The Canada Trip

R.G. Moyles is a professor of English at the University of Alberta and
the co-author of Imperial Dreams and Colonial Realities: British Views
of Canada, 1880–1914.

Written by Ottawa journalist Charles Gordon, grandson of the famous
Ralph Connor, this book chronicles the author’s cross-country trip
from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

As in many good travel tales, the interest and pleasure here derives
from an idiosyncratic approach to travel, from the author’s ability to
laugh at himself (and at some of his establishmentarian attitudes), from
his keen observance of small-town lifestyles, and from a slightly ironic
style that gently pokes fun but never ridicules. That style is
exemplified by Gordon’s description of a parade in Hartland, New
Brunswick. “People are lining the street—not too many people because
there are only 925 people in the town. The Hartland Fire Department goes
by, followed by a convertible carrying Miss Hartland High. ... Then
there are some people driving golf carts and John Deere tractor mowers.
A GMC truck pulls the Perth Andover Bandwagon, the band playing the
theme from ‘Hogan’s Heroes.’ The Upper Valley Shriners are in
trainmen outfits, for some reason. One of them yells, ‘Wave!’ to the
crowd and we all do.”

The book’s contents are as varied as the country itself. Only the
occasional need to consult a map will prompt you to put down The Canada
Trip.