Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) lynx, name given to several related small, ferocious members of the cat family. All have small heads, tufted ears, and heavy bodies with long legs and short tails. All are primarily terrestrial, altho...

(Encyclopedia) Mulock, Sir William, 1844–1944, Canadian statesman and jurist, b. Ontario. A lawyer, he served (1882–1905) as a Liberal in the House of Commons. As postmaster general (1896–1905) in Wilfrid Laur...

(Encyclopedia) Macdonald, John Sandfield, 1812–72, Canadian political leader. He was elected (1841) as a Conservative to the Legislative Assembly, but he afterward developed considerable political independence. He...

(Encyclopedia) pipestone, hard, dull red or mottled pink-and-white clay stone, carved by Native Americans into pipes. Called calumets (see calumet) the pipes were used extensively in ceremonials. Native Americans he...

(Encyclopedia) Doherty, Charles Joseph dōˈərtē [key], 1855–1931, Canadian jurist and statesman. After serving (1891–1906) as judge of the superior court of Quebec prov., he retired (1906) from the bench and ...

(Encyclopedia) Thompson, Sir John Sparrow David, 1844–94, Canadian political leader, b. Nova Scotia. He was elected (1877) to the provincial assembly, was briefly provincial prime minister, and then was made a jus...

(Encyclopedia) Galt, John, 1779–1839, Scottish novelist. He went to Canada as secretary for the Canada Company, founding there in 1827 the town of Guelph and encouraging Canadian immigration. He wrote poems, blank...

(Encyclopedia) Ash Wednesday, in the Western Church, the first day of Lent, being the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On this day ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of death, of the so...

(Encyclopedia) Hincks, Sir Francis, 1807–85, Canadian journalist and statesman, b. Ireland. Settling (1832) in York (now Toronto), he was soon drawn into the Reform party. In 1839 he became editor of the Toronto E...

(Encyclopedia) Hébert, Louis ləwēˈ [key], 1575–1627, French pioneer, known as the first Canadian farmer. A Paris apothecary, he spent 10 years (1604–14) in Acadia, and at Port Royal (now Annapolis Royal, N.S...