Canadians Poll - Where are you?

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by amo

Silver Star? Big White? I can almost see those from my house.

Sun Peaks. awesome area, a bit of a pain in the arse to get to, but nice skiing when you are there

[Xanthe]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

And for those that are unfamiliar with Canadian Provinces and Territories.

Thanks for that map. I always get the Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchwan placement sequence mixed up. Never even heard of "Nunavut" before; what did it used to be called? Also didn't realize that Newfoundland was part of mainland Canada; thought that it was an island too.

Just goes to show how much attention is paid to Canada in US schools. I think that if you waterboarded me, I couldn't tell you who the PM was (I only know the names of 3 - Trudeau, Mullroney (sp?), and Chretienne (sp?).) And that is sad.

I do have a question though, and this is probably the best place to ask it. Why do Canadians usually say that they are from "North America" or identify themselves as "North Americans" instead of saying that they are from Canada or are Canadian?

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by amo

Silver Star? Big White? I can almost see those from my house.

Originally Posted by Xanthe

Thanks for that map. I always get the Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchwan placement sequence mixed up. Never even heard of "Nunavut" before; what did it used to be called? Also didn't realize that Newfoundland was part of mainland Canada; thought that it was an island too.

Just goes to show how much attention is paid to Canada in US schools. I think that if you waterboarded me, I couldn't tell you who the PM was (I only know the names of 3 - Trudeau, Mullroney (sp?), and Chretienne (sp?).) And that is sad.

I do have a question though, and this is probably the best place to ask it. Why do Canadians usually say that they are from "North America" or identify themselves as "North Americans" instead of saying that they are from Canada or are Canadian?

where have you run into that? when I was in Europe it seemed that Canadians were always quick to self identify as they did not want to be taken for being from the lower' country. and I've never encountered one here in the states using that phrase

[Suzanna]

I'm proud to be Canadian and self-identify as that. I've never used the term "North American" to identify myself, nor do I know anyone else who does so.

Northwest Territories and Nunavut used to be one, under the NWT name. They split a while back.

And hey, technically Santa is Canadian since he lives somewhere up in Nunavut/NWT.

[ATDrake]

I think Finland, Canada, and Norway or maybe Sweden have been fighting over who's really Santa's home.

But Canada is the only place where his postal code gets to be H0H 0H0.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Wow, now I'm nervous that it's still as good as I remember it to be

Let me know - I'll certainly be visiting Burlington again in the next couple of years.

They're NEVER as good as you remember. And oddly enough, the more you praise them, the worse they get, and you are stuck saying lame things like, "Normally it's not like this. Honest!"

[amo]

Just goes to show how much attention is paid to Canada in US schools. I think that if you waterboarded me, I couldn't tell you who the PM was (I only know the names of 3 - Trudeau, Mullroney (sp?), and Chretienne (sp?).)

Stephen Harper. But he's not nearly as important to us as your president is; you'd never see a movie about "The Canadian Prime Minister". We're just too mellow for that.

I do have a question though, and this is probably the best place to ask it. Why do Canadians usually say that they are from "North America" or identify themselves as "North Americans" instead of saying that they are from Canada or are Canadian?

I've never actually heard that, either. But it's probably to distinguish themselves from "US Americans", which is usually what the generic term "American" refers to. "North American" is kind of a catch-all term, like "Down Under" refers to New Zealanders and Australians both, and "British" can refer to Scottish and English (can't it?). "North American" talks about what continent you're from, and what broader culture.

As for Santa, he lives on the North Pole. Last I checked, that wasn't under the jurisdiction of either Canada, Sweden, Norway or Finland. Mind you, if it's the magnetic North Pole, Canada's got claim (I think). And in Canada, if you send a letter to "Santa Claus, North Pole, HOH OHO", and drop it into any Canada Post mailbox, you'll get a reply back. Really!

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by amo

As for Santa, he lives on the North Pole. Last I checked, that wasn't under the jurisdiction of either Canada, Sweden, Norway or Finland.

Apparently, the North Pole is from the US version of the myth (it seems there's a "North Pole, Alaska" whose major industry is tourism), and different traditions ascribe him different locations. Finland puts him in one of their villages up in Lapland, and I wouldn't be surprised if Norway (unless it was Russia or Sweden I was misremembering) does the same.

It looks like there's quite a few countries which have special addresses and answer back Santa letters. Which must be a nice treat for the kids.

[amo]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Apparently, the North Pole is from the US version of the myth

Oh, but if you'd read Tolkien's "Father Christmas Letters", you'd know that the English Father Christmas hangs out at the North Pole, too, with the North Polar Bear and Ilbereth the Elf (one year they were attacked by goblins in the cellars- rather frightening, that). You surely can't accuse Tolkien of being American!

Of course, the original Saint Nicholas is from Turkey.

[ATDrake]

Well, the US probably did get it from the British tradition. Unless there was some transatlantic cross-pollination going on back then.

I think it would be more egalitarian if Santa went back to throwing bags of gold through windows. Not everyone has a chimney, after all.

[Suzanna]

Looks like I successfully derailed the thread.

My two daughters sent letters to Santa last year and got different replies. It was quite a treat for them.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by Sao

Looks like I successfully derailed the thread.

My two daughters sent letters to Santa last year and got different replies. It was quite a treat for them.

I still keep my Santa letters from when I was a kid.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

They're NEVER as good as you remember. And oddly enough, the more you praise them, the worse they get, and you are stuck saying lame things like, "Normally it's not like this. Honest!"

Yes, that's exactly what's worrying me.

[Soul_Est]

Living in Mississauga right now, although on the fringe in a village called Malton. I travel into downtown Toronto when I can since I find it more interesting there. Perhaps I'll meet a few of you one day...

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by amo

I've never actually heard that, either. But it's probably to distinguish themselves from "US Americans", which is usually what the generic term "American" refers to. "North American" is kind of a catch-all term, like "Down Under" refers to New Zealanders and Australians both, and "British" can refer to Scottish and English (can't it?). "North American" talks about what continent you're from, and what broader culture.

I never refer to Scots as British.

Originally Posted by Soul_Est

Living in Mississauga right now, although on the fringe in a village called Malton. I travel into downtown Toronto when I can since I find it more interesting there. Perhaps I'll meet a few of you one day...

welcome to the forums! so I see you are "gadgetic" does that mean you are overwhelmed with gadgets?