I’ve just returned from casting my ballot at the advanced polls. The advanced polls for me works well. I know who I am voting for and can take care of it now on the weekend when I have some more free time.

It’s a mild winters day, and a good chance to get a little exercise. I walked over to cast my vote only to discover that I had looked at the wrong location on my card. Oops. Oh well… I looked at the card again and saw that the advanced poll was at a different school a little further away. No worries – I had time and this was an opportunity to enjoy a decent mid winter walk.

So – for all you Canadians out there who are constantly whining and bitching about the state of our country, here is your chance. Do a little research on who is running in your riding and go cast your ballot.

Think globally – act locally. Your vote is an opportunity to put in your two cents. Get out there and let your voice be heard.

Yesterday's Canada day festivities
here in Winnipeg
were awesome

There was the Osborne street festival was alive with food, drink, and music; Assinaboine Park had music, dancing, food and fireworks; and of course the Forks was also abuzz of activity with food, music, dancing and more.

The live music offered at all these places varied from pop and rock to Celtic and salsa

I couldn't believe the line-ups for the MINI DOGHNUTS.

I loved the powerful voices, thundering drums, colorful jingle dancers and hoop dancers of the native celebrations at the Forks. The tribal rhythms were almost hypnotic, with a majesty of the ages.

Throughout the day, Canada Flags were everywhere, but at this particular celebration there was another flag as well. I believe they referred to it as a Kanada flag. When I asked one of them about the flag and where to get one, he said that they were all given out earlier, but gave us the one he had. I suspect these flags might be rare, I tried to find them on the ‘net with no success, so I scanned this special gift I recieved for you to see.

It was an amazing display

from a group of talented,

proud and wonderful people.

 Michael J. Fox
Jim Carrey  
 Howie Mandel
Dan Aykroyd
 John Candy
Rich Little
 Lorne Michaels
Mike Myers
 Leslie Nielsen
Mack Sennett
 Martin Short

{ The word humour uses the British spelling;
the American spelling is humor  }

Did you know 

AM radio was invented by Canadian Guglielmo Marconi

The telephone was invented by Canadian Alexander Graham Bell

Television was invented by Canadian Reginald A. Fessenden

The Zipper was invented by Canadian Gideon Sundback

: )

Bonjour !

Did you know ?

     Canada has two official languages - English and French

     The largest French-speaking population outside of France is Montréal, Quebec

     O Canada, Canada’s nation anthem, was originally written in French

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-> The Winnipeg Art Gallery has the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art, including over 10,300 works of sculpture, prints, textiles and paintings.

-> The World's Largest Camel is in Glenboro, Manitoba, Canada.

-> Onanole, Manitoba, Canada is home to the world's largest Elk.

-> The world's largest Garter Snake can be found in Inwood, Manitoba, Canada.

-> Looking for the world's largest Mosquito? It's in Komarno, Manitoba, Canada.

-> The world's largest Ox Cart is in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada.

-> The world's biggest painting and easel are in Altona, Manitoba, Canada.

-> If you visit Saint Claude, Manitoba, Canada, you'll find the world's largest Smoking Pipe.

remember...

Make a top ten list, tell a story, fun facts, post some favorite pictures, do some trivia...

Many of us will probably be away from our computers on that long weekend, so before you go- post a blog entry showing your Canadian Pride.

I invite you to join me in
celebrating Canada day in a week.

   Did      you      know?  

 Canadians consume more Kraft Dinner per capita than any other nationality on earth.

Poutine is a French-Canadian concoction comprised of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds.

Candy bars unique to Canada include Crispy Crunch, Smarties, & McIntosh toffee bars.

Red Rose tea is available only in Canada (....Pity!).

Do Canadians eat more doughnuts than any other country's citizen?
You bet your Timbits.

Did You Know 
 

Today, thousands of Canadians across the country celebrate National Aboriginal Day, a special day to celebrate the unique heritage, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people in Canada.




First Nations peoples have been living in what is now called Canada for tens of thousands of years.

The Indian and Inuit peoples' have in the past also been referred to as Natives and Eskimos.

The igloo is the most common symbol identified with Eskimos, yet most  Eskimos don't live in what most people think an igloo is.

Igloo is simply the Eskimo word for "house." So, technically, most  eskimos DO live in igloos, as they define them, but not as most people  think of them.

Mainly through the use of cartoons, people have long thought that  Eskimos live in the rounded icehouses in order to keep warm in the cold  climates in which they live. This might have been true originally, but it's  not true now.

Nowadays, Eskimos live in wood, stone, and even cement buildings. They  have heating devices that keep them warm in the colder months.

With more than 50,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit people, the city I  live in- Winnipeg, has the largest Aboriginal community of any city in Canada.

"The Forks" in downtown Winnipeg has been an important meeting place  for more than 6,000 years. The city's name, which in the Cree language  means `muddy waters,' flows from that history. The Forks is where the  waters of the Red River and Assiniboine River come together—churning up  muddy water—as part of a vast continental network of waterways that has encouraged trade,  transportation and settlement.

For centuries, aboriginal peoples came here to trade. European fur traders, Métis buffalo hunters (descendants of European and Aboriginal  people), Scottish settlers, riverboat workers, railway pioneers and tens of  thousands of immigrants who flowed through the Forks onto the prairies,  joined them. Today, The Forks is a dynamic setting in downtown Winnipeg  where people gather for celebrations, recreation and to meet one another.

  
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Canada
is the world's
second-largest country
in area
(Russia is the largest)

The area of the Canadian province of Quebec
is twice the size of Texas

Did you know

   
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Canadians have just as many guns as Americans , if not more...

we just have fewer murders.