Tobermory Winter by Ruta Odrach

 

 

Thanks to this post by Junk Boat Travels I found out about Ruta Odrach – a Canadian aritst.  I liked this painting very much.

 

Tobermory is a little town in Ontario – about 300k's from Toronto.  It was named after a town in Scotland.  The artist was born in Toronto.

Congratulations on your 151st year! Looking good for your age!

Canadian province - Saskatchewan

This is the last of an occasional series going through the 10 Provinces of Canada to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Location – Saskatchewan is the only Province in Canada without natural borders (like the sea or rivers)

Origin of name – named after the river.

Pronounciation – Saskatchewan is a challenge to spell let alone pronounce.

Nicknames – Land of the Living Skies (???)

Flag

Capital – Regina (largest city is Saskatoon), named in honour of Queen Victoria – Regina means Queen in Latin.  The city is flat rather than hilly – which I would find unusual.

Flower – Western Red Lily – it's on the flag

Tree –  Paper Birch

Bird – Sharp tailed grouse

Sport – Hockey (which we call Ice Hockey to distinguish it from field hockey which is a much more popular sport in NZ)

Signature foods – Saskatoon Berry Pie, Hamburger Soup,

Famous places to visit – Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre (Regina), Boomtown 1910 (Saskatoon), Murals of Moose Jaw

Famous people from Saskatchewan – Yann Martel (Booker Prize), Joni Mitchell, Leslie Nielsen, John K Vernon (actor Animal House, Dirty Harry)

PS  I'm starting on the States of Australia next month

Canadian province - Quebec

This is part of a series going through the 10 Provinces of Canada in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Quebec is the only Canadian Province where the majority (over 80%) speak French as their first language. Almost 40% of them are bi-lingual.

The province became Quebec when the English defeated the French and entered into The Treaty of Paris in 1763.  There have been a number of independence referenda but to date none have succeeded.

Location – Quebec borders 4 US states.  There are over ½ a million lakes in Quebec – which is mind boggling.

Pronounciation – Kwi - bek

Nicknames – Je me souviens (I remember)

Flag

Capital – Quebec City which is a much smaller city than Montreal.

Flower – Blue Flag Iris

Tree – Yellow birch

Bird – Snowy Owl

Sport – Ice Hockey

Signature foods – Duck Poutine

Famous places to visit – Forillon National Park, Chateau Frontenac, Montreal Botanical Gardens and Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal.

Famous people from Quebec – Leonard Cohen, William Shatner, Pierre Trudeau, Celine Dion

Canadian province – Prince Edward Island

This is part of a series going through the 10 Provinces of Canada in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Location – This province is made up of a number of islands – the largest of which is, guess, Prince Edward Island. Not all that many people live in this Province – under 200,000.  The province is slightly larger than the US State, Delaware. In 1997 the Province was connected to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge.  The longest bridge in the world over ice covered waters.

Origin of name – named for Queen Victoria's father (who was the 4^th son of George III)

Nicknames – Cradle of Confederation, Garden of the Gulf

Flag

Capital – Charlottetown

Flower – Pink Lady's Slipper

Tree –  Red Oak

Bird – Blue Jay

Signature foods – Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie, Oysters & Mussels, FWTW (Fries with The Works)

Famous places to visit – PEI National Park, St Dunstan's Basilica, Confederation Trail, Singing Sands, the Bottle houses

Famous businesses/brands – PEI is very fertile.  Despite its small size it grows about 25% of Canada's potatoes.

Famous people from Prince Edward Island – Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)