Canadians - getting to know us

Getting to know us - getting to know all about us - 

Myth #1

The entire country is COLD - all the time.....................

Actually the country is cold during the winter months - most definitely - but has progressively been getting warmer in the last 10 years or so.

The summer months - especially in Montreal and Toronto ( which are right across from American borders ) are more often then not unbearably hot.  Although you won't find too many of us complaining about that - we tend to just suck it up knowing that winter will eventually come - and that we do complain about.

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Winter skating at the Rideau Canal

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Montreal in summer

Myth #2) 

Our country is policed by men dressed in red ( and on horses ) 

big points if you remember this guy!

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Although the RCMP ( Royal Canadian Mounted Police ) DO dress like this for special occasions - 

they are an elite police force who normally look like this

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They are a federal entity - we are each policed by our individual cities and provinces

Myth #3) 

Moose and Beavers happily live amongst us  

In fact the only beaver I have ever seen is the one on our nickel

and the only moose I have ever seen is the one on our quarter

and the only time I've seen them together other than in my wallet is on this

Now it may be an entirely different story for people living in rural areas - but like I said most of us live next to the American borders - in very busy condensed cities - which are beaver and moose free

4)  We're beer swigging liberals

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Although admittedly we do love our beer -  we also love wine - 

and ummm let me see - gin and tonics - and bloody mary's - and rum & cokes - and pretty much any alcohol

out there.

AND our current goverment is the Conservative party ( the equivalent to the Republican party ) 

5) We do not live in igloos

although with this crappy economy it may soon become a viable alternative - and for that I suppose we should be grateful for snow ( I think I'd have a couple of windows installed - with some nice drapes ) maybe have a fancy schmancy deluxe sled parked outside. Maybe a smaller version in the back for guest or for
painting my furniture.
or maybe I'd opt for something more like this, not sure yet

Daniel Gray has built an igloo made from 500 colorful ice bricks, making this a truly magnificent structure. Gray, who is from New Zealand, built the icey shelter in Canada while visiting his girlfriend Kathleen Starrie. "My girlfriend's mother had a brilliant idea of building an igloo and thought it would keep me busy, away from her daughter in some respect,” Gray told the Global Edmonton.
Click here for more information ( in case you want to build one of your own ) lol

6) Universal health care is a bad thing

Sorry but this is the biggest myth of all - For the most part we fiercely protect this - we do NOT wait months and years to be treated - we make a doctors appointment and are seen ( usually within a couple of weeks ).

I know there was a Canadian women on American commercials during the elections complaining about our health care system - but she must have been paid big bucks to do that - survey after survey shows we would

not have it any other way......................and although I know there are Canadians that go to the U.S. for operations at times - there are a lot of Americans ( particularly the ones that live close to the border ) that get there medication from Canada - ( Sarah Palin admitted doing so even ) so I think that particular myth rounds itself out............................. 

7) We are a gun free nation

NOT......................... this is big gun country - ( just ask any moose you happen to see - he could just be happily and lazily walking by and WHAM - but not in the city, remember moose do not wander around our cities   ) we have huge hunting territories and this is a huge Canadian past time   and then you have the type who hunt and kill humans unfortunately - we also have them.

8) We are the politest nation in the world 

Excuse me while I snort with laughter on this one - I think this might date back to the 1800's when we were a new country - and easily intimidated - or even as close back as up to the 60's when the WHOLE WORLD was politer, although I WISH we could claim that title, it's simply not true.

Again in the rural areas the people are indeed lovely - and take the time to wish strangers a " good morning " in the cities we're grabbing a coffee and trampling over people to get a seat on the metro just like every where else ( except for me - I am extremely polite - and always say " excuse me, before I trample over anybody - it's how I was raised ) 

9) We do not say " aboot "

I can tell  you I have never, not once in my life, heard anyone pronounce " about " that way - The only time I have heard this word pronounced like this is when it refers to winter foot wear.  As in " what do you call this? "

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Well - it's " aboot " of course....................

10) Toronto is not the capital of Canada

The Capital of Canada is Ottawa - not Toronto

Source - Our Parliament buildings

oh and about " eh" ?

We are guilty on all counts on that one - it's definitely not a myth - we all say it lol - kind of like Southerners say Y'all...............

We say it at the end of almost every question - don't know how it started but I know it's definitely a Canadian thing.
I know a lot of people who swear they never say it - and then end the next sentence with it - it's an unconscious thing I suppose.

And most of us do love our Hockey - without a doubt.............. 

So there you have it - 

Canadians are just like, well, let me see...............who are we most like?

Y'all have a wonderful weekend, eh?
See you Monday!