I reported on this holiday last year and can confirm again that a long weekend in February is a good idea. It is law in Alberta, according to the CBC:  •  “Albertans already enjoy such a holiday, and have done so since 1989. The third Monday in February is Family Day in that province, giving many …

From this morning's Globe and Mail:  •  “An Ipsos-Reid poll shows that 47 per cent of Canadians think the Prime Minister and his Liberals deserve to be re-elected. This represents a jump of 18 points since the question was asked during last spring's federal election campaign, which saw the …

Three on three ball hockey on ice. We went down to Market Square figuring we would get a seat next between Wendel Clark and Ron MacLean but so did about 3,000 other people. Some on a roof or two. A few more than the other day. We found some prime and warm seats inside the office - a few others had …

Shots from the rink today. Every one loves the Zamboni driver. Who else is cool and only goes 5 mph? Here is a short short movie of that special something that entrances each and every Canadian in action: [.mpg, 6.5 MB]. All pictures clickable.

Saturday sees hockey on the rink built over the last two weeks on Market Square behind work. From the tenuously linkability of the Whig:  •  “Confirmed for Saturday's Limestone Classic tournament, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the ice at Market Square, are: hockey hall of famer Dale Hawerchuk …

...and I never knew. From The Star:  •  “Martin spoke in Memorial Hall at Kingston's City Hall, surrounded by Maple Leaf flags and bathed in soft light seeping through stained-glass windows dedicated to the Canadian dead of the First World War. The windows bear the names of great and terrible …

Middle cat: "If we do get out - remember to set the ray guns to kill."  •  So I guess I won a good Dad star today. Being in a room with 200 prize cats and 400 owners of prize cats is weird, then not so weird, then it is just weird. Judging requires a little tinsel-stick waving according to these …

Dawn  •  Sun Up  •  I have only seen freezing fog or mist once before in Halifax on Christmas 1989 or 1990. Crystals of snowy frost build up on every living surface. Hope the dog was brought in.

Last summer I took some shots through my binoculars to the south and was surprised how much there was to see. I have this idea that if I get just the right day I will be able to see White Face, the Olympic mountain over by Lake Placid a few hundred kilometres to the east. No such luck so far but …