The Canadian Home

Would you want to live in a factory-molded cube made of plastic, asbestos, and UFFI? With an "H-bomb shelter" and the nuclear furnace underneath? Or a house designed by God to harmonize with the cosmic Muzak? The Canadian Home explains how our housing came to be including the pagan origins of "colonial" homes, why "Tudor" is not Tudor, and where so many predictions went wrong. But the book is not just about tastes and floor plans; it also celebrates technological innovation, from prehistoric Inuit windows (of stretched seal guts) to the R-2000 house and habitation in space. For the first time, records of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association have been opened to reveal the power plays of bureaucrats, developers, architects, and financiers and how they affect the quality, affordability, and choice of our housing today. Fiery debates over the sublime and the ridiculous (e.g. 1940s architectural articles on whether Toronto should be bombed) are set against the backdrop of Canadian politics and industrial history. Whether the reader’s interest is in construction, politics, or home decor, this book explains why the roof over our heads is the way it is." Pierre Berton "In his fascinating study of Canadian shelter, Marc Denhez takes us on a 20,000-year journey from the days of the cave, the tipi, and the igloo, to the H-bomb shelter and the mobile home. This is, in short, a lively as well as an erudite study of the development of housing . [It] deserves a permanent position on any library shelf." "If you live in a house or own one or build one if you have a roof over your head read this book. A housing book with punch and humour immensely enjoyable." -Charles Lynch author, journalist and former governor of Heritage Canada.

In this remarkable book — thoughtful, intimate and stunningly illustrated with archival and original photos — three of the best writers in their fields join with Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul to tell the story of Canada’s house in the 21st century. Opening wide the doors, Canada’s House reveals how Rideau Hall has reinvented itself into a place that mirrors the varied identity, gardens and foods of the country — immensely inspiring, alive with a vitality and distinctiveness that is Canada today. Over the last five years, Rideau Hall has been transformed into a place that vitally reflects Canada’s unique contemporary identity: its kitchens are now a hive of activity using indigenous foods and wine from across the country; and its garden has been redesigned into a true Northern Garden — a showcase for Canadian flowers, plants and trees, and organic vegetables. It has become a unique home that represents Canada and Canadians from coast-to-coast. Three of our leading writers have come together to tell the story of how Rideau Hall has come to reflect so much that is both distinctive and excellent from across Canada: Margaret MacMillan, Governor-General’s Literary Award winner, contemplates the history of “home” in Canada, and the story of the great house — the hub of the country’s public life since before Confederation — through the people who have given it life. Marjorie Harris, award-winning garden writer, writes vividly on the Canadian woodland garden, the flowers and plants, as well as the organic vegetable garden that provides the fresh herbs and an impressive proportion of the fruits and vegetables for both daily life and state dinners — essential reading for all who love gardens, as well as those who aspire to creating a Canadian garden. Anne Desjardins, award-winning Quebec food writer, shows how Rideau Hall has become synonymous with contemporary Canadian cuisine, its cross-country diversity and its riches — from the shellfish and cloudberries of the Maritimes to the cheeses of Quebec; from the oolichan of the West coast to the teas and caribou of the Far North; from the wines of the Okanagan to Niagara, recognized world-wide for their excellence. With an introduction to the country’s leading food and wine producers, as well as thirty original recipes tested for home cooks by Rideau Hall’s famous Chef Oliver Bartsch. Throughout the book, Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul share their experiences in helping to bring our national house — a place that reflects Canada as diverse, bountiful, self-confident and rich in achievement — into the 21st century.

This is a history of domestic space in Canada. Peter Ward looks at how spaces in the Canadian home have changed over the last three centuries, and how family and social relationships have shaped -- and been shaped by -- these changing spaces. A fundamental element of daily life for individuals and families is domestic privacy, that of individuals and that of the family or household.

Top advice from one of television's most well-known Realtors. Buying a home for the first time can be a daunting and stressful endeavor. The myriad questions and issues that arise can be overwhelming, resulting in an experience completely different from what first-time buyers were expecting. Sandra Rinomato, the host of the hit HGTV show Property Virgins, delivers a "realty check" by pointing buyers to homes that fit their budget, satisfy their needs, and most importantly, achieve their goal of home ownership. Realty Check covers such topics as: How to finance your home purchase without going broke. How to look past home staging and focus on the crucial elements of a potential property. Home inspection and exactly what it entails. Tips for condominium buyers. How to find and work with a good Realtor. Mortgage fraud and other legal issues. Buying a first property is a major commitment, but readers of this book will be well-prepared to take the leap into home-ownership, with their eyes wide open.

Looks at Canada's immigration history, exploring how and why people people made their way across land and sea to make Canada their home.