April 29th: Daisies

History of the Daisy

• around 2200 BC daisies grew and ancient Egyptian temple gardens.
• They were among other flowers and plants that were used for their herbal and medicinal properties.
• Daisies or Bellis Perennis, is a perennial flower and usually has white, red, or pink petals and round green leaves.
• Today there are a lot of different varieties of daisies that are native to different countries around the world.

Medicinal Uses Of Daisies

• daisies work very important in the field of medicine during the medieval times.
• The Daisy flowers name comes from the Anglo-Saxon words “daes eage” which means “Days eye”.
• This is because daisies were used to cure eye problems.
• King Henry VIII of England was known for being physically fit but later in years he began eating daisies to help with stomach ulcer pain and many other ailments.

• He also suffered from gout which the daisies were used to ease as well as helping lower fevers.
• From the 13^th century doctors also used daisies for treating wounds.

Gerbera Daisies

• Gerbera daisies are also known as Gerbera Jamesonii and are named after Robert Jameson because he discovered them in 1878.
• They come from South Africa and are also known as Transvaal daisies.
• They come in a variety of colours including pink, yellow, orange, red and purple with black centres.
• There stem usually is more than 1 foot in length and is used for cut arrangements.

Shasta Daisies

• the Shasta Daisy was created by world-renowned horticulturalist Luther Burbank. He grew up on the American East Coast but grew hundreds of new plants on his property in Santa Rosa California.
• He was inspired by the wild okeye daisies that grew in the fields of new England.
• In 1901 after years of work he introduced a mixed selection of Shasta daisy hybrids that looked like the perfect white daisy with a yellow centre.
• Now more than 100 varieties of the Shasta Daisy can be found in Alaska, California and Westralia.

Gloriosa Daisies

• Gloriosa daisies are also known as Rudbeckia Hirta. They are tall and graceful flowers with bright yellow petals and brown centres.
• They were developed in the 1950’s. They come from the black-eyed Susan which is also native to North America.
• In your garden you can watch hummingbirds, bees and butterflies enjoy these flowers too.

In Victorian times it became the practice of young ladies to pluck the petals of daisies one at a time well they say “he loves me he loves me not”. It still remains very popular just for having fun.

April 27th: News Update & Olympics 2020 (2021)!

There is so much going on around the world, let’s take a closer look:

The UK

On April 12th, lockdown restrictions in the UK were eased, and people were extremely excited to get out and see others. The UK now has over 50% of their population vaccinated with at least one dose of a vaccine, which has helped in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

The number of new cases of the virus in the UK decreased by 60% in the month of March, due to a strict lockdown and a large vaccine rollout. The numbers have continued to stay down, even after restrictions were lifted. The number of deaths have decreased significantly as well. This is a positive sign that once enough people are vaccinated, the number of new cases of the virus will go down and the number of cases of severe illness will also hopefully decrease.

The US

In the US, the vaccination rollout has been faster than most other countries, and therefore the spread of the virus has reduced in some areas. They currently have over 40% of their population vaccinated with at least one dose. The US still has a lot of new cases per day, for instance yesterday they had over 47, 000, and certain states are worse than others.

Several states have reduced their COVID-19 restrictions, and some have completely abandoned them for things to get back to the way they were before the pandemic.

India

India is currently going through their worst stage of the pandemic so far, and hospitals are completely overrun. They are seeing a very high number of deaths per day due to COVID-19, and the average has been about 2, 500 a day for the past several days. The hospitals in India have been experiencing an oxygen shortage, which has been devastating for those who are sick and need to breathe with the help of a ventilator. It is thought that there are many more deaths per day that have gone unrecorded in the country.

Today, many supports have arrived in India that have been sent from countries around the world. For instance, Britain and France both sent ventilators as well as oxygen supply, and the World Health Organization is sending the country a large supply of oxygen for its hospitals. Over the past 24 hours, there were 323, 144 new cases reported in the country, which is most likely much less than the actual amount.

There is a new variant that is coming out of India, and there have been several cases found in Canada, called the B.1617 variant. There is little known about the variant at the moment, however some are treating it as a more severe form of the virus.

Ontario

As we know, over the past several weeks, Ontario has been seeing a massive increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19. This is largely due to the variants of concern, which spread very quickly and are easily transmissible. The stay-at-home order is currently in place until May 20th, and this means that all non-essential businesses, gyms, restaurants and schools are closed until this date.

The number of people in hospital for the virus has reached a high, and this means that hospitals are being overrun with COVID-19 patients and their treatment. The province has announced that non-urgent appointments and surgeries for those in the province will be postponed, as medical staff are being redeployed to assist with COVID-19 patients. Many patients in hospitals in intensive care have been transferred to other hospitals that have more space, and a field hospital has been set up at Sunnybrook in Toronto.

Announced today, three medical military teams are to be deployed in Ontario for our hospitals. These teams will be providing general support to hospitals across the province.

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The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics 2020

The Summer Olympics and Paralympics of 2020 are set to be held in Tokyo on July 23rd, 2021. These games have been postponed since last year, as they were meant to be hosted in the summer of 2020.

There has been a lot of controversy over these games, as some say that the world is not ready to have a public event on such a large scale, due to the ongoing pandemic. However, Japan has made it clear of their intentions to go ahead with hosting the games this summer, as they continue to have announcements and ceremonies in preparation for the games.

Currently, the major cities in Japan are experiencing increasing numbers of new cases of the virus, and therefore there have been many protests against the hosting of these games.

Japan expects 15, 400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to compete in the games, and some restrictions are set to be announced. There will most likely be daily testing for all athletes, however athletes are not expected to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving to the Olympic bubble. They will be able to train right away, and they have to stay in the Olympic village or bubble in Tokyo.

Canadian athletes:

Q: Do you think that the world is ready for the Summer Olympics and Paralympics to take place

Comic relief!

Peaches by Justin Bieber, with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots

April 22nd: Happy Earth Day! & Queen Elizabeth

Happy Earth Day!

This is the official Earth Day poster for 2021, by Brazilian artist Speto. The description of the poster is as follows:

“His piece features young people, symbolizing the hope they represent for our future, working together in harmony while cradled in the benevolent antlers of a strong stag.

Speto sees the deer as a symbol of peace, serenity, and kindness; gentle, but not completely defenseless as it can be very strong and brave when the need arises. The sun represents prosperity through its life-giving energy.”

Here is the website for Earth Day, 2021: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021/

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other commonwealth countries. Elizabeth was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, on April 21, 1926. The Queen is now 95 years old. She is the first child of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and she had a younger sister, Princess Margaret, who was born in 1930.

Growing up, the two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother, as well as their governess, Marion Crawford. They were taught history, literature, and music, and Princess Elizabeth loved working with horses.

Path to the throne

Elizabeth II was not meant to be Queen, as after her Grandfather, King George V, passed away, her uncle, Edward was set to be King. It was expected that Edward would have children of his own, who would be the heirs to the throne. Surprisingly, less than a year after her uncle, Edward VII succeeded the throne, he abdicated. This means that he stepped down from being King, and passed it on to his brother, Elizabeth’s father, George VI.

Edward’s abdication was a shock to the public and the royal family, and it was because Edward wanted to marry someone who had previously been divorced. Divorce was not well-accepted at the time, and Edward chose to step down as a result of the negative perception it would have on the royal family.

Because Elizabeth did not have any brothers, she would be heir presumptive while her father was King. If she had brothers, they would have been above her in the line of succession, due to male-preference primogeniture.

Coronation

During 1951, when Elizabeth was 25, her father, King George VI began having severe health problems. As a result, Elizabeth started making appearances on his behalf. She and Philip had left for a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1952, and were stopped in Kenya when they heard the news of the King’s death. Elizabeth immediately became Queen, due to her being next in line, and the couple returned to the UK and moved into Buckingham palace.

The Queen’s coronation took place on June 2nd, 1953, and the ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey. The coronation was televised, and the Queen had her dress embroidered with the symbolic flowers of all the commonwealth countries.

Touring the Commonwealth

In 1953, the same year of her coronation, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh began on a seven month, around the world tour. This tour visited 13 countries and travelled more than 40, 000 miles. The Queen was the first reigning monarch to visit both Australia and New Zealand, and during this time the crowds were immense. It is estimated that at the time three-quarters of the population of Australia saw her during her tour there.

The Queen has since made hundreds of visits to other countries, especially countries within the Commonwealth. She is the most widely travelled head of state.

Jubilee Celebrations

The Queen has had several Jubilees, which celebrate the number of years a monarch has reigned. The Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrated her 25th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. It was held on January 1, 1977 in London. The Queen greeted the public during a walkabout outside of Buckingham Palace, and more than one million people lined the streets to get a glimpse.

The Queen also had a Golden Jubilee Day in 2002, which marked 50 years after her ascension to the throne. She is one of very few British monarchs to have reached this anniversary.

The Queen then celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, which marked her 60 years on the throne. She and Prince Philip went on an extensive tour of the UK to celebrate this Jubilee year, and her children and grandchildren toured other countries in the commonwealth to continue the celebrations there.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is set for 2022, which would mark 70 years since her ascension to the throne. If the Queen maintains her position as head of state until May 24, 2024, she will surpass King Louis XIV of France as the longest-reigning monarch of all time.

Also in 2012, the Queen played herself in a skit with Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond, for the opening of the London Olympics.

Carolyn’s Song: “Stand by Me” by Ben E King

April 20th: The Peony Flower

• the peony flower can be found in both contemporary and classic bouquets.
• It comes in a wide variety of colours such as white, pink, dark pink, yellow, orange and purple.
• There season is usually in late spring and early summer but they have a very short blooming season which is only 7 to 10 days.
• They are the most popular flowers found in gardens in temperate regions.

What Does the Peony Flowers Smell like?

• The peony is very well-known because of its very nice and pleasant smell. People respect the flower and love it very much. It is used in many types of perfumes that are very expensive. It also can be used in household products.

• Although the true meaning of peony is not known many people believe that it comes from Greek mythology origin.
• It is believed that it is the name of the physician of the gods and is a testament to the plants healing qualities.
• The peony’s roots, seeds, and flowers were frequently used in medicine.

What Does That Peony Flower Symbolize?

• This flower can symbolize prosperity, good fortune and happiness.
• It can also encourage a happy marriage or convene honour and compassion. They can even mean bashfulness to some people.
• There are even some superstitions that can come from the peony flower. The peony is the state flower of Indiana and is often given on the 12^th anniversary to symbolize honour, happiness and fortune to the wedding couple.
• Some people believe that a bush with a lot of peonies on it is good luck however once those flowers begin to die it is believed you need to brace yourself for bad luck and an odd number of flowers is also considered bad luck.
• The peony flower is the birth flower of November.

The Brief History of the Peony Flower

• the peony flower was very important in the Chinese culture and history.
• It was an imperial symbol and were commonly seen in the Imperial palace Gardens and were called Sho Yo which means most beautiful.

• During the early 8th century peonies were found in Japan and by the 19^th century peonies made it into European gardens and were used in landscape and had medicinal uses.
• In China and other countries, the peony’s roots, bark, flowers, and seeds were used to treat such things as night sweats, sores, abdominal pain, fevers, and muscle cramps.

Cherry Blossoms in TO

Cherry Blossom Live Cam at High Park: https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/cherry-blossoms/

The Cherry Blossoms are expected to be in full bloom this week!

“Beautiful Mistakes” by Maroon 5

April 15th: Maya Angelou

• Maya Angelou was a civil rights activist, poet and award-winning author. She is best known for her numerous poetry and essay collections.
• She is well known for her 1969 memoir called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This made history because it was the first nonfiction bestseller written by an African-American woman.
• The autobiography discusses her upbringing as a young black girl in the American South during the 1930s, and later her years spent in California in the 1940s. Its themes include racism and segregation, displacement, and resistance to racism.

• She received many honours and awards including two NAACP image awards in the outstanding literary work nonfiction category in both 2005 and 2009. This was for her book, called “Letter to my Daughter” which is a book of essays where Maya tries to enlighten her daughter, and the reader, on things that she has learned in her life.

Early Life

• Maya was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis Missouri.
• Her childhood was very difficult as her parents split up when she was very young. She and her older brother Bailey went to live with their father’s mother in Arkansas.
• She experienced racial prejudices and discrimination constantly in Arkansas. She experienced a lot of trauma when she was 7 and was raped by her mother’s boyfriend while visiting her mother. Her uncles killed the boyfriend because of what he had done to Maya.
• Because of this she stopped talking to anyone and returned back to Arkansas.

Education

• Maya moved to San Francisco California during World War II where she won a scholarship to study at the California Labor School learning dance and acting.
• She also became the first black female cable car conductor in San Francisco.

Acting and Singing Career

• in the mid-1950s her career began in performing when she was in the production called Porgy and Bess and then she appeared in an off-Broadway production called Calypso Wave in 1957 and released her first album called Miss Calypso in 1957.
• Maya was a member of the Harlem Writers Guild and because she was also a civil rights activist she organized and starred in a musical called Cabaret for Freedom to benefit the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She was also the northern coordinator of the conference.
• In 1961 Angelou was also in an off-Broadway production of The Blacks with James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett Junior and Cicely Tyson.
• She also won a Tony award nomination for her role in the play Look Away in 1973 and an Emmy award nomination for her work on the television show Roots in 1977.

Poem: Caged Bird

by Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind   
and floats downstream   
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and   
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   
with a fearful trill   
of things unknown   
but longed for still   
and his tune is heard   
on the distant hill   
for the caged bird   
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   
with a fearful trill   
of things unknown   
but longed for still   
and his tune is heard   
on the distant hill   
for the caged bird   
sings of freedom.

Song of the day: Maya Angelou performing in “Calypso Heat Wave”

April 13th: Prince Philip

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was originally born into the Greek and Danish royal families (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark). He was born in Corfu, Greece on June 10, 1921. His family was exiled from Greece when he was 18 months old, and he was educated in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, where he joined the Royal Navy in 1939, at the age of 18.

Early Years

Although Prince Philip was born into a royal family, he had a more difficult childhood. This is because his father was accused of treason when he was working in the army, and the family was exiled from Greece. After this, the family fled to Paris, and Prince Philip grew up without really having his parents around. His mother dealt with mental health issues, and she eventually was sent to an institution in Switzerland after suffering a mental breakdown. His father moved to the South of France to be with his mistress, while Philip was still in school, and Philip’s older sisters all married German aristocrats by the time he was 10 years old.

Philip did not see or receive any word from his mother between the summer of 1932 and the spring of 1937. “It’s simply what happened,” the Prince later commented. “The family broke up. My mother was ill, my sisters were married, my father was in the south of France. I just had to get on with it. You do. One does.”

British Ties

Prince Philip’s mother’s family eventually stepped in, and they were well established with the British royal family and many of the royal houses of Europe. He ended up going to school in Germany and then later Scotland, before entering the Royal Navy.

Prince Philip enrolled at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England, where he eventually met his distant cousin, 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth. They both share a great-grandmother in Queen Victoria.

Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen, toured the naval college with her father, King George VI and her sister. Princess Elizabeth had a crush on Prince Philip, and the two began to exchange letters, which continued for the next several years and through World War II.

They announced their engagement seven years later, in 1947. They got married on November 20, 1947.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth eventually had four children; Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. Philip remained by the Queen’s side for more than 60 years. He accompanied her in official duties around the world, and he participated in the work of many humanitarian and environmental organizations. He particularly favored organizations that were concerned with the environment, athletics and education.

Prince Philip loved sports, and he played polo until 1971. He also competed in carriage and boat racing, and his hobbies including flying planes, oil painting and art collecting.

Funeral

Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99. His funeral is set to be held on Saturday, April 17th, at St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Prince Philip Funeral Plans: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56694327

Gabriel’s Song Choice: “Lean on Me” by ArtistsCan

April 8th: Spring has arrived!

Spring weather has finally arrived in Ontario, so let’s think about all of the great things that this season will bring!

What are some signs of spring?

What are your favourite things that happen in the Spring?

The Trillium flower

The Trillium is Ontario’s provincial flower, and can be seen on many of our provincial documents, including our health cards. The trillium has three broad leaves, three small green sepals, three petals, and a three-sectioned seed pod. The first part of its name (tri) suggests this phenomenon.

Trillium seeds are generally dispersed by ants, because the ants are attracted to a protein on their seeds. Ants will carry an entire seed back to their nest, and after the ants feast on the protein, the seed is discarded to grow a new plant.

The white trillium is a favourite food for dear, and some provincial parks monitor the amount of trilliums eaten in order to understand how many deer are in the park.

Trilliums bloom in the spring, and they can reappear every spring so long as they are not picked. The flower only has a few weeks in the spring where it absorbs enough nutrients and sunlight as possible to survive for the rest of the year. This is known as a spring ephemeral.

All trilliums grow in forests, that are either rich, deciduous or mixed.

There are five trillium species that can be found in Ontario, and the most common is the white trillium. Other species look like this:

Cherry Blossoms in Toronto!

Every year, people look for the cherry blossom trees, or Sakura trees, to bloom in High Park. These trees are not native to Toronto, and they were gifted to the city by the ambassador of Japan on April 1, 1959. The city was gifted 2000 trees, on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo.

Sakura trees are usually the first to bloom in the season of Spring, and therefore mark the start of the season. The blossoms usually last for only a week, and due to this short bloom time people see the trees as a symbol of life, in that it is beautiful yet fleeting.

For more on the cherry blossoms in High Park: https://highparknaturecentre.com/2/cherry-blossom-history

Let’s build a garden!

Every spring, many people start building their garden for the months to come. Let’s do the same with our favourite flowers or plants, and we will learn about how to care for each species and what their unique characteristics are!

What are your favourite flowers/plants?

Examples: daffodil, tulip, hyacinth, dahlia, lily

Spring Poem: “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth

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BBC: Celebrities urge Hollywood to take urgent action on disability inclusion

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56661259

Let’s reflect: What are your thoughts about the lack of representation of people with disabilities on TV and in movies?

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Irene’s Song Choice: “Roar” by Katy Perry

April 6th: April Fool’s Day

April Fools’ Day

• April Fools’ Day is an annual custom on April 1. On this day people play practical jokes on each other.
• After playing a joke on someone April fools is yelled to let the person in on the joke.
• This is not a national holiday except for in a place called Odessa, Ukraine.
• Although it is celebrated by different cultures the exact reason that we have April fool’s day is still a mystery.
• April Fools’ Day has been made even more popular because of the media attention given to this special day.

Origin of April Fools’ Day

For more info, here is a good article!: https://www.vox.com/2016/4/1/11340608/april-fools-day-pranks-explained

• historians believe that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582 when friends switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The Council of Trent in 1563 asked for this calendar change to happen.
• In the Julian calendar and the Hindu calendar the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1.
• An equinox is the instant of time when the plane of Earth’s equator passes through the geometric center of the Sun’s disk
• there were some people who didn’t get the news and didn’t recognize that the new year had now been moved to January 1 and continued to celebrated during the last week of March to April 1.
• They became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called “April fools”.

• These types of pranks included having paper finished placed on their backs and they were called “poisson d’avril” (April fish).
• This was to symbolize a young, easily caught fish which also meant a gullible person.

• There is also speculation that April Fools’ Day came about because of the vernal equinox. This is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere when mother nature fooled people with changing unpredictable weather.
• April Fools’ Day began in Britain during the 18^th century.
• In Scotland this tradition became a two day event. It started with the hunting of the Gowk (this is a word for a cuckoo bird which is a symbol for a fool). This is a day where people were sent on phony errands.
• The next day was called Tailie Day. This involved placing things on people’s behinds such as a fake tail or kick me sign.

Hilairia

• historians have also linked April Fools’ Day to festivals like Hilaria which is celebrated in ancient Rome. Hilaria is Latin for joyful.
• It is celebrated at the end of March by people that are in the cult of Cybele. This involved people dressing up and disguises and mocking and making fun of people.
• It is said to be inspired by the Egyptian legend of Isis, Osiris and Seth.

April Fools’ Day Pranks

• today the media has worked very hard on April 1 to report outrageous and fictional things and have actually been able to fool their audience.
  • In 1957 the BBC reported that Swiss farmers experienced a record spaghetti crop and actually showed people harvesting noodles from their trees.

• In 1985 Sports Illustrated writer George Plimpton tricked many of his readers when he made of an article about a recognition named Sidd Finch saying he could throw a fastball over 168 mph.
• In 1998 Burger King advertised a left-handed whopper and countless people actually tried to order the sandwich.

Song of the day: “10, 000 hours” by Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber

Rick Steves’ European Easter Story (1 hour special)

April 1st: Happy Easter!

For those of us who celebrate, Happy Easter Weekend!

Easter is a Christian tradition that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This resurrection is believed to have occurred on the third day after his burial, following his crucifixion by the Romans in 30 A.D.

Overtime, many different traditions have evolved for Easter, including the association of the Easter Bunny, eggs and chocolate. Because the holiday happens at the beginning of the spring season, it is recognized as a time for renewal and rebirth.

Lent

Lent begins 40 days prior to Easter, and it begins on Ash Wednesday. This year, it began on February 17th. Christians often observe Lent in order to replicate the sacrifice and withdrawal that Jesus made when he spent 40 days in the desert in solitude. They do this by either fasting or giving up something that is significantly important to them.

Good Friday

Good Friday is recognized by Christians as the day that Jesus died on the cross. This is a very important day in Christianity, as it represents the sacrifice and suffering that Jesus experienced prior to his death.

On Good Friday, people may attend church services, and it is a day of quiet mourning and prayer among many Christians. Some Catholics partake in a partial fast on Good Friday, and they do not eat any meat.

Easter Sunday

Easter, also called Resurrection Sunday, is a holiday for Christians that marks the day that Jesus resurrected from the dead. Easter is a popular day for attending church, getting together with family, and even participating in an egg hunt.

Eggs are an important symbol of Easter. They represent the rebirth of nature in the spring, and the promise of new life. This is a reflection of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are many traditions all over the world for Easter that involve eggs, and the largest Easter Egg can be found in Vegreville, Alberta. This is a representation of a Ukrainian Easter egg, known as a Pysanka and it was constructed in 1974 to mark the centenary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Also, to celebrate Vegreville’s strong links with the Ukraine.

There are many different traditions all over the world to celebrate Easter, and here are some examples:

Trivia!

1. In what country did the tradition of the Easter Bunny originate?

a) France

b) Germany

c) The United States

2. What is the traditional Easter mascot in Australia?

a) a bunny

b) a kangaroo

c) a bilby

3. Dyeing Easter eggs is a tradition that started in which country?

a) The Ukraine

b) Ireland

c) Switzerland

4. Is more candy sold for;

a) Christmas

b) Easter

c) Halloween

5. Easter Island is part of which country?

a) Tanzania

b) Argentina

c) Chile

6. In the Bible, how many days passed between Jesus’ death and resurrection?

a) 2

b) 3

c) 4

7. What tradition is hosted at the White House every year for Easter?

a) egg roll

b) pony rides

c) chasing chickens

8. Most people bite off which part of a chocolate easter bunny first?

a) the tail

b) the ears

c) the nose

9. What flower is seen as a symbol of Easter?

a) yellow roses

b) daisies

c) lilies

10. In Canada, do businesses close on Easter? (Yes/No)

Jean-Luc’s song choice: “Slushie” by Stephen Sharer

March 30th: Prince Harry

Fun facts about the Royal Family!: https://www.buzzfeed.com/benarmson90/genuinely-intriguing-royal-family-facts

Prince Harry

Early Years

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was born Henry Charles Albert David, on September 15, 1984 (now 36 years old) at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, England. He is currently sixth in line for the British throne, following his father (Prince Charles), his brother (Prince William), and his brother’s children (George, Charlotte and Louis).

Growing up, he was referred to as “Harry” but his parents, family, the public, and Kensington Palace. Princess Diana, his mother, wanted him and his brother to have more normal experiences than previous royal children, and therefore took them on outings such as Walt Disney World, McDonald’s, homeless shelters, orphanages, hospitals, and AIDs clinics. Prince William and Prince Harry also joined their parents on trips, including their overseas tours to Italy in 1985, and to Canada in 1991 and 1998.

The family in Toronto, 1991

During their visit in 1991, Prince William and Prince Harry spent time touring Toronto while their parent’s attended their royal duties. They toured the city and explored the ROM, as well as the CN tower. Princess Diana joined the boys and they toured Niagara Falls, and went on the Maid of the Mist.

Prince Harry’s parents formally separated in 1996, and Princess Diana died a year later, at the age of 36. Prince Harry was 12 when his mother died, and he walked behind her casket when it was carried through the streets of London at her funeral.

Education

Harry attended a sequence of private school before attending Eton College. Eton College is a prestigious all-boys school in England, where many politicians and influential figures attended, and Princess Diana’s brother and father had attended.

Prince Harry enjoyed sports, and he represented Eton at rugby, cricket and polo, and was a member of the Combined Cadet Force. He graduated Eton in 2003, at the age of 18, and did well in his final exams.

After graduating, Harry visited Australia, where he spent time working on a cattle station and participating in polo matches. He also travelled to Lesotho, where he spent time working with orphaned children, and produced the documentary “The Forgotten Kingdom.”

Harry then entered Sandhurst in 2005, which is Britain’s leading military academy. Prince Harry served in the military from 2006 to 2015, and he was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2007. He was able to attend his tour in Afghanistan after the British media agreed not to publicize any details of his service, which would have put him and his fellow soldiers at risk of attack.

His tour ended in February 2008 after foreign publications reported on it, but he was able to partake on another tour from 2012 to 2013, where he served as a helicopter pilot. Prince Harry attained the rank of captain, and left active service in 2015.

Social Activism and the Invictus Games

Harry has been involved in many different social causes, including wildlife preservation in Africa, and a charity for orphaned children in Lesotho which he dedicated to his mother, called Sentebale. Prince Harry has also worked with charities that support veterans, and that help veterans transition to regular life after they return home from being on tour in the military.

Prince Harry also founded the Invictus games. The Invictus Games were inspired by the Warrior Games in the United States, which he attended and was impressed by. The Invictus Games are an international sporting competition for injured and sick veterans and servicepeople. The competition debuted in London in 2014, and was hosted in Toronto in 2017.

The Invictus Games include sports such as track and field, archery, wheelchair basketball and rugby, sitting volleyball, road cycling, indoor rowing and swimming.

Now, Prince Harry continues to work in public service, and he and his wife Megan have established their own charity called Archewell. Archewell will be a large organization, that works to unite communities and provide social awareness and action to many causes, including racism, mental illness, veteran supports, conservation of wildlife, among others.

Prince Harry and James Corden!