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
Québec
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
Thoughtless generosity
The rain began July 19, 1996 over the semi-mountainous terrain surrounding the Kenogami basin in Québec and continued for three days, dropping enough water to fill the Kenogami reservoir one and a half times. Unfortunately, it was nearly full to begin with. Torrents of water flowed over the dam and into the cities of Chicoutimi … Continue reading Thoughtless generosity
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
The Book that Illuminates
Here is a beautiful illustration of the words of David in Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of they words giveth light.” The incident occurred sometime in the 1840's in rural Québec. It is recorded in Histoire du Protestantisme Français au Canada et aux États-Unis by R.-P. Duclos, first published in 1913. Zéphirin Patenaude, was travelling the … Continue reading The Book that Illuminates
Lost, Forgotten and Suppressed History – The Huguenot origins of Québec
The first explorers and settlers of New France were Protestants. This is not something I learned in school; I don’t think it’s being taught even today, the Catholic church having almost succeeded in expunging all mention of Protestants from the collective memory of the Québecois people. The Reformed Church in France seems to have begun … Continue reading Lost, Forgotten and Suppressed History – The Huguenot origins of Québec
Flatlander Faith 