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| Clever. |
These friends are currently moving home to Nova Scotia after 30 years employed in Alberta. Working for decades in the Canadian West is a familiar story for those of us born out of the province, but especially those from the stunning Maritime provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. I'm sad to see them go, but we will visit them someday soon. I'm also a bit jealous of their cross-Canada travels, a dream many of us Canadians possess although the east west trip alone is about 8000 kilometers. (This reminds me dear Canadian friends, did you know you can now buy Terry Fox's shoes?!!)
Their trip is more necessity than tourism, but like many Canadians choosing not to travel to the US this year, it's an opportunity and the right time to explore a corner or two of Canada's 10 million square kilometers. This summer, our new federal government initiated the Canada Strong Pass, so Canadians (especially young Canadians) can experience our country by rail. There's so much to marvel at here at home.
For US friends interested in visiting "The [Forever] True North Strong and Free" this summer, there are many wonderful places to see and experience. And if you find yourself in Saskatchewan, you must get the t-shirt, AND if you want a unique, some-say-weird, one-of-a-kind experience, visit my favourite Saskatchewan oddity. If you dare. ;)
27 comments:
Codex:
The first thing that popped into my head is the movie Dark city. It's like an entire country ripped itself away from the rest of the world floating in space.
All I know about Saskatoon is that it's flat. Will have to look at the rest of the links later.
Why are people moving away from Alberta?
Excellent T-shirt! and yes, the tourism folks nailed it. lol
Welcome back to NS, friends-of-DBS :)
I like your [Forever] insertion. One of my fondest memories was our road trip from Ontario to Alberta and BC in 2000. We took out time and loved it.
The trees look gnarly, man. I'd go!
sorry about above -
I love the T-shirt. I can't spell well and this one really messes me up. As a US (unfortunately) citizen I have only traveled eastern Canada. When I was a travel agent 100 years ago I planned a beautiful trip for a young couple to travel across Canada by VIA rail. This trip looked so fantastic. They brought me a gift upon their return so I guess it was fantastic for them. All I know about Saskatchewan is that there was a song in the 70s/80s called Runnin' Back to Saskatoon. (sp?) By the Guess Who or Burton Cummings. (yes I'm old DB)
I've only been on the Western side of Canada (two different trips to the Vancouver area). Many other places are on my bucket list.
Saskatoon is a beautiful city. Many people move to Alberta from other provinces for work and once they retire, some return to their home provinces, especially those from the Maritimes.
I LOVE NS. *jealous face*
Thank you, and I'm so glad you had a great time.
Gnarly is the right word. Insert Gen X fist bump here.
I forgot about that song. Thank you for the reminder and I love that they brought you a gift upon their return.
Mine too, including Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
Codex: Ah. A few friends went to Alberta for work related reasons but suddenly left within a couple of years. Thought it might have something to do with Alberta's policies.
Oh yes, that happens too, typically in health care and post-secondary academia. Sigh.
I'm curious. What were Alberta's policies?
I had to follow your link to the Saskatchewan oddity. My reaction would have been similar. I wonder what causes the oddness and what the history is.
I've only been to two of Canada's provinces -- Ontario and Quebec. I sent my wife to a girls' week in Nova Scotia, but haven't been there, myself. Many have told me that Vancouver BC is a must visit place. I'm going to have to travel without a phone and laptop if I leave the country. If US customs officials seize my stuff and read my posts on our current administration they might decide to deport me to some shite hole jungle prison somewhere.
Codex: Engineering in their case.
Nope on the mutated Grove. Watched Annihilation? Yes on breathtaking beauty. Pop art Keith Haring?!? You just surprised me.
Travel well.......
We live in such a beautiful country. My husband and I spent a month total, seeing Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland. It's so beautiful and so different from here, for one thing, Europeans having been living there a lot longer.
I'd love to go on a road trip across Canada. In 2006 did a road trip Ontario to California and back.... but I don't want to visit USA again right now.... even though I just came back from a few days in Cape Cod (hangs head in shame)....
Seeking a covid response scapegoat, they fired the chief officer of medical health. Without much input from those working in health care, the Alberta government is restructuring health care (yet again), firing administrators (and paying huge severances), and creating a new branch from old branches. You can imagine how this has impacted a variety of systems. Seeking workers, the gov't also invited people to move to Alberta (and they sure did) yet they have not improved health infrastructure, staffing, and hiring practices. Susceptible to corporate lobbyists and insurance companies, the gov't walks (over) this fine line with privatized health care policy thus widening the gap for average Albertans needing health services. Influenced by anti-vaxxers, the gov't muzzled (?) the new chief officer of medical health and now we have the worst measles outbreak in Canada.
Regarding academia, stabilized, predictable funding for research and hiring is always in jeopardy in Alberta aka brain drain. To appease the anti-science faction, they literally bulldozed a new health research facility initiated by the previous government. Streaming money into trades education (good idea), they de-emphasized nurse and teacher training and now we have a significant shortage. Is this enough?
At one time, I followed a research thread on this and I believe they have a solid theory. If I recall correctly, they are aspens and it's a genetic mutation. Another odd fact: individual aspen trees are all linked and considered to be one organism. Cool, eh?
Codex: You do realize you have an important post here? Muzzled. And I continue to wonder who is funding the anti-vaxxers. The same approach in numerous countries. I'm running out of sighs.*sigh*
Codex: Cause of mutation is still not known. The natural unease around these places is due to an instinctual disinclination to set up camp in areas where the environment may be toxic leading to broken DNA.
Think you might find this interesting:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/forests-around-chernobyl-arent-decaying-properly-180950075/
Have you watched Annhilation yet?
Thanks, Codex. I watched Annihilation years ago. If I recall correctly, it's terrific, and maybe a metaphor for trauma or even women's health? I do recall it has a bad-ass cast of women.
Codex:
Yes. That is one aspect and not it's intended one. It is mainly about messing with nature and terraforming. The author didn't like the focus of the movie. (Former biologist, I think)
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