Tuesday, 1 July 2025

It's Canada Day Today!


As a general rule, Canadian patriotism tends to be pretty quiet and introverted. But when I was young, there was a real upsurge of Canadian patriotism in the 1960s (the decade of our new flag and our Centennial year) and in the 1970s-80s (when Canadian culture enjoyed a renaissance in music, art, TV and films). Then the sentiment largely simmered down again and was confined to celebrating Canada Day once a year.

Oh yes, there was that beer commercial in 2000 which featured the now-classic "I Am Canadian Rant" debunking stupid stereotypes about us. Its mock-serious tone is typical Canadian humour, satirical and self-deprecating. Everyone loved that fun little ad and it was a big hit here --


And then things simmered down once more for a couple of decades. Until Trump's Tariff War and his "51st state" rhetoric this year. THAT got us all worked up again, so the same actor was brought back to do a NEW RANT on our behalf. This one has a bit more of a pissed-off edge to it, but is still pretty funny --


And whatever you do, watch out for that Shawinigan Handshake, eh? Canadians can surprise you when you least expect it.

22 comments:

Tom said...

...I wish you a fabulous day. 🇨🇦

Marie Smith said...

Snowbirds…yay! Happy Canada Day, Debra.

Tundra Bunny said...

Happy Canada Day, eh?!

Pixie said...

Happy Canada Day Debra!

Shammickite said...

Great post! Those I am /We are Canadian videos are the best!!!

Travel said...

I love them, happy Canada Day.

Frank said...

Good for you all. You are fortunate not to have a total idiot running/ruining your country.

Bob said...

Happy Canadian Day.
Good on Jeff!

Marcia LaRue said...

Love those ads ... especially the 2nd one! Have a great Canada Day ... 🇨🇦

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Just think... if Canada was the 51st state, it would be the biggest state in the union...

Yorkshire Pudding said...

...and the most populous too - slightly bigger than California. You and Pixie and Red in Red Deer and Jenny in Nova Scotia would be so proud!

whkattk said...

Happy Canada Day!
And, thank you for being...well... Canadian!

Cleora Borealis said...

🇨🇦 Hooray for your country that can still be proud of itself...I'm so jealous!! I regret to say I've only spent 22 hours in Canada (Vancouver, BC). Hubby and I were on a rail trip along the CA coast when we discovered there was delicacy called poutine. We were able to quickly add Canada to the itinerary, just before the law changed to must have passports.
The gorgeous border guard was suspicious (but nice!) when I told him we would be in Canada for less than a day. But, when I told him the reason was poutine, he said "right, off you go, then" like a Monty Python sketch. Not another word was required!! Happy Day Poutineers!! 🇨🇦

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Happy Canada Day!
I wish I lived there, for sure.

XOXO

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Cleora Borealis -- I hope you enjoyed the poutine!

Anonymous said...

🇨🇦HAPPY CANADA DAY Debra. Jayne in Ontario.

Guillaume said...

I don't celebrate, but happy Canada Day to you.

Rade said...

Oh! Happy Day!

e said...

Happy Canada Day, Debra! I'm flying the Maple Leaf from my front porch!
Do you follow Tod Maffin on line? Former CBC broadcaster, funny, pissed off, wry, intelligent. Thoroughly enjoyable. The algorithm suggested him and I'm glad it did! I learned about the Shawinigan Handshake from him...

Kathy G said...

Enjoy your holiday.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ e -- No, I don't follow him online, I'll have to look him up. Thanks for the reference!

DB Stewart said...

Happy Canada Day. Yes indeed, the Shawinigan handshake...ha, why haven't they made a heritage minute out of that yet?