Canadian Culture?

Kate Beaton can help:

Battle of Queenston Heights

Basketball

Newfoundland

- Trailer Park Boys
- Tim Hortons
- Poutine
- David Cronenberg films
- All of your popular comedians
- Non-shitty beer
- Corner Gas
- The random person you meet occasionally who actually says 'eh'
- Care Cards and a better health care system (It's not a LOT better these days, but it's better)
- French! And crazy French Canadians. Thus the abundance of poutine and smoked meat
- Artists like Bill Reed and Emily Carr
- Movies like Ginger Snaps and Twist and FUBAR
- Margaret Atwood
- VIFF (The Vancouver International Film Festival)
- Ellen Page
- Seth Rogan
- Great weed, in fact, great drugs in general. Especially around my area, I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have access to BC Bud and killer acid
- The CBC, a great news channel. (Also, George Strombolopolous and The Hour)
- Kids in the Hall
- The Hour Has 22 Minutes
- Royal Canadian Air Farce
- Cool musicians like Neil Young, Bryan Adams and Wintersleep (but also Celine Dion, and Avril Lavigne, I'm so sorry)

Canadian culture is a lot of cultures, moreso depending on where you live and your crowd...

Yeah, multiculturalism and diversity are a huge part of our deal too. We have absorbed so many different types of people and ideas from all over the world, it's a big melting pot.

Plus it varies a lot from province to province here just like it does in the States. It's hard to talk about Canada in general when going to Quebec, BC, Alberta, Nova Scotia or the Northwest Territories are all completely different experiences with different people and cultures and foods and accents.

THIS is the best explanation of Canadian culture possible.

Yes, Canadian humour is unique.

And we have the NFB's wonderful cartoons and little wildlife vignettes. I wouldn't mind if they reinstated the Canada Fitness Test in schools, either, that' something that used to be part of Canadian culture.

Werewolf girl NAILED it with her consecutive posts.

My favorite (non-personal) anecdote about Canada: Maclean's (a Canadan magazine) held a contest inviting readers to complete the phrase "As Canadian as ____________."

The winning entry was "As Canadian as possible under the circumstances."

I read this in An Incomplete Education, and as the saying goes, if it ain't true it oughtta be.

What's the ratio of Canadians with beady eyes and flapping heads to ones that don't?

Also:

Don't forget this.

We supply the US with music. Awesome one (Arcade Fire, Neil Young, etc..), and shitty one (Celine. Nickelback).

And WW girl is kinda spot on. Even Montreal is vastly different than the rest of the province, and each province is different than the rest of Canada.

But yeah, if one word can say it all: Poutine.

And Montreal's bagels are superior to New York's bagels. It's not even close.

Acceptance, for better or for worse.

(Also, For Better Or For Worse)

I'm surprised no one mentioned "You Can't Do That On Television" or "DeGrassi" yet.


ETA: or "The Red Green Show".

Also, Ricker Mercer is our Jon Stewart equivalent, though I suspect he's lesser known here.

The Tragically Hip is an example of a band that didn't take off in the States but is massive here.

People say "bloody" in canada.

Eugenics were pretty big for a while, as duly noted by posters in another thread.

The country isn't too patriotic, though asinine Canada Day celebrations persist.

People listened to Catherine Wheel here.

Way more attention and doting is on american politics than canadian (at the expense of understanding basic canadian politics), in fact the average canadian probably has a better idea of how american politics work than the average american.

I was about to page Martin Savage but I imagine the unique Quebeccan view of things is something that Canada offers.

And there's also Jon Lajoie.

Although it still wigs me out that I once encountered a man from Saskatchewan who sounded exactly like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Follow up question:

What is the ratio of guy, buddy, and friend?

Canadian Culture =
- RUSH and TRIUMPH
- Fantastic fishing
- Good beer

I live in MN, and I've been to various parts of Canada many times. I love it, and I love the people. I look forward to meeting Martin over a scotch one of these days.

Also, Canadians find it easier to agree on things they hate than what they love.

I'm not Canadian and have only been over the border briefly a handful of times, but Robertson Davies is one of my favorite authors. Any other fans?

Anne of Green Gables, motherfuckers!

Also, while no country on Earth can touch the US in this regard, Canada has produced a few interesting multiple murderers - Robert Pickton, Cliff Olson, Gilbert Jordan (the Alcohol Murderer), Richard Blass.

The RCMP is fucking awesome. Visually, they are a great piece of Canadian 'culture'.

I think this question about "Candian culture" is the fact outside of the Quebccan's, the differences between Canada and the US in terms of people are very very subtle (Outside of saying "about" and "sorry" in a weird way). This isn't like other former British colonies or even parts of the UK where there are very distinct differences in culture and identity.

I'm sure the canucks would beg to the differ but from this yank bastard's perspective this is what I see. I think this is why there is this question. I can indentify the differences in Aussie life but I'm completely in the dark about Canada.

That's either the tiniest mountie ever, or the RCMP is riding destriers. Either way, awesome.

Yeah, that is a BIG horse in that picture. A Firemare from Krull, perhaps?

No one's mentioned Sarah McLachlan yet? For shame!

My favorite joke about Canada (related in the most good natured way possible; calm down, Martin):

Canada's earliest settlers were trying to decide what to name this new land. Finally, one suggested they put the letters of the alphabet on some small tiles and mix them up in a bag. One of them would pull out the letters on at a time, & whatever they spelled would become the name of the new land. So he selects:
C, eh? N, eh? D, eh?

And I second again the beer love. Canadians don't have it in them to make a bad brew.

I actually just finished "Fifth Business" for a lit class. The story itself was so-so, but Davies' writing is phenomenal. I found myself highlighting lines every other page. I'll finish the trilogy after this semester's over.

One of the two funny scenes from Canadian Bacon involve John Candy inciting a riot at a hockey game because he said the beer sucked.

Ah, I hear this from practically all americans I've met here, and they are mostly correct, though there are more visible differences on social issues and the like. Certainly a party like the NDP (manitoban provincial gov't) wouldn't have a chance in the states.

Politics is a whole other issue. I'm talking about strictly the people and culture.

Three words:

Kenny vs Spenny

Haaa... if someone in our country is allowed to laugh at Canadians, it's us. As for the other thread, I don't mind at all with jokes, trust me. But ElCaptain has proved so many times he's a douchebag that I usually call him out. He basically judged a while ago that the entire country is like Calgary, where he spent a few days in winter. That's like going to Alaska and judging the entire US by it.

Hilarious at first, but now it's just boring.

I love Tempest-Tost but have yet to read any others.

Would I be correct in thinking that Winnipeg is a culture to itself? I mean, Guy Maddin, plus the whole Phantom of the Paradise thing.

As an outsider from the UK living in Canada for the last year,I have to say that pretty much everything WG said is spot on - (the drugs here are fucking amazing).

One of the greatest things here in Canada, culturally, is the acceptance, I've come across no racism or bigotry, even though Vancouver is one of the most diverse citites on earth. People are helpful and polite and funny without being cruel (except to newfies maybe). This also applies to the politics (historically) where the government tended to focus on the needs of the people first and everything else second - this has changed recently (as it has in many western cultures) to become more business-friendly at the cost of the individual.

I've only been to 2 provinces, BC and AB and i was staggered at the difference in cultures between the two. Mind you the Calgary Stampede was like nothing I've ever experienced.

I guess the main point i want to make is that it seems like Canadian Culture is designed for Canadians to enjoy (not that it excludes anyone) it's not based on international corporate branding like the UK or the US.

Also, and this hasn't come up yet I notice: the first nations culture is still present and is encouraged and celebrated.

I had some friends over to visit from the UK and they were making all the usual terrance and philip jokes for about a day then they realized how much of a poor parody it was (and I love south park, even season 12), realizing that parker & stone were mocking jingoism by making fun of a country and peoples who do not have a sensitive racial identity and also have the capacity to laugh along.

I've lived in the UK, the USA and in Australia and I have to say that (for me) Canada is the only place I've wanted to stay.

People don't even make fun of other people's appearance. Really. They don't - it takes a while to get used to it.

I believe canada is less bigoted and racist than, say, the states, but unfortunately I must add that some may be nicer to you and especially non-racist about others around you because you're from the UK.

There is a major problem with racism towards aboriginal peoples, this being most apparent in manitoba, where it is accepted even by some academia that first nations culture is "obsolete". I could go on with examples for a while.

Enh, Guy Maddin isn't very well-known to the mainstream, aside from the odd newspaper coverage. Also, I don't know what the Phantom of the Paradise thing is.

Winnipeg indie filmmakers do have a tendency to make films that look like old movies from a certain period...

I was sent to Winnipeg for training in Dec 04 (I know what you're thinking, lucky you, Winnipeg in December) and was really taken aback by all the homelessness and how it was 80-90% natives.

In Kamloops BC we have 4 or more reserves around us. The in town Band is the Kamloops Indian Band, and they are very progressive and the city and band have several successful business partnerships. Though we still have a bit of a redneck mentality and there is still some racism towards all non whites. Kamloops also has a large east Indian population and they seem to get the brunt of what racism there is here. Though I suspect part of that is due to one of the suspected masterminds of the Air India bombing (Bagri) living and working here in town for the last 20 plus years.

Also, on the Phantom of Paradise thing, when I was back there they were having some event celebrating the film and one of the local papers had a huge article and interview with one of the stars of it talking about Winnipeg's standout love of the film

I also should add that I would very much like to retire and live in Toronto. I spent 4 months there (during Winter no less) in downtown and could see myself living out my final years with my wife there.

I just moved to Edmonton from Newfoundland (where I'd lived 30 years) and even here in a much larger city I'm struck by the fact that a lot of people thank the bus driver when they get off at their stop.

HA! I love it!

I used to vacation on Prince Edward Island and would love to retire there.

Oh man, how the hell did I forget Kenny VS Spenny??? And how am I the only one who's brought up Trailer Park Boys? There's no question that we have our own unique media and sense of humour here.

Also, we spell things differently. It's a point of pride with Canadians that we still spell things correctly and haven't tried to shorten or switch all our words around in weird ways.

Labour, honour, colour, centre, fibre, cheque instead of check, etc.

Also, American tourists seem to be fascinated with our money. Rather than having 1 and 2 dollar bills we have 'loonies' (there's a picture of a loon on the coin) and 'toonies' (someone was trying to be cute)

If you're just looking at both cultures on the surface they seem similar, but if you actually take the time to look Canadians are pretty different in a lot of ways.

EDIT: Also, this may vary from province to province but everyone says 'pop' here not 'soda'

There are people who don't do that?

'Cause it's shit?

Guilty as charged!

Let's not forget about Rick Mercer and his delightful Newfie accent!

CODCO!

Your carpets must be filthy.

We see your Canadian coins down here in MN all the time, especially your quarters. It's really no big deal here, and most places will accept them without any hassle. I know that states to the south of us will look at you strange if you try and pass off Canadian coins, but screw em.

It's POP here in MN too. I'm pretty sure that it's POP in North Dakota and Wisconsin as well.

I take my shoes and pants off when I enter a house. I like to be comfy.

Oh yeah, I was at the Seattle greyhound station one time and the lady at the counter asked me to spell my last name. It has a 'Z' in it, which we Canadians pronounce 'Zed' and when I said it she gave me this really dirty look like I just said her mother fucked goats and said 'Oh, you mean 'ZEE?!'

It was a little weird...