Disappearing Canadian "institutions" (theater, restaurant, shop)
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If Canada's spirit of "progress" is like that of the United States, many well-loved businesses and traditions have gone by the wayside (the drug store ice-cream fountain, the drive-in theater, etc). What "institutions" from the past do you miss? For example, do you miss Woolco and their "Red Grilles"?
If Canada's spirit of "progress" is like that of the United States, many well-loved businesses and traditions have gone by the wayside (the drug store ice-cream fountain, the drive-in theater, etc). What "institutions" from the past do you miss?
Only 3 matter and they aren't going anywhere..
Hockey
Timmies
Canadian Tire
Toronto's PCC street cars, WH Smiths, stubby beer bottles, top 10 AM radio (CKGM,CHUM..),and I miss old jingles:
"Why do more Canadians shop at Dominion..."
"We're going Steinbergs for family shopping..."
I am not sure if these are institutions but certainly many British (to me anyway) traditions in Canada from Yorkshire pudding to eating vinegar on your French fries seem to be declining in popularity.
On a whole other level many aboriginal cultural, traditions and languages are dying out all across Canada. While some are more robust (Inuit, Cree, and a few others) it is not an exaggeration to say that many of them are dropping like flies.
The French Canadian culture, language and traditions are also dying out rapidly in many parts of the country where francophones are a small minority of the population.
And to some degree those things which could be called "English Canadian" or "anglo" are dying out in certain parts of Quebec as well.
Hockey is really not that important for many people.
I doubt more than 20% of the population watch hockey games regularly.
I think it's higher than that. Polls show 30-40% of Canadians follow the NHL. And that's just the NHL - there are people who follow their local hockey teams only, or their kids' teams only.
People sometimes exaggerate in their association of hockey and Canada as if 100% of the population was really into it, but certainly hockey in Canada is every bit as popular and ingrained as the "national" sport (whatever that is) is in any other country.
Take football in Texas. That's basically pro hockey to Canadians.
That's not to say that people in TX ALL like football, but that the influence and preference is unavoidable. You get more hockey coverage in the summer than you do for summer sports, often.
Hockey is really not that important for many people.
I doubt more than 20% of the population watch hockey games regularly.
I said Hockey.. not NHL..
add in the minors , the teams kids play on, tournaments, scrub games, Old-timer leauges and kids playing in local parks and back yard rinks you will get way above 20 percent.
Take football in Texas. That's basically pro hockey to Canadians.
That's not to say that people in TX ALL like football,
Actually, it's now a requirement. It's part of the vetting process before they'll let you have a drivers license here.
Other questions;
Tom Landry - Great Coach, or Greatest Coach?
What are the three food groups? - BBQ, Mexican, Tex-Mex
What States border Texas? - Who cares? I'm already in TEXAS! Woooooo!
In the 50s, every little town in Canada had a Chinese restaurant -- sometimes the only restaurant in town, which always had a Canadian menu as well.
In the 50s, most Canadian gas stations (remember White Rose and BA?) had gravel, instead of pavement, around the pump islands.
Even as late as 1970, fairly large Canadian cities (like Moncton) had only one radio station. You listen to whatever is on.
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