Canadiana Connection » Canuck Quips

I Gotta Feeling LipDub

Pat Williams — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:18:49 +0000

The following video was created on September 10th, 2009 in 2 hours and 15 minutes during Integration week by 172 students at the University of Quebec in Montreal.
If Integration week is the same thing as what used to be called Frosh week, it sure looks a lot different than what I remember of Queens University in the 80′s!

Thanks to Barb Lang of Virtually Anything for bringing the video to my attention via Facebook.

New Politically Correct National Anthem

Pat Williams — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:42:58 +0000

Canuck Quotes Bruce Cockburn

Pat Williams — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:43:54 +0000

“When the Sept.11 thing happened and all that’s followed it,
I felt first of all what good are songs in a context like this?
Everything I’d written to that point seemed kind of meaningless.
But then better judgement took hold and I realized
that now more than ever we need to engage in the sharing of human experience.”

“On some level–you may be staring at your demons or staring at angels,
or you may be making mud pies, I suppose–
but you’re still looking something in the eye in order to create anything of value.”

“There is that invisible motion that’s central to existence.
And it might even be true to say that is what God is.”

Photo Credit:haylesyable on Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Canuck Quotes Julie Payette

Pat Williams — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:58:00 +0000

“I also remember Toronto as a place where I was able to pursue many of my personal interests, ranging from sports to cultural activities. One of my most marking memories (besides participating in the annual climbing of the CN Tower stairs) was the privilege of singing with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra throughout my entire stay.”

“A given step, however small it may appear to one, may represent a great deal to another. Every hurdle one surpasses makes one grow. I am just glad I was given the opportunity, resources, and support to surpass the hurdles that came my way.”

“Success is a mixture of skills, competence, luck and hard work: with a bit of effort, I believe the world can be at our feet.”

“You can imagine that when you are ten, twelve years old and you’re growing up in a town in Canada and you’re French Canadian and you’re telling everybody “Hey, I’d like to be an astronaut one day.” Then people pat you on the back, smile a little bit and say “Yeah, sure.” And they hope that you’re going to change your mind and find a more down-to-earth job, which is what I did eventually.”

Trivia EH? Julie Payette

Pat Williams — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:15:52 +0000

Born Oct. 20, 1963, Montreal, Quebec.

Married to Francois Brissette of Montreal, Quebec

Trivia EH? Zal Yanovsky

Pat Williams — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:48 +0000

Full name is Zalman Yanovsky

Born in Toronto on December 19, 1944

Died just before his 58th birthday (December 14, 2002) of a heart attack.

He and Richardson owned Chez Piggy and Pan Chancho bakery in Kingston, Ontario.

Member of the Kingston Humane Society and regularly made donations. When he passed away his family requested that well wishers donate to the Humane Society in his memory.

The humane society set up the Zal Yanovsky Endowment Fund to help pay for animals food, shelter, medical needs, toys and other expenses, in his honour.

Also did work for literacy and international aid groups.

The Lovin’ Spoonful were responsible for the soundtrack of Woody Allen’s “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?”

Image courtesy of Open Mike with Mike Bullard

Trivia EH? Bruce Cockburn

Pat Williams — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:01:01 +0000

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, May 27, 1945.

His last name is pronounced Coe Burn.

Maybe The Poet was used on a Miami Vice episode.

The Bloor Street Viaduct mentioned in Anything Can Happen is a subway/car bridge that crosses high above the Don Valley River and Parkway.

Honorary Chair of Friends of the Earth.

Awarded the Order of Canada in 1983. The Order of Canada is presented to a limited number of Canadians who exemplify the highest qualities of citizenship and whose contributions enrich the lives of their contemporaries.

Attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston but left a couple of years late to move back to Ottawa and play Rock n’ Roll.

Check out the story behind one of the Christmas songs he sang on our Patriotic Patter page

Photo Credit:haylesyable on Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Trivia EH? Celine Dion

Pat Williams — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:00:13 +0000

Born March 30, 1968, Charlemagne, Quebec.

Angelil mortgaged his house to finance Celine’s first album.

Won Eurovision song contest in Dublin Ireland in 1988.

Her 2nd English album went platinum 6 times over in Canada.

Has won more than 120 awards in Canada, the USA and Europe.

She loves to golf.

Owns a restaurant chain in Quebec& Ontario, called Nickels. There are plans to expand to the USA.

Celine became involved with the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation when her 16 year old niece, Karine died from the disease.

Rene and Celine were married in 1994 and suggested guests donate their wedding gifts to Cystic Fibrosis.

Rene-Charles was born to Celine and Rene on January 25, 2001.

Photo Credit: anirudhkou on Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0

Trivia EH? Natalie MacMaster

Pat Williams — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:59:18 +0000

“Get Me Through December” was used in episode 306 of Dawson’s Creek.

In 1995, she opened for Santana in Chattanooga, TN.

She is the cousin of Ashley MacIsaac another famous Canadian Fiddler.

Her fiddling can be heard on some General Motors Pontiac commercials.

Born in June 1972, grew up in Troy, Inverness County.

Mother, Minnie, taught her to step dance.

Trivia Eh? Ashleigh Banfield

Pat Williams — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:49:38 +0000

Trivia Eh?

Born in Winnepeg, Manitoba Dec 29, 1967

Boyfriend ‘Drew’ proposed post 9/11 before she travelled to the middle east in November. Possibly married June 29 2002.

Nominated by Cosmo as a “Fun and Fearless Female” 2002

Received an Emmy for Best News Anchor while at Dallas’ KDFW-TV (re: Cadet Killers)

Received Texas Associated Press Award for Best Series (re: To Serve and Survive)

Won 2 IRIS Awards while in Calgary for Best of the Festival and Best News Documentary

Has 2 brothers and a sister