February 28, 2015

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site

Guestbook That's a Long Way Down!

Standing at the top of the summit on Sulphur Mountain was quite a site, and my first true experience of the beauty of Canada outside of Ontario. It is an incredible experience to attempt to comprehend how nature can create such beautiful wonders, and how we are so fortunate here in Canada to have so many within our immediate reach. My experience of standing at the top of the summit and looking as far as I could see into the mountains gave me a sense of belonging, a sense that I belong in a place so free, so inspiring and so unique. It made me realize how much Canada's natural environment has shaped Canada's identity. These realizations, and other experiences from travelling within Canada, have truly shaped my identity as an individual, making me a more open-minded, appreciative, goal-oriented person.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Guestbook Truly Strong and Free

Canada is unique in such a way that you can live in a major city with hundreds of thousands of people and not an inch of grass in sight, but then drive a few short hours to a world of peaceful, natural beauty. Canada's diverse landscape directly reflects the diversity of the people living in it. This picture was taken while paddling on a portaging excursion in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. The struggles of grueling conditions, tough portage stretches, and making use of our resources was all rewarded with the peacefulness out on the lake, perfectly quiet and surrounded by tall rock and tree covered islands; a true sense of serenity inspiring me to appreciate everything around me rather than focusing constantly on what is directly in front of me. The dimensions of the image and the peacefulness conveyed through it create, for me, a sense of belonging, as if I fit right into the picture, the natural environment of Canada, just as I feel at home. Finally, the uniqueness of travelling through Canada and seeing other individuals, potentially of different race, ethnicity, or visiting from another country is inspiring in itself as every single one of those individuals, despite a background, is appreciating the same thing; what Canada has to offer, and what we can take from admiring the land.