Everything you ever wanted to know about Canada... and then some...

[harbl_the_cat]

Let's go fellow Canadians with our useless trivia:

Pogey is Canadian slang for welfare.

Not every Canadian plays (or cares about) hockey.

Some McDonalds in the Maritime provinces sell a "McLobster" burger.

A "Timmy's run" is a trip to a Tim Hortons restaurant to get coffee and doughnuts.

Basketball was invented by a Canadian living in Massachusetts.

Until early 2012, there was a mandatory program to register all "non-restricted" long guns in Canada with the National Police (The RCMP). Between 1902 until 1961, there was a company called "Cooey Machine and Arms Co., Ltd " that manufactured .22 rifles that were widely distributed, especially to Canadian Youth. Unofficial records indicate that Cooey manufactured millions more rifles than the entire long gun registry combined. As most of the rifles Cooey produced did NOT have a serial number, it's not inconceivable that even those that were registered were likely duplicates.

There are 2 million Canadians licensed to own firearms. There are 100,000 members of the Canadian military, regular, reserve, and ranger. The Canadian population is around 34 million.

Canadian Tire (aka - Crappy Tire) is a chain of retailers across Canada that sells automotive, hardware, garden, and sporting supplies. They issue their own currency called "Canadian Tire Money."

In 1990, Canada had about a gold reserve of about 500 tonnes. Today, it has less than 100,000 oz.

The first sentence in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the first document of the Canadian constitution) is: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:"

Property rights are NOT recognized as a fundamental right under the Canadian Charter or Rights and Freedoms.

Canadian regional stereotypes (some unfounded, some correct - help me out with some of these)
BC - Pot smoking hippies, Asian immigrants (especially in Vancouver)
Alberta - Rednecks, cowboys, roughnecks
Saskatchewan - Farmers
Manitoba - Farmers
Toronto - Socialists, Ivory Tower Elitists, criminal gangs,
Ontario (outside Toronto) - What everyone assumes all Canadians are like
Quebec - Separatists, socialists, French
Maritimes - Pretty complicated (for an Albertan), but some of the nicest, most laid back people you'll ever meet, seasonal workers, seal hunters, potato growers. Any newfies want to explain what a newfie is and what's special about them (besides their accent)?
Territories - Aboriginals

Major Canadian political parties
Conservative Party of Canada aka - Tories - Comparable to Blue Dog Democrats (currently in power).
The Liberal Party of Canada aka - Grits - Comparable to the rest of the Democrat Party (formerly the "natural ruling party").
The New Democrat Party - aka - the NDP or (derogatory) Dippers - Comparable to the hardcore socialists Democrats (current leaders of the opposition - due in large part to their charismatic leader... who died of prostate cancer shortly after the election)
The Green Party - Supposedly centric, but more like hardcore progressive/socialists
The Bloc Quebecois - aka The Bloc - Quebec Separatists party, until recently, held the Federal government for ransom, until their party was annihilated by the NDP.

Due to Chinook winds, Southern Alberta in the winter has some of the most variable weather in the planet. In extreme cases, in a matter of hours, the temperature can go from -20oC to +20oC back to -20oC.

People in the Maritimes call a back pack a satchel. I never heard the term in that context until I met a girl from PEI when I was in the military.

The Canadian currency (the Canadian Dollar) has similiar denominations to the US dollar: pennies (now discontinued), nickels, quarters, 1 dollar coins (called Loonies - because of the picture loon on it tails side) and 2 dollar coins called (Toonies - because it's worth $2... there's a picture of a polar bear on it so go figure...). Paper notes are denominated in $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100's.

All Canadian coins are fully debased, unlike American nickels and pennies, which still have a melt value close to their face value.

Canadian retailers will almost always accept American coins at their face value. US retailers usually won't accept Canadian ones.

There are half dollar coins, but are rarely seen in circulation.

A popular "game" at Canadian strip clubs involves throwing toonies and loonies at a stripper to win a prize, usually a poster, by knocking it off her you know what. (TMI, I know... Canadian perverts are pretty sick).

[kshymkiw]

eh?

[harbl_the_cat]

(06-06-2012 03:31 PM)kshymkiw Wrote:  eh?

huh?

"eh" turns a statement into a question.

i.e. -

It's a nice day.

It's a nice day, eh?

[kshymkiw]

(06-06-2012 03:38 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 03:31 PM)kshymkiw Wrote:  eh?

huh?

"eh" turns a statement into a question.

i.e. -

It's a nice day.

It's a nice day, eh?

Why do Canucks say "eh"

[harbl_the_cat]

(06-06-2012 04:12 PM)kshymkiw Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 03:38 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 03:31 PM)kshymkiw Wrote:  eh?

huh?

"eh" turns a statement into a question.

i.e. -

It's a nice day.

It's a nice day, eh?

Why do Canucks say "eh"

Don't Americans say it? I don't get why it's a cultural association with Canadians. I guess growing up people just said it, so it stuck.

[kshymkiw]

(06-06-2012 04:16 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 04:12 PM)kshymkiw Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 03:38 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 03:31 PM)kshymkiw Wrote:  eh?

huh?

"eh" turns a statement into a question.

i.e. -

It's a nice day.

It's a nice day, eh?

Why do Canucks say "eh"

Don't Americans say it? I don't get why it's a cultural association with Canadians. I guess growing up people just said it, so it stuck.

Nope. It is a Canadian thing.

[Mr.Akamkk]

(06-06-2012 03:25 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  Let's go fellow Canadians with our useless trivia:

Pogey is Canadian slang for welfare.

Not every Canadian plays (or cares about) hockey.
These here are fighting words, its not a game its a religion.

Some McDonalds in the Maritime provinces sell a "McLobster" burger.

A "Timmy's run" is a trip to a Tim Hortons restaurant to get coffee and doughnuts.

Basketball was invented by a Canadian living in Massachusetts.

Until early 2012, there was a mandatory program to register all "non-restricted" long guns in Canada with the National Police (The RCMP). Between 1902 until 1961, there was a company called "Cooey Machine and Arms Co., Ltd " that manufactured .22 rifles that were widely distributed, especially to Canadian Youth. Unofficial records indicate that Cooey manufactured millions more rifles than the entire long gun registry combined. As most of the rifles Cooey produced did NOT have a serial number, it's not inconceivable that even those that were registered were likely duplicates.

There are 2 million Canadians licensed to own firearms. There are 100,000 members of the Canadian military, regular, reserve, and ranger. The Canadian population is around 34 million.

Canadian Tire (aka - Crappy Tire) is a chain of retailers across Canada that sells automotive, hardware, garden, and sporting supplies. They issue their own currency called "Canadian Tire Money."

In 1990, Canada had about a gold reserve of about 500 tonnes. Today, it has less than 100,000 oz.

The first sentence in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the first document of the Canadian constitution) is: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:"

Property rights are NOT recognized as a fundamental right under the Canadian Charter or Rights and Freedoms.

Canadian regional stereotypes (some unfounded, some correct - help me out with some of these)
BC - Pot smoking hippies, Asian immigrants (especially in Vancouver)( Largest drug addicted population with all the trimmings)
Alberta - Rednecks, cowboys, roughnecks (Cowgirls and the infamous stampede)
Saskatchewan - Farmers
Manitoba - Farmers (Coldest winters on the planet)
Toronto - Socialists, Ivory Tower Elitists, criminal gangs,( Just had a gang banger shooting in a very busy shopping mall, 1 dead, 13 year old boy shot in head in critical but stable condition, pregnant woman trampled. Shooter was on house arrest at the time. The bleeding heart liberal will get him out because " he's really a good boy just misunderstood" Let him become understood and "find" himself in federal penitentiary with a very large celly.

Ontario (outside Toronto) - What everyone assumes all Canadians are like. What all Canadians want to be like and for good reason
Quebec - Separatists, socialists, French. Crybaby nanny state bleeding hearts
Maritimes - Pretty complicated (for an Albertan), but some of the nicest, most laid back people you'll ever meet, seasonal workers, seal hunters, potato growers. Any newfies want to explain what a newfie is and what's special about them (besides their accent)? Very large Scottish population living there. Truly the salt of the earth type of people. Will give you the shirt off their back. Literally.
There is no explanation for Newfies they are ours and we love them dearly. Funniest people you will ever meet. True rednecks through and through except they have modern technology to some extent. The simple life is the only life for a Newfie. I don't know where the accent came from but that with the vernacular they use will make you pee your pants in laughter for hours at a time. If you have never spent time with them put it on your bucket list you will not be disappointed.

Territories - Aboriginals More than just aboriginals but they do make up the bulk of the population. Large scale mining operations in place and under way. Similar to Alaska with regards to sunlight and temperature. Geographically not that far away from Alaska. Beautiful country, Gods world. No pollution.

Major Canadian political parties
Conservative Party of Canada aka - Tories - Comparable to Blue Dog Democrats (currently in power). Strongest Federal Government we have had in years. Deficit spending will be gone by the end of 2014 and the deficit reduction program has improved the economy. Would not allow privatization of banks because of the nature of corruption. We will not be printing money or bailing out any of our banks when QE3 happens. Finance Minister and head of Central bank constantly warning Canadian public personal debt other than mortgage, and credit card debt to high and need to be reduced. Will be raising interest rates soon to fight inflation and free money debt on credit card spending. Negotiating with China, Europe, and Middle eastern nations to increase exports of Natural Resources, also reviewing legislation for publicly traded company takeovers from other nations as a means of boosting the economic growth. Paid a heavy price in the 90'S for the corruption of the Liberals which almost bankrupted the country and resulted in having to sell all of our gold reserves in order to get out of debt. Self imposed austerity, government cutbacks in spending, and government cutbacks is what pulled us through this mess.


The [color=#FF0000]Bleeding Heart Liberal Party of Canada aka - Grits - Comparable to the rest of the Democrat Party (formerly the "natural ruling party"). Tax and spend Nannie-ism at its best and truest form. Last Liberal Leader stole $2.5million from the taxpayers for his crony buddies and they haven't seen power since and I doubt they will anytime soon at the Federal level
The New Democrat Party - aka - the NDP or (derogatory) Dippers - Comparable to the hardcore socialists Democrats (current leaders of the opposition - due in large part to their charismatic leader... who died of prostate cancer shortly after the election)
Unionism party, would unionize the entire country and kill free enterprise if they could. I did really like their former leader, however he was arrested in a rub and tug incident prior to the election. Good party, to much of the union rabble rousing for me, won the opposition by default.

The Green Party - Supposedly centric, but more like hardcore progressive/socialists

The politically correct soccer mom party.The don't amount to much and never will. They would have a referendum on everything there is including the time of day. Waste of time.

The Bloc Quebecois - aka The Bloc - Quebec Separatists party, until recently, held the Federal government for ransom, until their party was annihilated by the NDP.

Due to Chinook winds, Southern Alberta in the winter has some of the most variable weather in the planet. In extreme cases, in a matter of hours, the temperature can go from -20oC to +20oC back to -20oC.

People in the Maritimes call a back pack a satchel. I never heard the term in that context until I met a girl from PEI when I was in the military.

The Canadian currency (the Canadian Dollar) has similiar denominations to the US dollar: pennies (now discontinued), nickels, quarters, 1 dollar coins (called Loonies - because of the picture loon on it tails side) and 2 dollar coins called (Toonies - because it's worth $2... there's a picture of a polar bear on it so go figure...). Paper notes are denominated in $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100's.

All Canadian coins are fully debased, unlike American nickels and pennies, which still have a melt value close to their face value.

Canadian retailers will almost always accept American coins at their face value. US retailers usually won't accept Canadian ones.

There are half dollar coins, but are rarely seen in circulation.

A popular "game" at Canadian strip clubs involves throwing toonies and loonies at a stripper to win a prize, usually a poster, by knocking it off her you know what. (TMI, I know... Canadian perverts are pretty sick).

Can't verify this as I have never been to a strip bar nor am I interested in that lifestyle.

Other Facts.

We regularly win the Top Gun award for the best pilots, but we have no planes we have to borrow from our neighbors in the South.

Very proud in general of our military servicemen and women whether we agree with the conflict or not, we stand behind our troops. Toronto has a stretch of Highway dedicated to our fallen service personnel when they are brought back to Canada called the "Highway of Heroes" When a fallen soldier returns they are brought along this highway to Downtown Toronto for Funeral Services in the oldest church we have. The bridges over the highways are lined with Ambulances, Fire Trucks, Police cars (All with their lights on) and as many people as the bridge can accommodate with Canadian Flags and hanging posters. These bridges cover a span of maybe 200 miles and they are full to the max on both sides.
A popular bumper sticker here in Toronto reads " If you won't stand behind our troops, we will gladly put you in front of them"

[Honey]

Thanks! loved it! Sounds pretty much the same as here.... for the most part.

[Kapten hörntand]

facts about Canada: My dad had an emigrant visa to canada, ticket was ready and everything, his destination would have been Vancouver. This was 1962,. he suddenly got cold feet at the airport with his boardingcard in hand. This was good news for me as i could be born in early 70s then.

[harbl_the_cat]

Akamkk, I'm a hockey atheist, but my observations of the fans during the last few big play off runs of Canadian teams over the past few years:

Vancouver - Party hard when the win. Riot and burn half the city down when they lose
Ottawa - March on Parliament and sing Oh, Canada... win or lose
Calgary - March on the Red Mile, demanding ladies flash the crowd, but still maintain an overall jovial attitude, win or loose.
Edmonton - Party hard on White Ave when they win. Get into bar fights and stab one another when they lose.

I don't know what Montreal or Toronto is like when they're in the playoffs. Will be interesting if Winnipeg ever makes it.

[Honey]

(06-06-2012 05:10 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  Akamkk, I'm a hockey atheist, but my observations of the fans during the last few big play off runs of Canadian teams over the past few years:

Vancouver - Party hard when the win. Riot and burn half the city down when they lose
Ottawa - March on Parliament and sing Oh, Canada... win or lose
Calgary - March on the Red Mile, demanding ladies flash the crowd, but still maintain an overall jovial attitude, win or loose.
Edmonton - Party hard on White Ave when they win. Get into bar fights and stab one another when they lose.

I don't know what Montreal or Toronto is like when they're in the playoffs. Will be interesting if Winnipeg ever makes it.

You know the saying.. "I went to a boxing match last night and a hockey game broke out!'...

[harbl_the_cat]

(06-06-2012 04:40 PM)Mr.Akamkk Wrote:  A popular bumper sticker here in Toronto reads " If you won't stand behind our troops, we will gladly put you in front of them"

[/color]

I HATE that sticker. Mainly as an Officer, I stood in front of the troops and got bladed by some of them.

I have a pretty radical opinion of the military. I would abolish the entire regular force and only maintain a part time reserve force.

The Regular Force is too much of a welfare program and full time soldiers really do nothing to contribute to the national economy OR national defence. 100% of their wages come from tax revenue, too many (especially the bureaucrats in NDHQ in Ottawa) are completely useless, and the primary operational deployment of the Canadian Forces as a whole (the Reg Force making up the bulk of those) are in support of illegal and immoral UN or American lead military actions that are offensive in nature (as in, involve pre-emptive aggression to invade and/or occupy foreign lands as opposed to reactive aggression to repel or defend from foreign aggression).

At least reservists (generally) have civilian careers and generate revenue in excess of what their wages are, they work more in the spirit of what a voluntary military should be, and have regional loyalties and activities that contribute to the betterment of their local communities.

There are good Canadian Forces members out there, deserving of respect, but it's on a case by case basis. Being a member of the Canadian Forces is not automatically a blanket certification that just because you wear (or wore) a uniform, you're somehow a better person than someone who did not (or does) not. Ex-Air Force Colonel Russel Williams is a good example of this.

While he was in command of one of the largest air wings in Ontario, Williams kidnapped, raped, and murdered 2 women, including one of his subordinates filming the whole crime. He was found guilty of breaking and entering into other women/girl's homes to try on and steal their underwear. Canada does not have a death penalty - I'm of the opinion in certain circumstances like Williams' - it should.

The reason I know about the strip-club game is because it was a pretty common passtime among troops at the school I trained in and my former home unit. Some Americans I trained with (marines) found it surprising that you could do that here (it's even worse in some of the places on St. Catherine Street in Montreal, the things you can do or have done in strip clubs).

Like I said, there were some good guys, there were some bad guys - but it wasn't on account of them wearing a uniform that the determination could be made. It was because they, as individuals, were good or bad guys.

Me... I think I was a pretty bad guy... but am getting better.

[Viper_99]

(06-06-2012 05:10 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  Akamkk, I'm a hockey atheist, but my observations of the fans during the last few big play off runs of Canadian teams over the past few years:

Vancouver - Party hard when the win. Riot and burn half the city down when they lose
Ottawa - March on Parliament and sing Oh, Canada... win or lose
Calgary - March on the Red Mile, demanding ladies flash the crowd, but still maintain an overall jovial attitude, win or loose.
Edmonton - Party hard on White Ave when they win. Get into bar fights and stab one another when they lose.

I don't know what Montreal or Toronto is like when they're in the playoffs. Will be interesting if Winnipeg ever makes it.

Hey let's not leave the the Jets out - Winnipeg's Team: Most loyal fans on the planet! Go Jets Go! Creators of the "Sea of White"

[Viper_99]

(06-06-2012 04:40 PM)Mr.Akamkk Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 03:25 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  Let's go fellow Canadians with our useless trivia:

Pogey is Canadian slang for welfare.

Not every Canadian plays (or cares about) hockey.
These here are fighting words, its not a game its a religion.

Some McDonalds in the Maritime provinces sell a "McLobster" burger.

A "Timmy's run" is a trip to a Tim Hortons restaurant to get coffee and doughnuts.
[color=#0000CD]Best Coffee in the world - Double Double (Means two sugars two creams)

Basketball was invented by a Canadian living in Massachusetts.

Until early 2012, there was a mandatory program to register all "non-restricted" long guns in Canada with the National Police (The RCMP). Between 1902 until 1961, there was a company called "Cooey Machine and Arms Co., Ltd " that manufactured .22 rifles that were widely distributed, especially to Canadian Youth. Unofficial records indicate that Cooey manufactured millions more rifles than the entire long gun registry combined. As most of the rifles Cooey produced did NOT have a serial number, it's not inconceivable that even those that were registered were likely duplicates.

Hand guns can only be used at a range - never for protection or hunting. You must have a permit to take it to the range and you must have a range membership or your gun can't leave the house.

There are 2 million Canadians licensed to own firearms. There are 100,000 members of the Canadian military, regular, reserve, and ranger. The Canadian population is around 34 million.

Canadian Tire (aka - Crappy Tire) is a chain of retailers across Canada that sells automotive, hardware, garden, and sporting supplies. They issue their own currency called "Canadian Tire Money."

It is a very good store - but you can only buy when things are on sale. Which is every week - the items change.

In 1990, Canada had about a gold reserve of about 500 tonnes. Today, it has less than 100,000 oz.

The first sentence in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the first document of the Canadian constitution) is: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:"

Property rights are NOT recognized as a fundamental right under the Canadian Charter or Rights and Freedoms.

Canadian regional stereotypes (some unfounded, some correct - help me out with some of these)
BC - Pot smoking hippies, Asian immigrants (especially in Vancouver)( Largest drug addicted population with all the trimmings)
Alberta - Rednecks, cowboys, roughnecks (Cowgirls and the infamous stampede)
Saskatchewan - Farmers
Common Joke: You can watch your dog run away for three days! (it's flat)
Manitoba - Farmers (Coldest winters on the planet)
Some of the best farmland on the planet - Mennonites and Hutterites make up a large population as well as the English and French Communities. Around Lake Winnipeg is the larges Icelandic community outside Iceland. Winnipeg is the capital and largest city - the town everyone loves to hate!
Toronto - Socialists, Ivory Tower Elitists, criminal gangs,( Just had a gang banger shooting in a very busy shopping mall, 1 dead, 13 year old boy shot in head in critical but stable condition, pregnant woman trampled. Shooter was on house arrest at the time. The bleeding heart liberal will get him out because " he's really a good boy just misunderstood" Let him become understood and "find" himself in federal penitentiary with a very large celly.
Banker Central

Ontario (outside Toronto) - What everyone assumes all Canadians are like. What all Canadians want to be like and for good reason
Not true, anything east of Manitoba is not looked fondly on from the West. (BC/AB/SK/MB) Easterners have the political power because of their population but we have no desire to live there.
Quebec - Separatists, socialists, French. Crybaby nanny state bleeding hearts
Maritimes - Pretty complicated (for an Albertan), but some of the nicest, most laid back people you'll ever meet, seasonal workers, seal hunters, potato growers. Any newfies want to explain what a newfie is and what's special about them (besides their accent)? Very large Scottish population living there. Truly the salt of the earth type of people. Will give you the shirt off their back. Literally.
There is no explanation for Newfies they are ours and we love them dearly. Funniest people you will ever meet. True rednecks through and through except they have modern technology to some extent. The simple life is the only life for a Newfie. I don't know where the accent came from but that with the vernacular they use will make you pee your pants in laughter for hours at a time. If you have never spent time with them put it on your bucket list you will not be disappointed.
Amen brother!

Territories - Aboriginals More than just aboriginals but they do make up the bulk of the population. Large scale mining operations in place and under way. Similar to Alaska with regards to sunlight and temperature. Geographically not that far away from Alaska. Beautiful country, Gods world. No pollution.

Major Canadian political parties
Conservative Party of Canada aka - Tories - Comparable to Blue Dog Democrats (currently in power). Strongest Federal Government we have had in years. Deficit spending will be gone by the end of 2014 and the deficit reduction program has improved the economy. Would not allow privatization of banks because of the nature of corruption. We will not be printing money or bailing out any of our banks when QE3 happens. Finance Minister and head of Central bank constantly warning Canadian public personal debt other than mortgage, and credit card debt to high and need to be reduced. Will be raising interest rates soon to fight inflation and free money debt on credit card spending. Negotiating with China, Europe, and Middle eastern nations to increase exports of Natural Resources, also reviewing legislation for publicly traded company takeovers from other nations as a means of boosting the economic growth. Paid a heavy price in the 90'S for the corruption of the Liberals which almost bankrupted the country and resulted in having to sell all of our gold reserves in order to get out of debt. Self imposed austerity, government cutbacks in spending, and government cutbacks is what pulled us through this mess.


The Bleeding Heart Liberal Party of Canada aka - Grits - Comparable to the rest of the Democrat Party (formerly the "natural ruling party"). Tax and spend Nannie-ism at its best and truest form. Last Liberal Leader stole $2.5million from the taxpayers for his crony buddies and they haven't seen power since and I doubt they will anytime soon at the Federal level
This was their leader:


The New Democrat Party - aka - the NDP or (derogatory) Dippers - Comparable to the hardcore socialists Democrats (current leaders of the opposition - due in large part to their charismatic leader... who died of prostate cancer shortly after the election)
Unionism party, would unionize the entire country and kill free enterprise if they could. I did really like their former leader, however he was arrested in a rub and tug incident prior to the election. Good party, to much of the union rabble rousing for me, won the opposition by default.

The Green Party - Supposedly centric, but more like hardcore progressive/socialists

The politically correct soccer mom party.The don't amount to much and never will. They would have a referendum on everything there is including the time of day. Waste of time.

The Bloc Quebecois - aka The Bloc - Quebec Separatists party, until recently, held the Federal government for ransom, until their party was annihilated by the NDP.

Due to Chinook winds, Southern Alberta in the winter has some of the most variable weather in the planet. In extreme cases, in a matter of hours, the temperature can go from -20oC to +20oC back to -20oC.

People in the Maritimes call a back pack a satchel. I never heard the term in that context until I met a girl from PEI when I was in the military.

The Canadian currency (the Canadian Dollar) has similiar denominations to the US dollar: pennies (now discontinued), nickels, quarters, 1 dollar coins (called Loonies - because of the picture loon on it tails side) and 2 dollar coins called (Toonies - because it's worth $2... there's a picture of a polar bear on it so go figure...). Paper notes are denominated in $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100's.

All Canadian coins are fully debased, unlike American nickels and pennies, which still have a melt value close to their face value.

Canadian retailers will almost always accept American coins at their face value. US retailers usually won't accept Canadian ones.

There are half dollar coins, but are rarely seen in circulation.

A popular "game" at Canadian strip clubs involves throwing toonies and loonies at a stripper to win a prize, usually a poster, by knocking it off her you know what. (TMI, I know... Canadian perverts are pretty sick).

Can't verify this as I have never been to a strip bar nor am I interested in that lifestyle.

Other Facts.

We regularly win the Top Gun award for the best pilots, but we have no planes we have to borrow from our neighbors in the South.

Very proud in general of our military servicemen and women whether we agree with the conflict or not, we stand behind our troops. Toronto has a stretch of Highway dedicated to our fallen service personnel when they are brought back to Canada called the "Highway of Heroes" When a fallen soldier returns they are brought along this highway to Downtown Toronto for Funeral Services in the oldest church we have. The bridges over the highways are lined with Ambulances, Fire Trucks, Police cars (All with their lights on) and as many people as the bridge can accommodate with Canadian Flags and hanging posters. These bridges cover a span of maybe 200 miles and they are full to the max on both sides.
A popular bumper sticker here in Toronto reads " If you won't stand behind our troops, we will gladly put you in front of them"


Here is the silver coin:

[Mr.Akamkk]

(06-06-2012 05:28 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  

(06-06-2012 04:40 PM)Mr.Akamkk Wrote:  A popular bumper sticker here in Toronto reads " If you won't stand behind our troops, we will gladly put you in front of them"

[/color]

I HATE that sticker. Mainly as an Officer, I stood in front of the troops and got bladed by some of them.

I have a pretty radical opinion of the military. I would abolish the entire regular force and only maintain a part time reserve force.

The Regular Force is too much of a welfare program and full time soldiers really do nothing to contribute to the national economy OR national defence. 100% of their wages come from tax revenue, too many (especially the bureaucrats in NDHQ in Ottawa) are completely useless, and the primary operational deployment of the Canadian Forces as a whole (the Reg Force making up the bulk of those) are in support of illegal and immoral UN or American lead military actions that are offensive in nature (as in, involve pre-emptive aggression to invade and/or occupy foreign lands as opposed to reactive aggression to repel or defend from foreign aggression).

At least reservists (generally) have civilian careers and generate revenue in excess of what their wages are, they work more in the spirit of what a voluntary military should be, and have regional loyalties and activities that contribute to the betterment of their local communities.

There are good Canadian Forces members out there, deserving of respect, but it's on a case by case basis. Being a member of the Canadian Forces is not automatically a blanket certification that just because you wear (or wore) a uniform, you're somehow a better person than someone who did not (or does) not. Ex-Air Force Colonel Russel Williams is a good example of this.

While he was in command of one of the largest air wings in Ontario, Williams kidnapped, raped, and murdered 2 women, including one of his subordinates filming the whole crime. He was found guilty of breaking and entering into other women/girl's homes to try on and steal their underwear. Canada does not have a death penalty - I'm of the opinion in certain circumstances like Williams' - it should.

The reason I know about the strip-club game is because it was a pretty common passtime among troops at the school I trained in and my former home unit. Some Americans I trained with (marines) found it surprising that you could do that here (it's even worse in some of the places on St. Catherine Street in Montreal, the things you can do or have done in strip clubs).

Like I said, there were some good guys, there were some bad guys - but it wasn't on account of them wearing a uniform that the determination could be made. It was because they, as individuals, were good or bad guys.

Me... I think I was a pretty bad guy... but am getting better.

I am glad you brought up Russel Williams as he is a disgrace to the human race not only our military. The point of my earlier post wasn't to debate the validity of our military or anyone else's on a case by case basis. Take the Catholic religion, more priests are accused and convicted of pedophilia than any other occupation, does that mean you condemn the religion? No certainly not. My point was that we the Canadian people for the most part stand behind and support our service personnel unconditionally for being brave enough, strong enough, and willing to protect this country from its enemies when called upon, that includes or included you while you were in service and now that you have retired. Whether or not the system needs to be reformed is the topic of another day and I am not naive enough to believe our system is perfect. The reason I PROUDLY display this sticker is because my family has a long line of service personnel who stood up for this country in the most horrific conditions and circumstances and committed the most horrible acts imaginable against another human being because it was his duty to protect us at home. These people make considerable sacrifices to serve our country which is who I will always support, and no matter what happens they deserve to hear the words " Thank you" Don't take the sticker personally it is more of a general statement.

[nigerian prince]

sens suck, habs suck, oil suck, flames suck, winnipeg is a garbage franchise who has never done anything and never will, and with god willing we will all live long healthy lives and die long before the leafs ever make the playoffs again..

[nigerian prince]

i like that highway of heros coin, but the fact that they minted enough for everyone in the country turns me off..

[Viper_99]

(06-07-2012 02:18 AM)nigerian prince Wrote:  sens suck, habs suck, oil suck, flames suck, winnipeg is a garbage franchise who has never done anything and never will, and with god willing we will all live long healthy lives and die long before the leafs ever make the playoffs again..

I guess they don't play hockey in Nigeria! I wouldn't print a T-shirt like your comment and go to a Jets game. Just some advice!



I think most Manitobian's are proud of their team.

[harbl_the_cat]

Just curious, anyone heard about the Luka Rocco Magnotta story?

Quite macabre, but from what I heard it's getting all sorts of international attention.

Long story short: gay porn star from Montreal murders a Chinese university student, mutilates the body, sends body parts to the ruling Conservative party and the Liberal Party headquarters, films and uploads it on the internet - turns viral. Arrested in Germany to be extradited back to Canada.

On a brighter note... hmm... it looks like a nice day today...

[Mr.Akamkk]

(06-07-2012 01:50 PM)harbl_the_cat Wrote:  Just curious, anyone heard about the Luka Rocco Magnotta story?

Quite macabre, but from what I heard it's getting all sorts of international attention.

Long story short: gay porn star from Montreal murders a Chinese university student, mutilates the body, sends body parts to the ruling Conservative party and the Liberal Party headquarters, films and uploads it on the internet - turns viral. Arrested in Germany to be extradited back to Canada.

On a brighter note... hmm... it looks like a nice day today...

That pretty much sums it up in a nutshell, apparently he will not fight extradition. UPS (same as Federal Express in Canada) found more body parts in one of their transportation depots the other day. Speculation is its a copycat or possibly a partner.

[nigerian prince]

haha who would ever want to goto winnipeg in the winter anyways, what a dump, i wonder how long before players start leaving to escape the weather..

(06-07-2012 11:43 AM)Viper_99 Wrote:  

(06-07-2012 02:18 AM)nigerian prince Wrote:  sens suck, habs suck, oil suck, flames suck, winnipeg is a garbage franchise who has never done anything and never will, and with god willing we will all live long healthy lives and die long before the leafs ever make the playoffs again..

I guess they don't play hockey in Nigeria! I wouldn't print a T-shirt like your comment and go to a Jets game. Just some advice!



I think most Manitobian's are proud of their team.