Grizzly Bears, Trains and Stunning Scenery; and a Beautifully Illustrated Publication O Canada
With O Canada: The History of Our Home and Native Land on my lap, I spent 3 glorious hours at the Storm Mountain Lookout Point on the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A that runs parallel to the 4-lane Hwy 1 between Banff and Lake Louise) and watched several freight trains go by about 150 metres below me, in the picturesque setting of mountains and the beautiful Bow River.
I enjoyed every page of the beautifully illustrated 96-page magazine, which was published for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada on July 1, 2017. Rick Mercer and Don Gilmour have captured the rich and diverse moments in Canada’s history and culture through informative introductions, short captions and historical photographs. On the inside cover, the writers quote one fo the founding fathers and first Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald:
“If I had influence over the minds of the people of Canada, any power over their intellect, I would leave them this legacy: Whatever you do, adhere to the Union — we are a great country, and shall become one of the greatest in the universe if we preserve it; we shall sink into insignificance and adversity if we suffer it to be broken.”
This powerful message underscores the importance of preserving our unity as a nation.
As I devoured every single word, I reflected on the profound wisdom of the people of this country. When I reached the last Chapter, titled Canada’s Future, I was gratified to read the following:
“Perhaps our greatest national gift is for tolerance. The Aga Khan, hereditary leader of the world’s 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims, said that the lack of pluralism was the cause of much of the world’s discord and that Canada had created a ‘genuine pluralist society’.” Mercer adds, “In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as official policy.”
Having completed the book, I set out for the Kananaskis. I drove through Hwy 40, where I was thrilled to encounter a family of grizzlies! The mother bear and her playful cubs were leisurely strolling and feasting by the side of the road, a sight that filled me with awe and respect for Canada’s natural beauty.
What an enjoyable and lucky July 13! Enjoy the photographs.
____________________
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
Date posted: July 15, 2024.
_________________
WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK AND INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR SISTER WEBSITES
We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please use the LEAVE A REPLY box which appears below. Please share this article link with your friends and family members. Before departing this website, please visit our Home Page for links to our fantastic photo essays. Please also visit this blog’s sister websites Simerg for Insights from Around the World and Barakah for pieces on His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family, and the Ismaili Imamat. The editor may be contacted at mmerchant@simerg.com.