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WEEKS TO GO
CANADA: NATURAL SOURCE OF PRIDE SINCE 1867 Canadian treasures Woodward and Evan’s Light
Quiz TEST YOUR CANADIAN KNOWLEDGE
QUESTION 1: Which Canadian author penned the following titles: Alias Grace, Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood and The Heart Goes Last?
working on the elusive incandescent light bulb in the early 1870s. After months of trial and error, they finally created a working prototype: Woodward and Evans’ Electric Light was born. The device was patented in Can- ada in 1874, and in the US two years later. Patent in hand, the Toronto-based inventors set off in search of financing. At first, the future seemed bright for Woodward and Evans’ Electric Light, but the tide quickly turned. Public opinion went so far as to criticize the pair for having created a “useless invention,” which scared off once-enthusiastic investors. The project lost atten- tion, and seemed on its way to being forgotten entirely. That’s when Thomas Edison enters the story. Having failed his own attempt to patent an electric bulb in the late 1870s, Edison saw an opportunity and purchased the American patent for Woodward and Evans’ Electric light in 1879, and its Canadian version in 1885. The rest, as they say, is history. After selling their patents to Edison, Henry Woodward and Matthew Edwards faded into obscurity, living out the rest of their lives with very little recognition from the scientific field. But while Edison may have stolen the spotlight, that very spotlight may never have existed if it weren’t for the cleverness and vision of two bright Ca- nadian friends.
Quick trivia question: who invented the light bulb? The commonly ac- cepted answer, of course, is Thomas Edison, but that may not be as accu- rate as you think. The flickering glow of candles and oil lamps is perfect for a romantic dinner, but loses much of its charm when you’re forced to work, read and travel in dimly lit condi- tions—or wait until sun- rise. So it’s no surprise that during the 19th cen- tury the idea of creating
QUESTION 2: In which city did the Guinness family open Canada’s first-ever indoor shopping mall?
QUESTION 3: What back-saving contraption did Arthur Sicard invent in 1927?
QUESTION 4: Which team was forced to drop out halfway through the first of- ficial season of the NHL due to their arena burning down?
light with electricity was quite popular, both with the scientific community and enthusiastic hobbyists. Among these backyard scientists who dreamed of an electrical light source were two Canadian neighbours, medical student Henry Woodward and hotel doorman Matthew Evans.
Woodward and Evans, who spent their spare time to- gether tinkering and testing scientific theories, started
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ART, LITERATURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Where are we from? THE 52 LARGEST GROUPS IN CANADA’S MULTICULTURAL MOSAIC
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
SPORTS AND LEISURE
infO Canada THE STORIES BEHIND OUR SYMBOLS
Canada’s Colombian community
According to the 2011 National Household Study, more than 150,000 Canadians claim full or partial Colombian ancestry. They’re part of one of the fastest-growing groups of Latin American heritage in Canada, residingmostly in Ontario and Quebec.
Flower: Mayflower NOVA SCOTIA
Like most Latin American groups, Colombian immigrants started arriving in Canada during the late 20th century. They were often fleeing violence and political unrest at home, and turned to Canada’s free and welcoming society for a new beginning. They quickly formed strong communities on Canadian soil while keeping their Colombian traditions alive. In popular culture, keep an eye out for Toronto-based signer Jessie Reyes, a proud Colombian-Canadian who’s on her way to stardom. Filmmaker Pablo Alvarez-Mesa was born in Medellin, Colombia, before moving to Vancouver to study film production. His works are inspired by his life in Colombia and have been featured at several international film festivals. He recently released his first feature-length documentary, Nuestro Monte Luna. A growing Colombian community means more Colombian food available in Canada, which is definitely good news for foodies! Must-try dishes include Pargo Rojo—red snapper served with crispy plantains—and Bandeja Paisa, made with beef, bacon, plantain, rice and beans.
The mayflower (Epigaea repens) was made Nova Scotia’s provincial flower in 1901, but was already an emblem as far back as 1825. The flowers begin to bloomwhen the last snows of winter are still on the ground, and so are said to symbolise strength in the face of adversity.
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T H E N EWS
The Journal Cornwall
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Wednesday, August 17, 2016
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