to teach the world (at least those who stop by here) about Canada and Canadians.
I Really do Love the Canadian Flag
February 15th is National Flag of Canada Day
What is the Canadian National Anthem?
Listen to us sing it!
(The original post had videos here).
My Background (like an About Me).
I am a proud Canadian and I do like to write about, research, and teach the world about Canada and Canadians.
I photograph abandoned, derelict farm houses. I like the history, the feeling of something surviving in spite of time and neglect. I like the way old buildings give us so many links to both our past and our culture. Travelling around Ontario (day trips and some over nights) I take a lot of backroads, get coffee in local restaurants and I keep in touch with other explorers across Canada through the groups I founded and moderate on Flickr.
I especially like Canadian music, literature and movies/ TV shows. Here we get so much media from the US it can be overwhelming. I make a point to support our own Canadian media by watching and listening to CBC, the oldest Canadian broadcaster and the most Canadian focused of them all. If you want to know about Canadian music, writers and others you can count on the CBC to have current news and old facts in their archives too.
I studied Canadian Literature as a course in high school and college. I do read a lot of everything, not just Canadian, but I am aware of Canadian writers and did belong to an online group (until it folded). I had thought to start up another group but that does take a huge amount of time and energy so it on a project on the backburner. Meanwhile I continue to write my site for writers and it does have some focus on Canadian resources
(just because that is what I find most useful for myself, as a Canadian freelance writer).
As the Oh Canada Contributor at Squidoo I would be happy to bring some niches of Canadian culture, history and art to light.
Canada Day in 2017 Will be Canada’s 150th Birthday
1867 – 2017
- Canadian Heritage
- The Canadian heritage site from the Government of Canada.
- Canada 150
- In 2017 Canada will have it’s 150th birthday.
- Flickr: Canada Day
- Canada Day photographs on Flickr.
- Imagi Nation 150
- Canada’s Sesquicentennial from Calgary, Alberta.
- Explore 150
- Explore150 is a uniquely Canadian project that brings together mobile technology and youth engagement inviting young people to discover, celebrate and share the beauty and inspiration offered by natural, cultural and historical sites across Canada.
- The CBC Digital Archives
- CBC is the Canadian media and broadcaster. There is more than one, but CBC is across Canada and (as far as I know) has the most history.
- The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Today in Canadian history.
- These were the comments with the original post on Squidoo. Also the poll.