I am SO Canadian

I’ve wanted to write about being Canadian for some time now and I just came across a Canadian Blog Roll where the owner would like to be able to verify that I am Canadian so here goes …

Regarding our National pastime:
It doesn’t seem to matter the time of day, there is always a hockey game in progress on my street.

I sat in the VIP lounge at the Forum with *Yvan Cournoyer* at the All Star game in Montreal and watched Gretzky play while the crowd booed Lyndros. Way cool.

My children knew what hockey sticks were for as soon as they could walk.

Learning to skate here is as much of a life skill as learning to swim.

The Leafs still do not, to this very day have a Stanley Cup winning photo in colour.

Cam's newest word is yup you guessed it “Hockey”.

On drinking beer:
If you are from the West coast and you drink beer you might drink Kokanee. Although believe me if you haven’t tried don’t bother it tastes awful.

If you are from the East coast and you drink beer it’s very likely that have tried Moosehead.

If you live close to the “Centre of the Universe” you might drink Sleeman.

If you live in Montreal and are French speaking then you probably drink Cinquante.

On Canadian Television:
I met Relic from the Beachcombers when I was 9 years old on a fairy from Vancouver to Vancouver Island. He was a sweetheart by the way.

We have two official languages in Canada and I’m so annoyed that my child can count to 5 in Spanish and not French. You would think that between Tree House, TVO and the great CBC that one of these networks that are so devoted to children’s programming would come up with a show that was bilingual (English/French that is) or at least promoted the French language.

I miss Mr. Dressup and The Friendly Giant.

Is it just me or does Lloyd Robertson’s hair colour change weekly?

I love CBC Sunday morning with Carole MacNeil (love her hair) and Evan Solomon, oh and The Nature of Things.

On Canadian Culture:
If you are Canadian and I say “Medium, Double, Double”, you know exactly what I’m talking about. (this by the way has nothing to do with *breast* size)

The Lord of the Rings as a musical – give me a break! Okay, we saw it and while the set design was incredible the story in this medium well sucked.

On Canadian Currency:
Loonies and Toonies are apart of our every day vernacular.

What’s wrong with purple and blue money anyway?

In General:
I grew-up in a city called Prince George and even if you don’t know where that is ask any tree planter and they will tell you. I also lived in Vancouver, William’s Lake, Kamloops, Dawson Creek, Red Deer, Toronto and Montreal.

I am totally confused about measurement, way back in the 1970s the Canadian government thought that it would be a great idea to introduce children to the imperial system of measurement for the first two years of school and then switch everything to metric. I really don’t know either very well.

The Canadian Healthcare system is not as bad as other countries make it out to be.

We do not say “ABOOT”!

I worked at Expo 86 in Vancouver; I was the chicken and fries girl across from the Russian pavilion.

David Suzuki spoke to my grade 10 Biology class about the amazing life of fruit flies.

Some of the things I love about Canada:
We are a tolerate society.
We are a peaceful nation.
Gun Control.
We don’t have the death penalty.
Canada is a safe place to live.
Hey, if your *Gay* come on up you can get married here.
We provide the essentials of life, including health care, to every person in the country.
Smoking has been banned in most public places or will be soon.
We are a nation of diversity and we embrace multiculturalism.
Maple syrup, Beaver Tails and Montreal Bagels.
Four Seasons unless you live on the West Coast.
The Rocky Mountains.
The Desert.
The Rainforest.
The lakes, rivers and oceans.
The fact that my uncles are Lobster fisherman on the East Coast.

And the absolute BEST thing about being Canadian are my two All Canadian Boys.