Happy birthday to the Father of Confederation, our country’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.
Take a look at the By George Journal archive of posts on this storied man.
Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Canadians celebrate Sir John A. Macdonald’s birthday tomorrow. In advance of this special day, By George is posting three of our favourite photos of Canada’s first Prime Minister.
Arms crossed – confident
A visionary
With walking stick & fur lined coat
(Photo credits: National Archives)
January 11th (Saturday) marks the birth date of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister and a Father of Confederation. Here are 10 of By George’s favourite quotes.
On Saturday, let’s all celebrate our country’s first Prime Minister’s birthday! Cheers to John A. Macdonald!
(Photo Credit: National Archive)
Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Earlier this week, By George Journal delivered its e-newsletter – the 2018 Canada Day issue. In case you missed it, click on the Proudly Canadian symbol below to see the copy.
And if you wish to get on the By George mailing list to receive future e-newsletters and missives, click here to sign up.
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Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
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(ed. – Here are more quotes on our country and its peoples)
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Through the past few weeks, the By George Journal conducted a Canadiana contest to select the most-Canadian of symbols. Based on the feedback of our followers, here are the top-three, most-beloved symbols of Canadiana.
In reverse order, the top-three selected symbols are:
#3 The RCMP
#2 The Game of Hockey
#1 The Beaver
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Here is a compilation of some interesting facts about our country’s national celebration – Canada Day.
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
You might be Canadian if:
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Q: What do you call a sophisticated American?/ A: Canadian.
Q: What are the two seasons of weather in Canada? / A: Six months of winter and six months of poor snowmobiling.
Q: What does a Canadian say when you step on his foot? / A: “Sorry”
Q: How do you empty a swimming pool of Canadians? / A: “Excuse me, could everyone please get out of the pool?”
Q: What’s the difference between an American and a Canadian?/ A: An Canadian not only has a sense of humour but can also spell it.
Q: Did you hear about the war between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia?/ A: The Newfies were lobbing hand grenades; the Nova Scotians were pulling the pins and throwing them back.
Q: Did you hear about the Newfoundlander who died drinking milk?/ A: The cow fell on him.
Q: Why did the Canadian cross the road? / A: He saw some American do it on TV.
Q: How do you know when a Canadian is going on a date? / A: The entire dog team has had a bath.
Q: How many Canadians does it take to change a light bulb? / A: Twelve. Four to form a Parliamentary study committee to decide how to solve the problem, one Francophone to complain that I didn’t translate this joke into French, one Native Canadian to protest that the interests of Native Canadians have been overlooked, one woman from the National Action Committee On the Status Of Women to say that women have been underrepresented in the process, one to go over the border to the Niagara Falls Factory Outlet Mall and buy a new bulb and not pay duty on it on the way back, one to actually screw it in, one to collect taxes on the whole procedure so the government can afford it, one to buy a case of Molson for everybody to drink, and one to drop the puck.
BONUS JOKE: A Canadian is walking down the street with a case of beer under his arm. His friend Doug stops him and asks, “Hey Bob! Whacha get the case of beer for?”
“I got it for my wife, eh.” answers Bob.
“Oh!” exclaims Doug, “Good trade.”
BONUS JOKE #2: An American, a Scot and a Canadian were in a terrible car accident. They were all brought to the same emergency room, but all three of them died before they arrived. Just as they were about to put the toe tag on the American, he stirred and opened his eyes. Astonished, the doctors and nurses present asked him what happened.
“Well,” said the American, “I remember the crash, and then there was a beautiful light, and then the Canadian and the Scot and I were standing at the gates of heaven. St.Peter approached us and said that we were all too young to die, and said that for a donation of $50, we could return to earth. So of course I pulled out my wallet and gave him the $50, and the next thing I knew I was back here.”
“That’s amazing!” said the one of the doctors, “But what happened to the other two?”
“Last I saw them,” replied the American, “the Scot was haggling over the price and the Canadian was waiting for the government to pay his.”
BONUS JOKE #3: In a train car there were a Canadian, an American, a spectacular looking blonde and a fat lady. During the trip the train passes through a dark tunnel, and the unmistakable sound of a slap is heard. When the train exits the tunnel, the American had a big red slap mark on his cheek.
The blonde thought – “That American idiot wanted to touch me and by mistake he must have put his hand on the fat lady, who in turn must have slapped his face.”
The fat lady thought – “This dirty old American laid his hands on the blonde and she smacked him.”
The American thought – “That crazy Canadian put his hand on that blonde and by mistake she slapped me.”
The Canadian thought – “I hope there’s another tunnel soon so I can smack that stupid American again.”
Go ahead and laugh your way through the holiday weekend… Happy Canada Day!
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Here are the words of the chorus and first couple of verses of the song that first united our land – the song that our soldiers marched to in WWI – establishing forever the maple leaf as an enduring symbol of all that is Canadian.
Chorus:
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!
In days of yore, from Britain’s shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero, came
And planted firm Britannia’s flag
On Canada’s fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast our pride
And, joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus
At Queenston Heights and Lundy’s Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be
“The Maple Leaf forever!”
Chorus
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Have you wondered where the name ‘Canada’ comes from?
It’s the Huron-Iroquois word ‘kanata’ which means ‘settlement’ or ‘village.’
Jacques Cartier first heard it in reference to Quebec City, but soon it was used to describe the whole region. Upper Canada Parliamentarian Thomas D’Arcy McGee argued the adoption of Canada as the name for the country in 1865. And the name was officially adopted on July 1, 1867.
So, have you ever wondered what other names were being considered for this country?
Here are some of the names that were bested by the moniker ‘Canada.’
Acadia – Albertland – Albionara
Albona – Alexandrina – Aquilonia
Borealia – British North America – Brittanica
Cabotia – Canadensia – Colonia
Efisga – Hochelaga – Laurentia
Mesopelagia – New Albion – Niagarentia
Norland – Superior – Transatlantia
Transatlantica – Transylvania – Tuponia
Ursulia – Vesperia – Victorialand or Victorialia
Say, how does “Happy Efisga Day” sound?
Or “Happy Hochelaga Day!”
Of course, I like many of my friends still like to say “Happy Dominion Day,” but that’s an argument for another time….
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Who is the Canuck most recognized around the world today?
Let us know who you think it is…
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Or, perhaps, you have someone else in mind who is the most recognized Canadian around the world these days??
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
In advance of our Nation’s 150th birthday party next week, By George Journal presents some of our favourite quotes on Canada and Canucks – so you might spice up your toasts on Canada Day! Cheers!
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
It is as Canadian as sitting lakeside in an Adirondack
and hearing the song of the loon.
A few years back, the By George Journal held a contest to find the greatest simile that “best describes being Canadian.” In the end, our favourite Canada Day simile was one of our own.
So, we are thinking of opening up this challenge again…. any suggestions?
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(The photo was taken this June, while island camping on Crotch Lake, northeast of Tweed, Ontario.)
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
The By George Journal is conducting a Canadiana contest to select the most-Canadian of symbols. Essentially, what national item is most treasured by Canucks from coast-to-coast-to-coast?
Based on the popular finalists of our Canada Day countdown last year, we have chosen a dozen of the most-beloved items of Canadiana and ask our followers to select their top 3. Submit your choices to chrisg.george@gmail.com before midnight June 29.
Then on Friday, June 30 By George will announce the top Canadiana symbol as selected most by our followers – just in time for our Nation’s 150 birthday bash!
Here are the dozen symbols to select from:
The canoe
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The polar bear
Terry Fox
Niagara Falls
The Canada Goose
The game of hockey.
The beaver
Tim Horton’s
The rockie mountains
Wayne Gretzky
The northern lights
Please pick 3 and submit them to chrisg.george@gmail.com
(You likely noticed that the Canadian flag was not offered in this selection. Nor was the red maple leaf. By George is looking for a symbol other than our country’s flag. The maple leaf flag is, admittedly, the most recognizable symbol of Canada around the world and, argumentatively, the last wholly-accepted, national symbol Canadians share. But we wish to go beyond this single symbol and celebrate with other remarkable Canadiana. So, humour us by selecting three symbols from the dozen selected.)
Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
“And so the new Flag, joining and rising above the milestones of our history, today takes for the first time its proud place as the emblem of Canada, “The Maple Leaf Our Emblem Dear.” May the land over which this new Flag flies remain united in freedom and justice; a land of decent God-fearing people; fair and generous in all its dealings; sensitive, tolerant and compassionate towards all men; industrious, energetic, resolute; wise, and just in the giving of security and opportunity equally to all its cultures; and strong in its adherence to those moral principles which are the only sure guide to greatness. Under this Flag may our youth find new inspiration for loyalty to Canada; for a patriotism based not on any mean or narrow nationalism, but on the deep and equal pride that all Canadians will feel for every part of this good land. God bless our Flag! And God bless Canada!”
– Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
For your morning smile today, here’s Canadian content that will help to celebrate the Ides of March.
Our infamous comedy team of Canucks, John Wayne and Frank Shuster, did a memorable skit of the assassination of Julius Caesar, in which Caesar’s wife keeps screeching “I told him, Julie, don’t go!” Even dated some three decades and more, “Rinse the Blood Off My Toga” is priceless.
If you take the Ides of March seriously, you might rather view the classic encounter between Julius Caesar and the fateful seer on the day Caesar was betrayed. Here is the timeless scene as re-created in a recent film version of the Shakespearean play.
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Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.
