[note the lack of use of the word "'eh"]
July 1, 2013 12:11 PM   Subscribe

On July 1st, 1867, an act creating a federal dominion and establishing the Government of Canada came into effect. While citizens of the world's second largest nation may celebrate by reminiscing over tear-inducing beer commercials, bemoaning the craziness of its mayors, or feeling bad about the tar sands, I posit to you that there is no more Canadian thing on the internet than this video of Chris Hadfield singing a song with the Barenaked Ladies.
posted by sparklemotion (41 comments total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
 
That's a good performance on behalf of humanity and Earth, but I would argue Hadfield's Canadian Tire song is more patriotic.
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:19 PM on July 1, 2013 [5 favorites]


That was fucking beautiful.
posted by tommasz at 12:26 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Petition to have OP renamed robinsparklemotion for the remainder of the day?
posted by zombieflanders at 12:29 PM on July 1, 2013 [5 favorites]


Happy Birthday Canada! I was born 100 years after confederacy - and my parents immigrated to Canada from HK a year after I was born. Though my parents sacrified much to come here, and gave up lucrative business oppurtunities in the motherland - they thought it was better that I grew up in a counrty that welcomed outsiders and rewarded those based on meritocracy rather than economic class. I have sinced lived around the world - but when it came time to really make a life for myself - I came home to Canada.
posted by helmutdog at 12:36 PM on July 1, 2013 [10 favorites]


As a Yankee agent provocateur, I can only say: Free Newfoundland!
posted by Apocryphon at 12:39 PM on July 1, 2013 [10 favorites]


And here's a Canadian Fun Fact - Joe Canadian is Jeff Douglas is now the co-host of As It Happens. Okay - maybe only Canadians will be find this a Fun Fact. Maybe.
posted by helmutdog at 12:41 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


Happy Birthday to the Great White North! (Actually, the closest part is due east of me.) I just came across an old David Letterman Top 10 list: “Canadian Nicknames for Americans.” [starting at 4:20]

My favorite: #4, Upper Mexicans.
posted by LeLiLo at 12:44 PM on July 1, 2013 [3 favorites]


I really wonder if Chris Hadfield has had "political career" in the back of his mind for a lot of this. (Not that I'd complain. Anyone who knows science would be welcome.)
posted by jeather at 12:45 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Let's celebrate all the Canadas.
posted by fatehunter at 12:53 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


Gotta remember, their beer sucks
posted by k5.user at 1:13 PM on July 1, 2013


That's because you're not drinking it with maple syrup.
posted by storybored at 1:15 PM on July 1, 2013


I hereby offer Florida in trade for British Columbia, straight up. You get beaches and Disney. I get rid of the border crossing that stands between me and Whistler.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:19 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


VIVE LA POUTINE!
posted by droplet at 1:30 PM on July 1, 2013 [3 favorites]


*cold cocks k5.user, starts huge brawl*
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:30 PM on July 1, 2013 [4 favorites]


You get beaches and Disney.

We've already been pitched a deal for warm, tropical beaches.
posted by ceribus peribus at 1:31 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


1867, wow. When my grandfather came here the country was just over forty years old, and was still offering free quarter-sections of land in the prairies for anyone who could physically stake them out. He had no money for a train ticket, and couldn't have gotten here at all if not for the kindness of an Irish family that hid him among their children, during the long ride from Halifax to Edmonton. His first job was camp cook for a survey expedition that was going to map some of the (extremely wild) interior of Northern BC, and he had no idea how to cook when they set off. Granddad had no assets or marketable skills, just a burning desire to escape the regimented life that had been prepared for him in England and the courage that comes from being young and unaware of how dangerous the world can be. This land took him in, showed him its wonders, and kept him alive so he could eventually become a respectable farmer and founder of a family that continues to thrive today. It's quite a place.
posted by Kevin Street at 2:00 PM on July 1, 2013 [12 favorites]




I was born 100 years after confederacy

You were born in 2049?

Or does confederacy colloquially only refer to the 19th century? I'm an American, I don't know this stuff.

Also, for lack of a better time to throw this in there, the Canadian Borg
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 2:15 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


Shameless self-promotion here, but in honour of today, I put together a post on Canada-themed knitting patterns for my blog.
posted by orange swan at 2:15 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


Tom Brokaw explains Canada to Americans [6:16].
posted by ceribus peribus at 2:26 PM on July 1, 2013




Yes- on this, the day of our national holiday, all Canadians, wherever they may be, can rise up with the Spirit of the True North, Strong and Free in our hearts, and say in one voice, "Fuck Harper."
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:47 PM on July 1, 2013 [10 favorites]


Oh, didn't see the Foreign Policy link has its own FPP 3 links up. Nevermind.

Anyway I came back to say if my above comment was too much of centerless linkdump, just watch this one street fashion video from my 4th link.
posted by skwt at 2:50 PM on July 1, 2013


I generally prefer to send cards that are not intended for the occasion being celebrated and as such Canada Day has been a great boon to me as it has given me this joyous e-missive to send on every possible occasion. It is the best thing. The best thing.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 2:52 PM on July 1, 2013


RR, not CC, at least out west. CC's for the export market.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:48 PM on July 1, 2013


I was born 100 years after confederacy

You were born in 2049?


Canadian confederation didn't happen when the last province joined in 1949 any more than the US became a country when Hawaii joined in 1959.

It dates to the BNA Act signed in 1867, when Canada became a country.
posted by jeather at 3:59 PM on July 1, 2013 [6 favorites]


this joyous e-missive

All I see is a way to pay a dollar a month to send ecards, which might be best among the right people, I suppose?
posted by jeather at 4:00 PM on July 1, 2013


Well, technically, we were a dominion back in 1867, which wasn't all that different from a colony with a responsible parliament.
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 4:22 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


I posit to you that there is no more Canadian thing on the internet ...

I'd have to disagree. Any single episode of TVO's The Agenda would take it for me.

<soapbox>It's unfortunate that a few of Canada's biggest bands in terms of popularity, such as the Bare Naked Ladies, the Tragically Hip (though they may not be around anymore), and of course, Nickelback, are so terrible. They're like the revised Dr. Who of music.</soapbox>
posted by juiceCake at 4:57 PM on July 1, 2013


I hereby offer Florida in trade for British Columbia, straight up. You get beaches and Disney. I get rid of the border crossing that stands between me and Whistler.

Ummm, we've pretty much already colonized Florida. Walk through an average condo parking lot between West Palm and South Beach, and a healthy chunk of the licence plates will be from either Quebec and Ontario. When I was a kid, visiting my grandparents over christmas break in their condo in Sunny Isles, the conversation starter on the pool deck was "did you fly down on Air Canada or Wardair*/Canadian**?"

We're still interested in a trade, but San Diego County is our starting point. Taking all of California in trade isn't plausible because it would double our population, and Toronto would get insecure about not being the biggest city anymore.

*An awesome 80's Charter airline that was bought out by Canadian Airlines.
**Bought out by Air Canada in the late 90's.
posted by dry white toast at 6:01 PM on July 1, 2013


On the other hand, if you want to clear the rest of the Floridians out, we might give you part of the BC interior. Of course, the Natives have first dibs.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:12 PM on July 1, 2013


Loading Ready Run presents: The Canadian.
posted by figurant at 6:28 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


Joe Canadian is Jeff Douglas is now the co-host of As It Happens. Okay - maybe only Canadians will be find this a Fun Fact.

Fun fact? Or horrible bullshit move that ruined AIH?

BARBARA BUDD 4EVR
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:51 PM on July 1, 2013 [4 favorites]


My grandmother was born in Acadian New Brunswick (although, her whole family came to Massachusetts when she was only six), and I've been meaning to get up there and check that neck of the country out myself. The dearth of lodging options in Cocagne, NB have given me pause thus far, but someday...a salute to you all, in the meantime.

(I also tell myself that I could also head over to Newfoundland as well during the same trip because eeeeee maybe I could run into Alan Doyle or Sean McCann)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:54 PM on July 1, 2013


I've been around the world a fair bit, but am proud to call Canada my adopted home. Happy Canada Day everyone!
posted by arcticseal at 7:58 PM on July 1, 2013 [3 favorites]


I love Canada, but I would gladly restart the War of 1812 if the end result was me never having to hear any of Jeff Douglas's awful puns ever again.
posted by jonathanhughes at 8:28 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]


I just want to point out (embarrassingly) that on the strength of that inspiring beer commercial speech, the actor who gave it (Jeff Douglas) became the anchor of the CBC Radio's flagship primetime news show. (*cringe*)
posted by Catchfire at 9:27 PM on July 1, 2013


On an even more embarrassingly slow refresh, I see that this was mentioned hours ago. Time for another caesar...
posted by Catchfire at 9:28 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]



I was born 100 years after confederacy

You were born in 2049?

Canadian confederation didn't happen when the last province joined in 1949 any more than the US became a country when Hawaii joined in 1959.

It dates to the BNA Act signed in 1867, when Canada became a country.
posted by jeather at 3:59 PM on July 1 [5 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]

Maybe they are those still waiting for Puerto Rico to join before the US starts counting it's birthdays.
posted by helmutdog at 9:41 PM on July 1, 2013


Empress , head to the Duke of Duckworth in St. John's if you take the side trip. It's the best spot for Newfie celeb watching.
posted by peppermind at 9:49 PM on July 1, 2013


end result was me never having to hear any of Jeff Douglas's awful puns ever again.

First of all, the puns are awesome, and I think they're mostly written by Chris Howden. It's just that Douglas can't deliver them worth a shit.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:42 AM on July 2, 2013


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