Weekend Roundup

 Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler

1. Starts with "V"
2. A Favorite
3. VERDANT - Chosen by Tom

Ottawa ON

Starts with V (BIGGEST/SMALLEST/LONGEST/SHORTEST/OLDEST)

VERITAS Supreme Court of Canada Ottawa ON

FAVOURITE

VICTORY Bank of Canada Museum Ottawa

VERDANT

Ottawa ON

The "EH" List - MADE IN CANADA (and some ranting)

 May 2025 - Toronto ON

Some Canadian pride - in song.

They All Call it Canada, But I Call it Home

BTW we had this album when I was growing up!

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I did a separate post on the royal visit here. I found a link to Margaret Trudeau's kiss! Just watch the video, ignore the rest.

I can't understand the Trudeau shoes kerfuffle! He's retired, he's cool, he can wear what he wants.

Adidas Gazelle shoes and the colour is "Collegiate Green/Preloved Red/Gum" made from green suede.  

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Re Stornoway, the Residence Act 1985, says the building shall be maintained for the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons.  Poilievre does not have a seat, which makes him ineligible for Official Residence status.

Poilievre sense of entitlement and hypocrisy are beyond the pale. He’s staying in Stornoway even after he lost the popular vote, lost the seat count, and lost in his riding.

Pierre Poilievre is squatting at Stornoway at taxpayers' expense. Arrogant, narcissist, self-righteous, petty little man who just can't take the hint and go away. 

Hilarious. Poilievre can't make his videos inside the parliament buildings unless he is accompanied by a sitting MP, so he stands outside making silly propaganda videos then wanders around waving to no one. It would be sad if he wasn't costing us so much money to house him in a $55,000 a month mansion, pay for his bloated shadow cabinet, and his $2 million safe-space by-election in a riding he will never live in. Biggest welfare queen in Canada.

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As a Canadian…Trump coming into my country really bothers me.  Here is why:

This man can produce more ranting fodder than one can keep up with!!!

BY THE NUMBERS

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Early in the Trump administration, crucial climate data started disappearing from government websites. Here's how one McGill professor is helping American scientists preserve their research.

To address this, McGill University researchers, particularly Professor Juan Serpa and his team, developed the SUSANHub.com platform. This platform serves as a digital repository for sustainability and climate data, allowing American scientists to preserve and share their research.

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All of these countries have issued USA travel advisories:

- Germany

- United Kingdom

- Denmark

- Finland

- France

- Ireland

- Netherlands

- Portugal

- Belgium

- Norway

- Canada

- New Zealand

- Australia

- Mexico

- Venezuela

- Uruguay

- Japan

My Recipe Box - Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

 May 2025 - Toronto ON

Carnitas Recipe (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)

We used tortillas to serve but it would be just as good on lettuce leaves, pitas or buns. I would go heavier, next time, on the spices.

UPDATE - I had leftover roast pork, so I made the sauce mixture, shredded the cooked pork and stir fried it with green peppers and onions. Served in tortillas with shredded cabbage, carrots, tomatoes and sour cream and scallions.

Ingredients

 5 pounds boneless pork butt - cut into large 3-4-inch chunks
1 large white onion - sliced
2 bay leaves
1½ tablespoon salt - divided
2 teaspoon black pepper - divided
1½ tablespoon Mexican oregano - or regular oregano with ¼ teaspoon dried marjoram and ⅛ teaspoon or coriander
2 teaspoon ground cumin
6 cloves garlic - minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 large oranges - juiced, (½ to ¾ cup) I used orange juice
2 large limes - juiced, (¼ to ⅓ cup)
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce - or 1 tablespoon chipotle powder
1 cup light Mexican beer - or chicken stock (gluten-free)

Instructions

Season the pork: Generously season the pork with salt and pepper.

Combine the sauce: In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of salt and 1½ teaspoons of black pepper with Mexican oregano, ground cumin, minced garlic, chili powder, fresh orange juice, lime juice, and beer (or chicken broth). Roughly chop the chipotles and add them to the bowl with 1-2 tablespoons of adobo sauce. Mix well to combine.

Add the ingredients: Transfer the pork to a large slow cooker, top it with the sliced onion and bay leaves, and pour the sauce mixture over it.

Slow cook until tender: Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours (for best results) or on HIGH for 5-6 hours.

Shred the pork and save the cooking liquid: Remove the pork from the slow cooker and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before shredding with two forks. Reserve the cooking liquid in a clean bowl to keep the meat juicy and flavorful.

Tip (optional): If you have more than 2 cups of cooking liquid left in the slow cooker, transfer it to a small sauce pot and simmer it gently on the stovetop to reduce it to about 2 cups.

To Crisp the Carnitas (optional but recommended)

Oven method: Preheat the oven broiler to high. Spread the shredded pork evenly on a large baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle a bit of the reserved cooking liquid over the meat to keep it juicy, then broil for 5-10 minutes, stirring halfway, or until the edges are browned and crisp to your liking.

Skillet Method: Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a large cast-iron skillet set over medium-high heat. Spread a single layer of shredded pork in the skillet (avoid overcrowding). Sear the meat for 2-3 minutes undisturbed until golden brown. Stir and cook for 2-3 more minutes or until the desired crispiness is reached. Add a splash of broth or reserved cooking liquid as needed.

The "EH" List - MADE IN CANADA

 May 2025 - Toronto ON

Composed of brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds mounted as a Maple Leaf in platinum by Asprey & Co, the brooch was bought by King George VI for Queen Elizabeth ahead of the Royal Tour of Canada in 1939. The Maple Leaf is a characteristic Canadian symbol, which has been featured on the Canadian Flag since 1965.

Trust me, I could care less about the Royal Family (particularly her, she's not my queen (consort). And no, it has nothing to do with Diana, marriages break up)!! She just seems to have no class. Also she seems a little confused and lost while he is clearly enjoying himself and chatting to everyone.

However, I do love pomp and circumstance/ceremony of any kind (papal conclave).

However, King Charles visiting Canada at this point in our history is particularly important. The King of Canada giving to the speech from the throne to open Parliament is a clear signal to those who advocate 51st state foolishness!

Hey, tRump, you don't have this!!! You don't have a crown, a carriage or a uniform or medals!!

He's probably on the phone to Qatar ordering a carriage right now! 

I'm sure he could get some fake medals from China.

He wouldn't have an Indigenous woman, an Indigenous band, make a Land Acknowledgement or

have a Mountie/soldier wearing the red serge with indigenous ribbon skirt.

King Charles delivers throne speech in Canada

Here is a recap of the visit and speech.

“Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them.” 

“Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.”

King Charles III: "As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong & free!

Skip to 1:43, if you wish, to see him greeting the former Governor-Generals (2 former women GG! and our current female Indigenous GG (red and white dress)) and prime ministers.

I also love our Supreme court justices in their red and white robes.

Former Governor General Michaëlle Jean made Charles laugh (1:43:18).

And then when former Governor General Michaëlle Jean (1:53:23) "dragged" Charles over to meet some indigenous chiefs. You can also see her try to engage Camilla.

Only Margaret Trudeau (there as the widow of former PM Pierre Trudeau & seated beside her son) could get away with giving Charles III an unscripted hug! La famille Trudeau looks happy and smiling. Harper (PM conservative) greets the King with the same pursed-lipped look he usually has & dead eyes.

HMMM it appears the hug was cut out of both Global and CTV videos???

I give up, I cannot find a photo or video of Margaret greeting the King. Very odd......

Kim Campbell, 78, is Canada’s first and only female prime minister. Her term ran from June to November 1993 after winning the Progressive Conservative leadership convention.

Steven Harper, 66, served as the prime minister for nine years and was the Conservative Party of Canada’s first party leader from 2004 until the end of his term. He was seated next to the Trudeaus, conversing ahead of the opening of Parliament.

Justin Trudeau, 53, served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada for nearly 10 years and was a member of Parliament for the Quebec riding of Papineau. In January 2025, Trudeau announced he would resign as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party. He was also spotted wearing bright sneakers. Good for him!!

Margaret Trudeau is a Canadian activist and is the former partner of the 15th prime minister Pierre Trudeau. She made an appearance alongside her son, Justin Trudeau. 

Other funny moments, we both burst into song "Knock Three Times" at 1:23:29 when the Usher of the Black Rod appeared.

Mark Carney and the King are clearly friendly; the two got to know each other during Carney’s time as governor of the Bank of England. They also had a brief meeting yesterday.

Another connection: Carney’s brother Sean is also the chief operating officer at Kensington Palace.

As the King said his farewells he shook hands with Diana Fox Carney, the prime minister's wife.

Microphones picked her up telling Charles she'll keep her husband on “the straight and narrow” and “make sure he delivers on all of that.”

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural 

May 2025 - Ottawa ON

We didn't have a lot of time to hunt down murals in Ottawa so I zoned in on Bank St.

We Gon’ Be Alright

by Kalkidan Assefa, Jimmy Baptiste, Allan Andre

We chose to create a mural with the uplifting affirmation “We Gon Be Alright” – lyrics pulled from the chorus of Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 Grammy-winning single “Alright” which addresses police violence and racial inequality. We thought that this would be appropriate amongst the current backdrop of worldwide protests against systemic anti-Black racism; justice and police reform.” Jimmy Baptiste shared a similar sentiment, stating, “We painted this mural to brighten up the neighbourhood with lively colours and to share a positive message with the city. As black artists, we also wanted to share some love with the black community by giving us an image from which we can draw strength. We would like to thank the Bank Street BIA, Wallack’s Art Supplies as well as the people and businesses on Bank street for their amazing support during the creation of this mural.”

Reading is Fundamental

by Dom Laporte and Dan Metcalfe

Unlock a world of limitless imagination with the help of an excellent novel! We owe a debt of gratitude to Dom Laporte and Dan Metcalfe for their magnificent work. Dom is a muralist and illustrator based in Ottawa who uses a combination of mixed-media techniques and traditional painting techniques to create his work. Dan was born and raised in Ottawa and works as a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist. In 2010, Dan established his own design studio. With octopus tentacles and bubbles emerging from the pages of her book, this mural represents a surreal and dreamlike experience for the young girl. The colorful flora and foliage of the backdrop helps the painting stand out from the structure.

We Demand

by Dan Metcalfe and Rob Lariviere

Love is love, and this mural collaboration between artists Dan Metcalfe and Rob Lariviere marks an important turning point in the history of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada. Dan was born and raised in Ottawa and works as a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist. In 2010, Dan established his own design studio. Robbie, better known by his alias “FallDown,” has been painting murals for over 15 years and has developed one of the most distinctive and popular styles of murals in Ottawa. On the occasion of the first civil rights protest by queers in Canada, this mural depicts a young Charlie Hill reading the ten demands for equal rights.

Dems and Doll

Dems & Doll Herb Spice Mural

One of the largest murals can be found tucked away between Staples and the Book Bazaar, and it is the result of a collaboration between artists Dom Laporte and Dan Metcalfe! A sense of liberation is evoked in those who admire the birds that emerge from the intimate contact between these two characters. The sight of this mural on Bank Street provides a sense of hope and liberation after a long winter spent indoors. Dom is a muralist and illustrator based in Ottawa who uses a combination of mixed-media techniques and traditional painting techniques to create his work. Dan was born and raised in Ottawa and works as a freelance designer, illustrator, and artist. He founded his own design studio in 2010 and is heavily involved in the city’s art scene as a whole.