Daily Archives: March 5, 2010

By Doug Draper 

(Less than an hour after the commentary below was posted, there was  word that Canada’s Harper government is backing away from making any changes to the lyrics of the country’s anthem, which begs a question – If this government can’t get its act together on what to do about one line in our national song, how well is it going to go on running the country?)

 Okay, so Canada’s federal parliament finally got back to work this March 3 after a long proroguing (or ‘shutdown’ for those who might not be all that familiar with the infamous ‘p’ word) and we are still working our way through one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Residents in this  Niagara region, and I include neighbouring communities and counties on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border in this, are experiencing some of the highest unemployment rates on the continent.

So what is one of the most talked about stories coming out of the first couple of days of Canada’s parliament getting back to business with a Throne speech and critical budget announcements from the government? Some of you may have guessed it – the lyrics to Canada’s national anthem! Continue reading →

By Doug Draper

 One of Buffalo’s fine art centers is showcasing work by one of North America’s most acclaimed 20th century artists –an artist that just happens to bear this center’s name.

'Gateway to September' - one of many works by 20th century artist Charles Burchfield on exhibit during a special showing of his art at the Burchfield Penny Art Center in Buffalo, New York

The Burchfield Penny Art Center at the Buffalo State College campus off that city’s Elmwood Avenue (along a stretch of Elmwood located along across the road from on of the other great Buffalo art venues, Albright-Knox) will be hosting the first major retrospective of work by American artist Charles E. Burchfield in an exhibition entitled – - ‘Heat Waves in a Swamp: The Paintings of Charles Burchfield.

It is an exhibition that will run at this 44-year-old art center  from March 7 to May 23 of 2010, before it moves on to the world-renown Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City this summer. Continue reading →

By Doug Draper

Beyond the sandy dunes lining the northeastern shores of the Cape Cod community of Provincetown, Massachusetts, is one of the most fertile areas for marin

Humpback whale off coast of Cape Cod's Provincetown. This Photos and others below courtesy of the Dollphin Fleet of Provincetown.

e life in the coastal waters of the North Atlantic.

This 842-square miles of ocean – known since its designation by an act of U.S. Congress in 1992 as the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary – is still thankfully host to Humpback, Minke, Finback and other species of whales, and to sharks, seals, porpoises and tuna. On a good day of sailing on these waters, a person may enjoy the spectacle of dozens, if not hundreds of dolphins dancing in the boat’s wake.

Thanks to the Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown – a company of boats that, in concert with marine experts like Carole Carlson and others from the Center for Coastal Studies, my family and others have enjoyed the experience of viewing these wondrous beings in their natural habitat now for more than 30 years. I can still remember taking my daughter Sarah out on one of these excursions a good 15 years ago when she was only five-years old, and watching her eyes turn wide as boat cut off its engines and all we could hear was the sound of water lapping against the bow as a female Humpback and her calf glided by.

Since then, this is the only way our daughter has experienced these great creatures. She has never expressed any desire to go to SeaWorld or Marineland, and my wife Mary and I have never had any desire to take her there. And I don’t mind telling you, I am proud of that as the tired old debate of whether whales and other marines mammals comes up again. Continue reading →