Plenty of Nothing

The Luminous Veil

The Luminous Veil is an illuminated anti-suicide screen on the Bloor Street Viaduct in Toronto. The barrier was erected in 2003, and the lights turned on in 2015, which explains why Michael Ondaatje doesn't mention it in his 1988 novel In the Skin of a Lion. I cannot conceive that he would have let that name go if he had known about it. Source.

Astroblemes of Québec: Presqu'ile

Presq'ile Impact Structure, by Charles O'Dale.

Amik

The Montréal Olympics opened tomorrow in 1976. The official mascot of the games was Amik, a large pillow. Source.

Bring Me the Head of Queen Victoria

On this date in 1963 the FLQ blew up a statue of Queen Victoria that stood in Parc Victoria, Ville de Québec. The bits now reside in the Musée de la civilisation. Read about it.

The Priory

The first building constructed in Guelph, Ontario was Priory House, built in 1827 by Charles Prior -- hence the name. By mid-century it was the railway station. It was moved in 1911 to make way for a new station but by its centenary it had been condemned and used for firewood. Source. Source.

John Galt Statue

John Galt, outside the courthouse in Guelph, Ontario. Source.

Pahvo, Ontario

Now that Star Trek is being shot in Toronto, the Vasquez Rocks are out, and the Niagara Escarpment is in.

Vive le Québec libre!

Mayor Drapeau was caught off-guard by the tenor of General De Gaulle's remarks on this day in 1967. Source.

Our Home On Mississaugan Land

As a school kid in Mississauga I was taught about the Hurons and Iroquois, but not the Mississaugas. There's some remedial reading here. Douglas

Canada Diamond Jubilee Plaque

In 1927, to celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of Confederation, copper plaques like this one were distributed to schools across the country. Source. Also see.