Why does adding a maple leaf make something Canadian?

[declansdad]

So we did the tour today. I got the name wrong. The ship is the HMCS Winnipeg which is a Halifax class frigate. I did say “happy Thanksgiving” to several of the crew members and it seemed pretty well received. I found out that they had some event on Sunday which is why the tours were cut short, and tonight the crew is having Thanksgiving dinner.

It was a pretty nice ship. We only had access to one level though, from the helo deck to the bow. They had graphics at each spot on the ship.

I don't understand why you were worried about saying happy Thanksgiving to a Canadian sailor on Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[pigletto]

Happy Thanksgiving! Do you eat turkey as well? Or, is that just the American version?

We do. In fact my sisters boyfriend is American and asked the same thing before coming for Thanksgiving dinner this year. My sister somehow convinced him that we catch our own turkey and hold a ceremony called "The Plucking" where we invite the guest of honour to kill and pluck the turkey. HE BELIEVED HER and was terrified that he had to kill the turkey. Did I mention the man is a surgeon in his second year of residency? So he's not a stupid guy.. but maybe a bit naive. We all had so much fun with that this weekend. Luckily he's a good sport and was both relieved and amused too.

 

[ronandannette]

We do. In fact my sisters boyfriend is American and asked the same thing before coming for Thanksgiving dinner this year. My sister somehow convinced him that we catch our own turkey and hold a ceremony called "The Plucking" where we invite the guest of honour to kill and pluck the turkey. HE BELIEVED HER and was terrified that he had to kill the turkey. Did I mention the man is a surgeon in his second year of residency? So he's not a stupid guy.. but maybe a bit naive. We all had so much fun with that this weekend. Luckily he's a good sport and was both relieved and amused too.

Sounds more fun than watching football...

 

[declansdad]

We do. In fact my sisters boyfriend is American and asked the same thing before coming for Thanksgiving dinner this year. My sister somehow convinced him that we catch our own turkey and hold a ceremony called "The Plucking" where we invite the guest of honour to kill and pluck the turkey. HE BELIEVED HER and was terrified that he had to kill the turkey. Did I mention the man is a surgeon in his second year of residency? So he's not a stupid guy.. but maybe a bit naive. We all had so much fun with that this weekend. Luckily he's a good sport and was both relieved and amused too.

 

[bcla]

Well - I'll just say that the Royal Canadian Navy were excellent hosts. The tour was self-guided, so there was no pressure to leave any area. Some people were just hanging out and taking in views of San Francisco Bay. The ship was blocking the normal view of the Bay from the Exploratorium though. My kid also grabbed a bunch of "CANADA 150" temporary tattoos that they had available for everyone, along with trading-style information cards on the ship and information sheets. So I guess Canadian tax dollars are going towards trinkets for American visitors.

The only problem now is that kid asked about getting something like the 57 mm gun on the deck of the ship. And as we passed by, there was a young sailor on security detail walking by with a rifle. My kid asked what it was (I said it looked like an M4 [or an equivalent]) at which point my kid blurted out something about wanting one. The sailor heard that and smiled hearing that.

 

[kimblebee]

Well - I'll just say that the Royal Canadian Navy were excellent hosts. The tour was self-guided, so there was no pressure to leave any area. Some people were just hanging out and taking in views of San Francisco Bay. The ship was blocking the normal view of the Bay from the Exploratorium though. My kid also grabbed a bunch of "CANADA 150" temporary tattoos that they had available for everyone, along with trading-style information cards on the ship and information sheets. So I guess Canadian tax dollars are going towards trinkets for American visitors.

The only problem now is that kid asked about getting something like the 57 mm gun on the deck of the ship. And as we passed by, there was a young sailor on security detail walking by with a rifle. My kid asked what it was (I said it looked like an M4 [or an equivalent]) at which point my kid blurted out something about wanting one. The sailor heard that and smiled hearing that.

Those darn Canadians and their guns.

Thanks for alerting us to the massive amount of our tax dollars being spent on such frivolity as the tattoos. I’m writing to my MP as we speak and planning a protest (no kneeling though).

Sorry you didn’t have a good time..

 

[bcla]

Those darn Canadians and their guns.

Thanks for alerting us to the massive amount of our tax dollars being spent on such frivolity as the tattoos. I’m writing to my MP as we speak and planning a protest (no kneeling though).

Sorry you didn’t have a good time..

I had a great time. Like I said, excellent hosts providing some pretty nice schwag for my kid. My kid did have a hard time using them though. They didn't require water to stick, but they didn't really adhere all that well. They had the CANADA 150 pattern on the left:

 

[Kitty 34]

Sorry I'm a day late but Happy Thanksgiving to all our northern neighbors!!!

 

[ronandannette]

Those darn Canadians and their guns.

Thanks for alerting us to the massive amount of our tax dollars being spent on such frivolity as the tattoos. I’m writing to my MP as we speak and planning a protest (no kneeling though).

Sorry you didn’t have a good time..

Don't forget to not put a stamp on it - free mail to your MP is another example of your tax dollars at work. And be sure to mention bcla wasn't impressed with the quality of the complimentary tatoos. They were probably made in China.

 

[kimblebee]

Don't forget to not put a stamp on it - free mail to your MP is another example of your tax dollars at work. And be sure to mention bcla wasn't impressed with the quality of the complimentary tatoos. They were probably made in China.

I didn’t know that about the stamps; thanks for saving me $1 or whatever a stamp costs lol

I have printed out this thread and will include it in my letter. We need to stop this outrageous practice of free tattoos. We are becoming a nation of freeloaders.

 

[bcla]

I didn’t know that about the stamps; thanks for saving me $1 or whatever a stamp costs lol

I have printed out this thread and will include it in my letter. We need to stop this outrageous practice of free tattoos. We are becoming a nation of freeloaders.

It’s foreign aid.

 

[tcufrog]

I like the maple leaf flag. It's a very nice and distinctive design.

 

[ronandannette]

It’s foreign aid.

You're welcome. To thank you for your interest in our country please post your address so we can also send you a Coffee Crisp bar and one of our really cool, glow in the dark $5 silver coins:

 

[bethbuchall]

You're welcome. To thank you for your interest in our country please post your address so we can also send you a Coffee Crisp bar and one of our really cool, glow in the dark $5 silver coins:

How do you like your coffee?

My "kids" went to Canada on Canada Day and rocked those tattoos and also bought the shirts. No glow in the dark coins, though.

 

[SkaGoat]

My kid asked what it was (I said it looked like an M4 [or an equivalent]) a

Standard issue rifle in the Canadian armed forces is the Colt Canada C7/C8. They are variations on the Amalite AR-15 and the Colt M16A3.

 

[SkaGoat]

I'll take your word for it since the last of that generation in my family passed away in January. Although I still have a couple of Union Jacks my mom had .

Is it possible your family were on the conservative end of the political spectrum? There was some controversy with the new flag because it was a Liberal party design, and it made Canada's national colours match the Liberal Party of Canada's party colours.

 

[declansdad]

How do you like your coffee?

Crisp

 

[bcla]

Standard issue rifle in the Canadian armed forces is the Colt Canada C7/C8. They are variations on the Amalite AR-15 and the Colt M16A3.

Looked close enough though.

Is it possible your family were on the conservative end of the political spectrum? There was some controversy with the new flag because it was a Liberal party design, and it made Canada's national colours match the Liberal Party of Canada's party colours.

Wasn't the flag (for ships) with the Union Jack on it a de facto national flag until the maple leaf design? Well - if I'm going to be ridiculed for looking stuff up, might as well throw this in from the 1960 Winter Olympics:

 

[SkaGoat]

Looked close enough though.



Wasn't the flag (for ships) with the Union Jack on it a de facto national flag until the maple leaf design? Well - if I'm going to be ridiculed for looking stuff up, might as well throw this in from the 1960 Winter Olympics:

In that photo they are flying the previous national flag, it was the "Canadian Red Ensign" Someone posted it above, it's a red flag, with the Union Jack in the top left corner, and the shield of the Coat of Arms of Canada on the right. It was replaced by the current flag in 1965.

 

[tvguy]

Is it possible your family were on the conservative end of the political spectrum? There was some controversy with the new flag because it was a Liberal party design, and it made Canada's national colours match the Liberal Party of Canada's party colours.

That could be. I know nothing about Canadian Politics, so I can't say for sure. I had one Uncle who worked for the Senate for 47 years in a non-political job. I know he had to be really careful about keeping quiet about his political beliefs.