Two hundred and twenty-five years ago, black people held as slaves on plantations in the southern USA, began to hear stories of a country to the north where black people were free. The hunger for freedom moved some of them to slip away at night and begin the long journey north. Were they courageous or … Continue reading I’m on my way to the freedom land
Canada
Fun facts about Canada – 1
These guys prefer Canada to the USA. Image by Dave Eslinger from Pixabay 55% of the bald eagles of North America are in Canada. The largest concentration is along the Pacific coast of British Columbia, but they can be found all across southern Canada. There was one in the sky above our yard earlier this week.
The true north, strong and free – 1
Eight years ago a group of investors built a large plant in a neighbouring town to produce protein concentrates and flours from peas, lentils and faba beans. In 1918 Ingredion, a US company, made an investment in the plant and in 2020 became full owners. A month ago they announced they were closing the plant … Continue reading The true north, strong and free – 1
Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
By 1812 conflicts between Britain and France spilled over into a war between Britain and the USA, in which most of the action took place in Canada. When the War of 1812 began, the US government assumed that the Canadian colonies to the north would quickly grasp the opportunity to throw off British colonial rule … Continue reading Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
Learning to love winter in Canada
Image by paolafrangella from Pixabay Two weeks ago there was no snow on the ground. The next week we had two dumps of snow, totalling 50 cm or more. Several times this week overnight temperatures have fallen to -30° C. No doubt about it, this is winter, even if it isn’t even December yet. Thursday this week I … Continue reading Learning to love winter in Canada
The stubborn refusal of French people to stop speaking French
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay After Wolfe defeated Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham in 1759, the victorious British fully expected that the French of Quebec would quit speaking French and become Anglophones. Eighty years later in 1839, Lord Durham advised that being patient with the backward French Quebeckers would be the best policy, for they would … Continue reading The stubborn refusal of French people to stop speaking French
The Origin of the Mennonites
Trying to trace the origin and history of the Mennonite faith by ethnic or genealogical lines leads to confusion and error, much like those who trace the lineage of their church through a continuous line of ordination from the days of the apostles. One might be able to establish a historical connection from person to … Continue reading The Origin of the Mennonites
How Mennonite became an ethnic label rather than a religious one – Part three
By 1870, there were close to two million Germans living in Russia. For the most part they lived in self-governing colonies, exempt from taxation, military service and other obligations of Russian citizenship. They had their own German language schools, regulated their own affairs and kept apart from the Ukrainian and Russian people. Is it any … Continue reading How Mennonite became an ethnic label rather than a religious one – Part three
The solution for the Indian problem
I first wrote this article some years ago. Indian is no longer a politically correct term for Canada's indigenous population but due to the historical context I thought it best to leave it as I wrote it. Starting in 1701, the British government made treaties with the Indians living in Canada. They were open-ended arrangements, … Continue reading The solution for the Indian problem
Canada Day musings
When I was a boy there were hardly any indigenous people to be seen in most parts of Saskatchewan. We knew they were out there somewhere, safely confined to Indian Reservations. Times have changed, indigenous people are making a place for themselves in the economic, cultural and social life of our province. The current Lieutenant-Governor … Continue reading Canada Day musings
Flatlander Faith 