Coming back from the tropics reminded me how harsh winter in Canada can be, and how hard it can be to adapt to this unique challenge.
Posts tagged Canadian Culture
American and Canadian English 101
Language is highly cultural. Grammar and spelling can be taught at school but some vocabulary can only be learned in the street or even—gasp!—watching T.V.
In my first few years in Canada, immersed in the culture, I learned a lot of words and expressions I wouldn’t have found in grammar books.
Did You Know That Quarters Are Super Cool in Canada?
There is a new quarter minted with a special reverse design for a ton of occasions.
Small Town, Ontario – A Few Days In Deep River
During our Labour Day Week-End trip to rural Ontario, we spent a couple of night in Deep River, a small community located on Highway 17, between Pembroke and Matawa, opposite the Laurentian Mountains. The population is only about 4,000, and most residents work in the nearby Chalk River Nuclear Research Laboratory, 10 km away. But it is still a small Canadian town, with a few dirt roads, dense patches of forest and wild animals.
Exploring Deux-Rivières and Matawa, Ontario
Upon arriving in Deux-Rivières, a small community located in Renfrew County, Highway 17 narrowed and seemed to plunged right into the Ottawa River. The River was pretty wide and we felt like on a small island. Except for a seasonal ferry access to Québec and an abandoned gas station/ convenience store, there wasn’t much. The scenery was beautiful though: the grey asphalt matched the dark stormy sky, but contrasted with the deep blue of the River.
Townships of Head, Clara and Maria
After Pembroke and Rapides-Des-Joachims, we followed the Trans-Canada Highway, looking for places to explore on that rainy week-end. As soon as I saw a sign saying “Head, Clara and Maria”, I wanted to check out the place. What a funny name!
The townships stretch along 60 kilometers of Highway 17. All the activities are located nearby the road, the rest is mostly wilderness.