Our Canada

Small World I love the cover image for the December-January 2023 issue by Heather Loewen. Between the covers were two surprises: First was the article, “A History Worth Remembering” by Erna de Burger Fex. As soon as I read that she’d arrived in Warren, Ont., I thought: That’s like my friend Amy, who also came to Canada from the Netherlands and settled there. And, just like Amy and me, Erna went to North Bay Teachers’ College. I phoned Amy, who said she remembered the family and Mr. Spaull, who also sponsored her family. She came over in 1949; Erna, in 1951. I copied the article and sent it to Amy, who now lives in the United States. Second was the article “Beetlemania” by Berthe Gauthier, about the car that made the…

JIM MCRAE Jim McRae was born and raised in Little Burgundy, close to the Port of Montreal. He had just two passions in life, hockey and ships, but eventually was pulled to a third—storytelling. He founded a design and custom content agency, where he has combined all three passions, having published a three-book series on the Hockey Hall of Fame and, now, Seaway Queens, The Style & Grace of Legendary Lakers, about the glorious ships that were a big part of his family life (Showcase, page 37). Like him—perhaps because of him—Jim’s wife and two adult daughters will confess to looking for ships transitting the St. Lawrence Seaway whenever they cross Montreal’s Champlain Bridge. GLORIA LAURIS Gloria, a writer who makes her home in Ottawa, is a retired government analyst and a long-time…

Now that spring is here, or at least on its way, many of us are already in a gardening frame of mind, planning out what veggies and flowers to plant this season and where to place them. To help with this spring’s flower selection, you’ll find plenty of inspiration, practical information and helpful tips in the form of a photo essay provided by regular contributor Clive Branson of Ottawa. If you like Clive’s photo on the front cover, wait until you see what he has in store for you in “Flower Power” on page 8. This issue also marks the return of our seasonal Birds & Blooms department (page 40), where Debbie Browne of Spruce Grove, Alta., describes her gardening challenges and triumphs in the different regions of Canada she has…

Brock joined the Canadian Armed Forces on his 18th birthday. He began basic training in January 2008 and, by July, was posted to 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. “We’d lead patrols using metal detectors to clear a path into insurgent-held territory.” Brock deployed with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, attached to the 2 PPCLI battle group, and spent eight months in Afghanistan, five as a member of the quick reaction force. Serving as sapper, C9 machine gunner, and in tactical combat casualty care, finding and dealing with Improvised Explosive Devices was the main focus of Brock’s tour. On April 3, 2010, he stepped on a roadside bomb and lost his left leg, which ultimately ended his military career. He now resides in Edmonton. To view video interviews with Canadian war vets, visit…

With many of us still at home more due to ubiq-uitous viruses circulating, there is time to focus on a much-loved pastime in Canada—gardening, which brings some colour into our lives. Some folks wonder what the difference is between perennials and annuals. Both appeal to the senses in appearance, shape and smell. An annual is like a hot-summer affair that withers and dies with the first sign of frost. A perennial is like an old flame that returns unexpectedly year after year. Perennials can remain alive for a number of years, unlike the heartbroken annual that usually lasts only one season. Perennials generally take less work to cultivate and are suited to many climates. They can even be grown in containers. After doing some research, here is what I found…

WHAT IS IT? “I recently bought this metal contraption to display in my woodshed along with various other rusty objects,” writes Robert Starrett of Hudson, Ont. “The word neepawa is stamped on one side, while Patent Dec. 7 1920 is stamped on the other. When fully extended, it measures 29 x 9 x 5 inches in height and 20 x 23 x 5 inches in width. Neither the seller nor my friends have been able to identify it.” How about it, readers? Can you help Robert solve this mystery? Head to ourcanada.ca to submit your answers. BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS Brenda Doherty of Ariss, Ont., writes: “While hiking on a local trail, I spotted a pair of eastern bluebirds flying around. I watched for a while and was happy when this one perched on…