The Cold War started in Ottawa! In September 1945, a Soviet cipher clerk named Igor Gouzenko who worked at the embassy in Ottawa defected with proof that the Soviets were spying on their supposed allies in the West! You can learn more about the repercussions of the revelation at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

The most depressing place on the planet is my hometown of Seattle in the month of January. The December holidays are over with January’s grim back-to-realty winter looking us straight in the face. In Seattle that generally means endless light showers and a sun that has completely disappeared. But leave it to the Canadians who embrace the long winter months of ice and snow with celebrations that warm both the heart and soul.