A good portion of the work my wife does is in Canada. Predominantly in Nova Scotia, but she has been know to be in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec a few times and I think she has hit New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon Territories at least once. Come on, prairie provinces, step up your game. So today I thought it might be interesting to see if I could, as an American, answer some questions about Canada.
Thanks this week go to Chris Corrigan, Aunt Linda, Stephen Guglich (@StevenGuglich), Joel, Jared, Sandy, the Wife, Brian, the M-I-L, and some other guy. Onto the questions!
1. Where all in Canada have you been?
Halifax and Mahone Bay in Nova Scotia and Toronto and Niagara Falls in Ontario. I am far less Canadianly traveled than my lovely wife.
2. Where in Canada would you like to travel next?
I would love to see the Canadian Rockies, Montreal, and Vancouver. I am willing to hit the prairies if they can give me compelling reasons. Convince me Saskatchewan.
3. When people ask you about your experience of Canada, what do you tell them?
That Canadians I have interacted with are very patriotic in a way that is not horribly overbearing as the patriotism in the US. I think people in the US are under the misconception that if given the chance Canadians would much rather be part of the United States. That is not the case at all, and nor should it be. Canada is not merely the “United States of America’s hat.”
4. Why does Canada matter to the world?
Aside from the beauty of the natural landscapes of Canada, and the wonderful people who live in and have come from Canada, Canada is, in many ways, like a working version of the US. The political system is relatively similar, but there is universal health care.
5. As an outsider what do you think we need to work on?
Much like many places colonized by Europeans, relationships between the county and its aboriginal populations could use some work.
6. When are you coming for a visit?
Not soon enough.
7. Champ from Lake Champlain or Sasquatch from British Columbia… which do you want to see more?
Definitely sasquatch.
8. If your great grandfather was born in Canada does that make you part Canadian?
Nope, citizenship is not the same as ethnicity.
9. Do people in Canada really end each sentence with "eh?" If so, why?
Not in my experience. There is definitely some “aboot” and other stereotypical accent pieces, but I have not really heard any “ehs.”
10. 3 parter- If the country of Canada produced a big budget summer movie, what genre would it be?
Science fiction, because most sci-fi tv shows are shot in Vancouver currently. The infrastructure is already there.
11. What’s the title?
"Complex"
12. What’s the quick synopsis that would make me want to go?
There is no synopsis that make you want to go, you are a cynical misanthrope who has lost faith in the whole cinematic industry. Regardless of the synopsis, you would mock the movie… (think Grease mixed with Star wars, set in feudal Japan with no singing. It’s a five movie deal starring Matt Damon.)
13. I have traveled to Toronto and Vancouver. What else should I visit in Canada? (Both with and without small kids.)
Lunenburg, NS is gorgeous, but honestly most of Nova Scotia is just gorgeous. I have not been too many places in Canada so I cannot give too many recommendations.
14. What would it take to get mounties to ride moose instead of horses?
Domesticated moose, which ain’t happening.
15. Where is Ottawa?
It is in Ontario but probably better described as being just a bit to the west of Montreal.
16. For Ohioans, why is Canada preferred over Michigan in the neighbor to the North context? Is this just a Buckeyes thing, why is this construct relevant to alums of other Ohio universities?
It has to do with the shooting war between Ohio and Michigan over who was supposed to own the port town of Toledo (which in the 1800’s was a really awesome town). That is where the beginnings of the Mich/Ohio issues started. That is why it bleeds out past just OSU v MU.
Oddly enough the US seems to forget that Canada handed us our own teeth for the War of 1812. I think the US equates the War of 1812 with England instead of Canada though, so we don’t think of it as Canada who beat us like a drum.
17. Is Canada angry at the US for anything?
Of course. Aside from the US being overly jingoistic, Canada is angry at the US from a geologic sense as well. The multiple glacial ages scraped all the good soil off of the Canadian Shield and dropped it onto Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.
18. What is the most Canadian thing ever?
I would guess a moose, beaver, and lumberjack drinking maple syrup whiskey, eh.
19. Are Canadians as a whole as nice as their stereotype?
No group as a whole are their stereotype.
20. Do you know the words to O Canada?
I do not, but I should, and I will. I am honestly going to endeavour to learn the words to O Canada (I might even take a stab at the French lyrics as well)
To recap:
The wife was stranded in Toronto last night and did not make it all the way to Halifax
I guess Nova Scotia had a Game of Thrones “Winter is coming” level snow event yesterday
The weather radar did not seem that crazy though
The airport only got 20.5 cm of snow and the wind seemed to be around 8.6 kn with gusts around 13 kn
That doesn’t seem too harsh for a Canadian climate
Regardless, the wife spent all day in Toronto International Airport and was forced to get a hotel room
Step it up NS, you can remove snow better than that
Little Man has his high school curriculum night tonight
How is he already going to go into high school
It has been too fast
Plumbing issues this morning in the kitchen
I hate plumbing issues
I am hoping to have this issue resolved today
Have a great week everyone