Pat Burns to be Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Edward Brain

It has announced that the late Pat Burns will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 17th, 2014 as a member of the Class of 2014.

As an NHL coach, Mr. Burns coached 1,019 games and winning 501 games.  Mr. Burns coached the Montreal Canadiens (1989-1992), Toronto Maple Leafs (1992-1996), Boston Bruins (1997-2001), and New Jersey Devils (2002-2004).

Mr. Burns would win the Stanley Cup in 2004 with New Jersey, while leading Montreal to the Stanley Cup finals in 1989, his first season coaching in the NHL. Continue reading →

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Maple Leafs Announce Pre-Season Schedule

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Edward Brain

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced their pre-season schedule for the 2014-15 NHL season.  The team will play eight games (four home games and four road games) against four teams.

The pre-season starts out on September 22nd in London Ontario against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The pre-season games break down as follows: Continue reading →

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Liberal Majority in Ontario

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Edward Brain
Queen's Park

Queen’s Park

Now that the dust has settled in the 41st general election in Ontario, let’s look at the results:

  • Out of 107, 54 seats were required to form a majority Government.
  • The Liberals won 58 seats, for a four seat majority.
  • The Progressive Conservatives (PC) won 28 seats, forming the Official Opposition.
  • The New Democratic Party (NDP) won 21, which is unchanged.

Continue reading →

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70th Anniversary of D-Day

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Edward Brain

Today, June 6th 2014, marks the 70th Anniversary of Canada’s involvement in the D-Day landings in Normandy France.

On June 6th 1944, members of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, with the help of the Royal Canadian Navy and the British Marines, landed on the beach code named JUNO in the early morning.

The Canadians had some of the best results on the first day of fighting.  Canadians were dealt with 359 dead, 574 wounded, and 47 captured on the first day of fighting.

Let us not forget the sacrifices made that day, and throughout the war, to fight for the freedoms we enjoy today.

 

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2014 Stanley Cup Finals

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Edward Brain

We are now set for the finals of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs with the New York Rangers (Champions of the Eastern Conference) vs. the Los Angeles Kings (Champions of the Western Conference.)

The Rangers are making their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1994, when they on the Stanley Cup after a 54 year drought.  The Kings are making their second appearance in the finals in the last three years.  They won the Cup back in 2012 and this is their third appearance in the finals since joining the league in 1967. Continue reading →

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Happy Victoria Day

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Edward Brain
Queen of United Kingdom (as well as Canada, Au...

Queen of United Kingdom (as well as Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth realms) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, May 19th 2014, is Victoria Day in Canada.  This is a public holiday for most of us.

While many consider Victoria Day to be the ‘unofficial’ start of summer, it is actually to celebrate the first Monarch of the Dominion of Canada, Queen Victoria whose birthday was May 24th.  It is also the official Canadian birthday of our current Monarch Queen Elizabeth II (whose actually birthday is in April.)

Queen Victoria was born on May 24th, 1819 and would come to the throne of the United Kingdom on June 20th, 1837 when she ascended the throne on the death of her uncle King William IV.  At the time Canada was still made up of several British colonies, so she was reigning over parts of Canada in her capacity of Queen of the United Kingdom. Continue reading →

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2014 NHL Conference Finals

Posted on May 17, 2014 by Edward Brain

The NHL’s Eastern and Western Conference Semi-finals have now concluded and we are ready for the Conference Finals to begin tonight.

This is the first time since the 1979 playoffs that three Original Six teams have qualified for the Conference finals.  Two of those three teams, Montreal and New York, were involved and would meet up for Stanley Cup.  This year those two teams face off for the

As such, let’s take a look at the match-ups: Continue reading →

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Farley Mowat Passes Away

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Edward Brain

Famed author, and World War II veteran, Farley Mowat has passed away at the tender age of 92.

Farley Mowat was commissioned into the Canadian Army during the Second World War, serving on the front lines including in Italy.  He began his military career as a Second Lieutenant, eventually raising to the rank of Captain.  He was provided with an honorary discharge as the end of the war, but had been offered a promotion to the rank of Major if he remained in the army, which he decided not to accept. Continue reading →

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2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Edward Brain

We have now finished the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs and have seen eight teams eliminated from postseason action.

Tonight, the Conference Semi-Finals in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Montreal Canadiens hosting the defending Eastern Conference Champions the Boston Bruins.

Let’s take a look at the match-ups: Continue reading →

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The Last Confession in Review

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Edward Brain

Last night I attended a performance of Roger Crane’s The Last Confession starring David Suchet as Cardinal Benelli.  The performance also starred Sam Perks (Father Lorenzi), Phillip Craig (the Confessor), David Ferry (Monsignor Magee), Richard O’Callaghan (Cardinal Albino Luciani/Pope John Paul I), Nigel Bennett (Cardinal Villot), Stuart Milligan (Bishop Marcinkus), Donald Douglas (Pope Paul VI), and Bernard Lloyd (Cardinal Felici.)

The production is directed by Jonathan Church, the set designer is William Dudley, the lighting director is Peter Mumford, and the costume designer is Fotini Dimoli. Continue reading →

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