Canadian Expatriates, its contributors, and readers have been invited by Foreign Affairs Canada to participate in a series of eDiscussions. The current topic is “Showcasing Canadian Culture and Know-How Abroad”.

We are asked to consider the following questions:

What role does Canadian culture and know-how play in our foreign policy?

How might the government best promote Canadian talent and expertise in the world?

The eDiscussion runs from April 4 to May 6, 2005. At its conclusion, a summary of the discussion will be sent to senior policy planners.

The Expat admin team encourages its readers to join in the eDiscussion at the Canadian International Policy website.

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Posted by Admin

The administration team is currently searching for Canadian expatriates who would be interested in contributing to the Expat Blog. The subject matter is wide open, but must remain family friendly.

If you are interested in joining our blogging team, please send an email our way!

Thank you!

1. Number of books I own:

Three bookshelves which are bursting at the seams. The majority of books can be categorized as either history books (my passion) or books written by or about L.M. Montgomery.

2. Last book I bought:

Cracking the LSAT. Why? Because it is tough to find a job in the US with degrees in Canadian history and Canadian literature. Just a note to future Canadian expats - don't be too "Canadian specific" in your degree!

3. Last book I read:

The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. When I began reading the novel, I thought "How wonderful that this book features a curator. It is about time our noble profession is recognized in a best seller! " Little did I know that I was soon to be disappointed when my favourite character met with his untimely death a few pages into the novel. :(

4. Five books that mean a lot to me:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I loved L.M. Montgomery's books when I was a child and delighted in reading her journals as a teenager (despite the fact that they are a "box of Kleenex in one hand, bottle of Prozac in the other" kind of read.). My first edition copy of this book is probably the absolute coolest book that I will ever own.

The Canadian Prairies: A History by Gerald Friesen. This book is the Holy Grail of Canadian Prairie history and is a necessary resource for any historian of the region. Don't ever leave home without it! :)

Born at the Right Time: A History of the Baby Boom Generation by Doug Owram. This book is a fascinating read, even for those with little interest in history. The book explores the impact that the Boomers had on Canadian society right down to the development of certain baby foods, the creation of suburbs, the teachings of Dr.Spock (and the ramifications of those teachings), and the cult of the teenager. The book avoids the cliches that plague most literature written about that era.

The Nature of Their Bodies: Women and Their Doctors in Victorian Canada by Wendy Mitchinson. Definitely not a read for men as I am sure that it would make them terribly uncomfortable. :P The book provides an account of the rise of obstetrics, gynaecology, and birth control in Victorian Canada. It explores these medical advances amid the societal views of the late nineteenth century, when women were believed to be frail and sex was not discussed. (Oh man... just think of the Google hits I will get now!).

I am reluctant to type the title of the final book (as it is somewhat identifying); however, this book probably means the most to me. It is a complete history of the last museum that I worked at in Canada and is signed by all of my co-workers along with their well wishes. It is definitely something that I will always treasure. :)

5. Tag five more:
I will be the official killer of this meme... umm... forward! ;)

June 25th Update:
Due to overwhelming popular demand, I will tag five others: Flippy, Mudpuppy, Christopher, Lala, and, of course, Bethanie. You are now "it" in this game of blog tag!

Sorry folks! :)