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Its incredible how many places in Canada were actually named after Canadian Native Aboriginal Indian words or names. Everything from provinces, cities, towns, rivers, lakes and even the country itself have been named after Native Aboriginal Indian terms.

A partial list of some well known places in Canada and their Native Aboriginal Indian meanings are below.

Athabasca Lake: from the Cree word meaning where there are reeds

Canada: from Wendat Huron word meaning village or settlement

Chilliwack: from Halqemeylem word meaning going back up

Coquitlam: from Salish word meaning small red salmon or place of stinking fish

Etobicoke: from Ojibwa word meaning the place where the alders grow

Iqaluit: from Inuktituk word meaning fish

Kelowna: from Okanagan word meaning grizzly bear

Klondike River: from Han word meaning hammer used to fix fishing nets

Manitoulin Island: from Ojibwe word meaning spirit island

Ontario: from Huron word meaning beautiful lake

Ottawa: from Algonquin word meaning to buy

Penticton: from Okanagan word meaning place to stay forever

Quebec: from Algonquin word meaning narrow passage or strait

Saskatchewan: from Cree word meaning swift flowing river

Saskatoon: from Cree meaning berry fruit

Toronto: from Huron word meaning place of meeting

Winnipeg: from Cree word meaning dirty or murky water

Tuktoyaktuk: from Inuvialuktun word meaning resembling a caribou

Of course, there are many other examples. So next time you look at a name of a city, town, village, province, lake, mountain or region, it just might have come from a Native Aboriginal Indian word. A Native Aboriginal Indian tribe living in the region may have very well influenced the name of the place.

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in Inuit art and Native American Indian art. including carvings and prints. Also numerous information articles and videos.

The decision to employ a contractor for a home improvement job, room addition, or home repair might not always be an easy one to make. Sometimes, however, it is absolutely necessary to call a professional to handle a job you are unable to do yourself. If you are ready to renovate a bathroom or remodel a kitchen, you want the best person for the job, quality worksmanship at a reasonable priced. Nobody wants to be scammed out of good money for a poor job, but unfortunately it does happen.

Oftentimes, older people are preyed upon in home improvement scams. Taking advantage of a senior citizen's tight budget, a scam artist may try to double-talk a homeowner into expensive, unneeded repairs, then take the money and run. If any work is done on the home, more than likely it isn't enough to justify the payment, and also the work may be shoddy and leave the house in worse condition than it was. Such scams are not always perpetrated on older homeowners, however. Therefore, it is important to know what signs to look for so you don't become ensnared in a fraudulent remodeling job.

What to Look For in a Home Improvement Scam

One possible sign of a con-artist contractor is the approach. If a contractor approaches you for home improvement work unbidden, be warned, especially if he or she is aggressive. Don't let anyone talk you into repairs or additions you feel your home doesn't need, and do not allow anyone to come off the street into your home for a "free estimate." This could actually be a way for somebody to case your home for a future robbery. Even if this person claims to have done work in your area you will want to be on guard. Many contractors find work through customer referrals, so if you are in need of home repairs it is best to get referrals from trusted sources like friends and family.

Be mindful, too, of contracts and payment. If a contractor wants cash up front, or is reluctant to agree to certain terms on a contract, that is usually a red flag. If financing is needed and a contractor insists upon your using his or her referral, that could be another sign. It is not uncommon for unscrupulous contractors to receive kickbacks from creditors they bring into a job. If you need financing, go through your own bank or resource.

Does your contractor have a physical address and phone number, or work primarily through a PO box? This could be another sign of dubious intent. You want to be certain the contractor you choose can easily be found, and is properly licensed and insured. You may wish to avoid anyone who refuses to provide such information.

Be aware of anyone and everyone you approach with a possible home improvement job. Take care to explore recommendations of people you trust and examples of work by potential contractors, and know your legalese before committing a signature to any contract. This is the best way to ensure a job well done without any problems

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer who has contributed to Chesapeake Remodel, Virginia Beach home improvement, and for Platinum Steel, distributor of steel building kits for commercial and aviation enterprises.