National Canadian Film Day is about celebrating Canadian film. As we saw in 2020 and is still true in 2021, we get to celebrate Canadian film separately. More Canadians got a chance to access the Toronto International Film Festival than ever before thanks to streaming. You might have been one of those Canadians who saw Inconvenient Indian from Michelle Latimer. Yes, we are aware of the controversy but difficult to imagine the Best Canadian Feature Film winner may never be shown again. You can pick other Indigenous films, including some of the many we have reviewed over the years: Angry Inuk, Monkey Beach, Trouble in the Garden, Indian Horse, Through Black Spruce, Blood Quantum, Iqaluit, Kayak to Klemtu, Rhymes for Young Ghouls, and The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open. We also have an Indigenous section with film reviews and a lot more. For those who have not participated in previous years, welcome and bienvenue. You can find so many options at the National Canadian Film Day site from the fine folks at Reel Canada. Peter Keleghan and Ali Hassan hosted Last year's #CanFilmDay Live; the hosts have been nominated for the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Host, Web Program or Series. Read more
Today is 4/20, April 20. The day to celebrate marijuana in times of being illegal. Marijuana is legal in Canada. Some U.S. states have various levels of legalisation. The provinces regulate how much you can grow, if you are allowed to grow. Canadians can easily consume marijuana in the privacy of their own homes, though smoking is tough if you rent. Marijuana tourism is a bit more difficult since there are conditions against public consumption. The excitement of finally getting legal edibles in Canada (for non-Canadians) was toned down by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The Canada-U.S. border "celebrates" 13 months of closure as of tomorrow. The border isn't opening any time soon. The focus has shifted from high COVID-19 case rates in the United States to the variants sending Canadian case rates higher than what they were a year ago. Read more
Thinking about the name, self-applied by many Italian-American sandwich shops: a "Godfather" hero, with cappy ham, hot soppressata, provolone, fresh-fried eggplant, and hot peppers. Take the dressing, or leave it dry. Ann Clair's Salumeria 1030 Morris Park Ave. (Williamsbridge Rd.-Tomlinson... Read more
We've written about Canada Now from Telefilm Canada since 2016. We love the idea of presenting Canadian film in the United States. The major drawback has been limited showings in a few select cities (New York City, Los Angeles, New Orleans). We have used over coverage to make Americans more aware of titles in case they have a later opportunity to see the film. This year, Canada Now is online and available across the United States with CanadaNow.us. Telefilm Canada is working with Telescope for people to search Canadian films and find a way to watch them online or streaming. Canada Now also involves the Consulate General of New York and the National Film Board of Canada. The Telescope feature allows people to input film titles, actors, directors, and more. Canada Now offers categories such as new arrivals, Oscar favourites, in the spotlight, and NFB gems. The categories change each month; Canada Now encourages people to sign up for its newsletter. Read more
The Canada-U.S. border is approaching 14 months of closure. We've written about border communities struggling without the rest of the community. Now we can add Ottawa and Gatineau to the list. The Ontario-Quebec border will be closed as of tomorrow thanks to the impact of variants in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Standard exceptions are in place, such as going to and from work, seeking medical care, transporting goods and exercising Indigenous treaty rights. Ontario is also closing its border with Manitoba. There aren't too many border communities in Canada. The Lloydminster twins (Alberta and Saskatchewan) leap to mind. The stretch of where New Brunswick and Nova Scotia meet before you go to Prince Edward Island. Ottawa (Ontario) and Gatineau (Quebec). I have crossed provinces by bus (Manitoba to Saskatchewan); mini bus (New Brunswick to Nova Scotia and the reverse); and walking (Ottawa to Gatineau and back). The Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge, aka Alexandra Bridge or Interprovincial Bridge, runs just north and east of Parliament Hill across the Ottawa River to Gatineau, Quebec. Read more
The Muskau park is the largest and one of the most famous English landscape gardens in Central Europe, stretching along both sides of the river Neiße, which also marks the German–Polish border. In 2004 the Muskau garden was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Creator of this masterpiece garden was the German aristocrat Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau. Cycling towards Muskau on the Oder-Neiße cycling trail, we decided to read up on Prince Pückler-Muskau and the garden. So far, we had only associated the name of Prince Pückler with Neapolitan ice cream – which is named after him in German: Fürst-Pückler-Eis! Prince Pückler-Muskau must have been ... Read more
