Thursday, June 30, 2011

Canada Day

Did you know Canada.. with the work day coming to a close and big events planned for Canada Day tomorrow don't forget to get groceries tonight and maybe a quick stop at the LCBO! Everything will (or is suppose to be) closed tomorrow for the National Holiday!

Across the nation there will be parades, parties, fireworks and more. It's best to check with your local newspaper or radio stations for local events. If you are in our Nations Capital tomorrow the special guests are Prince William and Princess Kate, who will be here as part of the Royal Tour.

This is Canada's 144th Birthday and a day to think about Canada's past, present and future as we head into a new year as proud Canadians.

How are you celebrating tomorrow??

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Real McCoy

Did you know Canada.. William "Bill" Frederick McCoy was as an American sea captain and, more interestingly, a rum runner smuggler during the Prohibition in the United States.

McCoy worked "rum row", mostly bringing in rum from the Caribbean but then turned to high quality Canadian whiskey which he was famous for delivering. McCoy's legend grew with his quality liquor and fair-dealing brought about the phrase: "it's the real McCoy".

Today Canadian whiskey continues to be of the highest quality in the world and known for it's distinctive taste - it's still the real McCoy!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Great Canadian Blog Bash

Did you know Canada.. Just a reminder we are part of The Great Canadian Blog Bash!!





Click here to view our 3 giveaways and be sure to comment for a chance to win!!

We are very proud of our country and love to promote Canadian businesses as well. Be sure to browse some of our past articles about fun Canadian facts and info, some of our favourites include..

We look forward to sharing many more facts, stats and news with our Great Canadian Audience. Be sure to visit us on Twitter and Facebook too. We are always up for a great chat, and would love for you to send us info about YOUR Canada; email us at: didyouknowcanada@gmail.com

Monday, June 27, 2011

Canadian Invention: Caesar (Cocktail)

Did you know Canada.. It was Calgary bartender Walter Chell, that created the Casear cocktail in 1969.

He experimented for three months, eventually settling on a mixture of hand-mashed clams, tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Tossing in a celery stick for a garnish, Chell called the drink a Bloody Caesar. Chell said his inspiration came from Italy.

It quickly became a popular mixed drink, but remains virtually unknown outside Canada. Surprisingly the Mott's company was independently developing Clamato (a mixture of clam and tomato juices) at the same time the Caesar was invented. Eventually they hired Chell to consult and promote the product and now Motts claims that the Caesar is the most popular mixed drink in Canada, estimating that over 350 million Caesars are consumed every year.

Whether using is as the so called hangover cure or just enjoying a drink I'm sure we've all enjoyed a Casesar or two.

Why not mix some up for Canada Day weekend to celebrate a Canadian made drink!!

Source: Wikipedia, famouscanadians.net, clamato.com

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Check your mail boxes Tuesday!

Did you know Canada.. Canada Post has initiated the process to resume operations following the passage of back to work legislation (Bill C-6). Employees will begin to report to work for their regularly scheduled shifts on Monday June 27 and on Tuesday June 28.

According to Canada Post..

Canadian consumers and businesses can expect to start receiving mail on Tuesday, June 28.

Post offices that were closed will start to reopen on Tuesday and resume regular operations.

All mailboxes will be unsealed starting on Monday and ready to receive mail as soon as possible.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Canada Post heading back to work!

Did you know Canada.. we are in luck! Just at 8pm on Saturday night The House gave third reading to the Canada Post back-to-work bill and by a vote of 158-113 it was passed. The house then adjourned for summer.

The Senate will receive the bill on Sunday morning and it should be a go for Canada Post back to work some time next week. In fact, according to Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, The back-to-work order would go into force 24 hours after receiving royal assent.

If you can believe this came to conclusion after a 58 hour filibuster! The Conservative government says the old record of non-stop debate was 27.5 hours which was set in 1989.

Friday, June 24, 2011

TGCBB: Shauna's Bowtique

Update: Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone for commenting - Happy Canada Day!! The winner is being contacted now.

Did you know Canada.. last week we introduced you to Shauna's Bowtique - a Canadian Company that sells beautifully handmade hats, hair bows and clips, headbands, tutus, belts, ties and much more.

*

Now it's time for one lucky reader to win a customized assortment of clips and headbands will sent to the winner from Shauna's Bowtique!! Approx. a $30 value!

Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
Tell us what you do to dress up a little? Let us know in a comment below.

Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
- Like Shauna's Bowtique on Facebook
- Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
- Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
- Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
- Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
Example Tweet..

#TGCBB Enter to win an assortment of clips from Canadian Company Shauna's Bowtique! Ends 07/01 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/lBvLeN

Giveaway open to our Canadian readers - closing July 1st at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond by July 4th or another winner will be chosen in their place.

*Prize is not the clips shown, customized assortment will be sent based on your child's age.

TGCBB: Young Drivers of Canada

Update: Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone for commenting - Happy Canada Day!! The winner is being contacted now.

Did you know Canada.. as we told you last week one lucky reader will win a $100 gift certificate for Young Drivers of Canada!





As a Young Drivers graudate my self I am so happy to know that with this prize there will be another confident and safe driver on the road.

Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
What's the number one complaint you have about other drivers on the road.  Let us know in a comment below.


Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
- Follow @youngdrivers on Twitter
- Like Young Drivers of Canada on Facebook
- Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
- Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
- Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
- Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
Example Tweet..

#TGCBB Enter to win a $100 gift certificate from Young Drivers of Canada! Ends 07/01 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/j8UkqA

Giveaway open to our Canadian readers - closing July 1st at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond by July 4th or another winner will be chosen in their place.

TGCBB: Pink Espresso

Update: Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone for commenting - Happy Canada Day!! The winner is being contacted now.

Did you know Canada.. we told you about Pink Espresso last week and now it's time to enter to win a $10 eGiftCard as part of The Great Canadian Blog Bash!!





Pink Espresso is a Canadian Company based in Ottawa, Ontario and I love what they have to say about their products: products that make you feel "Over the Top" about yourself - as they are products you can feel Fah~Buu~Lus~ about!

Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
Tell us what you do to relax - take a bubble bath, read a book? Let us know in a comment below.

Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
- Follow @pinkespressoltd on Twitter
- Like Pink Espresso LTD on Facebook
- Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
- Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
- Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
- Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
Example Tweet..

#TGCBB Enter to win a $10 eGiftCard from Canadian Company Pink Espresso! Ends 07/01 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/mva2UH

Giveaway open to our Canadian readers (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years and older - closing July 1st at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond by July 4th or another winner will be chosen in their place.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Canada Post/CUPW Talks Break Off

Did you know Canada.. the talks between Canada Post and the CUPW broke off Wednesday night. It is now up to our government to send Canada Post workers back to work and end the work stoppage.

As we mentioned before the government actually starts their summer break today but some good news - they say they will sit through the weekend if necessary to get the bill passed through government. It could be as early as today but as we mentioned before the NDP has previously said they would stall these proceedings. Now that talks have broken off the stalling may no longer be necessary though. Another road block may be that Friday is St. Jean Baptiste Day and the Liberals feel it is inappropriate to sit during this Quebec holiday.

Personally I'll be happy even with next week as long as it happens and the mail starts getting delivered again!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Population growth

Did you know Canada.. Stats Canada released an interesting report - Canada's population has increased by approx. 70,800 people since Jan 01, 2011 and it's Alberta leading the growth in the first-quarter!

While this sounds like a big jump in population it's actually down from last year. Immigration looks to be the reason for the reduced numbers. Around 49,500 immigrants arrived in Canada during this year's first-quarter, a decline compared to the 58,100 people recorded during the same time period last year.

Source: Stats Canada

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Plastic Bills and Money Laundering

Did you know Canada.. you might have read yesterday about the Federal Government and Bank of Canada discussing new plastic bills that will be introduced in the coming years, replacing our current currency. The $100 and $50 bills are slated to begin circulating in November 2011 and March 2012. Then the $20, $10 and $5 bills are expected to be unveiled and released by the end of 2013. While their colours will not change, the smaller-denomination notes will have some interesting new themes:

* The $5 note is dedicated to Canada's space program
* The $10 note will depict Canada's railway lines
* The $20 note will feature sacrifices made in Canadian conflicts

It's part of a plan to modernize and protect Canadian currency against counterfeiting.

The new plastic bills, made from a polymer material, are harder to fake, recyclable, and two to three times more resistant to tearing, the Bank of Canada said.

Stats Canada has an interesting article about Money laundering in Canada which these new bills are suppose to help prevent. It was surprising to read that following a period of relative stability in the early part of the decade, the rate of money laundering grew five-fold from 2004 to 2006. 83% of those accused of money laundering are males, and research has shown that money laundering is often associated with the illegal drug trade.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Social-Assistance cheques delivered today

Update: Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt introduced the bill to force an end to the work stoppage this afternoon. Unfortunately they only have a couple days to pass the bill before the Commons rises for the summer on Thursday.

Did you know Canada.. today is the day the social-assistance cheques are being delivered even though Canada Post is in a lock-out situation. It's over 9,000 letter carriers that are volunteering to provide this service to Canadians who depend on these cheques to live month-to-month.

There might be some more good news coming today as the government is expected to table back-to-work legislation that would force an end to the work stoppage. If passed, an arbitrator would settle the contract dispute with an agreement that would be binding on both sides.

We'll keep you up to date on the situation!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

We are Canadian Blog Hop!

Did you know Canada.. we were lucky to be choosen to be the featured blog for this weeks We are Canadian Blog Hop!

Welcome to the weekly "We are Canadian Blog Hop!!" Your co-hosts for this fun weekly Monday Hop are:

Tales of a Ranting Ginger

 
Each week we pull on blog from the previous week's hop, to be the Featured Blogger of the Week.  We use random.org, and will email the winner that they won as soon as we can.

This Week's Featured Blogger is:




Please feel free to grab the button, and spread the word to all your fellow Canadians!






Rules:

1. Canadians Only! (Sorry Americans, we wanted to give the Canadians some love for this one.)
2. Follow the Co-hosts, and leave a comment so we will follow you back!
3. Follow the Featured Blogger, and leave a comment so they can follow you back!

get the InLinkz code

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Igloos

Did you know Canada.. The igloo is an iconic structure recognized around the world associated with Canada's North and Inuit people.

While it has been many years since igloos were a common form of housing for the Inuit, there are traditionally three forms of the structures.


  • 1. The smallest was constructed as a temporary shelter often used for hunting trips.


  • 2. Intermediate-sized igloos were for semi-permanent, family dwelling - usually a single room.


  • 3. The largest igloos might have had up to five rooms and housed up to 20 people. A large igloo might have been constructed from several smaller igloos attached by their tunnels

    The best snow to use for building an igloo is snow which has been blown by wind, which can serve to compact and interlock the ice crystals. An igloo that is built correctly in a spiral from the inside it will support the weight of a person standing on the roof.

    To heat an igloo a soapstone lamp was used causing the interior to melt slightly and refreeze - strengthening the igloo. The temperature in an igloo can raise up to around 0°C when it’s –40°C or from 2°C up to 10–20°C with use of the soapstone lamp and body heat.

    The igloo is truly an ingenious design and a great testament to the Inuit people.

    Source: CBC, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Wikipedia
  • Friday, June 17, 2011

    The Great Canadian Blog Bash: Shauna's Bowtique

    Did you know Canada.. I'd love to introduce you to another great sponsor for The Great Canadian Blog Bash: Shauna's Bowtique!

    Shauna's Bowtique is a Canadian Company that sells beautifully handmade hats, hair bows and clips, headbands, tutus, belts, ties and much more.  We are loving her belts for my boys, will be fantastic item for school when they won't have any help in the potty.

    Canadian Shauna Kedrosky is the owner and founder of Shauna's Bowtique and has been in business since 2004, as a mother of 3 busy children, Shauna understands the value of time and money. Shauna's Bowtique strives to create high quality products at affordable prices. Shauna takes great pride that her company is owned and operated by Canadian Moms.

    All of Shauna's Bowtique items are unique and each handmade treasure is available in a variety of styles and sizes to children of any age.

    When it comes to creating the sky is the limit and custom orders are always welcome.

    One lucky reader will win an assortment of clips from Shauna's Bowtique during The Great Canadian Blog Bash!

    Giveaway! Bondi Band

    Winner:  Congratulations to our winner, Shari!!!

    Update: Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone for commenting - Happy Canada Day!! The winner is being contacted now.

    Did you know Canada.. I have had a struggle my entire life - I can not keep a head band on my head! What?! I know, it's crazy, I don't know what the problem is but the only headband that would stay on my head was a child size until I tried a Bondi Band.





     

     

    Bondi Band's offer comfy, colorful, and creative headbands to fit every lifestyle and personality. By using stretchy and breathable material, this allows Bondi Bands to fit virtually every head size comfortably and fashionably. And they are my saviour!



    I can now comfortably wear this Solid Chocolate Wicking Bondi Band and it stays on my head all day.  And with their wicking fabric bands; they will absorb and evaporate buckets of sweat - perfect for wearing on a run, playing out with the kids and so fashionable it's the perfect fix for your hair all day long.

    Not only do they make these fantastic (and affordable) headbands but they also have ponytail hats, pigtail hats, swim caps, buddies (for dogs) and more.

    And something that is so fantastic - each year Bondi Bands donate 10% of their pretax profits to charity. For 2011 they have chosen the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  This is definately a company we can stand behind.

    Giveaway

    One lucky reader will recieve a Bondi Band of their own, and not just any Bondi Band but a Canada one (yours comes in black, not the white shown below)! Perfect for our Did you know Canada readers.



    Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
    Tell us how you keep the hair out of your face.

    Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
    - Follow @bondiband on Twitter
    - Like Bondi Band on Facebook
    - Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
    - Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
    - Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
    - Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
    Example Tweet..

    #Canada Hair in your face? Sweat in your eyes? Enter to #win a Bondi Band Headband! Ends 07/01 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/kY5OX3

    Giveaway open to our Canadian readers closing July 1st at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond within 72 hours or another winner will be chosen in their place.

    Disclosure: We received a free headband to try and we love it! - our opinions are our own.

    Thursday, June 16, 2011

    Wild Blueberries

    Did you know Canada.. Canada is the largest producer of wild blueberries!!  Wild blueberries are also our most valueable crop.  In terms of tonnage it's apples that we produce the most of.

    Nova Scotia is the biggest producer of wild blueberries in Canada, and recognizes the blueberry as its official provincial berry. The town of Oxford is known as the Wild Blueberry Capital of Canada. New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are other Atlantic provinces with major wild blueberry farming.

    Wild blueberries are not as wild as they sound. Wild blueberries are really lowbush species which are fire-tolerant and blueberry production often increases following a forest fire, as the plants regenerate rapidly and benefit from removal of competing vegetation. The term wild has been adopted as a marketing term. Wild blueberries are prized for their intense color.

    It was fantastic news to read that it's especially in wild species that blueberries contain anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments and various phytochemicals, which are said to have a role in reducing risks of some diseases. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, thereby preventing the cellular damage that could lead to cancer, heart disease, loss of memory, cognitive and motor functions. Blueberries are also known to create a ‘teflon’ effect, prohibiting the growth of bacteria by preventing its adherence to urinary tract walls. Experts recommend consuming a half cup of blueberries per day to reap the full benefits. Another fantastic thing about wild blueberries for everyone is that they need almost no pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

    We have a blueberry farm near us that we enjoy visiting several times a year and it's so great to know blueberries are another product Canada stands behind and can be proud of.

    Source: Wikipedia

    Wednesday, June 15, 2011

    The Great Canadian Blog Bash: Young Drivers of Canada

    Did you know Canada.. we'd love to introduce you to another fantastic sponsor in The Great Canadian Blog Bash: Young Drivers of Canada! One lucky reader will win a $100 Young Drivers of Canada gift certificate.



    Young Drivers of Canada is Canada’s largest driver training organization and has been teaching Canadians how to drive and survive for over 40 years.

    Established in 1970, YD has grown to over 140 classrooms nationally and has taught over 1 million novice drivers. YD is committed to teaching the skills needed to keep drivers safe on the road through its proprietary Collisionfree! ™ Approach. To date, Young Drivers of Canada is the ONLY ISO9001:2008 registered driving program in Canada and offers the most comprehensive driver training courses in the country, including exclusive YD-branded in-car emergency maneuvers training.

    I love that over YD's 40 years, they have trained 1 million Canadians to drive safely - 800,000 in Ontario alone. I'm included in that number, are you a YD graduate?

    YD also offers driver improvement programs for experienced drivers, driver retesting preparation as well as the Collisionfree! ™ brand of programs specifically designed for professional fleet drivers. Exclusive to YD in Canada are the CogniFit® products which help to improve driving related cognitive skills through online assessment and personalized training.

    Continue the conversation on driver safety and education with YD here too:
    http://www.yd.com/
    Facebook www.facebook.com/youngdriversofcanada
    Twitter www.twitter.com/youngdrivers
    YouTube http://www.youtube.com/youngdriversofcanada
    YD Blog http://youngdriversofcanada.wordpress.com/

    Looking forward to our $100 gift certificate winner during The Great Canadian Blog Bash!

    Canada Post Strike June 15

    Update with good news:  Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has given 48 hours notice of her intention to introduce a bill to end Canada Post's lockout.

    Did you know Canada.. we've woken up to some bad news today.. Following 12 days of increasingly costly rotating strikes by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Canada Post has suspended operations across the country.

    The believe that a lockout is the best way to bring a timely resolution to this impasse and force the union to seriously consider proposals that address declining mail volumes and the $3.2-billion pension deficit.

    So just to reiterate: There will be no mail delivery across the country until the strike is resolved.

    Tuesday, June 14, 2011

    #keenongreen

    Did you know Canada.. we are looking forward to joining the #keenongreen twitter party this Friday and wanted to let you know about it..




    You don't have to be a tree hugger or an expert on green living! You just have to be #keenongreen (e.g. keen to learn more about green living, cleaning, beautifying, health etc.)



    Party Deets

    WHEN: Friday June 17th, 2011 8-10pm EST
    WHERE: Twitter #keenongreen
    WHO: All are Welcome (some prizes are Canadans only, some are world wide)
    PARTY HOSTS: Please follow @MandyNorwex @MultiTestingMom
    WHAT: Come join in an evening filled with fun, discussion about GREEN CHOICES with regards to cleaning, health and beauty products and your family and did we mention prizes?!


    RSVP:
    You can sign up here and we will send out a reminder on Friday for those of you who have "Mommy/Daddy" brain like I do!

    The Bicycle Factory builds access for kids in Ghana

    Did you know Canada.. Canadians can help send much needed bikes to school kids in Ghana? June is also Bike Month all across Canada. Bikes are important all over the world, and is life changing in Africa.

    Many rural Ghanaians lack access to basic needs such as healthcare and education, simply because they are too far away. And for kids in rural Ghana, bicycles represent more than just transportation and fun. They also represent mobility, freedom and change.  So The Bicycle Factory designed a bike called "nframa" (Ghanaian for "wind") to suit local needs and bumpy, Ghanaian roads. And every year, The Bicycle Factory program gives Canadians the opportunity to help send up to 5,000 of these sturdy, simple-to-repair bikes to Ghana simply by entering bar codes off participating Cadbury Products.

    You can see here what a bike means in Africa.

    Participating bike builders also have a chance to win a life-changing trip to Ghana to help deliver the bike!



    Last year, The Bicycle Factory was proud to deliver 4,032 bicycles. The Bicycle Factory officially opened on April 18th and will be running until July 31st. Your support could help us get to our goal of sending 5,000 bikes to Ghana this year.

    Visit them on Facebook and http://thebicyclefactory.ca/ for more information.

    Monday, June 13, 2011

    Giveaway! Libre Tea

    Winner:  Congratulations to our winner Sheryl!!  She is going to LOVE this Libre Tea glass.  Thanks again all, for joining us in this giveaway.

    Update: Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone for commenting - this is my absolute favourite tea glass I have ever had!  If you didn't win and you're a big tea drinker - trust me - get one or put it on the Christmas list, you won't regret it!! The winner is being contacted now.

    Did you know Canada.. I have the found the most terrific tea glass made by Canadian Company Libre Tea!

    As I've mentioned before I'm a huge loose leaf tea fan, I've ordered tea from all over the Internet - but one thing I was really lacking - a perfect glass to steep the tea. I've been through MANY tea glasses, strainers, tea pots with strainers, and more and have never found one that wasn't a struggle to clean or a mess to remove the strainer or quickly lost a seal.

    I also LOVE that with the Libre Glass ’n Poly Large model you can steep your tea 2 ways - either add the tea in with the water and drink with the filter on OR for tea that should only be steeped for a certain amount of time put the tea in the filter, pour the hot water over it and with the lid you can flip the glass over, steep, then remove - LOVE IT!!

    Another fantastic thing that is important to me is that the outside of the glass never gets hot - as a person who aaaalways orders a double cup at Timmys I do not like hot cups, so this is a huge plus for me.

    Libre Tea products are for health conscious, eco-friendly tea drinkers who want to enjoy tea moments on the go or at home. Any of their sizes would make fantastic gifts for Dad this Father's Day, a new Graduate or any tea lover in your life.

    Giveaway



    One lucky reader will be able to try a Libre Tea Glass for themselves as they will win a 14oz Libre Tea Large. The Libre glass ’n poly large is the ‘big gulp’ of tea with a 420 mL capacity.

    Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
    Tell us your favourite time of day for a cup of tea in the comments.

    Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
    - Follow @libretea on Twitter
    - Like Libre Tea on Facebook
    - Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
    - Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
    - Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
    - Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
    Example Tweet..

    #Canada are you a tea drinker? Enter to #win a Libre Tea Large! Ends 06/27 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/lRaoZK

    Giveaway open to our Canadian readers closing June 27 at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond within 72 hours or another winner will be chosen in their place.

    Disclosure: We received a free Libre Tea Large to try and we use it everyday! - our opinions are our own.

    The Great Canadian Blog Bash: Pink Espresso

    Did you know Canada.. we will be participating in The Great Canadian Blog Bash and one of our sponsors is Pink Espresso! One lucky winner will receive a $10 eGiftCard from Pink Espresso!!



    Pink Espresso is a Canadian Company based in Ottawa, Ontario and I love what they have to say about their products: products that make you feel "Over the Top" about yourself - as they are products you can feel Fah~Buu~Lus~ about!

    My favourite item from Pink Espresso is the you deserve this 2 piece set containing Milk Made Velveteen Hand Creme and Cake Walk Triplemint Foot Creme. The scent of the Hand Creme is so lovely - very light and nice and trust me, I am picky! Before finding Milk Made Velveteen Hand Creme I had been using the same scent/brand since High school!! And we won't count how long ago that was! ;-)

    Not only does Pink Espresso carry fantastic beauty & care products but they also have a beautiful jewelery line as well.

    Visit them on Facebook and Twitter as well!

    I highly recommend Pink Espresso and can't wait for one lucky reader to win a $10 eGiftCard during our upcoming Great Canadian Blog Bash!!

    Sunday, June 12, 2011

    Mosquitoes in Canada

    Did you know Canada.. There are about 82 species of mosquitoes in Canada!

    Are you already itchy? I know I am. I have already had a few mosquito attacks this spring, I have a couple itchy bites on my legs right now. Not only are these bites a pain they can be dangerous too.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the present known mosquito-borne viruses in Canada are West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis.

    West Nile virus belongs to a family of viruses called Flaviviridae. It is spread by mosquitoes that have fed on the blood of infected birds. West Nile virus is closely related to the viruses that cause Dengue fever, Yellow fever and (something else our mosquitoes could be carrying) the St. Louis encephalitis.

    The best way to avoid these guys is to remove any standing water away from your home (bird baths, kids pools left filled, etc..) as this is their breeding ground. It's also good practice to wear long sleeves and insect repellents with DEET when you know they are going to be bad (the worst times for mosquitoes is dusk and dawn).

    This article in the Winnipeg Free Press gave me the chills - they report Manitoba mosquitoes are legendary, sometimes jokingly referred to as the provincial bird. In the town of Komarno, there is a giant metal weather vane shaped like a mosquito with a wing span of more than four metres. "Komarno" is Ukranian for mosquito.

    Have the dreaded mosquitoes gotten bad in your neck of the woods yet?

    Source: Hinterland Who's Who, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winninpeg Free Press

    Saturday, June 11, 2011

    Top Baby Names

    Did you know Canada.. some of the top baby names in Canada may surprise you.

    The top girls name in Canada is Olivia, meaning olive tree and representing peace.

    The top boys name in Canada is Liam (this one surprised me, I don't know too many Liams) meaning will helmet, protection and is the Irish Gaelic version of William.

    It's funny with how vast Canada can be so can the names. In modern British Columbia some of the top names include Brooklyn, Maya and Logan while in Nova Scotia many of the top names reflect the Maritime culture such as Kayleigh, Noah and Owen.

    What baby names are popular in your area?

    Friday, June 10, 2011

    Taste Tea Cup

    Did you know Canada.. I have found the one of the coolest Canadian places to order tea online: Taste Tea Cup!


    Taste Tea Cup carries a variety of loose-leaf teas and drinkable herbs. Their teas & herbs are of the highest quality and they only sell tea that comes from ethical growers who produce these premium teas in a responsible manner.

    I am a big tea drinker and have ordered loose leaf tea from all over the Internet - trust me, there is a big difference between quality loose leaf tea and some of the lesser ones.  I was lucky enough to try some samples of Taste Tea Cup's tea and this is quality tea - and in the COOLEST flavours!

    With flavoured tea like Grand marnier, Caramel cherry cheesecake, Ontario Icewine, Tutti Fruiti and a variety of black, green, white, and chai there is something for EVERYONE.  My current favourite is the Mocha Rocha!

    A note from their website that is great information and something I hadn't even thought about is..
    Do the planet a favour – serve loose leaf tea! Loose tea has a much smaller environmental footprint than teabags. Teabags require paper or nylon mesh, a staple, a paper or plastic tag & glue. Although per bag the material may seem insignificant, multiplied by billions annually, the additional energy consumption required to make them all makes loose leaf tea a much friendlier option! - So true!!

    Taste Tea Cup also offers fantastic brewing instructions for all of their teas, something I found very helpful - I certainly learned a few things reading through this page.

    The owner, Canadian Davina Simms, really knows her tea and if you are a tea lover like me I highly recommend trying one (or more) of her fantastic blends!

    Thursday, June 9, 2011

    Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo

    Did you know Canada.. This weekend you can check out the Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex in Burlington ON.

    Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo (COEE) is an annual event held each June featuring an indoor and outdoor trade show, clinics, seminars, and demonstrations. This is it's second year for the event.

    Sounds like the Extreme Cowboy Race™ will be very exciting! From their website.. The Extreme Cowboy Race™ is a timed and judged race through an obstacle course that is designed not only to push horse and rider teams out of their traditional “comfort zones,” but also to test communication between horse and rider, horsemanship skills and the athletic abilities of each competitor.

    Let us know if you're attending!

    Wednesday, June 8, 2011

    Giveaway! Budding Artists

    Winner: Congratulations to our winner: Shari!!  Thanks again to everyone to who joined in our giveaway!

    Update: Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone for commenting - I am SO happy with our coasters, I look at them constantly through out the day, such a great way to preserve your babies! The winner is being contacted now.

    Did you know Canada.. I got to try the absolute best service for any parent or grandparent. And when I tell you this it is truely from the bottom of my heart - I love this service and will be using it for my self and for a million Christmas presents this year and the years to come.



    Budding Artists is a Canadian owned company who use original artwork (like the kiddos drawings) to create keepsakes and giftware with over 25 quality products.  It's a very true statement Budding Artists has on their website: Each customized gift is a wonderful statement to friends and family that we value children’s creativity. It’s a win-win… Parents appreciate the ease of preserving their children’s artwork and kids are active participants in the creative process.

    Budding Artists do fundraising parties, DIY Home Parties, Individual Orders, and they have an Eco-Friendly Art and Craft Supplies Marketplace as well.



    I am so in love with the magnets and coasters we received, everyone notices them when they come in the house and it's my boys preserved for me, makes me so happy. I can't wait until they are a bit older and can draw real pictures, that's going to be fantastic.  The process was SO EASY as well which is more than half the battle.

    Giveaway
    One lucky reader will win a set of four coasters from Budding Artists (up to four images can be used to make the coasters).

    Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
    Visit the Budding Artist product page and let us know your favourite way you would choose to preserve some artwork.

    Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
    - Like Budding Artists on Facebook
    - Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
    - Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
    - Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
    - Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
    Example Tweet..

    Preserve kiddos artwork on a set of 4 coasters-Enter to #win our Budding Artist Giveaway!! Ends June 22 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/kES1xm

    Giveaway open to our Canadian readers closing June 22 at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond within 72 hours or another winner will be chosen in their place.

    Disclosure: As mentioned we received a coaster and magnet set, we will be ordering more in the future - our opinions are our own.

    Canada Post Strike Update June 8

    Did you know Canada.. Canada Post Strike is about to affect everyone.

    Starting next week Canada Post will only be delivering Monday, Wednesday and Friday across Canada in urban areas.

    According to Canada Post delivery of mail to rural mailboxes and community mailboxes will continue five days a week where service is provided by Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMCs) who operate under a separate collective agreement than urban employees.

    Post Office operating hours and access to post office boxes will remain unchanged.

    Most small packages and documents will also be delivered three days a week. Every effort will be made to continue to deliver priority items five days a week.

    How do you feel about these new changes in service while the strike continues?

    Tuesday, June 7, 2011

    National Aboriginal Day

    Did you know Canada.. coming up on June 21st is National Aboriginal Day!


    It was on June 13, 1996, that the Governor General of Canada proclaimed June 21st to be National Aboriginal Day (NAD), offering Aboriginal peoples an excellent opportunity to share their rich, diverse cultures with family members, neighbours, friends and visitors.

    First Nations, Métis and Inuit people will gather to celebrate and share with spectacular dance, song and theatrical performances both contemporary and traditional that will bring you to your feet! Each year a different organization takes the lead on NAD activities within the NCR. This year, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is the lead organization.

    Visit here for a list of events and celebrations happening in your area!

    Monday, June 6, 2011

    Canada Post Strike Update June 6

    Did you know Canada.. some more news from the Canada Post Strike. While Montreal ends their 1 day strike at 11:30pm The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says its Moncton and Victoria locals will begin 24-hour strikes in both cities at midnight tonight.

    They are also saying that after careful consideration, Canada Post has again turned down an offer put forward by CUPW as part of labour negotiations.

    The reason for the rejection they say is that the union’s latest offer does not offer realistic solutions to problems such as declining mail volumes, increasing competition, and electronic substitutions of traditional mail.

    So at this point it's not looking good for the strike being resolved quickly as both sides continue to disagree.

    Pizza Pizza

    Did you know Canada.. Pizza Pizza is Canadian!!


    Pizza Pizza was founded in Toronto in 1967, has grown to become Ontario’s number one pizza restaurant chain, fulfilling over 28 million customer orders annually!  It was back in 1975 that Pizza Pizza introduction of famous 11-11 phone number and set it to their catchy jingle in 1978 - truly a part of our history.

    Pizza Pizza also makes history with their commitment to our schools and communities.  Pizza Pizza works closely with more than 1,900 elementary schools and organizations of all sizes annually to help local volunteers the true heroes - raise money for those who need it most.  They also provide donations to more than 200 different organizations annually throughout Canada, from children’s causes to health and education.



    My boys and I were lucky enough to enjoy a large 3 topping pizza before soccer last week and we loved it! My boys do not like pepperoni for some craaaazy reason so we went with ground beef, bacon and some extra cheese and it was delicious - we had some very happy boys as you can see..


    I truly believe in Pizza Pizza's Value Proposition.. “Always the best food, made especially for you.” Pizza Pizza offers consumers a variety of food choices with absolutely no compromise when it comes to quality, freshness and taste.

    While my boys and I waited for our pizza to be made fresh you could see the level of detail and commitment in the friendly staff, something you definitely do not see everywhere. I love that Pizza Pizza makes themselves so available on the Internet through Twitter and Facebook.

    A truly Canadian Company we can stand behind!

    Next time we're going to need 2 pizzas so I can try the Pulled Pork Pizza in their new Chipotle line up!

    Sunday, June 5, 2011

    Where the Canada Post Strike is heading next

    Did you know Canada.. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it's Montreal local that will begin a 24-hour strike at 11:30 p.m. tonight while Hamilton ends their strike tonight.

    In the meantime, Canada Post’s negotiating team is reviewing the latest offer put forward by CUPW and is seeking clarity on several points proposed by the union.

    Canada Post says it is looking for CUPW to propose realistic solutions to problems such as declining mail volumes, increasing competition, and electronic substitutions of traditional mail.

    Snakes!

    Did you know Canada.. the largest of Canada's 26 snake species and one apparent hybrid is the Southern Ontario black rat snake! The black rat snake actually got a new name recently, now known as the gray ratsnake.

    The species are the largest snakes found in Canada. Individuals longer than 1.5 m (5 ft.) are not uncommon, and even-longer ones have been recorded. The young are about 28 to 33 cm long (11 to 13 in.) at birth.

    This ratsnake feeds primarily on mice, rats, and some bird eggs and young birds. Not venomous, it constricts its prey within the tight coils of its body. Adults often hunt for mice around rural buildings such as barns, sheds, or cottages. The young will feed on small lizards, young mice and, occasionally, on small frogs such as treefrogs.

    It prefers heavily wooded areas and is known for having excellent climbing ability where it sometimes shelters in cavities high up in hollow trees and generally inhabits uplands away from water.

    Source: nature.ca, Nature Conservatory, thecanadianencyclopedia.com

    Saturday, June 4, 2011

    Harbour Grace

    Did you know Canada.. Harbour Grace Newfoundland is one of the oldest towns in North America with roots dating back to the sixteenth century.

    (Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives (Coll - 75, 5.05.159))

    It was also home to one of the most notorious pirates - Peter Easton. It was in 1610 that pirate Peter Easton made Harbour Grace his headquarters. He is known to be one of the most successful of all pirates as he controlled such seapower that no sovereign or state could afford to ignore him and he was never overtaken or captured by any fleet commissioned to hunt him down.

    Another exciting visitor to Harbour Grace was Amelia Earhart who took off in a red and gold single engine airplane from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, on May 20, 1932.

    Harbour Grace is now a fishing town with a fish processing centre, it also has many historical buildings and an emerging tourist industry.

    I for one would love to visit on Pirate Day to join in on Pagentry, contests, sailboat races, traditional Newfoundland food and music, re-enactment of the Pirate King Peter Easton's landing in 1611 and a lot more.

    Source: hrgrace.ca, Wikipedia

    Friday, June 3, 2011

    Caribou

    Did you know Canada.. the largest herd of Caribou in the world can be found in Labrador.

    The barrenground caribou of Labrador are part of the worlds largest herd, "The George River Caribou herd". The barren land of Labrador with its abundance of shrubs and lichens makes a perfect rest stop for the migrating herds of Canada's north. With the ground and tree lichens as the primary winter food of caribou, it provides a highly digestible and energy-rich food source. With the change of seasons these caribou continuously roam north and south from breeding grounds to feeding grounds.

    This also leads to being the best place in the world to hunt caribou.

    There are more than 2.4 million caribou in Canada. Some dwell in forests, some in mountains, some migrate each year between the sparse forests and tundra of the far north, and others remain on the tundra all year.

    Source: Newfoundland Caribou, Hinterland Who's Who

    Thursday, June 2, 2011

    StickerYou

    Did you know Canada.. I got to try the coolest service - mark your own stickers from StickerYou.



    StickerYou has the COOLEST create your own sticker app where you pay per page for as many stickers as you want to fit on that page.  The app lets you select images grouped my themes, add text, resize images including your own photos and more.



    What I did was upload my logo, sized it how I wanted it and used the app to repeat it on the page and fit it so I could get as many as possible. You don't have to use your own photos either they have TONS of really fun images for you to choose from.



    This is a fantastic service for so many people - businesses, personalized sticker sheets for kids birthdays, really funky stickers for teenagers, personalized labels from around the home, wine labels, shower gifts and more.

    From their website..

    StickerYou was founded in 2008 by Andrew Witkin, who was inspired during a walk on Los Angeles’ Manhattan Beach when he noticed how stickers played a huge role in the local scene and culture but realized how difficult it was for individuals to create ‘cool’ stickers themselves.

    StickerYou has raised growth capital from a prominent group of Canadian angels, including Jason Chapnik (Chairman of Dealer.com), Greg Coleman (Romspen Investment Corporation), Jordan Banks through his investment firm Thunder Road Capital, K2 and Associates Investment Management, and Jonathan Graff (Co-President of Benecaid).

    StickerYou is based in Toronto, Canada.

    Make it Stick!


    I highly recommend StickerYou - it's a really fun process from start to finish and you end up with quality work, perfect colours and really cool stickers.

    Follow them on Twitter @StickerYou, Facebook and the web!


    I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

    Canada Post Strike Update June 2

    Did you know Canada.. according to this article in thestar and cupw.ca Canada Post is starting with rotating strikes. This means you may still get mail tomorrow!

    If no agreement is reached by 11:59pm tonight it's Winnipeg local that will be on strike first for 24 hours, moving to other cities to be announced later.

    As posted by the CUPW..

    The purpose of this strike activity is to encourage Canada Post Corporation to abandon their proposals for significant concessions and instead negotiate solutions to the very real problems that are being experienced by 48,000 postal workers.

    Winnipeg has been chosen as the location for the first strike activity because it was the first city to be impacted by Canada Post's modernization program. The results have been a sharp deterioration of service to the public as well as a host of health and safety problems experienced by postal workers due to the new work methods and equipment.

    CUPW has negotiations demands designed to resolve these problems and we want Canada Post to address them.


    Click here for a List of Governments and Departments Opting to Have Social Assistance Cheques Delivered in the Event of a Postal Strike or Lockout.

    Giveaway! Kicking Horse Coffee

    Winner: Congratulations to our winner Erin - we thank everyone again for joining such a fantastic giveaway for a perfect Canadian product!

    Update: Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone for commenting - I just loooove this coffee and I know you will too! The winner is being contacted now.

    Did you know Canada.. it was my Mom that first introduced me to Canadian Company Kicking Horse Coffee and the huge quality difference of using freshly ground beans.



    The history of Kicking Horse Coffee is a fantastic read. Kicking Horse Coffee was one of the first 10 companies in Canada to sign on with TransFair Canada in 1998 and in 2003 Kicking Horse Coffee went 100% organic, only purchasing and roasting 100% Certified Organic coffee beans. Then is 2007 they become dedicated to 100% Organic Fair Trade. Kicking Horse Coffee continues to be Canada's #1 selling Organic Fair Trade and I know why!

    I was very happy to try a can of Kicking Horse Coffee - Kick Ass - a dark coffee that is just heavenly. When I hear dark coffee that's usually something I shy away from because I don't like coffee that's tooooo strong but this is just perfect and smells amazing. About 10 minutes after I got it I was already grinding the beans and getting it on to brew with fresh, filtered water and it was a PERFECT cup of coffee.  Even my husband, you usually shrugs at coffee and would grab something else is loving this - we have converted him!!!

    I highly recommend Kicking Horse Coffee, there is a HUGE difference between a cheaper can of coffee and fresh, quality organic fair trade beans.

    Giveaway

    One lucky reader will win a can of Kicking Horse Coffee and a KHC bag.

    Mandatory Entry - one mandatory entry per person
    Visit the Kicking Horse Coffee online store and let us know your favourite product.

    Optional Entries - 1 comment per each optional entry
    - Follow @kcknghrsecoffee on Twitter
    - Like Kicking Horse Coffee on Facebook
    - Follow Did you know Canada on GFC
    - Follow @diduknowcanada on Twitter
    - Like Did you know Canada on Facebook
    - Tweet this giveaway (link to your tweet in comment, can be done 2x a day during giveaway)
    Example Tweet..

    Who loves coffee?? Enter to #win a Kicking Horse Coffee Prize Pack!! Ends June 16 @diduknowcanada http://bit.ly/kJxcs1


    Giveaway open to our Canadian readers closing June 16 at 9:00pm EST. You must leave an email address so I have a way to contact you in the event that you win. Winners must respond within 72 hours or another winner will be chosen in their place.

    Disclosure: As mentioned we received a can of Kicking Horse Coffee to try, we have purchased them in the past and will continue to do so - our opinions are our own.

    Wednesday, June 1, 2011

    New Shoes

    Did you know Canada.. check out my new gardening shoes - perfect for Canada Day too! :)


    Tim Hortons Camp Day

    Did you know Canada.. today is Camp Day at Tim Hortons, this means the ENTIRE coffee sale from each coffee is donated to help send a kid to camp. I guess I better get a couple then ;)

    From their website..

    Wednesday, June 1, 2011 is a special day for Tim Hortons Restaurant Owners, team members and guests. It's Camp Day! Camp Day is the one day a year when Tim Hortons Restaurant Owners across Canada and the United States donate every penny from coffee sales to the Tim Horton Children's Foundation. In 2010, Camp Day raised more than $9.7 million CDN ($9.3 million U.S.).


    You can also visit the Camp Day website to donate directly and get info on how to text a donation from your phone.

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