TORONTO – Try searching for Canada Day in Apple’s App Store, the Google Play marketplace or BlackBerry World and the results at first blush are pretty woeful.
There are a few official apps for public Canada Day celebrations and some poorly slapped together collections of Canadian facts that don’t inspire much exploration.
But dig a little deeper and there are some useful apps to celebrate during the long weekend or bone up on some Canadiana.
The official apps
The Canada Day in the Capital app, available for Apple and Android devices and BlackBerrys, is a guide to the big festivities in Ottawa, which include an appearance by astronaut Chris Hadfield and performances by Carly Rae Jepsen, Metric and Terri Clark. There are similar apps for public parties in Kanata, Ont., and Calgary. Given the flood recovery efforts in Calgary, official websites might be a better source of up-to-date information on public events still going forward.
Canadian history
The Canadian government has a free iPhone app exploring the history of the War of 1812, as does the PBS station WNED, which aired a TV documentary on the subject; (that app is also available for Android devices).
Renegade Arts Entertainment and the National Film Board of Canada partnered on a War of 1812 app (for Apple and Android devices) that tells the story of the years-long fight in graphic novel format.
The iPad app Canada 1812: Forged in Fire takes a similar approach by using comic book-style storytelling to recreate the war’s events.
The Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies also has an Apple app called Canadian Military History.
Apps for enjoying the long weekend
Parks Canada has a pair of handy apps for taking your party outdoors and eating well, which are available for Apple and Android devices and BlackBerrys. The Learn to Camp app has some tips for newbie campers on what to pack, how to start a fire, and checklists so you don’t forget anything at home.
The Heritage Gourmet app has more than 70 recipes that represent traditional Canadian cuisine from across the country. You can search the app by ingredient, course, time period or region.
Your best bet for streaming some Canadian tunes is the free CBC Music app, available for Apple and Android devices and BlackBerrys, which is bound to be highlighting homegrown content.
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