Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Thanksgiving Day is the major holiday this month. While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, Canadians may gather for their Thanksgiving feast on any day during the long weekend; however, Sunday is considered the most common. Foods traditionally served at Thanksgiving include roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, various autumn vegetables and pumpkin pie.
Thanksgiving has been officially celebrated as an annual holiday in Canada since November 6, 1879. On January 31, 1957, the Governor General of Canada Vincent Massey issued a proclamation stating: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the second Monday in October.
It is common for families to gather for a meal and everyone around the table has an opportunity to say what they are thankful for this year.
Hallowe'en October 31!
A doctor who arrived in Canada last year from the UK observed, “I had never been to Canada before and was shocked as I left the airport for the hotel. Virtually everyone was wearing a mask and costume. The taxi driver looked like Frankenstein and the desk clerk at the hotel looked like a vampire. Halloween in some form has been celebrated for centuries in the UK but I have never seen anything like this! There were excessive decorations on every home and office and both children and adults dress in costumes of every type including princesses, movie stars, politicians, and even Batman.”
Halloween in Canada is eagerly anticipated each year by children and adults. Children go door-to-door with their parents collecting candy or money for a charity. Adults have parties that get quite wild!
What was the inspiration for the Maple Leaf of Canada's Flag?
Vibrant colours are one of the delights of autumn in Canada. The transformation from green to yellow, amber, crimson and purple is caused by a fascinating chemical process. Within all leaves there is a blend of colourful substances; temperature, rainfall and length of day determine which of these will dominate in the different seasons.
Yellow autumn foliage is common in the temperate latitudes worldwide, but the vibrant reds occur only in North America, Japan, North and South Korea and northern China. The North American red maple has been introduced into many countries, and selective cultivation has yielded many domestic varieties with such enticing names as October Glory, Red Sunset and Autumn Flame.
The reds and purples of autumn foliage result from the presence of another group of pigments called anthocyanins. These red substances are not present throughout the growing season and only develop in late summer as a result of a change in the metabolic breakdown of sugar. Anthocyanins are responsible for the resplendent reds of the leaves of maple trees.
Colours of Autumn
While the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta are home to some amazing forests, the intensity and pervasiveness of autumn color tend to be best in the eastern parts of Canada. Ontario, Quebec, or the Maritime provinces are probably your best bet.
VIA Rail, Canada’s national train service, offers a fall foliage vacation that features some of Canada’s most dramatic viewing spots through popular cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Québec City, and Halifax.
The colors are at their peak the first two weeks of October during Canada’s Thanksgiving weekend.
This Month’s Geography Lesson – Life in Ontario
Ontario is the east-central province of Canada, sharing its borders with the United States. It is home to some of Canada’s most popular destinations including the metropolitan city of Toronto, the Niagara Falls, and Canada’s capital Ottawa.
There can be a number of reasons for moving to Ontario. You could move for employment opportunities, to pursue education in one of Canada’s finest universities, or simply to experience a new way of life.
Ontario is the most populous province in all of Canada. That’s because people from all over the world flock to Ontario because of the cultural value of its cities and its thriving economy. The following are the best cities to live in Ontario.
Ottawa: The Capital of Canada, Ottawa has an incredibly low unemployment rate of 4.6% and a strong median income of $91,000. It has also been labeled the best place to live in Canada.
Toronto: Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is one of the world’s most famous metropolitan cities. It is also one of Canada’s most multicultural cities, with 49% of the population belonging to visible minorities. Toronto is widely considered to be the cultural center of Canada. In addition, Toronto is such a large city that you should look into the best neighbourhoods before you settle down.
Hamilton: Often referred to as the Waterfall Capital of the World, Hamilton is one of Canada’s most visually stunning locations boasting a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the form of Dundurn Castle and a rich biosphere comprising over 100 waterfalls. It has recently also established itself as a hub for young entrepreneurs because of its relative affordability.
The cost of living in Ontario varies greatly from one location to the next. For example, the average rental rate for a one-bedroom in Hamilton is $907 whereas the average rental rate for a one-bedroom in Toronto is $2,230.
In terms of income taxes, Ontario has a moderate provincial tax rate of 11.5%, in addition to the country-wide federal tax rate of 15%.
CanadaMedicalCareers.ca has several outstanding openings for GP’s across Canada. Email [email protected] for more details
Getting Ready for the MCCQE1
The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam 1, or MCCQE1 is a mandatory examination for all doctors planning to practice in Canada. Statistics show the value of proper preparation. In the MCC’s 2019 Annual Report statistics show that of 3,929 IMG first-time takers of the MCCQE1 only 53% passed the exam. Of 950 repeat IMG test-takers only 42% passed.
The MCC offers candidates high-quality preparatory resources to assist IMG’s. MCC states, “the content of all preparatory products goes through the same rigorous development process as the official exam content. It is established by subject-matter experts and refined and approved by physician test committees.”
To learn more about MCC preparatory products visit MCC.ca and search for Preparatory Products. At Canada Medical Careers we have observed a very positive link between using MCC preparatory resources and passing the MCCQE1. There are other resources available through QBank and others, however the MCC sources are a must!
We like questions!
It’s likely that you will have questions along your journey to practicing in Canada. Don’t hesitate to contact John Livingstone at: [email protected]
Or call WhatsApp +1 250-885-8802 (9 AM – 6 PM Pacific Time)