# CanadaDope 2017: Celebrating the Sesquicentennial - "... and loving it!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045 "2017-01-01T14:35:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/361 "2017-10-01T02:16:10Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Most of the time I spent in school is a hazy blob of ‘Wawawa’ Speaking of which, the replacement this summer of the Canadian icon at Wawa cost [$300,000.](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/new-wawa-goose-unveiled-1.4183354) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/362 "2017-10-01T02:25:29Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > How the hell do you remember this shit? Most of the time I spent in school is a hazy blob of ‘Wawawa’ from the teachers. Outside of school, I can remember things fine. But what year I took a specific class let alone what it was about? I bet you can even remember your teacher’s names! I have always had a strong interest in history, plus I have a good visual memory. I just shut my eyes and focussed on bringing up the images of the covers of the texts, or illustrations like the Caucasian, which struck me as odd even then. It was that combination that allowed me to remember the courses. As I said, I have no interest in sociology, so that didn’t work for “Social studies” classes that didn’t have a historical component. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/363 "2017-10-01T02:48:09Z")
And yes, teachers’ names are easy, when you grow up in a little prairie town and everyone knows each other out of school: Miss Wilson in Grade 5; Mrs Needham in Grade 6; Mrs Workman in Grades 7 & 8; Mrs Maguire in Grade 9; can’t remember Grade 10 because I don’t remember the class; and Mr Arthur in Grades 11 & 12. Easy peasy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/364 "2017-10-01T02:58:41Z")
We moved a lot throughout BC when I was growing up so the longest school I was ever in was probably no more than a couple of years. Even then we had multiple teachers per grade. I only remember a few of their names and only those who took an interest in me or seemed interested in their jobs. Both groups making a very small subset of the whole. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/365 "2017-10-01T21:42:12Z")
Interesting. Jagmeet Singh wins on the first ballot. > **['Imagine what we can build together': Jagmeet Singh's message as he takes on...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-democratic-party-leadership-results-1.4315704)** > > Jagmeet Singh is the next leader of the federal New Democratic Party of Canada, taking more than the 50 per cent of the vote in the party's federal leadership contest. He seems like a decent enough bloke. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/366 "2017-10-01T22:44:43Z")
Another two pulled out of the river on Friday: the fellow was still conscious, but the woman was not. She was revived and then fought the police who fished her out. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/367 "2017-10-02T05:27:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > There is clearly a generational difference here. At some point in the 1970s, Canadian educators must have realized the country was grown up now, and that they should be teaching Canadian history. I find it colonial and sad that kids in Canadian school \*in the 1970s \*would be taught British history before Canadian history. In the 1870s, maybe. It would have been post-1974-1975, since my history class that academic year was on British history. It was actually pretty interesting, and I enjoyed it. We covered 1066 to the Victorian era, and it was a lot more than kings and queens and dates. It was those, of course, but it also covered events: Magna Carta and its significance, Henry VIII and the break from the Roman Catholic Church (and its significance), the Industrial Revolution (and its significance), and so on. But we were not taught British history before Canadian history. We’d already had a good dose of Canadian history prior to that year, and we’d have more in coming years. But it did help in placing Canada’s political history and system in a larger context–though it was not overt then, I realize now that we were learning how our own federal parliament, Constitution, and Charter evolved, and operate now. In spite of my enjoyment of my British history course in 1974-1975, I’m unsure if it belongs in today’s high school curriculum. Certainly, it belongs as a high school or university elective, as does American history (a course I wish had been offered to me at high school), but I don’t think British history ought to be mandatory today in Canadian schools. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/368 "2017-10-02T12:36:41Z")
Formative public schooling done in Nova Scotia during the late 90s. History lessons were rare but, when done, involved 3 distinct eras. [ol] [li]Heavy local content for the **pre-confederation year** s (Mi’kmaq people, Acadians, British colonialism, Black loyalists, ‘incidental’ genocide of the Beothuk)[/li][li] **after confederation** history focused on the establishment/expansion of the country (CPR/Railway west, postage stamp province/Red River rebellion, Newfoundland’s late joining)[/li][li]Finally the **WW1/WW2 events to modern** political struggles (Quebec’s cultural evolution, Western Canada’s explosive economic growth, Ontario’s continued political dominance, East Coast’s shipbuilding/fishery’s stagnation/decline/collapse)[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/369 "2017-10-02T12:49:57Z")
The only time we discussed non-Canadian history was due to the teacher’s personal proclivities (a childhood teacher really loved Ancient Egypt) or due to events that involved Canada somehow (WW1 & 2, Korean war, peacekeeping events). No uniquely British or American history was ever taught to me, but I was well versed in American history due to the amount of popular culture I received through TV/movies. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/370 "2017-10-02T13:39:53Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Interesting. > > Jagmeet Singh wins on the first ballot. > > [Jagmeet Singh wins leadership of federal NDP on first ballot | CBC News](http://www.cbc.ca/1.4315704) > > He seems like a decent enough bloke. He won rather easily. He is very young for a party leader - he is the youngest leader the NDP has ever had - but he ran over his rivals like a freight train. Especially Charlie Angus, who awhile ago was picked by many as a likely winner, and who was crushed. A number of commentators have noted that 1. Singh raised more money than his rivals, which is generally a good sign someone will win, but that 2. His performance was still disproportionately strong compared to the money-raising figures. It’ll be interesting to see if he can herd together the party, something all its leaders have struggled to do. Trivia: 1. You don’t pronounce it “JAG-meet.” It’s “JUG-meet.” 2. He was actually called “Jimmy” as a little kid, and it’s his middle name, but he eventually went with Jagmeet. His last name is legally Dhaliwal, but he uses Singh because he feels Dhaliwal, a high-caste name, is elitist. 3. He’s a jiu-jitsu champion so don’t step to him. 4. Singh is the third NDP leader not born in Canada. Tommy Douglas was born in Scotland, and David Lewis was born in Russia. The last major party leader not born in Canada was John Turner (born in England.) 5. Justin Trudeau is now the OLDEST leader of a major federal party in Canada, since Singh and Andrew Scheer aren’t even 40. As I am one month older than Justin Trudeau, I am now depressed. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/371 "2017-10-02T17:42:37Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 1. Singh is the third NDP leader not born in Canada. Tommy Douglas was born in Scotland, and David Lewis was born in Russia. The last major party leader not born in Canada was John Turner (born in England.) Scarborough seceded? I would have thought that sort of thing would make the news. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/372 "2017-10-02T23:47:42Z")
Just got back from backpacking in Pukaskwa National Park (with a night in Marathon before and Thunder Bay after). Other than mist on the first morning weather was great. The park is very beautiful, though one has to work for it (some steep muddy trail sections). In Marathon (where we camped at a city park) we ate at the Royal Legion Hall. I had poutine. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/373 "2017-10-03T01:18:10Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Another two pulled out of the river on Friday: the fellow was still conscious, but the woman was not. She was revived and then fought the police who fished her out. **Mufffin** , why the river so much? Is it conscious attempts at suicide, dangerous pathways, alcohol party sites nearby, or what? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/374 "2017-10-03T12:42:27Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Scarborough seceded? I would have thought that sort of thing would make the news. Oh, I misread his Wikipedia biography. His PARENTS came from India in 1971. He wasn’t even born in 1971. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/375 "2017-10-03T13:04:44Z")
I feel old now. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/376 "2017-10-03T13:13:30Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > **Mufffin** , why the river so much? Is it conscious attempts at suicide, dangerous pathways, alcohol party sites nearby, or what? Nice place to hang out for aboriginal people who have nowhere to go, ranging from sitting on the banks in full view to alcohol party sites. With a lot of alcohol and drugs in the mix, bad things happen: deaths by falling into the river when incapacitated, deaths by suicide, and allegedly deaths by murder. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/377 "2017-10-03T13:14:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Oh, I misread his Wikipedia biography. His PARENTS came from India in 1971. He wasn’t even born in 1971. No. You didn’t misread it. That Wikipedia article has toggled a few times. It did in fact state Scarborough a few weeks back, then toggled to India, and is now toggled back to Scarborough. I wonder if it was intentionally modified by someone with political motives? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/378 "2017-10-03T13:15:49Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Just got back from backpacking in Pukaskwa National Park (with a night in Marathon before and Thunder Bay after). Other than mist on the first morning weather was great. The park is very beautiful, though one has to work for it (some steep muddy trail sections). In Marathon (where we camped at a city park) we ate at the Royal Legion Hall. I had poutine. > > Brian Good stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/379 "2017-10-03T16:30:43Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > I feel old now. You too? I am three months younger than the new Governor-General, and she has been an astronaut, sung with the Montreal Symphony, been an engineer, been married twice, speaks six languages, etc, etc… I haven’t even had a lasting full-time job for years. And I have never been married or had a stable long-term romantic relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045/380 "2017-10-04T07:02:30Z")
Have you seen her [coat of arms](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/what-gov-gen-julie-payette-s-new-coat-of-arms-means-1.4316413)? I rather like it. It sums her up: music, flight, astronautics; and I like the Greek letter Sigma at the bottom. The motto though–I recognized it immediately, as it (in reverse form) is the motto of the state of Kansas: “Ad astra per aspera” (“To the stars through difficulty,” [cite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas)). I’m wondering why she did not use the RCAF motto: “Per ardua ad astra” ([cite](http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/article-template-standard.page?doc=rcaf-unveils-new-badge/hlouagzd)), which translates as “through adversity to the stars.” Same basic idea, but the “ardua,” as it is part of the RCAF motto, gives it a Canadian spin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadadope-2017-celebrating-the-sesquicentennial-and-loving-it/776045.md?page=20)