Journeys into Canada

See Canada from sea to sea (National Post)

2011-08-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

From The National Post:

About the benfits from an auto trip in Canada.

http://www.canada.com/travel/travel/5174333/story.html

Podcast: Steam Whistle Brewery - Innovative Brew in a Classic Setting

2011-05-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time beer in Canada meant Molson, Labbatt and O’Keefe.

Now the scene is much more diverse.

One of Canada’s best these days is Steam Whistle Brewing in Toronto. They produce a premium pilsner lager packaged in distinctive green glass bottles and a non-twist cap. In 2004, Steam Whistle Pilsner was voted best beer in Toronto at the Golden Tap Awards. Steam Whistle has also been voted Best Toronto Microbrewery on more than one occasion.

The three founders are former employees of Upper Canada Brewing Company before it was bought by Sleeman’s. The original name for the beer was going to be “Three Fired Guys Brewing Company” since they were all fired from Upper Canada Brewing Company when it was purchased by Sleeman; however, they chose Steam Whistle Brewing to evoke an image of steam rushing from a factory’s whistle signaling the end of the work day. Embossed at the bottom of Steam Whistle bottles is “3FG” as an inside joke, referencing “Three Fired Guys”.

The brewery occupies Bays 1-14 within a building known as the John Street Roundhouse. Built in 1929, it was previously the home of a CPR steam locomotive repair facility, and operated as such until May 13, 1988. The John Street Roundhouse is designated a National Historic Site, and is owned by the City of Toronto. It is located within walking distance of the Rogers Center and the CN Tower. A similar roundhouse, the CNR Spadina Roundhouse, was torn down to make way for the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre).

Steam Whistle is also known for maintaining a promotions fleet of some 8 vintage vehicles used to market their products, ranging a 1949 Navistar International Stake Truck to a 1965 Ford Blue Bird Bus.

In this Journey into Beer, we speak with Greg Taylor about Steam Whistle, its origins, its place today and what it represents in the bigger picture of beer making in Canada today.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=568

Podcast - Brew North: How Canadians Made Beer and Beer Made Canada

2011-03-02T03:29:00.000-08:00

This is the story about Canada’s relationship with beer. From Victoriana through thes tubby to the invasion of the Americans to global corporate giants and finally the contemporary story of a new golden era.

Ian Coutts is the author of Brew North (Greystone; 2010). He joins for this journey –a Journey into Beer which is also a Journey into Canada.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/

Podcast - Save the Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen

2011-03-02T03:28:00.000-08:00

As a journalist and life-long deli obsessive, David Sax was understandably alarmed by the state of Jewish delicatessen–a cuisine that once sat at the very center of Jewish life had become endangered by assimilation, homogenization, and health food trends. He watched one beloved deli after another shut down, one institution after another shutter only to be reopened as some bland chain-restaurant laying claim to the very culture it just paved over. And so David set out on a journey across the United States and around the world in search of authentic delicatessen. Was it still possible to Save the Deli?

In this Journey, we join David as he investigates everything deli–its history, its diaspora, its next generation. He tells us about the food itself–how it’s made, who makes it best, and where to go for particular dishes. And, ultimately, there there is for hope–David finds deli newly and lovingly made in places like Boulder, traditions maintained in Montreal, and iconic institutions like the 2nd Avenue Deli resurrected in New York.

It’s a great topic and he does a wonderful job - a cultural history of Jewish food, a vibrant travelogue, and a rallying cry for a new generation of food lovers.

http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/

Podcast For Remembrance Day: Conn Smythe

2011-03-02T03:27:00.000-08:00

Conn Smythe (February 1, 1895 – November 18, 1980) is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1927 to 1961) and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens. As owner of the Leafs during numerous championship years, his name appears on the Stanley Cup eleven times: 1932, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1967.

Smythe is also known for having served in both World Wars, organizing his own artillery in the Second World War.

In this Journey into Hockey at the time of Remembrance Day, we remember Conn Smythe the soldier and patriot beyond the hockey rink.

Our guest is author and hockey historian Kevin Shea, who among his works co-authored with Thomas Stafford Smythe the 2000 book, “Centre Ice: The Smythe Family, the Gardens and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club (Fenn).

http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?m=201102

Podcast: Canada’s Game

2011-03-02T03:26:00.000-08:00

Hockey is more than just Canada’s National sport – it is the most recognizable symbol of what it is to be Canadian, an intrinsic part of the nation’s culture, economy and politics.

In this Journey into Hockey we speak with Andrew Holman, professor of history and Canadian Studies at Massachusetts’s Bridgewater State College about his book “Canada’s Game – History and Identity”, a compendium that addresses a range of themes in hockey – past and present.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=515

Gallery: 5 Up-and-Coming Canadian Cities (Postmedia News via The Montreal Gazette)

2011-01-30T06:10:00.001-08:00

From Postmedia News via the Montreal Gazette:

If major cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are giving you a headache and even underdogs like Calgary or Halifax don’t thrill you, you might consider relocating to one of the other metropolises blossoming in our great nation. Here are five Canadian cities on the up and up

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/story.html?id=4177610

Podcast: The Town Where Friday the 13th is a Special

2010-10-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

In Port Dover, Ontario Friday the 13ths are special.

It seems that this community on the shore of Lake Erie has become a meeting place for motorcylists – thousands. But it happens only on a Friday the 13th.

So, whenever the 13th falls on a Friday, whether it’s April or December, motorcycles of every type, make, and model will make their way to the welcoming streets of the bustling town.

In this Journey into Canada, we chat with Barbara Tanner-Billings of Port Dover about how this all came to be – and just what you might expect to see and experience if you should come to town on a Friday the 13th.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=499

Podcast: Lord Stanley - The Man Behind the Cup

2010-04-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

One of the most important figures in Canadian history, Frederick Arthur Stanley’s most enduring legacy is not his term as the country’s sixth Governor General but the trophy cup that bears his name.

As the playoffs begin, we speak with author and hockey historian Kevin Shea about the man has name is associated with hockey champions. Shea is author of Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup (Key Porter Books; First Edition edition (June 14, 2007)).

In this Journey into Hockey, we explore with Kevin Shea Lord Stanley’s political legacy — his diplomacy in dealing with the United States, his embrace of Canada’s West, and his nimble handling of domestic crises — fleshing out a man who was far more than just an avid sportsman.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=445

Podcast: Lakeland – Journeys into the Soul of Canada

2010-04-15T05:34:00.000-07:00

Lakeland (Greystone Books, 2009) is a journey of a discovery with a country. In the course of his travels, Allen Casey examined just what lakes mean to Canada.

Interestingly, while many volumes had been written about the Great Lakes, this is a rare book in that it explores Canada’s three million other lakes.

We speak with Allen Casey about the inspiration for his journey, what he found and how it changed him.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=432

Podcast: Uniting Canada through a Guitar - Six String Nation

2010-04-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

64 pieces; 6 strings; 1 Canada; 1 guitar.

This is the story of Voyageur, the Six String Nation guitar, which was built from throughout Canada – it is comprised almost entirely of pieces of Canadian history. Pierre Trudeau’s canoe paddle is the tone bar, Paul henderson’s hockey stick is part of the pick guard; and the sacred Golden Spruce of Haida Gwaii froms the face. Even Maurice Richard’s first Stanley Cup ring adorns the ninth fret.

We speak with project organizor and author Jowi Taylor about Vaoyageur’s story – from concetion through construction through its debut in front of 80,000 people on Canada Day 2006.

As Jowi relates, the story continues to unfold today.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=419

Podcast: Superior Region & Its People

2010-04-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

In The Wolf’s Head - Writing Lake Superior (Cormorant Books, 2008) ,Peter Unwin has recorded the stories of the great Superior and the people who, over centuries, have determined to make it their home.

In this Journey into Canada, we speak with Unwin, who helps lay out the history of the lake and its lands.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=364

Podcast: Canada’s Olympic Hockey History

2010-03-02T09:11:00.001-08:00

Canada added a new and important page to its hockey and national history in the recently completed Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

The men’s hockey team overtime final win for the gold against the U.S. is already a classic. The tournament was thrilling throughout. And, the women provided an equally inspiring level of skill and commitment. Their accomplishments are second to none.

These recently completed games are but the most recent chapter in a story that started close to a cenury ago.

Andrew Podnieks, author of more than 50 books on hockey, has chronicled the history of Canadian Olympic hockey in his book, Canada’s Olympic Hockey History, 1920-2010 (Fenn; 2009).

It’s a fascinating and diverse story. Canada’s Olympic hockey team has taken many twists and turns over the years.

In this Journey intio Hockey, we speak with Andrew Podnieks about his book and the history it chronicles.

As Canada celebrates the wins of 2010, the earlier contributions of the likes of William Hewitt, Father David Bauer, Dave King and Cassie Campbell should not be forgotten.

Broadcast: February 15 (Before Canada’s 2010 wins)

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=379

On a rare night, Canada gathered to watch one game (Globe and Mail)

2010-02-25T06:47:00.000-08:00

From The Globe and Mail:

By Stephen Brunt
The Globe and Mail
February 24, 2010

VANCOUVER - There aren't really that many hockey nights in Canada, at least not in the way we imagine them.

One country, gathered ‘round a game; perhaps it was true every week way back in the mists of time, in the one or two channel world, television on Saturday night as the national hearth, a place where friends and families came together, the way they came together to worship other gods the following morning.

But that world long ago was blown to smithereens, and now we live in a time of vast and near infinite choice; when you can watch anything from anywhere anytime, on your television, your computer, on your phone, and when nothing is really special there is not much reason to assemble anywhere anytime.

Except on rare nights like this, except for a game like this, when you want company, when it feels so much better to be with your tribe.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/columnists/bruntscorner/newsid=51571.html#a+country+united+watch+canada

Passing: John Babcock, Last Canadian World War I Veteran (NY Times)

2010-02-24T07:25:00.000-08:00

From The New York Times:

By RICHARD GOLDSTEIN
Published: February 24, 2010

He joined the Canadian Army at 15 and ultimately became the symbol of an embattled generation.

More than 600,000 Canadians served in World War I, and the Canadians’ capture of the Germans’ Vimy Ridge outpost in France in April 1917 is considered a milestone in forging Canada’s national identity.

Mr. Babcock died Thursday at his home in Spokane, Wash. He was 109.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/world/americas/24babcock.html?ref=obituaries

Podcast: Expo Rail

2010-02-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

Operated by the Canaidan Railroad Historical Association and using the brand name ExpoRail, this museum near Montreal maintains the largest collection of railway equipment in Canada with over 140 pieces of rolling stock. There are also over 250,000 objects and documents from Canada’s railway history in the collection which is maintained in an archives on the property.

The museum operates a heritage line around the grounds as well as a heritage railway which pulls a small passenger train on a former freight spur to Montee des Bouleaux. The streetcar operates daily during the spring, summer and fall while the railway operates every Sunday during the same period.

In this Conversation, we speak with speak with Josee Vallerand about Expo Rail, and a unique exhibition which helps chronicle the important role the rails have played in Quebec and Canada.

At: http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=359

Podcast: The Canada Cup of Table Top Hockey

2010-02-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver Winter Olympics are grabbing most of the headlines these days (and rightfully so). The hockey competitions there are expected to be lively in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

But there is another major sporting event taking place in Canada over the coming days. It is the Canada Cup of Table Top Hockey – bringing together top players of the game from Canada, the U.S. and the world. It will be taking place in Ottawa, starting this February and finishing in April.

We speak with John Cooke of the Canadian Table Top Hockey Association about the upcoming Canada Cup – who plays and what’s it all about.

At:http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=355

"We Are More" (Vancouver Sun)

2010-02-13T13:26:00.001-08:00

From The Vancouver Sun:

Transcript of opening ceremony poem by Shane Koyczan.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/2010+Opening+ceremony+Colour+culture+Gretzky+accidental+tripod/2558705/More+Transcript+opening+ceremony+poem+Shane+Koyczan/2558526/story.html

Let the Games begin (Globe and Mail)

2010-02-12T11:17:00.001-08:00

From The Globe and Mail:

After seven years, after billions of dollars, Canada's Olympic dreams take shape tonight in the flicker of a flame and the roar of a crowd in Vancouver's cavernous BC Place.

The lighting of the Olympic cauldron is the start of the 21st Winter Olympics and the beginning of a 17-day odyssey for Vancouver, British Columbia and the country, which will change them all.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=39246.html?cid=rss

Le Petit Train du Nord (Montreal Gazette)

2010-01-17T11:51:00.001-08:00

Le Petit Train du Nord (Montreal Gazette)

From The Montreal Gazette:

By David Johnston
The Gazette
January 14, 2010

It was in the late 1930s that skiing in the Laurentians, alpine as well as cross-country, went mainstream. Even though most people didn’t own a car at the time, the famous Le Petit Train du Nord brought 111,000 tourists up to the Laurentians from Montreal in the winter of 1937-38, 10 times the 11,000 the train carried in the winter of 1927-28.

It's story is told at the Laurentian Ski Museum in St. Sauveur, Quebec.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Powered+small+train/2415778/story.html

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Montreal Expos, Forgotten by Many, Are Reuniting in Cooperstown (NY Times)

2010-01-09T10:03:00.001-08:00

From The New York Times:

By TYLER KEPNER
Published: January 7, 2010

This week’s election of Andre Dawson to the Hall of Fame is further evidence of the continuing influence of Canada’s first major league team.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/sports/baseball/08expos.html?scp=1&sq=montreal%20expos&st=cse

Podcast: A History of Beer in Canada

2010-01-09T05:57:00.000-08:00

Nicholas Pashley joins us to speak about his fascinating book, “Cheers!: An Intemperate History of Beer in Canada” ( Harpercollins Canada - 2009)

It’s everything the title implies and much more.

Access to this podcast is available @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=347

Podcast: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard

2009-12-30T05:33:00.001-08:00

As any hockey fan (and Canadian) knows, Maurice Richard was the highest-scoring NHL player of his era, the first to achieve the feat of fifty goals in fifty games. In his eighteen years with the Montreal Canadiens, Richard’s determination, intensity, and will to win drew fans and admirers. But Richard was revered as much for what he represented off the ice.

“The Rocket” (before Rod Laver and Roger Clemens) inspired poems, novels. short stories, biographies, songs, movies, plays, kids’ books and comic strips. His face adorned clothing, toys, household goods, hockey equipment, and ads from cars to soups. Streets, parks, and public squares bore his name, and boasted his statute. With an influence that extended beyond his playing years, he became a symbol in Quebec and a hero across Canada (and beyond).

We speak with cultural historian Benoit Melancon whose book, The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard (Greystone Books, 2009) exhaustively and uniquely chronicles the Maurice Richard – the man and the myth.

Of the book NPR’s “Only A Game” said, “…“open-minded folks will be intrigued by Malencon’s exploration of the ways in which people attribute all sorts of cultural significance to the accomplishments and personalities of champions like Richard”.

You can hear the podcast @ http://conversationsontheroad.podbus.com/?p=279

Henry Marks: the tailor's alteration (Montreal Gazette)

2009-10-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

From The Montreal Gazette:

By ANNE SUTHERLAND, The Gazette
October 25, 2009

Famous Montreal tailor to close its doors this week at its Drummond St. location, but the owners hope to be back in business in the new year.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Henry+Marks+zips/2142831/story.html

Senator Hartland Molson

2009-09-18T01:37:00.000-07:00

My first introduction to Senator Hartland Molson was as a viewer of Montreal Canadiens’ hockey games. There he was sitting behind the Canadiens’ bench in the old Montreal Forum – honored as an elder statesmen of sorts. Little did I know of the totality of this man’s story.

And what a story it is.

Hartland de Monarville Molson (May 29, 1907 – September 28, 2002) was an Anglo-Quebecer statesman, Canadian Senator and a member of the prominent Molson family of brewers. That’s the thumbnail. There is so much more.

We speak with Karen Molson, who has written a candid and enlightening book about Senator Molson – Hartland de Montarville Molson: Man of Honour - Firefly Books

The book is a portrait of the man often called the Canadian establishment’s quintessential figure.

Hartland Molson’s life spanned almost a century that included two world wars, Prohibition, the Depression, major political upheaval, and massive social and industrial change. Born in 1907 to great wealth and privilege, he used his numerous talents wisely and lived his life with integrity.

Kathy English of the Globe and Mail wrote Karen Molson’s work”…As much a tale of Canada through the 20th century as it is of the Molson…” .

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Travelling, without being a tourist (Financial Post)

2009-08-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

From The Financial Post via Canada.com:

Canada is full of unexpected places, a point highlighted in a new advertising campaign for the Canadian Tourism Commission, entitled "Locals Know."

http://www.canada.com/travel/canada/Travelling+without+being+tourist/1888746/story.htm

The Tunnels of Moose Jaw

2009-08-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

In the early 1900s, most of the larger buildings in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan were heated by steam. The engineers who maintained the coal-fired boilers in the basements arranged for the creation of an elaborate network of tunnels linking them so that they could move themselves and their equipment from building to building without facing the harsh winter weather.

At about the same time, numerous Chinese immigrants who arrived in Moose Jaw to work for what were, by Canadian standards, very low wages, adopted the tunnel system as living quarters and workplaces which were both inexpensive and sheltered from a sometimes hostile populace.

During Prohibition Moose Jaw became a center for distribution of bootleg liquor, both domestically and to the United States via the Soo Line Railroad to Chicago, earning the town the nickname “Little Chicago”. Illegal enterprises such as speakeasies, casinos, and brothels sprang up within the concealment and shelter of the tunnels. Moose Jaw folklore states that Al Capone himself was resident for some time, to oversee operations and/or to hide out from law enforcement.

Over time, the tunnels fell into disuse and many were filled in or blocked off by new construction. However, an elaborate tourist attraction featuring live actors and animatronics has been created within what remains of the system, featuring tours illustrating the stories of the Chinese immigrants and bootlegging, and attracting over 100,000 visitors per year.

We speak with Kelly Carty from Moose Jaw about the history of the tunnels and how they are njow helping spark a revival in town.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

In Search of the Canadian Road

2009-08-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

Suprisingly, it seems that little had ever been written about the Canadian road. That is, until Peter Unwin wrote his new book called Hard Surface (Key Porter; 2009).

In what is described as the first full-length examination of the Canadian road, Hard Surface takes the reader on a ride suggesting that the value of the Canadian road is not the transportation of goods and services, but rather the quest for one’s self, and the urge to spread ones stories across a “vast and complex land”.

Peter Unwin joins us for this “Journey into Canada”.

A video reading from Hard Surface by Peter Unwin may be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/PeterUnwin

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Don Messer’s Jubilee

2009-08-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

Don Messer would have been 100 this year.

To those not from Canada or too young to remember, Don Messer may not mean much. But in his time and place Don Messer was the real deal.

Across the country, tens of thousands sat by their radios three times a week, 1939-58, listening to ‘Don Messer and His Islanders’ broadcast from Charlottetown, PEI on CBC Radio. With the advent of television, Messer moved seamlessly across to the new medium, bringing his audience with him. Thousands more watched ‘Don Messer’s Jubilee’ weekly, 1956-69, produced by CBC Television in Halifax, NS. When the program was cancelled, there was a national uproar; thirty-five years later, some people miss it still.

We speak with Tony Bull from New Brunswick, where they are remembering Don Messer – the man and his legacy this Summer.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

A Running of the Bulls in Alberta

2009-08-18T20:38:00.001-07:00

I had seen the video from Spain and Mexico of Bulls running after folks. But a running of bulls in Canada ?

In fact, there is such an event annually in Strathmore, Alberta, which hosts Canada’s third largest rodeo. Strathmore is the first Canadian city to run the bulls.

For $20 (yes, you pay!), you can don a red shirt and run a track with a rampaging bull behind you.

Strathmore’s Heritage Days is also home of the finals for the “World Professional Chuckwagon Association” as well Canada’s third largest rodeo.

Carolyn Charles speaks with us about it all from Strathmore. I’m curious just how many bulls there are. Also does anyone ever get seriously hurt ? And finally, just who would pay to potentially be gorged by a bull ?

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

The St. Lawrence Seaway & the Lost Villages after 50 Years

2009-07-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Queen Elizabeth was there. So was President Eisenhower.

This engineering feat had a profound impact on transportation, teh economy and folks who lived nearby or upstream.

We go to Cornwall, Ontario to speak with Lesly O’Gorman and David Hill about what’s planned to mark this 5o anniversary. We also chat about “The Lost Villages” - ten communities near Cornwall, which were permanently submerged by the creation of the Seaway.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Celebrating Canada Day (CBC)

2009-07-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

From cbc.ca:

"On July 1, 1867, Canada took its first steps towards official nationhood. It has grown and developed as a nation, and distinguished itself in times of both peace and war. Canada is widely recognized as a place of harmony, liberty and diversity and is routinely ranked as one of the best countries in which to live. In honour of Canada's birthday, CBC Digital Archives (1954-2002) looks back at some defining moments and great Canadians who have helped shape our history".

http://archives.cbc.ca/society/celebrations/topics/2328/

Intorducing journeysinto.com

2009-06-12T08:08:00.001-07:00

Anyone that's been in our neck of the woods knows that we could have used a re-branding a long time ago.

Some good content. Multi-media. But to more than afew folks, it was more than a bit confusing.

With this in mind, we have created a new umbrella place to go. It's called http://journeysinto.com.

Once there, you can take a journey into Hidden America, Canada, Beer or Hockey (with others to follow).

The content and the feel, hopfully, remain. And, with any look, less confusion.

From Doughnuts to Dollars (CBS News)

2009-06-07T06:29:00.001-07:00

CBS Sunday Morning
June 7, 2009

Canada has more doughnut shops per capita than any country in the world — and the undisputed doughnut king in the Great White North is Tim Hortons, founded in 1964 by all-star hockey player Tim Horton.

Over the past 45 years, 3,000 Tim Hortons shops have sprung up across the Canadian landscape. There are more Tim Hortons in Canada then there are McDonalds, and sales in 2008 exceeded $2 billion. And now Tim Hortons has begun its push into the United States in earnest.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/09/sunday/main13562.shtml

BeaverTails - President Obama & Beyond

2009-04-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama created a sensation of sorts recently when, while visiting Ottawa, he made an unscheduled stop at the Byward Market specifically to buy a BeaverTail.

We had heard that variation of the product had been called the “Obama Tail”, in honour of the president, and that BeaverTails were part of the inaugural celebration last January at the Canadian embassy in Washington, DC.

But we wanted to know more.

So we called Grant Hooker, founder of BeaverTails Canada, Inc.
For the record, BeaverTails are fried dough pastries individually hand stretched to resemble a beaver’s tail. The BeaverTail is siad to be similar to several other fried dough pastries and is topped with various condiments.

In this conversation with Grant Hooker, we learn about the origins of the BeaverTail, BeaverTail’s, Inc. and an insider’s look at the Presidential stop in Ottawa to pick-up a BeaverTail.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

World Pond Hockey Championships

2009-03-01T06:42:00.002-08:00

This unique event is an annual international competition that takes place outdoors, on bodies of frozen water, playing the pond hockey variant of ice hockey. The event takes place in and around Plaster Rock, New Brunwick.

The first championships were held in 2002. The 2007 event was opened by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the first time the Prime Minister attended the event and indeed the first time a prime minister had ever visited Plaster Rock.

We speak with Danny Braun from Plaster Rock about how the event started, what takes place, and just how they manage to pull it off in this community of 1,150.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Black Ice: “The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes: 1895-1925″.

2009-03-01T06:42:00.001-08:00

Comprised of the sons and grandsons of runaway American slaves, the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes helped pioneer the sport of ice hockey changing this winter game from the primitive “gentleman’s past-time” of the nineteenth century to the modern fast moving game of today. In an era when many believed blacks could not endure cold, possessed ankles too weak to effectively skate, etc. (”and lacked the intelligence for organized sport”), these men defied the defined myths.

We speak with George Fosty, one of the co-authors of “Black Ice”.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Poutine

2009-03-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

Poutine is a dish consisting of French Fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy and sometimes additional ingredients. It is a quintessential Canadian comfort food, especially in Quebec.

The dish originated in rural Quebec in the late 1950s and is now popular in many parts of the country. Several Quebecois communities claim to be the birthplace of poutine, including Drummondville, St. Jean-sur-Richilieu and Victoriaville.

In this conversation, we get a took on poutine from Drummondville with restauranteur Daniel Leblanc.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com

Close to Our Heart: Guy Lombardo - "Molson Canadian Theme"

2009-02-26T12:26:00.000-08:00

Via You Tube:

Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1jXTJSG5vw&feature=PlayList&p=93C88F4BBB9C898D&playnext=1&index=9

Of Democracy 250 in Nova Scotia

2008-12-29T17:49:00.000-08:00

Democracy 250 is a year long celebration of responsible government in British North America.
On October 2, 1758, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly met for the first time in a modest wooden building at the corner of Argyle and Buckingham streets in Halifax.

It was an assembly of twenty-two men, who came together to deliberate as a parliament on questions affecting the colony.

With voting limited to Protestant, free-land holding males, it was a modest beginning, and while their influence with the British-appointed Governor was questionable, it was an important start nonetheless. It was the first elected assembly of its kind in what would eventually become Canada.

As the birth place of parliamentary democracy in Canada, Nova Scotia’s role in shaping our nation’s democratic institutions has helped secure the rights and freedoms Canadians enjoy today.

We speak with three distinguished gentlemen about these events, their legacy so many years later, and how this milestone event is being observed. Our guests are: The Honourable John Hamm - former Progressive Conservative Premier of Nova Scotia; The Honourable Russell MacLellan - former Liberal Premier of Nova Scotia (The two are co-chairs, long-time friends and one time political adversaries), and Michael Bawtree author and actor known for portraying Joseph Howe - famous Nova Scotian -Canadian (also a Premier), who is credited with introducing Freedom of the Press to Canada.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access October, 2008)

Celebrating The Mounties

2008-12-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, there’s the popluar image of the Mountie from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police - you know “the one that always gets their ‘man’”.

But there’s more.

The new RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina celebrates all things Mountie.
There’s an interactive forensics display for budding CSIs, an array of transport from dogsleds to planes and tales of life on the frontier, when the RCMP befriended Sitting Bull, tamed Klondike prospectors and organized manhunts.

We speak with Karen Dackiw from Regina about about Mountie heritage and the new centre enshrining it.

For more on theRCMP Heritage Centre, see: www.rcmpheritagecentre.com

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access September, 2008)

Rappie Pie: A Culinary Gateway to Acadian Nova Scotia

2008-12-29T17:45:00.000-08:00

Rappie pie is a traditional Acadian meal. Its name is derived from the French “patates râpées” meaning “grated potatoes”. Potatoes are grated and the water removed, a hot broth made from chicken or pork is then added along with meat and onions and then layered over with more of the grated potatoes to make a casserole-like dish.

It is said to be Acadian “comfort food” to be found these days in an area of Southwest Nova Scotia - in the Clare area - towns such as Yarmouth, Pubnico and Wedgeport.

In this area the food is a staple at home and in restaurants, but travel in any direction 40 miles, it is probably not to be found nor will you find many who even know what it is.

We speak with Nicole Boudreau from Clare, Nova Scotia about Rappie Pie, its role in history & Acadian culture, and just what makes and keeps it so unique to this area.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access July, 2008)

Quebec at 400

2008-12-29T17:44:00.000-08:00

On July 3, 1608, French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded a fur-trading post on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.That fur-trading post is now one of the oldest cities in North America.

And this summer, Quebec City celebrates four centuries of French heritage with a series of exhibits, festivals and performances.

We speak with Luci Tremblay from Quebec400 about this milestone anniversary, what it represents, and how the occasion is being celebrated.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access June, 2008)

A Place for “Bosom Buddies” and “Kindred Spirits”

2008-12-29T17:41:00.000-08:00

To many of us she is known simply as “Anne”.

“Anne” is Anne Shirley (spelled with an ‘e’, of course), a character created by the vivid imagination of Prince Edward Island author L.M. Montgomery. An orphan since her parents died of fever when she was an infant, Anne has long dreamed of finding a real home and a real family. Sent by mistake to Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert - an elderly brother and sister living in Prince Edward Island - Anne is sure that she has found her place in the world once and for all. Known for her braids of fiery red hair, un-ending chatter, limitless imagination and unshakeable optimism, Anne has been a beloved friend for readers of all ages since the first novel in the series, Anne of Green Gables, was published in 1908.

Beyond the basic facts, Anne has come to mean much more than that to many. Her story translated into dozens of languages around the world, Anne has come to symbolize many things to different people. For some, she is representative of the modern woman - competing alongside the boys for scholarships and working hard to earn her way to college. For others, Anne’s determination to succeed and to thrive despite all obstacles has made her a symbol of hope, optimism and the power of faith. She is a familiar and comforting figure from childhood for those who met her as children. For the people of Prince Edward Island, Anne means summers filled with visitors seeking Green Gables House and “Avonlea.” No matter what your relationship to her, Anne is a powerful icon and the book’s success worldwide is proof of the universality of the quest for the things we all wish for in life: friendship, love, acceptance and a home. 2008 marks the centennial of Anne of Green Gables.

Campbell Webster speaks with us from Prince Edward Island about Anne, what she means to Anne enthusiasts and the region, and finally just what is planned this year as part of Anne2008.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access May, 2008)

The Story of French in North America

2008-12-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

French is spoken officially in 33 countries and is the only language other than English to be taught in every country in the world. There are an estimated 175 million Francophones and 100 million “occasional” speakers of French, plus around 100 million French students. An official language in dozens of international organizations, French remains to this day one of the world’s most important and influential languages.

The Story of French, by Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow, is a definitive analysis of French as it is spoken around the world.

An important part of that story is set in North America (more than you might think -and it’s not just in Quebec).

We speak with Jean-Benoît Nadeau about the story of french - a story set in various parts of the continent. Yes, it’s about language, but it’s also about much more.

The Story of French, Vintage CANADA, 2007 - http://www.nadeaubarlow.com/books/view/9/37

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access March, 2008)

North America’s First New Years Celebration

2008-12-29T17:39:00.001-08:00

St. Johns, Newfoundland is a place of firsts. It is the first shore seen in North America by travelers on the way over from Eurpoe. It is also the place where the sun first rises on a new day, and the place where New Years is celebrated for the first time (90 minutes before the Eastern time zone).

We speak with Dennis O’Keefe, deputy mayor of St. Johns’, about the first New Years in North America.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access January, 2008)

Mr. Auld Lang Syne Remembered

2008-12-29T17:37:00.000-08:00

For many years his name meant New Years Eve.

Thirty years after his death, Guy Lombardo is still remembered and missed by some come December 31.

We speak with Douglass Flood from Guy Lombardo’s hometown, London, Ontario, about the band leader, the Royal Canadians and his enduring legacy.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access January, 2008)

Letters to Santa in Canada’s North

2008-12-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

As a child, I always wondered how those letters to Santa reached the North Pole.

Many years later, I finally got an answer speaking with Nicole Lemiere of Post Canada.

She tells us what happens to those letters sent to Santa at the North Pole.

Did you know that Santa even has his own postal code ?

It’s HO-HO-HO

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access January, 2008)

The Ice Hotel

2008-12-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

Talk about energy efficient accommodations !

In this conversation, we visit with Jaques Desbois of the Ice Hotel just outside Quebec City, the only accommodations of its kind in North America.

He describes how the idea got started, and he shares with us some of the novelties and unique environmental qualities of his hotel.

Truly a cool place !

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access January, 2008)

Gung Haggis Fat Choy - A Unique Scottish-Chinese Cultural Celebration

2008-12-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

Gung Haggis Fat Choy is a cultural event originating from Vancouver, BC. The name Gung Haggis Fat Choy is a combination wordplay on Scottish and Chinese words: haggis is a traditional Scottish food and Gung Hay Fat Choy/Kung Hei Fat Choi s a traditional Cantonese greeting (in Mandarin it is pronounced Gong Xi Fa Cai) used during Chinese New Year. The event originated to mark the timely coincidence of the Scottish cultural celebration of Robert Burns Day (January 25) with the Chinese New Year, but has come to represent a celebration of combining cultures in untraditional ways.

In Vancouver, the event is characterized by music, poetry, and other performances around the city, culminating in a large banquet and party. This unique event has also inspired both a television performance special titled Gung Haggis Fat Choy, and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games, organized by the Recreation Department at Simon Fraser University.

In this conversation, we speak with event founder and spearhead Todd Wong. He tells us how it got started, and what it has come to represent around Vancouver and far beyond.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access January, 2008)

The Life & Legacy of Louis Riel A Century Later

2008-12-29T17:30:00.000-08:00

Louis Riel, leader of the Metis (French/Indian mixed ancestry) was elected to Canada’s House of Commons in 1873 and 1874, but never seated.

Seen as a traitor by some, he was also considered a patriot and protector of French, Native and regional cultures.

Riel continues to inspire discussion and analysis more than a century later.

We speak with Vania Gagnon from the Louis Riel Home in Manibota about the legend and continuingly changing legacy of Louis Riel.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com/ (Access December, 2007)

Remembering The Edmund Fitzgerald

2008-12-29T17:29:00.000-08:00

To folks like me, it started from a Gordon Lightfoot song.

But beyond the song, the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a fascinating one. The ore carrier broke into two during a heavy storm in Lake Superior in 1975, resulting in 29 lives lost.

Each year this tragedy and other shipwrecks are recalled throughout the region.

We speak with Lee Radzak of the Split Rock Lighthouse, where a beacon is lit each year to remember the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald and others who lost their lives on the lakes.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access November, 2007)

North America's First Thanksgiving

2008-12-29T17:26:00.000-08:00

Long before Plymouth and even before Jamestown there was Thanksgiving in what is now called Canada. The year was 1578 when English explorer Martin Frobisher gave thanks for a long journey (which failed in finding a northern passage to the Orient).

That, we are now told, was the first Thanksgiving coming out of a European tradition (Of course, there were Native celebrations on this continent long before that).

That “First Thanksgiving” provides the foundation for Thanksgiving in Canada today. Unlike its counterpart south of the border, Thanksgiving in Canada is a time of thanks celebrated to correpsond to the successful completion of the harvest.

We speak with Larry Blondell from Kitchener, Ontario about Thanksgiving generally in Canada, and locally where there is a big Thanksgiving Day Parade - part of a larger Oktoberfest in Kitchener and Waterloo.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access October, 2007)

The Stubby Beer Bottle: A Canadian Icon Resurfaces

2008-12-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

Back in the 1960’s, one of the symbols of Canada was beer - be it Molson, Labbatt, O’Keefe, or Carling. And the beer back then was always to be found in brown stubby beer bottles.

Thenthey were gone.

Now they are back.

Ontario brewer Jim Brickman shares with us the history of the Stubby Beer Bottle, and what he has done to bring it back.

These days Molson and Labbatt are foreign-owned, so it is brewers like his Brick Brewing Company of Waterloo, Ontario that carry the torch for indigenous Canadian brewing and the very Canadian stubby beer bottle.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access August, 2007)

Taking Stock of Canada at 140

2008-12-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

It’s holiday time in Canada.

This week in French speaking Quebec, it’s a time of celebration with the Fete Nationale du Quebec (formerly known as Fete St. Jean Baptiste.

Then a week later on July 1 Canada observes its 140 th birthday with Canada Day (formerly known as Dominion Day).

Historian and musicologist Bruno Paul Stenson joins us from Montreal to share some insight about the pulse of Canada on this national birthday.

Bruno also owns what probably is the largest collection of memorabilia from Expo ‘67. On this 40th anniversary of the Expo and of Canada’s centennial, we also talk to Bruno about his collection, and just what that magical year was all about.

By the way, one of the items in his collection is a can of Expo 67 air.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access July, 2007)

The Legacy of Expo '67 Forty Years Later

2008-12-29T17:20:00.001-08:00

It was quite a year in Montreal and Canada - that year of 1967.
The 100th anniversary of Confederation. An all-Canada Stanley Cup Final marked the end of the 6 team era in hockey.

And thenthere was Expo.

Expo 67 was a World’s Fair in Montreal. But it represented so much more.
Bill Bantey, a freelance journalist based in Montreal, worked for the CBC back then. In our first Canadian content podcast we talk with him about�just what Expo meant then and what it means 40 years later.

At:
http://conversationsontheroad.com (Access May, 2007)

Introducing Journeys into Canada

2008-12-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

Introduction: Canada, the Unknown Country
No one knows my country, neither the stranger nor its own sons.--Bruce Hutchison, 1942.

“…For academics, journalists and fiction writers alike, Canada is a subject of constant fascination and study. Bruce Hutchison, a prominent newspaper editor and author, once described Canada as "The Unknown Country." To a large extent, Canada, with its complex weave of languages, cultures and regions, is a geopolitical conundrum.

Mythologies and stereotypes abound concerning the Canadian landscape people. To outsiders, Canada is a land of snow, hockey, Mounties, wildlife, untamed spaces, maple trees, peacekeepers, Tim Horton doughnut shops, universal health care, Quebec separatism, and congenial, reserved people (except, perhaps, for that redheaded rebel, Anne of Green Gables). Canadians themselves seem perplexed about their cultural identity.

The quest for some elusive definition of Canadianness is a national pastime for many Canadians. They may not know who they are, but they do know who they are not. They will readily tell you that they are not American, British or French. Canadians do not think, talk or act like their American, British or French cousins, but will admit, often begrudgingly, that they have been very much influenced by them. And at a quick glance, it is sometimes difficult to discern these subtle differences.

In reality, Canada is an improbable country -- a land of immense geography, extreme climate vast resources, and a small but ethnically diverse population, overshadowed by the most powerful nation on earth. No list of clichés can presume to define this collage of multilayered identities. The country is too varied, too vast, too hybrid. And yet, Canada is one of the great national success stories of modern history, a country where people from all over the world have found opportunity for individuality and community.

For seven consecutive years (1994-2000), the United Nations' Human Development Report ranked Canada as having the best quality of life on the globe. Canada's subsequent Human Development Index rankings have been: 2001 and 2002 (third place), 2003 (eighth), 2004 (fourth), and 2005 (fifth)…”.

From: Canadian Studies: A Guide to the Sources - by John D. Blackwell, Director, Research Grants Office, St. Francis Xavier University, & Laurie C.C. Stanley-Blackwell, Professor, Department of History, St. Francis Xavier University