SSPJ Sailing to Canada

Saints Philip and James School. Children singing.

Sailing the Waters of Hope

OH! CANADA

Throughout the school year, our students are experiencing the frontiers of Canada! We will be traveling on the Trans-Continental Railroad to get to our ship and cross Canada on all forms of transportation. We will be landing back in New Jersey in May!
In the meantime, we will be learning about travel history and the tundras of Canada, along with the many cultural aspects of the people in all 10 provinces and perhaps a little québécoise on the way!

Canadian Inventions
Canadians are known as the inventors of hockey, ice beer, and the telephone among other things, but I'm sure there are some thingson the list that may surprise you! These include:
Electric Street Car, Standard Time, Java Script, Lacrosse, Basketball, Ice Skates, Portable Film Developing System, Wireless Radio, Radio Transmitted Voice, Ginger Ale, Robertson Screw, 5 Pin Bowling, Chocolate Bar, Sonar, Snowmobile, Snow Blower, Electric Organ, Frozen Food, Paint Roller, Walkie-Talkie, Synthesizer, Lawn Sprinkler.
The list doesn't end there! They also have credit for inventing:
Pacemaker (for your heart), Tuck-Away-Handle Beer Carton, Automatic Postal Sorter, Jolly Jumper, Goalie Mask, Instant Mashed Potatoes, Football Goalpost, IMAX Movie System, Computerized Braille, Roadway Guardrail, Trivial Pursuit, Zipper, Film Colorization, Silicon, Roller Skate, Toboggan, Kayak, Washing Machine, Snow Shoes, Television, Newsprint, Kerosene, Odometer, Rubber Shoe Heels.

Facts about Canada:

The name Canada is derived from kanata, a Huron word for 'settlement.'
The first Canadian Thanksgiving was in 1578 when Martin Frobisher established a settlementin Canada. He held a formal ceremony in the now New Foundland and Labrador.
French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed "The Order of Good Cheer" and gladly shared their food with their Indian Neighbors.
During the American Revolution, Americans who were loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada.
In Nova Scotia during the 12 days of Christmas, small groups of belsnicklers, or masked mummers, appear in neighborhoods ringing bells and making noise seeking candy or treats.
Manitoba has over 100,000 lakes! Try saying: Lake Pekwachnamaykookwaskwaypinwanik. This name comes from the Native Cree language, meaning: Where the wild trout are caught by fishing with hooks.
British Columbia, known as BC, is larger than Washington, Oregon, and California combined. Its largest city is Vancouver. Victoria is the capital.
One group of Canadian lawmakers are members of the House of Commons, called Commoners. The other group is the Senators. The Commoners and Senators meet in the Parliament building in the city of Ottawa. One Parliament building has a famous tall tower known as the Peace Tower.
Canada has the longest coastline in the world.
The territory of Nunavut (our land) is located in far nothern Canada. It is home to the Inuit people, who inhabited this region for some 5,000 years.
In Canada, the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and mince pies, and pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.
Canada has almost one million lakes!
0.3% of all vehicle accidents in Canada involve a moose.
90% of all Canadians live within 100 miles of the Canada-US border.
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a display of colored lights in the night sky. They can be seen in many parts of northern Canada.
The moose is the largest member of the deer family. Moose live in all parts of Canada and Alaska in forests and marshy areas. During warmer months, the moose are found near lakes and marshes. When winter comes, the moose move to forested areas.
The moose - males have large, wide antlers. A rack of antlers can range from 4 to 5 ft.
Duing the winter, the moose feeds on berries, twigs and branches. As winter approaches, moose grow a thicker coat of fur. The moose has poor eyesight and relies on a keen sense of smell.
Moose are good swimmers.
The beave played an important role in Canada's history. English and French fur traders explored large parts of Canada and fur trading posts were built. The beaver was in danger of being wiped out. At last the demand for beaver pelts ended.
The beaver was featured on the coat of arms for the Hudson Bay Company, Nova Scotia, Quebec City and the city of Montreal. It was also featured on a postage stamp in 1851.
The beaver officially became an emblem of Canada in 1975. The beaver appears on the nickel.
Canada occupies 9,970,610km² (square kilometers) of the Earth's surface.
Canada has 6 time zones.
88% of Canada is uninhabitable due to extreme climate and terrain.
At 7,604 km, the Trans Canada highway is the longest in the world.
Younge Street in Toronto is the longest road in the world, ending at the Ontario-Manitoba-Minnesota border.
There are more doughnuts per capita in Canada than anywhere else in the world.
Canada has the most cars per capita - with one car for every two people.
Canada has almost one million lakes.
If a debt is more than 25 cents, it is illegal to pay with pennies.
The McDonald's in Skydome is the only one in the world that sells hot dogs.
There has been no Saturday mail delivery since February 1, 1969.
Northern Canada has times in the summer when the sun rarely sets. This is known as the "midnight sun." In the winter, it is dark most of the time.
More dinosaur bones have been found in Canada than in any other country.
More than 75% of the world's maple syrup comes from Canada.
There are 23 different words in the Inuit language for 'snow.'
It is illegal to frown at cows in Baldworth, Sask.
The city Halifax has more bars per capita than any other city in North America.
Canadians eat more Kraft Macaroni and Cheese packaged dinners than any nationality in the world.
In Quebec, there is an old law that states margarine must be a different color than butter.
The world's tallest freestanding structure is Toronto's $63 million CN tower, which measures 1,815 feet, 5 inches. Completed in 1975, the tower was constructed over almost two-and-a-half years by Canadian National Railways.
Canada boasts the world's first radio station. XWA, now Montreal's CFCF, originally went on the air in 1919 and broadcast the first scheduled music show in May, 1920.
Pamela Anderson-Lee was Canada's centennial baby.
Alberta is the only province that is rat free since 1905.
Lawn Darts are illegal in Canada.
Canada beat Denmark 47-0 in the 1949 World Hockey Championships.
The world's highest tide on record is at Bay of Fundy at Burntcoat Head, Nova Scotia. Mean large tide range is 16.1m.
The 'Lake of the Woods' located on the Canadian-US border has more islands than any other lake in the world, with and estimated 14,000 islands. The lake also has 65,000 miles of shoreline.
Canada has won the most Olympic Gold medals in hockey.

Check out this Canada-themed online crossword puzzle!

Africa
Pacific Rim

Talent Enrichment Home

Southern Hemisphere
South America

Send us your constructive comments and suggestions