Holiday: Canadian International Air Show

A formation of seven of the Snowbirds flew in the Canadian International Air Show on 7-September-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - The Canadian International Air Show has traditionally been a highlight of Labour Day weekend in Toronto, providing entertainment above the last weekend of the Canadian National Exhibition. The Snowbirds Demonstration Team from the Canadian Forces capped off the show with its graceful formations using nine CT-114 Tutor aircraft.


All nine Snowbirds formed a line at the end of the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto, Ontario on 6-September-2009

While the Snowbirds certainly provided a good show, I had grown up on the United States Navy's Blue Angels and their annual performances in Seattle (Seafair) and San Francisco (Fleet Week). I had long wanted to watch their F/A-18 Hornets perform in the same show as the Snowbirds to create a comparison based on something other than decaying memories. This year, that chance came as the Blue Angels joined the Snowbirds in the Canadian International Air Show.


The Blue Angels performed above Lake Ontario in Toronto, Ontario, a new addition to the Canadian International Air Show on 6-September-2009

The Blue Angels and the Snowbirds indeed provided a cultural contrast. While Canadian group flew comparatively quiet planes which mostly took on graceful formations and maneuvers requiring multiple aircraft and even formed a heart in the sky, the Blue Angels were all about in-your-face impact with loud fly-bys, fast maneuvers, and immediate visual impact.


Always popular with the crowds, the "heart" formed by the Snowbirds was noted above Lake Ontario during the Canadian International Air Show on 6-September-2009

The air show was not all about jets. A variety of acrobatic performers were included, including Mike Wiscus, Matt Chapman, and Mike Goulian. This year, there was even a CH-146 Griffon helicopter demonstrating the Canadian Forces' search and rescue capabilities with people jumping from the helicopter into Lake Ontario.


The Canadian Forces demonstrated their search and rescue capabilities with a CH-146 helicopter off Toronto, Ontario on 6-September-2009

One of the best features of air shows are the fly-bys that feature aircraft not normally seen together flying in formation. An especially nice fly-by in this year's Canadian International Air Show featured two P-51 Mustangs, a F-16 Viper, and a F-22 Raptor. The planes had previously performed separately.


The "United States Heritage Flight" featured two P-51 Mustangs, a F-16 Viper, and a F-22 Raptor on 6-September-2009

The only major problem with the Canadian International Air Show is that the air space for the show is south of the spectators on the Toronto shore, so that they are always looking into the sun while watching the show. It is possible to watch the show from the southeast at Humber Bay Park, but that location is much farther from some of the action. The best part of that location is that downtown Toronto and the CN Tower form the backdrop for some of the show.


The Blue Angels flew past the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario as viewed from across Humber Bay on 7-September-2009

Many more photographs from the Canadian International Air Show will be included in a future update to my photo site.

Heritage: Etobicoke-York Heritage Fair

Hosts in period costumes tended to a fire outside Montgomery Inn's in Toronto, Ontario during the Etobicoke-York Heritage Fair on 10-September-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - One of the signs of the end of summer in the capitol of Ontario is the Etobicoke-York Heritage Fair. Before this event, most of the local historical societies take the summer off; afterward, their regular meetings resume throughout the autumn, winter and spring.


Montgomery's Inn in Toronto, Ontario as it appeared on Canada Day, 1-July-2008

Montgomery's Inn itself dates from 1832, one of the hotel stops along what is now Dundas Street heading west from Toronto. Saved by groups including the Etobicoke Historical Society, the inn now serves as a museum, regularly open and serving tea and dessert in its tea room. The Heritage Fair is just one of several special events held at its location along Mimico Creek.


Volunteers handled cobs during the corn roast as part of the Heritage Fair at Montgomery's Inn on 10-September-2009

Food is always part of events at Montgomery's Inn--at many events, the historic kitchen is busy coming up with homemade ice cream, cookies, or other baked goods. At the Heritage Fair, the focus is on the corn roast, as corn-on-the-cob rivals hot dogs as the food of choice for the evening.


Groups from New Toronto and Islington Village to Weston and Swansea had displays at the Heritage Fair in Toronto, Ontario on 10-September-2009

One of the great things about the Heritage Fair is that all of the western Toronto heritage groups attend, making it possible to collect information on their upcoming season of activities all at once without attending any of their individual meetings. This year, tables were staffed by the Etobicoke Historical Society, Weston Historical Society, Applewood, la Société d’histoire de Toronto, New Toronto Historical Society, the Village of Islington, Swansea Historical Society, and the Etobicoke-York Community Preservation Panel.


Folk music was played outside Montgomery's Inn in Toronto, Ontario during the Heritage Fair on 10-September-2009

The finishing touch of the evening was live folk music performed outside the inn throughout the event. It was almost enough to forget that summer is almost over--but at least I know what to look forward to at the next Swansea Historical Society meeting.

Culture: A Casual Visit to the Navy

The HMCS Ville de Québec sat docked in Toronto, Ontario for a recruiting open house on 6-September-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Amongst the many free events taking place in Ontario's capitol city last weekend was an open house on the HMCS Ville de Québec, a Halifax-class frigate that has been plying inland waters for the past few weeks on a recruiting mission for the Canadian Forces Maritime Command (the Canadian Navy). The ship was docked at the foot of Yonge Street and opened up to the public on Sunday and Monday.


Harpoon missiles were launched from this apparatus on noted on the HMCS Ville de Québec in Toronto, Ontario on 6-September-2009

Launched in Lauzon, Québec in 1991, the HMCS Ville de Québec is 134 meters long, requires a crew of well over 200, and featured a variety of weapons systems including torpedoes and Sea Sparrow and Harpoon missiles. The rear of the deck accommodated a CH-124 "Sea King" helicopter. Surprisingly, visitors could wander quite a portion of the ship, including going through the bridge and walking right next to some of the weapons systems.


The bridge of the HMCS Ville de Québec was observed on 6-September-2009. The man barely in the picture at left in the brown shirt was one of the non-uniformed members of the crew.

What was truly remarkable about the open house was not the openness of the ship itself, but the extremely casual nature of the event. There was barely a single crew member welcoming visitors on board (no metal detectors or any formal security), and the majority of the crew answering questions on board were not in uniform but were in civilian clothes. The non-stereotypical military environment was reinforced by details like the fact that "military time" (the 24-hour clock) is not used on board in favor of local, civilian time.


The CN Tower loomed on the right as the rear deck of the HMCS Ville de Québec was docked in Toronto, Ontario on 6-September-2009

That doesn't mean that the HMCS Ville de Québec hasn't seen real danger. While the brochure given out seemed to make more of ship's role in counter-piracy efforts off Somalia in 2008 than any of the individual crew members spoken with would talk about, they did clearly have the experience of being under threat and mentioned the need to work as a team when being fired upon. The ship may have been trying to recruit for the Canadian Forces, but it would have been hard for a potential sailor to be drawn in by the casual atmosphere and not realize that the ship encountered real threats.

Heritage: Milton Steam Era

A 1913 Sawyer-Massey steam tractor moved around the grounds at the Milton Steam Era festival on 5-September-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - In 2009, Milton, Ontario seems like a somewhat odd location for a historic tractor show. Most such shows take place in rural areas surrounded by miles and miles of farms. Milton now has hourly or better transit connections to Toronto and zero-lot housing development bolstering its population. However, as it has almost since World War II, the Milton fairgrounds still plays host to the "Steam Era" show each Labour Day weekend.


A view over the boiler was obtained while riding behind a steam tractor at the Steam Era show in Milton, Ontario on 5-September-2009

A highlight of show, of course, are the steam tractors. Many of the steam tractors present came from the Ontario Steam Heritage Museum in Puslinch, Ontario. These enormous tractors are operational, and moved about the fairgrounds throughout the weekend, including one serving as a "people mover" so that people could experience the thrill of riding behind one of these early 20th-century beasts.


A line of classic Ford tractors was typical of the many groups on display at the Milton Steam Era festival on 5-September-2009

The bulk of the tractors, though, were diesels. Most were from a classic era of diesel tractors, which in the case of one manufacturer, John Deere, lasted as long as two-cylinder engines were adequate to power the tractors. The population of tractors from the 1920's to the post-World War II era was simply incredible. Even rare one-cylinder models from several European manufacturers were present.


A John Deere model 620 orchard tractor, with extra sheet metal to protect against branches, was in the parade returning to the Milton Steam Era site on 5-September-2009

Motion was really the dominant theme of Steam Era. Tractors were in moving for a parade through Milton, for a threshing content, and for the ever-popular tractor pull contests. Other activities included displays of classic automobiles, a country music contest, and the perennial favorite corn roast.


A classic Farmall tractor participated in the tractor pull at the Milton Steam Era festival on 5-September-2009

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the Steam Era event, with a variety of retrospective displays related to the first decade of Steam Era shows. Those interested should mark it on their calendars for Labour Day weekend!

Holiday: Labour Day Parade

The Scarborough Pipes and Drums marched in Toronto's Labour Day Parade down Queen Street West on 7-September-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Toronto's Labour Day Parade has the distinction of having what is likely the highest participant to observer ratio of any parade here. The route tends to quite empty along virtually its entire length. There are a number of reasons for this, including a relatively long route (west on Queen Street from University to Dufferin, and then south to the Canadian National Exhibition grounds) and high percentage of parade supporters marching in the parade itself (since all unions participate and all parade participants get into the Canadian National Exhibition for free).


Toronto Mayor David Miller addressed the crowds in front of City Hall before the Labour Day Parade on 7-September-2009

The Labour Day Parade always starts with a rally in front of City Hall before the procession itself moves west. Despite his role in the city worker's strike just weeks ago, mayor David Miller did address the crowd along with Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza. Though he received praise from Lewenza and other union leaders during the rally, Miller did not walk the parade route.


The "Sisters in the Trades" marched past Campbell House during the Labour Day Parade on 7-September-2009

The Labour Day Parade is remarkable for its sheer length. There are so many different unions with their members that the parade runs continuously at its starting point from 9:30 in the morning to nearly 1 pm, and does not conclude at the Canadian National Exhbition until 2 pm.


A group demonstrated for changes to the Employment Insurance program along the Labour Day Parade route on 7-September-2009

An amusing side show was taking place near Spadina during the parade. A group was lined up on the north sidewalk of Queen holding up large letters spelling out "Fix E.I." referring to the ongoing controversy over inequities in Employment Insurance nationwide. A figure caricaturing Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood to the right, and would make the "E.I." letters crooked periodically, then the people carrying the "Fix" letters would come over and beat on Harper and fix the letters. The spectacle was quite popular with the passing parade. I thought it would have been a nice touch if they had moved the the "F" and "I" together and stood Harper in front of the "I" as that would have made "AXE" Harper.


A child marching in the Labour Day Parade held one of the best of the day's giveaways, a Frisbee-style throwing ring on 7-September-2009

One of the best aspects of the Labour Day Parade is the quality of the giveaways for the observers who do attend. This year, Coca-Cola was giving away free cans of their products, Canadian Auto Workers local 4457 was handing out a foam maple leaf-shaped visor, and the United Food And Commercial Workers Union gave out frisbee-style throwing rings.

It may have been a tough year for unions, but other than a few "locked out" and "on strike" signs, there was no sign of that in the 2009 Labour Day Parade.

Photos: Niagara Falls

Both the "American" and "Canadian" Falls were viewed from Niagara Falls, Ontario on 26-June-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - This week's update to my photo site features a trip to Niagara Falls. On 26-June-2009, I had the opportunity to visit the Ontario side of the falls with my visiting uncle Arne Carson and aunt Meri Carson. The trip included some of the classic stops of a Niagara Falls day trip including Niagara-on-the-Lake, a ride on the Maid of the Mist, and a walk around Clifton Hill.

Radio Pick: The Comedy Factory

TORONTO, ONTARIO - This week's radio pick is actually a podcast. Topical programming that matches the end of summer mood always captures my attention at this time of year. This week, it was the CBC's Comedy Factory podcast that served the role, with segments on why an anticipated election in Canada ruins the mood, a great skit rewriting the Archie Comics wedding, and an analogy between gang membership and pyramid schemes in this 14-minute program. Specific Canadian knowledge might be required to fully understand the GPS and political segments, but those who do may have trouble controlling their laughter.

Listen to MP3 of the Comedy Factory "Just Ignore It..."