Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Early Aboriginal Life in Canada - La vie préhistorique des autochtones au Canada Guestbook   Dec 6, 2013

It was fascinating to learn about early aboriginal life in Canada at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump! C’était fascinant d’en apprendre davantage sur la vie préhistorique des autochtones au Canada en visitant le précipice à bisons Head-Smashed-In!

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park

Reasons to love Waterton Guestbook   Nov 20, 2017

There are countless reasons to love Waterton, and every time I walk out my front door, I can’t believe I am lucky enough to call it “home”. The stunning mountain vistas and the seemingly endless diversity of wildlife and wildflowers landed it a Unesco World Heritage Site and part of the world’s first International Peace Park.

There’s just something about winding your way up a mountain trail to a crystal clear glacial lake with an uninterrupted view that makes my heart race—and not just from the exercise. It’s a place where you can hike, bike, and kayak all day and then stroll down the idyllic main street with an ice-cream cone in hand while you roam the many shops and restaurants. And be sure to keep your eyes
peeled because in Waterton, it’s hard to go a day without encountering wildlife up close and personal. You're in their territory now!

So come join me as I continue to explore my backyard and I promise you won’t be disappointed! We’ll visit the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel with the unbeatable view. We’ll climb up Bear’s Hump and try not to be blown away (literally and figuratively). And who knows? We may even make friends with a moose along the way! From a distance, of course.

5 Reasons to Visit Waterton

1. Waterton was designated as an International Peace Park along with Glacier National Park in Montana as a way to establish peace and goodwill between the two neighboring countries. Today, both parks work together for the preservation of the ecosystem, bridging gaps often created by borders.
2. Waterton is known for being “where the prairies meet the mountains”. The mountains are dramatic and stunning due to the obvious lack of foothills.
3. Waterton is the Wildflower Capital of Canada and every summer there is a festival celebrating the beautiful flora of the Canadian Rockies.
4. Waterton is home to hundreds of animal species with frequent sightings of fox, bear, elk, mountain sheep, and sometimes even moose!
5. Waterton is often considered a “hidden gem” in Canada, and those who are lucky enough to visit are rewarded with virtually untouched terrain, just waiting to be explored.

Nellie Mcclung House

Guestbook   Mar 8, 2017

Museum of Anthropology

Exploring Canada and Beyond at MOA - Explorer le Canada et au-delà de ses frontières au Musée d'anthropologie Guestbook   Feb 14, 2014

I'll start right off by saying it: if you are ever in Vancouver, even just for a day, you HAVE to check out the Museum of Anthropology on the UBC campus. Not only is the site itself gorgeous, but the artifacts themselves are very striking. The outdoor gallery highlights a traditional Haida village, complete with a Reflection Pool to show that these people settled along the coast. The village transports you back in time, as it's set up in a way that allows you to walk through it to get the full experience. (The outdoor gallery was my favourite. I actually came back outside after I finished looking around indoors.)

However, the indoor gallery is just as amazing. The Grand Hall is filled with interesting artifacts (including the biggest serving bowl I've ever seen!) and gives an amazing view of the Haida village. The indoor gallery also features many works by Bill Reid, a prominent First Nations artist.

I loved using the MOACAT to find different artifacts. The artifact room is truly unique in that it's interactive: you can open drawers, walk around at your own pace, and look at some truly astounding pieces of history.

My favourite artifact was Louis Jackson's Kissing Otter Pendant (see if you can find it!) because it was Canadian and, well... I love otters. The MOACAT told me all about it, too, which gave me the full effect.

Why are you still here reading? Get over there! There's tons to be discovered!


Je commencerai d’abord en disant ceci: si vous venez à Vancouver, même pour une seule journée, vous DEVEZ visiter le Musée d’anthropologie situé sur le campus de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique. Non seulement ce site est-il magnifique, mais les pièces exposées sont des plus étonnantes. La galerie extérieure met en scène un village traditionnel du peuple haïda, incluant un miroir d’eau pour montrer que ce peuple s’était installé le long de la côte. Ce village vous transporte dans le temps puisque vous pouvez le parcourir pour vivre une expérience authentique. (La galerie extérieure est ma favorite. J’y suis retournée après avoir terminé de visiter les expositions à l’intérieur.)

Par contre, la galerie intérieure est toute aussi fascinante. Le Grand Hall est rempli d’artéfacts intéressants (dont le plus grand bol de service que je n’ai jamais vu!) et offre une vue extraordinaire sur le village haïda. La galerie intérieure propose aussi plusieurs œuvres de Bill Reid, un artiste important des Premières nations.

J’ai adoré utiliser le catalogue du musée (« MOA CAT ») pour trouver les différents artéfacts. La salle des artéfacts est unique puisqu’elle offre une expérience interactive : vous pouvez ouvrir des tiroirs, marchez à votre propre rythme et observez des pièces d’histoires époustouflantes. L’œuvre que j’ai préférée est le pendentif des loutres s’embrassant ( « Kissing Otter Pendant ») de l’artiste Louis Jackson (voyons voir si vous pouvez le trouver!) parce que c’est une œuvre canadienne et que j’adore les loutres. Le MOA CAT m’a tout appris à son sujet, pour une expérience complète.

Pourquoi êtes-vous toujours en train de lire? Venez au musée! Il y a des tonnes de choses à découvrir!

Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Camosun Bog Guestbook   Nov 20, 2013

I regularly go running along the trails in Pacific Spirit and the views are breathtaking - I love running through forest and along the ocean instead of on a sidewalk. However, it was Camosun Bog and the Crazy Boggers that really inspired me to learn more about the Musqueam people and my own heritage, and also inspired me to spend more time enjoying nature in the great outdoors!

Je fais régulièrement du jogging dans les sentiers du parc. La vue est à couper le souffle. J’adore courir dans la forêt et le long de l’océan plutôt que sur un trottoir. Par contre, ce sont Camosun Bog et les Crazy Boggers qui m’ont réellement inspirée à en apprendre davantage sur le peuple Musqueam et sur mon propre patrimoine, et qui m’ont donné envie de passer plus de temps à profiter de la nature!