The Prairies

Primarily located in southern Saskatchewan but sprinkled into lower Alberta and Manitoba are the Canadian Prairies. The Canadian Prairies are the northernmost section of the Great Plains of North America. Once a thriving wild grassland the Canadian Prairies have since been converted into almost exclusive farmland. The growth patterns of certain plants are predictable here and yield excellent crops. Some notable crops are wheat, canola, flax, oats and barley.

Spectacular view of a farmers field in the prairies.

Photo credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/swillems-56408

When you mention the prairies to a Canadian they most certainly think of the flat golden wheat fields contrasted to a rich blue sky that you can see for miles and miles. However the land is more diverse and includes, plains, valleys, hills and more. There is plenty to do and see including camping with Parks Canada, learning how to farm and visiting local landmarks. A famous Canadian television series Corner Gas, was also filmed and set in the prairies. We love Canada's diverse landscape and the prairies do not always get the attention they deserve. If you find yourself out there, a wheat field sunset will knock your socks off!

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Moose

Photo By Bell Ronald L,

Moose are the largest of all the deer species. Males are immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can spread 6 feet from end to end and are used to fight off other moose that try to steal his girl during mating season. Moose have long faces and muzzles that dangle over their chins. A flap of skin known as a bell sways beneath each moose's throat. 

Rutt and Tuke from the Disney movie Brother Bear, voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas
 or otherwise known as the Canadian comedy icons The Mckenzie Brothers.

Moose are at home in the water and, despite their staggering bulk, are good swimmers. They have been seen paddling several miles at a time, and will even submerge completely, staying under for 30 seconds or more. Moose are similarly nimble on land. They can run up to 35 miles an hour over short distances, and trot steadily at 20 miles an hour. If you have seen a moose in the wild, count yourself lucky some people wait 33 years to see the illusive moose. (at least that is how long I waited)

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Killbear Provincial Park

Killbear Provincial Park is immortalized in many Group of Seven paintings and a visit to the park feels like you are stepping into the canvas. Rocky shores jutting into Georgian Bay; clear, weedless water; weatherworn trees gripping for purchase on the rocks; and an array of earthy colours that change throughout the year define the area.

By Robert Swier from Osaka, Japan - Wind Tree Clouds, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7737263

It is a protected gem in the middle of Ontario’s burgeoning cottage country, one that many seek out to embrace the feeling of wild experienced by our ancestors.

It is also considered an exceptional boating destination with plenty of hidden bays in which to anchor for a day of swimming.  


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Canadian Winter Festivals

We Canadians have learned to embrace what others typically hide away from. The frigid cold of winter is one of those things we cannot escape (until we are 65+ and become snowbirds) so we make the best of it by having a big party! All across Canada, cities, towns and communities host winter festivals as a way to celebrate their heritage and of course, beat away the winter blues. While there are many festivals that exist, some notable ones are:

Carnaval de Quebec, Quebec City QC

Carnaval de Quebec is the largest winter festival in the world. The festivals features parade’s both day and night led by the King of the Winter Festival, Bonhomme. There are also ice sculptures, dog races, select streets are closed down and filled with family activities, restaurant and bar patios open are for service and much, much more. I had the pleasure of visiting last winter and had a blast! Although I never go to meet Bonhomme, I did manage to find a sculpture of him and that will do until next time.

Me and a sculpture of Bonhomme, The King of the Winter Festival.

Winterlude, Ottawa ON

At this festival you better show up with ice skates because the Rideau Canal is frozen and offers up 8km of ice to freely skate on. There is plenty of food to be eaten (prix-fixe plans across 55 restaurants) and an annual bed race in support of Kiwanis Club of Ottawa community initiatives. There is plenty of family fun at Snowflake Kingdom and an ice sculpture competition.

Winterlude Ice Sculpture.
Photo Credit: By Andrew Plumb from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - Winterlude/Bal de neige, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48520039

Toonik Tyme, Iqaluit NU

Celebrating the arrival of spring, this festival showcases the traditions and heritage of the Inuit people. The goal here is to celebrate and preserve the Inuit culture as well as showcase it to non-Inuit tourists. Here you can witness igloo building competitions, ski-doo races, learn about sled dog teams and their importance in the north, try your hand at Skijoring (I tried with my Siberian Husky here in Ontario and failed miserably), watch Inuit games and much more offered by the community.

World Ski and Snowboard Festival, Whistler BC

Thrill seekers and party goers this a festival for you. Skiing, snowboarding, music and art all in one jam packed festival in April. Here you can take in a wide variety of ski and snowboard competitions, enjoy the slopes of Whistler-Blackcomb yourself, enjoy a variety of free and paid concerts, take in a comedy show or check out many galleries and art shows.

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Cirque du Soleil

The word circus was once synonymous with kitsch and frivolity. While it was always about spectacle, the word for many conjures up visions of caged animals, questionable workers and greedy schemes to give people little entertainment for maximum profit.

Photo by TBWABusted 

Cirque du Soleil has glamourized the concept of circus while bringing it back to glory in terms of grand spectacle; bringing people jaw-dropping talent combined with intense art.

Founded in 1984 by two street performers, the “Circus of the Sun” has gone on to perform in front of over 90 million people in over 270 countries.

Shows combine sublime choreography, powerful music and artful sets with often death-defying acrobatics, incredibly trained animals and other art forms including dance, puppetry and song, all while maintaining the feel of being “under the big top.”   


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Toques

We Canadian’s have weird words for normal things. Some examples include: a 3 seater sofa being called a chesterfield, the great folk in Saskatchewan call hooded sweatshirts bunnyhugs and a 24 count case of beer is called a two four.
                       

A collection of my girlfriend's gray toques 

One article of clothing that that helps us stay warm in the frigid Canadian winters also has a unique name. Of course I am talking about the toque! A toque is simply a knitted hat meant to be worn in the winter to keep your head warm. Across the globe these are called, beanies, knits, tophues and bobble hats.

While a toque can be any knitted hat, I personally only associate those with a pom-pom on the top of them to be a true toque. But that’s just me. Or is it? What do you consider a toque? Let us know in the comments below.

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Canada's Wonderland

Located in Vaughan, Ontario (about 20 mins north of downtown Toronto on a good traffic day) is Canada's largest theme park, Canada's Wonderland. The park has over 65 rides, 16 of those being high thrill, pure adrenaline roller coasters. Interestingly enough, Canada's Wonderland is ranked second in the world by number of roller coasters, beneath Six Flags Magic Mountain and tied with Cedar Point; go Canada!

Flight Deck at Canada's Wonderland.
Photo Credit: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. 

For the majority of my childhood/teen years the park was owned and operated by Paramount...yes, the movie company. The rides were named after movies, like Top Gun, Italian Job, Tomb Raider and the kid's zone, Hanna Barbera Land with tons of references to the cartoon characters of that world. When Cedar Fair took over as the owner/operator many of the ride names changed due to legal rights, but us old timers still call Flight Deck, Top Gun, Backlot Stunt Coaster, Italian Job and the Drop Tower, Drop Zone. Very similar to how we treat the Rogers Centre, we still call it Skydome!

Canada's Wonderland also offers an escape to the hot days of summer with it's Splash Works water amusement center. Here you can relax on a lazy river, induldge in more thrills on water slides, catch a wave in the wave pool or simply soak up some sun in the lounge areas.

Lazy River
Photo Credit: By Svetlana Grechkina - Flickr: Canada's Wonderland, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19905905

One of the unique and probably coolest things the park offers is the Halloween Haunt (formerly known as Fearfest). On weekends in October the park opens at 7:00pm and is transformed to scare its guests with live shows, horror mazes, scare zones and of course big thrills on the rides in the dark of night. It's actually quite entertaining, especially if you have friends that scare easy.

Quick Tip: If you go, invest in the Fast Pass Plus ticket. You can basically skip the lines on pretty much all the rides. I was able to ride Drop Zone and Leviathan twice within 10 minutes while others waited up to an hour to ride Leviathan once.

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The Canadian Patch

Used under creative commons. Creator: meddygarnet

A POST BY MIKE CIUFFINI

Around the world Canadians are thought to be polite, happy-go-lucky and generous. When people hear you are from Canada, they seem to treat you the same way we would treat them.

For Canadian travellers backpacking through Europe, Asia or Australia, there is a simple way to tell the world they are Canadian before someone even asks: the proverbial Canadian flag patch embroidered onto their packs.

A simple concept that demonstrates national pride, but more importantly, also symbolizes that you may be one of those polite Canadians looking for generosity in return. It’s something people around the world have come to expect from Canadians.

The origin of the popularity of the Canadian patch seems to go back to the 70’s when the Vietnam War turned many against our neighbours to the south. Wanting to ensure we weren’t compared to our dangerous neighbours, backpacking baby boomers started wearing the Maple Leaf on their luggage and it caught on.

Even though there have been cases of Americans wearing the Canadian flags themselves, maybe we should drop the idea of sporting a flag altogether.  I mean, isn’t the point of travelling is to learn new influences and experience life and culture? It’s not like you’re gonna start singing O Canada and take a swig from a bottle of maple syrup.

So start a conversation with a local, break the ice by telling them you are Canadian and you consider yourself lucky to be from one of the best countries on earth.

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Canadian Soccer

A POST BY MIKE CIUFFINI

A more distinctive Canadian identity for soccer is beginning to take shape. The success of Canadian teams in North America’s top professional league, Major League Soccer (MLS), the rise of our women's national team into fourth place in FIFA rankings and having the men’s national team being competitive for bigger tournaments have allowed the world to take notice.

In a country as multicultural as Canada is, the identity of the world’s most beautiful game tends to be very insular to an individual’s country of origin. When the World Cup comes around every four years, neighbourhoods across the country are divided and support and pride is defined by the flags attached to car windows and hung from porches and garage doors.

But that love of the game has turned into opportunity for Canadian city markets in the MLS. Professional football clubs exist in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal all with world-class stadiums and support from die-hard fans.

The Toronto Football Club (TFC) won the Eastern Conference and played in the MLS Cup Final in 2016 and is currently sitting first place in the league this year.

They play out of BMO Field in Toronto, which FIFA considers Canada’s National Stadium. It’s located on the Exhibition grounds and is quick walk from many bars and restaurants in the town known as Liberty Village. A quick walk in the tunnel under the train tracks brings you down the laneway leading up to the impressive building.

To experience a game there is enthralling. Soccer fans create a unique atmosphere that begin in the streets, chanting, playing drums, waving flags and releasing coloured smoke into the sky. It’s a religion more than a sport.

The TFC and the Montreal Impact have established a rivalry over the past few years. They played in the conference finals last year that went the distance and had fans on both sides on the edge of their seats. In the end, the TFC prevailed, setting the stage for heated matches this season already.

Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto compete every year for the Canadian Championship, which allows the club to compete in the North American Champions League for professional soccer clubs. Now in it’s tenth year, Toronto defeated Montreal to add to that intense rivalry.

The Canadian Women’s National Team has had incredible success. They won Olympic bronze in London in 2012 against France and in 2016 against host Brazil. They have qualified for the Women’s World Cup every year since 1995 and came in fourth place in 2003.

The state of the world’s most beautiful game is growing in Canada. So let’s wear our red scarves and scream O Canada at the beginning of each match, loud and proud! 

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Paint Roller

The Paint Roller, invented by Norman Breakey.

Could you imagine having to paint an entire room, or house with only a brush!? That’d be a nightmare of a task to complete. We can thank Canada yet again for making our lives a little easier, specifically Norman Breakey. Breakey is credited with inventing the paint roller; a device used to paint walls quicker and with smoother coats than a brush. Unfortunately Breakey didn’t patent his invention and imitations from larger companies flooded the market and squeezed him out. While he was never able to reap the financial rewards of his invention, anyone who has ever painted since 1940 can thank him for making their lives much easier.

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5 Pin Bowling

If you’ve ever bowled in Canada you are probably used to seeing a few of the lanes only having 5 pins and using smaller balls with no finger holes. That’s because 5 pin bowling is unique to Canada. The game was created in 1909 by Thomas F. Ryan after many of his customers complained that 10 pin bowling was too strenuous. Since then most bowling alleys in Canada have dedicated 5 pin lanes.

http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/CWMGary-51046

In traditional 10 pin bowling, each pin is worth a single point and knocking all of them over yields 10 points but with 5 pin bowling, each pin has a different value (the furthest two are worth 2 points, the middle two are worth 3 points and the center pin is worth 5 points) and knocking them all over yields 15 points. Another difference is in 10 pin you have only two chances to knock down all the pins whereas with 5 pin you have three chances.

Truthfully though, as an adult, 5 pin isn’t much fun. It is definitely geared for the younger crowd who would have trouble with 10 pin and the elderly who still want to be active on the lanes. I have fond memories growing up and having birthday parties on the 5 pin lanes, and somewhere out there is embarrassing videos of said parties, so the game will always have a special place in my heart. 


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Our Canadian Flag

freeimages.com/photographer/iamiam-52606

Our flag is beautiful, and it reflects the bright, cheery, whimsical, outdoor-loving people it represents. 

In flag-speak, the flag features a red field with a white square at its centre in the ratio of 1:2:1, in the middle of which is featured a stylized, red, 11-pointed maple leaf charged in the centre.

In lay speak, it’s the maple leaf, l'Unifolié (French for "the one-leafed"), used for the first time on a country's national flag and, best put by the Honourable Maurice Bourget, Speaker of the Senate when the flag was unveiled, a "symbol of the nation's unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion."

The flag of Canada was officially adopted on February 15, 1965. It replaced a traditional flag that screamed of colonialism and staunch British conservatism, bearing the Union Jack and the shield of the royal arms of Canada. 

Canadians love their flag for its lack of pomp. It is something positive, something that can be proudly and happily tattooed on a shoulder or sewn onto a backpack. It declines the militaristic and severe attributes of other flags in exchange for something bright, proud, natural and simple. It is, truly, an accurate depiction of our nation’s character.   


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Roll up the Rim to Win

Held annually in February, Roll up the Rim to Win is Tim Hortons (another one of our favourite Canadian things) biggest marketing campaign nationwide. The premise is simple; buy an eligible size of coffee, hot chocolate, tea, etc and when you’re done drinking it, roll up the paper rim to reveal if you’ve won a prize or not.

Image provided by: Calgary Reviews

The concept was introduced to Tim Hortons in 1985 when Lily Cup (their paper cup supplier) approached them with a new design that allowed messages to be printed under the rim of their cups. Tim Hortons jumped at the chance to boost spring time sales and launched the contest in 1986. Initially the prizes were just in store goods, but since have increased to new cars, televisions, gift cards and of course staying true to their roots, coffee and baked goods.

Roll up the Rim to Win is not without its drama though. There was a heated legal battle between two families over who the rightful winner of a Toyata Rav 4 was. Long story short; 10 year old girl finds cup in trash and asks 12 year old girl to roll the rim for her. Toyota Rav 4 is the prize, families fight for who the winner is and a lawyer comes out of nowhere and says DNA test for who actually drank the beverage. The prize was eventually awarded to the family of the girl who found the cup. Another issue popped up in 2015 when Tim Hortons added pin codes to winning cups. Winners were disappointed after tearing off the prize tab and being denied the prize because they were missing the pin code. Advice: if you roll up a winner, just keep the whole cup.

Canada 150 Roll up the Rim to Win cup from Tim Hortons with a donut prize!

Tim Hortons is running a special edition of Roll Up The Rim for Canada’s 150^th birthday this year. So be sure to head out to your local Tim’s and grab a cup of Joe to enjoy while reading more of our 150 favourite Canadian things. 

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Language

Canadian 1: "Put on your runners, grab your double-double and go pick me up a mickey and a two-four ya keener. Store's only three klicks away."

Canadian 2: "Give'r bud don't get yourself in a kerfuffle I'll meet ya by the Muskoka chairs. "

Canadian 1: "I'll owe ya two twonies and a loonie but I'll get ya Timmies or a pop next time."

Canadian 2: "Beauty."

It is a beautiful, poetic language, is it not?

Canada has two official languages to go with a number of aboriginal languages that pre-date them. Today, English is predominant while French is still largely spoken in Quebec. Many say Canadian French is completely distinct from that spoken in France, and, quite frankly, the English is pretty unique too. Particularly when you find yourself talking to a Maritimer or someone from the prairies, bunch of beauties they are.

Canada's mosaic also means that anywhere in Canada you may hear any number of languages. That said, it only takes a few trips to the hockey rink to have newcomers working in an "eh" or a "bar-downski" into their everyday vernacular.

And just FYI, no one says "hoser" in Canada. That was just an elaborate joke we played on Americans to make them sound silly. Boom.

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Halifax Citadel Hill

POST BY MIKE CIUFFINI

Halifax Citadel Hill watches over the city’s downtown core and is an official National Historic Site.  It is a reminder of Halifax’s history and military fortification.

The colonial fortress, eventually named Fort George, has been around longer than Canada itself. First built in 1749, over one hundred years before confederation, the site was identified as strategically important and fortified for various conflicts over the years. The current star-shaped fortress was completed in 1856 by the British Army and fortified by the Canadian Army during the First and Second World Wars.

Today, the site is maintained by Parks Canada and visitors can take self-guided and guided tours, Ghost Tours, visit the Army Museum and even experience being a solider for a day. This unique experience allows someone to experience the life of a mid-19^th century solider, get fitted for an authentic uniform (include the bonnet!), runs drills and even fire a rifle (must be over 16 years-old).

Halifax is a wonderful east coast city and Citadel Hill is a must-see when visiting. Every local is used to hearing the Royal Artillery fire the Noon Gun at 12:00 p.m. 

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David Suzuki

Picture from Mary Winspear

David Suzuki is one of Canada's best-known environmental activists. Now age 81, he is an endearing figure to generations of Canadians, due in part to his role on television programs such as The Nature of Things and Suzuki on Science.

Born in Vancouver, BC, Suzuki and his family were victims of Canadian government internment during the Second World War. The government sold his family’s business and they were forced to move east of the Rocky Mountains after the war.

Suzuki went on to earn his PhD in Zoology and began a successful broadcasting career in 1970.

In recent years Suzuki has been an outspoken climate change activist, noted for his criticism of governments for not doing more. He is Canada’s answer to Neil deGrasse Tyson (or perhaps, more accurately, Bill Nye) and is respected both in Canada and abroad for his important and impassioned views.

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Lake Louise

POST BY MIKE CIUFFINI

Through the mist of an inclined roadway in Banff National Park is the magical glacial-fed Lake Louise and the impressive Fairmont Chateau that overlooks it.

Incredibly scenic walking paths and hiking trails surround the emerald-coloured lake. I recommend the Plain of Six Glaciers trail. It is a 10.5 km return trail that offers views of Mount Lefroy, Mount Victoria and the Victoria Glacier. At the cusp of the incline I was lucky enough to witness a mini-avalanche off the mountain peaks in the distance.

Rooms in Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise were warm and super-comfy.  After a full day of hiking the surrounding trails, a nice warm bath and a rest on a bed made for a king was just what I needed.

In the spring and summer months, visitors can rent a Canadian-red canoe to explore the lake. In the winter, part of the lake becomes a skating pad. The lake is a jewel in the expanse of the rugged Canadian Rockies, a real beauty.

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Margaret Atwood

Post By Sarah Evans

Canada is home to many accomplished authors, poets, and essayists whose volumes of work have achieved international acclaim. However, none come to mind as quickly as our very own Margaret Atwood. Still working at the age of seventy-eight, Atwood has penned over forty fictional novels, critical essays and poems. She is perhaps best known to us for A Handmaid’s Tale, her brilliant examination of the place of a female in a dystopian society. This novel is a reading staple in many high school English classes, and has recently been adapted into a Bravo television series.

Born in Ottawa in 1939, Atwood spent her younger years growing up in northern Quebec and Ontario. She attended high school in Toronto, and after graduating went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Toronto. She then attended Radcliffe College, Harvard, where she earned her master’s degree. After finishing school she held many roles at various esteemed Canadian and American universities, including University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, York University, and New York University.

Over the course of her career, Atwood has received much global recognition for her work, earning her countless awards and honourary degrees. Through her distinct writing style, political commentary and follies into feminism, she has earned a spot for Canada on the international literary stage. She is a true Canadian icon, who shows no signs of slowing. She is truly one of 150 Canadian things to celebrate! 

Make sure you enter our contest to win a $150 Amazon.ca gift card 

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Terry Fallis

Terry Fallis is a Canadian public relations professional-turned multi-award winning author.

His first novel, The Best Laid Plans, was not accepted by a publisher so was released by podcast and then self-published before going on to win CBC Canada Reads and the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. Talk about Canadian determination.

The Best Laid Plans is a wonderful piece of fiction that explores the inner workings of Canadian politics. The story has rich characters and its humour is remarkably simple, poignant and accessible. Fallis’ background with the Canadian Liberal Party gives depth and genuine character to the story. Character Angus McLintock is a modern day folk hero, a crotchety old academic who will do anything not to teach English to engineering students, even if it means running to become a Member of Parliament.  Angus’ diary entries to his departed wife give the story an amazing emotional arch which rounds out well against the humour.

Fallis followed The Best Laid Plans with sequel The High Road, along with four other books including No Relation, which netted him his second Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.

Enter our contest to win a $150 Amazon.ca gift card and pick up Terry’s full collection.

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Comedy

FreeImages.com/Julie Elliott-Abshire

Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Norm Macdonald, Russell Peters, John Candy (RIP), Lorne Michaels, Eugene Levy, Seth Rogen, Colin Mochrie, Phil Hartman (RIP), Howie Mandel, Tom Green, Elvira Kurt, Rick Mercer, Leslie Nielsen, Tommy Chong, Cathy Jones, Scott Thompson, William Shatner, Cobie Smulders, Will Arnett, Harland Williams, Caroline Rhea, Samantha Bee…

‘Nuff said.

Okay I’ll say a little more.

Canada is an absolute incubator of exceptional comedic minds. And we like to show it off, too, across all mediums. The Just for Laughs Festival in Quebec, Yuk Yuk’s comedy club, SCTV, Kids in the Hall, La famille Plouffe, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Beaverton, Trailer Park Boys, The Second City, Men with Brooms and Letterkenny are just a few examples of how Canadians show of their comic hardware.

Some fun “did you knows” about Canadian comedy:

• The Tom Green Show started as an Ottawa community cable TV program

• Lorne Michaels, creator of Saturday Night Live, was born in Canada. Perhaps one reason why Canadians dominated the show for so many years. Michaels also produced Kids in the Hall

• The Royal Canadian Air Farce was a radio program for 24 years before becoming a permanent television program

• The children’s author Robert Munsch, while not born in Canada, resides in Guelph, Ontario

It is another representation of the easy-going, friendly nature of Canadians that we find it so easy to laugh at ourselves, and, in a nice way, at others. 

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