Canada, as Canadian schoolchildren are proudly taught, is the second-biggest country on earth - only Russia occupies more territory. Yet when it comes to people, Canada trails behind many European countries such as Finland and Iceland, one-thirtieth its size. Over 80 per cent of Canada’s land is uninhabited, and most Canadians live clustered in a handful of large cities close to the US border.

Hi Priscilla,

I’m so excited about our upcoming visit to Ottawa for attending the Winterlude festival. You’ve no idea how much fun we’re going to have! I want to tell you about a few things we should necessarily look forward to while we enjoy the festive chill. This magical festival is going to take place along Rideau Canal Skate way, and other sites across Ottawa.

Who doesn’t want to leave their worries behind, escape the daily grind and play in a winter playground? Getting lost in the wonders of Winterlude includes the Snowflake Kingdom maze, a staple at Jacques-Cartier Park. And this year marks the festival’s 40th anniversary making it an even bigger reason to visit Ottawa this winter! And while we’re there, we’d make sure to say hello to the smiling Winterlude mascots - the Ice Hogs. Word on the street is that they give really warm hugs.

First of all, we need to go hike, snowshoe and even cross-country ski through the magical trails of Gatineau Park, just north of the Ottawa River, among the most beautiful and tranquil trails in Ottawa. We’d be exploring several spots like the King Mountain Trail, the highest hill with a breathtaking view. Sugar Bush Trail and Pioneers Trail also provide a full day of inspiration and magic. Bring your camera along; you’ll definitely want to take pictures of this one. Next, we’d be gliding along the way, and you know what, this is the world’s largest ice skating rink! I know both of us are novice at this, but there’s nothing to worry about.

Did you know, Ottawa’s Ice Dragon Boat Festival is the largest in the world? It’s going to be organized on February 10. Teams use ice-sticks to move their dragon boats on skates across the Rideau Canal. Cool, right? I’d love to know if you’d like to take up the challenge or simply watch excitedly from the sidelines as people race against opponents and the elements. I remember that Mark, my colleague, told me about this event when he got the chance to be a part of it, last year. Also, we’d be enjoying a pint or two at the Gatineau Winter Beerfest. It’s all about the cold beer and warm vibes. Spanning two days, over 150 beers and 35 breweries, you’ll definitely leave with a smile on your face and a little more heat in your body.

I’m sure this is going to fill you with enthusiasm since you’re a music lover. We’d be jamming out at some music at an outdoor concert. Many renowned Canadian artists are going to be present in the Confederation Park. I’ve got to know that the Sub-Zero concerts are going to be held on Friday and Saturday evenings with a variety of talented Canadian performers. Oh and there’s also a light show added to the entertainment

. By the way, are you coming home anytime soon? If you’re, then let me know the dates, and we can arrange to meet up.

Hope to see you soon!

Clara

A. How did a bird species that once numbered in the billions disappear from the face of the Earth? The story of the passenger pigeon is unlike that of any other bird. With a likely population between 3 and 5 billions, it was the most abundant bird in North America and probably the world. Yet human exploitation drove this species to extinction over the course of a few decades. The year 2014 was the centenary of this extraordinary extinction. The first European drawing of the species, in the Codex Canadensis, was made by the Jesuit missionary Louis Nicolas in the early 1700s. He wrote a brief description of what he witnessed: Oumimi, or ourité, or dove. One sees such great numbers of this bird at the first passage in spring and fall that it is incredible.""

B. Passenger pigeons were easy to catch because they stayed together in large flocks and perched on the lower branches of trees. They were considered an easy source of food because they could be beaten out of their perching branches with sticks and then bagged. In 1866 in Ontario, it was reported that one flock of birds, 300 miles long and one mile wide, darkened the skies for 14 hours as they flew by overhead. Unlike the domesticated carrier pigeon used for messages, these were wild birds. Even their feathers were popular for bedding; for a time in Saint-Jerome, Quebec, every dowry included a bed and pillows made of pigeon feathers. By 1900, there we no passenger pigeons left in the wild. By 1914, there was just 29-year-old Martha at the Cincinnati Zoo. Then on September 1, 1914, Martha was found lying dead on the bottom of her cage. The passenger pigeon was now extinct. It had gone from billions of birds to zero in about a century, probably less.

C. According to an article in Arstechnica, a website covering news and opinions in technology, which reviewed several scientific studies on passenger pigeon genomes and population fluctuations, the demise of the passenger pigeon is more complicated than was once thought. It seems their population ping-ponged regularly and, according to McGill herpetologist David Green, the bird’s disappearance is partly attributable to the Allee effect, a behavioural phenomenon where certain types of animals require the presence of other individuals to thrive.

D. Her mate died a few years before her, Green said. ""When large populations of bird species like the passenger pigeon, or even large groups of breeding frogs like the chorus frog, fall below their sustainable threshold size, they can’t recover."" Despite the Allee effect, the chief cause of extinction for the billions of passenger pigeons was the destruction of eastern North American forests and hunting. ""It was the first time we could be certain that humans had caused a species’ extinction,"" said Green.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

In an age of the rising influence of various animal rights movements, the ever-growing trade in exotic pets is an obvious culprit and regularly finds itself under the microscope. The reason why the debate over keeping exotic pets has rumbled on for so long is that there is no simple answer. There are equally sound arguments on both sides of the debate, and a conclusion is hard to reach. One of the main problems in settling the debate over keeping exotic pets is the variable definition of ’exotic pets’. By the strict definition, even non-native animals that are bred locally and legally, and not taken from their natural environment, are ’exotic’. Similarly, while the term ’exotic animals’ usually sets alarm bells ringing, not all exotic animals are a threat to society. Pythons and chimpanzees, primarily, are the culprits in pet attacks, and such animals are obviously dangerous, but the extremely harmless and positively cute sugar gliders and crested geckos are not even dangerous for infants, let alone adult, sensible pet owners.

Animal rights activist, Martin Scott, said ""Most exotic pets are low-maintenance ― at least in comparison to dogs and cats. Lizards, frogs, spiders, and even snakes require basic and cheap shelters, cheap food, and minimal veterinary care. An empty aquarium with a bit of bedding and a few rocks will do just fine. Some species may need some branches and live plants. So, they are perfect for the typical urban pet owner, who can easily house these animals in an average apartment. On the flip side, though, these pets won’t be as affectionate as dogs. They will recognize you and tolerate your handling, and a few may go so far as seeking out your attention.""

Marla Pennington, professor of economics, University of British Columbia, supported the cause of rearing exotic animals. She said it is a tragedy that people think of a tiger or a cougar when they think of ’exotic animals’. She added, ""If we take the dangerous wild animals out of the equation, how many deaths do you think pet lizards, frogs, snakes (including the scarily named boa constrictor and the much-maligned African rock python), spiders (including poisonous spiders) guinea pigs, wild cats, wallabies, etc., have caused? In Canada, at least, the total is much less than the number of fatal attacks by dogs! That’s right; your neighbour’s Doberman Pinscher is likelier to come at you than your creepy neighbour’s boa constrictor.""

Jamie Lawson, a budding entrepreneur from Ottawa, condemned the idea. He explained, ""Though this is rare, exotic animals may act as vectors to diseases that can start an epidemic in their introduced locality. Thanks to the inability of many pathogens to cross species barriers, this problem has a natural, but partial remedy. However, diseases such as hepatitis A and B, rabies, and salmonella are some commonly observable diseases that can be transmitted by exotic reptiles and mammals.""

Zoology student, Zhang Li, Edmonton University, condemned those who favoured keeping exotic animals as pets. She said that the wild populations of some exotic pets are severely affected by the pet trade. Due to this, bans have been imposed on the trade of numerous animals, but the illegal pet trade continues to fester in many wildlife-rich regions of the world. Animals such as big cats (none of which is in rude health at the moment) and many primates need all the help we can provide for their wild populations to flourish. The illegal pet trade is a big contributor to the reducing numbers of some species.