About to become Canadian! What should we know?
May 26, 2017 6:25 AM Subscribe
Spouse and I are scheduled to swear the Canadian citizenship oath next week. What should we know about life as Canadians that we might not have picked up in a decade living and working in urban Canada?
We are U.S. citizens by birth and intend to keep our U.S. citizenship (all our family is back in the States). We've lived and worked in Canada for a little over a decade, filed Canadian taxes, travelled to the U.S. and overseas on our U.S. passports, and have been permanent residents of Canada for several years. We studied the study guide for the citizenship test, so we know the basics of Canadian history, geography, and governance (besides what we've picked up from friends and co-workers), but obviously we've never voted in Canada. We follow the news (mostly CBC) and are on the email list of our ward's city councillor. We spell councillor with two l's and enrol with one. We already know that we'll need Canadian passports to re-enter Canada once we are dual citizens. Is there anything fascinating, worrying, annoying, or surprising that we should be aware of?
We are U.S. citizens by birth and intend to keep our U.S. citizenship (all our family is back in the States). We've lived and worked in Canada for a little over a decade, filed Canadian taxes, travelled to the U.S. and overseas on our U.S. passports, and have been permanent residents of Canada for several years. We studied the study guide for the citizenship test, so we know the basics of Canadian history, geography, and governance (besides what we've picked up from friends and co-workers), but obviously we've never voted in Canada. We follow the news (mostly CBC) and are on the email list of our ward's city councillor. We spell councillor with two l's and enrol with one. We already know that we'll need Canadian passports to re-enter Canada once we are dual citizens. Is there anything fascinating, worrying, annoying, or surprising that we should be aware of?
You need to publicly hate Nickleback but then secretly sing along to their songs in the car when no one knows and then hate yourself for it.
Source: lifelong Canadian.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:33 AM on May 26, 2017 [27 favorites]
Source: lifelong Canadian.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:33 AM on May 26, 2017 [27 favorites]
Watching the World Juniors (hockey) religiously?
posted by kevinbelt at 6:35 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by kevinbelt at 6:35 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
You also need to memorize all the original Canadian Heritage Moments (the original ones from the early 90s) and be able to quote from them. Seriously. These things get mentioned or referenced insanely frequently.
If you don't know what the following phrases mean, you have some work to do:
- Dr. Penfield, I smell burnt toast!
- But I need those baskets back!
- Now the people will know we were here.
- [frantic tapping] I HAVE TO STOP THE TRAIN!
- Both of you know I canna read a word.
- We have to keep our Irish names!
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:41 AM on May 26, 2017 [43 favorites]
If you don't know what the following phrases mean, you have some work to do:
- Dr. Penfield, I smell burnt toast!
- But I need those baskets back!
- Now the people will know we were here.
- [frantic tapping] I HAVE TO STOP THE TRAIN!
- Both of you know I canna read a word.
- We have to keep our Irish names!
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:41 AM on May 26, 2017 [43 favorites]
I guess the most important thing is that, anytime that anyone mentions someone who has been successful at anything outside of Canada and happens to be Canadian, you are required to say out loud "They're Canadian, you know".
posted by joelhunt at 6:45 AM on May 26, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by joelhunt at 6:45 AM on May 26, 2017 [43 favorites]
If you've not already discovered the massive chip on our collective shoulder related to not having an articulable national identity other than "not being American", and our alternating admiration and resentment of Americans, there's that.
Also, there is a wildly biased devotion to our form of single payer health care (because that's the big thing we have over the US, it makes us us, along with Tim Hortons and hockey), and it's impermeable to criticism regardless of how inadequate, dysfunctional, or broke it is. Make any kind of suggestion for improvement and you'll get *howling*, it's taboo, just don't go there.
I'm no authority on rural Canada, but all signs point to it being incredibly different in style and values from life in the major cities. I think that's one of the biggest divides we've got.
Some people really believe Toronto is like New York in ways other than having a distorted housing market.
(I imagine none of that's surprising, though.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:45 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, there is a wildly biased devotion to our form of single payer health care (because that's the big thing we have over the US, it makes us us, along with Tim Hortons and hockey), and it's impermeable to criticism regardless of how inadequate, dysfunctional, or broke it is. Make any kind of suggestion for improvement and you'll get *howling*, it's taboo, just don't go there.
I'm no authority on rural Canada, but all signs point to it being incredibly different in style and values from life in the major cities. I think that's one of the biggest divides we've got.
Some people really believe Toronto is like New York in ways other than having a distorted housing market.
(I imagine none of that's surprising, though.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:45 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, have you memorized The Logjammer's Waltz?
posted by joelhunt at 6:46 AM on May 26, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by joelhunt at 6:46 AM on May 26, 2017 [9 favorites]
Best answer: Voting municipally is more complicated than voting provincially or federally. Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the federal and provincial ballots. For municipal elections, you'll need to look up your school trustee and it's rather difficult to get good information. You should also be aware of your member of parliament and member of provincial parliament/legislative assembly for federal and provincial elections.
posted by TORunner at 6:46 AM on May 26, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by TORunner at 6:46 AM on May 26, 2017 [5 favorites]
Sorry to bring it up, but have you reflexively apologised to an inanimate object yet?
Welcome, friends.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 6:46 AM on May 26, 2017 [17 favorites]
Welcome, friends.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 6:46 AM on May 26, 2017 [17 favorites]
Oh, and you aren't a REAL Canadian until you purchase something from Canadian Tire using ONLY Canadian Tire money (usually very crumpled that you found after search through every drawer in your house).
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:49 AM on May 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 6:49 AM on May 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also, you don't need to follow hockey, but you should be aware of terms like hat trick and five-hole.
posted by TORunner at 6:55 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by TORunner at 6:55 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
I don't think it's true that you'll need a Canadian passport as US citizen; see here for more. (Please correct me if I've misinterpreted, though!)
Exception: If you are an American-Canadian dual citizen with a valid U.S. passport, you don’t need a Canadian passport to fly to Canada. However, you will still need to carry proper identification and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada.
posted by cider at 7:16 AM on May 26, 2017
Exception: If you are an American-Canadian dual citizen with a valid U.S. passport, you don’t need a Canadian passport to fly to Canada. However, you will still need to carry proper identification and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada.
posted by cider at 7:16 AM on May 26, 2017
Best answer: Canada is big, and there may be quirks particular to your corner of it that don't apply to the entire country. If you're living in or near Toronto, be aware of the tendency for its residents to think that what applies to them applies to all of Canada. (Like saying "eh".) You may be surprised to find that provinces have quite different political styles and ways of doing things.
For example, TORunner's point about municipal elections and school trustees applies there. It would not apply in Montreal, where school board elections are completely separate from municipal ones; I don't know how it applies in other cities.
posted by zadcat at 7:20 AM on May 26, 2017 [5 favorites]
For example, TORunner's point about municipal elections and school trustees applies there. It would not apply in Montreal, where school board elections are completely separate from municipal ones; I don't know how it applies in other cities.
posted by zadcat at 7:20 AM on May 26, 2017 [5 favorites]
When I became Canadian I was VERY surprised by how emotional the ceremony made me feel. It was a joyous moment, please savour it!
Apart from that, the only big thing that changed for me was it's MUCH easier for me to go to the States with a Canadian passport than a UK passport.... but you're already OK in that department!
posted by JenThePro at 7:25 AM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
Apart from that, the only big thing that changed for me was it's MUCH easier for me to go to the States with a Canadian passport than a UK passport.... but you're already OK in that department!
posted by JenThePro at 7:25 AM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
Many (most?) of us grew up watching National Film Board films, particularly the animated shorts (see: Logjammer's Waltz reference above).
https://www.nfb.ca
posted by Secret Sparrow at 7:58 AM on May 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
https://www.nfb.ca
posted by Secret Sparrow at 7:58 AM on May 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Canada is big, and there may be quirks particular to your corner of it that don't apply to the entire country.
This is very true. Canada doesn't have quite the variety of sub-culture regions as does the US, but it has enough diversity to surprise if you're not ready for it. Southern Ontario is its own thing, as is Vancouver or Edmonton. Beyond the strictly anglo cultures of most cities and the well-populated farm areas, most of which have close twins in the US, there are several that don't: Quebec, Newfoundland, Aboriginal populations and particularly the North. It can be really rewarding to explore those parts of the country, to meet Canadians who have these different ways of life and concerns, to really appreciate what we are. The anglo CBC is ok, and getting better with some of these (they've been doing more on the aboriginal fronts in the past two years), but it's still mostly the voice of urban protestant anglo culture.
Immigrant cultures, whom you probably see every day also form enclaves that are in a different mix than you may be used to. For instance, "latino" as an ethnic construct isn't widely used in Canada; we tend to group people by national origin: Chilean or Mexican, instead, for example. There are numerically more Chinese-origin Canadians than there are Chinese immigrants in the US entirely, followed closely by the SE Asian communities. We do have "Chinatowns" in some cities, but those are more historical and cultural markers now than the only neighbourhoods where Chinese immigrants live. Black history in Canada is also enormously different than the US, and that can lead to interactions that you might not expect. I'm certainly no expert on any of these things, but those are some points of departure to explore.
posted by bonehead at 8:00 AM on May 26, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is very true. Canada doesn't have quite the variety of sub-culture regions as does the US, but it has enough diversity to surprise if you're not ready for it. Southern Ontario is its own thing, as is Vancouver or Edmonton. Beyond the strictly anglo cultures of most cities and the well-populated farm areas, most of which have close twins in the US, there are several that don't: Quebec, Newfoundland, Aboriginal populations and particularly the North. It can be really rewarding to explore those parts of the country, to meet Canadians who have these different ways of life and concerns, to really appreciate what we are. The anglo CBC is ok, and getting better with some of these (they've been doing more on the aboriginal fronts in the past two years), but it's still mostly the voice of urban protestant anglo culture.
Immigrant cultures, whom you probably see every day also form enclaves that are in a different mix than you may be used to. For instance, "latino" as an ethnic construct isn't widely used in Canada; we tend to group people by national origin: Chilean or Mexican, instead, for example. There are numerically more Chinese-origin Canadians than there are Chinese immigrants in the US entirely, followed closely by the SE Asian communities. We do have "Chinatowns" in some cities, but those are more historical and cultural markers now than the only neighbourhoods where Chinese immigrants live. Black history in Canada is also enormously different than the US, and that can lead to interactions that you might not expect. I'm certainly no expert on any of these things, but those are some points of departure to explore.
posted by bonehead at 8:00 AM on May 26, 2017 [7 favorites]
Best answer: Since you're remaining dual, and paying taxes in Canada, be sure to keep up with your American tax filings saying so. There was (is) a bit of a hubbub about that a couple of years back, with long-resident American expats getting caught up in a bureaucratic mess for not having filed. Costs a fair bit to undo.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:31 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:31 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
"...in or near Toronto, be aware of the tendency for its residents to think that what applies to them applies to all of Canada."
And that, friends, is the one way that Toronto is actually exactly like New York.
posted by rokusan at 8:54 AM on May 26, 2017 [8 favorites]
And that, friends, is the one way that Toronto is actually exactly like New York.
posted by rokusan at 8:54 AM on May 26, 2017 [8 favorites]
Best answer: In addition to The Log Driver's Waltz, as mentioned above, see also Roch Carrier's The Sweater
Things you should know:
Knowing that lacrosse is actually our first national sport, and remained the only one for a long time. Hockey was declared our "winter" national sport in 1994.
We have a rich First Nations history and a shameful legacy of cultural genocide. Situations currently exist on Canadian First Nations that would constitute a full-blown federal state of emergency if they existed in white communities - take drinking water advisories (DWAs) as one example:
As of March 31 2017, in 89 First Nations communities south of the 60th parallel there were:
- 37 short-term DWAs, meaning there was a temporary water quality issue on a specific water system
- 100 long-term DWAs, meaning the advisory has been in place for more than a year
Anti-First Nations racism is widely acceptable in non-First Nations communities.
But.
There is a vibrant First Nations youth culture that is claiming its voice in the public sphere. Just to name a few people - there are many up-and-coming artists: Tanya Tagaq, Ryan McMahon, A Tribe Called Red. The racists who were joking around about the "appropriation prize" seemed rather caught off guard by this.
Read something by Thomson Highway or see one of his plays if you get a chance. Read something by Tom King (who was actually born in the US).
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:24 AM on May 26, 2017 [15 favorites]
Things you should know:
Knowing that lacrosse is actually our first national sport, and remained the only one for a long time. Hockey was declared our "winter" national sport in 1994.
We have a rich First Nations history and a shameful legacy of cultural genocide. Situations currently exist on Canadian First Nations that would constitute a full-blown federal state of emergency if they existed in white communities - take drinking water advisories (DWAs) as one example:
As of March 31 2017, in 89 First Nations communities south of the 60th parallel there were:
- 37 short-term DWAs, meaning there was a temporary water quality issue on a specific water system
- 100 long-term DWAs, meaning the advisory has been in place for more than a year
Anti-First Nations racism is widely acceptable in non-First Nations communities.
But.
There is a vibrant First Nations youth culture that is claiming its voice in the public sphere. Just to name a few people - there are many up-and-coming artists: Tanya Tagaq, Ryan McMahon, A Tribe Called Red. The racists who were joking around about the "appropriation prize" seemed rather caught off guard by this.
Read something by Thomson Highway or see one of his plays if you get a chance. Read something by Tom King (who was actually born in the US).
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:24 AM on May 26, 2017 [15 favorites]
Congrats! It's been more than ten years I did my ceremony.
Yeah, many Canadians are going through the documents of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission right now. Here's the interim report (PDF). Also, the historical document on residential schools, They Came for Our Children (PDF). For me, it's hard to understand Canada and envision our future without listening to those stories.
More resources here. And here are Six Indigenous writers to watch.
posted by TheGoodBlood at 9:52 AM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, many Canadians are going through the documents of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission right now. Here's the interim report (PDF). Also, the historical document on residential schools, They Came for Our Children (PDF). For me, it's hard to understand Canada and envision our future without listening to those stories.
More resources here. And here are Six Indigenous writers to watch.
posted by TheGoodBlood at 9:52 AM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
The age of majority is 18 in six provinces (AB, MB, ON, PEI, QC, SK) and the age of majority is 19 in four provinces and the three territories (BC, NB, NF, NWT, NS, NU, YT).
Also, if you see someone with their car stuck in the snow, push them, as one day you'll need someone to push your car out of the snow too.
posted by root of the root at 9:57 AM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also, if you see someone with their car stuck in the snow, push them, as one day you'll need someone to push your car out of the snow too.
posted by root of the root at 9:57 AM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
One thing unites all Canadians, east to west, urban and rural: Tim Horton's, specifically rolling up the rim to win. Expert-level rollers tear their rim-winnings off the cup and save them in a special compartment in their wallet.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 10:01 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 10:01 AM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Congratulations to you both on your impending citizenship!
I have to echo those above who have emphasized learning about First Nations/indigenous issues. The interactions between colonizers and First Peoples here have had profound impacts on the nation and continue to do so. I think one of the best things you can do as new Canadians is learn about the history and the current situation and just listen to indigenous voices as they tell us what they need (or don't need) for reconciliation, healing, and reparation.
This is especially important as we are heading into the peak of Canada 150, the Government of Canada's celebration of 150 years since Confederation. Many First Nations people feel there is nothing to celebrate in what is essentially 150 years of colonization, oppression through residential schools, the reserve system, and broken treaties.
I teach an intro level class about First Peoples; here are some of the resources I use:
Where are the Children?: interactive site that takes you through the history of residential schools. Lots of extremely moving/disturbing interviews with survivors. Warning: triggers for sexual and physical abuse.
CBC Indigenous: This page gathers all the news/stories about indigenous issues in one place.
The Unreserved Podcast with Rosanna Deerchild
APTN's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women archives
I agree with the person above who said you are well on your way by even asking this question. I remember my mother's citizenship ceremony even though I was very young--it was a moving moment for my family. Welcome, fellow Canadians!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:24 AM on May 26, 2017 [16 favorites]
I have to echo those above who have emphasized learning about First Nations/indigenous issues. The interactions between colonizers and First Peoples here have had profound impacts on the nation and continue to do so. I think one of the best things you can do as new Canadians is learn about the history and the current situation and just listen to indigenous voices as they tell us what they need (or don't need) for reconciliation, healing, and reparation.
This is especially important as we are heading into the peak of Canada 150, the Government of Canada's celebration of 150 years since Confederation. Many First Nations people feel there is nothing to celebrate in what is essentially 150 years of colonization, oppression through residential schools, the reserve system, and broken treaties.
I teach an intro level class about First Peoples; here are some of the resources I use:
Where are the Children?: interactive site that takes you through the history of residential schools. Lots of extremely moving/disturbing interviews with survivors. Warning: triggers for sexual and physical abuse.
CBC Indigenous: This page gathers all the news/stories about indigenous issues in one place.
The Unreserved Podcast with Rosanna Deerchild
APTN's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women archives
I agree with the person above who said you are well on your way by even asking this question. I remember my mother's citizenship ceremony even though I was very young--it was a moving moment for my family. Welcome, fellow Canadians!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:24 AM on May 26, 2017 [16 favorites]
If you're living in or near Toronto, be aware of the tendency for its residents to think that what applies to them applies to all of Canada. (Like saying "eh".) You may be surprised to find that provinces have quite different political styles and ways of doing things.
For example, TORunner's point about municipal elections and school trustees applies there. It would not apply in Montreal, where school board elections are completely separate from municipal ones; I don't know how it applies in other cities.
It's consistent across Ontario, which includes Hamilton, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo, etc. The Wikipedia article uses the word "usually" about school board being included in general with municipal elelctions in Canada.
That reminds me of another quirk. What is considered part or "Toronto" varies across the country. I had a friend from Cape Breton that insisted "Toronto" started at the Canso Causeway, so more of a state of mind. Everyone has an opinion on Toronto, though. It's right up there with the opinions about the US. :)
posted by TORunner at 11:12 AM on May 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
For example, TORunner's point about municipal elections and school trustees applies there. It would not apply in Montreal, where school board elections are completely separate from municipal ones; I don't know how it applies in other cities.
It's consistent across Ontario, which includes Hamilton, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo, etc. The Wikipedia article uses the word "usually" about school board being included in general with municipal elelctions in Canada.
That reminds me of another quirk. What is considered part or "Toronto" varies across the country. I had a friend from Cape Breton that insisted "Toronto" started at the Canso Causeway, so more of a state of mind. Everyone has an opinion on Toronto, though. It's right up there with the opinions about the US. :)
posted by TORunner at 11:12 AM on May 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you are based in southern Ontario, 'the North' does not include places like Sudbury and Owen Sound. That's Central or Near North Ontario. The real north is like starting maybe at Wawa. Anyone from Central or Northern Ontario will dismiss you as a Toronto pampered transit taking person if you say Sudbury is the North.
nthing all the comments so far about First Nations and Indigenous peoples. Summer (in Ontario, anyway) is Pow Pow season and there are often open events in communities to visit and watch some incredible dancing. June 21 is National Aboriginal Day. If the urban centre you live in is Toronto, there are a number of events that traditionally get planned for the public that might be interesting to attend.
posted by Cyrie at 12:00 PM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
nthing all the comments so far about First Nations and Indigenous peoples. Summer (in Ontario, anyway) is Pow Pow season and there are often open events in communities to visit and watch some incredible dancing. June 21 is National Aboriginal Day. If the urban centre you live in is Toronto, there are a number of events that traditionally get planned for the public that might be interesting to attend.
posted by Cyrie at 12:00 PM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
One of my girlfriends studied for her citizenship test primarily by watching Heritage Minutes.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:17 PM on May 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:17 PM on May 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
I would read the report from the Truth and Reconciliation committee,and acknowledge our land is built on genocide. Not as cute, but vital I think.
posted by PinkMoose at 12:29 PM on May 26, 2017
posted by PinkMoose at 12:29 PM on May 26, 2017
I'm surprised no one has mentioned French, at all. A lot of federal jobs (particularly in Ottawa) require bilingualism, although you'll encounter few French-speaking communities outside of Quebec and New Brunswick.
If you've been in Canada for 10 years, you might be aware of some of the tensions between francophone and anglophone cultures, particularly in Quebec. I'm absolutely no expert in this, but I've seen solidarity toward the Quebec sovereignty movement throughout the world (Catalans in Spain, for e.g.), and a lot of discussion about the referendum in '95 regarding whether Quebec should become a separate nation. While that question hasn't been in the limelight as prominently for a long time, Quebec nationalist parties are still popular (PQ, Bloc Quebecois).
Another interesting point is that while Canada is a common law country, Quebec has a civil code based on the Napoleonic code.
posted by Paper rabies at 2:01 PM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
If you've been in Canada for 10 years, you might be aware of some of the tensions between francophone and anglophone cultures, particularly in Quebec. I'm absolutely no expert in this, but I've seen solidarity toward the Quebec sovereignty movement throughout the world (Catalans in Spain, for e.g.), and a lot of discussion about the referendum in '95 regarding whether Quebec should become a separate nation. While that question hasn't been in the limelight as prominently for a long time, Quebec nationalist parties are still popular (PQ, Bloc Quebecois).
Another interesting point is that while Canada is a common law country, Quebec has a civil code based on the Napoleonic code.
posted by Paper rabies at 2:01 PM on May 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Speaking of French, certain parts on Ontario - Sudbury and Windsor, for example - have sizable francophone populations.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:19 PM on May 26, 2017
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:19 PM on May 26, 2017
Best answer: Also you must not only engage in the mutual "sorry" but deeply understand why this "sorry" exchange happens.
Person A is in a rush and bumps into Person B.
Person A says sorry because they bumped B.
Person B says sorry because they ought to have known that Person A was in a hurry and given them the space. They're apologizing for their lack of situational awareness. They are also apologizing because they don't presume an automatic right to public space (the way Amer*cans do).
As a Canuk in the US, it annoys me that my "sorry" is met with "oh that's ok!" Lady, recognize that we both have rights here.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:14 PM on May 26, 2017 [16 favorites]
Person A is in a rush and bumps into Person B.
Person A says sorry because they bumped B.
Person B says sorry because they ought to have known that Person A was in a hurry and given them the space. They're apologizing for their lack of situational awareness. They are also apologizing because they don't presume an automatic right to public space (the way Amer*cans do).
As a Canuk in the US, it annoys me that my "sorry" is met with "oh that's ok!" Lady, recognize that we both have rights here.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:14 PM on May 26, 2017 [16 favorites]
Adding to "sorry": If one person says "sorry" to you, maybe they did something wrong. If multiple people say "sorry" to you, you're definitely doing something wrong.
posted by clawsoon at 6:32 PM on May 26, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 6:32 PM on May 26, 2017 [13 favorites]
If you're not from Toronto, you're obliged to hate Toronto.
If you're from Alberta, then Manitoba is Central Canada. Otherwise, Ontario and Quebec are Central Canada.
According to John Ralston Saul, Canada and Belgium are the only places where the 1848 revolution succeeded. He makes the argument in the book Extraordinary Canadians: Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin, which is more interesting than its title or cover art would suggest.
I assume that you've already watched all the episodes of Trailer Park Boys, Little Mosque on the Prairie, and Letterkenny. You might want to dig into the archives for The Royal Canadian Air Farce, too, if there's not enough chicken cannon or "When I regained consciousness..." in your life.
Drive the road from Banff to Jasper at least once.
Peace, order, and good government.
The Liberals ran Canada for as many years in the twentieth century as the Communists ran Russia. When Conservatives win federal elections, it's usually because the Liberals have gotten so corrupt after winning multiple elections that Quebeckers and Albertans find that there's one thing they can agree on. At some point, this will happen again, and you'll realize that you can't in good conscience vote for the Liberals this time. Just accept it.
At some point, you'll wish that the NDP would not be so hard-headed and just unite the left already. That's not how the NDP works. Just accept it.
I'm pretty sure that Canada is the only place where Social Credit governments have been elected.
All the stereotypes about the French-English relationship in one skit.
Dief will be the chief again.
posted by clawsoon at 7:25 PM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you're from Alberta, then Manitoba is Central Canada. Otherwise, Ontario and Quebec are Central Canada.
According to John Ralston Saul, Canada and Belgium are the only places where the 1848 revolution succeeded. He makes the argument in the book Extraordinary Canadians: Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin, which is more interesting than its title or cover art would suggest.
I assume that you've already watched all the episodes of Trailer Park Boys, Little Mosque on the Prairie, and Letterkenny. You might want to dig into the archives for The Royal Canadian Air Farce, too, if there's not enough chicken cannon or "When I regained consciousness..." in your life.
Drive the road from Banff to Jasper at least once.
Peace, order, and good government.
The Liberals ran Canada for as many years in the twentieth century as the Communists ran Russia. When Conservatives win federal elections, it's usually because the Liberals have gotten so corrupt after winning multiple elections that Quebeckers and Albertans find that there's one thing they can agree on. At some point, this will happen again, and you'll realize that you can't in good conscience vote for the Liberals this time. Just accept it.
At some point, you'll wish that the NDP would not be so hard-headed and just unite the left already. That's not how the NDP works. Just accept it.
I'm pretty sure that Canada is the only place where Social Credit governments have been elected.
All the stereotypes about the French-English relationship in one skit.
Dief will be the chief again.
posted by clawsoon at 7:25 PM on May 26, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oh, and watch one episode of Red Green. Doesn't matter which, they're all much the same. Maybe this one.
And listen to this song.
posted by zadcat at 8:56 PM on May 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
And listen to this song.
posted by zadcat at 8:56 PM on May 26, 2017 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Canadian English is different from English in other countries.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 7:20 PM on May 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 7:20 PM on May 27, 2017 [1 favorite]
You may have noticed that Canadian identity is often a pretty nebulous and slippery thing. We define ourselves in negatives - we are not American, we are not British, we are not French. Or people trot out well worn brands or national animals or old TV shows.
However, I'd argue there is one thing which defines Canada very well. We talk about it ad nauseum, we curse it, we celebrate it, we dread it - winter. But moreso I think it is the wintery landscape of our idea of the North which makes us Canadian. So my suggestion to you, if you get the chance, spend some time in the North of the Territories or the near North of the provinces or at least experiencing the idea of the north closer to home. Oh and welcome to Canada!
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:59 PM on June 2, 2017
However, I'd argue there is one thing which defines Canada very well. We talk about it ad nauseum, we curse it, we celebrate it, we dread it - winter. But moreso I think it is the wintery landscape of our idea of the North which makes us Canadian. So my suggestion to you, if you get the chance, spend some time in the North of the Territories or the near North of the provinces or at least experiencing the idea of the north closer to home. Oh and welcome to Canada!
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:59 PM on June 2, 2017
One more! The 10 different grammatical uses of eh.
I'm a big fan of the narrative eh, and the interrogative eh.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:57 PM on June 2, 2017
I'm a big fan of the narrative eh, and the interrogative eh.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:57 PM on June 2, 2017
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Welcome to the tribe, eh!
posted by blue_beetle at 6:27 AM on May 26, 2017 [27 favorites]