The tutor discusses the meaning surrounding the cross quarter day August 5. I’ve written a couple of posts about cross quarter days (see here and here): they’re days at mid-season, rather than season boundaries. Often, a celebration is at or …

Lifestyle and seasons: cross quarter days: August 5 Read more »

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The tutor shares a term he discovered in the dictionary. Kabloona is an Inuit term referring to a non-Inuit; the term particularly suggests a white person. It has been used to describe white people present to do specific functions: police, …

Canadian language: what does Kabloona mean? Read more »

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The phenomenon of the mild winter of Victoria, BC, compared to the much colder one of Halifax, NS, has a reason…. Typically, spring blooms begin in Victoria, BC, in February. I’m a Maritimer, so I can tell you that a …

Geography: Ocean currents: why Canada’s east and west coasts have such different weather Read more »

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The tutor brings up a geographical curiosity. My interest has grown in lakes, rivers, ponds, etc – possibly because of the variety of plants that grow around their margins, or because of the fish that hope to thrive within them. …

Geography: Manitoulin Island and Lake Manitou Read more »

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The tutor continues coverage of soils found in Canada. In a few earlier posts (you can find them in my Canadian geography section) I covered forest soil types in Canada. Grassland soils are not so familiar to me. I’ve spent …

Soils of Canada: grassland soils (chernozemic soils) Read more »

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The tutor has embarked on a fact-finding mission about New Zealand.  Here are a few comparisons with Canada. Here on Canada’s west coast, we sometimes hear about New Zealand, though perhaps not so much as in the 90s.  Neither here, …

Geography: a few demographic comparisons: New Zealand vs Canada Read more »

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The tutor offers more reflections about his past experiences with Canadian weather. Here on the west coast today, it’s 8°C; we’re under a rainfall warning.  Subtropical air filled with moisture is sweeping over us; it’s typical west coast winter weather. …

Canadian weather: When February was the coldest month Read more »

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