Week 27

by Sue Janzen, posted in Chapter 3

As I slowly move my belongings to my new apartment – I’m taking my time and easing into it – I find myself craving familiarity. I’m also a bit homesick so, in this week’s blog, I’m stepping away from France to share photos of and music from Canada.

I’ve lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario and spent a couple of summers in the Northwest Territories. I’ve visited British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec but, sadly, have yet to go to the maritimes or the other territories. Hopefully one day soon.

The photos below are from trips in recent years and from my home in Toronto.

With such a vast catalogue of Canadian musicians to choose from, it was hard to select only a few. Anne Murray, Stompin’ Tom Connors, The Tragically Hip, Daniel Lanois, Measha Brueggergosman – obviously far too many names to continue. For today, I’ve just gone on impulse and chosen music that came to me as I wrote this week’s blog.

kd lang and Jane Siberry

My first music selection is the simply perfect voice of kd lang, singing The Valley by Jane Siberry. Musically, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Manitoba

I was born in Manitoba and lived there until I was in my 40s. I’m still a prairie girl at heart – wide open spaces and grain elevators give me a thrill. And Winnnipeg, with its canopy of trees, is especially beautiful in fall.

Randy Bachman

I love the images they used in Randy Bachman’s Prairie Town video. I come from hearty stock!

Quebec City

I spent a few days in Quebec City for my birthday several years ago. Here are three photos from that visit:

The Chateau Frontenac is a grand hotel that was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1892.
The Dufferin Terrace runs alongside the hotel and pre-dates it by more than 50 years.
A view down the St. Lawrence River.

The Log Driver’s Waltz

The Log Driver’s Waltz is pure Canadiana. It was written by folk singer, Wade Hemsworth, and used in a National Film Board vignette in 1979. It was sung by folk band, The Mountain Four, which included sisters Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Those of us who grew up in Canada and are ‘of an age’ likely remember the vignette well, but I like this version with real footage of log drivers.

Montreal

Just before the pandemic hit, I went to Montreal with a friend. It was January and wonderfully cold. We went to see the Van Gogh interactive exhibit which was new to Canada at the time. We made sure to stop by the beautiful Notre Dame Basilica and then my friend convinced me to go up on the ferris wheel. I think we were the only ones up there!

Loreena McKennitt

I love so much of Loreena McKennitt’s music. She was born and raised in southern Manitoba and her music has Celtic and Arabic influences. I find it dreamy and beautiful and so very soothing. This is one of my favourites.

Toronto

Ahhh Toronto – I didn’t expect to love you so much.

I moved to Toronto on impulse to take a job that ended up being short lived. I didn’t know anyone there when I arrived and so many people said that Torontonians would be cold and unwelcoming. Not so!

I lived and worked in Toronto for nearly 20 years and found the strongest sense of community I had ever experienced. My condo community itself felt like a bit of a miracle.

I loved the live music scene in Toronto. I loved the lake and the neighbourhoods and the never-ending options for events and activities.

Here are some photos from Toronto.

From my condo balcony, I had a view of the sunrise reflected in buildings in downtown Toronto.
Each spring, people flock to see the cherry blossoms in Toronto’s High Park.
The Cathedral Church of St. James in Toronto is beautifully lit at night.
A few years ago, bridges for the newly developed Port Lands began to arrive in Toronto. There are now four in total, all transported by barges which made their way down the St. Lawrence Seaway and through Lake Ontario.
The Port Lands is an exciting project.
The city can be criticized for blocking the waterfront with condos but, east of downtown, they’ve done a lovely job with the promenade along Lake Ontario.
Sunset view of the city from Broadview Avenue.

Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson is considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.

I remain a proud Canadian. Next week, my blog content will be firmly back in France.

À bientôt .

4 thoughts on “Week 27”

  3. What a perfect addition to “I am Canadian” and do not wish to be annexed by a despot dictator!
    Your timing is perfect! All your choices are beautifully curated and poignantly expressed. I look forward to when you DO add the maritimes! Thank you so much for this week. I love every week -and today’s is a beautiful reminder that we do need to be proactive against the threat of fascism. Did you ever sing ‘my country is my Cathedral, the northern lights its dome, they all call it Canada, but I call it home” ….

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  4. Sue, i admire your tenacity being able to experience many places. I live in west end Toronto and have all of my life. I am a traveller, like you, able to spend months away from home in retirement, France being a favourite spot. Toronto is home, though, so I am unable to leave it behind.
    How brave you are dear Sue!

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