An American's Love of Canada (high school, camp, military)

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

I'm an American who finds nothing mediocre about Canada. Start with music. Gordon Lightfoot (query is that "Lights") is my favorite musician. Has been since at least 1976, since I bought "Gord's Gold." Blue Rodeo, Neil Young and Great Big Sea are on that list as well.

Their military history of fighting with the other free countries is enviable. Think Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach. I'm an American who's proud of Canada. Oops, do I sound too much like Gordon Sinclair's "The Americans"? (link to lyrics and video below). Well I'm sorry if I do but those are my beliefs.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ_okAgAUGE

Originally Posted by fusion2

^^^

Thanks for that jbgusa

This is a partial repost of an essay I wrote for the "Times Machine" thread on the now-defunct CBC board, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of my father's death (January 5, 1973), before going to Temple to mark that anniversary. I struck a lot of the personal material from the essay. If anyone's interested I'll direct message it. The beginning of this post sets the scene. Canada, as you will seek is involved.

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During the summer of 1972, I went to a camp that featured limited travel as part of the program. I was 15 at the time and met my first, sort-of girlfriend. We repeatedly ran into each other and were singing the same song, coincidentally, each time. One of the songs was Joni Mitchell's (of Canada) Both Sides Now. Here's the Canadian part. The final trip of the summer was to Quintes Isle, Ontario. That was my first of many trips to Canada.

The next school semester, fall 1972, I was active in band, soccer, the school newspaper and the weather club (which is why you see me on the climate change threads constantly). The band was what would figure in Canada.

I took part in an immensely enjoyable High School band exchange program with York High School, Toronto, in April 1973. Spring was slow in coming that year, and was chilled to the bone as the wind swept down Bloor and Yonge Street. I browsed some of the book shops on Yonge Street and read about the beginnings of the "Canadian Content" rules. I found it fascinating. To my surprise, I remembered Bloor and Yonge Street well when my wife and I visited in June 1997 (we relocated our trip to Algonquin Park; combination of a heat wave and her advanced stage of pregnancy). I thoroughly enjoyed that trip, as well as my wife's and my trip in 1992 to Banff and Calgary, and my independent trips to Quebec in 1979 and 1986 (I did not like my Montreal trip in 1976). Oh, I forgot to mention my first trip,with summer camp, during August 1972, to Quintes Island, and the Alexandria Bay area.

I have been back a few other times. I attended the CPC Policy Convention in Montreal in 2005. My wife took me and my children to Niagara Falls for my 50th birthday in 2007. And in 2012 I returned to Quebec City and took a ceremonial run around the Plains of Abraham track where a close high school friend started me off running.

In short, Canada has always been part of my life.

[Lyndarn]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

This is a partial repost of an essay I wrote for the "Times Machine" thread on the now-defunct CBC board, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of my father's death (January 5, 1973), before going to Temple to mark that anniversary. I struck a lot of the personal material from the essay. If anyone's interested I'll direct message it. The beginning of this post sets the scene. Canada, as you will seek is involved.

================================================== ===========================

During the summer of 1972, I went to a camp that featured limited travel as part of the program. I was 15 at the time and met my first, sort-of girlfriend. We repeatedly ran into each other and were singing the same song, coincidentally, each time. One of the songs was Joni Mitchell's (of Canada) Both Sides Now. Here's the Canadian part. The final trip of the summer was to Quintes Isle, Ontario. That was my first of many trips to Canada.

The next school semester, fall 1972, I was active in band, soccer, the school newspaper and the weather club (which is why you see me on the climate change threads constantly). The band was what would figure in Canada.

I took part in an immensely enjoyable High School band exchange program with York High School, Toronto, in April 1973. Spring was slow in coming that year, and was chilled to the bone as the wind swept down Bloor and Yonge Street. I browsed some of the book shops on Yonge Street and read about the beginnings of the "Canadian Content" rules. I found it fascinating. To my surprise, I remembered Bloor and Yonge Street well when my wife and I visited in June 1997 (we relocated our trip to Algonquin Park; combination of a heat wave and her advanced stage of pregnancy). I thoroughly enjoyed that trip, as well as my wife's and my trip in 1992 to Banff and Calgary, and my independent trips to Quebec in 1979 and 1986 (I did not like my Montreal trip in 1976). Oh, I forgot to mention my first trip,with summer camp, during August 1972, to Quintes Island, and the Alexandria Bay area.

I have been back a few other times. I attended the CPC Policy Convention in Montreal in 2005. My wife took me and my children to Niagara Falls for my 50th birthday in 2007. And in 2012 I returned to Quebec City and took a ceremonial run around the Plains of Abraham track where a close high school friend started me off running.

In short, Canada has always been part of my life.

TY JB for sharing your wonderful memories So glad there are some who hold their neighbour "Close to their heart"

Yes..indeed, we have our own way of doing things..but tend to enjoy our land and our own culture ( tho some don't appreciate that )..TY again for reminding me just why I love our specialness

[Magnatomicflux]

Thanks for sharing, JB. It's appreciated.

[BruSan]

I enjoyed that also Jb.