The Diaries of Russell James Sparrow 1908 to 1991
retired on March 29th and so became a gentleman of leisure. On 3rd March there was a terrible air crash in Paris killing 345 people.
Visit to Canada On August 24th we set off to see Jean and family in Canada. We had a very good flight in a comfortable Jumbo with plenty of good food and drinks and Jean and Colin were there to meet us. Fortunately the next day was Sunday and we were all able to have a lazy day. In the afternoon Colin took us to Sunnybrook Park where I was surprised to see cricket, football and rugby in progress on a sunny and hot day. Jean and Colin had a very comfortable and spacious home in Willowdale with a very modern shopping precinct within easy reach. It was in a delightful situation on the edge of a ravine through which the children were wont to take a short cut to school. Black squirrels and racoons visited the garden as well as skunks although these were not often seen although sometimes smelled! One racoon which we called Charlie would come up to the house every day for a feed of marshmallows. Jean and Colin’s neighbours were Marg and Geoff Wigzell and they welcomed us with drinks and refreshments soon after we arrived. Geoff and I had several walks together along the ravine. We had 9 weeks there from 25th August to 22nd October and during that time we experienced extremes of weather from very hot to cold and frosty, even some snow. We saw the grandeur of the trees in autumn and the beauty of the Lakes and visited many parks as well as Black Creek Pioneer Village and Ontario Place. We had a weekend with the Quakers at Camp Neekaunis including a visit to St. Marie among The Hurons, 91
