31 Days in Canada

 In honour of CANADA DAY  I plan to post a daily image of Canada and a link to a random Canadian location we have visited.

Lake Louise and Banff Alberta - random post

Royally Named: The lake is named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.

Indigenous Roots: Before its royal moniker, Stoney First Nations people called it Ho-Run-Num-Nay (Lake of Little Fishes).

High Altitude Living: At 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) above sea level, Lake Louise Village is Canada's highest permanent community.

Strict Residency: To live in Lake Louise, you must either own a business in the area or work there.

Hollywood of the North: Its breathtaking backdrop is widely considered one of the most photographed places in the world.

Frigid Waters: The glacial waters rarely rise above 5°C (41°F), making it entirely too cold for regular swimming.

Bear Country: The area has one of the highest concentrations of grizzly bears to humans in North America, with sightings happening frequently during the summer months.

Manually "Painted": In 1915, the lake bottom was drained and artificially painted with non-toxic blue coloring to enhance the brilliant shade of the water.

Morning Reflections

 

Tuesday Treasures

Tom hosts Tuesday's Treasures.

June 2026 - Toronto ON

Harbourfront. We ate here once, probably in the 90s. It was stuck in a time warp even back then!! Grumpy old men servers carrying plates on a tray. 

 These photos of ours, were taken in 2013!

Sunday Brunch was $19.25!

Proof of Life

 

Calgary Stampede

 Weirdo! Who Wore it Better?

VIDEO

Monday Mural

   I'm linking up at Monday Mural

April 2026 - Toronto ON

Indigenous Mural

Billy Bishop Airport Part 2

The Perspectives public art program transforms the pedestrian tunnel at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport into a vibrant celebration of the people, places, and stories that shape Toronto. Each edition highlights five artists, with four works per artist reproduced in a grand and striking format, turning the journey to the airport into an immersive gallery-worthy experience.

Now on Display: Perspectives 3

Our current exhibition (starting March 2026) explores Toronto’s migratory history, its natural landscapes, and its constantly evolving urban patterns, as well as the rhythms and subtle magic of everyday life. From evocative photography to bold digital cityscapes, the works capture the dynamism and diversity that define the city.

Callan Jaida Jones

@trailmxjones

Mx. Callan Jaida Jones is a queer artist and writer. Their multidisciplinary practice investigates points of contact between disparate forces, using shifting perspectives to cultivate empathy.

About their works in Perspectives, they say, “Blueprints is a series of photographs captured from a two-seater Cessna departing from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. My work attends to the city’s quieter spaces, where careful looking draws out hidden grace. For me, this reflects Toronto’s spirit as a city of possibility, experienced through movement and continual discovery.”

Pam Staples

@crackercrumbsstudios

Pam Staples is a digital illustrator with over two decades of experience creating vivid, story-driven visual works that celebrate the natural world, outdoor living and community spaces.

“Living in Toronto as a young artist, I learned the rhythm of a big city at a time when Toronto was evolving into the vibrant, diverse place it is today. Community is central to the city’s identity, and to my practice. Whether referencing the waterfront, the built environment, or the subtle patterns of everyday life, my work aims to honour people and their shared experiences.”

Foto Tunes

Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme. 

September 2017 - Canada

A Case of You - Joni Mitchell

Just before our love got lost you said
I am as constant as a northern star and I said,
Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?

If you want me I'll be in the bar
On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada

Oh Canada

 

With your face sketched on it twice

Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter
And so sweet oh
I could drink a case of you darling and I would
Still be on my feet
Oh I would still be on my feet

 
Oh I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints

 
I'm frightened by the devil

 
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid
I remember that time that you told me, you said
"Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine 'cause
Part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time

 
Oh you…