The Matthew, piloted by John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto), sailed either to Cape Bonavista, or St. John’s, NL around 1497.
Two full-sized replicas, one in Bristol, England, and the other in Bonavista, were built for the 500th anniversary of the landing.
The search for the Northwest Passage was an obsession for explorers in the 19th century and may help Canada lay claim to Arctic sovereignty. The HMS Investigator settled on ice in the Arctic and her sixty-nine man crew were forced to abandon ship in 1854. The vessel was on its second mission to search for two other lost…
Signal Hill overlooks the Narrows, which is the only entrance to the harbour and city of St. John’s, NL. Steeped in history, with a visitor centre, trails, and amazing views, Signal Hill is one of the most iconic destinations in Newfoundland for visitors and locals alike. Image at top: cc by sa Tango7174, Wikimedia
David Thompson has been described as the greatest land geographer who ever lived. His achievements as an explorer and surveyor have earned him the reputation as one of the best pioneering geographers in Canadian history. During his career, he mapped almost half of North America between the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes all the…
A community is a group of people living or working together in the same area. What kind of communities are you in? Your first community is your family. Your neighborhood is a community. Your county, town or city is a community. There are urban communities and rural communities. Find out more about how you can be…
In 1918, through the efforts of social reformer Nellie McClung, Canadian women finally received the vote. In 1929, through the activism of Nellie and the “Famous Five“, women were officially declared “persons” in Canada. Led by judge Emily Murphy, the group included Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney and Irene Parlby. Together, the five women had many years of…
Viking sagas (stories) tell of the discovery of a place called Vinland and the settlement there. In 1960, a Viking settlement was discovered on the northeast tip of Newfoundland. Archaeologists are certain they have found the remains of the first Norse (Viking) settlement in North America, at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. Today it is a…
Lyrics in French (Canadian dialect):
Quand on part des chanquiers
Mes chers amis tous le coeur gai
Pour aller voir tous nos parents
Mes chers amis le coeur content.
Envoyons d’l’avant nos gens
Envoyons d’l’avant!
Mais qu’nos amis nous voyent arriver
Y vont s’mettr’ à rire, à chanter.
Dimanche au soir à la veillée
Nous irons voir nos compagnées.
Dimanche au soir à la veillée
Nous irons voir nos compagnées.
Elles vont nous dire mais en entrant
V’là mon amant, j’ai l’coeur content!
Elles vont nous dire mais en entrant
V’là mon amant, j’ai l’coeur content!
Et au milieu de la veillée
Elles vont nous parler d’leus cavaliers.
Et au milieu de la veillée
Elles vont nous parler d’leurs cavaliers.
Elles vont nous dire mais en partant
As-tu fréquenté des amants?
Elles vont nous dire mais en partant
As-tu fréquenté des amants?
Qui a composé la chanson?
C’est Jos Blanchet le joli garçon!
English translation:
When we leave the chanquiers (woodworking locations)
My dear friends, all with hearts gay,
To see all our friends and family,
My dear friends, all with hearts gay,
Let’s go boys, let’s go!
Let’s go boys, let’s go!
When our friends will see us arrive,
They start laughing and singing,
Sunday night at the vigil,
We’ll go see our partners,
Sunday night at the vigil,
We’ll go see our partners,
They’ll tell us as we enter,
Here’s my lover, my heart is happy,
They’ll tell us as we enter,
Here’s my lover, my heart is happy,
And at the middle of the vigil,
They’ll tell us of their lovers,
And at the middle of the vigil,
They’ll tell us of their lovers,
And they’ll ask us as we leave,
Did you go see any mistresses?
And they’ll ask us as we leave,
Did you go see any mistresses?
Who wrote the song?
It was Jo Blanchet, the pretty boy
