The Quebec film Rebelle (War Witch) has been nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign-language film category! Directed by Montreal’s Kim Nguyen, it tells the moving and heartbreaking story of child soldiers in Africa. [Montreal Gazette]

The Grammy Awards will honour legendary Toronto pianist Glenn Gould with a lifetime achievement award this February! With four Grammys to his name, the famously eccentric Gould was one of the 20th century’s most celebrated classical pianists. [Globe & Mail]

In a wonderfully titled article for the Ottawa Citizen (“Perils and petticoats: remarkable women from War of 1812“), the stories of the often overlooked women of the War of 1812 are brought out to the forefront. In addition to Laura Secord, perhaps the best-known female heroine in Canadian history, researcher Kurt Johnson brings to light the stories of Maria Hill, who donned a redcoat to follow her husband Sgt. Andrew Hill, and pioneer women like Catherine Lyon, who raised 15 children while following her husband Lieut. George Lyon to British forts under attack. [Ottawa Citizen]

Visitors who enter St. Margaret’s Church in Bodelwyddan, a historic church in Wales, will encounter graves marked with QR codes that, when scanned with a smartphone, teach their users about the history behind the more than 80 Canadian war graves in the church yard. The project was created by History Points in collaboration with historians, databases, and historical organizations. What a great way to encounter history! [Sun News]

After a month of total darkness in Inuvik, N.W.T., the sun returned for just a brief 41 minutes. The 3,000 residents of Inuvik celebrated with fireworks and a giant bonfire the night before the sun’s return: a goodbye to darkness and a welcoming of the light. [Toronto Star]

The Canadian government has announced a new set of Heritage Minute television spots to commemorate Sir John A. Macdonald and his French-Canadian lieutenant, George-Étienne Cartier. [Ottawa Citizen]

Peter Mansbridge observes the differences in value that Americans and Canadians put on their history, measured in dollars and cents, and finds that most major American historical sites and museums are free to the public, whereas the price of admission for the Canadian equivalents come at a cost. His conclusion: Canadian history is said to be boring. It isn’t of course. It’s just unknown. And there isn’t enough effort to change that….The Americans prove every day that history is all around us and it can be an exhilarating part of the present.” [CBC]