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From the Desk of elvisdo — The 2011 Canadiana Write-OffJul 01 '11 (Updated Aug 02 '11) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line By joining the Canadiana Write-Off, everyone is granted Canadian citizenship.
"Are you feeling homesick?" my wife asks of me. She asks this because she's noticed how I've been lamenting on Canadian things as of late, such as maple syrup, Purdy's chocolates, cravings for ketchup chips and Coffee Crisp bars, and yes even poutine. And it's funny because July 1st just snuck up on me. Yes, that July 1st... Canada Day, when all Canadians will be celebrating its 144th birthday as a united nation. That also means it is time for the 2011 edition of my annual Canadiana Write-Off, the sixth installment that I started back in 2006. It was a way for me to celebrate my Canadian heritage and the many accomplishments achieved from its citizens. This year, more than any other in the past few years, I have been enraptured with my hometown hockey team the Vancouver Canucks. They have had an incredible season hockey season by setting so many records and accomplishments for the franchise. In fact they were heavily favoured to win the fabled and ever elusive Stanley Cup. Alas, despite making in to the Stanley Cup finals, they took the Boston Bruins to the seven game limit and fell one game short of capping off an impressive season. I was disgusted, however, to see a select few spread anarchy throughout downtown Vancouver after the final game resulting in another terrible display of rioting and looting. It undid the black eye of 1994 (the first Stanley Cup riot) as well as the impressive showing of peaceful celebrations demonstrating just a year prior with the 2010 Winter Olympics. But I was extremely proud when the people of Vancouver and the true hockey fans took their city back as thousands and thousands of volunteers came together to clean up such an atrocious mess the following day. For the entire month of July, I expect to be bombarded with reviews pertaining to Canada, no matter how miniscule the reference may be. It can be about anything... a song, an actor, a location, an invention, a memory, anything at all. Canada is a nation that consists of ten provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan) and three territories (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon). So here's the challenge: You have 31 days to take a cross-country trip across Canada. Is it possible that your reviews will be able to reflect something from each province and territory? I'm thinking about it right now and even I don't think I can do it. This is why it's a challenge. This isn't a mandatory stipulation for this write-off but it sure does make it even more interesting. I'll list all participants and their reviews on this page. Drop me an e-mail or leave a link in the comment section, and I will post everything over here. Have fun with this, eh? In the meantime, I'm going to celebrate the occasion with a few maple martinis and some poutine and salmon burgers while snacking on Coffee Crisp bars and ketchup chips. I'm sure I'll have some room left for Molson Canadian beer to wash it all down while proudly wearing my maple leaf. Check out these past entries: 2006 Canadiana Write-Off (26 reviews) 2007 Canadiana Write-Off (28 reviews) 2008 Canadiana Write-Off (50 reviews) 2009 Canadiana Write-Off (53 reviews) 2010 Canadiana Write-Off (53 reviews) _________________________________________________________ bilbopooh (15 review) • Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD Of All Time features a song by Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis, Toronto, Ontario and Dave Thomas, St. Catherines, Ontario). • Cheaper by the Dozen 2 was partially filmed in various places in Ontario and also co-starring Eugene Levy (Hamilton, Ontario). • Heritage Celtic Thunder is a DVD featuring Working Man, a song written by Nova Scotia-based singer-songwriter Rita MacNeil. • Booky's Crush is a Canadian made for TV film that takes place in Toronto during the Great Depression and stars many Canadian actors from the Toronto area. • Michael Bublé, British Columbia's crooner, lights it up with Haven't Met You Yet. • Booky and the Secret Santa is a Canadian made for TV film that takes place in Toronto during the Great Depression and stars many Canadian actors from the Toronto area. • A Bear Named Winnie is film about the title's character named after the city of Winnipeg and filmed in Manitoba. Part of the story takes place in Ontario and Quebec. Gil Bellows (Vancouver, British Columbia), Jonathon Young (Vancouver, British Columbia), Ted Atherton (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Aaron Ashmore (Richmond, British Columbia) have roles in the movie. • Farley Follows His Nose is a picture book that takes place in Ontario. Author Lynn Johnston is an Ontario resident, while co-author Beth Cruikshank lives in Manitoba. • Booky Makes Her Mark is a Canadian made for TV film that takes place in Toronto during the Great Depression and stars many Canadian actors from the Toronto area. The star Tatiana Maslany is from Saskatchewan. It also includes Prince Edward Island author L. M. Montgomery as a character. • Still Rovin' After All These Years features the stylings of that Irish-Canadian group from Toronto The Irish Rovers. Nova Scotia is mentioned in a couple of their songs. • The 2010 Quatchi Olympic Mascot Plush Doll is native to British Columbia. • http://www.epinion.com/content_557797772932 is written by L. M. Montgomery (Clifton, Prince Edward Island) with stories taking place in PEI, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia. • The Commish: The Complete First Season is filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. • Eloise at the Plaza has a role for Kenneth Welsh (Edmonton, Alberta). • The plot thickens in Trixie Belden and The Mystery of the Missing Heiress as the story revolves around a Montreal-based furniture company. carstairs38 (5 review) • Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: The Complete Fourth Season co-stars Caroline Rhea (Aunt Hilda Spellman), who hails from Montreal, Quebec. • Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season is filmed in British Columbia, including Vancouver, Merrit, Aldergrove and Cloverdale, and completed on the sets in Burnaby. Kristen Kruek (Vancouver, British Columbia) plays Lana Lang and Erica Durance (Calgary, Alberta) plays Lois Lane on the show. Superman is co-created by Joe Shuster (Toronto, Ontario). • Green Lantern (2011) stars Vancouver, British Columbia native Ryan Reynolds in the lead role. • In the book Mr. Monk on the Couch, there is a character from Vancouver, British Columbia. • X-Men Origins: Wolverine features that mutant from the Alberta and British Columbia area. dragonfire88 (16 reviews) • The movie Larry Crowne mentions that country of Canada a couple of times. • Bookmarked to Death is book featuring a character that's a Canadian author (parts unknown) and even mentions those famous Canadian geese. • The movie Mr. Popper's Penguins features Jim Carrey (Newmarket, Ontario) and Jim Tupper (Darthmouth, Nova Scotia). • Homicide in Hardcover follows the murder of Abraham Karastovsky, originally from Canada. • Top Gear: Complete Season 14 features a segment that takes place in Resolute, Nunavut. • How I Met Your Mother: Season 4 co-stars Cobie Smulders, who is from Vancouver, British Columbia. Her character Robin Scherbatsky is also from Vancouver. • There is a minor character that might go visit relatives in Canada in the book Bookplate Special. • Superbad stars Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (both from Vancouver, British Columbia), Michael Cera (Brampton, Ontario) and Martha MacIssac (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island). The movie also won two Canadian Comedy Awards in 2008, one for writing for Seth Rogen and one for Michael Cera's performance. • Scarecrow and Mrs. King: The Complete First Season has Bruce Boxleitner's character Lee Stetson using an alias coming from Canada. • Doctor Detroit stars Ottawa, Ontario native Dan Aykroyd. • The book An Uninvited Ghost has a character who grew up in Canada. • Futurama: Volume 5 features the voice talent of Maurice LaMarche (Tornoto, Ontario). • Pineapple Express co-stars Vancouver, British Columbia native Seth Rogen. • How I Met Your Mother: Season 5 co-stars Cobie Smulders, who is from Vancouver, British Columbia. Her character Robin Scherbatsky is also from Vancouver. • Whose Line is it Anyway: Season One, Volume One showcases the comedic talents of Colin Mochrie (Montreal, Quebec) and Ryan Stiles (Richmond, British Columbia). • Whose Line is it Anyway: Season One, Volume Two showcases the comedic talents of Colin Mochrie (Montreal, Quebec) and Ryan Stiles (Richmond, British Columbia). elvisdo (15 reviews) • The Story of Wolverine reveals Wolverine's past from his birth in Alberta and time in British Columbia before becoming a member of the X-Men and New Avengers. • The Book of Lies, a novel by Brad Meltzer, involves the character Superman, co-created by Joe Shuster from Toronto, Ontario. • Bowen Designs: Aurora & Northstar Mini-Busts 2-Pack features the twins from Montreal, Quebec, who were co-created by writer/artist John Byrne (Edmonton, Alberta). • Bowen Designs: Snowbird Mini-Bust depicts this Canadian demi-goddess from the Northwest Territories, who was created by writer/artist John Byrne (Edmonton, Alberta). • Bowen Designs: Snowbird Sasquatch Transmutation Mini-Bust is a combo platter of Sasquatch (Vancouver, British Columbia) and Snowbird (Northwest Territories) merged into one being. Both were created by John Byrne (Edmonton, Alberta). • Wolverine and the X-Men, Volume 1: Heroes Return Trilogy features that scrappy Canadian from Alberta and British Columbia. • DC HeroClix: Green Lantern Fast Forces 6-Pack features Green Lantern modeled after Ryan Reynolds (Vancouver, British Columbia). • Generation A is a book written by Douglas Coupland (Vancouver British Columbia). One of his characters Diana Beaton is from North Bay, Ontario, while Superman is the co-creation of Tornoto born Joe Shuster. • Transformers: Villains: The Ultimate Doom features the talent of Peter Cullen (Montreal, Quebec), the voice behind Optimus Prime and Ironhide. • Burnaby, British Columbia native Michael Bublé lends his voice to the Spider-Man Theme/Sway (Remixes). • Marvel Super Hero Squad: Avengers Attack 7-Pack contains Wolverine who is from both Alberta and British Columbia. • DC Universe Action League: Superman and Wonder Woman features the co-creation of Joe Shuster (Tornoto, Ontario). • A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex is an autobiograhy by Chris Jericho, a Winnipeg, Manitoba native, who also trained in Calgary, Alberta by the Hart brothers. • Superman: New Krypton, Volume One features the co-creation of Joe Shuster (Tornoto, Ontario). • Marvel Heroes Glow-in-the-Dark Sticker Book features Wolverine who is from both Alberta and British Columbia. jankp (2 reviews) • Shadows Bright as Glass: The Remarkable Story of One Man's Journey From Brain Trauma to Artistic Triumph features Canadians discussed in the book, one a neuroscientist named Penfield. • The First Dance: A Barnaby Skye Novel mentions Saskatchewan and the Red River area (Manitoba). luquillo (1 review) • WWE: Wrestlemania 27 features Canadian superstars Edge (Orangeville, Ontario), Christian (Kitchener, Ontario), and Trish Stratus (Richmond Hill, Ontario). pmills1210 (4 reviews) • Winnipeg, Manitoba native Nia Vardolas helped in the screenplay for Larry Crowne. • Ghostbusters is a film directed by Ivan Reitman (Toronto, Ontario) and featuring the talents of Dan Aykroyd (Ottawa, Ontario), Rick Moranis (Toronto, Ontario), and Harold Ramis (a SCTV alum). • Fleer Atlanta Hawks Kevin Willis 1986-87 Rookie Card features the superstar who once played for the Toronto Raptors. • Don't Drink the Water features the talent of Michael J. Fox (Burnaby, British Columbia). Stephen_Murray (5 reviews) • Whole New Thing is a Canadian movie filmed in Mahone Bay and Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a few Canadian actors Aaron Webber (Chester Basin, Nova Scotia), Robert Joy (St. John's, Newfoundland), and Daniel MacIvor (Sydney, Nova Scotia) starring in the film. • The talented Ellen Page (Halifax, Nova Scotia) co-stars in the film Inception. • The Courtship of Eddie's Father provides a vehicle to showcase Glenn Ford's (Quebec City, Quebec) acting chops. • William Shatner (Montreal, Quebec) shows off his acting in The Andersonville Trial. • Tennessee's Partner features Alan Dwan from Toronto, Ontario. talyseon (8 reviews) • Haven: The Complete First Season is filmed in Nova Scotia, where Richard Donat and John Dunsworth were born, Lucas Bryant and Nicholas Campbell are both from Ontario. • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan co-stars William Shatner (Montreal, Quebec) and James Doohan (Vancouver, British Columbia). • Horrible Bosses has a role for Donald Sutherland, the pride of Saint John, New Brunswick. • Haeckel's Tale: Masters of Horror has a Vancouver, British Columbia connection. Leela Savasta and Tom McBeath were born there, Micki Maunsell died there, and the show was filmed there. • Unstoppable features a role for Dylan Bruce (Will Colson's Brother) who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock co-stars William Shatner (Montreal, Quebec) and James Doohan (Vancouver, British Columbia). • House of Wax co-stars Elisha Cuthbert (Calgary, Alberta) in this horror film. • Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country co-stars William Shatner (Montreal, Quebec) and James Doohan (Vancouver, British Columbia) with Kim Cattrall (Courtenay, British Columbia) and Christopher Plummer (Toronto, Ontario). __________________________________________________________ Running count of provinces and territories featured in reviews: Alberta: 12 British Columbia: 29 Manitoba: 5 New Brunswick: 0 Newfoundland and Labrador: 1 Nova Scotia: 7 Ontario: 23 Prince Edward Island: 3 Quebec: 12 Saskatchewan: 2 Northwest Territories: 2 Nunavut: 1 Yukon: 0 Canada: 6  |
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