| |
Canada
Book Air Tickets
Book Hotel
Book Rental Car
Calendars
Cycling Tours
Golf
History
Language
Maps
Posters
Recipes
Skiing
Towns and Cities
Travel Guides
Weather
Links
|
|
|
Canadian History
According to Inuit and First Nations tradition, Canada has
been inhabited since the dawn of the time. However, the archaeological evidence discovered
to date suggests circa 24,500 BC for the earliest people in Yukon, and
7,500 BC for southern Ontario.
The earliest contact with Europe,
is believed to have occured around 1000 AD when Vikings from Greenland are known to have reached,
and built a small settlement at, L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, although they only stayed
their for a relatively short period. It is uncertain if this settlement is
Leif Erikson's legendary "Vinland", or was perhaps a stopping point
on the way to Vinland.
The next Europeans to reach Canada were Basque cod fishermen and whalers, who arrived in
the area in the late 15th century, and who established a number of fishing outposts
in Labrador and Newfoundland. In 1497, John Cabot landed in Canada (probably Newfoundland
or Cape Breton Island), and claimed the area for King Henry VII of England. Portuguese
and Spanish expeditions are also known to have also explored the region, but it was the French
who were the first to move inland and to set up permanent colonies (beginning in 1534). Soon afterwards,
the British also began to establish colonies in Newfoundland, southern Nova Scotia
and the Hudson Bay area.
In 1608, the French established Quebec City, and it became capital
of the colony of New France (French: Nouvelle France). Although the colony
was successful at trading, especially the fur trade,
the population of New France remained low (just 60,000 in 1759), because of low immigration,
little support from the mother country, and constant wars with the Iroquois (who were
supported by the British in an attempt to weaken the French).
Britain and
France went to war several times in the 18th century,
and many battles were fought in Canada.
The British usually had the upper hand in the fighting in Canada,
because of their superior navy, greater
financial resources, and
the fact that they controlled territory both to the North (in the Hudson Bay) and to the South (in the
13 Colonies) of the French-controlled areas. As a result in 1763, following the Seven Years' War
(known in the United States as the "French and Indian War"),
France ceded nearly all its remaining territory in North
America to
Britain.
The first half of the 19th century was no easy ride for British rule in Canada.
In the War of 1812, an attempted US invasion was thwarted,
and rebellions against the colonial government took place in 1837. Following these rebellions, a British
government report, the Durham Report, recommended responsible government be granted, and the union of
Upper and Lower Canada. The union was achieved in 1840, and in 1867 a Canadian
federation was formed, the Dominion of Canada.
During 1840s, agreement was reached with the United States
to place the border at the 49th parallel, thus paving the way for Canada's
westward expansion. Colonies were founded in British Columbia and Vancouver
Island in 1848 and 1849 respectively (the two colonies were united in 1866). Manitoba joined the Dominion of Canada
in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, and Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905.
Canada participated in both World Wars on the Allied side. In World War I,
Canada was legally at war as soon as
Britain declared war. By World War II, the
legal position had changed - the
1931 Statute of Westminister
granted Canada effective independence (although some Constitutional ties with
Britain remained), and
Canada made a separate declaration of war on
Germany, a week after
Britain.
After World War II, Canada expanded once again when Newfoundland
joined the country (Newfoundland was previously a British colony) after a closely fought
referendum. Canada became a key member of the western alliance,
joining NATO, sending troops to fight in the Korean War
(1950
to
1953),
and participating in a joint air defense system with the
United States (NORAD).
Since the 1960s, Quebec has played an increasingly important role in
Canadian politics, although not without controversy (including some demands
for independence), and even violence. The main result of these changes has
been increased recognition of the distinct and unique culture of French
Canada. Another constitutional change, one that took place in
1982,
was "Patriation", the removal of the remaining powers that the British
parliament had to legislate for Canada.
Here are some books about the history of
Canada:
By Terese Loeb Kreuzer
St. Martin's Griffin
Released: 2006-08-22
Paperback (256 pages)
 | List Price: $14.95
Lowest New Price: $9.01
Lowest Used Price: $9.58
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
An easy-to-use, step-by-step guide to calling Canada home
More and more Americans are thinking of moving to Canada for work, study, peace of mind---even retirement---and whatever their motivations, they will have to navigate the Canadian immigration and naturalization processes.
So whether you're thinking about moving or already have your bags packed, How to Move to Canada is for you. It’s a straightforward, friendly, informative handbook that delivers on its promise, providing readers with a thorough understanding of what to expect and where to get help and more information.
How to Move to Canada offers:
--A realistic appreciation of what Canada has to offer Americans
--Snapshots of Canada's provinces and territories and their major cities
--Interviews with immigration experts and Americans who have emigrated to Canada
--An immigration checklist and a comprehensive list of resources to consult for more information
--Real-life, hands-on perspectives, and invaluable advice
How to Move to Canada makes the move north feel possible, supplying readers with a clear understanding of what they’ll need in order to make a run for the border. |
|
By Elizabeth Hay
Counterpoint
Hardcover (384 pages)
 | List Price: $24.00
Lowest New Price: $12.99
Lowest Used Price: $14.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
It's 1975 when beautiful Dido Paris arrives at the radio station in Yellowknife, a frontier town in the Canadian north. Her enchanting voice disarms hard-bitten broadcaster Harry Boyd and electrifies the station, setting into motion rivalries both professional and sexual. As the drama at the station unfolds, a proposed gas pipeline threatens to rip open the land, inspiring many people to find their voices for the first time. This is the moment before television conquers the north's attention, when the future of the Arctic hangs in the balance. After the snow melts, four members of the radio station take a long canoe trip into the Barrens, a mysterious landscape of lingering ice and 24-hour light. The unexpected turns lethal — is it too late for Dido and Harry? Stark, witty, and dynamically charged, this dazzling tale embodies the power of a place and of the human voice to breed love and haunt the memory. |
|
By T. Davis Bunn
Bethany House Publishers
Paperback (288 pages)
 | List Price: $12.99
Lowest New Price: $1.87
Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
Facing the threat of war, can two families be united in peace amid the heartbreak? The Song of Acadia Book 3. |
|
By John Glassco
NYRB Classics
Released: 2007-05-29
Paperback (296 pages)
 | List Price: $14.95
Lowest New Price: $8.72
Lowest Used Price: $5.99
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
Memoirs of Montparnasse is a delicious book about being young, restless, reckless, and without cares. It is also the best and liveliest of the many chronicles of 1920s Paris and the exploits of the lost generation. In 1928, nineteen-year-old John Glassco escaped Montreal and his overbearing father for the wilder shores of Montparnasse. He remained there until his money ran out and his health collapsed, and he enjoyed every minute of his stay. Remarkable for their candor and humor, Glassco’s memoirs have the daft logic of a wild but utterly absorbing adventure, a tale of desire set free that is only faintly shadowed by sadness at the inevitable passage of time. |
|
By Will Ferguson
For Dummies
Paperback (544 pages)
 | List Price: $26.99
Lowest New Price: $16.87
Lowest Used Price: $15.49
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | From Amazon.com:
We always knew Canadian history could be fun, and Will Ferguson proves it in his second edition of Canadian History for Dummies. Approachable in the extreme, this text is fun because of Ferguson's undisputed gift for unearthing our national quirkiness and for illuminating those parts of our heritage that make us a unique people. At first the academic reader might register surprise at the choice of author for the Canadian history text in this wildly popular series, but this is truly a match made in editorial heaven. With his arrestingly titled Bastards and Boneheads and Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw, Ferguson has made a strong claim to being the light-hearted guardian of our national popular culture, and this book is true to form, with anecdotes, asides, bullets, and a fast-paced style this book makes Canadian history more user-friendly than ever before. Behind it all, however, is serious and comprehensive Canadian history. Ferguson acknowledges the help of Don Smith--one of our truly great academic historians and textbook authors--and his expertise is evident throughout. But, as headings like "Western alienation or that #%@!* Trudeau" (382) and "Pemmican--Delicious and Nutritious" show, this is Ferguson's book, featuring his unparalleled gift at striking just the right note --William Newbigging |
|
By Ira B. Nadel
University of Texas Press
Paperback (360 pages)
 | List Price: $24.95
Lowest New Price: $15.60
Lowest Used Price: $15.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
From reviews of the hardcover edition: "[Various Positions is] more a literary than a rock bio—quiet of tone, serious without being worshipful. Drawing on Cohen's own archives, Nadel plots aspects of Cohen's life—Zen, love affairs, drug use—against the evolution of his writing. He fashions a biography that is revealing but also mindful of its subject at his best." —Booklist "An excellent biography, one that manages to be both thoroughly scholarly and genuinely entertaining at the same time." —Montreal Gazette "An honest and sympathetic biography." —New York Times Book Review "The most authoritative work yet on the 'poet laureate of pessimism.'" —Library Journal
Known as the "Prince of Bummers," Leonard Cohen is a multi-talented poet, singer-songwriter, novelist, and Zen Buddhist whose career has spanned more than forty years and inspired countless other artists. In this critically acclaimed biography originally published in 1996 by Pantheon Books, Ira Nadel draws on extensive interviews with Cohen, as well as excerpts from his unpublished letters, journals, notebooks, songs, and other writings, to offer a full portrait of this enigmatic man and his artistic career. A new concluding chapter brings Cohen's story up-to-date, including the release of the albums Dear Heather, Ten New Songs, The Essential Leonard Cohen, and Blue Alert, as well as the publication of Book of Longing and the screening of the documentary film Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man. |
|
By David P. Silcox
Firefly Books
Hardcover (444 pages)
 | List Price: $49.95
Lowest New Price: $32.81
Lowest Used Price: $36.27
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
A compact edition of an award-winning best-seller -- more affordable than the celebrated original, but otherwise identical. At a critical time in Canada's history, the Group of Seven revolutionized the country's appreciation of itself by celebrating Canada as a wild and beautiful land. These paintings of the wilderness evoke the same response in viewers today as they did when first exhibited. The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson includes many never -- before reproduced paintings and presents the most complete and extensive collection of these artists' works ever published. The 400 paintings and drawings reveal the remarkable genius of all 10 painters who at some point were part of the movement. Tom Thomson, who died before the Group was established, was always present in the public mind. Included are works by: - Frank Carmichael
- Frank Johnston
- A.J. Casson
- Arthur Lismer
- Le Moine FitzGerald
- I.E.H. MacDonald
- Lawren Harris
- Tom Thomson
- Edwin Holgate
- F.H. Varley
- A.Y. Jackson
The artwork is organized by the various regions of Canada, with additional sections on the war years and still-life paintings. Introductory essays provide a context for a greater understanding and appreciation of Canada's most celebrated artists. (20061202) |
|
By Betsy Maestro
HarperTrophy
Released: 2004-06-29
Paperback (48 pages; 1)
 | List Price: $7.99
Lowest New Price: $3.35
Lowest Used Price: $3.00
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
This ongoing series introduces our country's history to young readers in an appealing picture-book format. Clear, simple texts combine with informative, accurate illustrations to help young people develop an understanding of America's past and present. The New Americans is the story of the colonists -- the more than two hundred thousand new Americans -- who came over from Europe and struggled to build a home for themselves in a new world. |
|
By Lael Morgan
Epicenter Press
Paperback (352 pages)
 | List Price: $17.95
Lowest New Price: $5.45
Lowest Used Price: $3.82
Usually ships in 24 hours
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
Morgan offers an authentic and deliciously humorous account of the prostitutes and other "disreputable" women who were the earliest female pioneers of the Far North. |
|
By Bruno Friesen
Helion and Company
Hardcover (264 pages)
 | List Price: $49.95
Lowest New Price: $32.96
In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
(As of 17:09 Pacific 25 Jul 2008 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
There are few memoirs available of German Panzer crews that focus on the climactic last 12 months of the war on the Eastern Front, 1944-45. What makes Bruno Friesen's account virtually unique is his family background: his parents came from a German-speaking Mennonite community in Ukraine, and were to all intents and purposes culturally German. To make matters even more complex, in 1924 his parents left the Ukraine for Canada, where Bruno was born. In March 1939 he and his brother Oscar found themselves on a ship bound for Bremerhaven in Germany. He barely spoke German, and had never been to Germany, nevertheless his father envisaged that a better life awaited them in the Third Reich. Needless to say, Bruno became caught up in the Second World War, and in 1942 was drafted into the Wehrmacht. The author provides a full account of his family background, and how, through these unusual circumstances, he found himself a Canadian-born German soldier. The bulk of the book is a detailed account of the author's training, and his subsequent service with 25th Panzer Regiment, part of 7th Panzer Division. As the title suggests, Bruno Friesen served as a gunner aboard, initially, Panzer IVs, before crewing the lesser-known Jagdpanzer IV tank hunter. The author provides a fantastic amount of information about these two vehicles, and how the crews actually fought in battle with them. This kind of 'hands-on' detail has almost never been available before, particularly such extensive information concerning the characteristics and combat performance of the Jagdpanzer IV. Apart from providing a large fund of information about specific German tanks and their combat performance, the author writes in great detail about the combat the experienced on the Eastern Front, including tank battles in Rumania, spring 1944, Lithuania in the summer of 1944, and West Prussia during early 1945. If one wants to know how German tank crews fought the Soviets in the last year of the war, then this book provides an outstanding account, containing material simply not found elsewhere. The author closes his account by reflecting on his post-war efforts to return to Canada, which eventually succeeded in 1950, and his subsequent life there. This book is not just a critique of armored fighting vehicles and tank warfare, it is above all a very human story, told in a lively, conversational and fluid manner, and is a remarkable contribution to the literature of the Second World War. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|