Why is Canada the best country to live on this planet?

An Egyptian Christian Church under Construction in nearby Markham 

Canada has been recognized consistently as one of the best countries to live in the world! Recently, it has been chosen as one of the top three countries - the best place to live on this planet!

I am thankful everyday that I am a Canadian and that  my family and I live in this great country.
While there are so many conflicts and warfare taking place all over the world and we witness tremendous made made human suffering,  Canadians live in a peaceful and harmonious country.

An Unique Mosque on Middlefield Rd, Scarborough

Why are Canadians so fortunate?

I often ponder  this question myself. I am no great philosopher nor am I a social scientist. I do not have a master degree in political science nor have I done much research on this question.

Last Sunday, I found the answer!

Not far from where I attend church on Sundays, there is a magnificent Egyptian Coptic Church currently under construction. It has been an ongoing  building project for the past two years. Many in the community could hardly wait when it is done! It will be a huge celebration among the Egyptian Christan community upon its completion, no doubt!

As I drove along on Middlefield Road close to Markham Road, a mosque with a unique architectural design caught my eyes. It was a  colourful building and I jumped out of my car to take a picture of it.

A Catholic Church right next to the mosque

However, what really caught my attention was a beautiful gigantic cross erected right next to the mosque. As I walked to take a closer look at the cross, I discovered another place of worship close by -  A Catholic church jut right beside the mosque.

The Few Trees in the Middle Separate the Catholic Church from the Mosque

I wish I had a better camera with a wider lens so that I could have captured this beautiful sight that represented the true belief and the Canadian values that are so dear to all of us.

 What a wonderful sight! There are two beautiful religious buildings standing side by side each other. Worshipers - Muslims and Christians were in and out freely, happily and peacefully into these buildings; people were free to choose and worship in whatever building they wanted.

There were no armed police officers, no check points nor were there any great stone walls separating these two religious buildings and the people in them for fear that there migt be any conflicts or ugly situations that could potentially turn violent.

Freedom to worship, respect for other people's religions and differences, a value on human lives and dignity, democracy, along with our universal health care/education , smart government policies and decisions, and according to our latest employment report, a mere 7.1% unemployment rate -  these are the reasons why all Canadians, thirty five millions in all,  can collectively live and lead such  peaceful, harmonious and prosperous lives year after year!

I thank God and praise Him everyday for being a Canadian!

I love Canada, our people and our government for the collective wisdom, love of peace and respect for all people and religions!

R.T.
Toronto  

Muskoka Scencery - Inspiring the Artwork of Group of Seven

Bracebridge, Muskoka

One advantage about being retired is that the pace of life is much slower for us. We can take our time, stop and talk to strangers and smell the roses.

Gravenhurst, Muskoka

We had driven past Gravenhurst and Huntsville numerous times but we seemed to have always been rushing. This time we took time to go into town and visit these popular summer destinations for many Ontarian.

A Wall Mural of the Group of Seven - Huntsville, Muskoka

The scenery of Muskoka is beautiful, magnificent and unique. Muskoka is known for its rugged and rocky shorelines. The Group of Seven - Canadian artists well known for their artwork portraying the scenery and capturing the spirit of Muskoka.









These artists were inspired by the

A Group of Seven Wall Mural - Huntsville, Muskoka

natural scenery  and beauty of this area.




As we took time to
 enjoy this beautiful area, we saw the Group of Seven wall murals on buildings reflecting their work.

Enjoy the artwork of our famous Canadian artisits!


R.T.
Muskoka

Catching the Muskoka Sunset

Being out in the country is great! The fresh air, the sound of water and the smell of fresh grass is just rejuvenating and good for our souls.

The Muskoka area boasts numerous gorgeous lakes and unrivaled natural scenery.

Sunset  in  Muskoka

I always love looking at pictures of sunset. There is something about the colour, the calm and the water that make me feel cosy and all warm inside. But whenever I see sunset pictures, there are inevitably palm trees involved in those gorgeous pictures.

 I was determined to capture beautiful sunset pictures right here close to home in Ontario without depending on a tropical sun.

Catching the Sunset - Gravenhurst , Ontario, Canada

I did just that during our long weekend trip back from Muskoka.!

 We stopped  in Huntsville, had a picnic by the lake and then headed to Gravenhurst. Though we drove by Gravenhurst numerous times, we rarely stopped by the lake to enjoy the waterfront view. This time because Kelly was with us and we wanted to show her around Muskoka

We got to Gravenhurst around dust and Don took us straight to the lake. We made good time and I was able to capture a number of sunset pictures. Each picture I took was different in colour reflecting the time when the sun was going down. I was very lucky to have been there just before the sunset.

I am very proud of these beautiful pictures!!!

R.T.
Victoria Day Weekend
Gravenhurst, Ontario

Leaving Town for the Long Weekend - A Canadian Tradition

May 18, 2013

Lakefront Property - Our Escape from the Big City

Escaping to the country side and getting away from the hustle and bustle of the big city is our favorite Canadian thing to do during our long weekend!

The Victoria Day long weekend is traditionally one of the busiest long weekend as people are rushing to their cottages and opening their country retreats for the summer.

We were of no exception. We did just that; with Kelly and Don as our guests for the weekend, we got up to our lake front cabin and spent the weekend there.

Love the Sight of Water and Birds all Weekend!

We always wonder what our little place by the lake looks like after a long winter. The Canadian winter can be brutally cold, with gusty winds whipping around causing trees to fall and heavy snow collapsing roofs and walls.

These natural elements  can cause a lot of damages to properties.

This 2 piece Dock Drifted to Our Property

This time, we had a pleasant surprise!

 Not only did everything looked good around our little cabin save for a few trees falling down on  our property, something appeared out of nowhere was perfectly placed and positioned by the lakeside - a beautiful two section dock with two Muskoka chairs and a flower pot perfectly placed on it were washed ashore to our lakefront property!

Two Muskoka Chairs were Washed Ashored with the Dock

What an unexpected  beautiful sight!

We learned from listening to the radio in Toronto that there was spring flooding in the countryside in the Muskoka region.

Enjoying our Cabin with Friends

 But I never thought that an entire dock could be washed ashore!  We were grateful that the weekend weather was perfect, a balmy 24 degree with blue sky, sunny weather.

We always have a great time with our friends who we invited to come to our cabin with us. We all sat in the comfortable chairs and enjoyed the warm sun on the dock which brought us out into the lake - an experience we never had before because we never had such a beautiful dock out there!

Deep down, I really wanted this beautiful dock by our lake front property so that we could enjoy the water.

 I was ashamed of myself because I was greedy; I wished that the rightful owner of this dock would never find and claim back his/ her property. But we knew that our happiness would be short lived as it didn`t belong to us.





Later on, our neighbor told us that the owner
would come and tow it back the following week.
 
For the weekend at least we have experienced what a dock or a deck would offer us by the water, we would plan to build something there ourselves this summer!

R.T.
Muskoka,Ontario

Food which People Had Died For in Canada

How willing are you to die for your food?

Have you ever had food so good that you would risk your life to buy some so that you can eat it?

Yes, people had died trying to buy their favorite food in Canada!

On our way to our little cabin up north during the long weekend, we always take Highway 400 and drive past Orillia.

Not long after  pasting the city of Orillia, we would see a steel overpass high above the highway allowing pedestrians who have parked their cars on either side of the parking lot to cross to the other side .

This overpass was built after nearly a dozen people had risked their lives crossing a four lane highway and trying to get
to the other side to buy food from the restaurant, Webers, where hamburgers, fries and ice creams were sold.

We stopped by and ordered the famous hamburgers plus some poutine from the restaurant. It has been in business for a long time. In fact,  Webers is celebrating its fifty years this year.

One of the neat things about the restaurant is its seating for customers. There are an abundance of seating available. Customers can choose to sit outside on its beautiful huge green property or dine in the refurbished dining railway cars. 

We chose to be close to nature and enjoyed our food outside on the well manicured park like lawn.  The hamburgers were fresh and tasty; we enjoyed the food and the beautiful setting.  But would I be willing to risk my life, cross the four lane highway in order to have this food?

 I don't think so!

R.T.
Webers near Orillia, Ontario

Finally, a Memorable Lunch with My Son

Friday, May 17, 2013

I was invited to Queen Alexandra School to speak to students in two assemblies in the morning.  It was uncharacteristic of me to feel a little nervous.  I have spoken to students and young people at assemblies for most of my professional life and I actually enjoy public speaking. However, I had not done a formal school wide presentation for a little wide since my retirement and I was not sure what to expect from a few hundred of teenagers who might or might not be interested in my topic.

 I did it and it went well!  My presentation on Asian History in Canada was well received and there were a lot of questions at the end which told me that students did pay attention and wanted to know more about it.

I asked my son, Jonathan, to come and video tape my presentation so that I could improve on it for future presentations. We went out for lunch on Danforth afterwards.

It was the best lunch I ever had with my son!!!  We tried Greek food, something different, and the dishes were delicious. But the best part of our lunch was our honest exchange in our conversation.

I must admit that my relationship with my younger son has not been ideal. As parents, we love our children and we always want the best for them. However, the way we express our love may have been misinterpreted as being intrusive at times.

As an educator, I have been able to reach many difficult students and parents when they come to me for help. I could always listen to them, keeping my head cool and helping them to diffuse their unpleasant situations.  But things changed when dealing with my own son. My husband, our son and I could be too emotional at times therefore unable to conduct meaningful and calm discussions in times of conflict.

 I remember vividly how many of our casual discussions had turned into heated  arguments with us saying hurtful things to each other. A few years back, we couldn't substain a conversation without ending up arguing with each other. As recently as last Christmas, a casual discussion in the car after the big annual family dinner  (at Susuan and Dave) turned ugly and Jonathan ended up feeling extremely upset with me because of a remark I made. Sometimes, our grown up children are so sensitive of some topics that I feel as I were walking on thin ice and have to tiptoe around
them.

This afternoon, our conversation was lovely, absolutely marvelous! It was an honest, polite exchange of information and opinions about what each of us has done recently. Jonathan, who quit his very secure and stable well paid teaching job to pursue his artistic interest,  shared with me about his success and failures in his new pursuits, hopes and dreams. I listened attentively without making any remarks nor did I offer any motherly advice ( which I used to do in the past and got him angry with me.)  He was in the mood to talk and I was glad that I was there to share his life experience with him. Our lunch hour flew by quickly without any awkward moment of dead silence.

I just realized that this was the first time I have had a real  pleasant  adult to adult conversation with my younger son. I am delighted to discover that my relationship with him has turned a new page and that our relationship has evolved from  a parent-child relationship to a best friend supporting,  respecting and loving each other relationship.  I thank God for this positive change and I look forward to many more pleasant lunch conversations with our sons in the future!

R.T.
At a Danforth Restaurant
Toronto

Cherry Blossoms at High Park, Toronto

One of My Most Favorite Places - High Park, Toronto

A couple of Fridays ago, I heard on the CBC ( Canadian Broadcasting Company, an excellent radio station!!!)  that particular weekend would be the best time to see the cherry blossom at High Park in Toronto.

That Friday happened to be a really nice day with temperatures around 18 degree C. I called my mother living by herself at the St. Paul Senior Apartment. Having been cooped up in an apartment all winter long, my mother loved the idea of walking around in a park.

Cherry Blossoms were in Full Bloom Last Week

So I picked her up and we took the subway to High Park.

High Park, Toronto, is a beautiful spacious parkland with about 450 acres of land. I have been to the Central Park of New York City. To me, our local High Park rivals the Central Park of the Big Apple. High Park is just as accessible by public transit.

We took the subway and got off at the High Park Station on the Bloor line and we were there!!!! No traffic congestion, no parking headaches!

Lots of People Went to High Park to Enjoy the Cherry Blooms

It was marvelous being outdoors, breathing air filled with the smell of spring and enjoying the sight of fresh sprouting green leaves and branches bursting their ways out of ground.

There were kids riding their bikes, elderly folks holding hands strolling along the walking paths, numerous groups of young people sitting in circles, laughing and enjoying their picnic lunches and yes those sun-starved souls sprawling on the green lawn with their blankets and soaking hungrily in the afternoon sun.

 It was only a Friday afternoon, still a working day. We were surprised to see the number of people in the park enjoying a gorgeous spring day.


Ah, people were here to admire the full blooms of the cherry blossoms. There were a full hill of those beautiful pink and white flowers.

It was magnificent and quite a sight!I have lived in Toronto for the past thirty some years, yet this was the first time I took time out to enjoy the flowers!

 How many beautiful days like this have I missed in the past? I wondered why we did not bring our children here every year to enjoy this wonderful scenery and God's gift to man.

Though eighty seven years old, my mom was able to strolled around the park,  invigorated by the sight and sound of  nature and all the beautiful plants around her. It is not easy for an elderly person walking for a few hours and not overcome by exhaustion.

I was careful making sure that we took a few breaks in between, sipping tea, refueling ourselves with snacks and later dining in the outdoor restaurant enjoying barbeque ribs, my mother's favourite dish.  My husband also came after work and joined us in the restaurant.

 My mom and I had such a good time in High Park that I will treasure this fond memory in the years to come!

R.T.
High Park, Toronto  

When Life Mistreats You not Once but Twice

Sometimes things happen in life and we wonder and ask why? Why is life so easy for some yet so unfair for the other? Some people, talented, become rich and famous, adored and loved by millions around the world at a young tender age such as Justin Bibier while some have been devastated not just once but twice by circumstances beyond their control.

A true hero, when being dealt by life's disasters and struck down,  picks up the pieces in his/her life, continues in the journey of life and marches forward with courage inspiring others along the way.

Steven, one of our friends at church was devastated a few years ago when his wife had cancer and passed away. Left with three children, Steven worked hard to hold the family together. He did not waver in his faith; hecontinued to serve at church while attending bible school part time to finish his master degree of divinity at Tyndale Seminary/University. Things started to get back to normal.

Steven receiving his degree from Tyndale Seminaryé Univeristy

Just when Steven thought that he could breathe a little, disaster struck again! A few months ago, Timothy, Steven's youngest son, barely twenty years old, was diagnosed with bone cancer, a huge blow to him and the family.

Steven depends on God, clings to his faith and asks his friends at church to pray for his son. While looking after his son who is going in and out of the hospital for surgery followed by chemotherapy, Steven did not fall apart nor cave in to such devastating event. I never heard him complaining about how unfair life has been to him. He continued with his master courses and graduated last Saturday from Tyndale University.

Steven - Celebrating with friends

Friends and family were there to show their support for Steven, a hero, who refused to bow down to tragedies and unfortunate incidents in life.

Steven is my hero! A hero keeps going when the going is tough, persevering and achieving his/ her goals at the end!

We thank God for people like Steven, not giving up in life!

R.T.
Toronto

Obessing over a Problem - Maybe a sign of Depression

I was extremely busy for the last couple of weeks as I have been involved in helping a family in crisis.

We have known this couple with two boys and they have been struggling with some marital problems for sometime.  Two  Saturdays ago, the husband fell prey to a phone scam and about a thousand dollars were stolen from the couple's account. When the wife asked the husband what happened, he did not explain to her and she went berserk over this.

The incident triggered a full blown depression in the wife and she was not herself at all.  She resorted to attempting suicide as she saw no hope in this marriage. The police was called and she was hospitalized for a few days. The doctors made sure that she was stable emotionally before they released her to a relative's home. Because this couple has two children, therefore Children Aids have been notified and are involved.

There were  a culmination of many things that her husband did which frustrated this lady. But one thing that annoyed his wife most has been his obsession of asking his wife and children eating healthy food and drinking milk at every meal.

 According to Jan Wong, a well known Canadian journalist ( former Beijng Bureau Chief for Globe and Mail ) and author of "Red China Blues",  recently published " Out of the Blue" about her depression illness noted the following:

" I was in the grip of of a ruminative cycle..... Ruminate from the Latin for chew again describe the way cattle chew, swallow, regurgitate and re chew their food. In psychiatric terms, rumination means obsessing about a problem, therby reinforcing and prolonging the negative mood. Ruminating is the thought process that defines depression....."

Aha! This explains why this lady was constantly complaining about her husband's concerns about eating healthy food. She has been complaining to us and obsessing over this problem for the past few years and a couple of Saturdays ago, a particular incident was the last straw on the camel's back plunged her into a serious depression.

Reading "Out of Blue" has given me some basic and very useful background information about depression. Instead of being bored and at times annoyed by someone's chronic complaints on the same subject, I may look at that person differently wondering if this person might be going through a rough time or possibly exhibiting one of the symptoms of depression. This lady appears to be a cheerful person but has in fact been on medication for depression for a little while. Other than ruminating about her annoyance over her husband's healthy food concern, I would have never guessed that she was a patient with a mental illness.

I need to learn more about mental illness so that I can understand more about it and recognize it so that I can find help for friends and family members possibly dealing with depression alone and secretly.

R.T.
Toronto