Canadians across the country have poems in their pockets, from a pretty little haiku to historical epics to the latest pop earworm. Every year new poets give us wonderful and engaging works. But we can’t forget the strong Canadian poetic tradition captured by, among others, Bliss Carman’s romantic odes to landscape, Stephen Leacock’s biting satire, [...]
On April 4, 1949, the foreign ministers of Canada, the US, the UK, France and eight other countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty. An armed attack on one member would be an armed attack on them all.
Historical Maps of Toronto makes hard-to-find maps easily accesible on the web. Nathan Ng, brainchild behind the project, answers a few questions about maps, history and his love for both.
A nation is a group of people who share the same illusions about themselves. Academics call it imagining a community. Vancouver cyberpunk novelist William Gibson calls it “consensual hallucination.” Whatever you call it, April Fools seems like a good opportunity to think about some of the illusions Canadians have about ourselves. One illusion we share [...]
The editor in chief of the Canadian Encyclopedia, James H. Marsh, will retire after 33 years of dedication and leadership. He remembers his journey from bookish kid to what he calls “the best job in the country.”
Our French editor Myriam Fontaine traces the history of April Fools, from its origins in 1534 to its current tradition in Quebec where children “run after the April Fish.”
The recent hubbub surrounding the arrival of two giant pandas to the Toronto Zoo triggers memories of a time when bears used to wander Toronto’s streets and Bay Street was popularly referred to as “Bear Street.”
The new exhibition, Double Take, features Canadians from all walks of life, regions far and wide, from past and present. Some are well known and others should be, but all are worth knowing more about.
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. We revisit that turbulent time with a look at our Maclean’s archives and its reporting on a history-making event.
Irish-Canadians have shaped a large part of Canadian culture. This St. Patrick’s Day, discover their unique history and music, including the Irish Rovers and Ryan’s Fancy. Sláinte! To your health!
For Canadians, St. Patrick’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate all who struggled, perished and succeeded, trying to make a new life in a new land.
In the wake of Stompin’ Tom Connors’ death, Kaitlin Wainwright explores the complexity of Connors’ songs, their themes and the nationalism that made him a Canadian icon.
International Women’s Day is March 8! Explore its history and musical anthem, “Bread and Roses,” which is still sung at rallies today.
On February 15, 1965, at hundreds of ceremonies across the country and around the world, the red and white Canadian maple leaf flag was raised for the first time.
The first national anthology of poetry by African Canadians will be released in celebration of Black History Month this February. Published by Frontenac House, The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry features the works of over 90 poets across Canada. The poets are a diverse bunch in terms of form, history and geography. From big cities to [...]
