Canadian History

The Second World War had been under way for a year when Marie and John Williamson welcomed two English brothers to join them and their two children in their small house in north Toronto for the duration of the conflict. Marie wrote over 150 letters to the boys’ mother, Margaret Sharp, imagining that she could make Margaret feel she was still with her children. She shepherded the boys through education decisions and illnesses, eased them into a strange new life, and rejoiced when they embraced unfamiliar winter sports.

Lucky soldiers who could sing a song, perform a skit or pass as a “lady” were taken from the line and put onstage for the benefit of their soldier-audiences. The intent was to bolster morale and thereby help soldiers survive the war. The Dumbells’ popularity was not limited to troop shows along the trenches. The group also managed a run in London’s West End and became the first ever Canadian production to score a hit on Broadway. Touring Canada for some 12 years after the war, the Dumbells became a household name and made more than 25 audio recordings.

Que peut bien raconter le concierge d’un évêché, dans le Témiscamingue ontarien des années soixante ? Pas mal de choses, en vérité, quand il est un observateur sagace de la réalité qui l’entoure, quand il est amateur d’histoire régionale, quand il a un passé riche et diversifié, quand il a une personnalité forte et un verbe truculent, quand il a un auditeur privilégié en la présence d’un jeune qui ne demande pas mieux que de le faire parler !

Sir Oliver Mowat served as a Christian lawyer, politician, premier of Ontario, and was one of the Fathers of Canadian Confederation. He was known by all his contemporaries as being a godly man who sought to do what was right in the sight of God, and who believed passionately in the proclamation and defense of the gospel, and the administration of its graces. Near the end of his life, he published two works on Christianity and its evidences and Christianity and its influence as his contributions to the development of a holistic Christian apologetic.

Entremêlant chansons d’enfance, témoignages d’une autre époque et photos d’archives, ce documentaire fait un portrait touchant du quotidien des enfants au travail entre 1850 et 1950. À la ferme, dans les mines, à l’usine, les conditions étaient très difficiles !

Êtes-vous de ceux qui déshabillent leurs Whippet avant de les manger ? Ou encore faites-vous partie de ceux qui font exploser la coque de chocolat avant de les déguster ? Peu importe la technique, le Whippet demeure le deuxième biscuit le plus vendu au Québec. Inventé et produit en sol québécois, il est un fleuron de la culture québécoise selon plusieurs. Le biscuit causera une commotion quand l’usine qui le fabrique sera délocalisée à l’extérieur du Québec en 2020. Un abandon selon certains… dont il ne restera que des miettes.