Canadian forces played a very significant role in one of the key massive offensives launched by the Allies in WWI. On April 9, 1917, the Canadian Corps, four divisions strong and fighting together for the first time, attacked the German army posted on the gently rising slope of land that

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and during peacekeeping missions.

Whenever I'm away, immersed in another culture, I always come home and look at things a little differently.  I must say, we live in a pretty great country. [via Reddit]

Happy Birthday, Canada! You're 146 years young today. Over the past 10.5 years I've written quite a bit about you.  All of those posts can be found at http://www.torontomike.com/o_canada/, but here are a few of my favourites, in the order I wrote them. Vimy

Every year Ottawa receives 20,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands Royal Family and the Dutch Bulb Growers, a thank you for sheltering the Royal Family and for Canada's help with liberation of the Netherlands during WWII. Here's a little more: In 1943 Princess Margriet Francisca, the younger sister of

I almost never use cash.  Just about everything I buy, from a McDonald's coffee to my groceries, goes on my President's Choice MasterCard.  I'm trying to remember the last time I bought something with cash and I'm drawing a blank. For this reason, I won't even notice the penny has

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 24/7 Wall St. has compiled a list of the 10 most educated countries in the world.  Canada tops the list. Here's their top 10: CanadaIsraelJapanUnited StatesNew ZealandSouth KoreaUnited KingdomFinlandAustraliaIrelandIn 2010, 51% of our Canadian population had completed a tertiary education, which takes

Courtesy of Macleans.ca, here are 12 Canadian words, phrases or slang that most Americans wouldn’t understand. 1. Two-four (24 beers) 2. Loonie (and, of course, toonie) 3. Toque 4. Klick (kilometre) 5. Toboggan 6. Peameal or back bacon 7. Washroom 8. Serviette 9. Chinook (the wind, not the

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and

A year ago, we got sexy new $100 bills made out of a single sheet of plastic polymer.  I don't know about you, but I don't come across many $100 bills. I do, however, see the odd $20 bill making its way into my wallet, so I'm paying more attention

I recently came across Don Komarechka's natural Canada flag picture on Reddit.  I quite like it. It inspired another photographer over there, known only to me as Cuervo2099 on Reddit.  I like this one, too. I like this new trend.  Who's next?

In the 1990s, we learnt a great deal about Canadian history from the A Part Of Our Heritage vignettes that played on television during commercial breaks.  Where else was I going to learn to ask aloud "burnt toast, Dr. Penfield?" Here are a couple of my other favourites.... First, there's

Happy Birthday, Canada, you're 145 years young today.  Here area few entries I've written about you over the past 9.5 years. Vimy RidgeO Canada! (2003 Version)A Distinct IdentityBlame CanadaReason Number 32Our Other AnthemThe Maple Music RevolutionMy Ten Favourite Song References to A Canadian PlaceBest Canadian MoviesTop 100 Canadian

Thain Wendell MacDowell was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross for his efforts in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.  Thain Wendell MacDowell was only 26 years old and a captain in the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when he was awarded the Victoria

It's roll up the rim time, Canada. Brace yourself.

Have you got your hands on one of our new $100 bills yet?  It's made out of a single sheet of plastic polymer and it's totally pimped out. Canada will introduce plastic $50 notes in March, and plastic $5 and $10 bills will come out by the end of 2013.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and

My friend Julie works for the company that helped build http://ddaytovictory.ca.  I quite like it, and wanted to share it before 11/11/11. On the website, users follow the Allies, tracing their path from Normandy to Berlin on an interactive map interface, and exploring the key events

Happy Thankgiving!.