The Indigenous

Prince George currently sits on the traditional land of the Lheidli Tenneh people LEY-LE-TENNEH , whose name means People of Two Rivers, relating to the Fraser and Nechako Rivers that intersect northeast of downtown Prince George. Archeological evidence shows that they have inhabited the area for as much as 9,000 years. Within the Lheidli Tenneh people, there were several clans including the Frog, Bear, Grouse and Beaver. As the earliest inhabitants of the area, they were the first to meet Simon Fraser when he founded Fort George while exploring the Fraser River in 1807, and Alexander Mackenzie when he came through in 1793. Their original village site is located at the Lheidli Tenneh Memorial Park in the community. The park was originally named Fort George Park until 2015. In 1913, their village was cleared and the Indigenous were relocated to a reserve nearby. Today, Prince George sits on Treaty 8 land, which was signed in 1899.

Fort George

The origin of Prince George comes from the North West Company, the company that established a trading post called Fort George in 1807. The fort was established by Simon Fraser, who named it honour of King George III. Fort George would continue to operate throughout the 1800s, and was an important part of the fur trade in the northern portion of British Columbia, although Fort St. James tended to be the main trading post for the area. The fort would continue to be important locally, but was ignored provincially and nationally for some time. Even when the Collins Overland Telegraph Trail was built in 1865 to 1867, it bypassed Fort George completely. Things would begin to change in the early 1900s, and Fort George would see a name change and its importance increase throughout the new century.

The Founding Of The Community

In 1903, Fort George would see the arrival of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, or at least rumours that the railroad would be arriving. Around this time, speculators began to look towards where the best location for a town would be and rival speculation companies would set up South Fort George and Central Fort George. South Fort George was built near the trading post, while Central Fort George was built three kilometres away to the northwest. Both of these communities were involved in a heated rivalry to have a station constructed when the railway did arrive.

By the fall of 1909, developers in both of these small communities had street plans surveyed and lots were made available to purchase in 1910. South Fort George actually began to do quite well, as George Hammond advertised the community all over Canada and England. He stated that the community had mild winters, and was suitable for all sorts of agriculture except growing peaches.

Grand Trunk Pacific, for its part, was not happy about this. They did not want other developers capitalizing off of them and they decided that they would set up their own site. The company purchased 553 hectares of land from the Fort George Indian Reserve in 1912 at a cost of $125,000, or $2.9 million today. This site would serve as the future downtown area of Prince George.

As the railroad approached, the two communities began to boom with 1,500 people combined as construction workers came to the towns for supplies and for entertainment. When the railroad purchased the land from the reserve, they had purchased it before Charles Vance Millar, the owner of the BC Express Company, could buy any. To compensate him, he was given 200 acres of the property. All of these meant that by 1914, there were four communities surrounding the area, South Fort George, Central Fort George, Millar Addition and the townsite the railroad had purchased. George Hammond would take the railway to court in a series of legal challenges, but he would lose and Prince George was incorporated on March 6, 1915.

As for the name, and why it became Prince George there are a few theories on that. One is that the railway wanted to distinguish from the Fort George communities, that it wanted to honour King George V, and that it wanted to honour Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth child of the king.
Prince George would not see its population rise as the construction of the railway was halted due to the First World War, and then the Spanish Flu hit in 1918. It was not until the 1930s that Prince George saw significant growth and that was thanks to Army Camp Prince George, which I will get to in the next section.

The Army Arrives

When the Second World War broke out, Prince George saw a sudden new lease on life. Army Camp Prince George was opened, housing 6,000 soldiers. From March 1942 to October 1943, troops with the 16th Infantry Brigade was housed at the camp, which included barracks, dining halls and wet canteens. In addition, the camp featured rifle ranges, mortar ranges and artillery ranges. At the end of the war, the camp was demolished, with some buildings moving to new locations. Some of the buildings used in the camp now have new leases on life in the city including as a bottle depot, the home for the Community Arts Council and a store.

The war would have another benefit for Prince George that would see its growth skyrocket. With so many cities in Europe destroyed from the war, the demand for lumber skyrocketed. For Prince George, that was good news and its sawmills were kept busy, and the sounds of lumber crews could be heard in the hills around the city. In 1952, the Pacific Great Eastern railway was completed and it joined the Canadian National line with Prince George.

The 1956 Plane Crash

In the evening of June 25, 1956, around 7 p.m., a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter plane left the Prince George Airport and was soon seen flying in an unsafe manner. Witnesses on the ground saw the plane do a half-roll, and then fall over on its back and nose dive into a ravine one kilometre from the city. The plane was flown by Frank Pynn, who had served in the Royal Air Force as a Transport Command pilot. With him was Jimmy Clarke, a 15-year-old passenger. In the investigation of the crash, it was found that Pynn died through, quote:
“his own neglect and complete disregard for the Aeronautical Regulations of Canada.”

Testimony would reveal that Pynn had been drinking just prior to the flight, and many felt that he was unfit to fly. The inquest found that Pynn was flying far below the 1000-foot minimum level, reaching as low as 150 feet in some cases. He had then passed over the airport, and witnesses said he approached the administration building at a height of no more than 20 feet. Many were surprised by the actions of Pynn, who had over 4,000 hours of flying experience and had flown over 20 different types of planes.

Downtown Walking Tour

A great way to explore a community is through a walking tour. Not only do you get some great exercise, you also discover the history of the community first hand. Prince George has a walking tour, available through their website, that allows you to see the history of the city. I will go through some of the more notable places you can see along the tour.

En Cha Ghuna, or He Too Lives, is located at Prince George City Hall and is a piece of art that speaks of the history and the land of the community. Made by two Indigenous artists, it is a canoe carved out of a cottonwood tree, which was placed on the site in 2012. On the art piece, there are 11 life-size regional fish showcased on the art piece.

While it is now gone, you can see the former site of the Prince George Hotel, built in the early 20th century and was the first business to operate on George Street. Initially serving as a bar, that was shut down until 1919 due to prohibition in British Columbia. Unfortunately, business continued to suffer for several years, but to hide that fact, J.H. Johnson, the owner and mayor of Prince George from 1922 to 1923, had a shipment of cars brought in for his dealerships and he parked them around the hotel to make it look busy. In 2011, the building was demolished.

The Third Avenue Mural was painted by Milan Basic in 2011, and completed two years later. Using latex paint and spray paint, it measures at 70 feet wide and 15 feet high. Basic also painted the Canada Games mural that is on display in the community, which was painted in 2012 to celebrate the 2015 Canada Winter Games. That mural measures 27 feet high and 20 feet wide.

Built in 1948 in an Art Deco style, with a rounded entry and evenly spaced windows, Mason’s Café on Third Avenue still operates in the city. On the opening day of the business in 1949, the owner gave out free ice cream to local children and apparently tore a ligament in his shoulder after scooping 300 hard ice cream cones. Today, it is Mason’s Steak and Chops and has been selected by Enroute magazine as one of the best restaurants in Canada.

The Corless House on Fourth Avenue was built in 1917 and is one of the few remaining historic houses in the city. Owned by Richard Corless, who worked for the Sandiford Undertakers at the time, he suddenly found himself in charge of the business when the Sandiford family fled during the Spanish Flu. Tom Corless, his son, was 11-years-old at the time and would drive a Ford Model T ambulance to pick up the bodies of the deceased. The family continued to operate the business until 1936, and they moved out of the house in 1947.

The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre

If you want to learn about history and science in the community, then you can check out the Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre. Located in Lheidli Tenneh Memorial Park, there are several exhibits to visit including a paleontology exhibit, one dedicated to the Indigenous, and a children’s gallery. There is also a two foot narrow gauge Fort George Railway that includes a working steam locomotive. In the facility, you will also find the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame. So far, the hall of fame has inducted 75 individuals across 24 sports including the 1977-78 Prince George Mohawks that won the Senior A Provincial Championship four times in six years, as well as several NHL players such as Jason LaBarbera and Darcy Rota.

The Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum

For anyone who has a love of railroads, and really who doesn’t, then the Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum is a great place to check out. This museum is home to several locomotives, running stock and heritage railway buildings, and they are open for visitors to explore. There are also pieces of rail lines that used to go through central British Columbia including the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, the Canadian National Railway and BC Rail.

On the forestry side of things, there are artifacts from decades ago from the forestry industry, including a 46 foot high beehive burner from the local sawmill. The museum itself began in 1983 as a preservation society to restore a 1903 wooden Russel Snowplow. In 1984, the city gave the society 6.5 acres for a museum site. It officially opened its doors in 1986 and in 1989, included forestry in its museum.

The Queen Visits

For Prince George, on Aug. 17, 1994, one of the most famous individuals in the world arrived, Queen Elizabeth II. She was on hand to open the University of Northern British Columbia.

She would tell the huge gathered crowd, quote: “The concept of this university is no less exciting than the land in which it is set. You are fortunate to learn and teach in such a matchless setting.” She would also paraphrase the Lord of the Rings, stating quote: “This is the hour of the northern people, when we arise from our quiet forests to shake towers and councils of the great.” At the event, the Lake Babine Nation danced and drummed and a choir sang God Save the Queen. Also while in the community, Queen Elizabeth II opened the new Prince George Civic Centre and she was presented a toy logging truck by the city. This was not the only visit to Prince George by a member of the Royal Family. In 1983, Prince Charles and Princess Diana were in the community as well.

Mr. PG

One interesting aspect of Prince George is Mr. PG, a mascot and monument for the community. Built in 1960, it was originally created to serve as a symbol of the importance of the forestry industry in the city. Standing at 26.7 feet tall, with a head that is nearly five feet in diameter, it was officially unveiled on May 8, 1960 at a Rotary International Conference. Later that year, it took part in the May Day Parade and had the ability to speak and bow.

The man behind the creation of this mascot was Harold Moffat, who would be mayor of Prince George from 1970 to 1979. He believed the community needed a mascot to promote its forestry industry, in a similar style to the Paul Bunyan statue in Oregon. In 1961, Mr. PG took part in the Kelowna Regatta and the Vancouver PNE parade. In 1963, it was part of the Grey Cup Parade. It finally came to its current spot in 1970, where it has remained since then. The City of Prince George trademarked Mr. PG in 1985, and it has been featured in a song by Al Simmons and in 2009, Canada post featured him on a stamp.

Every year, as the first blush of summer begins to warm our hearts and landscapes, Canadians across the country unite in a unique celebration. It's a day marked by jubilant parades, sparkling fireworks, and joyous family barbecues. This holiday, full of warmth and merriment, is none other than Victoria Day.

Named in honour of Queen Victoria, this special day offers more than just a delightful long weekend—it serves as a fascinating reflection of our shared history and cultural heritage. The British queen was born on May 24, 1819. She was a reigning monarch (queen) for 63 years, seven months and two days. Victoria Day was declared a Canadian holiday by the government in 1845. At that time, it was celebrated with picnics, parades, sporting tournaments, fireworks and cannon salutes. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, Canada’s parliament officially named the holiday Victoria Day. It was decided that the day would be celebrated on the second last Monday in May. In 2024, that's May 20th.

Historical Significance

Victoria Day originally marked the birthday of Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch at the time of Canada's confederation in 1867. Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819, played a pivotal role in the shaping of modern Canada. Under her reign, Canada gained greater autonomy and took significant steps toward becoming the independent nation it is today. Celebrating her birthday became a tradition, reflecting Canada's ties to the British monarchy.
Evolution of the HolidayThe celebration of Victoria Day began during Queen Victoria's lifetime and continued after her death in 1901. It was officially declared a national holiday in 1845. Over time, the holiday has evolved to also honor the current reigning monarch, which today is King Charles III. Despite this shift, the day is still popularly known as Victoria Day, a nod to its origins.

Contemporary Celebrations

Victoria Day marks the unofficial start of summer in Canada. As a public holiday, it gives Canadians a long weekend, often referred to as the "May Two-Four" weekend—a playful nod to both the date and a case of 24 beers. Canadians take this opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities, family gatherings, and fireworks. Gardening, picnics, and opening up cottages for the season are common traditions.

A Unifying Holiday

Victoria Day is more than just a day off. It is a celebration of Canadian heritage and identity. While rooted in colonial history, the holiday has transcended its origins to become a symbol of national unity and the coming of summer. It reflects the blend of historical legacy and modern Canadian culture, embodying a spirit of joy and community.
In essence, Victoria Day is a reminder of Canada’s journey from a collection of British colonies to a diverse and vibrant nation. It’s a day to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the warm, sunny days ahead.

Happy Victoria Day to one and all from the PGRKCA family!!!

Every year, on the second Sunday in May, Mother's Day is celebrated globally to honour our mothers. This year, Mother's Day is observed on May 12th. On this day, children, partners, and other family members show their love and gratitude to their mothers by giving them gifts, cards, and other thoughtful gestures. It's a chance to appreciate the effort, sacrifices, and love that mothers put in every day. This day is observed in more than 50 countries around the world.


Why is Mother’s Day celebrated on the second Sunday in May?

Every second Sunday of May, we celebrate Mother's Day to honour our mothers. It's a special day dedicated to recognizing the often-overlooked contributions of mothers. It's a time to acknowledge the immeasurable and selfless role each mother plays in her children's lives and successes, and to express gratitude for it.


The first Mother's Day was celebrated in 1908 in the US. After her mother's passing in 1905, an American woman named Anna Jarvis wanted to establish a day to honour mothers' work and sacrifices. Consequently, she organized the first formal Mother's Day celebration in Grafton, West Virginia, in May 1908.
This initiative soon grew into a widespread movement, with Anna and her supporters advocating for the day to be recognized as a national holiday. By 1911, Mother's Day had spread to every state in the US.
Finally, in 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May to be celebrated as Mother's Day. The celebrations quickly spread beyond national borders and into other countries. Today, Mother's Day is celebrated in over 50 countries across the globe.
 
Why is Mother's Day celebrated on different days around the world?​

Mother's Day is observed in more than 50 countries across the world but not on the same date. In India, Canada and the US, the day is marked on the second Sunday of May. Hence, Mother's Day falls on May 12 this year. People in the UK celebrate Mother's Day in the month of March. It falls three weeks before Easter or on the fourth Sunday of the Christian festival of Lent.

The origin of Mother's Day can be traced back to the early 1900s when the US dedicated a day to mothers. An American woman named Anna Jarvis wanted to honour her mother after she died in 1905 and decided to set aside a day for all mothers. Later, the woman formally celebrated the day for the first time in May 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia.
The day became popular after which Anna and her friends urged prominent personalities in the US to declare Mother's Day a national holiday. Within a few years, the day was celebrated in every state of the US. In 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson announced that the second Sunday of May be celebrated as Mother's Day. Gradually, the idea spread to other countries.

What is Saint Patrick’s Day?

Saint Patrick’s Day is an annual celebration that takes place every year on March 17. Today, the holiday is known for its parties, excessive use of green, and celebrating anything and everything Irish, including St. Patrick’s Day food. However, Saint Patrick’s Day wasn’t always the holiday we know and love today. It started in medieval Ireland as a religious ceremony.
The holiday was created around the 10th Century AD to commemorate St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity into Ireland. Saint Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was born during the 4th century and preached into the 5th century.

Who Was Saint Patrick?

Today, we see Saint Patrick as the Patron Saint of Ireland. But how did he achieve that status? St. Patrick was the son of a minor local official in Roman Britain. As a child, he was and wasn’t much of a believer. However, after being captured by the Irish and later escaping them, St. Patrick became much more religious and devoted to Christianity. 
 
Legend has it that Saint Patrick received a dream that he claimed was a divine message from God. The dream commanded Saint Patrick to return to Ireland to help the Irish people find Christianity. At this point, the Irish were mostly Pagan and hadn’t accepted Christianity. So when St. Patrick landed on the shores of Ireland, he was one of the first people to bring Christianity to Ireland.
At first, Saint Patrick’s preachings were unwelcome and mostly ignored. But slowly, Saint Patrick started getting followers and openly preaching to the Irish public. The Irish started accepting Christianity and Christianity soon became the dominant religion in Ireland.
 
The Legacy of Saint Patrick

Just a couple of centuries after Saint Patrick passed away, he had already become a legend. He was acknowledged for being the person who brought Christianity to Ireland. Saint Patrick became known as the figure who chased away all the snakes from Ireland. He is also credited for helping the needy in Ireland by feeding the hungry.
 
Why Do We Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations find their roots in Ireland. As mentioned earlier, these celebrations were primarily religious and commemorated the arrival of Christianity into Ireland. As Irish immigrants started arriving in Canada, they brought their culture and traditions along with them. One of these traditions was, of course, the Saint Patrick’s Day Feast on March 17. 
Because Canada is a multicultural country with many different religions, St. Patrick’s Day is less of a religious festival and more of a symbol of Irish Identity. Today, just like Christmas, people from different religions and backgrounds from all across Canada celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
 
Is Saint Patrick’s Day a Statutory Holiday in Canada?

Even though Saint Patrick’s Day is a popular holiday, it is only an official holiday in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John’s Newfoundland is the closest North American port to Ireland. Many areas of the province were originally settled by Irish immigrants. Many residents of Newfoundland are direct descendants of Irish immigrants.
While St. Patrick’s Day is only recognized as a holiday in Newfoundland, Canadians across the country celebrate the holiday. Often, Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations span multiple days, or take place on the weekend. This year, the holiday falls on a Friday, right at the beginning of a weekend. It is safe to say that the celebrations will be sure to last the whole weekend.

Common Symbols Associated with Saint Patrick’s Day

Like many other holidays, St. Patrick’s Day has many symbols that come with it. These symbols become a common sight leading up to St. Patrick’s Day and are everywhere on the 17th of March. One thing all these symbols have in common is that they are all green. Seriously, everything goes green on St. Patrick’s Day.
 
The Shamrock

The Shamrock is one of the most common symbols you will see during Saint Patrick’s Day. A shamrock is a three-leaf clover that is a symbol of both St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland as a whole. Irish legend has it that St. Patrick used a shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, which is a fundamental Christian concept.
 
The Colour Green

The shamrock and green are both common symbols that are part of St. Patrick’s Day. These things also symbolize the nation of Ireland, as the color green symbolizes Irish nationalism. As Irish Poet Thomas Augustine Daly once said, “The whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o’ March!”

Leprechauns!

An article on Saint Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Leprechauns. Mischievous, little Leprechauns have become the unofficial mascot for the holiday. St. Patrick’s Day parades, which we will talk about later, are full of people dressed up as Leprechauns. These mythical creatures from Irish folklore have now become entwined with St. Patrick’s Day.

Saint Patrick’s Day Traditions in Canada

Today’s Saint Patrick’s Day is very different from the religious festival that first started in Ireland. Since the first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Montreal in 1824, Saint Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of Irish identity.
One of the most common Saint Patrick’s Day traditions in Canada and across the world is the Saint Patrick’s Day Parades. The parades take place in almost every big city in Canada. Unsurprisingly, the biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place in the Canadian city where it first started—Montreal. A fact that is not commonly known about Montreal and the province of Quebec is that a lot of native French speakers living there have Irish roots. This is evident in the grand celebrations that take place in Montreal on the 17th of March.
 
Saint Patrick’s Day Food 
​
Almost everything that Saint Patrick’s Day encompasses has something to do with Irish culture. When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day foods eaten on the holiday, the most popular choice is surprise, surprise, Irish cuisine. A popular St. Patrick’s Day food is corned beef and cabbage. Colcannon is another Irish favourite. It consists of mashed potatoes and shredded cabbage often served alongside meat.
Desserts with green icing are common for St. Patrick’s Day as well. You’ll see cupcakes with green icing or doughnuts with green sprinkles become the closer it gets to March 17.

Inauguration of PGRKCA - Women's Forum:

​PGRKCA Women's forum celebrated International Women’s Day by organizing an informative online session on cancer awareness exclusively for women. Dr. Nisha Abraham (Family Physician) led the session on Tuesday 5th of March at 6 PM. 

Family Day, celebrated annually in various Canadian provinces, is more than just a day off work and school. It's a special occasion designed to honor and celebrate the importance of family bonds, unity, and the shared values that make Canada a diverse and inclusive nation. In this blog post, we'll delve into the reasons why Canadians enthusiastically embrace and celebrate Family Day.
 
1. Cultural Diversity and Unity:
   Family Day in Canada is a reflection of the country's commitment to embracing its rich cultural diversity. Canada takes pride in being a mosaic of traditions, languages, and backgrounds. Family Day serves as a unifying force, bringing people together across various cultural landscapes to celebrate their shared values and experiences.

2. Quality Time with Loved Ones:
   In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Canadians often find themselves immersed in work, school, and various commitments. Family Day provides a valuable opportunity for families to pause, step back, and spend quality time together. Whether it's a cozy indoor gathering, a fun outdoor activity, or a shared meal, the day encourages families to strengthen their bonds and create lasting memories.

3. Recognition of Work-Life Balance:
   Canada places a high value on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Family Day serves as a reminder that spending time with loved ones is an integral part of a fulfilling life. The holiday encourages Canadians to reflect on their priorities and invest time in nurturing their personal relationships.

4. Honoring Different Family Structures:
   Family Day is inclusive and embraces the diversity of family structures in Canada. Whether it's a nuclear family, extended family, chosen family, or a community of friends, the day recognizes and celebrates the various forms that families can take.

5. Community Engagement:
   Beyond individual families, Family Day often involves community events and activities. Festivals, parades, and local initiatives provide opportunities for neighbours and friends to come together, reinforcing the sense of community and connection.

6. Winter Fun and Outdoor Activities:
   Falling in mid-February, Family Day is a great time for Canadians to enjoy winter activities. Whether it's ice skating, skiing, or building snowmen, the day encourages families to embrace the season and have fun outdoors.

7. Legislative Recognition:
   Family Day is a statutory holiday in several provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Its legislative recognition underscores its importance in Canadian culture and society.
 
Conclusion:
Family Day in Canada is not just a day off; it's a heartfelt celebration of unity, diversity, and the values that make families the cornerstone of Canadian society. As families gather, share laughter, and create cherished moments, they contribute to the vibrant tapestry that defines Canada as a welcoming and inclusive nation.

Canadians recognize Remembrance Day, originally called Armistice Day, every November 11 at 11 a.m. It marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to recall all those who have served in the nation’s defence.

Armistice DayArmistice Day was inaugurated in 1919 throughout much of the British Empire, but on the second Monday in November. In 1921, the Canadian Parliament passed an Armistice Day bill to observe ceremonies on the first Monday in the week of November 11, but this combined the event with the Thanksgiving Day holiday. For much of the 1920s, Canadians observed the date with little public demonstration. Veterans and their families gathered in churches and around local memorials, but observances involved few other Canadians.
In 1928, some prominent citizens, many of them veterans, pushed for greater recognition and to separate the remembrance of wartime sacrifice from the Thanksgiving holiday. In 1931, the federal government decreed that the newly named Remembrance Day would be observed on November 11 and moved Thanksgiving Day to a different date. Remembrance Day would emphasize the memory of fallen soldiers instead of the political and military events leading to victory in the First World War.

11 NovemberRemembrance Day rejuvenated interest in recalling the war and military sacrifice, attracting thousands to ceremonies in cities large and small across the country. It remained a day to honour the fallen, but traditional services also witnessed occasional calls to remember the horror of war and to embrace peace. Remembrance Day ceremonies were usually held at community cenotaphs and war memorials, or sometimes at schools or in other public places. Two minutes of silence, the playing of the Last Post, the recitation of In Flanders Fields, and the wearing of poppies quickly became associated with the ceremony.
Remembrance Day has since gone through periods of intense observation and periodic decline. The 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 1995 marked a noticeable upsurge of public interest, which has not ebbed in recent years. It is now a national holiday for federal and many provincial government workers, and the largest ceremonies are attended in major cities by tens of thousands. The ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa is nationally televised, while most media outlets – including newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and internet sources – run special features, interviews, or investigative reports on military history or remembrance-related themes.

The red poppy, a native plant along much of the Western Front during the First World War, has become a powerful symbol of remembrance. It is the principal emblem of the Royal Canadian Legion, which distributes several million each year to be worn by Canadians on Remembrance Day.
“In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow…”The familiar symbol of the poppy owes much of its fame to Canadian poet and soldier John McCrae. In Flanders Fields, McCrae’s best-known poem, was inspired by and made reference to the poppies which grew along the Western Front. It opens, “In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row…”
The blood-red poppy had long been associated with the fighting armies of Europe, and the flowers often overgrew the mass graves left by battles. During the First World War, enormous artillery bombardments completely disrupted the landscape, infusing the chalk soils with lime. The poppies thrived in the environment, their colours standing out against the blasted terrain.
An Enduring SymbolIn 1921, the Great War Veterans’ Association, the largest of several Canadian veterans groups, adopted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. The Canadian Legion, formed in 1925, continued this connection. The poppy was worn on the left lapel and close to the heart to recognize the sacrifice of soldiers in times of war. They were initially made by disabled veterans and the proceeds of sales, then and now, go towards funding veterans’ needs.
The poppy remains an enduring symbol of remembrance in Canada, Great Britain, the nations of the Commonwealth, and in the United States for those who served or fell in service of their country.
About John McCraeMcCrae was born in Guelph, Ontario and served as a gunner in the South African War. He was later a professor of medicine and physician at McGill University in Montreal. McCrae enlisted quickly at the outbreak of the First World War, hoping for a position as a gunner, but doctors were in short supply and he accepted an appointment as brigade-surgeon in an artillery brigade.
At the Battle of Second Ypres in April 1915, McCrae spent 17 days caring for the wounded and performing surgery on Canadian and Allied troops. Exhausted and saddened by the death of a close friend, he composed In Flanders Fields during a brief rest. The poem was published on December 8, 1915 in Punch magazine, where it achieved almost instant world-wide fame. It captured the Allies’ belligerent mood and the requirement to “keep faith” with those who had already died.
McCrae had become an internationally-recognized poet, but continued to work as a surgeon. He served in a number of Canadian hospitals during the war and pushed himself and his staff hard. McCrae was often sick but took little rest and succumbed to pneumonia on January 28, 1918. He is buried in Wimereux Cemetery, in France. McCrae’s poem is read by millions in Canada and around the world each Remembrance Day. A history museum in the Cloth Hall in Ypres, Belgium is named after his poem; the special exhibition gallery in the Canadian War Museum, Canada’s national museum of military history, is named for McCrae.

​
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier
during World War I, and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium.

Thanksgiving weekend. For many, this long weekend really kicks off the autumn season. People across the country will spend it raking leaves, harvesting, shutting down the family cabin, and hopefully eating a delicious meal surrounded by friends and family. But where did this tradition come from?

In 1621, the pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts, held what is thought to be the first Thanksgiving in North America, giving thanks for the end to a drought and a bountiful harvest. Without the help of the Wampanoag, who shared planting, hunting, and fishing knowledge and techniques, the pilgrims would have died. Some records say the first official Thanksgiving likely predates this event by around fourteen years.

But let’s try again — we’re thinking of our neighbours to the south.

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving in Canada, or at least the land that would become Canada, has its own history, separate from our American counterparts.

Traditions of giving thanks long predate the arrival of European settlers in North America. First Nations across Turtle Island have traditions of thanksgiving for surviving winter and for receiving crops and game as a reward for their hard work. These traditions may include feasting, prayer, dance, potlatch, and other ceremonies, depending on the peoples giving thanks.

When it comes to European thanksgivings in Canada, we have a few tales to tell.

As the story goes, in 1578, English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew gave thanks and communion was observed, either on land at Frobisher Bay, in present day Nunavut, or onboard a ship anchored there. The explorers dined on salt beef, biscuits, and mushy peas and gave thanks through Communion for their safe arrival in then Newfoundland. This is now accepted as the first “Canadian” Thanksgiving, forty-three years before the first “American” Thanksgiving.

Forty-eight years later on November 14, 1606, inhabitants of New France under Samuel de Champlain held huge feasts of thanksgiving between local Mi’kmaq and the French. Though not known at the time by the settlers, cranberries, rich in vitamin C, are credited with helping avoid scurvy. The neighbouring Mi’kmaq likely introduced the French to cranberries, or as they called them, petites pommes rouges (little red apples).
Champlain’s feasts were more than an annual affair. To prevent the scurvy epidemic that had decimated the settlement at Île Sainte-Croix in past winters, the Ordre de Bon Temps (Order of Good Cheer) was founded, offering festive meals every few weeks. Medical treatises recommended better nutrition (more food) and entertainment to combat scurvy.

However, despite this history of uniquely Canadian thanksgivings, our modern concepts of Thanksgiving were influenced by our American neighbours. Foods that are associated with a “traditional” Thanksgiving, such as North American turkey, squash, and pumpkin, were introduced to citizens of Halifax in the 1750s by the United Empire Loyalists, who continued to spread this “traditional” fare to other parts of the country.

Today Canadian Thanksgiving is held on the second Monday of October every year, or at least it has been since Canadian Parliament declared it so on January 31, 1957. Before this, Thanksgiving in Canada had been held sporadically, often coinciding with other major events and anniversaries.

In 1879, Thanksgiving was officially declared a national holiday to be held on November 6th.
​The most recent date change to the second Monday in October was largely a result of the first and second world wars, which we officially remember each year on November 11, Remembrance Day. This was so that the two holidays would not fall on the same weekend.

As Thanksgiving in Canada has historically been celebrated on several different dates, it is fitting that, even though it is observed on Monday, families are equally as likely to celebrate on Saturday or Sunday. 
Most Canadians embraced the change of date to October, since that period better coincides with the actual completion of harvest in much of the country.
​
Parliament officially declares Thanksgiving as “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.” While this mandate for Thanksgiving may not be observed by all Canadians in its entirety, the ideas of being thankful, of spending time with family, and sharing a delicious meal still remain.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!!!

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.
Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar.
Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all. Popularity and presentation of rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.
Government of India has taken due notice of this vibrant and colorful festival. It promotes Onam internationally in a big way and celebrates 'Tourist Week' for Kerala during Onam celebrations. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit Kerala to be a part of Onam.
The Legend
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Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. This weakness in Mahabali's character was utilized by Gods to bring an end to his reign as they felt challenged by Mahabali's growing popularity. However, for all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.
 
It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.


Onam Celebrations: 

Rich cultural heritage of Kerala comes out in its best form and spirit during the ten day long festival. It is indeed a treat to be a part of the grand carnival. People of Kerala make elaborate preparations to celebrate it in the best possible manner.

The most impressive part of Onam celebration is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

Another enchanting feature of Onam is Vallamkali,the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa. It is a colourful sight to watch the decorated boat oared by hundreds of boatmen amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators.

There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The culture of Kerala has developed over the past millennia, influences from other parts of India and abroad.[1][2] It is defined by its antiquity and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people.[3] Modern Kerala society took shape owing to migrations from different parts of India and abroad throughout Classical Antiquity.[2][4][5]
Kerala traces its non-prehistoric cultural genesis to its membership (around the AD 3rd century) in a vaguely defined historical region known as Thamizhagom – a land defined by a common Tamil culture and encompassing the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms. At that time, the music, dance, language (first Dravida Bhasha – "Dravidian language"[6] – then Tamil), and Sangam (a vast corpus of Tamil literature composed between 1,500–2,000 years ago) found in Kerala were all similar to that found in the rest of Thamizhagom (today's Tamil Nadu). The culture of Kerala evolved through the Sanskritization of Dravidian ethos, revivalism of religious movements and reform movements against caste discrimination.[7][8][9] Kerala showcases a culture unique to itself developed through accommodation, acculturation and assimilation of various faculties of civilized lifestyle.