Happy Canada Day

Canada Day weekend for many is the official start to summer. The kids have said goodbye to another school year and everyone is itching to have some fun at the cottage. If you are heading up to cottage with friends and family this weekend, here is a guide to a fun and most of all safe weekend.

Fireworks

Canada Day weekend is the most popular weekend in the year for fireworks. Millions of Canadians either put on their own fireworks display or flock to a near by community display. Unfortunately, following the weekend you always hear the reports of fireworks accidents that happened due to various reasons, but often, unsafe use. If you are doing a fireworks show at the cottage this weekend we have put together a safety checklist:

• Check current fire bans and bylaws in your local municipality.

• Wear gloves and safety glasses when igniting.

• Never light a firework from your hands, always have it placed in sand or soil.

• Keep a bucket of water and hose near the ignition area.

• Read all of the labels on the packages.

• Never try to relight a dud.

• Never try to light a homemade firework or one that has been modified in any way. Purchase fireworks from a reliable source.

• Prior to the fireworks show, keep fireworks locked in a safe place that can’t be accessed by children.

• Do not carry fireworks in your pockets.

• Dunk fireworks in water after use for at least 15 minutes or overnight if possible.

• Clean up the ignition area after the display is completed.

• Dispose fireworks after the soak by putting in a fresh garbage bag and place with your regular household trash.

Facts about Canada

There is no better weekend than Canada Day weekend to learn something new about this great country. Here are some fun facts about Canada that you can quiz your friends and family with while sitting around the campfire this weekend.

• 20% of the world’s fresh water is located in Canada. Canada has more lakes than any other country.

• Montreal is the world’s second largest French speaking city after Paris.

• Canada has 9% of the world’s renewable water supply.

• Canada has six time zones.

• The Trans-Canada Highway is over 7,604 kilometers (4,725 miles) in length. Making it the longest highway in the world.

• Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world. 243,977 kilometeres (151,600 miles).

• Wasaga Beach in Ontario is the longest fresh water beach in the world.

• Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world.

• Canada is the largest producer of uranium in the world.

• The Hudson’s Bay Company or “The Bay” is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. The company was incorporated by English royal charter in 1670.

• During World War II, the Bank of Canada’s nine victory Bond campaigns raised almost $12 billion for the war effort. After the war, the program was continued with Canada Savings Bonds.

• The Rideau Canal in Ottawa, A UNESCO world heritage site, has the world’s longest skating rink in the winter.

• Canada is home to 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites and four marine conservation areas.

• Canada is famous for its ice wine – made from pressed frozen grapes. It’s usually served as a dessert wine.

• The beer named after Canada is called Molson Canadian. Founded in Montreal in 1786, Molson Coors Canada is the oldest brewery in North America and continues to produce beer on the site of the original brewery.

• The Moosehead Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick turns out 1,642 bottles of beer per minute.

• There are more doughnut shops in Canada per capita than any other country.

• Canadian Graeme Ferguson co-invented IMAX. There are over 500 IMAX theaters in 45 countries.

• Canadian inventions include the game Trivial Pursuit (Scott Abbot and Chris Haney), the telephone (Alexander Graham Bell), basketball (James Naismeth) and the snowmobile (Joseph-Armand Bombardier).

• Canada is the largest exporter of green lentils in the world, accounting for over 80% of global exports. with 95% of it coming from Saskatchewan.

• Quebec City is the only walled North American city north of Mexico. It was also the first city in North America to be placed on the UNESCO world heritage site.

• Canada holds the record for the most gold medals ever won at the Winter Olympics and it was done on home turf at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics with 14 gold medals!

• The Royal Canadian Mint, in addition to making coins for Canada, also produces currency for other countries. In total 89 other countries get their coins from Canada. Its longest continuous contract for producing foreign coins is with Barbados – more than 30 years.

• The famous Canadian interjection “eh” is actually listed in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary as a valid word.

• Quebec manufactures more than 77% of the world’s maple syrup.

Putting Away The Screens

Let’s face it, tablets, cell phones and hand held video games are addictive, especially for children. Weekends are the perfect time to unplug and re-connect with reality. Here are a few tips and activities to keep yourself and your kids away from mindless scrolling on devices this weekend.

• Build a fort. Whether its from couch cushions or tree branches. Building a fort teaches creativity.

• Play a board game, complete a puzzle or learn a new card game.

• If your child complains that they are bored without their devices, let them be bored. Boredom encourages creativity.

• Get everyone involved in meal prep. Assign everyone a task to help prepare dinner.

• Go for a hike and discover new trails.

• Set the example. Don’t limit your child’s screen time and then spend the entire weekend on your own device.

• Go fishing.

• Take photos with a film camera.

• Play a musical instrument.

• Try a new sport/game like badminton, golf, horse shoes or corn hole.

• Discover local history and geography in your area. Visit local museums, art galleries and parks.