In a section from the
preface of a book written by Order of Canada Member and author John
Robert Colombo titled “Fascinating Canada: A Book of Questions
and Answers” strikes me
captivating. The reason being, I feel in a few sentences he has
managed to explain why I decided to stick to this blog, why it
exists.
“Many
of us seem to have lost touch with our innate curiosity, especially
in regards to our great country, and that is unfortunate, because
curiosity is a great and essential gift. Curiosity is a trait that
encourages us to wonder about ourselves and other selves, about the
sciences and the arts, and ultimately about man's fate and human
destiny” (page 8).
To be honest, this is always a question I ask not only myself, but
those who are ever up for a good old educated conversation. Why are
we not more in tune with our own, incredible history? Our own
captivating current affairs? I felt that there was one person who
could maybe give me an answer as to why my generation (and even
several members of generations before me) might be forgetting to
delve into our massive nations', equally massive stories. That man
would be John Robert Colombo himself, so ask him I did, over Reading
Week 2013.
John gave me the answer I myself had felt this whole time, public
schools have been failing for the past half century in teaching
national knowledge, which John believes is only an extension of
self-knowledge in itself. The fact that he mentions “for a half
century” is exciting, because for a half century, John has done
some amazing things, here's a short explanation of his educated and
interesting life.
Born in Kitchener, Ontario on March 24th 1936, there was
little knowledge or inclination that John would go on the career path
he did. His first recollections of serious literature involved
flipping through an astronomy book and being taken away by the
images. He told me this has since left him with a “taste for
space”, that can for sure be seen in his works. Starting with
self-published compilation of poems (he even helped operate the
printing press) called “This Citadel in Time”, he progressed to
vast genres such as true-as-told UFO and extraterrestrial stories,
fantasy, science fiction, several more works of poetry and as him and
I had discussed earlier- Canadiana. Of course, coming back every now
and then to space.
Canadiana is were the “half a century” comment made me smile. It
brought me back to a line in the preface of the book I had mentioned
earlier titled “Fascinating Canada: A Book of Questions and
Answers”. John, for the past fifty years, has dedicated roughly
an hour a day to learning about our country. The knowledge has
granted him such titles The Master Gatherer, I would say
that's pretty accurate. When asked how he hasn't run out of things to
study he explained to me how he thinks he never will! From our
country growing in unexpected ways, we will always have more to
learn. As a back up though, he mentions how the depth of quantum
physics and infinite galaxies will keep him going. That first
astrology book returns.
To the fact that we know very little of ourselves, he says this
needs to be ratified. Most of the residents from his now-home-city of
Toronto not only come from a different town.. but a different
country. They need to know about where they live as much as the
residents who have been forever do.
John isn't one to give advice, but he mentions the late Pierre
Berton who said “find your klondike”. Find what you're passionate
about, and learn it. Be it Canadiana like John and I, or maybe hockey
like my roommate. Be it animals, or whatever your major at school it.
Maybe us as Canadians need to learn our history more in schools, or
take the time to do it ourselves. We as a nation (regardless of our
comparably young age) can write a narrative as think as any other
nation. We have reached levels of culture, development and historical
footprints no one assumed we could in this time. John has given me a
clearer vision of why we need to do this, as well as given me
personal pride two aspects. First that I now know more about my home
country, but also that I have now had the honour of discussing it
with an Order of Canada Member. I feel like someday John and I may
talk again, maybe this time in person about our home nation. With all
of this in mind, I want to leave you with some of the facts that I
have learned from his book. Maybe others will flick through it after
this.
#100. Thirteen year old Leonard Thompson was the first to benefit
from insulin, in a Toronto hospital
#186. Russian Revolutionary Leon Trotsky was imprisoned in Amherst,
Nova Scotia during the early days of the revolution.
#191. Prince Edward Island could fit into Lake Ontario
#250. A Canadian invented the Whoopee Cushion
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