Canada, North America, populated by – Canadians – not – Americans. Yet the populace has as much right to use this term as those from USA, Brasil, et al. They choose not to.
Canada, ten provinces, three territories, Ontario is the only one to feature in these pages.
In the 1960s, I became aware of people leaving my primary school, and the street in which I lived, emigrating to Canada and Australia. Those who went to the latter were never seen again. Quite a few of those who went to Canada did return, why? Because they could, from Australia, there was no way back.
In 1978, the Canadian Tourist Board, or comparable government body, had Geography students at Glasgow University complete a questionnaire about our perception of – Canada. With – I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK – in mind, a lot of tongue in cheek answers were provided: lakes, mountains, featured in many an answer. In the same year, I sat in the waiting room at München Hauptbahnhof and was in earshot of a Canadian, sitting beside a citizen from the USA, the Canadian apologising for the inferiority of his nation. I had never witnessed anyone running down his own country to this extent.
2024 saw my one and only visit to Canada, five nights in Toronto, Ontario. Had Marg not had a friend there, this would never have happened. Some observations: Canada is safe, no guns; they have willingly adopted the USA tipping system. I did see a lake, and a waterfall, but declined the opperchancity to see a mountain.
Continue to : Toronto Days 63 – 67