October 2023
How the Mackenzie River Contributes to Canada and its Citizens
Canada longest river system has carried explorers, fur traders and northern communities for centuries, and it still links the North today.
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Canada Blog
Stories and study notes by Joy Dirks
Every article below was written by Joy for her students. Each one explores a person, place or tradition from the Discover Canada study guide, in plain language that makes the facts easy to remember on test day.
February 9, 2023
A Famous Canadian Citizen: Sir William Edmund Logan
The geologist who mapped a young country and identified its mineral wealth, and whose name sits on the highest mountain in Canada.
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January 2, 2023
A Famous Canadian Citizen: Pauline Johnson
The author and stage performer whose poetry carried Indigenous and Canadian stories to audiences across the country and beyond.
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November 29, 2022
Famous Canadian Citizen: Emily Carr
The Victoria artist whose paintings of the British Columbia landscape and Indigenous cultures changed Canadian art forever.
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November 22, 2022
Famous Canadian Citizen: Billy Bishop
The top Canadian flying ace of the First World War, credited with 72 victories, who later helped train a new generation of pilots.
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November 21, 2022
A Famous Canadian Citizen: Sir John A. Macdonald
Canada first prime minister, a Father of Confederation who joined the country with a railway from sea to sea, and whose legacy is debated to this day.
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October 2022
A Famous Canadian Citizen: Sir Arthur William Currie
The commander who led the Canadian Corps at Vimy Ridge and is remembered as one of the finest soldiers Canada has produced.
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October 2022
A Famous Canadian Citizen: Robert Service (1874 to 1958)
The bard of the Yukon, whose gold rush verses made the North famous around the world and still delight readers today.
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September 2022
Reasons Immigrants Want To Come To Canada
Freedom, safety, natural beauty and the chance to vote and build a life: Joy counts the reasons newcomers choose Canada.
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October 2022
A Famous Canadian Citizen: Sir Frederick Banting
The doctor whose discovery of insulin in Toronto saved millions of lives around the world and won a Nobel Prize.
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From the blog archive
A Famous Canadian Citizen: Terry Fox (1958 to 1981)
The young runner whose Marathon of Hope crossed half of Canada on one leg and inspired a yearly run in his name across the country.
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December 2022
Confederation Bridge, a Canadian Landmark
The great bridge that joins Prince Edward Island to the mainland, and what it took to build across the Northumberland Strait.
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From the blog archive
Female Canadian Citizens Are Able to Vote
The long road to the vote for Canadian women, and the Famous Five who pushed the doors of the Senate open.
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From the blog archive
Volunteering Helps Immigrants Adjust to Canada
Giving time in a new community builds language, friendships and confidence, and Joy shows how newcomers can start.
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From the blog archive
Free Services for Immigrants
Settlement agencies, language classes and community programs that cost nothing and help newcomers settle with confidence.
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From the blog archive
Canada Amazing Northern Lights
Where and when to see the aurora dance over northern Canada, and the science and stories behind the lights.
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From the blog archive
Canadian Immigration Pier 21
Nearly one million immigrants first stepped into Canada at Pier 21 in Halifax, the gateway now honoured as a national museum.
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From the blog archive
How Does Immigration Benefit Canada
Newcomers grow the economy, enrich the culture and renew communities in every province and territory.
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From the blog archive
When Did Canadian Citizenship Commence
Canadian citizenship became its own legal status in 1947. Joy explains what came before and what changed that year.
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From the blog archive
A Guide to Discovering Canada
A friendly tour of the official study guide itself: what it holds, how it is organized and how to learn from it well.
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From the blog archive
Popular Canadian Destinations
Beloved places every new Canadian should know, from historic cities to wild coastlines and mountain towns.
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From the blog archive
Life in Canada
Everyday life in a vast and varied country: seasons, regions, languages and the values Canadians share.
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From the blog archive
Canadian Traditions
Food festivals, holidays and small rituals shared from coast to coast to coast, and the regional twists that make them ours.
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