ABC Wednesday - H

This week at ABC Wednesday, H is our letter of focus.

Well, I have not been too happy today - difficulty with my computer and my new internet provider have hindered my ability to post. But, even if I lack photos, I am posting!

H is for cities and towns  in Ontario that  start with H and that I have visited.

H is for Hamilton - home to the Hamilton Tiger Cats (football team), Dundurn Castle, and the Art Gallery of Hamilton - to name just a few highlights. Hamilton also has the hospital where my husband had his kidney transplant and still attends transplant clinics several times a year. 

H is also for Haliburton - a lovely town that hosts a summer of art courses at the Haliburton School of Fine Arts. For many years I attended a week of classes with my children - a fabulous way to spend a holiday- with art and cottaging.

H is also for Hastings,Havelock, Hearst and Holland's Landing.


H is also for Halifax, Nova Scotia - a city I have not visited but am so eager to too.

ABC Wednesday - G

This week at ABC Wednesday, G is the letter of focus.

G is for geese - Canada geese that is!

Be sure to check here to see what others around the world did for G.

ABC Wednesday - E and F

This week at ABC Wednesday, F is front and centre.

F is for FLAG

Every country has a flag that is symbolic of that country.

Until 1965, Canada shared the Union Jack with  Britain. The struggle to get its own flag is quite a fascinating story. But on February 15, 1965, the new flag was inaugurated at Parliament Hill.

The red borders and 11 point stylized red maple leaf is easily one of the most recognizable flags in the world.

And I am so very proud of it.

E and F stand for the two official languages of Canada

English and French.

Canadians study French all through school and I truly believe that learning a second language improves our minds. I just wish that we could all be more bilingual.


Be sure to check here to see what others around the world did for F.

ABC Wednesday - C

This week at ABC Wednesday, C is front and centre.

C is, of course, for Canada and Canadian - my homeland and nationality, of which I am very proud.

C is also for Calgary and the Calgary Stampede.

Our honeymoon, 15 years ago, was spent in Calgary, a place I had visited many times before.

But I had never been to the Stampede.  We had a grand time visiting the city and the stampede.

The first Calgary Stampede was held in 1912. Now it is held for 10 days in early July and is called "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth".

It began with a parade downtown and pancake breakfasts.

There were so many competitions and exhibits to see. We watched bull riding, chuck wagon racing, bronco riding

and toured buildings and exhibits.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.



Be sure to visit here to see what others around the world did for C.

ABC Wednesday - B for Banff

This week at ABC Wednesday, we focus on B.

B is for Banff - a wonderful town, located in western Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies and in Banff National Park. It is a well-known resort town, about 128 km west of Calgary, a very scenic drive of under 2 hours.
We visited Banff on our honeymoon and I had been there several times when I lived in Alberta. Surrounded by mountains, lots to see and do!

Banff from the gondola

What a view from the street

Fairmount Banff Springs Chateau 

Be sure to check here to see what others around the world did for B.

ABC Wednesday - New Round begins!

Today begins a new round of ABC Wednesday, from a new location.(Check here)
Be sure to check it out.


This year is Canada's 150th birthday (although I prefer Vancouver's choice of 150+ to recognize the contributions of First Nations)
I have decided to focus on all things Canada for this round, as I have been to all the provinces and territories, except for Newfoundland/.Labrador. There is so much to see in Canada and would like to share some of the big (and small) features of my beloved country.

A is for the Arctic
Forty years ago, I traveled to the Arctic to accept a taching job (my first) in a tiny native community.
In the three years I lived and taught there, I was able to visit many northern communities in the NWT - Inuvik, Aklavik, Tuktoyuktuk, Yellowknife, as well as Whitehorse in the Yukon.

Most of my photos from my time in the North are on slides, but I have a few to share:

The Mackenzie Delta from the air

Arctic Red River

1 am at 8 mile, Peel River (no flash!)

Driving on the Dempster Highway

The Beaufort Sea

It was an incredible experience. I made many friends and developed a deep love of native art and culture. My oldest son was born in Inuvik.
It was definitely an experience that shaped and changed me.

ABC Wednesday - Y and Z

We have come to the end of this round of ABC Wednesday. Next week, a new wordpress site will host the new round. Thanks to Denise Nesbitt who hosted for so many years. It has been truly fun to participate.

Last week I missed Y - as my husband was in the hospital (w v.tach) so I did not get much done..

So I am sharing Y and Z today.

Y is for Malala Yousafzai - a truly inspirational young woman!

Z is for Howard Zinn.

Be sure to check here to see what others around the world are doing for Z.

And check next week here for the new round at a new site.