Quick Question: What is Tim Hortons?
Quick Answer: Mecca.
Full Question: What is Tim Hortons?
Full Answer: Tim Hortons is a donut chain founded by hockey player Tim Horton in 1964. It quickly grew from coast to coast by having good coffee at good prices. The current incarnation of Tim Hortons is 24 hours a day 364 days a year, serves donuts, muffins, cookies, sandwiches and soups. In the mornings they have a breakfast menu that I’ve yet to try since I rarely eat breakfast foods. They have tea, they have coffee, they have cappuccinos and a bunch of other artsy fartsy drinks, all at a price cheaper than Starbucks.
I was known to joke that Americans have ‘Manifest Destiny’ (The belief they will one day hold the entire North American continent under the stars and stripes) and Canadians have Tim Hortons. When Wendy’s bought out Timmy’s they started appearing in the USA. They’re not as good, but they sure do beat the alternatives in this humble Canadian’s opinion. I’ve had more than one American declare “Damn, they’re good!” in shock and surprise. Just wait till they try a *Canadian* Tim Hortons, they’ll never leave.
But at the bottom line, they’re equivible to Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ Donuts. If you’ve seen Wayne’s World, Stan Mckita’s was based on Tim Hortons. And y’know, if it’s been in Wayne’s World, we’re not worthy.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Imperial vs. Metric
Quick Question: Do you only use metric in Canada?
Quick Answer: No.
Full Question: You seem fairly good in both metric and imperial, does Canada use both?
Full Answer: Sort of. Officially we only use metric, in common practice, it depends on the age of the user.
With a large country of imperial users to our south, we use a good mix of metric and imperial in daily use.
Cooking, our implements are marked in both. Most people know 250ML is one cup. When baking, I personally, tend to convert everything to metric for ease of conversion when I want to half or double a recipe.
Distance we typically judge by meters and kilometers. Which isn't to say we don't still measure our rooms in our houses by feet. It's generally a matter of how big of something we're talking about. Rooms are ten feet tall, skyscrapers are ninety or a hundred meters tall. Of course, to confuse everything, the average Canadian says something is a twenty minute drive away rather than twenty kilometers.
Height and Weight of people we use imperial. The British have converted to metric better on this front than we have. I can tell you I'm 5'7 and not 130lbs. I couldn't tell you what that is in metric without going to one of my favorite converter sites. My European friends will tell me they're 1.6 meters tall and I will look at them blankly. A great example is a Canadian author once wrote one of their characters at 3.6 meters tall. Slight mathematical error there and their American editor didn't pick up on it!
Temperature is done in Celsius, but when kvetching about the weather to our friends in the south we have to use Fahrenheit to be understood. Some Canadians know roughly the translations, some of us use converter webpages. Personally, I know room temperature is 70F or 19C, and that's about it. I couldn't tell you what temperature water boils at other than 100C. Conveniently, water freezes at 0C. Fahrenheit is much more complex!
Tools are either or. It depends on where the whatsits in question was made. American made products require imperial tools, European and Asian require metric. Canadian made is typically metric as well, but not always. Needless to say, the average mechanic has full sets of both types of tools.
The bottom line, really, is talk in what you know and we'll figure it out. If someone says something to you in a measurement you don't know, they'll probably be able to ballpark it for you. Canadians are typically happy to help as long as you're friendly and polite.
Quick Answer: No.
Full Question: You seem fairly good in both metric and imperial, does Canada use both?
Full Answer: Sort of. Officially we only use metric, in common practice, it depends on the age of the user.
With a large country of imperial users to our south, we use a good mix of metric and imperial in daily use.
Cooking, our implements are marked in both. Most people know 250ML is one cup. When baking, I personally, tend to convert everything to metric for ease of conversion when I want to half or double a recipe.
Distance we typically judge by meters and kilometers. Which isn't to say we don't still measure our rooms in our houses by feet. It's generally a matter of how big of something we're talking about. Rooms are ten feet tall, skyscrapers are ninety or a hundred meters tall. Of course, to confuse everything, the average Canadian says something is a twenty minute drive away rather than twenty kilometers.
Height and Weight of people we use imperial. The British have converted to metric better on this front than we have. I can tell you I'm 5'7 and not 130lbs. I couldn't tell you what that is in metric without going to one of my favorite converter sites. My European friends will tell me they're 1.6 meters tall and I will look at them blankly. A great example is a Canadian author once wrote one of their characters at 3.6 meters tall. Slight mathematical error there and their American editor didn't pick up on it!
Temperature is done in Celsius, but when kvetching about the weather to our friends in the south we have to use Fahrenheit to be understood. Some Canadians know roughly the translations, some of us use converter webpages. Personally, I know room temperature is 70F or 19C, and that's about it. I couldn't tell you what temperature water boils at other than 100C. Conveniently, water freezes at 0C. Fahrenheit is much more complex!
Tools are either or. It depends on where the whatsits in question was made. American made products require imperial tools, European and Asian require metric. Canadian made is typically metric as well, but not always. Needless to say, the average mechanic has full sets of both types of tools.
The bottom line, really, is talk in what you know and we'll figure it out. If someone says something to you in a measurement you don't know, they'll probably be able to ballpark it for you. Canadians are typically happy to help as long as you're friendly and polite.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
How long to walk across Canada?
Quick Question: How long would it take to walk across Canada?
Quick Answer : For-freaking-ever.
Full Question: How big is Canada? How long would it take to walk across?
Full Answer: From St. Johns, Newfoundland on the east coast to Victoria, British Columbia is roughly 7800 kilometers. (4860 miles) If you feel like walking that far, then you're welcome to; it'll only take you 120 plus days with no mishaps.
Now, most sensible people choose to fly from one side of Canada to the other. This would take about nine to ten hours depending on which route you take and where your layovers are. That's pure airtime, most likely you'd be spending twelve to fifteen hours in transit.
If you're in it for the majesty and views, you can take a train across Canada. VIA Rail will happily charge you an arm and a leg to take the gorgeous five and a half day trip across the country. Well, not the entire country, they only do Halifax, NS to Vancouver, BC. To go further at either end you'd be taking a bus.
Greyhound, if you like busses, can take you from one coast to the other. I'd love to tell you how long, but Greyhound.ca scheduling is still giving me errors a week after I last tried.
Quick Answer : For-freaking-ever.
Full Question: How big is Canada? How long would it take to walk across?
Full Answer: From St. Johns, Newfoundland on the east coast to Victoria, British Columbia is roughly 7800 kilometers. (4860 miles) If you feel like walking that far, then you're welcome to; it'll only take you 120 plus days with no mishaps.
Now, most sensible people choose to fly from one side of Canada to the other. This would take about nine to ten hours depending on which route you take and where your layovers are. That's pure airtime, most likely you'd be spending twelve to fifteen hours in transit.
If you're in it for the majesty and views, you can take a train across Canada. VIA Rail will happily charge you an arm and a leg to take the gorgeous five and a half day trip across the country. Well, not the entire country, they only do Halifax, NS to Vancouver, BC. To go further at either end you'd be taking a bus.
Greyhound, if you like busses, can take you from one coast to the other. I'd love to tell you how long, but Greyhound.ca scheduling is still giving me errors a week after I last tried.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Does everyone in Canada Speak French?
Quick Question: Do y'all speak French?
Quick Answer: Sometimes!
Full Question: Does everyone in Canada speak French?
Full Answer: Heck no, not everyone in Canada speaks English either.
Canada does indeed have two official languages; English and French. I can't speak for all provinces, but in Alberta and British Columbia you learn the basics of French even in the English schools. There are French immersion schools as well as fully bilingual schools, but for the most part you'll find the public schools are english everywhere outside of Quebec and some of the Maritime provinces. To become a citizen, you're supposed to be able to communicate in either official language.
In British Columbia you have to take French in grade eight, and to get into university you have to take up to grade eleven French. Some universities will accept any second language, some will only accept French.
In theory, if you're dealing with the Federal government you're dealing with someone who is bilingual. In practice, you can request service in either language and they'll fetch someone who speaks the language you need. It's a running joke to ask for service in French when you don't speak it yourself and vice versa. Not a joke to try on an overworked RCMP, however!
You'll find packaging, many information signs, and instructions in both French and English. Items that are specifically imported as specialty items are often exempt from language requirements which is why you'll occasionally find packaging in a completely different language from French or English.
There are parts of Canada, however, where neither language is common! Vancouver's Chinatown (second in size only to San Fransisco's) has its signs in Cantonese and English and the primary language of many of the store owners is Cantonese. Parts of Surrey, BC, you'll find the primary language Hindi or Punjabi. Canada is a multicultural place, just like many other parts of the world!
Quick Answer: Sometimes!
Full Question: Does everyone in Canada speak French?
Full Answer: Heck no, not everyone in Canada speaks English either.
Canada does indeed have two official languages; English and French. I can't speak for all provinces, but in Alberta and British Columbia you learn the basics of French even in the English schools. There are French immersion schools as well as fully bilingual schools, but for the most part you'll find the public schools are english everywhere outside of Quebec and some of the Maritime provinces. To become a citizen, you're supposed to be able to communicate in either official language.
In British Columbia you have to take French in grade eight, and to get into university you have to take up to grade eleven French. Some universities will accept any second language, some will only accept French.
In theory, if you're dealing with the Federal government you're dealing with someone who is bilingual. In practice, you can request service in either language and they'll fetch someone who speaks the language you need. It's a running joke to ask for service in French when you don't speak it yourself and vice versa. Not a joke to try on an overworked RCMP, however!
You'll find packaging, many information signs, and instructions in both French and English. Items that are specifically imported as specialty items are often exempt from language requirements which is why you'll occasionally find packaging in a completely different language from French or English.
There are parts of Canada, however, where neither language is common! Vancouver's Chinatown (second in size only to San Fransisco's) has its signs in Cantonese and English and the primary language of many of the store owners is Cantonese. Parts of Surrey, BC, you'll find the primary language Hindi or Punjabi. Canada is a multicultural place, just like many other parts of the world!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What is a Canuck?
Quick Question: What is a Canuck?
Quick Answer: A Canadian.
Full Question: What is a Canuck? Hockey team? Person? What?
Full Answer: Yes.
Americans have Uncle Sam, Canadians had "Johnny Canuck" He was a representative of the typical Canadian in the late 1800s. A clean cut gentleman who didn't put up with the bullying of his American cousins. Typically dressed like a logger or farmer. Later, in World War II, Johnny Canuck was your typical soldier, a hero, who went forth to protect friends, family and nation from the Nazi menace. He battled Hitler singlehandedly and protected all things and people Canadian. He's gone out of fashion in since, but the term has stuck around.
Originally, it was probably meant as an insult like 'Yankee' was. (Yankee Doodle Dandy) But much like our American cousins, we adopted it as our own and made it just another slang term for Canadian. We use it on ourselves, we accept it in friendly teasing, and you'd think you'd insulted our beer if you try and use it as an insult.
When Vancouver were naming their hockey team, they thought the image of a noble warrior who protects things Canadian would be a good image for their team and the Canucks were born. How they led to the ugliest jerseys in the history of the NHL is anyone's guess.
Quick Answer: A Canadian.
Full Question: What is a Canuck? Hockey team? Person? What?
Full Answer: Yes.
Americans have Uncle Sam, Canadians had "Johnny Canuck" He was a representative of the typical Canadian in the late 1800s. A clean cut gentleman who didn't put up with the bullying of his American cousins. Typically dressed like a logger or farmer. Later, in World War II, Johnny Canuck was your typical soldier, a hero, who went forth to protect friends, family and nation from the Nazi menace. He battled Hitler singlehandedly and protected all things and people Canadian. He's gone out of fashion in since, but the term has stuck around.
Originally, it was probably meant as an insult like 'Yankee' was. (Yankee Doodle Dandy) But much like our American cousins, we adopted it as our own and made it just another slang term for Canadian. We use it on ourselves, we accept it in friendly teasing, and you'd think you'd insulted our beer if you try and use it as an insult.
When Vancouver were naming their hockey team, they thought the image of a noble warrior who protects things Canadian would be a good image for their team and the Canucks were born. How they led to the ugliest jerseys in the history of the NHL is anyone's guess.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
What is a crown corporation?
Quick Question: What is a crown corporation?
Short Answer: A business run by the government in Canada.
Full Question: I hear Canadians say X is a "crown corporation" all the time. What's a crown corporation?
Full Answer: In Commonwealth countries (Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc) the "crown" refers to the government; the queen is our titular head . So the crown prosecutor is the federal prosecutor and crown corporations are businesses run by the government; either provincial or federal.
In British Columbia, we refer to all our provincial government run corporations as crown corporations. One example is ICBC (the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia). All vehicles on the roads of BC must have insurance. Minimum required insurance is third party liability, underinsured motorist protection and similars. You can get the rest of your insurance from a private insurer if you can get it cheaper, but as ICBC is run by the government they can't discrimate based on age, gender, race or anything similar. Your insurance rates are done based purely on years of safe driving, worth of your vehicle and use of your vehicle. This is a typical situation of advantages and disadvantages of crown corporations.
Short Answer: A business run by the government in Canada.
Full Question: I hear Canadians say X is a "crown corporation" all the time. What's a crown corporation?
Full Answer: In Commonwealth countries (Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc) the "crown" refers to the government; the queen is our titular head . So the crown prosecutor is the federal prosecutor and crown corporations are businesses run by the government; either provincial or federal.
In British Columbia, we refer to all our provincial government run corporations as crown corporations. One example is ICBC (the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia). All vehicles on the roads of BC must have insurance. Minimum required insurance is third party liability, underinsured motorist protection and similars. You can get the rest of your insurance from a private insurer if you can get it cheaper, but as ICBC is run by the government they can't discrimate based on age, gender, race or anything similar. Your insurance rates are done based purely on years of safe driving, worth of your vehicle and use of your vehicle. This is a typical situation of advantages and disadvantages of crown corporations.
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