I am Lynette Bloedow. I call myself a ‘Transplanted Canadian from West Indies’ and a ‘Curious Canadian History Buff’. My website is: https://christianrootscanada.org/.
I publish and sell curriculum, books and other products which reinforce our research and fill in the gaps of knowledge lacking in the Canadian Christian’s understanding of the true Christian foundations of Canada.
ChristianRoots Canada’s vision is threefold:
- To guide a Christian audience to discover the awe and majesty of God’s Providence in orchestrating world events that brought about the founding of Canada.
- To educate, equip and empower students and families to be a part of God’s unfolding story; to become salt and light; and to influence our society for Christ like our forefathers in the faith did.
- To offer Christian Canadians a unique experience of enthusiastic inspirational teaching where history comes alive.
Our website is chock full of research about: the location of the 25 Scripture verses in the Peace Tower and Parliament HIll; Christian Biographies under ‘Articles’; short courses and a 1-year, 1-credit high school course; and information about how you can experience a tour of Ottawa to learn about the Christians who left huge legacies there.
When I came to Canada almost 35 years ago, I did not know anything about Canada’s rich Christian History. About 13 years ago I discovered the Scripture verses in the Peace Tower and started digging into HOW they got there and WHO was responsible for putting them there. In the process, I found that there were many Christians who left large legacies.
There were men like JR Booth, who supplied all of the original lumber for building of the Parliament Buildings; John A Pearson – the architect who designed and rebuilt the Centre Block when it burnt down in 1916; Frank J Hollister – the Anglican stained glass maker who created the beautiful Memorial Chamber windows; Walter Seymour Allward who sculpted the Vimy Memorial and John McCrae who wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Field’.
When I published the book, The Legacy of 25 Scripture Verses on Parliament Hill, I did not expect it to create the surprise element to many Christians when they heard about it. From coast to coast across Canada, many people have called me looking for the book because Bible Study groups are using it to pray for Canada.
I have been creating annual calendars with the Scripture verses, and last year I produced a ‘Prayer Calendar’ in both English and French, to help Christians pray the Scriptures for our government.
With the rise of the ‘cancel culture’, I am discovering Prime Ministers who professed a Christian faith on some level. These include Sir John A Macdonald, Sir Alexander Mackenzie and William Lyon McKenzie King.
I have discovered that there are enduring, lasting legacies left by Christians which the ‘cancel culture’ can never destroy – The Ottawa Locks (created by John By, Thomas Mckay and Peter Redpath of Redpath Sugar) and many others.
This is the kind of legacy that newcomers to Canada need to know so they can understand that they are literally standing on the shoulders of Christians who have gone before us.
I have found much more information than I can write about. Newcomers to Canada need to know that many of these men came from humble beginnings and left large legacies because largely, they worked as unto the Lord, and they worked with integrity.
It is only through the transformative power of the gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit and the perseverance of the saints that these men accomplished so much.
Editor’s Note: Lynette is looking for ESL teachers to collaborate with her to turn her materials into ESL materials for newcomers. If you’re interested, please email us at eslministries@gmail.com, and we will connect you with Lynette.