A collection of stories from many Canadians, some famous and some "ordinary", with tales of inspiration and of what makes us Canadian. Good for middle school and teen readers as well as adults. Most of the stories are told by the people most closely involved, whether athletes, peacekeepers, broadcasters, fundraisers, politicians, immigrants, parents or friends. Stories span every province of Canada, and many decades. Contributing writers including Jann Arden (musician), Kurt Browning (figure skater), Pamela Wallin (TV journalist), Natalie MacMaster (fiddler from Cape Breton), Rick Hansen (paralympic athlete who crossed Canada in a wheelchair to raise money for spinal cord research), Marilyn Bell Di Lascio (first to swim across Lake Ontario in the 1950s), Barbara Underhill and Paul Martini (figure skaters), Lynn Johnston (author of For Better or For Worse comic strip), Bob Proctor (broadcaster and fundraiser), Chief Dan George (poet and First Nations leader), Ted Mahovlich and Paul Henderson (hockey players), Craig Kielburger (advocate for children's rights) and many more. Over 350 pages and about 80 short stories provide lots of food for thought, and good browsing, although reading too many in a row might be a bit of an overdose. ( )

I bought this book a couple years back when I was home in Canada visiting family. Since buying it I have used it as my way of hanging onto Canada even though I am not there. When I feel especially homesick I dig it out & thumb through the stories & while they usually reduce me to tears, there's also the much needed sense that I belong somewhere & this book helps me to re-establish the connection to my much loved, much missed homeland. ( )

I love the story of the Loony under the ice at the olympics! ( )