Some things we just cannot live
without! Water is a necessity for
survival. Money is a necessity to
purchase life's requirements. Food is
a necessity for nourishment of our health.
Passports are a necessity for out-of-country travel. Recently, I had to renew my passport at an
increased $33 since five years ago! I
had the option of five (which I applied for) or ten year duration. At the end
of January, driving to Oakville's
Service Canada, I submitted the forms to
renew my passport Twelve days later it
was delivered by Postal Service to my address.
I was impressed with the new format of the Canadian Passport. You may already be familiar with the page
presentations...or perhaps you didn't observe each page...or forgotten the
historical information given to the holder.
It contains 36 pages which
includes pictures on pages 6 to 35 (in
muted grayish tones) that are representative of our country Canada. All
information is presented in English and in French with a small red maple leaf motif on each page.
Page 5: Symbols of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
Illustrated are a feather, an
inukshuk and a horizontally laid white figure 8 loop. The feather is an aura surrounding the
eagle which soars high and is thus,
close to the Creator. The inukshuk is a
landmark used by the Inuit, and other peoples in North
America's Arctic region.
The Metis people have 2 flags with the 'loop' design on them; one is red
with the white infinity symbol for the Hudson Bay Company; the blue flag
with white infinity symbol honours the North West Company.
Pages 6, 7: Samuel de Champlain, Father of New France
and his ship.
Pages 8, 9: Fathers of Confederation. Quote by Rt. Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald,
“...a great nation ~ great in thought, great in action, great in hope and great
in position.”
Pages 10, 11: The Last Spike, 1885. Picture
features a locomotive train crossing Canada
on the CPR track...plus photo of CPR's last spike being nailed to complete the
railway in British Columbia.
Pages 12, 13: Canada's North includes the Arctic
Ocean plus a photo of Joseph-Elzear Bernier with expeditions to the Arctic (1906 to 1913).
Pages 14, 15: Canada's Prairies shows grain
elevators and machinery with freight train in foreground.
Pages 16, 17: Pier 21, Halifax ~ historic gateway to
Canada plus photo of passenger liner and other ship. Quote by Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, “Canada is free
and freedom is its nationality.”
Pages 18, 19: Centre Block of Parliament, Ottawa (spanning
both pages.) Rt. Hon. John Diefenbaker
stated, “Parliament is more than
procedure; it is the custodian of the nation's freedom.”
Pages 20, 21: Niagara Falls, Ontario with photo
spanning across both pages.
Pages 22, 23: Canadian Vimy Memorial, France. Quote by Brigadier-General A.E. Ross, “...in
those few minutes, I witnessed the birth of a nation.”
Pages 24,25: The City of Quebec, founded 1608 shows photo of The Citadel and other buildings.
Pages 26, 27: Northwest Mounted Police, 1873 to 1904
plus Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Pages 28, 29: The Grey Cup ~ trophy for Canadian
Football League winner. The Stanley Cup ~
trophy for National Hockey League winner.
Pages 30, 31: Nellie McClung from the statue of the
Famous Five. She holds a plaque “Women are Persons.” Also a picture of Terry Fox, Marathon of Hope honouring those suffering with
cancer.
Pages 32, 33: (Four photos): Billy
Bishop, V.C. First World War Flying Ace; HMCS Sackville, Second World War; Canadian Infantry, Korea; National War
Memorial.
Pages 34, 35: Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador; and Bluenose, a ship built in Nova Scotia.
Notation: It's almost worth the $120 cost of this
passport
to have and to hold
in my hands, this mini-historical-treasure of My Canada!
American in Paris
Harvey, an elderly American,
absentmindedly arrived at French Immigration at Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris and fumbled for his
passport.
“You have been to France before,
Monsieur?” the official asked in an aggressive tone. Harvey smiled
and admitted that he had been to France before. “In that case, you should know enough to have
your passport ready for inspection,” barked the ill-tempered officer because of
the delay. Harvey
gently informed the man that the last time he came to France, he did
not have to show his passport or any other documents.
“Old man, 'pas possible! You Americans always have to show your
passports on arrival in 'la belle France.”
Harvey gave the Frenchman a long hard look, then replied, “ I assure you,
young man, that when I came ashore at Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day in 1944,
there was no damned Frenchman on the beach asking for Passports or other
documents!”
(Author Unknown)
Viewpoint by
Erma Bombeck
There is nothing
more miserable in the world
than to arrive in
paradise and look like your passport photo.
Merle
Baird-Kerr...written February 13, 2014
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