Idleness, Water and a Canoe
By Jamie Benidickson
299 pages. 6x9 inches.
29 B&W illustrations
University of Toronto Press. $17.95.
ISBN 0-8020-7910-5 (paper)
ISBN 0-8020-0945-X (bound)
Reviewed by Hans Lugar (Wooden Canoe Issue #85)
February 1998
Mr. Benidickson is an associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of 0ttawa. One senses that Idleness, Water and a Canoe has been a long-term labor of love. In fact, seasoned members of the WCHA may recall articles by Mr. Benidickson which appeared in three 1984 issues, Nos. 17-19, which are incorporated in the book.
The title is taken from the spring 1940 issue of the Queen's Quarterly, in which it was stated that the ingredients of a holiday in Canada are idleness, water, and a canoe.
The title notwithstanding, this book is decidedly not 1) a reminiscence of someone's canoe trip, 2) a "how-to" book on paddling or canoe camping, or 3) a paean to the natural wonders of the Canadian Shield. Rather, Idleness is a scholarly and comprehensive historical survey of the canoe's place in Canadian life. The author draws on a huge array of published sources and interviews which are cited throughout the work. In fact, the 240-odd pages of text are supported by no fewer than 750 footnotes.
In the minds of most of us the canoe occupies an important place in the cultural and economic history of Canada. In fact, for boating enthusiasts the mere mention of Canada will automatically bring forth an image of a canoe in one context or another.
But why is this so? What role has the canoe played in Canadian commerce. literature, art, advertising? Does everyone in Canada own a canoe? (Answer: no. only about 6 percent of households have one). Who were the chroniclers of canoeing and canoe culture over the years? Who were the builders, and what were the distinguishing characteristics of their craft? What is the historical connection between canoeing and railroads? Health camps? The independence of women? Federal and provincial governments? Religion? What has been the role of the canoe in the evolving relationships between Native and European Americans.?
Nowadays it is a commonplace maxim that "a Canadian is someone who I knows how to make love in a came." Where did that come from. Is it true?
Answers to all of these questions, and many more, can be found in Idleness, Water and a Canoe.
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