November 11, 2026- Hana has decided that her father is “Dada” and I am “DadaDa”. She made that announcement after looking at each of us at the dinner table. I guess that is a reasonable distinction.

Today is Veterans Day. Both Aram and Yunhee worked. School was in session, as the Districts here take a full week off at Thanksgiving, thus trading some Federal holidays in return. So, Hana saw many kids going back and forth, as usual. In the evening, Yunhee prepared a lovely steak dinner; Aram and I felt much honoured.

HANA’S NOTE- Mommy asked Papa and Daddy if they wanted to go out to dinner. Both said “No”, because it would be too late for me to be up. That made me feel good.

EXPANDING CIRCLES: Prince Edward Island- I have made one visit to the Birthplace of Confederation, in 1973. I spent five days, and drove around the island, landing at Borden, then driving to North Cape, along the north coast and to St. Peters Bay and Montague, before returning to the mainland via Wood Islands. Standing outside Province House, I pondered the irony of PEI having hosted the talks on Confederation, in 1867, then balking at actually becoming a part of Canada, until joining the Dominion as its seventh province, in 1873. It was this centenary that lured me to Charlottetown, in the first place. I would like to return to PEI, on my next visit to Atlantic Canada, especially as a Causeway connects the island to New Brunswick. My paternal grandmother’s forebears were among the original settlers of the island, naming it Ile St. Jean. They departed for Quebec, after the French defeat at Louisbourg, in 1758.

The Turf: Prince Edward Island is essentially flat, with red sandy beaches along the north shore and more conventional sand along the beaches of the south. The rich soil of the interior lends greatly to farming, giving PEI the name, “Garden of the Gulf”. Prince Edward Island is drained by several short streams and creeks. Three, the Hillsborough, Brudenell and Montague Rivers are somewhat navigable by small craft.

First Nations- Prince Edward Island is the ancestral home of the Mi’kmaq people. They formed an alliance with the French during the various conflicts between France and England. They persevered, after the island became English territory. Today, there are two Mi’kmaq communities on Prince Edward Island: Abigweit and Lennox Island.

Where I feel most at home: Burton, Cavendish

Where I feel most at peace: Cavendish, North Cape

NEXT: Nova Scotia