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@primonatura@mstdn.social
2025-08-07 14:00:16

"What's slimy, green and flourishing thanks to climate change?"
#Canada #Climate #ClimateChange

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-04 11:43:15

Good Morning #Canada
It's a holiday across most of our nation today, so why not take 14 minutes to find out why Alaska isn't part of Canada and discover why Lord Alverstone is the villain you've likely never heard of.
Lord Alverstone, whose full name was Richard Everard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone, played a key role in the Alaska Boundary Dispute of 1903. As the British representative on the arbitration tribunal, he ultimately sided with the United States, leading to a decision that favored the US claim over Canada's claims regarding the Alaska panhandle. At the time, the British government was trying to rebuild relationships with the U.S. and likely instructed Lord Alverstone to rule against Canadian border claims.
#CanadaIsAwesome #History
youtu.be/woXBk3OAtSM?si=-pTwI7

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-08 16:13:41

Glad this did not turn into a Waco situation. In fact, it doesn't look like it was even close to that. But Didulo is obviously completely off her rocker and knows how to manipulate people for money and influence in whatever scheme she dreams up.
I'm glad she's essentially the face of the Sovereign Citizen movement... making it clear it’s not a place for responsible people.
#Cult #Canada #RomanaDidulo #QueenofCanada #SovereignCitizen #CanPoli #CdnPoli
cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewa

@qurlyjoe@mstdn.social
2025-10-01 20:50:50

This guy, Josh Johnson, is funny af. He’s been on the #DailyShow this season, and is gonna host it next week. Here’s a 45 min clip of him doing a gig in #Canada on why Canada won’t be the 51st state. Spoiler: Canada’s favorite sport is hockey. Also, a guy in Florida robbing a liquor store, with an alli…

@brian_gettler@mas.to
2025-09-01 12:51:45

No, #LaborDay is not simply Americans refusing to be like everyone else and celebrate May 1st. If you're looking for something on the holiday's #history in #Canada, Heron and Penfold's "The Workers' Festival&…

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-07 11:36:44

Good Morning #Canada
On August 7, 1927, the Peace Bridge, an international bridge spanning the Niagara River between Buffalo, New York, and Fort Erie, Ontario, was dedicated. This event commemorated over a century of peace between the United States and Canada. I'm guessing there won't be a ceremony for 200 years of peace since we're now the "nasty Canadians."
#CanadaIsAwesome #History #ElbowsUp
veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/

@tezoatlipoca@mas.to
2025-10-01 19:13:11

While the #us is a #shitshow we also are letting the rich assholes get away with too much shit up here in #Canada
Axe! Axe! Axe!

@Dragofix@veganism.social
2025-07-14 01:04:50

Street trees unequally distributed across Canada, study finds #Canada

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-08 14:10:07

watched the Mboko v Osaka match last night. It was a good match and obviously a great result for 🇨🇦
I do wonder how Osaka is though. She seemed so very in her own head. Not to take anything away from Mboko but tennis can so often be as much about beating the player on an emotional level as it is about physical and skill level. Mboko certainly had the emotional advantage for most of the 2nd and 3rd sets
Osaka really seemed to lose her composure and it at least cancelled out some or the trouble Mboko had with her own serve.
I have always really liked Osaka so I was a little disappointed in her state. I hope she is ok and can get into the US Open.
What a run and what a victory for Mboko!
Really looking forward to see what she does at the US Open!!
#tennis #canada #mboko #osaka #headganes
sportsnet.ca/wta/article/canad

@UP8@mastodon.social
2025-08-10 13:30:09

🦠 Climate change driving major algae surge in Canada's lakes, study finds
#canada

@JSkier@social.linux.pizza
2025-07-31 21:36:29

Thanks #Canada for the superb #running weather /sarcasm. The AQI at 171, but the temperature and humidity were good. A little trouble with breathing, but I didn't need the inhaler.
Saint Paul is getting no love lately; the city was also hit by a cyberattack late last week as well. …

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-08 12:15:06

Good Morning #Canada
Welcome to Day #Cinq of The Dirt on Canadian Farming. Today, we are in Quebec, at least metaphorically, to discover how La Belle Province contributes to Canada’s agriculture.
If you want awesome desserts, you have to go to Quebec. They have over 90% of maple syrup farms in Canada and also produce more blueberries and cranberries than any other province. Quebec also leads the nation in the number of dairy cattle and pigs, all of which must speak French by law. If you purchase cheese, and who doesn't, it's a good chance it came from Quebec as they produce more than 50% of all fromage in Canada. Quebec is also a leader in this country in organic farming and has a high percentage of sales direct to consumers.
#CanadaIsAwesome #DrinkMilk #Cheese
canadaaction.ca/quebec-farming

@sean@scoat.es
2025-08-18 16:22:54

I’m not quite sure what it says, but it certainly says something that prices for next week have *barely* gone up to take the train from Montreal to Toronto, despite the fact that Air Canada (the biggest transportation carrier between these two biggest cities in #Canada ) might not be operating those routes (due to a labour dispute).

@dkomaran@social.linux.pizza
2025-09-28 11:28:32

#regina #canada

@ncoca@social.coop
2025-09-18 00:42:41

#Malaysia and #Canada, are, strangely, the only two foreign countries in the world where I can (mostly) pass as a local.

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-10-06 11:33:56

Good Morning #Canada
#HappyBirthday to Sir Isaac Brock (1769 - 1812), who kept Canada from becom8ng the 51st state. Technically, we would have become the 19th at that time if the U.S. didn't retreat so frequently. Brock was the military commander and administrator of Upper Canada when the War of 1812 commenced. His early capture of Fort Mackinac, forcing the total surrender of American troops, was a rallying cry for Canada and took away USA military momentum. His actions in that victory were considered rash, and his next rash decision cost him his life at the battle of Queenston Heights.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/

@doktrock@toad.social
2025-09-09 13:12:11

Hourly maps at ground level of Wildfire Smoke Fine Particulate Matter PM2.5, for regions and North America | Environment #Canada
weather.gc.ca/firework/firewor

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-10-07 16:00:22

PM and #TheAmericanFascist just now.
#canPoli #cdnPoli #USPoli #TradeWar #Canada

@brian_gettler@mas.to
2025-08-28 02:08:21

If you're not watching the women's #RugbyWorldCup, you're missing out. There were some really great performances at the weekend. I'm looking forward to the next round of matches. And if, like me, you're in #Canada, you've got a remarkable team to get behind.

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-28 12:37:02

On September 28th, 1867, Toronto officially became the capital city of the new Province of Ontario, and universally accepted as the centre of the universe. It was kind of a pity decision since Toronto had recently lost out to Ottawa when the Queen, the one in England, chose the capital for the Province of Canada. Confederation decreed that the Province of Canada would be split with Canada East becoming Quebec, and Canada West would now be known as Ontario. Toronto got the last laugh because the entire country now revolves around the city, at least in the minds of certain provincial politicians who may or may not want all of Canada to pay for a tunnel under #Hwy401.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianCapitals
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto

@newstik@social.heise.de
2025-07-11 19:39:54

#Canada Charter #Rights turn out to be useless against #police overreach

@primonatura@mstdn.social
2025-09-14 15:00:04

"Smoke from Canada's 2023 wildfires linked to more than 80,000 early deaths worldwide, study warns"
#Canada #Wildfires #Health

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-10-05 12:09:21

Good Morning #Canada
There are #RunfortheCure events all across Canada this morning. My wife and I will be participating in Barrie in support of our two daughters. But our running days are long past so we'll be walking for the Cure.
Canada has some outstanding cancer treatment centres, like Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, recognized internationally. The World Health Organization (WHO) gives Canada a "B" grade in its evaluation of our country's treatment of cancer. Canada ranks highly in the survivability of lung and colon cancers and Universal Healthcare generally leads to better outcomes versus other countries. But WHO also notes that Canada needs to improve diagnostic processes and technology, early detection programs, and more research into prevention.
#CanadaIsAwesome #FuckCancer
cancer.ca/en/research/cancer-s

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-29 21:01:58

started again 8min! #Space #Canada #Space

@brian_gettler@mas.to
2025-10-01 11:48:52

You know, Parliament could amend the Canada Post Corporation Act, removing "the need to conduct its operations on a self-sustaining financial basis." It won't, but it could.
#cdnpoli #CanadaPost

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-25 11:43:37

Good Morning #Canada
Today, while doing my morning Google thingy, I learned that Elon Musk has Canadian Citizenship. Now I need a shower.
Canada is pretty picky when we look for individuals who should be Canadian. Only 6 non-citizens have ever been recognized as Honorary Canadians, which takes an Act of Parliament to be designated with the honour. It provides zero rights or privileges but looks good on your resume. It is far more likely that non-citizens could be awarded the Order of Canada as they are eligible if they have made a significant contribution to Canadian society or had a positive impact on the world at large. As of August 2025, 8,647 people have been appointed to the order, an average of 150 per year since the honour was established in 1967. There is no list of non-Canadian recipients, as the government doesn't track them separately, but Queen Elizabeth II was awarded her Sovereign badge in 1970.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Welcome
cbc.ca/news/canada/who-are-the

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-29 20:38:26

Countdown has restarted. 10 minutes and counting!
update: nm stopped again at 9:18
#Space #Canada #Space

@gscherer2@social.linux.pizza
2025-08-20 15:43:54

Gosling (Canada Goose), foraging in the grass. Watchful parents are not far away! LA Arboretum, Arcadia, California, USA. April, 2025. #laarboretum #goose #canadagoose

Close-up of a baby goose, facing to the left, with its beak open and its head down towards the grass.  The gosling is covered in fine yellow and tan fuzz.  The bird is standing on short grass.
@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-29 11:59:46

Good Morning #Canada
It's National Goose Day, which was intended to celebrate a roasted Goose or a special hello between very good friends. But we'll direct our energy towards the #CanadaGoose who should be our national bird but instead lost out to the Blue Jay. The original naming of the bird that really hates golfers (I'm having a flashback) is somewhat controversial. Most point to an ornithologist named John Canada, which sounds logical, but others suggest Mark Catesby (1682-1749) or Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) were responsible. Regardless of who originally named the species, we all should use the correct reference, which is Canada Goose. There is no such thing as a Canadian Goose unless they're carrying a passport.
#CanadaIsAwesome

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-10-07 11:59:20

Good Morning #Canada
We are firmly launched into October, and it's safe to start thinking about #Halloween. So, a new semi regular series on Canada’s abandoned and spooky towns seems appropriate. Today's town is Barkerville in British Columbia, where wolves howl night and day. OK, maybe not, but there's definitely some stalking of tourists in the once bustling gold rush town. After the Caribou Gold Rush ended and town residents drifted away, Barkerville was designated a historic site, and most of the buildings were preserved. Today, it's one of the largest heritage parks and museums in North America. There are hundreds of people in old timey clothes walking about, but they're not ghosts, just park staff. But the prices are scary.
A good ghost town runner-up would be Ocean Falls, abandoned after the pulp mill closed, but a sinister and mysterious Bitcoin operation still utilizes the old hydroelectric dam.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianGhostTowns
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-29 21:11:14

Looks like we got the ignition but the engine did not light. Rockets are hard! Hopefully next time.
#Space #Canada mstdn.chrisalemany.ca/@chris/1

@doktrock@toad.social
2025-09-14 18:42:42

Oiumet Canyon, Ontario, #Canada, near the north shore of Lake Superior. The gorge is about 100 meters (330 ft) deep, by 150 meters (490 ft) wide. One hypothesis for its formation is it's a glacial outlet channel of Glacial Lake Agasssiz cut into Precambrian bedrock. Or, it may have formed by subglacial erosion. (Photo from the archives, Sept 2017.)

A gorge with abundant eroded blocks at the bottom, sheer black cliffs on either side, and forest near the tops.
@unchartedworlds@scicomm.xyz
2025-08-01 13:56:31
Content warning: covid transmission research

Interesting Bluesky thread on a bit of Canadian research: covid spreads from hospitals to the community, not the other way round.
#covid #research #Canada #CovidIsntOver #NosocomialInfection

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-07 14:43:01

Good Morning #Canada
More like good afternoon.... sorry, but I had a busy morning. Welcome to the late edition of Day #4 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming.
Today, we leap west to British Columbia since it's still early morning there. B.C. has a wide variety of farm produce spread across the province, and most Canadians recognize it for fruits, nuts, vegetables, and wine. That last one doesn't grow on trees, BTW. Likely, the most recognizable region would be the Okanagan Valley. The valley is roughly 200 km long and 20 km wide and lies between the Columbia and Cascade mountain ranges, providing a unique warm and sunny climate with semi-arid conditions. This area is famous for its world-renowned wine and fruit industries, stunning natural landscapes with lakes and mountains, its farm-to-table food culture, and the legendary Ogopogo monster of Okanagan Lake.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Agriculture
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/ind

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-05 15:42:10

Spanish police busted a human smuggling network that had migrants in Greece pay €3000 to be handed a boarding pass and fake passport and travel documents so they could then fly to the UK or Canada. The Canada Border Service Agency flagged it to the Spanish police in 2024.
Spanish Police release (en Español): #spain #españa #humansmuggling #uk #canada #immigration #españa #greece

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-08 12:17:45

Good Morning #Canada
So you're planning a weekend #RoadTrip and maybe thinking about something exciting like.... mushroom hunting. Well, Vilna, Alberta, is an addition to the #BigStuffInSmallTowns list because of a giant mushroom that is greater than 3 metres in height. A mushroom statue may not make a lot of sense in some parts of the world, but in Vilna, mushroom hunting has been a tradition since the early Ukrainian settlers arrived in the early 1900's.
#CanadaIsAwesome
travelalberta.com/listings/wor

@sean@scoat.es
2025-07-10 22:41:41

Long time followers will know that I enjoy a deep joke that optimistically three of you (certainly in #Canada ) might get.
Last night we did a self-entertaining bit where we drove out to Horseshoe Bay to have a drink at the Troller before returning to Deep Cove where–sadly–The Raven is closed and for sale. It was less than nine miles home at least.
As for stops in between, it seems that many…

The Raven pub in Deep Cove; closed and for sale.
Queen’s Cross pub was the nicest of our mini Crawl.
The Troller; I suspect this one might not be exactly the location/venue same as described in the 1986 song.
@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-29 19:54:56

NordSpace is 30 minutes away from attempting their first Sub-Orbital rocket launch. This would be the first commercial rocket launch from Canadian soil!
#Space #Canada #Space
youtube.com/watch?v=0oxDEKPSbF4

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-29 11:40:31

Good Morning #Canada
March 1975, the Beaver is officially designated as a National Symbol of Canada, meaning #BeaverWeek is helping us celebrate 50 years of celebrity status for the tail slapping mammals. The National Symbol of Canada Act came about because in January of 1975, a New York Senator proposed making the Beaver an official state animal. Canadians, who loved Beavers more than Americans, moved quickly. The youngest MP in history, 23 year old Sean O’Sullivan, introduced a private member's bill to counter the American attempt to grab our Beaver. O'Sullivan should be immortalized on the $5 bill.
#CanadaIsAwesome
canadiangeographic.ca/articles

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-23 12:50:59

Good Morning #Canada
July 1840 - British parliament passed the Act of Union 1840, and it was proclaimed officially on February 10, 1841, in Montreal. The act abolished the legislatures of Lower Canada (basically the East coast and Quebec) and Upper Canada (most of present day Ontario) and established a new political entity, the Province of Canada to replace them. British objectives were to exert more control of their colony and suppress the French speaking population. In 1848, the Province of Canada was allowed "responsible government," giving them limited rights to pass laws, and some of the more repressive laws of the Act of Union were repealed.
#CanadaIsAwesome #History
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-07 05:43:23

There's nothing quite like the energy of a small town fair :-)
I've probably been to the Fall Fair 30 out of my 47 years on the planet and I have never had a bad time.
#smalltown #portalberni #fair #home #fallfair #bc #canada #midway

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-27 11:42:41

Good Morning #Canada
After recently moving to Belle Ewart (Bell You-wart), I find myself making strange pronunciations of my town to see people's reactions. Life is short... take pleasure where you can. But if you're a Canadian living in one of the towns mentioned in this CBC article, do you proudly tell people where you live, or do you mumble the answer and hope no one responds. I think you embrace the fun and show pride in your community by investing in t-shirts and hats emblazoned with your town name. But that's just me - some old retired guy with no reputation worth saving.
BTW, if you're looking for a conversation starter, here's a Geographic Fact - the distance between Dildo Newfoundland and Climax Saskatchewan is 5,551 km, about 2 days and 16 hours by car.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CivicPride
cbc.ca/television/stillstandin

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-20 11:11:49

Good Morning #Canada
In August 1998, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Quebec could not legally secede from Canada unilaterally. The court's decision affirmed that any secession would require a constitutional amendment negotiated with the federal government and other provinces. This ruling stemmed from a reference case initiated by the federal government following a close referendum on Quebec sovereignty in 1995. Although Quebec was represented at the Supreme Supreme Court hearing, they did not participate in presenting arguments. They essentially ignored the ruling and planned a future referendum, which never happened.
This ruling established an important precedent that Alberta separatists should pay attention to. But details such as this ruling, aboriginal rights, or common sense seem to escape their attention spans.
#CanadaIsAwesome
cbc.ca/news/canada/supreme-cou

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-28 11:07:22

Good Morning #Canada
In my opinion, Great Bear Lake doesn't get enough attention or respect. It is the largest lake entirely in Canada (Lake Superior and Lake Huron are larger but straddle the Canada–US border), the fourth-largest in North America, and the eighth-largest in the world. The lake has a surface area of 31,000 square km and a volume of 2,234 cubic km. Its maximum depth is 446 m with an average depth of 71.7 m. In the winter, ice hijghways are opened across Great Bear Lake to supply northern communities and provide heavy equipment for resource companies.
#CanadaIsAwesome
youtu.be/kJXBUbVwBNo?si=fyUDnL

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-31 12:22:52

Good Morning #Canada
Conservationists who focus on restoration of wetlands are increasingly "Leaving It To Beaver." Beavers are considered the ultimate Keystone Species because they area they re-engineer offer benefits to many other species, and an entire ecosystem can collapse if a Beaver is removed. A Beaver dam doesn't just hold and conserve water. Beavers increase the population of frogs, fish, insects, birds, and small mammals and extend the range of larger mammals like moose, deer, and bears. The quantity and variety of vegetation are increased. Water is filtered and saturates the land, refilling artesian wells. It's unbelievable that we almost lost this amazing creature because of a hat fashion trend.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek
news.maryland.gov/dnr/2021/01/

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-03 11:58:51

Good Morning #Canada
Summer may be over, at least emotionally, but there's lots of nice weather as we enter Fall Fair season in Canada. Canada has incredible agricultural potential in every province - and maybe we need a series of posts on that - and fall is when rural communities celebrate the harvest with demonstrations and competitions. But city folk are invited and encouraged to visit your local event and get acquainted with plowing matches, the price of a new tractor, cattle judging, and who has the biggest watermelons. Here's a small list of some of the most prominent Fall Fairs out of the hundreds that take place annually.
BTW - In my only plant submission to one of these festivals (Erin Fall Fair), I got 3rd place for the tallest sunflower. Rookie mistake, I cut my plant at ground level, and it was 11.5 feet high. The winners ahead of me dug out the roots and submitted the entire plant. I was robbed!
#CanadaIsAwesome #FallFairs #Farming
mapquest.com/travel/the-12-bes

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-06 11:41:42

Good Morning #Canada
Welcome to Day #3 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming.
When you think of Newfoundland and Labrador, fishing, rocks, and icebergs all come to mind. But there is a healthy farming industry in the province primarily built around vegetables. They also have the highest percentage of sales direct to consumers of any province, with farmers selling from stands and small retail shops on their property. Amazingly, there are no local farm crops used to make Screech.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Newfie
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-16 12:28:47

Good Morning #Canada
It has been well reported that OTD in 1880 Dr. Emily Stowe became the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada. But actually she was the 2nd as Jennie Kidd Trout (born Gowanlock; April 21, 1841 – November 10, 1921) was the first woman in Canada to become a licensed medical doctor on March 11, 1875. Not sure why Trout was misplaced in the history books for a few years, but perhaps she was overshadowed by Stowe's much more public lifetime dedication to fighting for women's rights. Regardless, both were pioneers that helped establish educational opportunities in medicine for women in Canada.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennie_K

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-23 11:22:55

Good Morning #Canada
On this day in 1950, the first mountain rescue by helicopter in Canada took place. Albert David Flowers, a BC Forestry fire lookout man, suffered a leg injury at the Azure Mountain Lookout. He was accompanied by his son Gerald Flowers, who was 15 years old. They radioed for help, and a 2-seater open cockpit helicopter was dispatched from a local mining site. The 15 year old Gerald had to cut down trees to prepare a landing site. There was no room for the teen in the helicopter, so he then undertook a 2-day 45km hike off the mountain.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Helicopter
barrierestarjournal.com/column

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-16 12:05:30

Good Morning #Canada
I have one final chapter for The Dirt on Canadian Farming, and it's more of an opinion piece.
As I conducted research on each province for information on their agriculture, there were numerous news stories about how farmers and farm organizations were fighting against loss of farmland. Urban growth, new housing development, and sprawling industrial parks are gobbling up prime farmland. The attached article is just one example. The statistics released by each province have common trends:the average age of farmers increasing, individual farm operators in decline, larger farms are increasing, renting of farmland is growing, and overall arable land is in decline. With the sparsely populated prairies holding the majority of fertile farmland, Canada likely won't lose our global impact because of development for houses or industry. But elsewhere, our food chain will be pushed further away from where we live. Or disappear.
#CanadaIsAwesome #SaveOurFarmland
cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-w

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-30 15:15:36

A thoughtful Truth and Reconciliation Day to all in this place called Canada. 🍁
May we collectively pause and consider what has happened, what continues, and what must happen in future to be better.
The past is still very very present here in Nuuchanulth territories.
The last buildings of the old Christie IRS on Meares Island near Tofino will be demolished October 9th. Survivors are invited to witness and/or participate. Link to news story below.
#indigenous #canada #truthandreconciliation #nuuchanulth
hashilthsa.com/news/2025-09-26

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-12 12:37:35

Good Morning #Canada
Recent news may have some of you panicking with the announcement that AOL Dial Up Services will officially shut down on September 30th of this year. Yikes! But, the Canadian government has your backup plan as they attempt to provide high-speed internet services to 100% of Canadians by 2030. Current estimates put access at 94.5%, and the next target is 98% by the end of 2026.
I kinda miss the phone couplers, bragging about the size of my "Baud Rate," and the beep booping screeching announcement of going online. OK.... not really.
#CanadaIsAwesome
ised-isde.canada.ca/site/high-

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-03 11:19:56

On the final day of #BeaverWeek, we focus on Beaver Rescue efforts. Many organizations across Canada care for injured Beavers, abandoned kits, or bonded pairs that have to be relocated. Here is a list of recognized Beaver rescue organizations (worldwide) in case you're feeling generous and looking for a charitable organization to support.
#CanadaIsAwesome
martinezbeavers.org/beaver-fri

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-10-03 11:59:13

Good Morning #Canada
#HappyBirthday to Kenojuak Ashevak, one of Canada’s most famous Inuk artists. She was born in 1927 at Camp Kerrasak on southern Baffin Island and died on January 8, 2013, in Cape Dorset, Nunavut. Known primarily for her drawings as a graphic artist, she had a diverse artistic experience, making sculpture and engraving and working with textiles and also on stained glass. She is celebrated as a leading figure of modern Inuit art and one of Canada's preeminent artists and cultural icons. She was the first Inuk artist inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame (2001), was made an Officer of the Order of Canada (1967), and promoted to Companion in 1982. She received the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts (2008) and the Order of Nunavut (2012). Her work, with its superb design qualities, was used for Canadian stamps, coins and banknotes, including her best-known work, The Enchanted Owl
#CanadaIsAwesome #IndigenousArt
youtu.be/u4a2V_jQU98?si=s80cCe

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-22 10:52:45

Good Morning #Canada
Next week is Beaver Week, a look at Canada's most loved wild creature. Consider today's post as a teaser or commercial for this important event.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek
youtube.com/shorts/tGQ1KBJPdDk

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-29 16:34:02

Imagine getting to lend your croc to a 6-time Olympic medalist!
Dream moment on the West Coast Trail. And here I am still dreaming of completing the trail myself. I will one day!!
#Olympian #hiking #Canada #ClaraHughes #WestCoastTrail
cbc.ca/news/canada/british-col

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-10-02 11:51:20

Good Morning #Canada
I think I'm starting a semi-regular series on #CanadianCapitals, highlighting the governmental centres of power in each province. Toronto, beloved by all Canadians, was featured last weekend and I'll randomly post about the remaining eleven to fill in between my other Good Morning posts. But today, let's review how each provincial capital got its name. Halifax could have been named Dunktown but was saved by a city founder having a fancy title. Imagine living in PEI's capital if King George III was married to someone named Bertha. Native names are used for many capital cities, like Pile of Bones or Muddy Water. And I think Newfoundland missed an opportunity to have an exotic sounding capital when the original name "Rio de San Johem" was lost.
BTW - I know all Canadians will be cheering for the Hogtown Blue Jays in the upcoming playoffs.
#CanadaIsAwesome #WhatsInAName
natural-resources.canada.ca/ma

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-20 11:53:37

Good Morning #Canada
One of the most influential Canadians that most of Canada has never heard of was Elijah Harper (March 3, 1949 - May 17, 2013). He served with distinction as a politician in Manitoba, serving as minister of Northern Affairs. Harper is best known for the role he played in scuttling the Meech Lake Accord, for which he was named the Canadian Press newsmaker of the year in 1990. The Meech Lake Accord was an attempt by then Prime Minister Mulroney to gain acceptance of the constitution by Quebec. The proposed amendments, negotiated in secret by the 11 Premiers, would have eroded federal powers by granting the provinces and territories more rights over key areas.
Without Harper's stubbornness, Canada’s federal powers would have been weakened, and we very well could have ended up splintered like the USA.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-06 11:57:18

Good Morning #Canada
There is a little known reporting tool on the ##StatsCan website called Canada’s Quality of Life Hub. First proposed in 2021, and launched in 2023, it is a framework that gathers data and evidence to inform priority setting and guide decision-making in various policy areas, including the budgetary process. The Framework comprises five domains –prosperity, health, environment, society, and good governance – and two cross-cutting lenses: fairness and inclusion, and sustainability and resilience. Not enough Canadians have heard of it, and I suspect very few government policies are implemented before analyzing the impact on quality of life measurement by this tool. On a positive note, #StatsCan is looking for feedback on how to improve the hub.
#CanadaIsAwesome #QualityOfLife
www160.statcan.gc.ca/index-eng

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-30 15:26:20

Consider this when you think of all the tourists that go to Tofino and the West Coast. One of the most famous resorts, Tin-Wis Best Western Resort.
“Old Christie, as it was commonly known, closed in 1971 and the children were moved to a new complex located at the site of Tin Wis Best Western Resort, in Tla-o-qui-aht traditional territory. New Christie Residence closed in 1983, making it the last of the Indian Residential Schools in the province of British Columbia.”
Most of the tourists have no idea the trauma that occurred there.
Strength and healing to all survivors and their families today, and every day. 🧡
#indigenous #canada #truthandreconciliation #nuuchanulth

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-16 12:41:28

Good Morning #Canada
Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Notably, as of January 2025, only 38 countries recognize same-sex marriage, out of 195 recognized nations. Canada has been a leader in LGTBQ rights and, in a recent ranking, places us 5th worldwide in protecting same sex and gender affirmation. The USA ranks 23rd but is likely to drop further as the report was based on 2024 data before the MAGA morons took office.
#CanadaIsAwesome #LGTBQI
worldpopulationreview.com/coun

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-25 17:38:30

Nothing more to be said here…
“An inmate who has pleaded guilty to murdering Robert Pickton in prison last year says he did it for the serial killer's victims.
Martin Charest admitted on Thursday morning to fatally assaulting Pickton with a broken broom handle at the Port-Cartier federal penitentiary in May 2024.
Charest pleaded guilty to first-degree murder during a court appearance in Sept-Îles, Que., northeast of Quebec City.
Pickton was convicted in 2007 of six counts of second-degree murder, but confessed to killing a total of 49 women whom he lured to his pig farm near Vancouver.
A statement of facts read out in court detailed how Charest locked himself into a room with Pickton and assaulted him twice while guards were unable to enter.
Charest told the judge he murdered Pickton after the serial killer had continued to brag about the murders and told other inmates he'd commit more crimes if he was ever released.”
#Justice #Canada #RobertPickton #MMIWG #Indigenous
cbc.ca/news/canada/british-col

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-05 13:13:38

Good Morning #Canada
#HappyBirthday to my eldest daughter and, coincidentally, one of my favourite painters, Tom Thomson. Born in 1877 and raised in rural Ontario, Thomson displayed no immediate artistic talent and worked several jobs in sign making and graphic design. He didn't start painting seriously until he was almost 30, and during his short career, he produced roughly 400 oil sketches on small wood panels and approximately 50 larger works on canvas. His art consists almost entirely of landscapes, depicting trees, skies, lakes, and rivers. An excellent collection of his work can be seen at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg.
#CanadaIsAwesome ##CanadianArtist
thegroupofseven.ca/tom-thomson/

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-07-26 19:11:15

The CBC included a clip from the South Park episode this week that features a scene with Trump, Canada, Satan and… small body parts.
Viewer Discretion is advised... i guess. lol 😂😈
#TheAmericanFascist #Canada #CanPoli #CdnPoli #Trump
cbc.ca/news/entertainment/sout

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-10-04 12:10:50

Good Morning #Canada
#HappyBirthday to Milan Chvostek (October 4, 1932 – November 8, 2018) was a producer/director at the CBC. He worked on A Case for the Court, The Lively Arts, This Hour Has Seven Days, Science Magazine and the CBC's flagship show The Nature of Things,[ which has aired in nearly fifty countries worldwide. Awards for Chvostek's shows include one from the Monte Carlo Television Festival awarded by Prince Rainier III in 1975, and the Bell Northern Research Communications Award for science programming from the Canadian Science Writers' Association (Chvostek is the only three-time winner of this award) in 1974 and 1975. After a decade of teaching television broadcast at Seneca College, Toronto (1986 to 1996), he embarked upon a freelance videography and photography career, working both independently and in partnership with his wife, journalist Isobel Warren. He also started researching climate change in the 1960s.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianLegends
guelphtoday.com/local-news/wif

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-22 20:25:05

Brutal, the CFL is essentially going to take everything about the game that is unique to Canada (larger field, goal posts, points) and scrap it so it looks more like the NFL.
Why? well just because apparently…
Hey CFL: Read the room/stadium!
#elbowsup #canada #CFL #NFL
cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-04 12:50:17

Good Morning #Canada
In yesterday's post about farming and fall fairs, I ruminated about a series on Canada’s agricultural areas. OK, ruminated may be the term as it was more of a random thought, like a retriever seeing a squirrel. But over the next 2-ish weeks, I'll try to highlight the significant crop regions in each province and teach myself more about our great country.
The first post should be easy because I'm sure most Canadians don't think a lot of farming happens in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut. But small areas within each can sustain crops in a short season, mostly potatoes, and commercial warehouse growing operations are being funded and encouraged. With a warming climate, more land is being used to farm, and additional types of crops are being tested.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Agriculture #Farming
cbc.ca/radio/quirks/feb-15-agr

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-19 11:19:51

Good Morning #Canada
It's a slow news day, historically speaking, so I'll share some local, very cool history related to my small community of Belle Ewart. As parts of our country experience heat waves, perhaps this post will remind you that it will get cold again. For you corporate types, a new definition of frozen assets. For everyone else, think about how far we've come as you rattle the ice cubes in your favourite drink.
#CanadaIsAwesome #iceIceBaby
orilliamatters.com/local-news/

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-26 20:03:53

Here is CUPW's fact sheet on Postal Banking “A Bank for Everyone”
Fun fact!
"our post office used to have a national savings bank – up until 1969 – and there is no reason we shouldn't have one today”
Some other reasons:
"Banks are failing to meet the needs of a growing number of Canadians. Thousands of towns and villages across our country do not have a bank. But many of them have a post office that could provide access to financial and banking services.”
"Postal banking is lucrative!
New Zealand: Kiwibank generated 81% of New Zealand Post's after tax profits.”
"France: Banque Postale has an obligation to provide products and services to as many people as possible. It provides a Livret A or passbook savings account, at no charge, to anyone who requests it. It also provides banking services to the financially vulnerable and financing for social housing, voluntary organizations and microentrepreneurs lacking bank credit.”
"Canada Post's secret postal banking study
Canada Post conducted a secret four-year study on postal banking that indicates that adding this service "would be a win-win strategy" for the corporation. This study was obtained though an Access to Information (ATI) request. Unfortunately, 701 of the study's 811 pages were redacted. CUPW has asked Canada Post's President to release the full report, but he has refused.”
#CanadaPost #UPW #Strike #Union #Solidarity
cupw.ca/en/campaign/resources/

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-09 12:18:11

Good Morning #Canada
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty was signed August 9, 1842, and resolved several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies (the region that very soon would become the Dominion of Canada). The treaty would end disputes and controversies over the vague indefinite terms and text of the old peace agreement of the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which ended the American Revolutionary War. Specifically, it defined borders between Maine and New Brunswick, territory surrounding Lake Superior, and reaffirmed the western border on the 49th parallel. More importantly, it began a period of peace and friendly diplomacy between the two countries... until Americans decided a moronic spray tanner, suspected abuser of women, convicted felon, golf cheat, and narcissistic conman should be their president.
#CanadaIsAwesome #History
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-18 12:45:38

Good Morning #Canada
A Canadian inventor gave Mothers across North America a device that was beneficial and a little scary. We are, of course, talking about the Jolly Jumper, once referred to as "the Canadian Nanny" on a 1957 CBC broadcast. Susan Olivia Poole (1889–1975) was an Indigenous Canadian inventor who created the Jolly Jumper in 1910, but it was not until 1948 that they were produced for the retail market, and patented in 1957. They continue to be manufactured in Ontario by the company that purchased the rights in 1960.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Inventors
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-14 11:31:35

Good Morning #Canada
Normally, I'm posting about history or geography or trivia, but the July tourism numbers are dominating the news. We "Nasty" Canadians are choosing not to visit the USA, and trips across the border continue to drop month after month. At the end of 2024, U.S. tourism revenue from Canadians was projected to increase 16%. Surprise! Losses by USA businesses are already estimated to be in excess of $20B USD, and some states are bracing for government cuts due to a decrease in sales taxes.
#CanadaIsAwesome #ElbowsUp
forbes.com/sites/suzannerowank

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-26 01:42:49

Thanks Neo-Liberals and Conservatives of the 20th and 21st century!
"Experts say growing inequality is the result of decades of government policy choices and dramatic increases in executive pay.
And the biggest factor has been gains for the highest-earning one per cent of Canadians."
Looking at you: Liberal Party of Canada, Conservative Party ("Progressive" and not) and the neo-Liberal wing of the NDP.
#liberals #canada #canpoli #cdnpoli #cpc #ndp
thetyee.ca/News/2025/08/25/How

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-13 11:47:34

Good Morning #Canada
For those of you dreaming of moving to an idyllic lifestyle in beautiful #PEI, consider this to be a public service announcement. No disrespect to our beloved potato province.
#CanadaIsAwesome
youtu.be/CJxffIMhBd0?si=89VPMf

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-26 17:18:03

I stand in solidarity with Canada Post CUPW workers as they stand against the austerity measures of the Mark Carney government and every government before.
Canada Post must be reformed, expanded, and allowed to thrive as a public service. Home delivery is not the real reason the service is going bankrupt and it should not be the scapegoat!
Create a National Public Postal Bank!
#CanadaPost #UPW #Strike #Union #Solidarity
bbc.com/news/articles/c2dn7zl9

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-29 11:49:14

Good Morning #Canada
We are wrapping up a Canada-cation with the family at Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Ontario. This area has exploded as a year-round resort since my wife and I skied here in the mid-70s. One of the big tourist attractions that we never visited was Blue Mountain Pottery. Started in 1953 to help increase revenues in the gift shop for the ski resort, it produced pottery with distinctive mixtures of glazes, the most common of which included a blue-green and a dark grey or black glaze. The pottery became popular in Canada in the 1960s and 1970s; it was also exported to the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. After Blue Mountain Pottery closed in 2004, the pottery became popular among collectors, and examples are held by the Royal Ontario Museum and the George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Pottery #CanadaCation
mountainlifemedia.ca/2014/07/h

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-27 11:51:25

Good Morning #Canada
I know you have been crossing days off on your calendar, and you're excited, but there is still 1 more sleep until #BeaverWeek. To get you through one more day, we have some alternative critter content - the Richardson Ground Squirrel. Commonly called "gophers" or "prairie dogs" across Canada’s prairie provinces, they should not be confused with the Black-tailed Prairie Dog that is rare in Canada. They are generally disliked (putting it mildly) by farmers but tolerated in more urban areas. Hey, they may not be beavers, but we should show them some love because they're cute.
#CanadaIsAwesome #PrairieDog
cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/gop

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-28 19:37:05

Had to detach some of the existing fencing from the posts so we can keep it without losing any of the greenery already establsihed.
Now that that is done. BASEBALL ⚾️
go Jays!!
and as I type... GRAND SLAM
#poolpond i #grandslam #mlb #bluejays #toronto #canada

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-10-01 11:25:52

Good Morning #Canada
I don't want to alarm you but... #WinterIsComing. That means it's time to start thinking about installing your #SnowTires because I don't want you behind me on a slippery slope if you're not prepared. Outside of Quebec, where winter tires are mandatory, over 76% of Canadians are putting on the special rubber to protect themselves and others. Atlantic Canada leads with 94% using winter tires, and tropical Saskatchewan and Manitoba have the lowest usage at 64%. But you need to be alert because 31% of Canadians surveyed say they won't buy or replace their snow tires because of affordability. The friendly rotund Michelin Man recommends that every vehicle should have snow tires from December 1st to March 15th. Why would he lie to us.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Snowmageddon
When the temperature is consistently below 10°C
November 1st
Like everyone else, the day after the first significant snowfall
All Season tires are fine
Snow Tires are a scam, a conspiracy imposed on us by capitalist rubber and insurance oligarchs

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-07-25 12:35:28

The average undergrad tuition fee in the 1974/75 academic year in Canada, across all disciplines, was $547 ($3445 adjusted to 2025)
Fees 50 years later in 2024/25 were $7360 ($7496 adjusted)
That is more than double. 117%.
And I *know* from personal experience this is a low ball average. If I could find a breakdown by discipline or by length of study for today, some would be even more obscene.
What has changed? Any occupation outside a minimum wage paying job demands a 2-4yr undergraduate diploma or degree, if not more.
Think about the 1970s and how common it was for people to get good paying jobs, leading to careers, without even high school education. Our free education stops with high school.
My family is a good example.
Mom and Step Dad: teacher college/degree. One got a Masters mid career.
Dad: didn’t complete HS
Father in law: didn’t complete HS
Mother in law: completed HS mid-career
Leadership positions and full careers demand a Masters or PhD requiring 5-10 years of study after HS!
Add in the cost of food and housing and the massive cuts happening at all colleges and universities because of the loss of international student tuition and I am going to go out on a limb and say our students today are going to pay double the price for a far worse experience than possibly any time since the Second World War.
Public education should be free.
Food and Housing should be controlled.
If the only thing government cares about is the economy, then they are setting us up for failure, and have been for decades.
(Don’t get me started on the kinds of “values” Canadian governments demonstrate when International student tuitions are 5x more than domestic students, let alone the inherent revenue risk in that funding strategy that has now come home to roost)
#canpoli #cdnpoli #education #university #college #canada
(
74/75 Source Stats Can: www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/e
24/25 source stats can: www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/e
cc: @… @…

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-30 11:57:30

Good Morning #Canada
It's 1866, and there's no TV or interweb, so what do you do? We'll, if you live on a dairy farm near Ingersoll Ontario, you make a 7,000-pound wheel of cheese. It's helpful if you are also not lactose intolerant.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Cheesy
cbc.ca/news/canada/london/mamm.

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-02 12:32:31

Good Morning #Canada
Summer is over, and this morning, approximately 5.5 million primary and secondary Canadian students go back to school. Lunches are packed, stylish new backpacks have a light load, and sneakers are fashionably untied. Stay alert for school busses, crosswalks, and that speed camera newly installed outside your local school. Yes, it's hectic today as you relearn how to get your kids out the door on time. Enjoy the change of pace because soon you'll be shoveling snow.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BackToSchool #WinterIsComing
www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/e

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-08-22 16:16:11

“ave US Tariff rate has risen from 2% to 16% over the past year”
"Countries must now buy access to the world's largest market (USA)”
"The USA reaffirmed CUSMA will not be subject to tariffs.”
"Actual US tariff rate on Canadian goods is actually 5.6%”.
"More than 85% of Canada/US trade is tariff free”
"Canada has the best deal of any country in the world.”
"We must do everything we can to preserve this unique advantage for Canadians”
"The Canadian government will now match the USA, by removing all tariffs on goods covered by CUSMA”
... he goes into French repeating most of this.
#Live #CBC #Canada #CanPoli #CdnPoli #Trump #TradeWar

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-02 10:44:45

Good Morning #Canada
Capitalism certainly doesn't waste an opportunity, and as entrepreneurs were trying to make Beavers extinct, they made use of every part, including the Beaver's secretions. Castoreum is a yellowish exudate from the castor sacs of mature Beavers used in combination with urine to scent mark their territory. Butt for centuries Beaver Castor Oil was used to flavour food, make perfumes more interesting, and cure every ailment known to the human race. Rumors persist about its use in many products, but it's rarely used today. I will not make a tasteless, smelly Beaver joke this morning.... you're welcome.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek #Eewww
vice.com/en/article/a-history-

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-30 11:14:38

Good Morning #Canada
The Beaver is the only mammal, besides humans, that is able to re-engineer their environment to support their lifestyle. Humans can use this Beaver superpower for good, rebuilding #Watersheds and increasing storage of water to combat drought and wildfires. Provinces are reintroduc8ng Beavers to their historical habitats, and even moving pairs of Beavers to desert regions in the U.S. to totally transform landscapes.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek #Engineering
cbc.ca/news/canada/british-col

@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
2025-09-26 13:34:40

Absolutely insane. Perhaps someone should show this to the US Ambassador so he can understand perhaps who is “anti” whom.
“NEVER COME TO THE US AGAIN”
Yells a US Customs Border Agent while overtaking an Ontario driver on the interstate just south of the border in NY.
#usa #canada #border #canpoli #cdnpoli mstdn.ca/@chad/115269544279217

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-17 11:54:22

Good Morning #Canada
I don't pay attention to #WorkLifeBalance much since I'm retired. I mean, every day is a weekend. But apparently, Canada ranks 7th worldwide in a study of 60 countries ranked on factors that provide the best Work-Life Balance. Canada scored well in most of the criteria that evaluated paid time off, health care, public safety, and happiness. Canada slipped out of the top 5 in this recent study, and we fell closely behind Norway and Denmark, and just ahead of Australia. The USA ranked 59th, finishing barely ahead of Nigeria.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Downtime
narcity.com/canada-ranked-best

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-31 12:26:06

Good Morning #Canada
In the Ojibwe culture, a dreamcatcher is made with willow hoop, on which is woven a net or web and decorated with sacred items such as feathers or beads. Traditionally, dreamcatchers are hung over a cradle or bed as protection during sleep as Native Americans believed that at night the air was filled with dreams, both good and bad. Today, based on current events, we need numerous and bigger #Dreamcatchers to filter out the crap. I'm fortunate that the world's largest dreamcatcher, measuring 12.93 metres (over 42 feet) in diameter, is in my backyard, only 45 minutes north of where I live. It was created by Dale (Bobbie) Williams and located in Rama First Nation, Ontario, Canada, near Orillia. Williams was inspired to create it after learning the Guinness World Record holder for a dreamcatcher was in Europe and he felt it didn't meet the traditional definition. I think it had sausages hanging from it.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BigStuffInSmallTowns #RoadTrip
orilliamatters.com/local-news/

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-01 12:10:43

Good Morning #Canada
When I'm on the interwebs looking for material to post every morning, I occasionally come across an interesting bit of history that isn't taught in school. Today, courtesy of @…, we get the tale of two French aristocrats who are embezzling from the colony of Quebec that they were sworn to oversee and protect. The wife of one of the men is having an affair with the other, apparently with permission. After narrowly escaping death by British cannonball, the trio fled to France after Quebec City fell to Britain. There, they faced scandal and were blamed for the loss of France's colonies, facing prison and banishment. French aristocracy knew how to have a good time.
#CanadaIsAwesome #LoveTriangle #History
youtu.be/PsdPCuBg3fs?si=olJU6_

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-01 11:19:41

Good Morning #Canada
We should thank Prince Albert for helping to save the Beaver. His choice of wearing a silk tophat in the mid 1800s has been cited as one of the reasons fashion moved away from Beaver hats and thereby saved them after almost 3 centuries of trapping. And silk hats were easier and cheaper to make. Whatever the reasons fashion almost made the Beaver extinct, first in Europe and then in North America. When fashion trends shifted, the Beaver was saved.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BeaverWeek #MadHatter
digital.library.mcgill.ca/nwc/

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-24 11:56:13

Good Morning #Canada
Today, we celebrate #PunctuationDay. I restrained myself from placing several exclamation marks after that opening line. You're welcome¡
Canada generally follows the American rules for punctuation, except when we don't. I believe punctuation was invented because the English language was not confusing enough for English professors who needed more than a comma to get angry about. But I'm not here to discuss the proper rules of using the squiggly bits because I don't know them, and rules are for civilized people.
Instead, I would like to offer an article from the archives of that radical media provider Reader's Digest Canada. Here are some unique punctuation marks that I highly recommend that we start us8ng to confuse and enrage those pesky English professors.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CreativeWriting
readersdigest.ca/culture/littl

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-25 11:50:50

Good Morning #Canada
The Battle of Lundy's Lane, also known as the Battle of Niagara, was fought on July 25th 1814, during the War of 1812. An invading American army clashed with British and Canadian defenders near present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, and one of the deadliest battles fought in Canada, with approximately 1,720 casualties, including 258 killed. The engagement was marked by intense musketry at close range and instances of friendly fire on both sides amidst the smoke and confusion, which caused several units to break entirely. The two armies fought each other to a stalemate; neither side held firm control of the field following the engagement. However, the casualties suffered by the Americans precipitated their withdrawal and signaled the beginning of the end of the War of 1812. This battle therefore gave Canada a strategic victory.
#CanadaIsAwesome #History #ElbowsUp
youtu.be/TfOqx-qO9gM?si=W-JF7t

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-20 11:45:44

Good Morning #Canada
Our recent move to Innisfil, with a short walk to Lake Simcoe, has provided us with hourly flyovers of Canada Geese. Another of our country's iconic animals respected for its monogamy, aerial prowess, and prodigious ability to crap everywhere. Throughout the day, we see hundreds passing overhead as they find resting spots on Cook's Bay, the southern arm of Lake Simcoe. On visits to our community beach, there are flotillas of geese too large to count. In the early 1900s, Canada Geese had been decimated due to habitat loss and hunting, but today it's estimated that there are more than 5 millon across North America thanks to conservation efforts and regulations.
I've had #BeaverWeek and #MooseWeek series. Don't be surprised if in the future I sneak up on you from behind with a Goose Week.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadaGoose
canadiangeographic.ca/articles

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-26 13:15:14

Good Morning #Canada
For over 20 years, this 17-meter tall musical instrument has struck a chord with visitors to Sydney Nova Scotia. This installment of #BigStuffInSmallTowns showcases the biggest fiddle in the world and is a must stop selfie spot for cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the harbourfront. But Sydney has a reason to fret about their fiddle dominance as the original artists has been asked by two other towns to create an even bigger version to take the world title.
#CanadaIsAwesome #BigFiddle #RoadTrip
cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-19 11:38:21

Good Morning #Canada
#Aaarrr ....
If you're a follower of #Pastafarianism then you understand. Yes, it's #TalkLikeAPirate Day, which makes it a great opportunity to post about those scoundrels who sailed the eastern coast of Canada during the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the best-known pirates to make his mark on Canada was Peter Easton. In 1612, Easton embarked on a series of raids on European fishing fleets in coastal harbours in Newfoundland and Labrador. He turned Harbour Grace into his headquarters and destroyed a Basque fleet that was intent on capturing his fort there. Part of his myth involved capturing an Irish princess who later married one of his lieutenant and settled in Newfoundland. Easton was the rare pirate who retired in France with his wealth. He was succeeded in Canadian waters by Black Bart who captured more than 400 ships over 2 year period, but who met a bloody end when he was put out of business by the British navy.
#CanadaIsAwesome
thisiscanadiana.com/episode-pa

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-30 12:26:36

Good Morning #Canada
Many people, that includes you, are worried about #Skynet assuming control of all military systems, but what happens when it starts harvesting our crops? Canadian agricultural scientists are blindly charging ahead in their efforts to fill our farms with robots. It started with self-driving tractors pulling conventional equipment and evolved to fully autonomous vehicles that plow, plant, fertilizer, weed, and harvest. Organic farming is seeing the biggest benefits as robots can hand weed 2 hectares per day, eliminating herbicides.... and farm workers. Almost 15% of Canada’s dairy farms use robotic milking cubicles where cows enter when they need milking, with no cold human hands involved. IMO, using robots to replace hard back breaking labour or tedious driving of equipment up and down a farm field is a good use of technology. But I hope the tech is not priced out of the reach of small farms.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Robotics #Farming
news.uoguelph.ca/2024/08/these

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-24 11:13:54

Good Morning #Canada
#HappyBirthday to me. It's my 69th, and mentally, I feel young, but parts of my body have exceeded the "best before date." According to bornglorious .com there are 137 "famous" Canadians born on August 24th. Most are nobodies like me - politicians, actors, or NHL players you've never heard of. But there are a few notables. Like Alex Colville (1920-2013), a favourite Canadian conceptual painter. Or chain-smoker René Lévesque (1922-1987), who tried to tear Canada apart. But perhaps the Canadian born on this day with the most impact is Rocky Johnson (1944-2020). Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Johnson was a Canadian pro wrestler and the first black champion in WWE history. Oh yeah.... he was also the father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Famous
youtu.be/dhdOPhTHeoE?si=U6ddnj

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-08-26 11:58:53

Good Morning #Canada
Collingwood Ontario today is known as a resort town, supporting skiers at Blue Mountains and swimmers at nearby Wasaga Beach. But the town was built on their reputation for ship building for over 100 years. The Collingwood Shipyard, established in 1882, was a major shipbuilding center, building over 200 ships including Great Lakes freighters, naval vessels, and the HMCS Hochelaga. During #WWII the shipyard launched ships for the Canadian Navy. The shipyard was famous for its unique side-launching technique, necessary due to harbour constraints, which became a significant local spectacle. It closed in 1986, and after significant remediation efforts, the site is now a waterfront park with mixed housing and a marina.
#CanadaIsAwesome #History
definingmomentscanada.ca/all-f

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-09-18 11:48:26

Good Morning #Canada
If your next #RoadTrip takes you to today's #BigStuffInSmallTowns destination, your GPS might get confused. The only border city in Canada is Lloydminster, which straddles the provincial border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. This bi-provincial city is recognized for being the only one of its kind in Canada, with its unique situation reflected in its single municipal administration, which operates under a special charter approved by both provinces. And on the dividing line between the Lloydminsters are 4 of the largest border markers on the planet. Each one is 100 feet high and they stand on the boundary for the third and fourth meridian. Erected in 1994, each marker represents an important theme: oil and gas, the Barr Colonists, agriculture and First Nations & Métis.
#CanadaIsAwesome #Borderlands
youtu.be/kaDRDtn1-3w?si=cp99_A

@paulbusch@mstdn.ca
2025-07-28 12:32:39

Good Morning #Canada
Finally... the moment you have been waiting for. It's Day #1 of #BeaverWeek. Who knows what fascinating facts of Castor Canadensis we will discover together this week. Our Beavers fought back from near extinction because their fur made awesome hats to become an increasingly important mammal restoring water conservation in an era of global warming. The odd double entendre, totally unintentional, of course, might slip into the conversation.
The best place to start is with this highly interesting Canadian Geographic article that provides some history and habitat info on our beloved Beaver.

#CanadaIsAwesome #ClimateChange
canadiangeographic.ca/articles