When we moved from our Maryland dairy to the northwest wilderness of Maine on the United States-Canadian border, during the spring of 1961, there was 10 feet of snow in our lakeside driveway. Looking westward from the windows of the rustic hand-hewed log cabin, we enjoyed a panoramic vista of the wilderness across the lake where the mountainous horizon beyond merged into the Province of Quebec.
The majority of the town citizen’s ancestors came from either Quebec or New Brunswick, Canada. It was only recent that I discovered some of my schoolmate’s ancestors came from Labrador – answering why I thought they looked like Eskimos, but actually have French and Inuit bloodlines. I would have never guess the similarities.
North of the border, the forested wilderness thinned into rolling farm country and the small towns were each centered around huge stone Roman Catholic cathedrals. My first visit to Canada I thought the French Canadian families were the happiest people on earth. The music and the food was exciting to hear and taste.
My wife and I continue to sample the Canadian meat-pie (Tourtière de l’Île) annually during the Christmas holidays, while remembering some of the old French families that shared their ancient recipes handed down through the generations.
June 16, 2009 at 6:36 pm
William Shatner was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He’s got a star on the walk of fame which acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of successful Canadians.
June 16, 2009 at 8:16 pm
My wife was just telling me that while we’re up to “County” over the July 4th holiday we’ll be attending a French community dinner on the 3rd so maybe I’ll get a chance to try some of that “Tourtière de l’Île”. The next morning it’s the annual Swedish pancake breakfast, first two days of my vacation and I’ll be carrying an extra couple pounds!?!