Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[porschegrl]

OK, thanks to @porschegrl , let's take this in a bit of a different direction.
American friends - did you know Canada has their own versions of the competition shows Master Chef, Top Chef, Big Brother, The Amazing Race and my most beloved The Great British Baking Show? I wonder if there's any way you can stream them? We also briefly had a Canadian version of Chopped but it was hosted by that weirdo Dean McDermott and he was pretty terrible, and hardly a shining example of Canadian talent.

Does The Great Canadian Baking Show have the same vibe as the British original? I'm not sure "soothing" is the right word, but it's the word that keeps coming to my mind. I'll definitely look to see if I can find it streaming somewhere.

Food Network/Cooking Channel in the US showed at least some episodes of Chopped Canada. I enjoyed it in spite of the host.

All seasons of MasterChef Canada are currently available to stream on Tubi (which I think is free). It looks like a few seasons of Top Chef Canada are available to stream on discovery+.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, what streaming services do you use?

 

[bcwife76]

Canadians, what streaming services do you use?

In our house we cut the cable cord a few months ago so we use Netflix, Disney+, Discovery+, Amazon Prime, Kodi, Roku (not much on that) and River TV. I also use a few websites like CBC, CityTV, Global and CTV.

 

[Buzz Rules]

In our house we cut the cable cord a few months ago so we use Netflix, Disney+, Discovery+, Amazon Prime, Kodi, Roku (not much on that) and River TV. I also use a few websites like CBC, CityTV, Global and CTV.

I wish we could get some of your Canadian channels here in the USA.

 

[ronandannette]

Does The Great Canadian Baking Show have the same vibe as the British original? I'm not sure "soothing" is the right word, but it's the word that keeps coming to my mind. I'll definitely look to see if I can find it streaming somewhere.

Food Network/Cooking Channel in the US showed at least some episodes of Chopped Canada. I enjoyed it in spite of the host.

All seasons of MasterChef Canada are currently available to stream on Tubi (which I think is free). It looks like a few seasons of Top Chef Canada are available to stream on discovery+.

It sort of does. The format is exactly the same but alas, our hosts and judges don't hold a candle to the likes of Paul Hollywood, Marry Berry, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas. I must say though, very objectively, the standard of the bakers on ours is often higher. I sometimes shake my head at some of the results on the British version. One definite similarity is how you "bond" with the contestants though - on both versions they're always just so winsome.

Canadians, what streaming services do you use?

One thing we don't really have is Hulu. Here most of those shows are available on a service called Crave, which is a shared platform with HBO. All the rest of your common ones are available here: Netflix (Canadian content is a little different), Amazon Prime, Disney+, AppleTV as well as many others like BritBox, Paramount+, Tubi, YouTube, and countless individual channels on cable.

 

[SirDuff]

It sort of does. The format is exactly the same but alas, our hosts and judges don't hold a candle to the likes of Paul Hollywood, Marry Berry, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas. I must say though, very objectively, the standard of the bakers on ours is often higher. I sometimes shake my head at some of the results on the British version. One definite similarity is how you "bond" with the contestants though - on both versions they're always just so winsome.

Agreed - but I really liked Dan Levy when he was one of the hosts of the Canadian version.

 

[SirDuff]

I actually resent this. I never said the USA is a better country. Do I think my country is stronger militarily and economically? Yes. Do I think we have a fairer system of government? Also yes.

Can you describe the Canadian governmental system? Not find a tweet or video, but actually, from your own knowledge explain the system? Can you explain (again, from your own current knowledge) the difference in our economies?

ETA - Maybe you totally can (in which I apologise for the insinuation), but seems that many people like to say “my country is better at…” (or “worse at …”) but cannot actually explain what the other country is doing. Heck, some cannot explain what their country is doing.

Other than quoting OECD or some such, I have *feelings* about things like government systems (and can even basically explain US, UK, Canada, and Switzerland) but couldn’t really say that one is better/worse than the other. I could on health care (though that is still opinion) but that is literally my job (I work in health system performance assessment).

 

[Buzz Rules]

Can you describe the Canadian governmental system? Not find a tweet or video, but actually, from your own knowledge explain the system? Can you explain (again, from your own current knowledge) the difference in our economies?

Economy wise, the USA has a higher GDP, is a leader in industry, and has a stronger currency. We have a larger workforce and I believe we have the most profitable trade deals outside of some deals made by China. I believe the USA produces more products in the USA than Canada does for their own products (I may be wrong about that though). Specifically what are you asking to explain about the Canadian parliament? Are you talking about their provincial parliamentary governments or their federal parliamentary system? Also, I thought you were Swiss?

 

[SirDuff]

Economy wise, the USA has a higher GDP, is a leader in industry, and has a stronger currency. We have a larger workforce and I believe we have the most profitable trade deals outside of some deals made by China. I believe the USA produces more products in the USA than Canada does for their own products (I may be wrong about that though). Specifically what are you asking to explain about the Canadian parliament? Are you talking about their provincial parliamentary governments or their federal parliamentary system? Also, I thought you were Swiss?

Canadian living in Switzerland. My point about asking you if you could explain the Canadian system is that you said that the US one is better; which you can only state if you can clearly explain the Canadian one. No one can clearly explain the Swiss one

US has a higher GDP, but also a higher debt (personal and government) to GDP ratio. Having a larger workforce is reflective of having a larger population - doesn’t mean the economy is stronger. As I added in my first post, I don’t actually know enough to argue which is stronger (various matrices would given a different answer), but my point is that it is complex so I was wondering what actual knowledge your claim that you’d is stronger is based on.

 

[Buzz Rules]

ETA - Maybe you totally can (in which I apologise for the insinuation), but seems that many people like to say “my country is better at…” (or “worse at …”) but cannot actually explain what the other country is doing. Heck, some cannot explain what their country is doing.

Other than quoting OECD or some such, I have *feelings* about things like government systems (and can even basically explain US, UK, Canada, and Switzerland) but couldn’t really say that one is better/worse than the other. I could on health care (though that is still opinion) but that is literally my job (I work in health system performance assessment).

I had to take some courses in college about different forms of government from the past to the present. I found the subject fascinating and it made me appreciate more that I live in a democratic republic.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, I do want to say, your parliamentary buildings look very nice from the videos I have seen. Have you guys ever visited our government buildings before? If so, what was your impression of them?

 

[SirDuff]

I had to take some courses in college about different forms of government from the past to the present. I found the subject fascinating and it made me appreciate more that I live in a democratic republic.

Cool . I'd ask why (not snarky, genuiniely interested) but it would probably get too political. I'm actually in Kenya right now so dinner conversation have been a lot about politics and political systems. Interesting as we have people from a few different countries (India but living in the US, Nigeria but living in the US, Ghana, Kenya, UK, and US) and many of us have lived in many countries (lots of UN organizations staff), so a lot of varied experiences and opinions. I will admit that no one seems to think that the US system is best (though, generally most of us see pluses/minuses in most systems).

Canadians, I do want to say, your parliamentary buildings look very nice from the videos I have seen. Have you guys ever visited our government buildings before? If so, what was your impression of them?

I visited the White House as a kid (and ran by it a lot when living in DC). Also many of the other government building in DC. My childhood memory of the WH is that we exited through really long hallways and ended up coming out of the building really far from where we had entered, which I thought was weird. It was only much later that I found that there had been a bomb threat (or some sort of threat) and that we had been exacuated. I just thought it was a weird system for exiting.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Canadians, I do want to say, your parliamentary buildings look very nice from the videos I have seen. Have you guys ever visited our government buildings before? If so, what was your impression of them?

Heading there for the first time at the end of September. Honestly, I have had zero desire to go and see the White House and other American icons, but the opportunity has come along, so I see it as at least an opportunity to hit a few free museums. I have also walked past the Massachusetts State House in Boston a number of times, but have never been inside. Hard to miss it with that gold dome on top.

I have been to Ottawa. The parliament buildings are truly outstanding works of architecture with so many details, both inside and out. I have also been to the grounds of Saskatchewan's legislature building in Regina. (We opted to not take the time to tour the inside).

 

[prairie_girl]

Our Legislative building was constructed with limestone, at least the inside is, and you can see fossils in the walls. It’s very cool.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Our Legislative building was constructed with limestone, at least the inside is, and you can see fossils in the walls. It’s very cool.

The education building at the U of S (and likely others) is the same way. Lots of porifera and other fossils in it. The official name for it is Tyndall stone and it plays a huge role in Manitoban architecture.

ETA: Tyndall stone...a good research project for @Buzz Rules!

 

[Buzz Rules]

The education building at the U of S (and likely others) is the same way. Lots of porifera and other fossils in it. The official name for it is Tyndall stone and it plays a huge role in Manitoban architecture.

ETA: Tyndall stone...a good research project for @Buzz Rules!

 

[Frozen Canuck]

You just always seem to be out looking for random facts...Tyndall stone is kind of unique and is used in a number of buildings in Canada.

 

[rlk]

You just always seem to be out looking for random facts...Tyndall stone is kind of unique and is used in a number of buildings in Canada.

Not Buzz, but I always appreciate learning about random facts.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Not Buzz, but I always appreciate learning about random facts.

Then you are absolutely welcome to research Tyndall stone as well! Your desire to learn must stem from that American inquisitiveness that I have heard so much about.

 

[Buzz Rules]

You just always seem to be out looking for random facts...Tyndall stone is kind of unique and is used in a number of buildings in Canada.

I’ll check it out.