14 Jun 2023

Upending Classic Paintings

Q. We love seeing new takes on old paintings. Who is an artist excelling in the field? . A. Ewa Juszkiewicz is a gifted artist who does incredible work here. In May of 2022, Juszkiewicz saw her striking ‘Portrait of a Lady (After Louis Leopold Boilly)’, featured above, sell for radically

10 Jun 2023

Let Vultures Gripe Thy Guts

Q. Shakespeare created much beautiful imagery with birds. Take this quote from Romeo and Juliet: ‘Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at Heaven’s gate’ But, we do know that the Bard was brilliant

06 Jun 2023

So Many Broadways

Q. Why? Why are there so many cities with streets named ‘Broadway’?   A. Whilst many cities can claim a Broadway street, there is none more famous than New York’s. This now bustling hubbub was once part of an Indigenous trail called Wickquasgeck. Moving forward to Dutch takeover and 17th Century

03 Jun 2023

Poor Man’s Pudding

Q. It’s one of Canada’s most famous, historic desserts. What is Pouding Chômeur? . A. This delicious Depression-era Canadian dessert – Pouding Chômeur – was created in Quebec. ‘Poor Man’s Pudding’ is said to have been invented in 1929 by women who, after a long day working on the factory

31 May 2023

Freak Flags Flying Since

Q. You do you. Flaunt your edges. Who cares what they think?  “Let your freak flag fly”.  Where did this phrase originate? . A. Credit Jimi Hendrix. Born in Seattle – November 27th, 1942 – Hendrix popularized the phrase in his song ‘If 6 was 9’. It was the 7th

23 May 2023

Canada + Maple Syrup Desserts

Q. When asked to think of Canadian foods, most will quickly generate: ‘maple syrup’.  Historically, how have we incorporated this marvellous maple sap into the most important part of the meal? . A. The preeminence of maple syrup comes through in a 2021 Narrative Research survey. 2000 Canadians were asked

20 May 2023

Are You Your Mother?

Q. “Eep. I’m turning into my parents”. This is less than welcome news in the land of sitcoms and streams. In real life, how similar do people think they are to their parents? How similar do you think you are to your parents? How does this perceived difference or similarity

09 May 2023

Painting The Library

Q. Public libraries offer such a unique glimpse at a wide range of people absorbed in all manner of topics. There is also so much to be learned from poking about home libraries, big and nook. Who are some artists who have captured library life on canvas? . A. It’s

03 May 2023

Summer Travel Dreams 2023

Q. Now that we’re into May, summer vacation days are peeking over the horizon. Where are the places that we’re dreaming that we can visit as we take a break from work, from school? . A. In digging into Google’s ample data – which includes flight and accommodation searches –

01 May 2023

Canada’s Favourite Cookie

Q. Which homemade cookies do we Canadians crave the most? . A. In February, Food Network Canada analysed their considerable data to unearth the cooking channel’s most popular cookie recipes of all time. The winner? Good old-fashioned shortbread. Fittingly, in the 1944 ‘Canadian Favourites Cookbook’, Mrs. Jane Montgomery from Victoria, B.C.