The Fairview Cemetery

There had been countless Titanic events throughout the week in Nova Scotia, and while I wasn’t able to catch them all I wanted to make sure I visited the Titanic memorial at the Fairview Cemetery. I ended up biking to the grounds, and watched as people from all walks of life quietly walked through the rows of graves. I have to admit I was concerned that people would be a bit “off” at these graves. Many of these people likely didn’t have a clue who any of these Titanic victims were, and I was no different. I feared that young girls would be crying out for Jack Dawson, the fictional character from James Cameron’s film. But it was nothing like that.

The Unknown Child

Young and old stared at the stones, reading the inscriptions to themselves. I watched as a young girl laid out flowers in front of the tomb of the youngest victim. I small boy who had remained unknown until 2011, 19-month-old Sidney Goodwin. He was an English child whose entire family died in the sinking. I watched an elderly couple hold eachother as the women shed a tear, perhaps for the unknown child, perhaps due to the heart warming sentiment of the youth of today honouring a child who never got to lead a full life.

The Brave Crew of the Titanic

I walked the rows and read the names, the numbers, the dates. Many of the men who perished in this tragedy were my age. Men in their young twenties. I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief, I asked myself “Would I have been so brave had I been put in that situation?“. I decided it was time to leave, and found one last stone stone to photograph. The stone was that of Everett Edward Elliot. It poetically read “Each man stood at his post while all the weaker ones went by, and showed once more to all the world how Englishmen should die.”

Remembering the Victims of the Titanic in Halifax Nova Scotia is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Need your brain checked? That's free in Canada!

The Canadian Healthcare System

In 1984 a large piece of federal legislation was adopted by the true north strong & free. This legislation in short said “Hey insurance people, hospitals, doctors, it’s time to heal those that are sick, injured, or that require medical assistance. By the way they don’t have to pay you. If you don’t abide we’re coming for you. Boom!” While universal health care may not be perfect, it’s still a success story in most eyes. Canadians have access to free, high quality health care, it’s pretty tough to complain about the price. At the end of the day we’re strides ahead of other countries in terms of quality of life. I can’t imagine what life in Canada would be like without this perk.

Need some video explanation on the Canadian Healthcare System? Check out Real Canadians Talking Real Healthcare, or if your feeling like something a little more polished with a bit of humour check out Michael Moores Documentary Sicko. 

Same-sex marriage

I like to think Canadians have a good grasp on human rights. While there’s clearly been some hiccups in the past, we’re a pretty progressive country that’s happy to face the ridiculous claims of “1 man + 1 women = true family” and drop the gloves all over that craziness. In July 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize the sanctity of marriage between same sex couples. LGBT rights in Canada are still the most advanced in the western hemisphere. So neighbouring countries and such, maybe come stop by the Village in Toronto, or Le Village in Montreal and see for yourself it’s all about love! It’s been almost seven years since the same-sex marriage legislation passed, and the world still spins.

Bilingualism

Throughout Canadian history, the French language has been there for nearly every step it. Over 22% of Canadians call french their mother tongue. While officially, Canadian language comprises itself of English and French there’s still a lot of work to be done in order to perfect the bilinguality of the citizens of Canada. I was fortunate enough to have parents who enrolled me in the French Immersion program, which means that from Kindergarten onwards, all subjects were taught in French. I have that program to thank for my french skills. While I clearly don’t use those acquired skills often enough, french immersion is the main reason I’m a huge supporter of the french language and culture in Canada. Being raised in that environment makes it easy to be proud of the bilingual aspect of Canada.

Mosaic of cultures

I remember being taught by a teacher at a young age one of the key differences between Canada and America. She preached that America was a melting pot, where languages and cultures are encouraged to assimilate and become “Americans”. Canada, on the other hand, is a mosaic of cultures. While each person becomes a Canadian, they are still encouraged to maintain ties with their mother land. They’re encouraged to hang on to their familial ties, keep their traditions and culture, and ultimately enjoy the freedom in Canada. It’s sometimes hard to find this “mosaic” in smaller anglophone communities (but I assure you it’s there). If you want it to hit you in the face, a weekend in Toronto exploring the different neighbourhoods will prove that no matter what your background is, we can all get along.

Underground Railroad

In the 19th century, Canadians from all walks of life helped enslaved african-americans escape to the northern parts of the United States as well as Canada. Estimates indicated that anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000 slaves successfully made it to Canada through the secret network of stations. Stations were said to have been as far west as British Columbia, and as far east as Nova Scotia. Survival on the railroad was hard, and on many occasions had it not been for the help of the Native Americans along the trail, many people wouldn’t have survived. While freed slaves found safety all over Canada, the majority settled in the Ontario area where they formed their own communities and pioneered their own farmland.

As it turned out many of the new arrivals to the “promise land” found the weather to be cold, the life to be hard, and when civil war erupted in the United States, some chose to fight with the Union and help rebuild the United States from the ground up. While many African-Americans headed home in search of family and friends, some stayed and formed communities. Men like Josiah Henson began to purchase land in Ontario and formed communities around what is now Dresdon Ontario, such as the famous Dawn Settlement. Josiah Henson is/was the inspiration behind the famous abolitionist tale, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Hariet Beecher Stowe. This book is said to have been one of the books Abraham Lincoln read which encouraged him to pass the Emancipation Proclamation.

While the most of the credit needs go to the brave souls of the african-americans who made that journey, I couldn’t be more proud that Canadians helped people find their own freedom.

Peaceful country

According to the 2011 Global Peace Index, Canada scores an in the Top 10, at the relatively charming number of 8, just behind Finland (7) and Austria (6). This index looks at up to 23 different measures, including military spending, percentage of violent crime, possibility of violent demonstrations, deaths from conflicts with neighbouring countries, along with the political terror scale, which apparently we didn’t score too high in due to the G20 Protests in Toronto. But to most Canadians, you don’t need a fancy number to know we’re a pretty peaceful bunch.

This is Canada, the land of everlasting sorry’s, a free country built on a strong foundation of coffee and donuts. The majority of our violence is kept on the ice, one of the few places the majority of Canadians can agree is a completely acceptable place to air your frustrations with another through the use of hard body-checks and taking a break in the game to drop the gloves and punch the crap out of another human being. We do not have a nuclear program, despite being one of the largest providers of uranium in the world. Gun crime is crazy low, so the chances of getting shot are pretty minimal unless you’re chasing illicit drugs. We’re raised in a country where health-care is free, where you accept your neighbour regardless of race, creed, or sexuality. We have flaws like any other country, but spending any amount of time in this country, it becomes easy to see that Canada is ultimately a peaceful country. One that I’m proud to live in.

The Canadian Pride

Canadians are a proud people, not the obnoxious type of proud but the “grateful for what we have” proud. This feeling has been building over the years, heck, even Molson Canadian tried monetizing it (see “My Name Is Joe“). What started off as a quiet type of pride evolved. The notion of “keep your love of Canada, inside Canada” was more or less obliterated after the recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. There was a call to arms to cheer loud, embrace our differences and show the world how proud we are to live in a country where you can be gay, straight, french, english, sick without worry, practice any religion you choose, and hail from any background and not have to worry about persecution. Canada’s not perfect, but it’s trying to get there.

6 Reasons I’m Proud to be Canadian is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Photo by Eryn Rickard

Alberta’s Tar Sands

Alberta has long been held under a scrutinous eye by the environmentalists for its massive industrialization of forests and wetlands in northern Alberta. The tar sands have become not only an eye sore, they’ve become a cause many people, including Greenpeace, are calling on to stop.

The tar sands are essentially huge deposits of bitumen, a substance that is very tar-like in nature. This tar-like “stuff” is what’s turned into oil by using some complex and very costly and energy intensive processes. This way of extracting oil is polluting the Athabasca river, and also spreading large amounts of toxins into the air. If you’ve ever driven by, or seen Fort McMurray on google maps, you’ll see how much of a wasteland this area has become. The tar sands aren’t just limited to Alberta though, they’re spreading into my home province of Saskatchewan as well.

Environmentally these mines suck. But there’s more to it than just the toxins and pollutants that are being spread around. Theres a huge social concern behind here as well. First nations communities in the area are reporting widespread autoimmune diseases, and many are showing large numbers of people coming down with rare forms of cancer. The tar sands will continue to be a hot topic over the years, especially considering how high profile the Keystone Pipeline reports became in Canada and in the USA.

Want More Information on the Tar Sands?

Check out the 2009 Documentary documentary “Downstream” – Watch it online for free

Watch Vice’s Documentary “Toxic Alberta” – Also Online for Free

Unfair Treatment of Chinese Immigrants (CPR)

The Canadian dream was once thought to be a life filled with exploration, with discovery, and with an incredible amount of gold. Chinese immigrants first came to Canada in 1858 in order to find a piece of this dream. Most Chinese immigrants moved to BC in search of riches. While many were happy to escape the harsh conditions in China, such as population pressures, famine and rebellions, life in Canada proved to be just as hard.

By the 1880′s the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in British Columbia began recruiting Chinese men to perform the most dangerous work along the rails. The type of tasks they were given included working with unstable explosives, tunnelling through mountains, and carrying massive rocks for miles. Pay was a measly one dollar a day, significantly less than any white man earned. The pay was poor, the conditions were harsh, and they say that for every mile of the Canadian Pacific Railway roughly four Chinese died.

The CPR was eventually completed, and this soon led to a whole other can of worms for the Chinese. The white men in the area became concerned that the Chinese were going to take their jobs. A massive recession caused people to become more than just a little bit cruel. Soon, anti-chinese legislation was passed, and a $50 head tax was charged to almost every chinese person attempting to enter Canada. This tax was eventually raised to $100, followed by $500 in 1903.

The Chinese were literally worked to death in Canada. While the Chinese-Canadians were eventually given an “apology” in 2006 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the cuts run deep. Symbolic payments were offered in one form or another, but the damage was done. This has to be one of Canada’s most deplorable acts of human indecency.

Photo by Stephen Simpson

Exporting Asbesthos

Asbestos has long been banned in Canada. The science has proven how dangerous this stuff is. It causes lung cancer, mesothelioama and asbestosis, and is just generally not something you want to be around. Inhale the fibres of this stuff and consider yourself one sick puppy. Asbestos causes over 100,000 deaths per year.

Despite the known dangers within Canada, up until January 2012, there were asbestos mines in Quebec who were still exporting to the world. Over 45% of it going to India, and the rest to smaller asian countries. In 2009 Canada produced 9% of the Asbestos that’s mined worldwide. This is a pretty deplorable number, and many critics were asking for this industry to stop long ago. It’s just a shame it took a recession induced bankruptcy for the last mine to shut down. Here’s to hoping those mines don’t start up again!

Eugenics in Canada

In the early 20th Century a movement so controversial and morally reprehensible sprung up around the world, and Canada wasn’t immune to these ideals. The notion of “eugenics” or the “bio-social movement” advocated aiming to improve the genetic composition of the human race through manipulation and murder. Many recognizable historical figures were supporters, including its president Leonard Darwin (Son of Charles Darwin), honorary VP Winston Churchill, UK’s Prime Minister Auguste Forel, Theodore Roosevelt and Alexander Graham Bell.

By the 1920′s immigration from Southern and Eastern European countries increased tremendously. It wasn’t long before the big supporters of Eugenics came out of the woodwork insisting that these new immigrants would pollute the national gene pool if their numbers weren’t restricted. This same notion was one of the primary causes for the next-near ban on Chinese and Japanese immigrants.

In Canada, two provinces enforced eugenics by law. In Alberta, the sexual sterilization act was put through in 1928, which focused on the sterilization of mentally deficient people. The Alberta Eugenics Board made the final decisions, basing the majority of their decisions off of IQ Tests. However, these tests proved to be a problem with many immigrants who couldn’t read or speak english fluently. Needless to say, unfairly categorized sterilization occured. The British Columbia Sterilization Act soon came to life shortly after Alberta’s, and like their neighbours to the east, they had a provincial eugenics board calling all of the shots.

We all know what happened in Nazi Germany in WWII, which while incredibly tragic, fortunately educated people in North America of the danger and immorality of eugenics. One would assume that after the events of World War II Eugenics boards would have completely dissolved. What screws me up most is that the Sexual Sterilization Acts of Alberta and British Columbia didn’t stop until 1972.

Residential Schools

Canada’s genocide of an entire culture is one of the darkest bruises in the history of this nation. When Europeans “discovered” north America they brought with them diseases, weapons, warfare, and religion. All of which were used in one way or another to conquer the land and claim it as their own. As with all wars, children tend to become victims as well. First Nations children in Canada were no different.

In 1840′s the federal government began pushing the european way of life on the aboriginal peoples of Canada. Aboriginal children were taken hundreds of miles from their families, many only seeing them once or twice a year if they were lucky. The residential schools were a complete immersion program, where children were prohibited from speaking their native language, practicing their spirituality, or displaying any form of aboriginal tradition. The goal was to turn these children into english speaking, christian farmers. Those who did not obey were often punished severely. Physical and sexual abuse ran rampant in these schools, while mortality rates soared in this environment. Up to 50% of the children suffered from Tuberculosis and were being forced to sit through class. Teachers deliberately exposed healthy children with those infected with Tuberculosis, which at the time had no cure.

The last residential school closed in 1996, and while survivors of the residential school system continued to speak out about the horrors witnessed at these schools, it wasn’t until 2008 that Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the residential schools. Several reconciliation packages have been put forward for the survivors, but many feel it’s “Too little too late”. Canadians need to be properly educated on the history of this era. Education leads to understanding, and perhaps through understanding we as Canadians, whites and aboriginals, can move forward together in peace.

For more information on residential schools and the problems facing Aboriginal Canadians, watch Wab Kinew’s recent interview on CBC’s Strombo.

If you’re more of the documentary type check out UNREPENTANT: Kevin Annett & Canada’s Genocide (Free on Google Video)

Internment Camps of World War I and World War II

Many people don’t associate internment camps with Canada. However, throughout Canadian history there have been a variety of camps that were built to detain people from all walks of life. War makes people do some crazy things, and Canadians are no different. Peoples houses, farms, businesses and their “way of life” were essentially stolen by the Canadian government. Fear and lack of understanding appear to be the leading cause for this part of Canadian history. Many people were accused of being spies, simply for being german, italian, japanese, or ukrainian in descent.

In World War I over 8500 Ukrainian-Canadian men, who were considered “aliens of enemy nationality”, were forcefully moved to  one of twenty six internment camps, including Castle Mountain Interment Camp in the Rockies, and Eaton Interment Camp in Saskatchewan. It was at these camps that these men were used for forced labour. Many of these “Prisoners of War” were transported by train to Nova Scotia, where they were eventually processed for deportation. Unfortunately World War I wasn’t the last time this happened.

By the time World War II was in full swing, internment camps began to pop up across the entire country. German Canadians who had resided in Canada since 1876 were being accused of being Nazi agents, despite having never left the country since they first landed in Canada. When Italy joined the wrong side of the war, Italian Canadians were soon under the same suspicious eye as the German Canadians. Needless to say many of these people would become all too familiar with the internment camps in Canada.

Japanese-Canadians were also exposed to these internment camps. Relocation Centres were created for Japanese-Canadian families, and internment camps were set up for those considered a high security threat. Many of these Japanese-Canadians had been in Canada several generations. When World War II was over, only 25% of their confiscated property and businesses were returned. Resentment from their treatment in British Columbia led to a large exodus across the prairies.

Where do we go from here?

I love Canada, don’t get me wrong, but you’d have to be an emotional mute not to find these moments a little bit sick and twisted. It’s clear that these problems that were faced in the past, and the few that are ongoing, aren’t completely unique to Canada. Polution, cultural genocide, racism, and a blatant disregard for human rights happens every day across the globe. While some of you may think “ashamed” is a strong word to use, it’s really the only one I can think of when it comes down to it. We’re better than this type of behaviour, at least we should be. If people from afar can hold Canada in such high regards, we as citizens need to as well. We need to learn from our mistakes, and find a way to grow beyond these events. This country has so much potential to become that eco-conscious, friendly and accepting country. At the end of the day, Canada needs to be a bit more true, a little more strong, and a lot more free.

6 Moments In Time That Make Me Ashamed To Be Canadian is a post from: I Backpack Canada

1. The Wanuskewin Restaurante – First Nations Food with a Modern Twist

One of the first things you’ll notice as you walk into the Visitor Centre is the clean and beautiful decor of the building. However, you’ll soon be distracted by the second thing you’ll notice. The food! The Wanuskewin Heritage Park has it’s very own restaurante which serves an assortment of traditional and non traditional first nations food. They serve everything from Rabbit Stew, to Wild Rice Salads, or if you want to play it safe, try their incredibly delicious Bison Burger. But don’t forget to order a plate of Bannock to spread an unhealthy amount of butter and jam on. What better way to start a hike & a tour than on a full stomach.

2. The Historical First Nations Artifacts & Art Pieces

The museum & gallery in the Visitor Center of Wanuskewin has a variety of beautiful and incredibly fragile pelts. The art and craftsmanship that went into every day to day item used by the First Nations people is astounding. Each item has this strange ability to take you back to a time when these items were necessary for survival. When these historical items were designed and built, I’m sure the First Nations had no idea they would end up on display. They were tools, yet here they are behaving very similar to how I see the art hanging on the walls. It’s easy to forget there’s more to Wanuskewin than old items & ornate pieces of first nations art.

3. The Bison Pounds

It’s been long known in the First Nations community that Wanuskewin was a place of gathering and of spiritual healing. In the 1980′s archeologists began to confirm these findings with a multitude of incredible finds. One of my personal favourites was the remnants of several Bison Pounds. A Bison Pound is essentially a wooden gate that First nations hunters would use to hunt bison with. Thousands upon thousands of wild bison would stampede, and upon seeing these wooden gates, would be confused and disoriented. In an attempt to go around these blockades they would be guided to their fate at the bottom of a Buffalo Jump. I don’t care how many animals you’ve skinned, even the bravest warrior had to have been scared trying to herd stampeding buffalo off a cliff.

4. The Traditionally Built Tipis

Wanuskewin has several large tipis errected around the park which allow visitors to see what it would have been like to live in one. They’re an incredible piece of human ingenuity. Knowing that the tradition and knowledge of how to build Tipis has been preserved and handed down throughout the years, despite the pain and suffering the First Nations have gone through, is heart warming. If you plan your visit to Wanuskewin appropriately, you can actually get the opportunity to watch an elder setup a tipi as well.

 5. The Trails to Archaeological Finds

There are 4 very scenic trails you can take as you exit the Wanuskewin Visitor Center; however, if you have an extra couple of hours in your day I highly recommend doing them all. They can easily be done as long as you’re in relatively good shape. I confess I did have sore legs after the entire hike; but nothing I wasn’t able to walk off. The scenic trails include

“The Trail of Discovery”

which takes you from the ampitheatre to the first bison pound and the Tipi Village. As you continue uphill, you’re given a scenic panorama of the Opimihaw Creek which includes seeing almost the entire Wanuskewin Park. As you finish the Trail of Discovery you’re able to connect to the “Path of the People” for a few minutes, which then turns into the “Trail of the Bison” (My personal favourite) as you climb uphill in an eastern direction.

“The Trail of the Bison”

On the “Trail of the Bison” you’ll see this massive Bison Rubbing Stone along with some of the most beautiful grasslands. Further on you’ll see several small cliffs that drop down to the Saskatchewan River. The vista at the top of this trail is breathtaking to say the least. The prairie harsh winds make it difficult to stay up there long, but the view is second to none. As you loop around the “Trail of the Bison” you’ll reconnect with the Path of the People.

“The Path of the People”

This path gives you the opportunity to explore the lush vegetation along the Opimihaw Creek and take in the dry valley walls. This leads eventually to the Juniper Flats, a dry desert like area that seems oddly foreign after walking through the flatlands then a lush wetland. The Path of the People eventually leads to the “Circle of Harmony”

“The Circle of Harmony”

This particular trail leads to some incredible archeological finds and some more great views of the area. Expect to find a tipi ring, a medicine wheel, and another bison pound. There’s a very interesting history behind the tipi rings and medicine wheel (or sacred hoop). If you’re really into the spiritual side of history, this will no doubt be a great place to stop and absorb your surroundings.

6. First Nations Hoop Dancers

As you finish the last of the trails you’ll no doubt be aching to sit down for a bit, which gives you the perfect opportunity to learn about and witness the famous First Nations Hoop Dance. This dance is incredibly old, and has been past down from generation to generation. The skill and finess behind it is simply amazing, words really don’t do it justice. If you’re brave enough the kind dancers will even show you some of the basics.

Have you ever been to Wanuskewin? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For more information on Wanuskewin be sure to check out their website!

6 Reasons You Should Visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatchewan is a post from: I Backpack Canada

So allow the tire pumping to begin!

Sunday Canadian Travel Video: What is Canada to the United States of America? is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Driving through the Saskatchewan prairies can at times feel like you’re completely alone in the world. You begin to notice things. Things you might have overlooked, things you might take for granted. You notice your head swivelling slowly, scanning the horizon and looking for something, but you’re not sure what. When your eyes spot it, you pull over. Jutting out of the miles of flatlands is a wooden skyscraper.

The Saskatchewan Grain Elevators

While they may not break any world records for building height, and they sure aren’t the most sophisticated pieces of architecture. They’re different. And they’re disappearing one at a time. The Grain Elevators of Saskatchewan are an endangered species. What was once a common sight across Saskatchewan has now become an opportunity to see an era fade into the history books. Something people may someday see in pictures but never get the opportunity to see with their own eyes.

Chasing Prairie Skyscrapers

During my recent travels throughout Saskatchewan I made an effort to find as  many of these dying creatures as I could. The Grain Elevators of Saskatchewan offer a unique look at an important time in human civilization. These wooden castles helped feed the world. Before elevators, grain was hauled in bags and towed by horse and carriage. The idea of modern farming we see today didn’t begin until the late 1800′s with the invention of the Grain Elevator.

Wood Mountain Elevator

The Elevators are in my blood

My Grandpa was one of the thousands of labourers who helped construct the Grain Elevators in Saskatchewan throughout the mid 1900′s. He died at a fairly young age due to lung complications caused by breathing in mass amounts of grain dust throughout his life. This was a danger that was unknown back in those times. While I never really got to know him, I do know that some of the elevators built with his hands still stand today. Others he worked on have met their fate on the ground which they proudly stood over for decades.

The Grain Elevators Are Vanishing

In the 1930′s there was said to be over 3,300 grain elevators in Saskatchewan. That number has plummeted to roughly 450 in recent years. It’s my hopes that more will be done to protect and preserve these unique pieces of Saskatchewan history. Unfortunately they’re being demolished at an alarming rate due to concerns for safety and cost of maintenance. Some call them Tinder Boxes, others call them an Eye Sore; however, there is growing support to save them. Many communities are coming together to protect them.

Protecting the Prairie Elevators

It’s an uphill battle, but the local Saskatchewan community is coming together to try their best to protect the grain elevators. The Western Development Museum in North Battleford currently has a working 1920′s elevator on display. Several small communities have also converted their elevators into museums and restaurantes. Rural communities with a strong enough voice continue to partner with the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation to save their local elevator. This problem of the disappearing elevators isn’t unique to Saskatchewan. Alberta & Manitoba face the exact same problems.

Morse Elevators

The Prairie Skyline is Changing

Time is running short for the prairie skyline. Most of the wooden-cribbed grain elevators are showing wear and tear. The province of Saskatchewan is changing fast. Rural areas are growing smaller and smaller while the 5 urban city centres of Saskatchewan continue to grow each year. In response to this exodus, ghost town’s continue to be born.

I fully understand that there is no way for all of the elevators to be saved. Times will always be changing, and newer elevators are needed in order to meet the demand of a growing population. However, these elevators are a piece of the past, and a past that in my eyes is worth preserving. There is really no time like the present to see and photograph what’s left of the Prairie Skyscrapers. Chasing them can become an addiction and can easily be the basis to one of the greatest Saskatchewan road trips you’ll ever take.

For more about the problems facing the Grain Elevators check out the National Film Board’s documentary “Death of A Skyline“. I managed to find it online on Vimeo, and while it’s a little dated, you do learn a lot more about the locals plight. Be sure to check out some of the demolition videos, its oddly depressing to see them fall.

Chasing Prairie Skyscrapers across the flatlands of Saskatchewan [Photo Essay] is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Natalie Taylor (of Near Afar) and I were there gathering research for our trip up to Algonquin Park at this world famous Art Collection. For those unaware of the McMichael, it is a treasure trove full of rare and valuable Canadian Art, including pieces by Frank Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackon, and Tom Thomson. Surrounded by all of these amazing pieces of Canadian Art I couldn’t help but think how much I wish I had a photo of this.

As I was taking in the museum experience, I saw this young lady snapping photos like crazy. I laughed thinking to myself “This chick is crazy! Security is going to jump her for sure!”. Our tour guide, Avril, warmly asked if she had permission to take photos.

Natalie & Corbin - Photo by Sabrina Savoy

Jupiter’s moons must have been lined up, or maybe we just got lucky. It turned out this young lady was taking photos for Ontario Tourism. When we told her we were doing some work with Ontario Tourism about the history and adventure in Algonquin Park she kindly agreed to snap a few photos of us. Turns out she needed some people in her shots to make the shot more lively anyways so it worked out great.

A Tom Thomson - Photo by Sabrina Savoy

I’m extremely grateful I was able to come out of the McMichael Art Collection with more than memories & a new intrigue into the Group of Seven. Big thanks goes out to Sabrina Savoy for being awesome and sharing these photos with us, and extra big thanks to Avril, our tour guide in the McMichael. Her knowledge of Canadian Art & the nature the inspired the Group of 7 movement was astounding.

Photo Du Jour – Tom Thomson Paintings at the McMichael Art Collection is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Photo by Natalie Taylor

I had never ridden a Segway before. But safety comes first with Segway Of Ontario, followed shortly thereafter by Teamwork. Our Segway Guide “Chris”, a charming, and dare I say “awesome” fellow took us through how to properly drive these units, even going so far as setting up an obstacle course to navigate. I must admit, I was worried my Toronto “street cred” would be harmed if I were caught riding this contraption. Thankfully he threw in a few Segway tips for looking extra cool while wearing a helmet.

• Wave at as many ladies as you can
• Make engine noises
• Make brake noises when turning sharp or coming to a stop

Outfitted with Segways and wise words, my friend Natalie Taylor (of Near Afar) and I were off with our new favourite guide. We did one quick lap to get comfortable, then we went deep into history. Not the polished type of history where everyone lived in rich Victorian houses and sat around drinking tea all day. We went 100% into the history of the Distillery District.

Photo by Natalie Taylor

Now I spoke to my friend Natalie about whether or not I should include much about this part of the tour. By all means, the history amped up the tour quality from a 10 to an 11, but I worry that I might give away too much. Basically I’m trying to prevent you from becoming that guy or girl at the comedy club who knows every ones routine.

Natalie Taylor Learning To Segway

So in sheer respect to the ruggedly awesome guide Chris and the fellows at Segway Ontario, all I will reveal is that the tour involves sampling Mill Street Beer (award winning stuff!), locally made Chocolate, and learning about the true old Toronto. Chalk full of alcoholism, immigration, labour rights, and the history behind what was once North America’s largest distillery.

No cliches with people in costumes pretending to be from some old era, no boring flashbacks to those old history classes you “sometimes” went to in high school. Just pure, unadulterated fun on a segway in one of Toronto’s most historic areas.
Segway Of Ontario also does off-road Segway Tours through Horseshoe Valley and even offers Winter Segway Tours for you warm blooded types.

Give them a call at (416) 642-0008 / 1-866-405-8687 or chat them up on Twitter @SegwayOntario

Get Fast & Geeky with Segway Tours in Toronto is a post from: I Backpack Canada