Canadian Thanksgiving Thursday, October 16, 2008

[right] About 100 Canadians and their families gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving Oct. 11 at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island near Portland. The Canada-America Society of Oregon organized the event, which included games, door prizes and, of course, a turkey dinner.

[below, left] Jim Baumgartner, Honorary Consul of Canada in Portland, uses a makeshift megaphone to announce the raffle numbers for Tim Hortons coffee and Canadian t-shirts.

[below, right] A number of Queen's alumni (including yours truly) were at the event.

Canada Day in Portland Sunday, July 01, 2007

Canadian expatriots and American friends celebrate Canada's 140th birthday Sunday in Beaverton at a party organized by the Canada-America Society of Oregon.

Dozens of Canadians living in the Portland area gathered at the Red Tail golf course in Beaverton Sunday to celebrate Canada Day. It was the first event organized by the newly-formed Canada-America Society of Oregon (CASO).

Eighty-eight people played golf, ate burgers and hot dogs, and drank Canadian beer and wine. There was a hockey net to shoot at, and a cardboard Mountie who patiently posed with anyone who wanted a photo. The Winter Hawks' mascot, Tom-A-Hawk, was also on hand.

Portland Winter Hawks' mascot Tom-A-Hawk juggles for children on Canada Day.

Initiated by Honorary Consul Jim Baumgartner, CASO is modeled on the Canada-America Society in Seattle. That organization is "devoted to strengthening economic and cultural ties between Canada and the United States," and "serves as a platform for Canadian expatriates and Americans to interface within Seattle's community."