What do you think of Canada?

[JTD]

You know......it'd be interesting to see what fellow posters have to say about Canada?

Have you ever travelled to Canada? B.C. is the most beautiful place in the country followed by Niagara Falls, Ontario (I'd say). B.C. has wonderful skiing, beautiful lakes (the Okanagan region is a paradise in the summer and very hot-40 + degres Celsisus). The mountains are beautiful. As for Niagara Falls, what can you say about that except SPECTACULAR. I rode the Maid of the Myst boat in 1998 on a trip with my parents when I was 15. If you remember, the famous picture of Princess Diana welcoming her two sons, William and Harry, with wide open arms and such love was taken on board that ship. There's more in the Niagara region too such as wineries.

On another front, I guess you don't know much about us. I watch American news regularly and we are rarely mentioned if ever. We're pretty much like you and the climate can be just as hot as you guys get it in the summer.

Of special note, we're hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver, B.C. I can't believe that we nearly lost it to South Korea!! I live 8 hours east of Vancouver and I can't wait for 2010. I am going for sure (especially to see Canada win the Olympic Men and Women's ice hockey gold medals )

Also, some of you may or may not know that Canada is now the lead military force in Afghanistan. Did you know that? Canadian Forces just recently raised the flag at Kandahar and are helping in the reconstruction and security operations there since you all are tied up in Iraq.

I sure hope that you don't have the impression of us as hicks who say "eh". We're not stupid and we don't live in igloos, trust me.

Actually the United Nations voted us as the best country in the world in which to live for a while. We have now slipped to No. 3 or No. 4 but that's OK

Anyone here ever travelled up North? I do invite you to come to see us.

How much did you know about Canada before this post?

[Sean in New Orleans]

I think Canada is beautiful, but, it's socialist. Unfortunately, I don't like socialism that much. That's why professional sports teams can't survive real well in Canada and thrive in the United States...the taxes are really messed up in socialist states...

[breeze]

Jason, I have heard many stories of the beauty of Canada.
I actually tried to visit there, back in...er.....(thinking)....I
do believe it was 1983. My pal, Sharon, who was a cousin
to my neighbor, lived in Melvindale, MI, a suburb of Detroit.
I rode back up there from TN with her, then, and, she tried
to arrange for her Mom's best friend, in Canada, to meet us
at the border bridge, but, something came up that her Mom's
friend couldn't meet us, that day. She took me past the bridge
that crossed into Canada, and, for some reason, didn't want to
cross without her Mom's friend waiting on the other side. I do
hope that, someday, I'll get another chance to see Canada.
I have a friend who lives in Ontario, and, loves to garden
MORE than I do! LOL!

I DO understand the diversity of the country, and, I know
that you all don't live in igloos, and, you're not stupid,
by any means!

Thanks for sharing your view!

[cajungal]

I never been that far north before. Furthest north I ever traveled was Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Washington D.C. But, I would love to visit. But, not in the winter months, I can't take the cold well at all!

[Persepone]

Great place! Go and visit if you get a chance! Different parts of Canada are very different from each other. Go to Montreal or Quebec in general and it's totally different from Toronto, for example. Newfoundland again is completely different. I have not been to BC, but understand it's great!

I've a friend who is Inuit and who lives well above the arctic circle... Again, a different world. One of these days I hope to visit...

Canadians have an amazing sense of humor (good)...

[cajungal]

Actually, I have French-Canadian decent in me. My great-great-grandparents are from Nova Scotia and settled in Louisiana. Cajun and proud of it.

[breeze]

Cajungal, you got 'da real Acadian blood, there, gal!

[PurdueWx80]

Love Canadians and hosers alike!

But seriously, Canada is amazing. Have had the opportunity to fish and canoe in the Boundary Waters of SW Ontario - it's literally God's country up there. Have heard Banff (spelling?) and Vancouver are even more breath-taking though. My next vacation out of the US will likely be to BC. Halfway considered moving there after gay marriage was legalized too.

[Brent]

I went to Canada when I was a baby(15 months old, October 1989). My uncle was in the Navy in Maine at the time and my parents made a 2 week trip out of it to go to as many states east of the MS River as possible. I don't remember it(but have seen pictures/video) and we passed through Montreal, stayed in Cornwall in Ontario(on the St. Lawrence River from Upstate NY), through Toronto and then into Ohio(after passing through DC while Congress was letting out ). We were up there during the World Series quake in San Francisco. My dad used to live in Ohio while my grandpa(his dad) was in the Air Force so we saw his old home too... I wish I remembered it.

[Miss Mary]

We vacationed in Canada, two summers in a row. Loved it! Would love to go back in fact.

First year, we started at Niagara Falls, going on into Ontario (Barie, Huntsville, Sault St Marie) and then back down thru Michigan. One day we took a full day's train ride into remote, northern Ontario - it was so beautiful up there! We had breakfast and lunch on the train. My kids still talk about that train trip.

Next year, we went to Barrie and Huntsville again, but also Ottawa and Quebec City (such a beautiful city, felt like we were in Europe, from pictures I had seen of Europe).

Canadians are very friendly, we felt quite safe up there (except for a scary encounter in N. Falls, but that was on the US side). The air just feels cleaner somehow, can't explain it.

Mary

[Radar]

I grew in Michigan just across the border from Sarnia, Ontario. I have traveled extensively in Ontario and I love it. The scenery is breathtaking and the country is very clean. But what I love most of all about Canada is the Canadian people. No where else will you find such nice, spirited and hospitable people. I also share their passion for hockey! If I had to leave the United States for whatever reason and live in another country of course Canada would be my choice. What a great country and fantastic place to call home. The Canadian's should be proud of their wonderful, peaceful nation.

A side note: (The also have great beer and fine Canadian whiskey!)

[Miss Mary]

I grew in Michigan just across the border from Sarnia, Ontario. I have traveled extensively in Ontario and I love it. The scenery is breathtaking and the country is very clean. But what I love most of all about Canada is the Canadian people. No where else will you find such nice, spirited and hospitable people. I also share their passion for hockey! If I had to leave the United States for whatever reason and live in another country of course Canada would be my choice. What a great country and fantastic place to call home. The Canadian's should be proud of their wonderful, peaceful nation.

A side note: (The also have great beer and fine Canadian whiskey!)

Radar, have you ever watched Strangebrew? We love that movie.....take off you Hosier.....LOL Something tells me you have watched that movie.....but you're right, Canadians are very hospitable. Now I want to go back!

Mary

[Radar]

Miss Mary, you have great insight to people. Of course I have seen the movie... it was a beauty, eh?

[PurdueWx80]

Miss Mary, you have great insight to people. Of course I have seen the movie... it was a beauty, eh?

You betcha (or is that only a Minnesota thing?)

[JTD]

Wow. it's been interesting to read all the posts. Thanks for all the replies.

You know one thing that hasn't been mentioned here is Atlantic Canada. I've never been there but I am absolutely dying to go there. PEI (site of Anne of Green Gables) and Newfoundland (The Rock) would just be stunningly beautiful places to see.

There's also the confederation bridge from PEI to New Brunswick. It was a big deal when it was finally completed up here. I'd love to travel that too.

And then there's Edmonton. DO go there The West Edmonton Mall is the greatest mall anywhere and it's the biggest mall in the world too! We went there in 2000 and I loved it. Edmonton is a beautiful town too.

Nothing can match Victoria, B.C. though, our capital. It's heavenly beautiful. There's great antique shopping there. My favourite part was going to see the legislative buildings as politics is my passion. We went on a tour and got to see the actual chambers of debate themselves.

Vancouver has Stanley Park, which is so neat to see. It's a zoo/aquarium with tons of neat stuff plus lots of good shopping downtown.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies so far

[streetsoldier]

Like the "beavers" (British-descent), can't stand the "frogs" (French-decent) Canadians...plus have no use for socialism in any form (which is why so many Canadians come HERE for medical attention).

Visited Winnipeg/St. Boniface often, and when I lived in Grand Forks and Fargo, they came down in droves every weekend (shopping, entertainment is better and cheaper here, too).

[HurryKane]

You hosers have good beer, eh.

[Stephanie]

I would love to visit Canada someday, especially the Canadian Rockies. I hear that it is a beautiful country and the Canadians I've met have always been friendly.

We have alot that come from Quebec during the summer to visit the New Jersey beaches.

[Skywatch_NC]

My folks, sister and I went to Niagara Falls (both U.S. and Canada sides) in the early 1970s...and then my sister and I went with our church youth group choir there in the early 1980s! We all thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Also, sang at one of our church stops in Welland, Ontario.

And we have some good friends here in NC who are natives of Kitchener, Ontario.

Eric

[feederband]

I've been to Vancouver... Real nice...I guess at this point I'm ok with Canada...