Feelings on October 4

Earlier this summer, I received an email from Ontario Northland, regarding their new, onboard entertainment system. Having taken the bus from my parents home in Sault Ste. Marie, to my then home in Mississauga just prior to the start of the pandemic, I apparently am on the mailing list for updates from the company. Living in St. Catharines as I now do, I likely won’t be riding the bus up north any time soon, however, as the area is a place for which I have both a personal connection and an interest, I don’t mind receiving updates.

It’s worth noting, that Greyhound Bus Canada no longer exists. The American Greyhound Bus still operates however and, while there are a few station stops here in Canada, they are all close to the border. Gone are the days of taking the Greyhound from Toronto to the Soo (short for Sault Ste. Marie) and beyond, to the Western part of the country. Ontario Northland, however, is basically the same as Greyhound and so that’s fine with me. I believe it’s important for people to have access to affordable transportation across the country. Myself, I’ve taken the bus many times.

The item I want to share has been on my mind ever since I received the email from Ontario Northland and I thought that today being October 4, the forty-first anniversary of the death of Glenn Gould, a blog post of this nature would be fitting. I know that I don’t post here as often as I used to, as I am busy with piano-related things (namely my YouTube channel) however, every so often I get the urge to share something that, to me anyway, is special.

The email from Ontario Northland began with the phrase:

“Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride with Ontario Northland’s NEW Wi-Fi & ON Board Entertainment System.”

Amused by the fact that the beautiful scenery itself wouldn’t be reason enough to sit back and enjoy the ride, I admitted that I could see how, given the loss of Greyhound Canada, the added perks of an onboard Wi-Fi entertainment system could attract business. I read on.

“ON Board Wi-Fi is Ontario Northland’s all-in-one, free internet connection and premium on board entertainment portal, that now offers passengers access to a suite of movies, tv shows, podcasts and more while traveling.”

The email then explained how to connect to the onboard Wi-Fi, along with a link for more information.

Now, if you’re not familiar with Ontario Northland or, for that matter, the former Greyhound Canada bus route, you’ll want to click on the link below for a map of the stations serviced by Ontario Northland. For those of us interested in Glenn, we know that he greatly adored the area along Highway 17, in northern Ontario, specifically the stretch between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa.

As I have family in Thunder Bay (a city further west), our family has driven the route many times and I can tell you that the scenery is beautiful and very rugged. The rock of the Canadian Shield to one side and the shores of Lake Superior on the other, mixed with snake-like stretches of highway and very little in the way of rest stops, can make for literal gasps as one travels. I can appreciate how a city person such as Glenn, could be captivated and inspired by this moody and solitary place. His trips to the town of Wawa, in particular, provided the source for some of his best work.

The photo below, is a screen shot taken from Ontario Northland’s website. It shows the bus routes through northern Ontario and beyond. You can also view the photo here.

Above: Ontario Northland WiFi Service Area (via https://ontarionorthland.ca/en/service-map)

What you will notice from the photo, is that the WiFi Service Area aboard Ontario Northland (as indicated by the dark blue patches) is quite extensive except for a certain stretch of highway.

Concluding the email is the phrase:

“Please note, there are some areas on select routes where Wi-Fi coverage is not available. Please visit ontarionorthland.ca for details.”

Therein lies the reason for this blog post. In an age of increasing technology, AI (artificial intelligence), robots, smart home devices and, no doubt, much more than a simple classical pianist can comprehend, I am struck by the fact that Glenn’s favourite stretch of highway still remains so remote and isolated, rugged and thickly forested, that WiFi cannot be offered.

I remember moving to Regina, Saskatchewan back in 2012 and checking my phone while en route along the Trans Canada Highway. Along that solitary stretch of highway, not even a text or phone call could be made, let alone access WiFi. It’s as if mother nature is forcing us to confront ourselves for an hour or two.

There’s something very spiritual about it and I mean that in the most non-religious way. It’s very special and while I’m sure that technology will eventually catch up to mother nature and be able to offer WiFi on that beloved stretch of Highway 17, a part of me doesn’t mind waiting.