BristolUK

I don't think it's just European perceptions though. The gift shops at Canadian airports don't stock all those Canadian images just to influence Europeans.

As for the moose....that's why I said there were many similarities. It's just that moose are more associated with Canada.

BristolUK

The UK has plenty of companies originally from other parts of the world, plenty of American TV, considered to be 51st state (or 52nd) etc but there is still a clear 'British' identity just like there's a clear Canadian identity.

Novocastrian

Furriners in general then. It's just image marketing along the lines of Swinging Sixties UK etc.

What is telling is that for Canada, this image hasn't changed in living memory. Whether that's a positive or a negative is up to you, but I suggest the ethnic diversity of the RCMP hardly reflects today's reality in say Toronto.

dbd33

What is this "clear Canadian identity"?

DaveLovesDee

Should it though? Yes. I would prefer the best person for the job, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or gender, but it also needs to be someone who understands the challenges faced by the area served.

By all means get those communities under-represented in the RCMP to consider it as a career, but I would suggest some of those communities have a distrust of uniformed authority, rightly or wrongly, and would be reluctant to get involved. Positive discrimination in favour of the under-represented minorities is still discrimination though. It's a fine line to cross.

BristolUK

Yes, the image hasn't changed and that is what contributes to identity. Same as london with it's red double deckers.

Agreed about the RCMP and Toronto...but Toronto's souvenir shops still have the usual Canadian imagery on sale. Whatever way you look at it, that's still evidence of a different 'identity' to that seen in the USA. No one single aspect. Just like there's no 'one' identity for Americans, Scots, Irish, French etc.

Scotland and Wales probably has more in common with England than Canada does with the USA. Would you say there's no separate Welsh or Scottish identity?

dboy

Is n't that globalization? Last time I was in the UK, half the stores there were the same as here? Mexx, Gap etc, off the top of my head.

On outward appearances the US and Canada are very alike. And the proximity to the US is a huge influence of course it is.

But there is a Canadian identity, it is difficult to find sometimes, but it is there. Look at Quebec for instance, newfoundland, etc,

dboy

[QUOTE=James Martindale;7232768] I think you mean separatism. ???

moosey2canada

To justify a choice they regret making but can't turn back from. People do eventually stop asking why you came back, so if you want to come HOME do it!

dboy

[QUOTE=dbd33;7231959] There was a Canada , well actually two colonies upper and lower canada. So i fail to see how its silly, its our history, just like the Roman Empire in England. Do you only consider England's history as being applicable after the demise of the Roman Empire? It is simply convenient to call Canada, Canada. Or as they do here, pre and post confederation Canada.

What is the Canadian Identity? I think history gives us some insight. What about Quebec for instance. New France was once a French colony. And has a rich history - this too is part of the Canadian Identity.

Canada has rich history dating back hundreds of years. It's not as apparent or as colorful as Europe's history but its certainly there is you take the time to look for it.

http://www.canadianheritage.ca/books/canada3.htm

dbd33

[QUOTE=dboy;7233857] I got tired of typing "anglophone" in front of Canada each time I said there's no difference between Canada and the US. I accept that francophone Canada has a culture different from that of the US; however I'd be buggered to tell the difference between Ontario and Ohio.

Back with the war of 1812 I've fetched an historian. There were Americans, she says, though most of them would have fought in the Revolutionary War and so were not "natural born" Americans. Prototypical Obamas, perhaps.
There were arguably "Canadians" but they were disorganized and "didn't do squat" it was the British that pushed the Americans back and burned the White House. I understand that, in Canada, and only in Canada, this is contentious. If Canadians want to feel that they've had a victory in a war then I suppose we should indulge them, we've had lots.

Novocastrian

I don't disagree with you. You seem to be mixing up my opinions with dbd33's, always a dangerous assumption (though often correct).

His point, (which you seem to partially accept above) is that the variability of lifestyle and outlooks in both the US and in Canada is far greater than the difference in the two means. Fair enough, but not IMHO very relevant to the idea of national identity.

You, OTOH, are confusing Canadian identity with symbols of identity.

I would argue that the crucial differences between the US folk and Canadians is connected to how each view the "underlying principles" defining the country to its own people. Here, I think there are clear differences in how Canadians view Canada and how americans view the USA, both in terms of their roles in the world and in terms of the defining principals of their governance.

My name is Novo and I am Canadian! (When it suits).

blackcomb1

Errrm. We don't. At least all the ones I know including myself, don't.

In fact interesting is when I hear some Brits say how the Canadians don't understand our humour, well I guess it works both ways, and my personal observation is those knocking any side down with regard to humour and 'not getting it' is that they are the ones who do not have a sense of humour

Mind you our dry humour is not that funny and would not be easy to understand, I feel.

flashman

[QUOTE=dbd33;7233950] Canada was a colony so the Brits were just protecting their empire.

THere are commanalities between all occupants of North America just like the commonalities of the British Isles. But then there's regional and local differences in both locations.

In some repects it could be said that the UK is more like America than Canada because of similar materialistic values, fascination with celebrities, military bravado etc.

dbd33

Is there a more vapid celebrity in all of the UK than Ben Mulrooney?


Granted he's zee list but it's a measure of how Canada and the US share a culture that, if he were a big shot, like Jim Carrey or William Shatner, everyone would think him American.