Maple Leaf Neighborhourliness

September 8, 2005 11:36 AM

Vancouver's elite Urban SAR team has been and returned, having helped out in New Orleans in the way they were trained. There's more help on the way from Canada, in the form of Operation Unison; this includes a a Canadian Navy flotilla consisting of the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan, the frigates HMCS Toronto and HMCS Ville de Quebec and the Canadian Coast Guard boat tender HMCS Sir William Alexander. The flotilla carries around 1000 servicepeople, many of them medical and rescue specialists, in addition to engineering and construction crews. Additionally, forty Canadian navy clearance divers will be accompanying the relief force. Despite recent diplomatic spats between our two nations (notably over Iraq, cattle and softwood lumber) we remain good neighbours. After U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci's departure Canada was awaiting an even worse adversary in replacement Ambassador Wilkins. And yet, despite Wilkin's lack of knowledge of things Canadian, he appears to have a significantly greater measure of humility than dick-swinging Cellucci ever did. In any case, as "irrelevant and disappointing" as Canada is to the likes of Bill O'Reilly, we're on our way to help our friends to the south.
posted by illiad (50 comments total)

Does anyone actually pay attention to what Bill O'Reilly vomits forth nightly, or are they (as I would expect) too busy enjoying their falafel?
posted by clevershark at 11:41 AM on September 8, 2005

Thanks for the help, too. I like Canadians.
posted by teece at 11:43 AM on September 8, 2005

Does anyone actually pay attention to what Bill O'Reilly vomits forth nightly, or are they (as I would expect) too busy enjoying their falafel?

Fewer and fewer. His ratings have been in the shitter since the election and he's getting more and more outlandish trying to get someone to watch him.

And a very heartfelt thank you to our northerly neighbors. Sorry that your kind offer of assistance wasn't more immediately acted upon.
posted by jperkins at 11:43 AM on September 8, 2005

Don't worry. Bill O'Reilly is irrelevant and disappointing to the vast majority of American citizens.
posted by wakko at 11:45 AM on September 8, 2005

I would say that when Bill O'Reilly is praising you is when you really need to do a situation check. Thanks for confirming we're on the right trach, Bill!
posted by Keith Talent at 11:48 AM on September 8, 2005

On the way home last night, I heard this NPR piece about all the countries helping out. I'm impressed by all those willing to help. Thank you!
posted by onhazier at 11:51 AM on September 8, 2005

Despite what you may hear about "ugly Americans" in the international community, when it comes down to the individuals we love you guys. I have no doubt that if we were in your shoes the U.S. would haul ass to save our distinctly Canadian bacon.

Just keep your hands off our beer, eh.
posted by illiad at 11:58 AM on September 8, 2005

Is there a historical connection between French Canada and New Orleans?
posted by stbalbach at 12:06 PM on September 8, 2005

Canadians are pretty rad. They even have polar bears in Canadia.
posted by cmonkey at 12:11 PM on September 8, 2005

Is there a historical connection between French Canada and New Orleans?

Yes.
posted by Vetinari at 12:12 PM on September 8, 2005

I love Canada, since my employer is in Vancouver. I'm looking forward to my next trip up there and would consider moving there if it was practical.
posted by mike3k at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2005

* stands up and sings O Canada while waving a beaver*
posted by warbaby at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2005

Is there a historical connection between French Canada and New Orleans?

Other than both being founded by the French, I'm not aware of any. Interestingly, the Cajuns were a group from Nova Scotia (the were Acadians there) who refused to swear allegiance to the English Crown and were forceably transported to Louisiana by the British.
posted by jperkins at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2005

Is there a historical connection between French Canada and New Orleans?

Oh hell yeah, they kicked our asses out.
posted by kuperman at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2005

(whoops, didn't realize there was going to be three responses to that one)
posted by kuperman at 12:14 PM on September 8, 2005

New Orleans was already founded when the Acadians were transported, wasn't it?
posted by jperkins at 12:16 PM on September 8, 2005

Speaking of Canada, the (real) new Boards of Canada finally leaked to the internets yesterday. Just sayin'.
posted by ori at 12:16 PM on September 8, 2005

Thank you Canada. I love your Beer. Your mountains. Your funny road signs. Dang it. Pretty much everything. Even Bill Shatner.
posted by tkchrist at 12:36 PM on September 8, 2005

If anyone is curious, the Vancouver Search and Rescue team wrote about some of things they saw during their time in Louisiana.
posted by squeak at 12:37 PM on September 8, 2005

Pity they didn't accept the cubans.
posted by silence at 1:01 PM on September 8, 2005

Maybe we can get them to come back down and help hand out FEMA fliers? They appear to have the skills needed for this important and dangerous work.

Thanks Canada, for your offers of help and for repeating them often enough until someone said "Hell yeah, we can use all the help we can get". Sorry it took so long to get back to you but they had a really great shoe sale and Mr. Bush was busy relaxing because being president's hard work.
posted by fenriq at 1:02 PM on September 8, 2005

Your other neighbour is helping out too.
posted by loquax at 1:07 PM on September 8, 2005

Ah, Paul Celluci, best summed up by Joe Malone: "Paul Celluci's way is the wrong way."
Maybe we should have listened.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 1:19 PM on September 8, 2005

Is there a historical connection between French Canada and New Orleans?

Yes - the Cajuns are actually from the area that is now Maritime Canada. They are called Acadians in Canada, and they were the francophones who refused to swear allegiance to the Queen of england (Power to them!) so they fled to Louisiana in the 1760's.

The word "Cajun" is what the Americans thought the Acadians were saying when they said "Acadian" with their french accents. (Canadian french accent - not Euro french)

I recently saw a documentary on French Canadians that have gone down to Louisiana to teach those with Cajun heritage about their history, and how to speak the french again as it has mostly been lost in the melting pot.
See the Codofil website for details.
posted by SSinVan at 1:25 PM on September 8, 2005

Cajun country is generally to the west and south of New Orleans.
posted by raysmj at 1:30 PM on September 8, 2005

It would be nice if we donated some softwood lumber towards the reconstruction but Georgia-Pacific and International Paper consider donated lumber to be dumping:

Early in the dispute, the U.S. government included donated lumber in sales as part of its argument that Canadian companies were selling lumber below cost.
posted by angrybeaver at 1:32 PM on September 8, 2005

Canada. It stands like some alternative universe next to the US - what if the US did things this way..... Sure it ain't perfect, but when the Mounties are the first troops to arrive in NOLA you gotta hand it to them...

It scares a lot of people by doing things different/right. More US citizens should visit there just to see what they think and how they take care of business. I was there for a Festival a couple of years ago and my elderly parents came from New York City to see the show in Toronto. My father, a retired NYC cop, was completely blown away by the "alternative universe" angle. "People are f**ing shopping in the malls! Not just hanging around!"

Still, poutine.... yeck....
posted by zaelic at 1:40 PM on September 8, 2005

I want to thank you Canucks for taking Celluci away from Massachusetts. Any chance you'd have a spot for Mitt Romney?
posted by jalexei at 1:41 PM on September 8, 2005

SSinVan: so they fled to Louisiana in the 1760's.
Fled is the wrong term. The Acadians were rounded up and driven from the maritimes by the British governer, in an event they still refer to as "the great expulsion".
posted by Popular Ethics at 1:43 PM on September 8, 2005

Poutine râpée is delicious though. We call Quebec poutines "fake poutine." We make em' with veggie sausage instead if salt pork these days.
posted by Cassford at 1:56 PM on September 8, 2005

...er make that "the great upheaval" (le Grand Dérangement)
posted by Popular Ethics at 1:59 PM on September 8, 2005

Veggie sausage instead of salt pork? TABERNACLE! CHALICE!
posted by zaelic at 2:15 PM on September 8, 2005

So the Vancouver USAR team werethe first rescue team to St-Bernard parish on Sept.2?

They were the ones whos mayor's wife was on WWL TV Aug 31st begging for help. Two days wait, not so bad, I guess...?

Vancouver is due for a 9+ earthquake any day now, so it's comforting to hear that our city has some folks who know what they're doing.
posted by anthill at 2:21 PM on September 8, 2005

Contrary to what the talking heads on Fox News will have you believe, Canadians may hate the current American Government, and we may resent American arrogance towards us, but Canadians by and large like Americans and the US in general. This is why so many of us are outraged over the response to Katrina. We care about New Orleans like we would care about a Canadian city struck by such a disaster.

Canada and the US are joined at the hip, and Canadians cannot go a single day without being reminded of this. Not only that, but Canadians like our close relationship with our big neighbour. Most of us like NAFTA, which despite the recent surge of protectionism, has been an unqualified success for both sides of the border. We take vacations, do business and go to school in the US, and Americans come here to do the same. Americans are our neigbours, our friends and our family; we could no sooner turn our backs on them than on our own people.

This is why Canadians were with the Americans in being first on the ground in Afghanistan, and why our largest overseas deployment is still there, in Kandahar. And this is why we are doing all we can to help the victims of Katrina. When America needs our help, we will be there.

Fuck O'Reilly, he knows less than nothing.

On Preview:Zaelic: it wasn't the mounties, it was the Vancouver US&R team mentioned above. I read an article, I think it was in the NYT where they were incorrectly referred to as mounties by some local or state offical. Also, if you don't like poutine, you clearly haven't had good poutine. Personally, when I am really hungry, nothing is better than that brilliant north south fusion that is pulled pork poutine, preferably with a few pints of beer; who said lunch can't have 3000 calories?
posted by [expletive deleted] at 2:36 PM on September 8, 2005

I'm a Canadian living in USA. I can't tell you how proud I am of my country and its response to Katrina. Canada; thanks for being so beautiful in countless ways.
posted by GoodJob! at 2:49 PM on September 8, 2005

Oh, Canada, you bring tears to my eyes.

I am a proud descendant of a large LeTourneau clan of Quebec, who as best I can tell, sneaked across the border in the late 1890s for a better life in the US. I have a little Quebec flag on my desk at work.

Thank you for showing our idiot government how to run a rescue operation. While I hope you never need our help, I hope we're ready to offer it should the time come. Bless you all.
posted by etaoin at 3:02 PM on September 8, 2005

WHo's up for a Vancouver metafilter meetup? Lucy Mae Browns?
posted by fingerbang at 3:04 PM on September 8, 2005

Just keep your hands off our beer, eh.

Canadian beer is like making love in a canoe: fucking close to water.

Just kidding! I love Canadians and their skunky, skunky beers.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:26 PM on September 8, 2005

kirkaracha: Given that you're from the U.S. (or land of the 3.5% alcohol content beers) that's rich. :-)

We do like U.S. "beer" up here, although it's usually listed under "soda water."
posted by illiad at 3:36 PM on September 8, 2005

It looks like the U.S.'s neighbors to the south are not far behind with some generous assistance of their own - Mexican army convoy with doctors, mobile kitchens heads for U.S.

...the first time the Mexican military has operated north of the Rio Grande River since Texas won its independence in 1846.
posted by PY at 5:03 PM on September 8, 2005

oops, I see that loquax had already mentioned it. thanks.
posted by PY at 5:14 PM on September 8, 2005

Actually, I've always heard that "fucking close to water" joke as being told about American beer by Canadians which seems to me a lot closer to the truth. The other great canoe/sex combination (which is something I recommend everybody try at some time) is Pierre Berton's sublime definition of a Canadian as

"A Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe without tipping it."
posted by portage at 6:27 PM on September 8, 2005

"Bill: I don't know what the situation is with Canada. They have helped us out before, but I'm going to let them have a pass on this."
posted by tomplus2 at 6:56 PM on September 8, 2005

the first time the Mexican military has operated north of the Rio Grande River since Texas won its independence in 1846

Not counting Pancho Villa's raid of Columbus, New Mexico. (Granted, he was leading revolutionaries, not Mexican troops, and Columbus is only five miles from the border, but still.)
posted by kirkaracha at 7:02 PM on September 8, 2005

"Neighborhourliness"?

I just hope we have people who can dispatch them to actually do stuff when they get here. That would be a concept.
posted by dhartung at 7:03 PM on September 8, 2005

Actually kirkaracha, we say the same thing about Coors lite...

But in all sobriety, we shouldn't be patting ourselves on the back like the rest of the Federal policicians... USAR saved 117 people, which is great, but it's not all that many in the grand scheme of things.

If the US response wasn't so pitiful and late it would be a drop in a bucket.
posted by anthill at 8:39 PM on September 8, 2005

USAR saved 117 people, which is great, but it's not all that many in the grand scheme of things.


This should be frightening for the people of Vancouver. A local paper described the Vancouver USAR team as the only one in Canada capable of responding to a disaster like Katrina (sorry, can't find a link to the article). I fear that one day we'll read a similar thread here, lamenting the inadequate response to Vancouver's Big One and thanking the United States for providing resources that Canada simply cannot.
posted by blockhead at 10:02 PM on September 8, 2005

Thank you, Canada.
posted by realcountrymusic at 10:19 PM on September 8, 2005

Blockhead hits the nail on the hammer. The Vancouver USAR is a start, but we have a long way to go before we are prepared for a large earthquake or tsunami. I worry about our own preparedness. On another note, a paramedic I know says that when she worked with USAR during the landslide earlier in the year, she found them poorly trained and embarassingly unprofessional. I won't get into details, because by all accounts they have just performed admirably, but I still have to say I'm not exactly confident in our ability to handle a similar crisis.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 11:08 PM on September 8, 2005

reading through the USAR's diary, it seems that a lot of their time was taken up with having to relocate and resecure their operations. The team was hampered in its first couple of days because of shooting from looters and general chaos at the disaster site. Out of the six days spent in the parish, they only spent three of those days conducting actual rescue operations.

one imagines that if a major earthquake or tsunami shatters Vancouver, that it will not devolve into a swampy, free-fire zone of looters and rescue operations won't be similarly hampered.

that aside, Canada doesn't have an equivalent force to the American National Guard
posted by bl1nk at 10:39 AM on September 9, 2005