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UPDATEI have written an expanded version of this article with even more stunning facts and photos. Visit our new version of this post at Surprising Facts about Canada. Hopefully this will inspire you to make your own cross-Canada road trip. But you will need lots of time. Our 19,000 km road trip took two months.SIZE AND DISTANCEYes, you may know that Canada is the second largest country in the world. But did you know that all of Western Europe fits into Eastern Canada? We took a Swiss friend from Edmonton, Alberta to Vancouver then back via to Dinosaur Provincial Park (PP) and home. Our friend asked how many km we drove. When I said about 3500 km, she squealed "that's longer than driving from London to Moscow (2,880 km)"!!!BTW, did you know that Dinosaur PP is the world's richest source of Cretaceous Era dinosaurs — such as Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor — with over 300 fossils stored in museums in 30 countries around the world.You may have heard of the Klondike Gold Rush but you may not know that they are still mining gold in the Yukon. Dawson City was the largest city in the West during the Gold Rush; now it has only 2000 residents. The Yukon is 14% bigger than California but with only 36,000 people!!SPORTSDid you know that Canada invented the two sports considered the most “American” — football and basketball? Did you know that hockey was derived from an Indian sport?FOOD INVENTIONSSpeaking of Indians, First Nations or FN (as they are now called) invented many things that are needed to survive in Canadian winter (prior to central heating): winter parkas, snow goggles, moccasins, mukluks, snow shoes, and camouflage (for both hunting and warfare), birch bark canoes, maple syrup and other foods that they would share credit with FN located in our neighbours to the south — like corn and potato chips. They used black willow bark as a painkiller, which after ingestion turns into salicylic acid, the main ingredient of aspirin.More modern foods created in Canada include peanut butter (who knew that North America’s favourite spread was invented in Canada?), Pablum, ginger ale, Nanaimo bars, butter tarts and poutine.TECHNICAL INVENTIONSOther major inventions used around the world include time zones and standard (Greenwich) time, the modem, the pager, radio telephony, egg carton, sonar, insulin, electron microscope, cardiac pacemaker, Easy-Off Oven Cleaner, paint roller, plexiglass, garbage bag, alkaline battery and even Wonderbra. The first caulking gun was made from a cake icing decorator tube. And finally there was the first commercial jetliner and kerosene distillation. You may not have personally used a kerosene lamp but you probably have used kerosene — it’s also called jet fuel!UPDATE: I’m surprised I wasn’t called out about omitting probably our most significant invention by Alexander Bell – the telephone! You can visit his labs in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Mike Hummell reminded us of another innovation. Marconi, the inventor of the radio, came over to Canada and set up one of the first radio stations, CFCF in Montreal. He sent a signal in 1901 to Ireland proving radio waves could be used for long distance in spite of the curvature of the planet. This meant ship to shore communications were now possible.GEOGRAPHYThe Great Lakes shared with USA are the largest fresh water lakes in the world. But did you realize that they were created by the largest bulldozer (joke) in the world. A monstrous ice field one mile thick spread from the Rockies across most of Canada. Move over Norway, British Columbia (BC) has a lot of fjords, valleys to the sea carved by glaciers.The five Rocky Mountain National and Provincial Parks are the size of half of Switzerland with only three villages that existed before the parks were formed.Vancouver has one of the best coastal mountain scenery of any port. It even has a threatening active volcano, Mt Baker. So what if it is Washington State. It is only 72 km by air and 100 km (1 hour) by road.British Columbia is on the Pacific Ring of Fire. BC has a lot of volcanoes but most are dormant. The majority of the eruptions happened in the Miocene Era (6–10 million years ago) and Pliocene Era (2–3 million years ago). Deep layers of ash and microscopic glass shards have been found as far away as Newfoundland, Ireland and Northern Europe! Who knew Canada was volcanic?Volcanic heat and pressure are needed to produce jade. Northern BC is the world’s largest producer of green nephrite jade.HISTORYDuring World War 2, Canada had the third-largest navy and the fourth largest air force after the US, Russia and UK. Most allied pilots were trained in Canada. In fact, so were most spies. A very little known fact was that the predecessor to the CIA trained at Camp X in Ontario.Canada was also made responsible for escorting supply convoys in the northwest Atlantic, sinking more than 30 German U-boats. That is also why Canada led the invention of sonar and the development of more advanced radar detection.Canadian army and special forces stopped the advance of the Soviets into West Germany at the end of the war and liberated Netherlands, which meant also feeding them since they were starving thanks to the Nazis.MULTICULTURALISMVancouver is one of the top 2 most cosmopolitan cities in the world. 45% of its residents are Asian. 50% of its residents were born outside of Canada! As a result, it has diverse cultural and culinary influences throughout the city. Ditto for Toronto. In fact, most Canadians preserve their duality also called “hyphenated Canadians”; i.e. we refer to ourselves as Italian-Canadian, Chinese-Canadian, et al.Vancouver is also one of the top movie and TV show producers in North America after Hollywood and Toronto. If you like science fiction most of your favourite TV shows and movies were filmed in and around Vancouver.Regards Terra Encounters

Thank you for your question. I will speak about teams that will be top 10 on 1st January, so I am not counting the possible free agent decisions of summer 2019 (Durant, Irving, Thompson, Leonard)So it begins:Golden State Warriors; It would be unwise and untrue not to put Golden State Warriors on top of any list. They won last two championships, three in last 4 years and they have front office with some magic hands and negotiation skills. The core of Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green, Cousins (even some injured version) plus Iguodala, Livingston, Looney, Jarebko, Bell. Even if they don’t win this year (they probably will) they are lock to be in top 10 teams in 2022.2. Houston Rockets: Having current MVP James Harden, 2 Hall of Famers in Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, one of the best Most Improved Players in Chris Capela who is targeting and quietly trying to be best center in the league, with one of the best Sixth Man’s of the Year in Eric Gordon…..I believe you know where I am going3. Boston Celtics: Irving, Horford, Hayward, Tatum, Brown, Smart, Rozier, Morris, this team is deep and really young. Their path to greatness will be seen in 2019–20forever.4. Toronto Raptors: They were 1st places in Eastern Conference last year. If they are going to get Leonard at full power they will be great all over the floor in offence and defense. They had best bench last year so they aren’t falling bellow Top 10 this year, maybe if Leonard leaves in July.5. Oklahoma City Thunder: Don’t cheer against Russell Westbrook, especially if he is playing with Paul George, Steven Adams and Andre Roberson (3 of top 15 defensive players in the league). Melo story is over so they will start fresh with few interesting new pieces. They are safe.6. Philadelphia 76ers: Young team with potential and with quality right now. Best option to have. Embiid, Fultz, Simmons, Saric, Covington, Redick. They have shown flashes of brilliance and streaks last year. Now they will build on it.7. New Orleans Pelicans: Now we are getting to the tricky part of the topic. Who to include as last few picks. This time around I won’t bet against Anthony Davis. Your next MVP> With Holiday playing the role of the second star with ball handling and shooting, and having Payton to do Rondo’s work, with Mirotic, Moore and new power addition in Randle this team finally complement their biggest star.8. Milwaukee Bucks: This pick is probably me thinking that Mike Budenholzer will make Bucks a new powerhouse in East. Some part of me even think that Bucks may find strength to challenge for the 1st seed like Hawks did few years ago. With additions of Lopez and Ersan İlyasova known commodities to spread the floor, and their core of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Eric Bledsoe they are ready to crack Top 10.9. San Antonio Spurs: Having 2 All Stars and best coach in the league is enough to make this kind of a list. Yeah they will shoot too many mid range jumpers, yes but also they will win any game against bottom tier team. They just know how to win, don’t worry for the Spurs.10. Portland Trail Blazers: Third best backcourt in basketball in Lillard and McCallum. That is enough for good regular season success. Some bad contract are doing the damage and lowering the ceiling for this team. If Nurkic finds a way to be standard third wheel they are good to go.

I have worked with Many americans in my tenure as a DA in Toronto for approx 20 years or so.. I think you are in for a pleasant surprise.Many americans that visit Toronto are quite pleasantly surprised with the environment.A rich diverse culture. Become colour blind when coming north; we are a United Nations of culture. This brings so many benefits (authentic restaurants GALOR, different perspectives provided daily, world-class theater, arts + sciences support … ). Who cares if the lady giving the presentation wears a sari or a gent a turban? In fact, it frees your perspectives to jettison the stereotypes.A rich choice of work for DA's. I have made a career of such work for Data Architecture (many times for american companies… cheaper dollar = cheaper labor). I have had an affinity for financial institutions.We have Excellent public transportation. Depending on where u choose to live, you may not need a car and or rent one as needed. I know many that bicycle to work.We have extensive public green spaces if you are so inclined, including an Island commutable within 15 minutes from downtown by public ferry; our version of Central Park.House prices are steep (1.2 Million CDN =~ 900,000 USD) average house price. Rents downtown at $2500/mth are common.As an american, you may wish to do some tax planning (i believe you have to pay taxes in the US if you do make money in any other countries other than the US including Canada).Toronto is a 5 hour drive to Dayton OH. You can go home on weekends.As for the work, the caliber of contracts/employment opportunities waxes and wanes as with any location, but tbh, there is a consistent volume.Depending on your area of expertise within the DA world, you may need to brushup on some international standards that you may not have been exposed to (e.g. iso 20022), but what else is new…?Hope this helpsDrop me a line, let me know how it turns out. Perhaps we can go for a beer to discuss details when you arrive.P.S.: The beer is a LOT better up here than what you call beer in the states