Monday 2 November 2009

The Canadian Wilderness


I've been avidly watching Ray Mears' Northern Wilderness since it began on BBC HD a week ago. To my mind, anything associated with him promises to be very good indeed; and his epic Canadian adventure trail re-affirms this.

This series is superb. It encapsulates a measure of what the Corporation excels at; so much so that, every time I watch the programme, I wish I were there!

We, in Ulster, have maintained close ties with Canada. Heaven knows how many unknown cousins, several generations removed, are living there today.

The 2nd Earl of Gosford became Governor-General of the Canadas in 1835, during the reign of HM King William IV.

The 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
(then Earl of Dufferin) was appointed the 3rd Governor-General of Canada in 1872 by HM Queen Victoria. There is a memorial to the 1st Marquess in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.

TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall leave today for an official visit to Canada
. The trip ends on the 12th November, two days prior to Prince Charles's birthday on the 14th. This will be the Duchess of Cornwall's first visit to Canada.

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