The History of Labor Day

Labor Day Stamp USDOL

In North America and Canada, the first Monday in September is Labor Day. The holiday serves as a celebration of workers and commemorates their respective economic and social achievements.

Labor (Labour) Day in Canada has its origins in an 1872 demonstration held by the Toronto Trades Assembly (TTA).  Serving as Canada’s first significant campaign for worker’s rights, the demonstration was created to garner the release of 24 leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union (TTU). During this time, trade unions were illegal and the TTU leaders were imprisoned for striking to campaign for a nine-hour working day.

The TTA held large parades and picnics and received a large public following.  The parades became so empowering that Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald repealed “anti-union” laws and in June of 1874 parliament passed the Trade Unions Act. Contemporary Canadian celebrations of Labor Day consist of picnics, fireworks, trips, and parades.

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Royal Couple learns how to make some traditional Québécois dishes

A cooking class and dinner is a typical date-night activity for a number of young marrieds. But when the couple in question is the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the hour-long cooking class takes weeks to prepare, and the dinner gets the full-on chef treatment.

Celebrating Canada the Foodie Way

Canada Day is a nationwide celebration when Canadians commemorate their independence.  On July 1 1867, the British North America Act passed which allowed for Canada to become an independent entity within the British Empire.  In 1982, Canada gained full independence from the United Kingdom.  Today, Canada Day is celebrated by fireworks displays, festivals, picnics and great food.  Click to See Recipe Ideas

Toronto: International Cuisine in the Kingsway Neighborhood

Photo Credit: Heather Zorzini, Toronto Examiner

Visitors to the anglo-centric Kingsway will be pleased to discover a delicious range of ethnic eateries. Greek, Thai, Italian, French, Spanish and Japanese restaurants are part of the elegant line up along Bloor Street West between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Road. TTC travellers can disembark at the Royal York subway station.

Along with fabulous international cuisine, the Kingsway coddles shoppers with high-end clothing boutiques, salons and an independent movie theatre. Wrought iron lanterns, benches and flower-filled boulevards complete the charming scene, and colourful seasonal banners delineate this small but chic stretch of commercial real estate. READ MORE

Pemmican Cake Recipe

Pemmican is a nutritious, high calorie food that can be prepared in quantities and stored. The French and English explorers, trappers, and traders, bought large quantities of pemmican from the Aboriginals, and even learned to make pemmican. Pemmican would be sealed inside an animal skin or stomach cavity to preserve it. Europeans carried these pemmican stores on long furtrading expeditions.

Ingredients

• 1 package beef jerky
• 1 cup dried berries, such as dried blueberries, cranberries, or cherries
• 1 cup chopped nuts or sunflower seeds
• ¼ cup beef suet or vegetable shortening
• Honey to taste (1 to 3 teaspoons)
• 12-cup muffin tin

Procedure

1. Line muffin cups with paper liners (or grease cups well).
2. Grind or chop beef jerky into confettisize pieces to make about 1 cup. Melt suet or shortening in a saucepan.
3. Remove from heat, stir in beef jerky, dried berries, and seeds. Stir in honey.
4. Spoon about ¼ cup of the pemmican mixture into each muffin cup. Press down firmly to make a cake, smoothing the top.
5. Refrigerate until well set.

Serves 12.

Learn More about Native Canadian foods:

 http://multiculturalcookingnetwork.com/regions/north-america/item/407-native-canadian-foods.html

Aboriginal People of Canada Help to Kick off Olympics

When the Winter Olympic Ceremonies in Vancouver began it opened with reverence for history, a history  which begins with the Aboriginal People of Canada.

History

Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors “Indian” and “Eskimo” are falling into disuse. Old Crow Flats and Bluefish Caves are the earliest archaeological sites of human habitation in Canada. The Paleo-Indian Clovis, Plano cultures and Pre-Dorset pre-date American indigenous and Inuit cultures. Projectile point tools, spears, pottery, bangles, chisels and scrapers mark archaeological sites, thus distinguishing cultural periods, traditions and lithic reduction styles. Hundreds of Aboriginal nations evolved trade, spiritual and social hierarchies. The Métis culture of mixed blood originated in the mid-17th century when First Nation and native Inuit married European settlers. The Inuit had more limited interaction with European settlers during that early period. Various laws, treaties, and legislation have been enacted between European immigrants and First Nations across Canada. Aboriginal Right to Self-Government provides opportunity to manage historical, cultural, political, health care and economic control aspects within first people’s communities.- Wikepedia

Inuit Hunter With Harpoon

Learn about Native Canadian Foods:

 http://multiculturalcookingnetwork.com/regions/north-america/item/407-native-canadian-foods.html

For More Great Opening Ceremonies Photos Visit UPI.com

The Ricker: Canadian Gold Medalist Maelle Ricker-Snowboards

Maelle Ricker, Canadian Olympic Snowboarder is the first female Canadian to win a gold medal on Candian soil.  She’s making the country proud and probably millions of young Canadian girls are going to want a snowboard for Christmas this year. 

In an interview with Faceoff.com Maeller talks about her motivation, ”Turin was such a motivator for me,” said Ricker, a West Vancouver, B.C., native who grew up racing on Cypress Mountain.  “It just made me work that much harder and just go for it today.”

Ironically, her gold winning race was on Cypress Mountain.

Ice Hockey Legend Wayne Gretzky’s Cultural & Farm Roots

Gretzky’s Cultural Background

Where did Wayne Gretzky first get his star on the ice?  It’s an interesting story.  

Gretzky’s paternal grandfather Anton (Tony) Gretzky immigrated to Canada via the United States from Grodno Governorate, Russian Empire, now part of Belarus, with his wife Mary of Pidhaytsi, Ukraine.  In interviews, Gretzky’s father Walter has stated that his parents were Belarusians, while on other occasions he has mentioned his family’s Polish ancestry,  and has described his father as being born in Russia with “Ukrainian forebears”. Though described as Polish and Belarusian, “the only Slavic language spoken in the family is Ukrainian“.

Tony and Mary owned a 25-acre (10 ha) vegetable farm in Canning, Ontario, while Wayne’s parents Walter and Phyllis had an apartment in Brantford where Walter worked for Bell Telephone Canada. Seven months after Wayne was born, Walter and Phyllis moved into a house. Wayne was joined by a sister, Kim (b. 1963), and brothers Keith, Glen, and Brent. The family would watch Hockey Night in Canada at Tony and Mary’s. By age two, Wayne was trying to score goals against Mary using a souvenir stick.   The farm was where Wayne ice skated for the first time, aged two years, 10 months.

Career

Born and raised in Brantford, Gretzky honed his skills at a backyard rink and regularly played minor hockey at a level far above his peers.  Despite his unimpressive stature, strength, and speed, Gretzky’s intelligence and reading of the game were unrivaled. He was adept at dodging checks from opposing players, and he could consistently anticipate where the puck was going to be and execute the right move at the right time. Gretzky also became known for setting up behind the net, an area that was nicknamed “Gretzky’s office” because of his skills there.

He played on several teams during his career.  His longest stint with the Edmonton Oilers and ending his career on the New York Rangers team.   He is formerly a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL).  He was also the executive director of the 2002 Canadian Olympic Men’s Hockey team which won the gold in 2002.  

 -(Wikepedia)

In honor of Gretzky’s family’s farming roots in Canada, check out http://www.pickyourown.org/canadaon.htm

Olympic Games 2010: The Ultimate Multi-Cultural Event

The excitement of the Olympic Games 2010 is coming soon to Vancouver.  Here are some of the torch highlights.  Featured above is the arrival of the Olympic torch on the traditional first nations canoe.  Torchbearers from Sandspit to Skidegate to Queen Charlotte and on to Whitehorse handed the historic symbol from one Canadian to another.

Shania Twain lights the Torch in Toronto.  The singer  and  proud Canadian carried the Olympic torch the final 400 yards into Hollinger Park, cheered on by thousands of parka-clad fans who turned out in arctic.   Twain said of the moment, “It’s a highlight of my life to be able to carry the flame, to light the cauldron.”

Taylor Kitsch & Fitness: A Canadian Iron Man

Scene From Friday Night Lights

Canadian Taylor Kitsch melts a lot hearts as a fullback on NBC’s Friday Night Lights but his true athletic background is on the ice.  Born in Kelowna, British Columbia and raised in Vancouver, Kitsch is a former ice hockey player for Canadian BCHL.  He played for the Langley Hornets before a career ending knee injury.  Do you think Kitsch will be excited about the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver? We are guessing…yes. 

Fitness for Kitsch, did not stop with the injury or ending his role as an athlete on Friday Night Lights, the 28 year old never loss his devotion to fitness and health.  Before making it big, he became certified as a nutritionist and trainer.  His trade secrets to fitness is not really a secret.  Kitsch has gone on record to say, “displined eating and regular workouts.”  Moroever, he stays away from sugar and flour. 

He has graced the cover of Men’s Health and took time to discuss his support of fitness activities for kids.   Not just a man of words, Kitsch took part in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon which benefits the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Read About fellow Canadian Ryan Reynolds in the MCCN Celebrity Fitness Section

Article by Crystal A. Johnson