God bless you, Mr. McGee: Thomas D'Arcy McGee, 1813-1868 (two)

These photographs were taken last November 2012 (I'll be at McGee's mausoleum today); this is the 145th anniversary of the assasination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the fathers of Canadian confederation and someone, more than most others, who helped form our idea of modern Canada. His vision was of a tolerant and welcoming country, a place where people would leave behind the prejudices of the countries from which they came.

Above, a plaster heart someone made and left hanging on the door to McGee's mausoleum. He has become a folk hero and his life mythologized.