Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Frozen Canuck]

I don’t know why, but it feels like a big deal that I can drive to the centre of Canada in like 20 minutes.

That's because it IS a big deal!

I don’t really consider us eastern or western, we’re just in the middle. In the CFL we have been switched from east to west several times.

That's why both @ronandannette and I don't know where to place Manitoba. You are neither east nor west, here nor there. Manitoba is existential. It exists, therefore it is. It is not for us to question why.

 

[ronandannette]

Um, we are the Centre of the Universe, thank you very much

 

[NAB]

So as an Ontario resident yourself, are we in the east or west part of Canada? I always just kinda thought of Ontario as the middle. Throws me off thinking of it as east.

I think of us in the middle too I guess.

 

[SirDuff]

I SERIOUSLY had written part of my paragraph to make a joke about Ontario being the center of the universe, but I deleted it, because I thought it might be too political, even though it was a joke. I didn't want to have everything implode, or @Buzz Rules would never allow me to post again! It is okay for YOU to say that though, so there's that...ha! I couldn't get away with that, being from Saskatchewan.

I did think twice about posting it, but figured/hoped that it was clear that I was joking.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

So as an Ontario resident yourself, are we in the east or west part of Canada? I always just kinda thought of Ontario as the middle. Throws me off thinking of it as east.

I think of us in the middle too I guess.

But that wasn't the question. If you have to choose to align yourself with either east or west, no middle ground, which side would you consider yourself?

It has been so fascinating to me to see the more westerly provinces seeing the country as west and east, while Ontario is firmly like, "Nope. We're middle."

 

[SirDuff]

But that wasn't the question. If you have to choose to align yourself with either east or west, no middle ground, which side would you consider yourself?

It has been so fascinating to me to see the more westerly provinces seeing the country as west and east, while Ontario is firmly like, "Nope. We're middle."

To be fair, part the issue for those of is in/from Ontario is that those in provinces east of Quebec would very much push back against someone from Ontario saying that they are from Eastern Canada.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

To be fair, part the issue for those of is in/from Ontario is that those in provinces east of Quebec would very much push back against someone from Ontario saying that they are from Eastern Canada.

Also very interesting. I am taking notes.

(And at this point, I had another jab at Ontario typed out, but I have deleted it as well. Ha!)

 

[NAB]

But that wasn't the question. If you have to choose to align yourself with either east or west, no middle ground, which side would you consider yourself?

It has been so fascinating to me to see the more westerly provinces seeing the country as west and east, while Ontario is firmly like, "Nope. We're middle."

Sorry didn’t understand the question…lol I guess we would be east of course. If you looked at a map.

Really I never use east or west when I say where I’m from. Mostly say East of Toronto. No one ever asked me this question before I don’t think.

 

[declansdad]

Um, we are the Centre of the Universe, thank you very much

I always thought that was just Toronto.

To be fair, part the issue for those of is in/from Ontario is that those in provinces east of Quebec would very much push back against someone from Ontario saying that they are from Eastern Canada.

 

[SirDuff]

I always thought that was just Toronto.

We're the centre of the centre of the universe

 

[fab1976]

I always thought that was just Toronto.

Wait, there’s more to Ontario than the Toronto area??

The GTA (greater Toronto area) seems to just keep expanding. Pretty soon every city will be part of it!

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Well, if this is true...

Um, we are the Centre of the Universe, thank you very much

And this is true...

We're the centre of the centre of the universe

Then you shouldn't care at all about this...

To be fair, part the issue for those of is in/from Ontario is that those in provinces east of Quebec would very much push back against someone from Ontario saying that they are from Eastern Canada.

What's a little pushback...ha!

 

[FigmentSpark]

I think Manitobans think of themselves as westerners, because they have much more in common with Sk and Ab. That said, I wonder how those of western Ontario (sometimes bizarrely referred to as northern Ontario) feel. I mean, if you're from Thunder Bay or anywhere around there, you have more in common with Manitoba than Ottawa or the GTA or Windsor. I would think that would be frustrating. How do you get your issues heard by the provincial government even?

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Okay, just to be safe, I'm going to toss something new out there...

I'm hosting a potluck at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House for people from both sides of the 49th parallel. (The library straddles the Canada/U.S. border, so everyone can participate without needing a passport or having issues with customs trying to smuggle food in.) You can bring ONE food from your area to share with everyone. It can be a cultural dish, a local specialty, something from your state fair, whatever you want, as long as you write a little bit to tell why you are sharing it. You don't have to be super specific about the area if it is too revealing.

I'll start...

I'm bringing Hurricones from Getty Foods in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I had never heard of Hurricones before, but when I was back home this summer, my sister encouraged me to try one. Getting Hurricones is a family tradition for them when they go back. Hurricones are like the best Coke float, without the messy, gloppy drink part that loses its fizz. I have no idea if this is unique to Getty Foods, but I have never come across them elsewhere. To make one, the person starts by tipping a cup on its side and filling half of it with soft serve. They then fill the other half of the cup with your choice of slushie (Coke, Dr. Pepper, whatever is on tap). So good!

 

[prairie_girl]

I’m bringing slurpees because we’re the slurpee capital of the world for 25+ years and counting

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I’m bringing slurpees because we’re the slurpee capital of the world for 25+ years and counting

That's only because I moved away...ha ha!

 

[FigmentSpark]

Okay, just to be safe, I'm going to toss something new out there...

I'm hosting a potluck at the Haskell Free Library and Opera House for people from both sides of the 49th parallel. (The library straddles the Canada/U.S. border, so everyone can participate without needing a passport or having issues with customs trying to smuggle food in.) You can bring ONE food from your area to share with everyone. It can be a cultural dish, a local specialty, something from your state fair, whatever you want, as long as you write a little bit to tell why you are sharing it. You don't have to be super specific about the area if it is too revealing.

I'll start...

I'm bringing Hurricones from Getty Foods in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I had never heard of Hurricones before, but when I was back home this summer, my sister encouraged me to try one. Getting Hurricones is a family tradition for them when they go back. Hurricones are like the best Coke float, without the messy, gloppy drink part that loses its fizz. I have no idea if this is unique to Getty Foods, but I have never come across them elsewhere. To make one, the person starts by tipping a cup on its side and filling half of it with soft serve. They then fill the other half of the cup with your choice of slushie (Coke, Dr. Pepper, whatever is on tap). So good!

View attachment 701847

That looks totally yummy.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

That looks totally yummy.

They were! It seems like such a simple idea, but something I hadn't seen done before. I think the day we went, they had Coke, Dr. Pepper, and maybe cream soda??? It was pink. I tried to find a picture of it, but I must not have taken one.

 

[declansdad]

Well, if you live on the west coast or on the prairies, to us, Ontario and Quebec are "out east."

LOL.

Where is Atlantic Canada?

 

[Frozen Canuck]

LOL.

Where is Atlantic Canada?

Even further out east.