2024 NHL Conference Finals

Posted on May 21, 2024 by Edward Brain

The 2024 NHL Conference Finals are now set.

Let’s look at the match-ups:

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Happy Victoria Day, 2024

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Edward Brain
Queen Victoria. By Henry Pierce Bone/ After George Hayter – Royal Collection RCIN 422373, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=636543

Today, May 20th 2024, is Victoria Day in Canada. I want to wish every Canadian a very happy and safe Victoria Day.

Today marks the celebration of the birthday of Canada’s first monarch, Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901 and was Monarch when four British colonies – Canada West (Ontario), Canada East (Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia – were combined together to create the Dominion of Canada.

Queen Victoria would see Canada grow rapidly, with the purchase of Rupert’s Land to form the Northwest Territory, as well Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island all joining Confederation.

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Alice Munro Passes Away at 92

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Edward Brain
Alice Munro in 2006 (copyright: MacDowell)

Famed Canadian author Alice Munro has passed away at the age of 92.

Mrs. Munro was born Alice Laidlaw on July 10th, 1931 to Robert and Anne Laidlaw in Wingham, Ontario.

She started writing as a teenager, publishing her first book – The Dimensions of a Shadow – in 1950. Her first book to receive critical acclaim, Dance of the Happy Shades, was published in 1968. Other books would continue over the decades, including The Moons of Jupiter, The Love of a Good Woman, and Dear Life.

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Second Round of NHL 2024 Playoffs

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Edward Brain

The second round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs are now set.

In the first round, two series went the full seven games (Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins and the Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights.)

One one team swept their opponents in the first round: The New York Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals in four games.

Two Canadian teams remain in the playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. The teams will meet up in this round.

Two ‘Original Six’ teams remain in the playoffs: the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.

The following teams meet up in this round of the playoffs:

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Sir Andrew Davis Passes Away at 80

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Edward Brain

Sir Andrew Davis, the internationally recognized conductor, has passed away at the age of 80 after a battle with leukemia.

Sir Andrew was born February 2nd, 1944 in Ashridge, Hertfordshire, England to Robert J. and Florence Joyce Davis.

He studied conducting in Rome with Franco Ferrara, after studying at at the Royal College of Music and King’s College, Cambridge – where he graduated in 1967.

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First Round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Edward Brain

The first round of the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) playoff is now set.

Some highlights include:

  • The New York Rangers enter the playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winner.
  • The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs are both playing in their eighth consecutive year of post season action.
  • Four Canadian teams made the playoffs this year: the Toronto Maple Leafs in the East, and the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets in the West.

The playoff brackets breakdown as follows:

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Early Springtime Pictures

Posted on April 9, 2024 by Edward Brain

Spring is definitely in the air now.

Here are some pictures that I took today:

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Newfoundland and Labrador & Nunavut Celebrate Milestones

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Edward Brain

The last two days have seen the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Territory of Nunavut celebrate milestones.

On March 31st, 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador celebrated 75 years of joining Confederation. They joined Confederation as the 10th Province of Canada on March 31st, 1949. Prior to this date Newfoundland, as it was known then, was a British Colony.

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Toronto’s Subway Turns 70

Posted on March 30, 2024 by Edward Brain

Today, March 30th, 2024, marks that 70th Birthday of Toronto’s subway system with the opening on the Yonge Line between Union Station and Eglinton.

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VIA Rail’s Flagship Train, The Canadian, Departs Toronto, March 20th 2024

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Edward Brain

I happened to be in downtown Toronto this morning when VIA Rail Canada’s flagship train, The Canadian, departed Toronto’s Union Station bound for Vancouver.

The train was led by two F40PH-2 units, #6412 and #6457. It had two deadhead cars, one skyline and Kokanee Park. There is one baggage car, one HEP-I coach, two in service skylines, five manors, one dining car (Frontenac), one Prestige sleeper (Chateau Dollard), and Laurentide Park bringing up the rear.

Here are some pictures from the departure:

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