Canada Day, eh

1 July; the day most celebrated by all important western democracies. 

Of course, Canada Day is a big deal back in Canada, as much as anything is a big deal in Canada.  In fact it’s a very Canadian thing, not to make a National Holiday such a big deal, especially compared to the production made a few days later by our American cousins.   

Morning Coffee with the
personalised touch

So to mark the occasion we decided to have a BBQ after work in honour of the National Holiday, the invitation looked like this:

Unbeknownst to most Aussies, 1 July marks the celebration of Canada's birthday.  Unlike our garish southern neighbours who celebrate on the 4th of July, Canada Day is typically a quiet affair.  So in order to make this important, yet subdued event, we're having a casual BBQ on Friday night.

In order to get in you will have to:

• wear a toque;
• bring a two four;
• what a Coleman is;
• point to the Great White North on a map;
• pass a pronunciation test of the following words:
• Canada (say: Kanadaaa);
• Spencer (say: Spencsuur); and
• about (say: abooot).
• the period in which Bob McKenzie was Prime Minister;
• the period in which Doug McKenzie was Prime Minister;
• the period in which MacKenzie King was Prime Minister;
• the period in which Alexander MacKenzie was Prime Minister;
• explain who would make a better Prime Minister, Wayne Gretkzy or Bobby Orr;
• identify the NHL team that was relocated from Atlanta;
• name successful NFL quarterbacks who started in the CFL;
• explain what a "hoser" is; or
• let us know that you want to attend.*

Brad Burns, local comedian and thespian
channelling his inner hoser

What is awesome about this invitation is that one of the guys so invited happened to run into another Canadian (the other one in Brisbane) and asked him the above questions.  Apparently he was told that Doug McKenzie was the Liberal Prime Minister at the helm during 1913-21 and Bob McKenzie discovered the passage to the Arctic and has a river named after him.  I’m hoping the guy was being set up, but I’m not sure…

A great answer provided during the evening was that Gretkzy should be PM and that Orr should be Minister of Defense.  

• We’ve had to answer a litany of questions about Canada Day from the Aussies that focused on “what do you do to celebrate”, the answers should be obvious:
• Quietly take the day off work;
• Cook something on a Coleman;
• Buy and drink a two four;
• Congratulate ourselves on being Canadian and not American or British;
• List all the words that should really be spelt with a “u” like:
• “colour”;
• “flavour”; and
• “neighbour”.
• Complain about laws that we don’t like that passed without any real opposition;
• Discuss the merits of the tenure of each of Kim Campbell, John Turner and Paul Martin as Prime Minister.  It is expected that the discussion lasts longer than their actual time in office;
• Why we should trade Celine Dion to the American’s for a concession in the softwood lumber negotiations;
• Why we should trade Celine Dion to the EC for a first round birth in the next FIFA Soccer World Cup;
• Go camping and have a massive camp fires;
• Talk about how great the contributions the CANADARM and RADARSAT have been to various space programs;
• Talk about hockey and Canadian football;
• Debate what the Montreal hockey team would be called if the separatists had been successful;
• BBQ and drink.

However, we’re not celebrating in Canada.  It is a strange experience to have Canada Day here, especially having been in Calgary for most of my Canada Day celebrations.  Here, in mid-winter, I’ve had to wear a light vest to work this morning because it was only 11C and they are expecting a high of 21C.  In Calgary the morning temperature is expected to be 9C with a high of 19C.  Seems like a cold day all the way around.  Really much like most of the Canada Day’s I’ve had back home; a far cry from Christmas experience we had here.

However, what is also great to see is that the Aussies have embraced Canada Day celebrations in their own right as well.  This could be a result of our common heritage, or a sense of kinship, but in any event the pubs were full and the BBQ’s were sizzling throughout the country.  Upon reflection I suppose that the other reasons for the celebrations here could include the start of the new financial year (the Aussie financial year runs 1 July – 30 June and is largely observed as a shopping event); 1 July falls on a Friday, which is always a cause to fill the pubs and set the BBQ’s alight; it’s the night before the rugby semi-final; and then of course there is the favourite excuse for Australian celebration… “no apparent reason”.

Happy Canada Day, eh!

In our efforts to assimilate into the Aussie culture, “no apparent reason” is quickly becoming my favourite celebration, reason to drink or cause for a BBQ.  For Aussies, this is more than simply a reason to drink or eat, but included taking time off from work, hanging out with mates and shooting off fireworks.  Outside of China, I can’t imagine a place that loves fireworks as much as Brisbane.  We are roused to our windows and balconies with shocking frequency by the sounds of fireworks, which come up unannounced and from various sights throughout the city.  Unlike a single Roman Candle or Whistling Witch that some truant teenage fires off from time to time in Calgary, these are organized and impressive displays that are set of from various places in the city, and while many times there is a specific occasion often times it seems to be for “no apparent reason”.  Whilst not really spontaneous (I hope), unlike Calgary, there is no advanced announcement or massive collection of onlookers.  The exception to this is Riverfire, where the CBD sets massive quantities fireworks off from over a dozen sights, they engage fighter jets to dump and burn their excess fuel, the bridges become ablaze.  In short, it makes the scenes in Apocalypse Now look like some truant teenager with a single Roman Candle or Whistling Witch, but that is part of a later update.

I’ll leave you with a classic Canadian discussion of damages for tortious liability in the Donoghue v Stevenson by the notorious Canadian advocates from McKenzie and McKenzie.

Mouse In Beer Bottle -  

Rest assured that we’ve marked the occasion properly, with wine, beer, meat, friends and various Canadian bands coming off the stereo. 

Taking Care of Business

Ballad of Wendel Clark

50 Mission Cap

Happy Canada, eh.


* It would appear that when you tell an Aussie to dress for a party they take it seriously, as seen by the toque (above) but also the pair of guests who attended with sequined maple leaves emblazoned on their white shirts.  Gotta love the Aussies, eh!