What is Canadian identity?

[inuvik]

The Australian thread gave me this idea, obviously.

The quick, cynical, and partly accurate answer would be "anything that is not American", especially in terms of culture.

When the rest of the world thinks of Canada, I think a few things come instantly to mind: the maple leaf, the Mounties, the beaver, and natural resources like trees and water, to name a few.

Many people here define themselves in relation to America, ie. how we are different from them, which is a shame.

I'll let others contribute now, but take a look at this. It may be a commercial, but it is very succinct and accurate! Everyone in Canada is familiar with Joe and the rant. It's a true part of our culture now. But as you can see, it takes the US as its reference point.

home7.swipnet.se/~w-72891/CanadianClub/CCsales/ad.html

[hoosier]

Where I could think of several things that define Australia for me, there were few that as readily define Canada. The Mounties (the old show Sargent Preston jumps to mind), Quebec and its problems, Anne of Green Gables, the great white north...

And this from someone whose gggrandfather was born in Quebec province.

[Kasman]

Tooks

Spirit bears

The Skytrain

[inuvik]

kasman said:

Tooks

Spirit bears

The Skytrain

Toques--LOL! Yup, we're hosers here eh.

[Kasman]

Yup, and I knew how to say toques but couldn't remember how to spell it. LOL.

[matilda]

Oh I am loving this. Internationalism at it best.

Before I went to Canada tks to family addition of brother-in-law from Kingston, Ontario- Anne of Green Gables, Dudley Do-right.

Now - living it up in summer and taking every advantage of hot weather, lake swimming (no worries re nasty things in water), LeBatts beer (spelling?), progressive politics, influence of Catholicism, french onion soup, big stacks of pancakes, my first ever sighting of a Gap store.

Just for starters.

[hoosier]

Sheesh, the most obvious one--hockey! I'm sure not every Canadian plays hockey just like not every Hoosier was born with a basketball in their hands!

And how about the Calgary Stampede and, if I remember correctly, the McKenzie brothers?

[inuvik]

hoosier said:

Sheesh, the most obvious one--hockey! I'm sure not every Canadian plays hockey just like not every Hoosier was born with a basketball in their hands!

And how about the Calgary Stampede and, if I remember correctly, the McKenzie brothers?

We may not all play, but most of us sure love it! This board is the perfect example of that--BJO, LL, and I all like hockey.

And karma for the Stampede mention--the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth! Y'all gotta come to that now, y'hear?

The Cowboy Nickname Generator in another thread is from the Stampede's website.

Matilda, I'm mystified. What do you mean by the influence of Catholicism?

[Kasman]

A double double at Timmy's! ;D

(And actually, I would never drink my coffee that way - long unsweetened and black for me).

[matilda]

Innie, I was suprised when I got there, coming from Aus which is such a Catholic country (of the Irish variety in the first instance but mid-last century some changes with different immigration patterns), how Catholic and familiar the place was. It's hard to describe - I just hadn't thought of your place as such before going there.

Eg the prominence of the cathedral in Montreal - here in Sydney, the Catholics competed with the Anglicans and of course the Catholic Cathedral, St Mary's, is bigger, better and in a much more prominent spot in the CBD, or, as we call it, town, than the Anglican one.

Happy to have PM convo with you about this if you'd like.

Cheers

Matilda

[Kasman]

matilda said:

Innie, I was suprised when I got there, coming from Aus which is such a Catholic country (of the Irish variety in the first instance but mid-last century some changes with different immigration patterns), how Catholic and familiar the place was. It's hard to describe - I just hadn't thought of your place as such before going there.

Eg the prominence of the cathedral in Montreal - here in Sydney, the Catholics competed with the Anglicans and of course the Catholic Cathedral, St Mary's, is bigger, better and in a much more prominent spot in the CBD, or, as we call it, town, than the Anglican one.

Happy to have PM convo with you about this if you'd like.

Cheers

Matilda

Only church I've been inside of in Canada was the Anglican Cathedral in New Westminster (across the road from where a friend of mine lives). I've also walked around the outside of St Andrews Wesley in Vancouver.

I suspect the Catholicism probably depends on where you are at the time, lol.

[inuvik]

kasman said:

matilda said:

Innie, I was suprised when I got there, coming from Aus which is such a Catholic country (of the Irish variety in the first instance but mid-last century some changes with different immigration patterns), how Catholic and familiar the place was. It's hard to describe - I just hadn't thought of your place as such before going there.

Eg the prominence of the cathedral in Montreal - here in Sydney, the Catholics competed with the Anglicans and of course the Catholic Cathedral, St Mary's, is bigger, better and in a much more prominent spot in the CBD, or, as we call it, town, than the Anglican one.

Happy to have PM convo with you about this if you'd like.

Cheers

Matilda

Only church I've been inside of in Canada was the Anglican Cathedral in New Westminster (across the road from where a friend of mine lives). I've also walked around the outside of St Andrews Wesley in Vancouver.

I suspect the Catholicism probably depends on where you are at the time, lol.

It hasn't ever struck me as a particularly Catholic country, but I'm sure Kasman is right. Victoria, BC, due to the English influence, has lots of Anglicans. And I'm sure Quebec, because of the French, has more Catholics.

[matilda]

And I've never gotten over your way Innie, silly really as it's kinda up the road, so to speak. Fully intend to next time.

So I suppose it would depend on where you are, same as here. Depends on who colonised and when really.

Cheers

Matilda

[Kasman]

matilda said:

Innie, I was suprised when I got there, coming from Aus which is such a Catholic country (of the Irish variety in the first instance but mid-last century some changes with different immigration patterns), how Catholic and familiar the place was. It's hard to describe - I just hadn't thought of your place as such before going there.

Eg the prominence of the cathedral in Montreal - here in Sydney, the Catholics competed with the Anglicans and of course the Catholic Cathedral, St Mary's, is bigger, better and in a much more prominent spot in the CBD, or, as we call it, town, than the Anglican one.

Happy to have PM convo with you about this if you'd like.

Cheers

Matilda

Not sure you could call Australia such a Catholic country, really. Not when you clump Anglican and Other Christian compared to Catholic. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, here's how it goes: Australian religion

Anyway, I'm an Anglican who attended a Catholic high school, which totally beat the religion out of me! ;D

It is in the field of education where the Catholic system has a definite monopoly. They hold a monopoly on private school education simply because it is affordable to the general masses - something the Anglicans can't say.

Anyway, not interested in a religious fight. I will say, however, that the Anglican church in Camden, NSW, has the best piece of land in town, lol. I've not been inside, but it's on the very top of a ridge that would give 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside.

[inuvik]

From the e-mail joke file:


Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about
Canooks.


If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May,
you may live in Canada.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they
don't work there, you may live in Canada.

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Canada Got me!

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Canada

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Muncie for the weekend, you may live in Canada Not sure where this is!

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada for sure, totally got me on this one!

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back
again, you may live in Canada Absolutely!

If you can drive 90 kms/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave
both unlocked, you may live in Canada

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use
them, you may live in Canada

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
you may live in Canada yuppers, that was me as a kid!

If the speed limit on the highway is 80km -- you're going 90 and
everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow, you may live in Canada haha!

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and
road construction, you may live in Canada Bang on there

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Canada.

If you find 2 degrees 'a little chilly', you may live in Canada

If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all
your Canadian friends & others, you definitely live in Canada