Expedition Canada

Truth and Reconciliation Thu Sep 30th  Hopkins Landing Tuesday morning. Today marks the first National Day for  Truth and Reconciliation .  A day for the country to reflect on the lost children lost, or those who survived, the Canadian Residential School system.  It is a public holiday for Federal employees, but individual provinces and territories have not decided to make it a public holiday for all. There are ceremonies taking place throughout the day and orange shirts are much in evidence.  These reflect the significance of a child's newly purchased shirt  being confiscated on their first day  going into one of the residential schools.  Canada is clearly wrestling with how to address its colonial and early history and the injustices that were metered out to the First Nations peoples.  We both recently finished reading 21 Things you may not know about the Indian Act by Bob Joseph .  A hereditary First Nations clan chief, he sets out ...

Distinctly Chilly Thu Jul 1st With temperatures back down to near normal on the coast (17 C), we were able to enjoy a long walk this morning, just over 7k.  Jack and I walked up through Blueridge to the Hyannis trail, via a couple of connecting trails to Fishermans Trail, which runs alongside Seymour River.  It was a public holiday, so the outward journey was quiet, a few more walkers and runners were out by the time we walked back. Inland, temperatures have remained high and  contributed to more forest fires.   The town of Lytton  was evacuated only fifteen minutes before being largely destroyed by fire.   ' According to the B.C. Wildfire Service , there are 82 wildfires burning across the Province Thursday, with 52 of them starting in the past 48 hours. Lightning strikes, gusty winds and high temperatures have contributed to already intense conditions.' Camp fires, fireworks, lanterns and all other fire risks have been banned across ...