Sisters in the Wilderness
Agnes, Catherine, and Susannah, three Strickland sisters who became famous writers. The sisters lived in England. Susannah married an English soldiers who was a retired officer from the Napoleonic war. In 1831 English soldiers were given land in the New Country. So in July 1832, Susannah and her new husband, John Moodie, moved to Canada along with Catherine and her husband. The first few months in the back woods of Upper Canada were hard, building their house, outbuildings, and getting used to their new land took its toll on the families. Susannah did not like her new home, as she was accustomed to high class living in England not a wild land. Catherine was the opposite and loved Canada from the beginning. She learned many helpful skills from the Chippewa like how to fish and make clothes. She earned what plants are good for, recipes and remedies. She kept a journal about wild flowers called “Canadian wildflowers.”
Winter came, the two sisters were not used to Canada’s extreme cold weather. Catherine felt free she thought winter was magical, Susannah not so much. She hated the cold and snow it was making her feel trapped. Soon the weather was getting to much to handle. They fell on even harder time, but with the help from the aboriginal people they were able to survive.
The two sisters kept in contact with their sister back in England, Agnes Strickland. She became the royal biographer for Queen Victoria. Her most famous booking being “Birth to Bridal.”
In 1837 John Moodie signed up for the Mackenzie Rebellion, leaving Susannah alone to look after the kids and their farm. John was now captain, and had a steady salary coming which helped paying off debts they accumulated. Susannah was writing for the Montreal newspaper which payed for clothes and shoes for her growing children. Susannah, now having learned to fish and farm was managing but barely. Catherine finally sold her farm and moved to Toronto. Susannah missed her terribly and became increasingly lonely and bitter. Sickness and near death was upon the family when a Doctor told her to get out of the backwoods for her families safety. Finally the opportunity to move to Bellville came as John became the new sheriff for the Hastings Country. Here she lived out the remainder of her life.
In 1867 Catherine published “Canadian wildflowers.” and “Backwoods of Canada” with helpful hints, remedies, and recipes. Instantly becoming a Canadian Classic. In 1852 Susannah published “Roughing it in the bush.” explaining her tough life in Canada. This book is still read 150 years later. She also published up to 12 volumes on historical biographies.
Susannah died in 1885, “Roughing it in the bush” is the best read book ever written in Canada. Catherine died in 1899 at the age of 92. Both women are founders of Canadian literature. They not only witnessed but documented a colony becoming a country, our country, Canada.
Winter came, the two sisters were not used to Canada’s extreme cold weather. Catherine felt free she thought winter was magical, Susannah not so much. She hated the cold and snow it was making her feel trapped. Soon the weather was getting to much to handle. They fell on even harder time, but with the help from the aboriginal people they were able to survive.
The two sisters kept in contact with their sister back in England, Agnes Strickland. She became the royal biographer for Queen Victoria. Her most famous booking being “Birth to Bridal.”
In 1837 John Moodie signed up for the Mackenzie Rebellion, leaving Susannah alone to look after the kids and their farm. John was now captain, and had a steady salary coming which helped paying off debts they accumulated. Susannah was writing for the Montreal newspaper which payed for clothes and shoes for her growing children. Susannah, now having learned to fish and farm was managing but barely. Catherine finally sold her farm and moved to Toronto. Susannah missed her terribly and became increasingly lonely and bitter. Sickness and near death was upon the family when a Doctor told her to get out of the backwoods for her families safety. Finally the opportunity to move to Bellville came as John became the new sheriff for the Hastings Country. Here she lived out the remainder of her life.
In 1867 Catherine published “Canadian wildflowers.” and “Backwoods of Canada” with helpful hints, remedies, and recipes. Instantly becoming a Canadian Classic. In 1852 Susannah published “Roughing it in the bush.” explaining her tough life in Canada. This book is still read 150 years later. She also published up to 12 volumes on historical biographies.
Susannah died in 1885, “Roughing it in the bush” is the best read book ever written in Canada. Catherine died in 1899 at the age of 92. Both women are founders of Canadian literature. They not only witnessed but documented a colony becoming a country, our country, Canada.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
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Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942) was a Canadian author. She is best known for her series Anne of Green Gables, which she started writing in 1908. The book was an immediate success. The main character, Anne Shirley, made Montgomery famous. The first novel was followed by a series of sequels.
Lucy Maud Montgomery continued to write went on to publish 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. The majority of the novels were set in Prince Edward Island, and locations there became literary landmarks and popular tourist sites—mostly Green Gables farm, the origin of Prince Edward Island National Park. She was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.
Lucy Maud Montgomery continued to write went on to publish 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. The majority of the novels were set in Prince Edward Island, and locations there became literary landmarks and popular tourist sites—mostly Green Gables farm, the origin of Prince Edward Island National Park. She was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.
Emily Carr
Emily was born in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1871, the same year British Columbia joined Canada. She was the second-youngest of nine children. It was only in 1891, after her parents' deaths, that she pursued her art seriously. She then started traveling up the coast of Vancouver in 1912, learning the many different Indigenous cultures. From the 1920’s-1930’s recognition of her work grew steadily, and her work was exhibited in London, Paris, Washington, Amsterdam, as well as bigger cities in Canada. Carr held her first solo show in eastern Canada in 1935 at the Women's Art Association of Canada gallery in Toronto. In 1927 she came in contact with Canada’s Group of Seven. After seeing her work, this group felt that Emily could help create a true Canadian art movement.
Emily Carr is remembered primarily for her painting, but she was also a writer. Emily was one of the first painters in Canada to use a Modernist and Post-Impressionist painting styles; as well, she was one of the first to attempt to capture the spirit of Canada in a modern style. Meaning, up to this time Canadian paintings were mostly portraits and representational landscapes. Her main painting themes were native and nature. She would paint native totem poles set in deep forests or abandoned native villages, driftwood-tossed beaches and expansive coastal skies. She used different mediums for her art some being charcoal, watercolour and later house paint thinned with gas on manila paper. In 2013 one her paintings, The Crazy Stair, sold for 3.39 million at a Toronto auction. This is a record price for a painting by a Canadian. Even Robert Bateman hasn’t had a sale this big. Emily suffered a heart attack in 1937, and another two years later. In 1940 Carr endured a serious stroke, and in 1942 she had another heart attack. Her focus shifted from her painting to her writing at this time. The editorial assistance of Emily's friend Ira Dilworth, enabled Emily to see her own first book, Klee Wyck, published in 1941. She was awarded the Governor-General's Award for non-fiction the same year for the work. Emily suffered her last heart attack and died on March 2, 1945, in her hometown of Victoria, shortly before she was to have been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of British Columbia. Emily Carr is buried at Ross Bay Cemetery. Paintings by Emily Carr |
Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman was born in Toronto in 1930. He lives on Salt Spring Island now close to our Granny and Papa DD's house on the Island. He is one of our favourite artists and is one Canada's most well known artists. Not only does he paint wildlife in its natural habitat, he is a naturalist and is recognized by the Audubon Society as one of the 20th century’s “heroes of conservation”. He is a spokes person for environmental and preservation issues, to and he uses the sale of his art raise millions of dollars for causes he supports. Robert Bateman has received many honours and awards including Officer of the Order of Canada, and has been awarded thirteen honorary doctorates. He has three schools named after him and opened his own gallery in downtown Victoria, which we have been too.
Robert Bateman Gallery - Victoria BC
These pictures were taken at the Bateman Gallery in 2014.
Francis Micheal (King) Clancy
Clancy was born on February 25, 1903 in Ottawa where he grew up proudly Canadian. Clancy played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won All-Star honours, and was a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams.
After Clancy retired in 1937, he became a coach for the Montreal Maroons (now Montreal Canadiens). After coaching he moved on and worked in the NHL as a referee. Clancy then joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and became the vice-president until his death in 1986.
On January 1, 2017, in a ceremony, Clancy was part of the first group of players to be named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Clancy's nickname "King" came from his father, who played football and was the first 'King Clancy'. In those times football was a bit different. The football was not “snapped” from the line like in games today, but “heeled” back from the line. Francis’s father was very good at heeling the ball and was named 'King of the Heelers' or 'King' for short. This nickname was passed down to Francis.
After Clancy retired in 1937, he became a coach for the Montreal Maroons (now Montreal Canadiens). After coaching he moved on and worked in the NHL as a referee. Clancy then joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and became the vice-president until his death in 1986.
On January 1, 2017, in a ceremony, Clancy was part of the first group of players to be named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Clancy's nickname "King" came from his father, who played football and was the first 'King Clancy'. In those times football was a bit different. The football was not “snapped” from the line like in games today, but “heeled” back from the line. Francis’s father was very good at heeling the ball and was named 'King of the Heelers' or 'King' for short. This nickname was passed down to Francis.