A mercury sky on an outbound tide!
More beautiful scenes and reflections at
Showing posts with label Weekend Reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weekend Reflections. Show all posts
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
SkyWatch Friday and Weekend Reflections
A beautiful sky over the prairies as the west coast suffers through endless gray skies.
And a little history as Canadians move into a long weekend.
Rather than rewriting an excellent article from the Ottawa Citizen I will just share it below:
Monday, August 1, is a holiday in Canada. Everyone knows that. But what is the name of the holiday?
Most of us call it "the August 1 holiday," or "the civic holiday" or some other placeholder. Of course these are not its official name, which varies across the country.
The imaginative legislators of New Brunswick dubbed the holiday "New Brunswick Day." Showing equal verve, legislators in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, respectively, named the holiday "Saskatchewan Day" and "British Columbia Day." Alberta's legislators, being the bold mavericks they are, called it "Heritage Day."
In Ontario, until recently, there was no provincial name, and municipalities honoured local heroes - "Colonel By Day," "James Coburn Day" - with proclamations which everyone ignored. But three years ago, a private member's bill finally gave the holiday a name that manages to be provincewide without being provincial, in that other sense.
Know what it is?
Of course not. This name is deeply rooted in the Canadian past. It commemorates one of the greatest struggles in human history. And when people hear it - which they likely won't since no one uses it - they have no clue what it means.
It is "Emancipation Day."
You're scratching your head, aren't you? Don't be embarrassed. Be angry - angry that you have been denied a truly majestic story all Canadians should know and cherish.
On August 1, 1834, slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire. "Emancipation Day" has been celebrated ever since in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, and elsewhere.
Now you're wondering what slavery has to do with Canada. We are the nation of the "Underground Railroad," which brought runaway American slaves to freedom here.
"Emancipation Day" can't be relevant to Canada because there were no slaves to emancipate. Right?
Go back to the beginning of the abolitionist movement, in Britain. The year is 1787.
"If, early that year, you had stood on a London street corner and insisted that slavery was morally wrong and should be stopped," wrote Adam Hochschild in his uplifting book Bury the Chains, "nine out of ten listeners would have laughed you off as a crackpot. The tenth might have agreed with you in principle, but assured that ending slavery was wildly impractical: the British Empire's economy would collapse. The parliamentarian Edmund Burke, for example, opposed slavery but thought that the prospect of ending even just the Atlantic slave trade was 'chimerical.'"
Four years later, Upper Canada - Ontario - became the newest jurisdiction in the British Empire and John Graves Simcoe was installed as its first lieutenant-governor. Simcoe, an army officer and veteran of the American Revolution, spent most of his early time in Upper Canada preparing for an apparently imminent war with the republicans to the south.
But Simcoe had another passion. He was an abolitionist. And he was offended that there was slavery in his new colony.
In 1793, a free black man named Peter Martin - who had served with Butler's Rangers in the American Revolution - told the legislature of the abduction of Chloe Cooley, a black slave who had been bound, gagged, thrown in a boat, and taken to the United States for sale. Simcoe seized the opportunity and moved to immediately abolish slavery.
Most of us call it "the August 1 holiday," or "the civic holiday" or some other placeholder. Of course these are not its official name, which varies across the country.
The imaginative legislators of New Brunswick dubbed the holiday "New Brunswick Day." Showing equal verve, legislators in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, respectively, named the holiday "Saskatchewan Day" and "British Columbia Day." Alberta's legislators, being the bold mavericks they are, called it "Heritage Day."
In Ontario, until recently, there was no provincial name, and municipalities honoured local heroes - "Colonel By Day," "James Coburn Day" - with proclamations which everyone ignored. But three years ago, a private member's bill finally gave the holiday a name that manages to be provincewide without being provincial, in that other sense.
Know what it is?
Of course not. This name is deeply rooted in the Canadian past. It commemorates one of the greatest struggles in human history. And when people hear it - which they likely won't since no one uses it - they have no clue what it means.
It is "Emancipation Day."
You're scratching your head, aren't you? Don't be embarrassed. Be angry - angry that you have been denied a truly majestic story all Canadians should know and cherish.
On August 1, 1834, slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire. "Emancipation Day" has been celebrated ever since in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, and elsewhere.
Now you're wondering what slavery has to do with Canada. We are the nation of the "Underground Railroad," which brought runaway American slaves to freedom here.
"Emancipation Day" can't be relevant to Canada because there were no slaves to emancipate. Right?
Go back to the beginning of the abolitionist movement, in Britain. The year is 1787.
"If, early that year, you had stood on a London street corner and insisted that slavery was morally wrong and should be stopped," wrote Adam Hochschild in his uplifting book Bury the Chains, "nine out of ten listeners would have laughed you off as a crackpot. The tenth might have agreed with you in principle, but assured that ending slavery was wildly impractical: the British Empire's economy would collapse. The parliamentarian Edmund Burke, for example, opposed slavery but thought that the prospect of ending even just the Atlantic slave trade was 'chimerical.'"
Four years later, Upper Canada - Ontario - became the newest jurisdiction in the British Empire and John Graves Simcoe was installed as its first lieutenant-governor. Simcoe, an army officer and veteran of the American Revolution, spent most of his early time in Upper Canada preparing for an apparently imminent war with the republicans to the south.
But Simcoe had another passion. He was an abolitionist. And he was offended that there was slavery in his new colony.
In 1793, a free black man named Peter Martin - who had served with Butler's Rangers in the American Revolution - told the legislature of the abduction of Chloe Cooley, a black slave who had been bound, gagged, thrown in a boat, and taken to the United States for sale. Simcoe seized the opportunity and moved to immediately abolish slavery.
It was a radical, audacious move. And it was too much. Wealthy slaveowners in the legislature resisted and Simcoe was forced to compromise: Existing slaves would be denied their freedom but the importation of slaves would stop and the children of slaves would be freed when they reached age 25. In effect, slavery would slowly vanish.
It was not the sweeping victory Simcoe wanted. But it was the abolitionists' first legislative victory anywhere in the British Empire.
It made the "chimerical" look considerably more possible.
And it was possible. In 1807, the slave trade was abolished throughout the Empire. In 1833, the Slavery Abolition Act was passed and, on August 1, 1834, it came into force.
And the celebrations began, in the Caribbean and elsewhere. "During the two and a half decades before the American Civil War," noted Adam Hochschild, "free blacks in the Northern states celebrated not July 4, when they were at risk of attack by drunken whites, but August 1, Emancipation Day in the West Indies, a date Frederick Douglass called 'illustrious among all the days of the year.'"
For generations, African-Canadians also celebrated Emancipation Day. But the memory faded in recent decades. The Ontario Black History Society is working to change that.
"We were able to get, first Toronto, then various cities, including the City of Ottawa, to recognize Emancipation Day," notes the society's president, Rosemary Sadlier. In 2008, a private member's bill passed the Ontario legislature and the generic August 1 holiday became Emancipation Day.
Not that the government bothered to tell anyone, which is why the reader has almost certainly never heard of this before.
It's also disappointing - and depressingly Canadian - that the holiday continues to go by a patchwork of other names across the country, most of which are devoid of even the slightest meaning. At the federal level, Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai introduced a private member's bill to mark Emancipation Day in 2001 but it didn't receive unanimous support and that was the end of it.
"This is the first global human rights legislation," marvels Sadlier. "How can people not know about it?"
In part, it's because politicians and popular historians have jettisoned the British elements of our national story, and if you conceive of "Canadian history" as only the history of what happened within our present borders, you won't see the connection between Simcoe's courageous efforts and the triumph of August 1, 1834.
But it's also because this is a country where politicians think it's a good idea to call a holiday "New Brunswick Day" or "Heritage Day." Or "Canada Day," for that matter.
The generic celebration of heritage has replaced real heritage. And politicians - whether from ignorance, risk aversion, or a simple deficiency of soul - are quite happy to let a magnificent, inspiring story like that of John Graves Simcoe and the abolitionist movement be forgotten.
Or perhaps that is too pessimistic. I'll let Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Heritage Minister James Moore, and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney decide.
Dan Gardner's column appears Wednesday and Friday. E-mail: dgardner@ottawacitizen.com.
It was not the sweeping victory Simcoe wanted. But it was the abolitionists' first legislative victory anywhere in the British Empire.
It made the "chimerical" look considerably more possible.
And it was possible. In 1807, the slave trade was abolished throughout the Empire. In 1833, the Slavery Abolition Act was passed and, on August 1, 1834, it came into force.
And the celebrations began, in the Caribbean and elsewhere. "During the two and a half decades before the American Civil War," noted Adam Hochschild, "free blacks in the Northern states celebrated not July 4, when they were at risk of attack by drunken whites, but August 1, Emancipation Day in the West Indies, a date Frederick Douglass called 'illustrious among all the days of the year.'"
For generations, African-Canadians also celebrated Emancipation Day. But the memory faded in recent decades. The Ontario Black History Society is working to change that.
"We were able to get, first Toronto, then various cities, including the City of Ottawa, to recognize Emancipation Day," notes the society's president, Rosemary Sadlier. In 2008, a private member's bill passed the Ontario legislature and the generic August 1 holiday became Emancipation Day.
Not that the government bothered to tell anyone, which is why the reader has almost certainly never heard of this before.
It's also disappointing - and depressingly Canadian - that the holiday continues to go by a patchwork of other names across the country, most of which are devoid of even the slightest meaning. At the federal level, Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai introduced a private member's bill to mark Emancipation Day in 2001 but it didn't receive unanimous support and that was the end of it.
"This is the first global human rights legislation," marvels Sadlier. "How can people not know about it?"
In part, it's because politicians and popular historians have jettisoned the British elements of our national story, and if you conceive of "Canadian history" as only the history of what happened within our present borders, you won't see the connection between Simcoe's courageous efforts and the triumph of August 1, 1834.
But it's also because this is a country where politicians think it's a good idea to call a holiday "New Brunswick Day" or "Heritage Day." Or "Canada Day," for that matter.
The generic celebration of heritage has replaced real heritage. And politicians - whether from ignorance, risk aversion, or a simple deficiency of soul - are quite happy to let a magnificent, inspiring story like that of John Graves Simcoe and the abolitionist movement be forgotten.
Or perhaps that is too pessimistic. I'll let Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Heritage Minister James Moore, and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney decide.
Dan Gardner's column appears Wednesday and Friday. E-mail: dgardner@ottawacitizen.com.
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
Have a wonderful long weekend and weekend everyone and may we give gratitude for what we have.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
"Blue Skies Do I See, Nothing but Blue Skies Do I See...."
Like much of the North American continent it has been a cool spring. Here we have been hard pressed to get into double digits on the thermometer and grey skies, rain and wind have been the norm.
Today was "Move For Health Day" in British Columbia and it seems the weatherman was on our side with beautiful blue skies, big fluffy clouds and warm temperatures for our community hike!
On our way back up the coast we stopped for Chai and to see if we could spot the gray whales that come to visit every spring.
For other lovely reflections and beautiful scenes from around the world why not join us at
Friday, April 29, 2011
SkyWatch Friday ~ Why am I here?
In 2002/2003 I sat at the table with 20 other islanders and worked on what was to be known as the Heritage Tourism Strategy. Often when traditional economies fail(in our case logging and commercial fishing) communities often turn to tourism as their panacea. However tourism can have the same devastating affects as commercial logging and/or over fishing, turning once liveable pristine places into overrun seasonal landscapes gutting them of core services and long term viability.
The fella who helped our group through this process, Robert Sandford told us something that has never left me..."Each day remind yourself why you choose to live here and never let anything else get in the way of that." What he wanted us to remember is the essence of why we live where we live so that when we are called upon to make choices we will make the right choices. If we do not remind ourselves every single day change will happen for the wrong reasons.
I came to Haida Gwaii fourteen years ago but I had known since I was nine that I would come here! It took half a lifetime to get here but everyday I know why I am here. It is not always easy, work can be sporatic, family is half a continent away and some of them really don't understand "why" and the cost of everything going up can be daunting but I still know that this is where "my puzzle piece fits"!
It is when I take my morning walk along the beach
and see the incredible beauty that surrounds me
that I am reminded why I am here.
The human race have a tendancy to not do things in moderation, it seems to be all or nothing. We were reminded while working on the Heritage Tourism Strategy that if there were special places on these islands that we wanted to keep special we should think long and hard before identifying them or risk them becoming our "best kept secret" that everyone knows about!
Where ever you choose to live, honour it, be a part of it and remind yourself daily why you are there...a job(money) should never be the primary reason.
For me it is the connection to the land, to walk on Mother Earth and to know that we are all connected,
to appreciate the incredible beauty that surrounds us everywhere if we just take the time to look
and give thanks!
Out side of the first four photos(the beach at Tlell) these where taken on North Beach in Naikoon Provincial Park on the northeast corner of Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands. Although others had been on the beach we were the only ones there on this beautiful low tide. The view through the cracked windshield is the stunning drive through what the locals call the "Magic Forest", a protected Ecological Zone.
For other stunning skies and reflections from around the world why not join us a
or
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Weekend Reflections ~ Migration of birds and garbage
If you look very carefully you will see several long legged beauties in the low tide of the Yakoun Estuary. Haida Gwaii is a stop over point on the western flyway for migratory birds.
Today we were treated to eight Sandhill Cranes! Unfortunately I don't have a good zoom on my little point and shot but this wasn't bad.
And on the theme of migration this is what came up on last nights tide on our stretch of beach....it is never ending!
(For those of you stopping by for the first time check previous posts for the daily beach garbage collection.)
For more lovely reflections why not join
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Weekend Reflections #35 ~ Cannery Walk
Strolling along the boardwalk at the North Pacific Cannery.
For more Weekend Reflections join us at
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Weekend Reflections ~ Smiles
Prince Rupert, British Columbia is the rainiest city in Canada with an average yearly rainfall of 2600 mm or 102 inches
So buildings are brightly painted to keep spirits high.
I have to admit the bright colours always bring a smile to my face despite the grey skies.
For other beautiful reflections why not visit
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Weekend Reflections ~ Spring in the Forest
I have been enjoying the hardwood forests of Prince Edward County, Ontario until the black flies sprung to action today! Hope you enjoy these beautiful Marsh Marigolds in the comfort of your home!
For other beautiful reflections from around the world please join James and the rest of us at
and remember all photos can be enlarged for detail with a click of the mouse. Have a great week!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Weekend Reflections #29 ~ Double the pleasure
After the Easter Parade last weekend in the Beaches (Queen Street East) area of Toronto I walked the Boardwalk as I headed back to the Scarborough Bluffs.
This was an interesting fence on a beach front home.
For other reflections from around the world why not join James at
and remember photos can be clicked on for more detail.
Have a great weekend where ever you are!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Weekend Reflections ~ This time last year
This time last year I was housesitting in Prince Edward County, Ontario
I still maintain a soft spot for this beautiful part of Ontario.
For other reflections from the world why not join James at Newton Daily Photo and share your reflections.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
2010 Paralympics ~ Weekend Reflection #24
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, David C Only and paralympian Jeff Adams
Yesterday I went to Toronto City Hall to watch the lighting of the Torch for the 2010 Paralympics which will begin in Vancouver on March 12. The day was perfect unfortunately the media hype was minimal so the crowds were small however no less noisy.
City hall has a great ice skating rink so people had the opportunity to try Sledge Hockey...such fun!
(The photo was taken at 1 p.m. unfortunately the rink is in the shadow of the highrise towers.)
I took my time heading home and enjoyed what was around me!
The Delta Chelsea
Downtown Toronto is a feast for the senses on a sunny day!
For other great reflections why not join James at Newtown Area Photo
and remember all photos can be clicked on for more detail.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
