For everyone who didn't actually move to Canada after Trump was elected
June 2, 2017 12:30 PM Subscribe
Maclean's magazine offers an assortment of quasi-first person perspectives on a variety of typical and not so typical Canadian experiences.
The videos cover a huge range of activities, from things anyone can do like go jump in a lake or walk the Capilano suspension bridge to things that can only be done by a select few like driving a bobsleigh or reffing an NHL game. You can ring the bells or change the flag on the Peace Tower. Experience the wonder of nature in winter and summer and winter and winter and winter. Are you more of an indoor kind of person? Because this is Canada, we can arrange for you to be indoors and freezing your ass off at the same time. But if you prefer genuinely warmer pursuits, try conducting the Toronto symphony, making noodles like a master, or minting some coins. If you're less of a doer and more of a reader, you could visit the National Gallery, the National Archives or the Map Room at the Toronto Reference Library. Because this is Metafilter, there are, of course a variety of adorable animals. Though it is important to remember the multi-cultural nature of Canadian society, it is even more vital to respect that your many vicarious activities are taking place on the traditional territories of the First Nations and Inuit. Of course no matter where you are or who you are, the one experience all Canadians share is Rolling up the Rim to Lose.
The videos cover a huge range of activities, from things anyone can do like go jump in a lake or walk the Capilano suspension bridge to things that can only be done by a select few like driving a bobsleigh or reffing an NHL game. You can ring the bells or change the flag on the Peace Tower. Experience the wonder of nature in winter and summer and winter and winter and winter. Are you more of an indoor kind of person? Because this is Canada, we can arrange for you to be indoors and freezing your ass off at the same time. But if you prefer genuinely warmer pursuits, try conducting the Toronto symphony, making noodles like a master, or minting some coins. If you're less of a doer and more of a reader, you could visit the National Gallery, the National Archives or the Map Room at the Toronto Reference Library. Because this is Metafilter, there are, of course a variety of adorable animals. Though it is important to remember the multi-cultural nature of Canadian society, it is even more vital to respect that your many vicarious activities are taking place on the traditional territories of the First Nations and Inuit. Of course no matter where you are or who you are, the one experience all Canadians share is Rolling up the Rim to Lose.
I was really interested in the National Archives one, because I did some research there last year, but of course, in that case, you only see the Archives from the public side of things, after the files have been delivered to you. It was a very entertaining experience for me, even though I did not end up finding the smoking gun I was looking for on the issue I was researching. In my case, I was researching in still classified files, so there was an extra layer of intrigue!
posted by jacquilynne at 12:55 PM on June 2, 2017
posted by jacquilynne at 12:55 PM on June 2, 2017
Canada isn't just Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
posted by GiveUpNed at 12:55 PM on June 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by GiveUpNed at 12:55 PM on June 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
Is that meant to be a criticism of the post, GiveUpNed? Or of the Macleans videos in general?
There are videos that I've highlighted that are filmed in New Brunswick, Winnipeg, Lake Rousseau, Canmore, Northern Ontario, Gatineau, the Northwest Territories, Niagara Falls, Nova Scotia, Calgary, Quebec City and Saskatoon, as well as some videos that aren't clearly set in any specific location. I'm not sure how I could have chosen a less big-city centric set of links without ignoring some aspects of our culture entirely. And all of those videos were there in the Macleans video files, so they're not significantly focused on the big four cities either.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:08 PM on June 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
There are videos that I've highlighted that are filmed in New Brunswick, Winnipeg, Lake Rousseau, Canmore, Northern Ontario, Gatineau, the Northwest Territories, Niagara Falls, Nova Scotia, Calgary, Quebec City and Saskatoon, as well as some videos that aren't clearly set in any specific location. I'm not sure how I could have chosen a less big-city centric set of links without ignoring some aspects of our culture entirely. And all of those videos were there in the Macleans video files, so they're not significantly focused on the big four cities either.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:08 PM on June 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
Canada isn't just Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Macleans is even covering drag queens in libraries - and most shocking of all - IN WINNIPEG.
Although my glib answer was going to be to say that this is Macleans and what did you expect, but they're actually not terrible on covering the non-urban-center parts of the country.
posted by GuyZero at 1:10 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Macleans is even covering drag queens in libraries - and most shocking of all - IN WINNIPEG.
Although my glib answer was going to be to say that this is Macleans and what did you expect, but they're actually not terrible on covering the non-urban-center parts of the country.
posted by GuyZero at 1:10 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
timbits
canadian tire money
milk in a bag
ketchup potato chips
that one mayor who looked and acted like chris farley
am i missing any
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:24 PM on June 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
canadian tire money
milk in a bag
ketchup potato chips
that one mayor who looked and acted like chris farley
am i missing any
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:24 PM on June 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
Rolling up the Rim to Lose
Or winning potato wedges. Same thing.
posted by davebush at 1:26 PM on June 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
Or winning potato wedges. Same thing.
posted by davebush at 1:26 PM on June 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
Can't decide whether to call bullshit on that curling video. It's not a "first-timers curling" video unless someone falls on their ass. I guess someone wobbles and kind of topples over at one point, but that's not the spectacular wipeout that seems to always happen whenever I see people curl for the first time.
(also everyone should curl at least once, it's awesome!)
Neat series of videos, though!
posted by chrominance at 1:36 PM on June 2, 2017
(also everyone should curl at least once, it's awesome!)
Neat series of videos, though!
posted by chrominance at 1:36 PM on June 2, 2017
"Canada isn't just Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver."
You're right. Take out Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver.
posted by DrLickies at 1:49 PM on June 2, 2017 [21 favorites]
You're right. Take out Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver.
posted by DrLickies at 1:49 PM on June 2, 2017 [21 favorites]
Canada isn't just Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Seriously. Who even goes to Ottawa?
posted by 256 at 1:57 PM on June 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
Seriously. Who even goes to Ottawa?
posted by 256 at 1:57 PM on June 2, 2017 [5 favorites]
DrLickies: I favourited your post for jinx-joke reasons even though I live in Montreal.
posted by 256 at 1:59 PM on June 2, 2017
posted by 256 at 1:59 PM on June 2, 2017
These are great. The kind of things that are quintessentially Canadian and you don't even think about it until you do it - like getting maple syrup taffy in the snow in Quebec City. Three years ago, I'd never done it. Now I can't think about Canadian winter without thinking about that (and a warm cup of caribou!)
They also did a good job of mixing Old Canada (Mountie Musical Ride, Stratford) with what I think of as my Canada (Maritime Bhangra Dancers and Murderball).
posted by thecjm at 2:00 PM on June 2, 2017
They also did a good job of mixing Old Canada (Mountie Musical Ride, Stratford) with what I think of as my Canada (Maritime Bhangra Dancers and Murderball).
posted by thecjm at 2:00 PM on June 2, 2017
Oh, and the Roll Up the Rim to Lose video is just perfect. I'm pretty sure I have exclaimed "Winner! Gagnant!" myself before upon winning a donut.
But winning a donut is pretty much the optimal scenario. I once won a bicycle upon rolling up the rim and the number of hoops I had to jump through (i.e. mail in the cup fragment and then ALSO reply via mail to another letter they sent me) was just too onerous and I never claimed the bike.
With a donut, you can just hand the cashier your disgusting piece of waxed cardboard covered in your own spittle (from biting the cup to get it to roll) and get baked goods in return.
posted by 256 at 2:06 PM on June 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
But winning a donut is pretty much the optimal scenario. I once won a bicycle upon rolling up the rim and the number of hoops I had to jump through (i.e. mail in the cup fragment and then ALSO reply via mail to another letter they sent me) was just too onerous and I never claimed the bike.
With a donut, you can just hand the cashier your disgusting piece of waxed cardboard covered in your own spittle (from biting the cup to get it to roll) and get baked goods in return.
posted by 256 at 2:06 PM on June 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
Between the cold and the whisky, I'm not sure you can really "feel" anything curling for the first time.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:18 PM on June 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:18 PM on June 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ugh, I was already feeling homesick :(
posted by quaking fajita at 2:38 PM on June 2, 2017
posted by quaking fajita at 2:38 PM on June 2, 2017
Rolling up the Rim to Lose
I was going to be all snarky about the video and the fact that no one seemed to be using their teeth....until of course, they did. It should be called Bite up the Rim.
posted by aclevername at 2:55 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
I was going to be all snarky about the video and the fact that no one seemed to be using their teeth....until of course, they did. It should be called Bite up the Rim.
posted by aclevername at 2:55 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Lee Valley (the choice of folks whose idea of a middle age crisis is a super-expensive table saw or a fancy English garden) sell a Rimroller tool, because of course they do.
posted by bonehead at 3:24 PM on June 2, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 3:24 PM on June 2, 2017 [12 favorites]
I've long thought it should be called "chew, tear and scrape up the rim to win," but who am I to criticize because I really don't like their coffee. It's an emergency caffeine delivery vehicle for me (e.g., wandering a few hundred metres across the frozen parking lot of a Days Inn in Thunder Bay to the adjacent Tim's on a morning so cold my nose hairs froze the instant I stepped outside).
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:35 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:35 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
I suppose Ranchman's and Baitun Nur are kind of the alpha and omega of Calgary, so I can't be too upset.
Also excited they had a video of what it feels like to be a Winnipeg Jets fan.
okay this is the actual link
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:01 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also excited they had a video of what it feels like to be a Winnipeg Jets fan.
okay this is the actual link
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:01 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Lee Valley (the choice of folks whose idea of a middle age crisis is a super-expensive table saw or a fancy English garden) sell a Rimroller tool, because of course they do.
Of course they do. It actually seems pretty amazing.
posted by GuyZero at 4:07 PM on June 2, 2017
Of course they do. It actually seems pretty amazing.
posted by GuyZero at 4:07 PM on June 2, 2017
If you're Canadian and you've never been to a pow wow you should really go to one. They are a lot of fun and it is a great way to honour our First Nations brothers and sisters.
posted by Ashwagandha at 4:09 PM on June 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Ashwagandha at 4:09 PM on June 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don't have any idea what's going on here but I like it.
posted by quaking fajita at 4:14 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by quaking fajita at 4:14 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't have any idea what's going on here but I like it.
I can't tell if those goats are newly wed or nearly dead...
posted by GuyZero at 4:17 PM on June 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
I can't tell if those goats are newly wed or nearly dead...
posted by GuyZero at 4:17 PM on June 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
What It Feels Like to Listen to Randy Bachman's Vinyl Tap
posted by Beardman at 4:32 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Beardman at 4:32 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
I live in Victoria. I'm so happy the goats have become Canadiana.
posted by My Dad at 5:04 PM on June 2, 2017
posted by My Dad at 5:04 PM on June 2, 2017
Recent related AskMe post: About to become Canadian! What should we know?
posted by clawsoon at 6:37 PM on June 2, 2017
posted by clawsoon at 6:37 PM on June 2, 2017
About to become Canadian! What should we know?
Based on certain comments here and elsewhere that demonstrate the nationally embarrassing tendency to mention the abundantly ubiquitous doughnut and coffee franchise prevalent in most of the country as if it were an exemplary part of the culture, I think it is important to point out to any new Canadians, or potential visitors to Canada, or residents of Canada to whom it might come as news, that it is not actually mandatory to visit Tim Horton's at all, and that if you do you probably shouldn't expect anything good to come of it. If you take the effort to never go there, it will be easier to imagine it's not that bad. Otherwise, I recommend you try the espresso, it should help ensure you're never tempted to go back.
posted by sfenders at 7:36 PM on June 2, 2017 [7 favorites]
Based on certain comments here and elsewhere that demonstrate the nationally embarrassing tendency to mention the abundantly ubiquitous doughnut and coffee franchise prevalent in most of the country as if it were an exemplary part of the culture, I think it is important to point out to any new Canadians, or potential visitors to Canada, or residents of Canada to whom it might come as news, that it is not actually mandatory to visit Tim Horton's at all, and that if you do you probably shouldn't expect anything good to come of it. If you take the effort to never go there, it will be easier to imagine it's not that bad. Otherwise, I recommend you try the espresso, it should help ensure you're never tempted to go back.
posted by sfenders at 7:36 PM on June 2, 2017 [7 favorites]
Seriously. Who even goes to Ottawa?
This Canada Day? Apparently everyone based on my inability to get a hotel room.
posted by srboisvert at 7:36 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
This Canada Day? Apparently everyone based on my inability to get a hotel room.
posted by srboisvert at 7:36 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Me too in January no less... and will be heading back in the fall. Gonna try to fit in the Diefenbunker and try to make a detour to St. Albert's Cheese
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:02 PM on June 2, 2017
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:02 PM on June 2, 2017
Oh. My. God. The Diefenbunker! Is. THE BEST THING EVAR.
Seriously. My friend came up to visit me while I was living in Ottawa in the fall and we were very excited about the Diefenbunker, so we always referred to it as the Diefenbunker with basically an audible exclamation mark and some jazz hands. Even while were at the Diefenbunker! which the gift shop attendants thought was hilarious.
I really thought it couldn't possibly live up to the way we'd built it up in our minds, but no, it's actually really fucking cool.
Also, I got to be Governor-General.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:11 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Seriously. My friend came up to visit me while I was living in Ottawa in the fall and we were very excited about the Diefenbunker, so we always referred to it as the Diefenbunker with basically an audible exclamation mark and some jazz hands. Even while were at the Diefenbunker! which the gift shop attendants thought was hilarious.
I really thought it couldn't possibly live up to the way we'd built it up in our minds, but no, it's actually really fucking cool.
Also, I got to be Governor-General.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:11 PM on June 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, you can try to avoid Tim Hortons, but you will fail. We all end up there eventually.
posted by davebush at 8:31 PM on June 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by davebush at 8:31 PM on June 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Canada is ...
a country full of love
posted by philip-random at 12:19 AM on June 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
a country full of love
posted by philip-random at 12:19 AM on June 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
i volunteer to make a video
i will make the sacrifice
it's called what it feels like to lick hawkin's cheezy dust off your fingers for hours
call me, maclean's
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 1:58 AM on June 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
i will make the sacrifice
it's called what it feels like to lick hawkin's cheezy dust off your fingers for hours
call me, maclean's
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 1:58 AM on June 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
> With a donut, you can just hand the cashier your disgusting piece of waxed cardboard covered in your own spittle (from biting the cup to get it to roll)
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person who does this. By the time I get done with these cups they look like a raccoon went to town on them.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:20 AM on June 3, 2017
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person who does this. By the time I get done with these cups they look like a raccoon went to town on them.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:20 AM on June 3, 2017
→ Oh, you can try to avoid Tim Hortons
We have the only Robin's in southern Ontario in our neighbourhood. It is good.
posted by scruss at 7:57 AM on June 3, 2017
We have the only Robin's in southern Ontario in our neighbourhood. It is good.
posted by scruss at 7:57 AM on June 3, 2017
Super Cold Open: Letterkenny does an alphabet vid on the subject.
posted by bonehead at 8:10 AM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 8:10 AM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
I hadn't seen that Letterkenny Super Cold Open yet. It's pretty hilarious that they don't even hide the hills in the background. For the record there are no hills like that down south in Listowel (which is what Letterkenny is based on) but there are sure plenty in the Hanmer (where they shoot it).
posted by Ashwagandha at 4:47 PM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ashwagandha at 4:47 PM on June 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seriously. Who even goes to Ottawa?
Well, it's the place you have to go if you want to taste the best donuts in the free world -- definitely not Tim's, but Suzy Q.
posted by anothermug at 7:25 AM on June 5, 2017
Well, it's the place you have to go if you want to taste the best donuts in the free world -- definitely not Tim's, but Suzy Q.
posted by anothermug at 7:25 AM on June 5, 2017
Seriously. Who even goes to Ottawa?
The best Chocolate Bar in the World was won last year by Hummingbird for their Hispaniola bar. It's widely available locally, but I don't know if they're shipping around even the rest of the province yet.
Stella Luna makes really mind-blowing gelato. They've won major awards for their "Rich Chocolate, KOVAL Single-Barrel Organic Bourbon, Ganache Swirl and Maple Candied Pecans" Gelato (I've had some; all other ice cream/gelato/whatever is ruined for me now).
If you like chocolate, Ottawa can be a fun visit.
posted by bonehead at 10:15 AM on June 5, 2017
The best Chocolate Bar in the World was won last year by Hummingbird for their Hispaniola bar. It's widely available locally, but I don't know if they're shipping around even the rest of the province yet.
Stella Luna makes really mind-blowing gelato. They've won major awards for their "Rich Chocolate, KOVAL Single-Barrel Organic Bourbon, Ganache Swirl and Maple Candied Pecans" Gelato (I've had some; all other ice cream/gelato/whatever is ruined for me now).
If you like chocolate, Ottawa can be a fun visit.
posted by bonehead at 10:15 AM on June 5, 2017
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I recently had a temporary position at the TRL and will be going back for another job in June. I can't wait; it's an amazing building full of cool stuff like this. Whenever I had a few minutes to kill I'd just wander aimlessly through the stacks.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:48 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]