Hello! It's Monday and I owe you a blog.

It's a holiday here, creatively called "Civic Holiday", only out-creatived by the UK's "Bank Holiday". Anyway, Civic Holiday is the last long weekend before Labour Day aka the final nail in summer's coffin. Here in Ottawa we try to call it Colonel By Day but it doesn't stick. It's like trying to make up your own cool nickname. How many times have I tried to get people to call me "Kazzer"?

So here's my opportunity to teach you a little something. John By was an engineer who supervised the building of the Rideau Canal. He's the shiz in these parts and his name is everywhere: The Byward Market, Colonel By Drive, a school and even a beer. If it wasn't for him, Ottawa wouldn't even be a city. So thanks, John, we appreciate the effort. And the day off helps...

kazzer