A couple who calls themselves 鈥淗eritage Minute nerds鈥� are mid-way through a cross-Canada tour to see locations connected to the famous 60-second vignettes.
Librarian Rebecca Bartlett and software designer Jim Ellwood started the journey from their home in Ottawa about a year and a half ago. The idea was rooted in nostalgia.
鈥淲e both grew up watching them on TV so they鈥檙e absolutely part of our childhood,鈥� Ellwood told 麻豆影视. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 like, how hard would it be to go to a place for each and every minute?鈥�
Since 1991, 86 of the minute-long segments have been produced. The videos shine a spotlight on notable figures and stories of Canadian history that aren鈥檛 always taught in school.
Philanthropist Charles Bronfman spearheaded the project after a national survey in 1986 found that almost one in four Canadians couldn鈥檛 identify a Canadian event or achievement that made them feel proud.
The segments, which are now produced by Historica Canada, include a profile of Terry Fox, the origins of Winnie the Pooh and the birth of basketball. Most recently, gay rights activist Jim Egan was honoured with his own Heritage Minute.
So far Bartlett and Ellwood have made a serious dent in the list. L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland 鈥� home to an 11th-century Viking settlement 鈥� was a major highlight.
On the Pacific coast, they鈥檝e trekked through the coastal wilderness that inspired Emily Carr鈥檚 lush landscapes.
In Edmonton, the couple visited the home of women鈥檚 rights activist Emily Murphy, who led a successful campaign to have women designated as 鈥減ersons鈥� by British law.
Much of the trek has been done by car, and the couple says it hasn鈥檛 always been easy.
鈥淭his has been wonderful. It鈥檚 an excellent way to see Canada. But it鈥檚 hard work driving across Canada,鈥� Ellwood said.
They plan to wrap their journey back home in Ottawa in September with a party.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Alberta Bureau Chief Janet Dirks
