Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Once again the seasons move slowly from Winter into Spring and the subtle changes that occur will slip by unnoticed until one day there are blossoms all around us and we wonder when things changed.  This is often the norm in our lives and also in the life of a nation.  Days and events pass by, often unnoticed and without fanfare, then slip quietly into history, seldom remembered or recalled.  They are often however, the precursors of great things to come.  The beginnings of something new!

Government of Canada Makes Maple Leaf Tartan an Official Symbol of Canada

OTTAWA, March 9, 2011 - It's official! Canada's Maple Leaf Tartan, which has been our unofficial national tartan for many years, has now become an official symbol of Canada.

"The Maple Leaf Tartan has been worn proudly and enjoyed by Canadians for decades, but has never been elevated to the level of an official symbol–until now," said the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

THE FACE ON THE TEN DOLLAR BILL

The Winter Olympics arrived in Vancouver with fanfare and celebration as well as an influx of international tourists.  As I was standing in a check-out line the couple a few places ahead of me, who were quite obviously tourists, were examining Canadian money.  One asked the other, “Who’s this old guy on the ten dollar bill?”  “I don’t know,” was the reply.  “Some old politician I guess.  He must have done something important to be on the money.”