'All-Canadian' towns and cities? (live in, activities, best place)

[callmemaybe]

What are some cities/towns in Canada that epitomize everything about the country, either in actuality or stereotype?

In America, there is a concept of a place or thing as being 'All-American'. Somewhere like Peoria, Illinois or Muncie, Indiana is proverbally seen as All-American though with the shift in population towards the west and south, that is slowly becoming an outdated concept.

I find Parry Sound, Ontario very 'All-Canadian' and I'd imagine Northern Ontario in general pretty much epitomizes everything people envision Canada as being. Toronto and Vancouver wouldn't fit the 'hoser' idea of what is 'All-Canadian' but the new 21st century concept of Canada as a multicultural urban society, they would fit very well.

[netwit]

I think maybe Winnipeg would fit your criteria however I don't think we have quite the same idea here of a place that represents what Canada is about. But if you're talking about blue collar, salt-of-the-earth types, with enough diversity in people and in business, I think maybe Winnipeg would fit the bill. The Winnipeg General Strike kind of epitomises Manitoba in a certain way (which Americans might like to call socialist), and yet in so many other ways, the people are deeply conservative and stick to their roots. And Manitoba was the first province to give women the right to vote.

Provincially, the government falls to either the NDP or the Conservatives, which might seem odd to outsiders but that's how Manitoba is.

Manitobans aren't hard-core anything politically - a hay bale running against an NDPer or a Liberal wouldn't necessarily win here. So because we're not that locked into a certain mindset, maybe the mix is the best representation of Canada?

I think that there are still many people who, even if they live in the city, aren't completely citified, and at the same time, rural people will go to the city for the symphony and support the arts.

And I think Manitobans are a modest, even humble, people - we don't have delusions of grandeur or think we live in the best place in the world (rather hard to delude ourselves with our winters), something that I think is maybe most reflected in Manitoba, and maybe Saskatchewan, although I'm not familiar enough with Saskatchewan to say for sure.

We still help our neighbours.

[callmemaybe]

Originally Posted by netwit

I think maybe Winnipeg would fit your criteria however I don't think we have quite the same idea here of a place that represents what Canada is about. But if you're talking about blue collar, salt-of-the-earth types, with enough diversity in people and in business, I think maybe Winnipeg would fit the bill. The Winnipeg General Strike kind of epitomises Manitoba in a certain way (which Americans might like to call socialist), and yet in so many other ways, the people are deeply conservative and stick to their roots. And Manitoba was the first province to give women the right to vote.

Provincially, the government falls to either the NDP or the Conservatives, which might seem odd to outsiders but that's how Manitoba is.

Manitobans aren't hard-core anything politically - a hay bale running against an NDPer or a Liberal wouldn't necessarily win here. So because we're not that locked into a certain mindset, maybe the mix is the best representation of Canada?

I think that there are still many people who, even if they live in the city, aren't completely citified, and at the same time, rural people will go to the city for the symphony and support the arts.

And I think Manitobans are a modest, even humble, people - we don't have delusions of grandeur or think we live in the best place in the world (rather hard to delude ourselves with our winters), something that I think is maybe most reflected in Manitoba, and maybe Saskatchewan, although I'm not familiar enough with Saskatchewan to say for sure.

We still help our neighbours.

So basically you have a lot of in common with Upper Midwesterners and Scandinavians? IE socialist and compassionate but deeply traditional?

[netwit]

Originally Posted by callmemaybe

So basically you have a lot of in common with Upper Midwesterners and Scandinavians? IE socialist and compassionate but deeply traditional?

I'm not that familiar with the upper Midwest so I would have to take your word for it. I know there used to be strong labour movements in the US and I'm not sure what happened there - the un-American activities committee? I'd have to refresh my knowledge of it before I could answer that.

[BIMBAM]

I think Canada's always been too regionalized in its identities to have anything like an "all-Canadian" town that everyone can identify with. I think the closest we have to that is the National Capital region, which is truly the one place in Canada that is all-Canadian and that everyone can feel comfortable in and identify with. If only it weren't so boring ;P

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by BIMBAM

I think Canada's always been too regionalized in its identities to have anything like an "all-Canadian" town that everyone can identify with. I think the closest we have to that is the National Capital region, which is truly the one place in Canada that is all-Canadian and that everyone can feel comfortable in and identify with. If only it weren't so boring ;P

I'd agree. You need a place that has a good mix of English, French, aboriginals and immigrant groups. Not easy to find but Ottawa-Gatineau is about as close as it gets.

As far as product testing markets, I believe most corporations tend to use medium-sized cities in Ontario for Anglo-Canada. I think London might be the main one. Also Peterborough I have heard.

In Quebec the cities used as test markets have tended to be Sherbrooke, Drummondville and St-Hyacinthe.

[tarp]

Thorold claims to be the most patriotic city in Canada.

Not sure if that's true, though.

[PostSecularist]

Dog River, Saskatchewan

[slowlane3]

Originally Posted by netwit

I'm not that familiar with the upper Midwest so I would have to take your word for it. I know there used to be strong labour movements in the US and I'm not sure what happened there - the un-American activities committee? I'd have to refresh my knowledge of it before I could answer that.

Minnesota gave birth to this unique political party http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer_Labor_Party

And northern Minnesota was the birthplace of Gus Hall (Halberg), the former President of the U.S. Communist Party, as well as singer/songwriter Bob Dylan.

[callmemaybe]

Originally Posted by BIMBAM

I think Canada's always been too regionalized in its identities to have anything like an "all-Canadian" town that everyone can identify with. I think the closest we have to that is the National Capital region, which is truly the one place in Canada that is all-Canadian and that everyone can feel comfortable in and identify with. If only it weren't so boring ;P

I would say America is more regionalized. I feel like Nanaimo has a lot more in common with Moncton than say, Redding has in common with Utica.