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For Shelley-Ann Brown , February 2010 will always be the month when her history changed forever! The young black woman from Pickering, Ontario, was part of the team that won an Olympic silver in the bobsledding event. She is one of the first Canadian black women to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.

“I’m so proud to be Canadian, so proud to be black, so proud to be of Jamaican heritage, so proud to be female,”  Brown said. "... To do this in Black History Month ... this is just incredible!"

Black Canadians: History, Experiences, Social Conditions , by Joseph Mensah

February is indeed Black History Month in Canada and the United States. Since February was the birth month of both abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the president who emancipated American slaves, Abraham Lincoln, it seemed an especially fitting month. Britain also has a Black History Month, but they celebrate it in October.

In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson began Negro History Week, which was renamed Black History Week in the 1970s and then Black History Month in 1976. In Canada, Black History Month was officially recognized in 1995, by the House of Commons, when the first black female MP, Jean Augustine, introduced the motion to celebrate it. The motion was unanimously adopted.

While the Civil Rights movement in the States brought Black History Month to the forefront, Canadians are not quite as aware of it. This is changing though, due in part to the hard work and diligence of people such as Rosemary Sadlier. Sadlier is an author, the president of the Ontario Black History Society and was instrumental in establishing Black History Month in Canada. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario and has written a wonderful book called The Kids Book of Black Canadian History, which can be found at Buy Canadian First member, Chapters-Indigo .

 

 

 

Jackie Robinson, a biography by Arnold Rampersad.

There have been, and are, many fascinating black Canadians, including our current Governor-General, Michaelle Jean, famed jazz pianist Oscar Peterson and Jackie Robinson, to name only a few. Chapters-Indigo is a great place to find out more information about Black History Month and some fascinating reads about great Canadians!

Read any good books about Canada lately?

Image sources: ctvolympics.ca, Chapters.ca

 

Answer: Canadians watching the Olympics!

We are all wearing a lot of red and white, I suspect. We're waving flags, cheering and yelling at the television (unless you are really lucky and are watching it in person!). 

Have you picked up any souvenirs yet? This is my son's first Winter Olympics, so it's even more exciting that they are being held right here in Canada. I have to find something to buy as a keepsake for him, and for other friends and family members. 

You can support Team Canada by cheering, and all of Canada by buying made-in-Canada mementoes of the games.  These are not easy to find (believe it or not!) but here are a few ideas:

Celebrate with Canadian coins from the Royal Canadian Mint.  This would be a welcomed addition to someone's collection, or a gift to get them started. Check out these Inukshuk coins:

 

Subtly show your Olympic spirit with beautiful, elegant jewelry from Birks Winter Games Collection.  Amongst other great items, this stainless silver necklace  features an 18 kt yellow gold Ilanaaq. Any of their pieces would make a unique gift for a loved one (or for yourself, of course!)

 

Have family or friends that are out of the country (or across the country)? Why not send them a beautiful postage-paid Olympic post card from Canada Post. You could also buy one for yourself as a souvenir. Want to make use of it? Keep track of all of Canada's medals on the back to remember years from now (how many gold medals did we win in 2010?!)

 

And for the stamp collector, what better keepsake than some of Canada Post's commemorative stamps:

 

There are a lot of souvenirs and Olympic themed items right now, both online and in stores. But before you buy, please take a look and see if they are made-in-Canada. It just makes sense, don't you think?

Go Canada!

Image sources: Royal Canadian Mint, Birks, Canada Post

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are on! Go Canada Go!

Did you know that the majority of souvenirs produced for various events are not even Made in Canada? They are produced mainly in overseas countries where they can be mass produced for really low costs. This doesn't really appeal to me, does it to you?

I love handmade items because they are true originals, which adds to the charm and beauty of handmade. So I decided to see how many great souvenirs I could find that are handmade right here in Canada. And I found lots!! Canadian artisans are very talented and have a lot to offer. Here are a few of my choices that I feel represent Canada and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

A word of warning: all these treasures are sold through etsy.com, the world-renowned site featuring arts & crafts from all over the world. For ease of transacting, all prices on etsy.com are posted in USD. However, all Canadian crafters will obviously sell to fellow Canadians in Canadian dollars!

So here we go: isn't this a great painting by Quebec artist jacques3060 ? It is titled THE OLYMPIC DREAM, and to me it represents beautifully the Olympic spirit.

 

And how about these Olympic leather wristbands by Ontario artist leathermadenice ?

 

The Inukshuk means a lot to Canadians and is an integral part of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  Here are a couple of Canadian-made Inukshuks for you:

Are you like me and love jewelry? Here is a necklace with a hand-forged sterling silver Inukshuk made in Nova Scotia by seaglassdesigns.

 

Maybe you are bold and would like your very own Inukshuk sculpture?  If so, here is one from Alberta-based asecondtime.

 

And of course who can forget our furry friends?  Let your pet help show off your Canadian pride by sporting a great Canada-themed dog collar made in B.C. by pawsntails.

 

These are just a few of my favorites that I found on my search for Canadian handcrafted souvenirs on Etsy.com. Aren't they great?

I am truly proud and honoured to be a Canadian, especially now! I am watching and cheering, are you?

Image sources: Etsy.com

Environment Canada tells me that nearly every region of our country is freezing cold. For those of you who are like me will understand how easy it is to watch the days go by in the comfort of my home, keeping warm by the fire with my family and critters, eating, painting, laughing and hibernating. Alas I am not a bear, it is winter and I am Canadian girl of hardy canuck stock. Any day, winter or summer, is as good day to go outside!

The winter playground in Canada is a vast and endless and whether you wish to play in your backyard, go on the town or venture off and have a quaint, crazy or somewhere in between adventure, this vast country has it all!

On the town
Canada is filled with a plethora of local small events as well as grand winter festivals from coast to coast, offering you fun filled days and nights of activities, music and vittles.

Carnival de Québec is the planet's largest winter carnival and rated third in the world after Rio and New Orleans! This rowdy tradition was practiced by the French colonists of New France to get together before lent to eat, drink and have fun from late January to mid February. In 2009 this 17 day carnival begins on January 30 and offers a broad range of events and activities for everyone including; dog sled rides, a 500 ft zip line, evening dance parties, arctic spa, ice tower and so much more. This site is available in English & en français. Why not be first in line to get your official made in Québec carnival hat by shopping online.

 
The Bon Soo Winter festival of Sault Ste. Marie has been running since 1964. The cute mascot was created by local graphic designer and artist Ken McDougall. I spoke with Anna Lise, Events Manager of the Bon Soo festival, she said that the BonSoo Icon in Sault Ste. Marie "is bigger than santa!" The festival runs February 6-15 with a great collection of indoor and outdoor events, including the very popular polar bear swim, brr.

Winterlude or Bal de Neige is held from February 6-22 in Ottawa and Gatineau, who partner together and create a celebration of winter. Treat yourself to 3 weeks of activities ranging from ice fishing to elegant winemakers dinner. There are ice playgrounds, a valentine's ball, skating on the Rideau Canal, a B-Boy/B-Girl battle and so much more! Young, old, hip or square this festival is for you! The site is available in both English & en français and is easy to navigate, go and enjoy yourself in Canada's capital region.

Le Festival du Voyageur held in St. Boniface Manitoba from February 13-22, in Winnipeg's French quarter. It celebrates Canada's Fur trading history as well as the unique French heritage and culture with song, art, music, entertainment, crafts, events and displays. The site is available in English & en français and don't forget your ceinture fléchée.

 

Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad a celebration of the contemporary imagination. The first time an Olympic winter games hosted a cultural Olympiad 2 years before the games. From February 1 through to March 1 the Olympiad venues can be found from Coquitlam to Whistler, offering an extravaganza of entertainment and artistic disciplines. The site has an efficient event locater, is available en français and hosts an online shop where I found these beautiful Vancouver 2010 thunderbird recycled glass salad servers.

 

Snow King Winter Festival of Yellowknife NWT is held from March 1st-28th in Great Slave Lake. Meet the Snow king and play in his castle made of snow and ice, enjoy live entertainment, a café and other festivities. The planning has begun and you can check out the progress as well as enjoy yesteryear photos on site!

Part 2 of the outdoor winter series will be all about enjoying the outdoors in your back yard and neighborhood.

What are you doing to make the Winter go by faster?