Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canadian Government

Growing up in the USA, I am familiar with a Constitutional Federal Representative Republic where the Constitution is the highest law of the land and each of the fifty states shares power with representatives elected by citizens. At least, this is how it is supposed to function in the USA, there are supposed to be "Checks and Balances", but at this time it doesn't seem to be working very well. Time will tell if our Constitutional Representative Republic stands or is replaced by an authoritarian government.

So, as a "Lost Canadian", I wanted to know what type of government Canada has, and have learned in some ways it is similar to what I'm used to here in the USA, but is different in other ways and has its own way of making their government work.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About the Arrival of Europeans

Yesterday I shared what I learned about the First Nations Peoples who migrated from Asia to Canada up to 16,500 years ago, so today I'm sharing what I've learned about European peoples who migrated to Canada about one thousand years ago. You may be surprised at what I learned - I was.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Respecting Canada's First Nations Peoples

For the past two weeks I've been writing about the land of Canada. As a "Lost Canadian" it matters to me for me to learn about this incredible country of which I am actually a citizen! Growing up in the USA, of course I learned a lot about this country, but I knew very little about Canada - even growing up in Michigan, which is very close to Canada. But now I have learned some very interesting information about the country of Canada by learning about its thirteen Provinces and Territories.

But there is much more for me to learn about Canada. So, I thought I'd look at the first peoples who lived in this land - the First Nations. I have learned . . . 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Yukon

As I've written, when I learned I was a "Lost Canadian" I knew I wanted to learn about the country of which I am actually part. It is such an incredible thing to know while I wake up every day feeling shame and despair about the country in which I have grown up, the USA, I am able to feel relief, gratitude, and joy in knowing I am part of a country like Canada! It matters to me to learn about this country, my country, Canada, so this is exactly what I have been doing. Today I very happy to share with you what I have learned about the last Territory for me to write about - Yukon!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About British Columbia

The past eleven days this "Lost Canadian" has been learning about the Provinces and Territories of Canada - there is one more Province and one more Territory, so today I'm writing about the last  Province - British Columbia, and I am very happy to share with you what I've learned about this amazing place!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Alberta

When you think of Alberta, like this "Lost Canadian", you may think of the Canadian Rockies and be familiar with places in Alberta such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Banff, but as amazing as these places are, there is SO much more to discover about how incredible Alberta truly is!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Saskatchewan

When I learned I am a "Lost Canadian", one of the first things I wanted to do was to learn about the country which I am part of - Canada. I have to say, as I've researched the Provinces and Territories I've been very surprised at all the interesting things I've learned! I always thought of Canada as the country North of us, which was even colder than Michigan (where I grew up), but I now know Canada is a truly amazing place and is so much more than I ever knew! Today I'm happy to share with you what I've learned about Saskatchewan - and just a "heads up" - it is so much more than just a place where there are lots of prairies!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About the Northwest Territories

This "Lost Canadian" grew up in Michigan, so I know what it is like to live in cold and snow . . . or at least I thought I did. If I were to compare Michigan to the Northwest Territory of Canada, Michigan could be said to be nearly "balmy"! I am very happy to share with you some surprising and definitely "chilly" facts with you I have learned about the Northwest Territory.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Nunavut

Today I'm very happy to let you know about Nunavut - the largest and youngest Territory in Canada! This "Lost Canadian" is very impressed with Nunavut - it is an extremely interesting and unique place.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Manitoba

As I wrote a few days ago, growing up in the USA, I learned many things about this country in school and by visiting 34 of the 50 States, but even though Canada was a close neighbor (I grew up in Michigan), I didn't know very much about Canada. When I learned about the new Canadian Bill C-3, and discovered over 1/3 of my ancestors were Canadians, I knew I needed to learn about Canada - especially since I will be able to receive citizenship once I gather all the necessary papers. Today I am very happy to share with you some of the things I've learned about the Canadian Province of Manitoba.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Ontario

For the past week I've been writing about the things this "Lost Canadian" is learning about Canada. Each day I've been writing about one of the Provinces and Territories and today I'm writing about Ontario. Growing up in Michigan, Ontario is the part of Canada I'm most familiar with and the part I've actually visited, so today I'm very happy to let you know about Ontario!

Thoughts from a "Lost Canadian" About Quebec

Today this "Lost Canadian" is very happy to let you know about the Canadian Province which covers the largest area of land - Quebec - which shares borders with the Canadian Provinces of Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick as well as four States from the USA - New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Yes, Quebec covers a large area of land for sure! Now for some interesting information about Quebec which this "Lost Canadian" believes to be very interesting . . .

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About New Brunswick

For the past few days this "Lost Canadian" has been learning and writing about Providences and Territories in Canada - today I'm sharing with you what I have learned about New Brunswick. As you travel up the East Coast of Canada, you will find New Brunswick - Quebec and the US State of Maine to the West, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait to the east, and the Bay of Fundy to the south. I've learned some very interesting facts about this Providence and believe it is a place I would very much enjoy visiting!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Newfoundland and Labrador

As I look at photos of Newfoundland and Labrador, I can see why people want to live here as this area is beautiful! It has everything - oceans with Puffins and Whales, Icebergs, Mountains, Forests, Lakes, extremely interesting history, and modern cities - certainly visiting - or even living here - would leave you with experiences you may not find in other places for sure. What more could a person want?

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Nova Scotia

Today I am very happy to share with you some interesting information about another Canadian Providence - Nova Scotia! I believe I would very much enjoy the opportunity to visit this place as it looks like there is very much to see and do in Nova Scotia for sure!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Prince Edward Island

As I wrote yesterday, Canada has Providences and Territories, so today I am going to share with you what this "Lost Canadian" has learned about one of these Providences - Prince Edward Island. 

A Quick "Look" at Canada for a "Lost Canadian"

As I wrote yesterday, I have lived most of my life in West Michigan. Growing up in the USA, I learned about the geography of this country and the history of it as well - at least the history they teach us in school. Now I know I am a "Lost Canadian", I am very happy to learn about the geography and history of Canada, so today I'm going to share some of what I am learning about the amazing land of Canada.

I'm a Lost Canadian!

I have lived most of my life in West Michigan, just thirty minutes from beautiful Lake Michigan. I lived for a few years in Northern California, two hours from Oregon, where I met my husband - but I was born in West Michigan and have lived most of my life here. Of course I knew my dad and my grandpa, but my great-grandpa died before I was born. Along with not knowing him, I also did not know - until last week - my great grandpa was born in Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada, and my great-great grandpa and great-great grandma were born in East Hawkesbury, Prescott, Ontario, Canada, and Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada.