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What is Canadian culture, anyway?
Posts
I'm not a lumberjack,
or a fur trader...
and I don't live in an igloo
or eat blubber, or own a dogsled...
and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
although I'm certain they're really, really nice.
I have a Prime Minister,
not a President.
I speak English and French,
NOT American.
and I pronouce it ABOUT,
NOT A BOOT.
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, NOT policing.
DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation,
AND THAT THE BEAVER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL.
A TOQUE IS A HAT,
A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH,
AND IT IS PRONOUCED 'ZED' NOT 'ZEE', 'ZED'!
CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS!
THE FIRST NATION OF HOCKEY!
AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA!
MY NAME IS JOE!
AND I AM CANADIAN!
Canadian culture at least in the parts of the country that matter (Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto) a lot about ethnic and cultural diversity; we let large amounts of immigrants in (who although highly qualified, end up working at low end. GO CANADA ! That really is something we should fix.)
Personally I think diversity is great as long as there aren't too many 1st or 2nd generation immigrants at any given time; chinese kid in my school tried to argue in English that Winston in the end "won" in Nineteen Eighty-Four because he ended up happy, and earlier when I had been talking to him had stated that he thought the problems with the Tianenmen square "event" were the faults of the protesting students. He's a great guy though.
Just I don't think a lot of voters like him would be a good thing.
EDIT: and Us and Them complexes are totally EEEEVIL.
Prot3us: Seriously? Whereabouts in the U.S.? My precious national identity is being shattered. Our news TV is not as fucked up as the U.S. (<--- undeniable), we don't have as many crazy fundies and rednecks, and we're at least a slightly more tolerant society. I hope.
2nd EDIT: OH YA: AND WE HAVE FREE HEALTHCARE.
Oh snap. That last one is the reason Canada is ftw.
Re: Canadian Culture
It really depends on what part of Canada you're talking about. It's a very large country with the majority of its population concentrated in small geographical pockets all over the land. The population is made up of dozens of different ethnicities, each with their own communities and groups which have been around for varying amounts of time. It's pretty difficult to sum up the country's culture as a whole. An easier task would be to focus in on individual cities and the various communities therein.
But this is also very true: My boyfriend's comment when he was driving down from Ontario to Florida earlier this year was that the only really noticeable differences once he crossed the border were that ESPN showed a lot less hockey and the weather was nicer.
And when I move up there, I'm sure there'll be a shock from the weather and some of the other cultural differences, but I fully expect the main things I'm going to have the hardest time dealing with are a) Dr. Pepper not being available everywhere, b) no good Mexican food, c) losing my current cable lineup (you all have more channels, but somehow they have much less stuff on them).
Re Canadian food:
- When I lived in Denver, there was a period for a year or so when they sold All-Dressed chips (with some different name) and I totally got hooked.
- You all have Kinder Eggs (along with most of the rest of the world if the many, many languages on the "Don't eat the plastic bits, you dumbass" slip is to be believed) and this pleases me greatly. The first time I visited Canada, it was shortly after some holiday, and I was able to purchase a Kinder Egg the size of a child's head. I think it took me the duration of the trip to finish the chocolate. The toy, of course, was assembled immediately.
- I do not understand your obsession with cake donuts.
Seriously though, the only part of Canada I'm at all familiar with is B.C, and that always just seemed like a more laid back Washington state.
I noticed a lot less of them in the Prairies though, compared to Ontario. I guess thats cause a "town" there is like 4 houses next to the highway.
And really, cake doughnuts are so much better than the normal kind.
I heard Winnipeg has a ridiculously high crime rate, how much truth is there in that?
My buddy told me he went there and the people he was staying with don't even lock their car doors anymore, so that they wont have to pay for new windows all the time.
I find there is no equivelant establishment in the US with such a perfect selection of tasty sandwiches and donuts for the hungry traveller. I always hit the one north of the Blaine border crossing when I'm headed back the States.
I hear the same things about crime, and it could likely be true. Apparently gangs are a huge problem there... like, it's mostly Native gangs, but that's to be expected with the number we have on the Prairies and their general living conditions. But yeah, street gangs are supposed to be huge problems, so crime should also be a problem.
I know Regina was the car-theft capital of Canada for a number of years running. I think last year they finally shook off that title, but it's still bad.
Man I found it pretty funny when Tim Hortons was barred from putting an establishment in my neighborhood because it would reflect negatively on the community. Something so often defined as a Canadian staple being viewed as a neighborhood embarrassment is pretty ironic.
But you really need to look at the individual provinces. We have Québec which has the only French Parliament in NA, the Prairies, BC, Ontario, NS/NB, PEI and Newfoundland.
Newfoundlanders have a totally different culture than Québec which has a totally different culture than BC.
And then in most provinces we have different populations of foreign cultures.
Well, that and the fact that they are everywhere in Canada. Could have something to do with that.
- You're very nice. Polite. I always snickered when I smacked into someone while in a rush at the supermarket and was apologised to. Being a rude Australian I'd be happy to bump around in everyone's public spaces without so much as a word edgeways, but my Canuck girlfriend thought that was terrible.
- You love your public holidays. Perhaps this is a reflection of a general athleticism (especially in Vancouver), but every long weekend between April and September saw the city deserted for greener pastures.
- You're very multicultural and in a very different way to the States - Canada is not so much of a melting pot, it fosters unique cultures, I think. This could be one of the reason a single 'Canadian' culture is so hard to pin down.
- Hockey, Zuchinni Sticks
- There's a strong First Nations acknowledgement and that's great - it leads to a lot of native imagery and a kind of pride, if not pride, at least understanding about the original inhabitants.
- The left-wing government leads to a general understanding of public welfare, I think, which is a really good thing. You're proud of supporting the people who can't always support themselves.
Canada's official policy of multiculturalism is something I find vaguely irritating, but it most definitely makes the nation more livable.
In Toronto at least, I see this lovely integration all over the place-- and yes, that means signs in other languages in addition to English. People of a certain culture don't just stick to one area, they go all over the place (I marvel at how Chinatown is now increasingly a place people of all cultures go to).
Expecting people to drop their cultures, their languages and customs is quite racist and frankly unachievable. Actually 'integrating' means some changes on account of the majority culture too. (And that blendedness is what I think is Canadian. <3)
There's also a lot of denial about various atrocities committed on First Nations people and lots of negative stereotyping.
But aside from influences from the colder climate, our differing immigration populations, and the differing colonial and settler histories resulting in maybe a more moderate Canada overall, I think the enormous influence of American popular culture on that of Canada's and the fact that Canada has had less time as a truly independent nation to foster it's own unique identity, has made it hard to distinguish the two.
At the end of the day, all I know is that when I go to Seattle from Vancouver -- for two cities that for all intents in purposes could be practically indentical had they been in the same country -- the differences are very palpable, and they go beyond the color of the money
I'm sure there is. But coming from a country where our native inhabitants are to this day treated horribly and disadvantaged by the government, and given almost no respect by mainstream culture other than what we can pawn off as a tool for snaring tourists, I thought Canada's treatment of its native culture was quite admirable. Obviously I'm an outsider though so I don't see everything.
(Not to mention the atrocious racism to be found in the Anglo-Australian culture towards Aboriginies)
or a terrorist
I don't like Celine Dion or Shania Twain
But I'm glad they're getting rich
and though I do know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
but they aren't as nice as you'd think.
I'm ruled by a rich, white prime minister
Not a rich, white president
I don't know French
but I can converse fluently in American
And I pronounce it "aboot",
not a big shoe.
I can proudly sow my country's flag on my backpack,
because even though we are just as guilty as anyone else for the fate of the 3rd world,
everyone blames America!
When I'm at home, I realize I had better not protest deforestation or fascist dictators
without risking a face full of pepper spray and a criminal record!
I believe in peacekeeping,
even if it means killing Somali teenagers for fun!
I believe in turning back boatloads of Chinese immigrants,
a failing healthcare system,
and late night cable porn disguised as art!
And that the beaver is a truly proud and beautiful part of a woman's body!
I believe the French should whine about everything,
the English should apologize,
and that it is pronounced "zed"
not "zee"
"zed"
because that's how the Queen of England told us to pronounce it!
Canada is the second largest landmass in the world
The second nation in hockey!
And the best part of the northern third of North America!
My name is Joe!
and until we are annexed by the States
I AM CANADIAN!
-- Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie
SE++ Forum Battle Archive | PST = Pacific Standard Time | DRUNKSTUCK: A Homestuck recap
Not that it's a bad thing. Stars, Arcade Fire, etc. are fantastic bands.
Plus you guys gave us Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Mike Myers, Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Perry, etc.... and hey, we all love comedy!
XBL: QuazarX
It amazes me, actually, how many really successful comedians who end up touring around south of the border, were born in Canada.
That's another thing that identifies Canadian culture: the brain drain.
Thats awesome.
Also, Tim Hortons ROCKS.
Actually Robin Williams was born in Chicago. But yeah Hollywood is nothing but Jews and Canucks
I never finish anyth
Is Canada really the second largest landmass? Antarctica ... hell, all the continents have it beat.
I agree with this guy.
Yeah, Winnipeg is pretty awful. Apparently we have the highest murder rate in Canada, and the funny thing is we're one of the smallest capital cities.
The area I live in is not too bad, I mean I can walk down the streets of my community without fear of getting mugged or beaten. The north area of Winnipeg however is horrible, you'd either have to be insane or have some sort of deathwish to walk out there alone at night.
Escape will make me god"
-Durandal
The impression I've gotten from the news is that this is a new thing (within 3 years or so)
Is that true? I honestly have a hard time imagining any Canadian city as "dangerous"
I've had to put up with that over here to. Damn Brits and Canucks teachin' the Japanese kids to sing the alphabet song with "zed" at the end.
"zee" ryhmes with "V" and is thus clearly superior.
East Hastings, man. Vancouver's own little slice of a third-world barrio.