Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

I missed the Remembrance Day ceremony at the school the other day but I am thrilled that my middle child did attend with her peers in their kindergarten class. I am grateful to know that she too will learn how precious her freedom and liberties are and why. There is also another reason that this day is important to me; my grandfather passed away on this day in 2004. Despite the years that have passed, for some reason, this year's post has been difficult to write.

I will remember by attending a nearby ceremony today in St. Pierre Jolys, Manitoba and I will honour veterans by wearing a poppy on my coat. I will answer the questions that my little ones have and teach them of the sacrifices that have been made. I will remember my grandfather and how he stood in respect anytime he saw a solider in uniform. This was important to him, to honour those who fought for freedom and right.

 

How will you remember?  The Veterans Affairs Canada  website has this tag-line and it is such a valid question. Over two million Canadians  have served for justice and freedom and  117,000 Canadian men and women have given their lives. You can participate onlineby joining the Remembrance Day social media sites (Facebook , Twitter and YouTube )  and attend a service today. Take your friends and children and remember why we are so fortunate to live in Canada.

How will you remember?

Remembrance Day is almost here again, so Strong & Free, a company founded by Denise Dow, a passionate patriot and a member of our Buy Canadian First  family, is holding a contest!

Strong & Free started as an emblem, designed for patriotic Canadians, that can be proudly displayed on your home, person or vehicle. Denise designed and manufactured the prototype and now all sorts of products come under the Strong & Free  banner and can be found at a variety of stores, including Canadian Tire.

 

The connection between Strong & Free and Canada's War Veterans is a strong one. I'll let Denise tell you in her own words. "When I was in high school I visited my cousins in the U.S. and saw the American eagle everywhere I went.  I believe that Canada is the greatest country in the world and I want to show everyone that I am proud to be a STRONG & FREE Canadian... that's why I designed this Maple leaf emblem with these powerful words from our national anthem.

This past summer, I participated in a Veterans' motorcycle parade, in the Strong & Free RV, five years after creating the Strong & Free plaque for patriotic Canadians. Just before the parade started, I had several members of the CAV (Canadian Army Veterans), including their leader, Trapper, ask me to put a Strong & Free Decal on their bikes. They told me how much it meant to them that Strong & Free encourages Canadians to be proud of their country - the country that they have so bravely fought for. The best way for us to show our appreciation to these men and women who keep us Strong & Free is to teach our children to celebrate Canada every day as well as those who keep us Strong & Free."

 

"On July 11, 2011, Reader's Digest reported that 47% of Canadians do not know our anthem! The Colour Me Canadian/Colore-moi Canadien colouring book, teaches children about Canada, our map, our money, our anthem, provinces and territories and is available as a soft cover book, online as an e-book and as a Blackberry app  world wide for $1.99. Free sample pages,  with our anthem and basics about Canada, are available to everyone on our website."

 

Kelly Ripa with a copy of Colour Me Canadian that she bought for her children! 

Now, you know that I love smart phone apps, colouring and Canada, so to me, this contest has it all! This really is a great colouring book for kids, with cute characters and lots of important information. As a matter of fact, I learned a few things from it myself! Thanks, Denise!

 

To participate in the contest, all you have to do is download one of the free Colour Me Canadian sample pages and give it to a child who is in any grade up to Grade 5. Next, have them colour the page and post it to the Strong & Free Facebook page. (It's chock full of Canadian celebs!). We will pick our favourite 3 entries. The first prize winner wins the entire colouring book and a "Canada is Cool" mini hockey stick . The second prize winner gets the colouring book plus a Strong & Free magnet and the third prize winner will receive the colouring book and a Strong & Free decal! Contest ends on Remembrance Day, November 11th at 11 AM. Winners will be announced later that day. Good luck and have fun!

What page will you colour first?

:: images courtesy of Strong & Free. 

Today is the 11th day of the 11th month. At the 11th hour, Canadians will hold 2 minutes of silence, as we do every year, in honour of those who have fought for our freedom.

My father was a sailor in World War II. An ordinary hero, like most of the men and women who answered the call to the military life. He made it, with distinction, through that war.

Here in Peterborough, Ontario, there are more than 30 families whose sons are fighting in Afghanistan right now. Their war isn't over.

I received this in my email and thought I would pass it on to you!

 "If you look at the back right-hand side of a Canadian $10 bill, you will see an old veteran standing at attention near the Ottawa war memorial. His name is Robert Metcalfe and he died last month at the age of 90.

That he managed to live to that age is rather remarkable, given what happened in the Second World War. Born in England, he was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force sent to the mainland where they found themselves facing the new German warfare technique - the Blitzkrieg.

He was treating a wounded comrade when he was hit in the legs by shrapnel.

En route to hospital, his ambulance came under fire from a German tank, which then miraculously ceased fire. Evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Grenade, two of the sister ships with them were sunk.

Recovered, he was sent to allied campaigns in North Africa and Italy. En route his ship was chased by the German battleship Bismarck.

In North Africa he served under General Montgomery against the Desert Fox, Rommel.

Sent into the Italian campaign, he met his future wife, a lieutenant and physiotherapist in a Canadian hospital. They were married in the morning by the mayor of the Italian town, and again in the afternoon by a British padre.

After the war they settled in Chatham, Ontario where he went into politics and became the warden (chairman) of the county and on his retirement he and his wife moved to Ottawa.  At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences.

One day out of the blue he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. He wasn't told what the photo was for or why they chose him. 'He had no idea he would be on the bill,' his daughter said.

And now you know the story of the old veteran on the $10 bill."

LIVE: Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa

Watch live coverage of the Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa, hosted by the CBC's Peter Mansbridge.

 

Today, how will you remember ?