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.

---

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!

The small Yukon community of Teslin may have gained international attention through its frequent sasquatch sightings, but the town of St.Paul, Alberta is hoping to gain attention of a different kind - intergalactic.

To celebrate Canada's centennial anniversary in 1968, the small Alberta town decided to commemorate its past by looking towards its future. As a tribute to the centenary, St.Paul chose to build the world's first UFO landing pad. The pad is composed of concrete and reinforced steel, and weighs in at 130 tons. The pad's backstop features a mosaic map of Canada, made up of tiny stones provided by each province. All of the country's provincial and territorial flags fly high above the landing pad, waiting to welcome its first extraterrestrial visitors. A time capsule was also included in the construction of the backstop and is to be opened on June 3, 2067. A dedication plaque near the landing pad states the following:

Republic of St. Paul (Stargate Alpha). The area under the world’s first UFO Landing Pad was designated international by the Town of St. Paul as a symbol of our faith that mankind will maintain the outer universe free from national wars and strife. That future travel in space will be safe for all intergalactic beings. All visitors from Earth or otherwise are welcome to this territory and to the Town of St. Paul.

In 1996, an interpretive centre was added to the site, featuring photographs and videos of alleged UFO sightings. The exhibit also includes displays on crop circles, cattle mutilations, and other unexplained phenomenon. The site's UFO Data Centre is working to document UFO sightings and abductions, and encourages all who have had a close encounter to call their hotline at 1-888-SEE-UFOS.

As of yet, there have been no intergalactic visitors to the site, but the landing pad has attracted tourists from around the globe. Notable guests include Queen Elizabeth II and Mother Theresa.


For More Information:
CBC Archives: An Invitation that is Out of this World
CBC Archives: Still Waiting for Martians: St.Paul 31 Years Later
St.Paul & District Chamber of Commerce: UFO Landing Pad Facts
UFOs: Is There a Middle Ground Between Skepticism and Belief?