12/12/2019 1 Comment Stwór z jeziora OkanaganW południowej prowincji Kolumbii Brytyjskiej znajduje się kraj Okanagan- jest to miejsce gdzie tradycyjne wierzenia stykają się ze współczesnością. Jedno z wierzeń, które do tej pory istnieje wśród tamtejszej ludności to istnienie wodnego potwóra, który zamieszkuje jezioro Okanagan. Ogopogo-bo tak został nazwany jest obecnie “maskotką” kraju i jego stałą częścią, w którą nadal wierzy wiekszość okolicznego społeczeństwa. British Columbia is thought to be Canada’s most beautiful province. This is a much loved part of Canada and one of the most popular destinations for domestic tourism. In the southern part of the province, you can find Okanagan Country. This large valley extends from just north of the US border at Osoyoos to Vernon 150 km north. The area is famous for its beautiful weather, beautiful scenery and being home to the only true desert in Canada. Internationally the area is becoming more well known due to the impressive selection of local wine that can be found. If you visit this area you will be bombarded by majority Canadian culture, but undeniable traces of traditional culture remains. Okanagan Valley is home to one of the best examples of the clash of modern day with the traditional beliefs of the first inhabitants. A traditional legend of the Salish People remains the very heart of Okanagan culture. Long ago a man named Kel - oni - won murdered Old Kan - he - kan, a highly respected elder. Kel - oni - won was turned into a lake serpent as punishment by the Creator. A punishment of remorse and shame to last for all of eternity. The Lake Goddess gave him the name N’ha - a - tk, or water demon and left him in the company of the animals, but none would have him except for the rattlesnakes. N’ha - a - tk calls the waters of the Okanagan home, a place named for the elder he killed. It is said he can be found near Rattlesnake Island (AKA Monster Island), a small island that is believed to be the final resting place for those of those who dared to cross the Okanagan Lake without giving N’ha - a - tk the payment he required. And the price of crossing was high. N’ha - a - tk requires a live sacrifice for a promised safe passage across the water. Small animals would be placed into the water and left to down. And when they did, the journey across the lake would begin. But things started to change for N’ha - a - tk after the arrival of settlers to the area in the 1800’s. In the beginning, the white settlers did heed the warnings of the local Salish people. They even patrolled the shores looking for the water demon. Anytime there was an accident on the water it was because N’ha - a - tk was not being given the respect he required and he would physically lash out. In modern times N’ha - a - tk has been suffering an identity crisis. He is no longer the fearsome water demon, but he has become a tourist gimmick. He even got third name change to go with the new schtick: the Ogopogo. While sightings on the Okanagan are rare, you are guaranteed to find him in the tourist shops and in the Kelowna city park.
1 Comment
12/4/2019 1 Comment The Northwest TerritoriesJednym z najbardziej tajemniczych terytoriów w Kanadzie jest Northwest Territories w skrócie NWT. Brak dróg sprawia, że podróż do zakątków w tym obszarze staje się wręcz niemożliwa. Obszar NWT jest bardzo słabo zaludniony. Najbardziej charakterystycznymi miejscami tam są Bear Rock Sinokle tworzący masywny otwór w ziemi, powstały po zawaleniu się podziemnej jaskini, The Fairy Meadow-jedno z najpiękniejszych i najniebezpieczniejszych miejsc na świecie, do którego dostać się możesz tylko bedąc doświadczonym wspinaczem skalnym oraz ogromne jezioro Niewolnicze, które zwane jest również jeziorem bez dna - głebiny jego są niezbadane po dzień dzisiejszy. Przejazdy samochodowe po tych terenach o dziwo są łatwiejsze zimą, kiedy zamarzają jeziora i rzeki i budowane są drogi zimowe, w tym czasie tamtejsza społeczność może gromadzić niezbędny do przeżycia towar. Similar to the Yukon, the Northwest Territories is large, sparsely populated territory in the far Canadian North. Unlike the Yukon, the NWT has not become a strongly touristic location. This is not to say it isn’t worthy of being a destination. The territory is over a million squared kilometers of wilderness. It is not just unpopulated wilderness, but it is unexplored and unknown. Even roads are hard to find here. In the winter months the ice roads are the lifeline of the province. The NWT is often referred to as a mystery, because even to this day there are more questions than answers about the land. The territory boasts several strange natural monuments. One is the Bear Rock Sinkhole. A massive oval shaped hole appeared when an underground cave collapsed, opening the surface of the ground to its aquamarine waters. The beauty of the area and the bright waters look inviting, but if you jump in, you will never be able to climb back out (assuming you can even get to the sinkhole as there are no roads there). The Fairy Meadow is another incredible yet dangerous location. It is one of the most remote locations in the world, and requires you to be an experienced rock climber to even hope to survive the trek. But if you do, a vast meadow full of wildflowers will open up to you in the middle of a steep and jagged mountain range called Cirque of the Unclimables. Another popular location is the Great Slave Lake. This lake is the largest in Canada and the tenth largest in the world. While this location relatively accessible when compared to the rest of the territory, no one knows how deep the lake is. The official estimate is 614 meters, but the trenches are unexplored and are believed to be much deeper. For this reason the lake is affectionately called the Bottomless Lake and will most likely keep its secrets for generations to come. The issue with travelling to the NWT is the isolation and difficult travel conditions of the territory. Even during the warmer months the land can be impassable. There are a lack of roads due to the huge numbers of lakes and rivers, dense forest, and spongy tundra terrain which is impossible to build stable roads on. The roads that are there, are usually gravel roads of varying quality. If you are braving the drive, extra tires and gas are strongly recommended along with extra food and survival equipment due to the isolation and the lack of reception you could be facing if things go wrong. During the colder months it is much easier to travel because of the ice roads. The ice roads are built between December and April from the frozen rivers and lakes and they break the isolation within the territory, allowing for easy road trips and allow isolated communities to stock up necessary goods to keep their communities alive. While ice roads are considered to be safe, the biggest threat is the slippery surface rather than breaking through.
Source: https://spectacularnwt.com/story/15-strange-and-dangerous-places-canadas-northwest-territories Where the Highway Ends: https://youtu.be/0cwNApC3KE4 Cirque of the Unclimables: https://youtu.be/K5PHXchZi10 11/25/2019 0 Comments Sourtoe CocktailKoktajl z kawałekiem ludzkiego ciała? Kanadyjski koktajl, mający swój początek w 1973 roku to połączenie alkoholu i zmumifikowanego palca ludzkiego. Sourtoe Coctail serwowany jest tylko i wyłącznie w hotelu Downtown w Dawson. W tym miejscu właśnie w ok. 1920 roku został odcięty palec Otto Likena ( aby zapobiec gangrenie) i schowany do słoika z bourbonem. 50 lat później znalazł go kapitan Dick Stevenson, który wypił zawartość słoja i w ten sposób zapoczątkował istnienie najdziwniejszego koktajlu świata… Główną zasadą picia tego napoju jest picie alkoholu dotkając ustami palca w nim zanużonego. Skąd brane są palce do drinków? Otóż istnieje wiele patronów i fanów tego przedsięwzięcia, którzy oddają palce amputowane z różnych przyczyn. Jednym z nich był zmarły 14 listopada 2019r kapitan Dick Stevenson- twórca napoju. Canada is regarded as one of the most beautiful country in the world. Most people focus on the geographical beauty of the Rocky Mountains found between Alberta and British Columbia, or the dramatic cliff coastlines of the maritime provinces. Or maybe even the rainforests of British Columbia. But Canada has one gem reserved for the truly wild at heart. In the Canadian North you will find the Yukon territory. With a total land and water area of approximately 480 000 km2 (100 000km2 bigger than Poland!), the territory is home to only 35 000 people (approximately the same as Lebork). With such a large size and low population, the Yukon is very sparsely populated. The territory is well known nationally for its expansive and untouched wilderness. Deep in this wilderness is the small town of Dawson City. With a population of 1 400 people, it is the second largest municipality in the territory, second only to Whitehorse. While this small town already has its place in history for being a major hub during the Klondike Goldrush era, the SourToe Cocktail has brought international infamy and notoriety to its doorstep in recent decades. However, the Legend begins much earlier. During prohibition, two brothers Louie and Otto Liken were rum runners. And one day things went sideways. During a blizzard Louie put his foot through the ice and into the freezing waters. By the time he got back to his cabin his foot was frozen and was suffering from severe frostbite. To prevent serious complications like gangrene (tissue death) Otto cut his brothers big toe off. The toe was put into a jar with bourbon and left in the cabin where it was found by Captain Dick Stevenson fifty years later in 1973. And somehow the Sourtoe Cocktail was created. This cocktail is served exclusively at the Downtown Hotel in Dawson. The quirky drink consists of two ingredients: a shot of choice hard alcohol and a mummified human toe. For $5 the Toe Master, called The Captain will pour you a drink and explain the rules, “you can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips must touch the toe.” The Captain will stay will you until the drink is finished and serve as a witness. When a patron successfully kisses the toe they gain admittance into exclusive Sourtoe Cocktail Club and are given a certificate as proof. Over the decades toes have been swallowed, stolen and of course have deteriorated. But patrons and fans have donated toes due to accidental amputation, frostbite, diabetes, inoperable toe corns and some even anonymously. As of 2013 swallowing the toe will result in a $2 500 fine due to theft, destruction of private property, loss of revenue and cannibalism. The Sourtoe Cocktail has been in Canadian news recently as Captain Dick Stevenson, the drink’s creator passed away on November 14, 2019 at the age of 89. He has willed his toes to the Downtown Hotel, ensuring the legendary story and drink will live on.
McLean’s Canada: What it feels like to join the sourtoe cocktail club in Dawson City (1:02) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Y8eVdxXXk CBC: Sourtoe: The Story of the Sorry Cannibal Documentary (17:37) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2rKP123DJQ Sources: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/sourtoe-cocktail-lives-on-at-yukon-bar-after-creator-wills-his-own-toes-1.4693551 https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sourtoe-cocktail 11/18/2019 0 Comments Polowanie na foki.Przez wieki społeczności Kanadyjskie, szczególnie tzw. Eskimosi słynęli z uboju fok. Oczywiście stanowiąca większość populacji, jest przeciwna zabijaniu tych morskich istot, uważając to za “nieludzkie”. Polowanie na foki jest ważną częścią kultury północnej społeczności Kanady- jest to ich główny środek dochodowy, a przede wszystkim sposób utrzymania. Czy zatem mamy prawo twierdzić, że jest to nieludzkie, skoro na świecie istnieje mnóstwo rzeźni, ubojni, które zajmują się podobnymi sprawami? ( mowa o ubojni krów, świń itp) Czy nie jest to egoistyczne spojrzenie na rzeczywistość ze strony reszty? Canada has come under fire many times in the last few decades for seal hunting. This practise has been deemed inhumane and as a result seal products have been banned in many countries around the world, including the European Union. Because this topic is so controversial, much of the information has been sensationalized and tends to be very biased. One of the most common incorrect criticisms about the industry is that it is unsustainable. This means that the seals are being hunted in such extreme numbers that populations cannot recover. However this is not true. Seal populations remain very healthy across the country, despite hitting cull and/or hunting quotas from lows of 80 000 to highs of 400 000 per year. The method of killing has also been heavily criticized. The most common way is to crush the skull of the seal after it has been stunned. For reference, livestock is stunned and then suspended before major vessels are cut and the animal bleeds to death. Seal hunting remains an important part of Inuit culture in the Canadian north. Seals are hunted by the Inuit for their livelihood, both for sustenance and for income. It is a traditional practise than has been embedded into many communities of Inuit across the North and has taken place for hundreds if not thousands of years. If seal hunting was outright banned in Canada, this would severely impair and even devastate these small communities as the selling of pelts and meat is their main and often the only source of income. The criticism of this industry in respect to the Inuit is a cruel double standard. The killing of animals is a grisly reality of life and in some cases survival. Calling the killing of seals inhumane is ignorant to the highly commercialised slaughter houses found across the world. It is ignorant to sport hunting. And most of all it is ignorant to delicacies such as veal or foie gras. The pictures shown of seal slaughters is of course horrifying, (but no more horrifying than inside a commercial slaughterhouse - there is a reason photos and videos inside slaughterhouses are typically illegal). The red blood of the seals is a beacon of extreme contrast on the white ice and snow. But don’t be fooled in thinking that the pork, poultry or beef you consume didn’t bleed before it made it onto your plate. The only credible debates against seal hunting is the necessity of controlling populations and increasing problems due to global warming. Other than pelts, seals have been hunted to such extreme numbers due being labelled a pest and damaging the cod populations. However, there have been many good arguments over the years stating seals are simply being used as a scapegoat for overfishing and are not to blame. But even with the resulting extreme cull, populations are still healthy and have increased dramatically in the last 50 years. The other argument against seal hunting is global warming. Seal pups need ice to survive, as the world warms up there is less and less ice for them. This argument states that we need to not put stress on the populations due to the increasing stress that global warming is putting them in.
Sources: https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/food-specific-requirements-and-guidance/meat-products-and-food-animals/humane-stunning-and-slaughter/eng/1519849311784/1519849312189 https://medium.com/getting-heated-argumentation-in-the-anthropocene/what-do-you-know-about-the-seal-hunt-946ad91225a3 https://nationalpost.com/news/canada-is-never-ever-going-to-stop-killing-seals-your-tell-all-guide-to-the-seal-hunt 11/13/2019 0 Comments Obchody 11 listopada w Kanadzie11 listopad jest dniem ważnym zarówno dla Polaków jak i Kanadyjczyków. W Polsce obchodzimy rocznicę Odzyskania Niepodległości (w tym roku jest to 101 rocznica), natomiast w Kanadzie 11 listopad to Dzień Pamięci poległych w czasie wojny żołnierzy kanadyjskich. Ważnym wymogiem dla Kanadyjczyków przed tym dniem jest niewystawianie świątecznych ozdób, gdyż jest to traktowane jako niegodne i pozbawione szacunku. Świąteczne dekoracje w sklepach można więc zobaczyć dopiero po 12 listopada. Symbolem obchodów Dnia Pamięci jest mak, który noszony jest w trakcie ceremonii po lewej stronie nad sercem. O godzinie 11:11 , w każdym miejscu w Kanadzie ludzie zatrzymują się w ciszy na 2 minuty, usłyszeć można tylko dźwięki trąbki grającej pieśń upamiętniającą. Monday, November 11, 2019 marks the 101st anniversary of the armistice of World War I. And in Canada, it will be the 101th celebration of Remembrance Day (previously called Armistice Day). Today, Remembrance Day is to honour and remember all those who have fallen in service for Canada. On November 11th many people follow the National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa from television, livestream or radio, some will attend local ceremonies, and for many it is a normal day. Unlike every other public event in the country, Remembrance Day is the only one that is treated solemnly and seriously. After Halloween is cleaned up, the country gets ready for Remembrance Day. Nothing special needs to be done. The one requirement is not putting up Christmas decorations. Christmas season starts on November 12th. Doing anything before this date is considered highly disrespectful to the sacrifice and memory of fallen Canadian soldiers. In the weeks leading up to November 11th, people grab free poppies (donations to The Legion are encouraged) and wear them on their coats or collars. Usually on the left side, over your heart. The red is for the blood spilled and the black is for those who mourn the fallen. The poppy became the most important symbol of Remembrance Day after Canadian John McCrae wrote the iconic poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem memorializes his experience fighting in the Second Battle of Ypres in the Flanders region of Belgium. The battle was won, but the losses were great. His poem reflects both on the nightmare of the battle, but also how quickly the poppies grew in between the graves when all was over. This area is now known as the John McCrae Memorial Site. In the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a trumpet will ring and the country will fall silent. The trumpet song, the Last Post will lead Canada into silence. The Last Post is a song used in military tradition to signify the end of the day, or the end of a soldiers life. It is played at both funerals and commemorations. For two minutes we will honour, reflect and remember the sacrifices that were made for us by our fellow Canadians and our international allies, for both those who fell and those who survived. The radio stations and news broadcasts will fall silent. In public spaces, such as shopping malls and supermarkets, announcements will be made and silence will follow. Public and private institutions, such as schools and businesses may host ceremonies leading up to the silence of 11:11:11, otherwise activities will be paused. For two minutes people will stop whatever it they are doing, and join in a moment of silence. After the two minutes of silence, ceremonies are near the end. And the day goes on as usual. In Flanders Fields By John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. 10/31/2019 0 Comments Kanadyjski drinkNajpopularniejszą potrawę kanadyjską już poznaliśmy, a co jeśli chodzi o najpopularniejszego drinka w Kanadzie? Niewątpliwie smak jego daje sobie wiele do życzenia. “Caesar” -bo taka jego nazwa - to połączenie sosu Worchestershire , wódki, ostrego sosu (może być tabasco), limonki, soku z małży no i selera do ozdoby. Połączenie dość dziwne…..a jak to smakuje? Sprawdźcie sami. When you are visiting a different country something you typically don’t consider is the drinking culture until you are in the middle of it. My trip to Japan was alcohol soaked. Because Japanese culture is alcohol soaked. The Japanese always seem so proper and strict in their behaviour, and to an extent this is true - during business hours. But after the blazers come off the alcohol comes out. And they go hard. I went to an international party in Tokyo and I will never forget being asked what Canada’s favourite cocktail was. The Caesar is the cocktail of choice. He asked what it was. So I told him. His response was “that sounds awful.” And truthfully the Caesar does sound terrible. And to many it is an abominiation. The Caesar is one of the most popular cocktails in Canada. It is a spicy, tangy, and salty drink. There is nothing mild about this cocktail. Like all cocktails there is really no way to do it wrong, but there is a difference between a good caesar and a bad one. To start rim a large glass with caesar rimmer or celery salt in a pinch. Fill your glass with ice. Next use one or two ounces of vodka. And fill the rest of your glass with clam juice. You can use tomato juice, but then it is the American Bloody Mary. If you want a Dirty Caesar (the best kind!) add a few dashes (to your taste) of hot sauce (tobasco usually) and worchestershire sauce. Some people take it even further and add an ounce of lemon juice or pickle juice and few shakes of steak spice. But a Dirty Caesar isn’t done yet. You need a garnish. Usually this is a stalk of celery, pickles, pickled beans or even crispy bacon. It is a savoury masterpiece. In YouTube videos “Irish People Try Canadian Alcohol” and “Eugene Ranks Popular Cocktails Around The World,” features both Irish and an American alcohol enthusiasts trying this popular cocktail. The responses are not good. One says, “I feel like I’m on fucking fear factor,” and another says, “this is our worst nightmare.” I say don’t knock it till you try it. 10/29/2019 2 Comments Kanadyjska potrawa narodowaNajbardziej charakterystyczna potrawa w Kanadzie? To nic innego jak- Poutine!Zawiera frytki, twaróg i gorący sos z pieprzem, który roztapia twaróg…Brzmi bardzo pysznie…Potrawa ta ma wiele różnych form. Można do niej dodać słodkie zmieniaki,warzywa, bekon, czy nawet stworzyć wersje z Cheesburgerem! Opcji jest wiele. To my decydujemy jak zjemy poutine- tylko warto pamiętać, że to tłusta bomba kaloryczna- nie ma co przesadzać z ilością. W Kanadzie często poutine określa się jako jedzenie “na kaca” . The most distinct Canadian food is poutine. It was invented in Quebec around the 1950’s and features french fries and cheese curds with hot peppercorn gravy poured on top. And if you have the perfect poutine the hot gravy will melt all the cheese curds. One of the best things about poutine is the things you can do with it. This basic poutine recipe can be spruced up in anyway you could possibly desire. Want to use sweet potatoes? Absolutely. Vegetables? You got it. Meat? Bring it on. Spicy curried gravy? Why not. The ways poutine has been adapted are countless and can easily be made to suit any taste. There are restaurants and food trucks devoted to serving you the best possible poutine. But, talking up the famous dish does not usually help the collective gasp of foreigners when you explain what poutine is. They are usually confused by the idea of french fries, cheese and gravy being a singular dish. Some say it could be good but they are just not sure about it. They say they would have to try it for themselves before they give it a verdict. Others, question your sanity. It is absolutely a greasy mess. And eating too much of it could probably give you a heart attack. But these two criteria can usually be applied to any food that falls into the guilty pleasure category. One of the most well known ways to get your poutine fix in Canada is from the fast food chain, New York Fries. Despite the name, this is a Canadian company. Their poutine menu is pretty impressive: butter chicken poutine, pulled pork poutine, chili poutine, bacon double cheeseburger poutine, and the veggie works amongst a few more. It is far from the most extensive poutine menu but it is the classic location. Poutine may be a strange and even funny dish, but the greatest part is that the dish which is best described as hangover food or a guilty pleasure is the closest thing Canada has to a national dish. 10/18/2019 0 Comments Jedno święto-dwa obyczajeKanadyjczycy, a Amerykanie, jaka jest różnica między nimi? Madison powiedziałaby, że ogromna, dla nas jest to bez wątpienia trudne do orzeczenia. Zarówno akcent jak i wygląd - dla nas -podobny. Co więc sprawia, że występuje kontrast? Odpowiedź to: kultura, obyczaje, sposób świętowania…a w szczególności Święta Dziękczynienia. Kanadyjskie obchody tego dnia to przede wszystkim czas spędzony z rodziną, kameralnie: wspólna kolacja, indyk, ciasto dyniowe. A jak u Amerykanów? W zasadzie wszystko w jednym: ogromne parady, czarny piątek, NFL- największa liga futbolu amerykańskiego. Oczywiście menu kolacyjne to indyk, ale z dodatkiem zapiekanki ze słodkich ziemniaków i pianek Prócz tego występuje również rozbieżność w datach - Kanadyjczycy świętują w drugi poniedziałek października, a Amerykanie w czwarty czwartek listopada. Over the past few weeks one question I have regularly been getting is “what is the difference between Canada and America?” My inner Canadian says “everything.” But, when you look at Canada and America from beyond these two countries it is understandable why the boundary can get a little fuzzy. Chances are if you meet someone from Canada or America, you really won’t be able to tell which country they are from. That is of course assuming they don’t have a strong regional accent or they don’t straight up tell you (and most will). Usually we end up assuming they are American. This is a great offence to the Canadian pride as there is nothing more irritating than having to say “no, I am not American.” But we are just as guilty of making this assumption about the fellow foreigners we encounter. Beyond the things that make someone either a Canadian or an American, there are a few clear differences in culture. Thanksgiving is one of these differences. The first difference is the date. Canadian’s celebrate Thanksgiving the second Monday of October and American’s on the fourth Thursday of November. But beyond the obvious, Thanksgiving in Canada is not the huge affair that it is in America. I did not even know the history of Canadian Thanksgiving prior to writing this blog. The history is simple: Martin Frobisher, the English explorer survived a voyage to Baffin Island (Nunavut) in the Arctic. They celebrated and gave their thanks in 1578. To most Canadians the history either completely irrelevant or totally unknown. Thanksgiving is a day to be mindful and thankful for everything and everyone you have in your life. It is an event best spent with family and friends. You usually eat turkey dinner with all the fixings. And you wash it down with pumpkin pie and your choice of beverage. But the menu isn’t a hard and fast rule, its open to interpretation and happily welcomes new traditions. While the theme of gratitude and family in both Canadian and American Thanksgiving is the same, the American Thanksgiving is a huge deal: a national holiday, massive parades, black friday and the NFL. The menu is similar, but they have this strange casserole with sweet potatoes and marshmallows. They are also very intense about the origin story: the feast of the Mayflower pilgrims and the Native Americans. However, as usual, America is not without its controversy. This popular American story and the holiday that came from it has become a subject of debate as it has been charged with being inaccurate and ignorant.
10/16/2019 1 Comment Największy przekręt w historii KanadySyrop klonowy - jak wiemy , pochodzi z Kanady, ale na pewno nie zdajemy sobie sprawy jak duże znaczenie ma dla kanadyjczyków. Znaczenie większe niż sama produkcja ropy naftowej z czego również słynie Kanada… W latach 2011-2012 nastąpił największy w historii "szwindel" w Kanadzie… i nie dotyczyło to ropy naftowej, a syropu klonowego. Podczas sprawdzania beczek, dokonano odkrycia, które wywołało ogromne oburzenie. Beczki były sfałszowane. Uprowadzono zawartość 9 561 beczek syropu, zostały tylko puste beczki lub beczki zalane wodą. Wartość skradzionego towaru oszacowano na 13 mln dolarów. W Netflix’owym serialu “Dirty Money”- 5 odcinek szczegółowo opisuje zaistniałą sytuację. On the world stage, Canada is known for having two resources: oil and maple syrup. At first glance, oil seems to be the more valuable. It is the resource everyone needs and everyone seems to always be talking about. But that assumption is incorrect. In June 2019, Daniel Ganninger from A Medium Corporation reported that a barrel of Canadian maple syrup was worth $1 327 USD while a barrel of crude oil was worth only $57.19 USD. Their report concluded that Canadian maple syrup is approximately 25 times more valuable than crude. Even though most people can agree that maple syrup is delicious, the real value of maple syrup is unexpected. And almost unbelievable. From 2011 to 2012, the greatest heist in Canadian history took place: The Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. In July 2012, Officials from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers were checking their inventory at the maple syrup reserve in Laurierville, Quebec. In Vanity Fair’s dramatic telling of the discovery, Rich Cohen states that a barrel was knocked on it and it unexpectedly “tolled like a gong.” When the officials heard the barrel sing out this empty song, they opened the barrel and discovered it was empty. They continued checking barrels and it was ultimately discovered that around 9 561 barrels had been tampered with. They had been either emptied or had their contents replaced with water. The value of the maple syrup stolen was estimated to be over $18 million on the high end and $13 million on the low end. In the Netflix docuseries, Dirty Money, the fifth episode titled “The Maple Syrup Heist,” goes into detail of the circumstances of the crime. The selling of maple syrup is strictly controlled by the federation. Producers of syrup have compared the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers to a drug cartel. This has resulted in a long standing syrup war between the federation and rebel producers.
10/3/2019 0 Comments Zakaz handlu w niedzielęZakaz handlu w niedziele- jest to jedna z powszechnie znanych ustaw w Polsce, która weszła w życie całkiem niedawno. W Kanadzie taki zwyczaj nie należy do kultywowanych-wręcz przeciwnie, w niedziele ludzie zaczynają “prowadzić życie”. Dla kanadyjczyków jest to dzień, w którym mogą spędzić czas ze znajomymi: wspólnie wyjść do kina, restauracji bądź na zakupy. Nie bez przyczyny nazywają ten dzień “Sunday Funday”. In Canada and the USA, Sunday's are affectionately known as "Sunday Funday." It is very common when you are scrolling through your Facebook feed on Sunday evenings or on Mondays to see posts captioned with "Sunday Funday!" People are celebrating many different Sunday activities, from shopping at the mall, attending the new releases at the movies, even extending the Saturday night festivities well into the next day. Unlike Poland, the cities do not completely shut down on Sunday. It is a major day for retail, restaurants and entertainment. Local shops may be closed for the day if they choose. The only thing that changes is that most businesses open later and close earlier. Getting used to the very, very slow pace of Poland on Sunday is more difficult than other aspects of life in Poland. Virtually all retail is closed on Sundays. I have learned that this is because of a law banning trade on Sundays. As a foreigner from North America this baffles me. What am I supposed to do on Sundays? Most of my adult life I have lived on a schedule of working on Sundays and then doing my grocery shopping after my shift as late as 10pm. Any Sundays I had off were spent with my friends at some store or at the movies. And if I am away from home on Sundays, they are spent exploring shops and anything else the city has to offer. Someone could argue, "if Canada had the trade ban then you would get all Sundays off, wouldn't that be great?" I would want to agree, but when I was in university I needed the work on Sundays. University in North America comes with a hefty price tag. If I couldn't work on Sundays I would have had to go into debt to pay for school. But talking about a trade ban in Canada isn't even a theoretical situation, it is a fantasy. Canada is a secular country. This means that religion plays no part in how the country is run. The government and religion are separate institutions. If such a bill (law) were proposed it would be ripped apart on the floor in the Parliament of Canada. While Christianity is still the most popular religion in Canada; any religion, God or gods, and any religious writings are actively and loudly rejected in any government matters. It is believed that religion is a personal and private choice.
|
AuthorMy name is Madison. I am from Alberta, Canada. I like to read books, go hiking and explore new cities. Even though I am Canadian, I don't watch hockey and I don't like snow. I graduated from The University of Lethbridge in 2018 after studying English Literature and Art History for six years. I have travelled to the Mexican state, Nayarit and to Tokyo, Japan. I hope to travel all over the world. Archives
June 2020
Categories |