Moustache Ride ‘09!

   You know what spending Canada Day in Ottawa helped me realize? Just how proud I am to be from this country. While I haven’t biked across the country like a few friends from high school did (shout out to Moustache Ride ‘09), I’ve experienced a pretty good chunk of our beloved Great White North, and I am impressed. Here are a few reasons I dig Canada:

Nature - Yeah, so maybe we have one of the lowest population densities on earth (what’s up, French Guiana?). Sorry world, while you were busy getting over populated, we were BASKING IN OUR NATURAL BEAUTY.

   From the epic Rocky Mountains to the stretching Western plains, the lush forests of central Canada to the sparkling tundras and aurora borealis of our Territories, we are lookin’ dang good! I know they say don’t judge a book by it’s cover, but in Canada’s case, it’s OK.

Water - You didn’t think I was going to talk about the beauty of Canada without heading off on a tangent praising the East Coast, did you? First off, we are not all fishermen. That being said, hell yeah we’ve got a lot of water. I like it.

   Imagine living in a province where beautiful ocean beaches are maximum an hour’s drive away, no matter where you are? Welcome to the Atlantic provinces (with a few exceptions… sorry Perth-Andover).

   Oh, “the water’s too cold” you say? Better check out the Northumberland Strait, warmest waters North of the Carolinas. And you KNOW we gots the dopest lobster, baby!

   But that’s only the ocean… as far as inland bodies of water go, Canada has its fair share of unbelievable, picturesque lakes. Lakes in the city for cooling off after those sticky summer shifts, lakes with hiking trails around them, lakes in the country for chilling out at the cottage. Mmmmmm cottage.

Québec - Bienvenue! Canada’s unique culture-gem is definitely our francophone province, and if you haven’t visited you better start packing your bags, monsieur.

   Rural Québec is breathtakingly gorgeous (perhaps literally if you drive on the highways), with massive national parks, majestic mountain ranges and awesome little towns with jaw dropping churches. Les cabanes à sucre deserve their own sentence. Most calories per minute ever. So good.

   If you’re more of a city person, Montréal is the place to be. The city buzzes with multiculturalism, and it’s touch of Euro-ness is a pleasant change from other North American cities. Not to mention the nightlife. As a bonus, you can riot whether their hockey team wins or loses! La vie, c’est chouette dans la belle province.

Our “Food” - In five words:

Poutine: Stops your heart. Gravy. Cheese.

Donair: Stops your heart, but grosser.

Ketchup chips: Not available in United States!

Bacon: Mmmm mmmm grease mmmm mmmm

Canadian famous people - I don’t know what it is, but there is a strange magnetism to Canadians who have broken into the mainstream.

   Our biggest sports stars weave effortlessly between unassuming charm on the camera and a raw grittiness on the ice/court/field/pitch. Our actors and comedians are fresh faced and real; hunky, clever dudes and gorgeous, smart women that have stolen the hearts of Hollywood, NYC and everywhere in between. 

   Speaking of capturing hearts, an internationally acclaimed environmental guru who spent his childhood living in the back of his family’s dry cleaning business and an internment camp? An amputee who ran a marathon everyday across Canada to find a cure for cancer? Our home grown role models are the perfect mixture of unbridled passion and humility, and they’re a big reason I’m proud to hail from Canada.

   As for our music scene, has anyone been checking out the hip-hop/pop charts these days? The two biggest male solo artists right now? Yeah, they’re canucks. Off the charts, our indy scene is always turning heads from St. John’s to Nanaimo. If you need any proof, come check out NXNE next year.

   All in all, being Canadian is awesome. We’ve got a lot of potential to grow as a country - both physically and otherwise. We’re a friendly, open minded society who can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ (winter in Winnipeg, anyone?). Above all, we are a young and diverse nation. Most of us are only second or third generation Canadians, and this trend is expected to continue in a big way: in twenty years, 25% of Canadians will be foreign born. When I think of this stat, a big part of me smiles inside. New people, different minds, fresh ideas - it’s what the world is looking for, and Canada’s got it. 

   Pretty alright, eh?