Want to see some cool stuff about our favorite action-adventure hero?
If you do, just click on the Rolex watch below from the film Live and Let Die (complete with buzzsaw and hyperintensified magnetic field!)

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This is my new section dedicated to one of my favorite places on earth:  the magnificent nation of Canada.  I fell in love with Canada during my first trip there in the summer of 1987.  Naturally, I also take great interest in this nation because of its French heritage, as well as its British, Irish, and Scottish heritage, resulting in TWO official languages:  French and English.  As a probable future student at a Canadian university, the Université Laval in Québec City, Québec, I am once again trying to rekindle my interest in this beautiful country.  I should also mention the fact that Laval University was the first university in Canada, as well as one of the first on the North American continent. It is also one of the ONLY universities in Canada, as well as North America, where instruction in completely in the French language.  It is now with great pleasure that I present some of the many elements that make up the great nation of Canada.

Did you know...?

Canada is the second-largest nation in the world, falling behind Russia and just ahead of China in size.

Canada has a population of only about 27,000,000 inhabitants, or roughly one-tenth of the population of the United States, but a much greater area than the US.

Canada now has 12 provinces, as a new province called Nunavut was formed.

In Québec, the date is written in decreasing order, unlike most other places: yy/mm/dd.

The queen of England (U.K.) is still considered an official head of state in Canada. She is basically considered a figure-head, as the prime minister of Canada acts as the executive head.  The queen is represented by the Governor-General, who also has a say in governmental affairs.

The majority of francophone Canadians reside in the province of Québec (yes, its official name does have an accent over the 'e'), with a small amount of francophones dispersed throughout other provinces, such as Ontario.  The Québécois are extremely proud of their French heritage, esp. language and culture, and this has caused strong tensions and upheavals in Québec, with those who speak only French (non English-speaking) being treated as a minority by anglophones even in such cities as Montréal.  The francophones of Québec have constantly struggled to secede from the rest of the nation and to form a separate nation, not only to be independent, but to also preserve the language and way of life.

There are many elements of 17th-century French that are found today in certain areas of Québec.  This is because the original French settlers arrived in the region of present-day Québec City during the 1600's, forming the colony of New France.  Thus, the French language spoken at that time was passed on.  Yet, one must skip ahead to the mid-1700's, when both the French and British occupied the eastern portion of Canada.  This was the time when the French and Indian War came into play.  The Native Americans/Canadians "teamed up" with the British, and as a direct result, the French lost the war.  Thus, many French settlers were ousted, and much land was seceded to the British.  It was at this time that much French influence on culture and life were severed.  Therefore, there has been little modern French influence in some areas of Québec since the middle of the 18th century.

Now I will present some more Canadian culture to whet your appetites...

The official currency of Canada is the Canadian dollar, which is divided even further into 100 cents, just like the American system.  The symbol, $, is usually written after the amount, and is sometimes accompanied by the abbreviation Can. The monetary descriptions are interchangeable in French and English, exc. the numbers.  Here are some examples of Canadian currency:
This is the one dollar coin.  Canadians also call this coin a "loonie" because of the loon pictured.
  The Canadian penny = 1 cent.
 
 

The cuisine of Canada varies from region to region, but many food staples used in Canadian dishes originate from the fact that Canada has a very harsh climate, as most of you know how harsh the Canadian winter is.  It lasts much longer than ours in most areas (the cold temperatures, that is, not the season itself).  Many areas have average temperatures of below zero for a few months during the year.  Anyway, one will find that the Canadians relish foods that are extremely high in fat and carbohydrates in order to aid in keeping warm during the cold months (more energy).  Such foods may include potatoes, beans, bacon, and cheese.  There is even such a dish in Québec that is comprised of french fries covered with gravy and melted cheese.  How's that for your heart?  It all sounds rather tasty to me.  Soups and bread are also quite popular (naturally a result of French influence).  Speaking of keeping warm, there is also Canadian beer.  Canadian beer tends to be slightly higher in alcohol content than our pitifully watered-down American lagers.  There is also more flavor.  Such popular brands include Molson (first beer brewery in North America)(this is also my favorite), Labatt's, and Moosehead.  These beers are very hearty, and have a wonderful aroma.  Below is an image of one of Molson's best beers, Molson Canadian.  Click the image to visit the Molson website.

I would like to discuss the province of Québec a bit further, due to the fact that I will probably be studying there.  As most of you know, Québec is the cradle of French civilization, language, and culture in North America.  Outside of Europe, Québec is probably the most important center of the French language, even more so than Africa.  This is because much of the language and culture of France passed on to the Québécois has been well preserved.  As a testimonial to this loyalty to the French language and culture, the coat of arms adopted by the province of Québec shows this sentiment:

The motto just below the shield reads "Je me souviens," or, in English, "I remember."  In other words, even in the official coat of arms, the Québécois manifest their pride in preserving their French heritage.  Now, you may ask, "Where is Québec located?"  Here is a map that I have provided for your convience in locating all of the current provinces of Canada:

Some of the larger cities (or more well-known cities) in Québec include Montréal (the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, France), Québec (City), Sainte-Foy, Trois-Rivières, and Jonquières.  Most cities and towns in Québec have retained their original French names.  If you ever get the chance to visit Québec, esp. Québec City, you will find that many areas still have an old European charm, leftover from French occupation.  Almost all residents of Québec know some French, and some know only French.  This has created some language barriers.  All official signs and notices, including government statements, laws, public notices, or anything directed toward the general public, are in English and in French, throughout most of Canada.  Sometimes one may find nothing written in English in some areas of Québec.  One who speaks both languages has a major advantage.  Vive le Québec!