Skip to main content

Posts

SPRING UP!!

From War to Walls: How Latin America's Crisis with Violence and Drugs Led to El Salvador's Mega-Prison**

Recent posts

Canadian Women: BONNIE

 The name Bonnie has a sweet, vintage charm—and it comes with an interesting backstory! 🌸 Meaning and Origin: The name Bonnie means "pretty", "attractive", or "cheerful".  It’s of Scottish origin, derived from the Scottish word “bonnie”, which itself comes from the French "bon" meaning “good.” So essentially, Bonnie is a descriptive word that became a given name. It was never really derived from another name, though some people have used it as a nickname for names like Bonita (Spanish for "pretty") or even Yvonne, but Bonnie is usually a name in its own right. 🕰️ Popularity Over Time: Early 1900s to 1940s: Bonnie steadily gained popularity in the United States and Canada. Peak Popularity: It peaked in the 1940s and 1950s—especially in the U.S., where it was in the Top 100 girl names from the 1920s through the early 1960s. Pop Culture Boosts: Its rise was helped by cultural figures like Bonnie Parker of the infamous "Bonnie and...

Canadian Women: APRIL, MAY, and JUNE

  For generations, parents have drawn inspiration from the natural world when naming their children—flowers, seasons, and yes, even months. Naming girls after the month of their birth became especially popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when poetic and nature-inspired names like April, May, and June came into fashion. Each of these names evokes freshness, growth, and light—qualities that many parents wished upon their daughters. In this post, we’re spotlighting some remarkable Canadian women who bear these calendar-inspired names and have made lasting contributions in the arts, sciences, politics, and beyond. WRITERS April Bulmer Born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1963, April Bulmer is a prolific poet whose work explores spirituality, femininity, and multicultural identity. She holds three master's degrees, including one in theology, and her poetry has appeared in many Canadian literary journals. June Callwood June Callwood Creative Commons Image Born in Chatham,...

Canadian Women: ANNE

  Today's post celebrates Canadian women named ANNE (Ann, Ana, Anya, Annabelle, Annie, etc.) ANN comes f rom French Anne , from Late Latin Anna , referring to St. Anne, mother of Mary, and Anna the Prophetess in the Vulgate. From Greek Ἄννα ( Ánna ), from Hebrew חַנָּה ( Ḥannâ , “grace”). Occasionally reborrowed from other languages. Doublet of Ann, Ana, Anna, and Hannah. Here is a selection of Canadian women named ANNE (and variations) who have made a variety of significant contributions to Canadian life:  ANNE of GREEN GABLES (fictional, but internationally influential). Anne Shirley (Actress playing her) Creative Commons Image Though fictional, Anne Shirley from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel has had a profound cultural impact on Canadian identity and tourism, especially in Prince Edward Island. First published: 1908 Adapted repeatedly for film and television (most recently Anne with an E, 2017–2019) Writers ANNE HEBERT(1916–2000) Anne Hebert  (Creative Common...

Canadian Women: MARGARET

Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Old Iranian.  It has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular throughout the Middle Ages.  Princess Margaret Rose. 1965 photo from Wikipedia The younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II of England was named Margaret Rose after her birth in August 1930, and her naming is said to have spawned quite a few Margaret Roses throughout the British Commonwealth. Perhaps you or your mother was named for her?                        Here are some esteemed Canadian women named Margaret (or with similar spellings) who have made significant contributions as writers, artists, or scientists: Writers Margaret Atwood, photo from Wikipedia Margaret Atwood – One of Canada’s most celebrated authors, known for The Handmaid’s Tale and other works exploring feminism, dystopia, and Canadian identity....