Florence Cardinal's Blog
Posted by Florence Cardinal
The first Prime Minister of Canada was John A. Macdonald, elected in 1867. Our present Prim Minister is Steven Harper, elected in 2006. Joseph Clark was 39 when elected, our youngest Prime Minister. The oldest - Sir Charles Tupper at 74. The Right Honorable Kim Campbell, our only woman Prime Minister, was 46 when elected. The average age when elected is 56.
We've had 12 Liberal Prime Ministers and five more classed as Liberal-Conservative. This later became the Liberal party. Six Conservatists held office, and four Progressive Conservative. Why the discrepancy in numbers? Some of the Prime Ministers, including Macdonald and Trudeau, were elected to more than one term.
For more on our Prime Minister, read John A. Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie and Pierre Trudeau and Margaret.
Posted by Florence Cardinal
JUSTIN
He's had some involvement in politics. He endorsed Gerard Kennedy for the leadership of the Liberal party, and, when Kennedy dropped out, switched allegiance to Stephane Dion. In January 2007, speculation ran high that Justin was entering politics. He may run for one of the Montreal ridings in the next election.
ALEXANDRE (SACHA)
Alexandre Sacha Trudeau was born December 25, 1973. A noted journalist, he has produced documentaries for Canadian television. Some of his work is considered controversial. He is now a contributing editor at Maclean's Magazine. He and girlfriend Zoe Bedos have a son born December 2006 and named Pierre-Emmanuel Trudeau.
MICHEL
The youngest son, Michel, was born October 2, 1975. He was studying at Dalhousie University to become a microbiologist. Unfortunately, in November of 1998, at the age of 23, he was swept away by an avalanche while skiing at Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park in British Columbia. His body was never found and is believe to be in the deep waters of Kokanee Lake.
Pierre and Margaret Trudeau had three sons. The eldest, Justin, was born December 25, 1971. He studied English at McGill and Education at UBC, and became a teacher. He later returned to McGill to earn a Master of Arts in Geography. In May of 2005, Justin married Sophie Grégoire, former model and television host.
Posted by Florence Cardinal
John McCrae took part in the heavy fighting in and around Ypres. This is the area often called Flanders. Surrounded by the dead and dying day and night, he was devastated by the carnage he saw.
The dead were buried in hurriedly dug graves marked by simple wooden crosses. Between the crosses, the poppies were beginning to bloom. It was because of this scene that he wrote his famous poem.
Later he was transferred to the Canadian General Hospital in France. In January 1918, John McCrae died of pneumonia.
Posted by Florence Cardinal
Like most cultures, the Native Americans have their shapeshifters. Many cultures have legends about the werewolf. In France, werewolf became loup garou. With the influx of the French and French culture into Canada, the legend spread, and was adopted by the Métis (people of French and Native origin) and then by some of the Native tribes themselves.
The legend grew and changed, as legends will. The Native loup garou became a multitalented creature who could change into numerous animals. Always, though, they are vicious and dangerous, and very sly. The Native translation of loup garou is roo garoo or rou garous which means the trickster and may be related to another Native trickster, coyote. Roo Garoo often chose a coyote skin as a mode of disguise.
For the story of another myth, read my article, Windigo.
Posted by Florence Cardinal
This article deals with the relationship between the Native poplation before the coming of the white man and how it all changed. Read The Buffalo.
Posted by Florence Cardinal
"Canada" may have a Native Origin. Or it may be Spanish. My latest article talks about how our country was named and the various changes the name and location of "Canada"went through.