Is it Possible to Be Too Canadian? Take our handy quiz, eh.

Are you a walking talking Canadian stereotype? Is it possible to be too Canadian?

Let’s face it every country has its own identity, or certain things that the rest of the world identify that country with. For example, Americans are known for their….umm, never mind; let’s start with Australians: giant bugs, kangaroos, and “Put another shrimp on the bahbee, g’day mate!!”

There are a lot of things that could be said to be uniquely Canadian, like toques, the Yukon, and our hot prime minister. We practically invented every sport (alright, maybe just hockey, basketball, and lacrosse); in fact, it turns out we are quite inventive and may or may not save the world one day!

I love being Canadian; it practically excuses me for my quirkiness when I say about, and people the world over love us. My partner and I were in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, and every time we opened our mouths someone asked us about hockey or the Blue Jays! But today we ask, is it possible to be too Canadian? 

 

After seeing pictures like this, I think it might be. If you do any of the following things, it’s possible you might be too Canadian.

 

1. Stop at Tim Horton’s before Every. Single. Drive. Anywhere. You know you do it. If you don’t before every drive, then you definitely do before every road trip. Ever left your house for a trip, and can’t shake that feeling you forgot something? Back to Timmy’s you go.

2. Really? Do you know exactly what is happening here:

 

 

3. Are bewildered by other nation’s laughing at our pronunciation of “about”. I understand that all countries have an accent to other countries; I get it, I really do. But this silliness about “aboot” has got to stop, eh?

4. Understand the importance of headlights on northern Canadian roads. I am a speed demon.* I once made it from Sault Ste. Marie to Toronto in 6.5 hours. Conversely, I was driving a car with failed electrical system (i.e. no headlights) at night in Northern Ontario, and I did 10 km/hr maximum. Why, you ask? One word: MOOSE.

5. Realize how amazing and precedent-setting this picture is (hint: it is the most gender equal and ethnically diverse sitting government in our history):

 

6. Tear up when you hear any Tragically Hip song.  Our national treasure, The Tragically Hip, toured for the last time this summer after singer Gord Downie announced he had brain cancer. Many radio stations played nothing but the Hip all day on Canada Day, and our public broadcasting channel broadcast their last concert in Kingston (their hometown, and where it all began) across Canada, commercial-free. (Bonus Too Canadian points awarded if you have ever yelled “They are ours, b*tches!!” while dancing to the Hip in an American bar.)

 

 

7. Know that just because it’s almost May, doesn’t mean spring until Mother Nature has her last laugh at us. Bah. Sweater weather!! (Bonus points if you wear flip flops from April to November, no matter what–except for you, shorts-in-February guy; that’s just dumb.)

 

8. Even our animals are Canadian.

9. Have 872,000 different references to Tim Horton’s, and you actually know who Tim Horton is. Yes, he is an actual person, not just a coffee shop. Sadly, after his last win in Toronto, he died in a single-car accident on his way home to Buffalo in 1974.

 

10. Have a story about each and every one of these points. I love our Canadian identity, and I love that it’s a “thing” to tease us about it. I have been to many a place in America, and have answered questions like “How’s the ice fishing up there right now?” in June, and I am sure you have too.

Share some of your “uniquely Canadian” suggestions and stories in the comments below!

*We checked. Jennifer is indeed a speed demon. Mapquest tells us that it should take 7 hours and 45 minutes to drive from the Soo to the Six. 

**EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS A TRICK QUIZ. Obviously, there’s no such thing as being too Canadian.