Stuart Wachowicz

In 1786, a 16-year-old apprentice took part in his first trip to the vast, little-known interior of northwestern North America. The young man was David Thompson. This year is the 230th anniversary of the start of a fateful journey that would result in the shaping of western Canada and the mapping of its border with the United States. Yet within the story of Thompson's journey lies another tale that should encourage and inspire.

Canada, by many international measures, is frequently lauded as one of the best places in the world to live. Reports cite good prospects in employment, education, medical care and lifestyle, all within borders that are spacious and attractive. Despite these many advantages, a high percentage of the population seeks escape in the use of mind-altering drugs. The most widely used illegal substance here is cannabis, or marijuana.

On the rolling Saskatchewan prairie, about 70 miles east of the city of Saskatoon, sits the pleasant community of Humboldt, population: 6,000. It was here that in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a remarkable scientist conducted an equally remarkable experiment, the results of which have impacted many communities around the world.

In Kingston, Ontario, at the old Cataraqui Cemetery, one could miss an unpretentious granite marker engraved with a simple inscription: John Alexander MacDonald, 1815–1891, At Rest.

North of the city of Victoria, on Vancouver Island, a famous landmark tells a story of transformation and hard work, showing how even in this troubled world, mankind is capable of amazing achievements.