Great forces of the ice ages have compressed and blended all kinds of accumulated rock into colourful patterns. The original and the blended rock of the Canadian Shield forms a great mass of rock. That rock in large part defines Canada.

Rock has a lot to tell us. It is wise in many ways. It is the body of the earth; its cavern contains molten fire; its depressions hold oceans. It spins in space lightly tethered to the sun and the galaxy and the universe. Acknowledging the rock beneath our feet is to look into our soul.