Canada Day 2024

What are we up to now as a country? 157 years? What about the thousands of years before that? To be inclusive, we give lip-service to indigenous rights prior to city council meetings, hockey games and school concerts. As far as I'm concerned, each such statement should be accompanied by ceding back a chunk of territory, if we really mean it! Imagine if each city that so blithely blurbs those words actually and actively took action, say by ceding back one acre of land each time those words are read.

This is one of the few posts in Trackside Treasure's annual planning calendar (well, if there were such a thing) that includes anything but trains. Because one of the freedoms I enjoy in this country is to blog endlessly about nitpicky details, train numbers and to wallow in nostalgia. This freedom was hard-fought and did not come easily. I don't take it for granted, so I dust off my camera roll once a year to politely posit some points patriotically, people. Every year since 2009 right up to this, Trackside Treasure's 15th year!

Arriving with grand trunks full of hopes and dreams (now to be bought at MaxSold auction by my son, complete with vintage stickers!), immigrants filled the land that the indigenous peoples could never populate to the same degree. Not content to roam and forage, the Europeans stayed and built this country, or in Canadian-speak, built this railway that built this country. In this case, while living in the Grand Trunk Terrace on Montreal Street here in Kingston:

OK, enough sermonizing and postulating. Before I go on, I suggest we all just go for a walk in the woods instead of rehashing history and injecting new theories into the past. Imagine how the indigenous peoples had low stress levels, (well, except stressing about how to survive each and every day and the long winters), just walking through the woods.

Picture yourself here as you tip-toe through the trilliums...

Wasn't that relaxing? Get out and enjoy the Canadian wilderness!* Now that we've done a little 'wilderness-bathing' as suggested by the Japanese, let's look at some other non-train photos to celebrate this special day. Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney died this past Leap Day. My Dad thought enough of to request a Progressive Conservative poster, which turned out to be more-than-life-size!

Tim Hortons, a self-proclaimed Canadian institution, celebrated the opening of their first outlet in Hamilton six decades ago in May, 1964. Ownership of the business has had a turnover or two, but donut rule out its continued fixtureness over reaching a cruller fate.

The Royal Canadian Air Force marks its founding in April, 1924. Canada Post made a major mistake by not releasing an RCAF stamp to mark the Centennial. Not so CFB Trenton - their airshow as a two-day spectacle, and a magnificent air parade of the pantheon of aircraft types over Ottawa take flight this week.

Other 2024 significant Canadian military anniversaries: the 75th of the founding of NATO and the 80th of D-Day. Kingston's City Park displays the proud accomplishments of the Canadian Expeditionary Force's 21st Battalion.

An ethereal afternoon of guitar strumming and singing at The Spire. You know, the international language:

Clouds gathering and winds swirling near Newburgh:

I goggled the greatest gaggle of geese I've gazed upon in awhile.

Artwork by our grandson - how many of us feel about where we find ourselves:

We did some 'camping' on the front lawn:

Kingston's 1917-built LaSalle Causeway bridge was condemned during routine maintenance. It's now gone.

This main diagonal member at right was damaged and sealed the bridge's death warrant. 

Picton beach:

Back to the Canadian wilderness**

*well, not that wild a wilderness. It's part of an urban park less than half a mile from our house. But it looks wild.

**well, also not that wild a wilderness. It's part of another urban park about two miles from our house. Isn't it colourful?

We don't need to wear the face-paint and drink beer through straws encircling our crazy cowboy hats all year. One day out of 365 just about does it. 

We need to keep honouring our nation and defending her with fierce pride. 

Happy Canada Day to all Trackside Treasure readers

-Eric