Where the West Begins
Happy October, all.
I recently did the epic solo drive from Toronto to Calgary, and had time to ruminate over many things. Since the distinction between East and West is one of those things that makes us Canadian, I came up with a number of theories of where the West actually begins.
For Torontonians, it’s often said that the world ends north of Steeles Ave., the northernmost major crosstown road in the city. Practically though, my first taste of the West was at Thunder Bay, the railway terminus where prairie grain takes ship to eastern markets. Continuing to drive west, I reached the Arctic/Atlantic watershed, effectively the boundary of Rupertsland, the territory originally granted to the Hudson’s Bay Company, which had much to do with the settlement of the West. Perhaps the East ends there. Onwards, across the Ontario border and into Manitoba, where the Canadian Shield disappears underground at the western boundary of Whiteshell Provincial Park… to the longitudinal centre of Canada, east of Winnipeg. Surely I was in the West now… but there was one more. Just west of Winnipeg there’s a marker designating the Prime Meridian, the line of longitude which is the basis for dividing the Western Provinces into six-mile square townships. Note that Winnipeg is east of this marker; the only rationale for the Blue Bombers to be in the Eastern Football Conference!
While in Winnipeg, I had a chance to survey the remnants of the devastation left by this summer’s flooding. At the Forks, where the Assiniboine meets the Red River, backhoes were still digging out the mud. The riverside path was still mostly underwater, and tree roots were still jammed against bridge abutments. I heard a parting line there, which explains much about Winnipeg: “I’ll see you when the water goes down.”
October Birthdays: Dannielle J., Jo, Kellie, Jennifer-Lynn, Linda, Tasha B., Jane, Dennis, Danielle Mc, and probably some of my Facebook friends. (Busy month!) Also Isaac Bonewits (Oct. 1), Aleister Crowley (Oct. 12), and Selena Fox (Oct. 20). Let me know if I’ve missed yours.
Evergreen Events this month (so far):
Sep. 30–Oct. 2: Ritual Leadership Workshop, at Heather Dawn’s.
Oct. 8: Margarian’s Packing Party, at #408.
Oct. 12: The God, with Hergest, at Heather Dawn’s.
Nov. 5: Samhain Ritual.
Other Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me.
Oct. 1: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Oct. 10: Thanksgiving.
Oct. 11, 8:06 p.m.: Full (Hunter’s) Moon.
Oct. 11, 7:00 p.m. Hekate’s Crossroads Full Moon Gathering. Info: http://www.meetup.com/CALGARY-CROSSROADS/
Oct 14-16: Alberta Bound Tattoo and Arts Festivals. Info:
http://hstrial-immaculateconcep.homestead.com/
Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup, hosted by moi, in north Calgary. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Oct. 23: Shadow.
Oct. 26, 1:56 p.m.: New (Death) Moon. Lunar month of Ngetal (Reed) begins.
Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m. sharp: Covenant of Gaia Samhain Ritual.
Oct. 30, 7:00 p.m.: Hekate’s Crossroads Samhain Gathering.
Blessings,
Hergest
I recently did the epic solo drive from Toronto to Calgary, and had time to ruminate over many things. Since the distinction between East and West is one of those things that makes us Canadian, I came up with a number of theories of where the West actually begins.
For Torontonians, it’s often said that the world ends north of Steeles Ave., the northernmost major crosstown road in the city. Practically though, my first taste of the West was at Thunder Bay, the railway terminus where prairie grain takes ship to eastern markets. Continuing to drive west, I reached the Arctic/Atlantic watershed, effectively the boundary of Rupertsland, the territory originally granted to the Hudson’s Bay Company, which had much to do with the settlement of the West. Perhaps the East ends there. Onwards, across the Ontario border and into Manitoba, where the Canadian Shield disappears underground at the western boundary of Whiteshell Provincial Park… to the longitudinal centre of Canada, east of Winnipeg. Surely I was in the West now… but there was one more. Just west of Winnipeg there’s a marker designating the Prime Meridian, the line of longitude which is the basis for dividing the Western Provinces into six-mile square townships. Note that Winnipeg is east of this marker; the only rationale for the Blue Bombers to be in the Eastern Football Conference!
While in Winnipeg, I had a chance to survey the remnants of the devastation left by this summer’s flooding. At the Forks, where the Assiniboine meets the Red River, backhoes were still digging out the mud. The riverside path was still mostly underwater, and tree roots were still jammed against bridge abutments. I heard a parting line there, which explains much about Winnipeg: “I’ll see you when the water goes down.”
October Birthdays: Dannielle J., Jo, Kellie, Jennifer-Lynn, Linda, Tasha B., Jane, Dennis, Danielle Mc, and probably some of my Facebook friends. (Busy month!) Also Isaac Bonewits (Oct. 1), Aleister Crowley (Oct. 12), and Selena Fox (Oct. 20). Let me know if I’ve missed yours.
Evergreen Events this month (so far):
Sep. 30–Oct. 2: Ritual Leadership Workshop, at Heather Dawn’s.
Oct. 8: Margarian’s Packing Party, at #408.
Oct. 12: The God, with Hergest, at Heather Dawn’s.
Nov. 5: Samhain Ritual.
Other Events:
Note these events are listed for information purposes only. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me.
Oct. 1: COGCOA Coffee Cauldron. Info (at) cogcoa (dot) ab (dot) ca
Oct. 10: Thanksgiving.
Oct. 11, 8:06 p.m.: Full (Hunter’s) Moon.
Oct. 11, 7:00 p.m. Hekate’s Crossroads Full Moon Gathering. Info: http://www.meetup.com/CALGARY-CROSSROADS/
Oct 14-16: Alberta Bound Tattoo and Arts Festivals. Info:
http://hstrial-immaculateconcep.homestead.com/
Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.: Calgary Witches’ Meetup, hosted by moi, in north Calgary. Info: http://www.meetup.com/Calgary-Witches
Oct. 23: Shadow.
Oct. 26, 1:56 p.m.: New (Death) Moon. Lunar month of Ngetal (Reed) begins.
Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m. sharp: Covenant of Gaia Samhain Ritual.
Oct. 30, 7:00 p.m.: Hekate’s Crossroads Samhain Gathering.
Blessings,
Hergest
posted by Stephen Hergest at 2:40 pm
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