Happy Canada Day, eh!

Well here we are. It's Canada Day. Happy Canada Day everyone. Today's activities will consist of adventures on a boat followed by a barbeque down near English Bay. It is a beautiful sunny day and my face will likely go a rosy colour by the end of the day.
But, I digress. I'm sure that everyone is giddy with anticipation of finding out the results of the Canada Day quiz. So without much further ado...

1. Where does the word, “Canada”, originate? (a) Papua New Guinea (b) A regional native Canadian term for “village” (c) letters taken out of a hat (d) William Shatners’ hairpiece. Answer: Contrary to popular belief, Canada was indeed named by the process of taking letters out of a hat rather than a native Canadian term. In fact we came dangerously close to being called “Banana” (Instead the letters “C”, eh? “N”, eh? And “D”, eh? derived our current name).

2. Name the world’s favourite Canadian export. (a) Labatt Ice (b) Bryan “Cuts like a knife” Adams (c) seal fur coats (d) Ed the Sock. Answer: Close to call, but let’s give it to Ed for his diplomatic skills.

3. When do you know it’s truly a cold day in Canada? (a) Your car doesn’t start in the morning (b) Your nostril hairs freeze (c) Your dog sled team is frozen to the sled (d) The teenagers do up their jackets. Answer: I’ll give the nod to the teenagers on this one.

4. Which one of the following is NOT one of Canada’s national symbols? (a) The beaver (b) The maple leaf (c) Ice hockey (d) Tim Horton’s. Answer: I suppose we can argue its Tim Horton’s doughnut/coffee chain. It got bought out by an American chain much to the chagrin of proud Canadians everywhere. Having said that, stay tuned. They're looking at restructuring as a Canadian company again!

5. Which one of the following phrases, when used, makes it easy to identify a Canadian from an American? (a) Out, eh? (b) About, eh? (c) No doubt, eh? (d) Toque, eh? (e) All of the above, eh? Answer: (e), eh?

6. Complete the following sentence correctly: “My Canada includes…” (a) Quebec (b) Ed the Sock (c) The McKenzie Brothers (see www.bobanddoug.com) (d) Bryan “Cuts like a knife” Adams (e) all of the above. Answer: (e) of course.

7. Which sentence does not belong with the theme of Canadiana? (a) Take off, you hoser! (b) Cold, eh? (c) What’cha doing May Two-Four, eh? (d) No doubt, eh? (e) Don’t come the raw prawn with me, mate!” Answer: We’ll give it to (e), unless you find yourself in Whistler in ski season.

8. Canadian Club is: (a) A brand of rye whiskey (b) A brand of Canadian cigarettes (c) A brand of sparkling water (d) an instrument used to beat cute furry seals. Answer: Shocked I am! The patent office said (a) had the trademark. So much for that marketing scheme…

9. What is Canada’s most beautiful sight? (a) The Rocky Mountain vistas (b) Niagara Falls (c) Old Quebec City in the spring (d) Rachel McAdam. Answer: Chacun son gout. If you picked one you got it right in your own special way. Good for you. Pat on the back.

10. What is Canada’s biggest mountain? (a) Mount Robson (b) Mont Real (c) Mount Hood (d) Blackcomb (e) Our newly produced national debt to "stimulate" the economy. Answer: (c) at last count, though open to (e)’s emerging threat.

Results:

0-4 Correct: Better get cracking on your Canadian pop culture, history, geography and psychology. The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games are on their way. Get caught up in the hype!

5-7 Correct: Pretty good! Might just test you on your provincial capital knowledge next time! You’re showing promise in embracing the Canuck within you.

8-9 Correct: Very good! You’ll be sprinkling your sentences with liberal doses of “eh’s” before you know it (Kiwis have a head start on this one)! Don’t forget to load up the cooler with Canadian and a mickey of C.C. and just give ‘er, eh?

10 Correct: Excellent! Move over Bob and Doug and Pierre Elliot too. We’ve got a nouveau-Canuck in the hoose! You can cover the country for me. I’m going travelin’.

Have a wonderful Canada Day everyone. Don't forget to take off, eh?