(My wife unearthed this a few days ago. It is a letter to the editor that appeared in the London (Ontario) Free Press on May 28, 1987, at the height of the foofaraw over the extravagant lifestyle of Jimmy and Tammy Faye Bakker. We were living in Fullarton, Ontario, about 20 minutes north of London … Continue reading Blessings can’t be bought
Ontario
Why parents need to be involved in their child’s education
Governor Jeb Bush of Florida was in Toronto at the end of October to speak on the educational reforms that have moved Florida schools from the bottom tier of educational achievement to near the top. He spoke to the Economic Club of Canada at the Royal York Hotel, the talk was well-publicized and co-sponsored by … Continue reading Why parents need to be involved in their child’s education
A man of simple tastes
Carl McNeil, the oldest man in Fullarton, was of Scottish descent as his name implied. Carl was well-educated and well informed, a pleasant man to visit with, but not worldly wise; his values came from a different era. He never married, never had a driver's license, never smoked, never tasted tea, coffee or strong drink. … Continue reading A man of simple tastes
One kernel of wheat
How many people can be fed with one kernel of wheat? David Fife fed millions. The Fife family came to Canada from Scotland in 1820 when David was 15. They settled in Otanabee township, east of Peterborough, Ontario . When David was 20, he married Jane Becket and they began to farm on their own. … Continue reading One kernel of wheat
Canada Day trivia
Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada? This is a tricky question. The first Prime Minister after Confederation in 1867 was John A McDonald. But the Act of Union of 1841 merged Upper Canada and Lower Canada (now Ontario and Québec) into the United Province of Canada. The first elected leader of the United … Continue reading Canada Day trivia
Today we washed the sheep
Another excerpt from When I Was Thirteen, by Christina Young of Waubuno, Ontario May 31, 1897 Today we washed the sheep. I guess I had better describe how it is done, as the fashions may be changed by the time my descendants are able to read this. There are so many new ways of doing … Continue reading Today we washed the sheep
The Twenty-third Psaum
The Lord is my Shepherd; my wants are a' kent; the pastur I lie in is growthie and green. I follow by the lips o' the watirs o' Peace. He heals and sterklie hauds my saul: and airts me, for his ain name's sake, in a' the fit-roads o' his holiness. Aye, and though I … Continue reading The Twenty-third Psaum
Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
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 and become part of the USA. Thomas Jefferson declared that Canada could be acquired simply by marching North. It probably seemed a logical assumption. The colonies of … Continue reading Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
How Thomas Edison invented himself out of a job
Thomas Edison was almost a Canadian. The Edison family originally lived in New Jersey but came to Nova Scotia, Canada as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American Revolution. A later generation moved to Vienna, Ontario and were involved in the War of 1812 in defending Canada against attempted invasions from the USA. … Continue reading How Thomas Edison invented himself out of a job
Who was Benjamin Eby?
Benjamin Eby was a great-great-grandson of Jacob Eby, who was ordained bishop of the Mennonites at Zurich, Switzerland in 1663. Jacob’s son, Theodor us Eby, left Switzerland in 1704 to escape the persecution of the Mennonites that was going on there. This Eby family settled in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in 1715. Benjamin Eby’s older brother, … Continue reading Who was Benjamin Eby?
Flatlander Faith 