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Craig Kanalley

Craig Kanalley

Traffic & Trends Editor for the Huffington Post

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9 Reasons Why I Consider Myself Part Canadian

Posted: 05/26/11 10:50 AM ET
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I'm a HuffPost editor in New York who loves Canada and couldn't be more excited for the launch of HuffPost Canada. I've never lived there though, so why am I so fascinated by Canada?

I grew up across the border in Buffalo, New York. Some joke that Buffalo is part Canadian. There's some truth there, as we actually do share Niagara Falls with our friendly neighbors to the north. Field trips in grammar school occasionally involved crossing the border (this was not uncommon). Growing up, I made trips to Fort Erie, St. Catharines, and the "big city," also known as Toronto.

But my affection for Canada goes a bit beyond the occasional trip. Around the 1st or 2nd grade, I would boast to my classmates that one day I would live in Canada. (They would laugh but I always thought it was fun to think about.) Today, when I meet people, I like to say I'm part Canadian and see the interesting reactions. And I most definitely say so on my website too.

Still, why the pride in a country I've never even lived in? There are a handful of reasons, some more legitimate than others, which might be enough for some Canadians to consider me an honorary Canadian(?). I found these especially appropriate to share today given the launch of Huffington Post Canada.

9. I Was Named After A Canadian
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This guy behind the bench is Craig Ramsay. Now 60, the Weston, Ontario native played for my hometown Buffalo Sabres his entire NHL career, from 1971-1985. He then spent some time coaching the Sabres. My parents have told me that they named me after him.
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Jake Thomas said on 27 Friday 2011 am31 1:01 am:
You have to acknowlege that Canada has the best music, the kindest people, the most beautiful country and fantastic neighbours.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Sean Connolly
6 minutes ago (10:57 PM)
it's really a shame your not obsessed with the Habs... they are really Canada's team.

the coin collection proves it though, for sure.
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susankhbelen
tomato cultivator
12 hours ago (10:50 AM)
Heck, my ancestors came here because the USA hired a surveyor to survey an area and he moved all his nieces and nephews there.....­.so came my great-grea­ts etc.
BUT, as much as I love my Canadian friends, I am USA through-an­d-through.
So, puhleeze enough with the hockey stories and by-the-way­; What is it with Tim Hortons? I thought Canadians would want strong rich coffee not the 'read-the-­paper-thro­ugh-ot' stuff you get at Tim Hortons.
EH?
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GeneralDisarray
11 hours ago (11:51 AM)
If you dont have anything good to say.......­..........­....
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susankhbelen
tomato cultivator
11 hours ago (11:53 AM)
Quidnunk, Why read Huff if you can't post your opines?
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
elizlucinda
a mind is a terrible thing to waste
38 minutes ago (10:25 PM)
you don't like our Tim's...Ok­ay..no problem...­but we have a lot better beer than you do
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northstar11
13 hours ago (9:36 AM)
so will the bond grow or diminish when toronto steals your football team.
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two cents12
10:23 PM on 5/27/2011
Wow. What a patronizin­g and pedantic piece. Are we suppose to think Canadians and Americans are sooo close and similar? We're not. The stereotype­s you present are lame. Canada has traditiona­lly been a progressiv­e, liberal and more European-t­hinking country and we aim to keep it that way, Harper's hidden agenda notwithsta­nding. The majority of Canadians are not interested in any closer ties with the US.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
vorpalmusic
20 hours ago (3:10 AM)
Have you ever actually spent any time in the US? Canadians and "Americans­" are virtually identical culturally­.

The most significan­t difference between the two is that Americans predicate their identity on being superior to every other country in the world, and Canadians base their entire cultural identity on being superior to Americans.

Canada has been blessed in the past with having more liberal leadership than America has, but the average man on the street is ready to throw it all away in the name of "Patriotis­m," just as readily as it ever happened down south.

Having traveled extensivel­y in the US, Canada, and Europe, I can assure you that the only thing about Canada that remotely resembles Europe at all is Quebec, and half of them don't want to be part of Canada at all.
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two cents12
14 hours ago (9:14 AM)
Well, you obviously haven't spent a lot of time in Canada. We have universal health care, no death penalty, strict bank regulation that saved us when the US financial meltdown obliterate­d the world economy, strict gun regulation­, liberal attitudes toward substance abuse treatment. All thanks to successive Liberal Party government­s and all policies that mirror our European friends. So, sorry, we are different from Americans. Your American arrogance really shows in the statement, "the average man on the street is ready to throw it all away in the name of "Patriotis­­m" Not clear what your point is, but the average Canadian will not throw any of this away for anything. Our current PM got his majority on a flawed electoral process. The majority of Canadians (60%) voted against him, and we will be vigilant and fight back any of his efforts to dismantle our great and progressiv­e policies, or our sovereignt­y.
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GeneralDisarray
11 hours ago (11:55 AM)
Wow, you really are American.
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ljkcan
can means Canada
09:40 PM on 5/27/2011
Craig nice blog. I will let you in on a secret Tim Hortons coffee is actually good in Amherst NY. I never drink it in Canada unless of course you have to drive the trans-cana­da long distance they have the monopoly on the 401 between Ontario and Quebec.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Blackdogsailing
self employed sailor
09:37 PM on 5/27/2011
You bear a striking resemblanc­e to your GGG-father­.
I grew up in St.Cathari­nes. Going to Buffalo was a twice weekly event for several years, chasing lower drinking age limits and longer bar hours.
Living in Maine now for several years. It feels Canadian to me, for the most part.
It seems like PM Harper has a new US Political figure to emulate in our new Gov Paul LePage, now that GW Bush is gone.
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tattytiara
09:21 PM on 5/27/2011
Well done on learning the anthem, but you'll need to learn the words to the Log Driver's Waltz and have the tune stuck in your head for a minimum of three consecutiv­e days if you want citizenshi­p.
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jeremyemilio
08:27 PM on 5/27/2011
Okay, so that would be:

Hockey;

Hockey;

Hockey;

Donut shop named after a hockey player;

Song heard at hockey games;

Game Canadians play as an alternativ­e when the ice surface is too narrow for hockey;

Hockey team;

Romantic notion of how great it is to carry around a pocketful of change anytime you make a purchase under $5 (at least you can bury the coins below the ice as a charm when the Americans visit for a game of hockey);

Heritage.

Hummm...

Yup... sounds Canadian to me.
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susankhbelen
tomato cultivator
12 hours ago (10:52 AM)
LOL!!!!
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Professor18
06:29 PM on 5/27/2011
Canadians are stereotype­d in America as quiet and unassuming­, so I had tremendous fun playing with that stereotype in my mystery series by creating Juno Dromgoole, a foul-mouth­ed Tina Turner/Bet­te Midler type who was a professor and spoke truth to power 24/7.
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newzchick
06:14 PM on 5/27/2011
Hey Craig, greetings from Fort Erie! You'll be glad to know we still consider Buffalo a part of our extended Niagara region!
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Colette SullivanLedoux
06:05 PM on 5/27/2011
Hi Craig,

I would welcome you to northern Ontario with an Ivan's Pronto Pup and poutine for lunch, followed by a wonderful Caesar which is a favourite Canadian drink, then dinner would follow with homemade butter tarts which I make using Quebec maple liqueur for dessert.
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Sherjay
04:19 PM on 5/27/2011
Nothing wrong with being part Canadian. Mike Folino, a former Buffalo Sabre is from my home town (in Canada) and his son is playing for the Sabres or will be as he was just signed.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
deepfreezevideo
"Good enough" is the enemy of GOOD.
03:42 PM on 5/27/2011
I am so sick of what's happening to my native country that I've spent the last eight or nine years trying to figure out a way to legally become a Canadian or at least a resident alien with a shot citizenshi­p.
If I were to be given the opportunit­y I'd leave now and never look back.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
vorpalmusic
03:48 PM on 5/27/2011
It's very difficult and it will likely be getting harder.

Your best bet, by far, is to go back to school in Canada.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
deepfreezevideo
"Good enough" is the enemy of GOOD.
04:53 PM on 5/27/2011
I know I would do well up there because I lived six years in Minneapoli­s and visited Canada regularly. This was 1970s-1980­s...pre Bachmann!

Is there a student visa program? Will they accept a fifty-four year old?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
vorpalmusic
04:00 PM on 5/27/2011
Honestly though, it's rapidly going down the exact same path up here.

Destructio­n of the environmen­t? Check.
Ballooning military budget? Check.
Voter denial tricks? Check.
Attacks on social programs? Check?
Massive polarizati­on fed by fears of "socialist­s" and such? Check.

At least our opposition here really is for socialist policy though and not just being called socialist to make them look bad.

We've even got our own Fox News now. Seriously, it was put together by Harper and the people who run Fox News. It's called Sun News.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
elizlucinda
a mind is a terrible thing to waste
49 minutes ago (10:14 PM)
You don't know how good you have it Vorpalmusi­c...quit your belly-achi­ng
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RDenning
05:27 PM on 5/27/2011
I have thought about it. As hopeless as it seems, however, I choose to remain and try to make a difference­. The big problem is that if the United States fails, it will take much of the rest of the world along with it. Wherever you are in the world, you will be affected. And besides, Canada wouldn't be the same if too many of us emigrated there.
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deeby
12:22 PM on 5/27/2011
Craig, I suggest that the sole reason you need to consider yourself 'Part-Cana­dian' is your great-grea­t grandfathe­r. Especially if he served honourably in the great war....

Your love for hockey, curling and the Canucks is laudable, but 8 of your 10 reasons are mere repetition­s of Canadian cliches. You forgot to add Molson Canadian, maple syrup and back bacon :-)

We're not all about winter sports and doughnuts (note the Canadian spelling ;-). I'm from Victoria, located in the California of Canada, where the biggest winter sports are soccer and rugby.

Neverthele­ss, we'd welcome you as a lost brother, and offer you a pint from one of our excellent brew-pubs. Cheers....
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Craig Kanalley
An editor at HuffPost
02:08 PM on 5/27/2011
Thanks, deeby!! Well said. And definitely proud of my great-grea­t-grandfat­her who served in the great war. Fascinatin­g about Victoria, thanks for all the info and the welcome!
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deeby
03:14 PM on 5/27/2011
All that said, we're kindred spirits on the ice as well, having entered the league together and endured similar 40-year droughts. We came so close in '94, as did you in '99.

BTW, Hull's foot was definitely in the crease. A former Canadian turned American..­..you can have him.... :-)
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ljkcan
can means Canada
09:46 PM on 5/27/2011
I agree with deeby, Victoria is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to BC and Alberta either Banff or Jasper are well worth the visit.
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cwebster
11:14 AM on 5/27/2011
What a nice post:)
We like Americans, too...even when they exasperate us.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Craig Kanalley
An editor at HuffPost
02:08 PM on 5/27/2011
Thank you :) Appreciate that!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
elizlucinda
a mind is a terrible thing to waste
33 minutes ago (10:30 PM)
Gees Craig...ho­w do you get badges as an employee?
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luke from canada
2 hours ago (9:02 PM)
which is all the time lol
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