If you live in Ontario and are 19 years of age or older, let us all breathe a sigh of relief as the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (the governing body that controls the selling of alcohol) has averted a possible strike, or how I like to think of it, the driest summer Canada would have had since the Prohibition era. Let us all celebrate by watching a super cut of awesome ways to open a beer before we go buy a 24 pack for ourselves this long weekend.
Cheers!
Canadian politics is hard to decipher. At first glance, it looks like Canadians are just too nice with each other and thus, it’s hardly the political theatre that is American politics. If you’ve ever had to sit through any question period session, there’s a lot of yelling (sometimes in french) when the first topic is brought up, then it gets really quiet.
Sometimes, though, our politicians deliver the goods. Such was the case when the seemingly impending zombie apocalypse was brought up during one session. Now, they’re busting out the Arrested Development references as they wonder where the Conservative government has stashed our cash. (IS IT IN THE BANANA STAND? IS IT, PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER?)
So, are we supposed to think politics is hip and cool now? Who knows, but I will always appreciate an Arrested Development joke.
I don’t know what is it about Canada but I think we have the best PSAs.
First house hippos now social farters, there’s really no better way to get a point across than through humor. Not has Ontario’s Ministry of Health swiftly sidestepped it’s way from becoming one of those commercials Harold and Kumar would laugh out, they got our attention by using farts of all things.
By likening social smoking to good ol’ fashion farting matches, they hope to get people to quit the denial and maybe quit for good. Damn, how did they know we all still think like 13 year old boys?
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
Just days after hijackers interrupted a TV station with a message that the bodies of the dead were rising and attacking the living, the House of Commons assured Canadians that the country remains a zombie free zone. Obviously a wave of relief swept over the nation, with the confidence that 1) Canada is a safe haven 2) As fans of The Walking Dead, our politicians have fantastic television taste.
More context: Winnipeg NDP Pat Martin brought up the matter of a government disaster planning exercise that used a mock zombie invasion as its premise.
“I don’t need to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that zombies don’t recognize borders,” Martin warned. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird assured the house that he is “dead-icated” to the matter.
In last night’s episode of How I Met Your Mother, Barney made another trip to good ol’ Canada to find out who his fiancé, Robin, was obsessed with.
The episode mentioned some great Canadian staples like The Grey Cup, MuchMusic, and most importantly, Barney paid a visited to a Tim Horton’s (which, by the way, was eerily actually spot on, fake plants and all).
The episode also included another look at Robin’s former life as the Canadian popstar known as Robin Sparkles. Though according to the Behind the Music-like episode of Under the Tunes, Robin’s transformation from bubble-gum pop to the grunge singer Robin Daggers at the 1996 Grey Cup was a moment nobody forgot, a moment where any Canadian could tell you exactly which Tim Horton’s they were in and what doughnut they were eating at the time.
It was the day actor Jason Priestley crammed a timbit into a strawberry vanilla doughnut, which he called “The Priestley.”
Well, it seems like someone at Tim Hortons is a HIMYM fan as they recreated “The Priestley” and tweeted it at the actor himself.
.@jason_priestley, we loved the idea of ‘The Priestley’ so much, we made a batch. A Timbit IN a donut? Genius. #HIMYM twitter.com/TimHortons/sta…
— Tim Hortons (@TimHortons) February 5, 2013
Thanks! We were inspired! MT @jason_priestley: Thnx Tim Hortons! Proudest day of my life! A donut named after me at Timmie’s? #bestdayever
— Tim Hortons (@TimHortons) February 5, 2013
I hope the Priestley actually becomes a thing at all Tim Hortons locations because that is a gorgeous specimen (ahem, Dunkin’ Doughnuts) and I would definitely order a half dozen for myself, thank you very much.
It’s been quite a journey for actress Jodi Balfour. Since moving to Canada to perform on shows such as Sanctuary and Supernatural, the South African landed a role in the popular Canadian drama series Bomb Girls. Taking on the part of Gladys Witham, Balfour plays the only daughter of a wealthy family who chooses to defy convention to work in a munitions factory building bombs during World War II. Chatting over the phone with Samantha Lui, the actress revealed what it’s like to play a headstrong 1940’s woman and how she feels empowered in her own life.
Here are five things about Jodi Balfour that make her AWESOME!
She met a real Bomb Girl and listened to her experiences: To prepare for her role as a munitions factory worker, Balfour met up with a family friend’s mother who used to build bombs in England before settling in Canada after the war. Having read that working in the 1940s gave women a feeling of liberation, a sense of purpose and camaraderie among one another, Balfour says she was interested to hear firsthand about the unglamorous and difficult aspects of being a Bomb Girl. “For her, it was kind of arduous and quite challenging for her body and her mind. She doesn’t necessarily look back on the time as her glory years by any stretch,” Balfour says. “She said when (the war) was over, she was quite happy to have a rest because it was quite taxing and grueling physical work!”
She relates a lot to her character, Gladys Witham: Balfour was drawn to Gladys for her sense of strength and her forward-thinking attitude. “I wouldn’t say that I’m nearly as brave or daring as Gladys is in my life but she definitely lives up the dream version of something we’d all like to have the guts to do. In that respect, I think I’m pretty stubborn and strong-willed. I like to get my own way and that’s definitely something I share with the character.” Read more…
If you’re a student that loves to procrastinate go on coffee breaks, Tim Hortons has always been the cheap and convenient place to go to. But if you’re like me and hate waiting in the long lines full of cranky people, then perhaps this video might cheer you up.
Enjoying a simple get-together at a local Tim Hortons, these delightful elderly men start singing the Elton John classic “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” at random. Maybe this is their idea of a flash mob type of thing. But seeing this makes me feel like a proud Canadian. If only all Tim Hortons were like this…
This is Canada’s latest tourism advert. Luckily all they had to do was pop down to the local Tim Horton’s and press record. The rest happened like magic!!
Canada, such a simple and beautiful land.
The actual story? According to YouTuber Bruce O, the singers are members of The Entertainers, the Oakville Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. They meet every Monday for rehearsals and follow up with a coffee and donut. This time, they graced coffee goers with a rendition of The Lion King’s ”Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
Watch it here
Meanwhile in Canada, this devoted hubby did his outdoor chores in his underwear. Oh, and I should mention it was -21 C outside!!! He took out the garbage in little more than his undies, boots and a toque (because it’s the most Canadian) and made sure to hide behind the garbage can he was dragging to the curb when a car drove past.
That’s how we do in the Great White North… Finland, you understand.
To celebrate the release of Les Misérables, ANDPOP and Universal are giving away a wicked package to one lucky winner.
The winner will receive:
It’s easy to enter! All you have to do is like our Facebook page fill out the contest form below before Jan. 4 at midnight. Don’t forget to read more about the film and watch the trailer after the jump.
*The contest is open to everyone in Canada, excluding Quebec.*
Sorry! We already picked our winners on Jan. 4 2013!
Watch the trailer below Read more…
Do: Faux fur
Krystin Lee, 26 - Furrrrrrr is a must-have this winter season! It’s the perfect way to transform a simple outfit into “high class” without spending too much! The brown really compliments this full-on navy blue attire.
Do: Cable Knit Sweater
Christina C. – Overgrown sweaters paired with a lumberjack shirt is definitely the way to go. The colours just go so well together and the gold jewelry really add the fancy element to this laid back outfit.
Do: Corduroy pants
Samantha Pereira – The fur vest and corduroy pants really compliment each other; two unique textures that offer a little extra something to any look. And the pairing with the suede wedges is excellent!
Do: Coon hat
Gabrielle Miau - All I have to say about this look is the coon hat. Have you ever seen someone look more Canadian? And the leopard print wedge boots are perfection!
Do: Leather and hoodie Read more…
Lesson one: Don’t give a kid a tattoo
A North Carolina mom was arrested after she gave her 11-year-old daughter a heart shaped tattoo. The mom, 30, is a tattoo artist herself and saw nothing wrong with the idea of tatting-up her daughter. You know, besides the point that it’s illegal and all. Her defense? Her daughter said she wanted it. I guess that means it’s okay. Lol
Lesson two: Don’t lick poles
Remember when your parents said not to lick a frozen pole in winter because your tongue might get stuck? Well this warning also extends to any public poles in any season. This guy clearly wasn’t listening when his parents gave him that bit of knowledge, as he licked an entire handrail at a NYC subway station. All those germs weren’t even worth his friends giving him one dollar for doing it. That one dollar won’t even pay for his inevitable hospital bill! Not Smart.
Lesson three: Don’t disturb endangered spiders
This construction site in San Antonio, Texas has been interrupted, by none other than a tiny spider. The spider, which is the size of a dime, was thought to be extinct! Since it’s a federally protected endangered species, construction has come to a complete halt. I can’t help thinking if only my brother was working that site that fine day. He would’ve spotted that poor spider and killed it instantly. But not before screaming like a little girl, of course.
Lesson four: Be wary of pole dances Read more…
Canada has FINALLY received a much-deserved apology from the world about the practicality of pouring milk from bags as opposed to the seemingly more ordinary option, cartons. This apology isn’t just limited to Canada, but all other crazy milk-bag nations too. The video was uploaded by HiFolksImAdam.
Crimes in Canada are really getting out of hand these days. Two drunken University of Victoria students were heading home one night when they saw an effervescent chip package tempting them from an open garage. The hard to obtain chips, which are from the soon-to-be closed Zellers, were just too hard to pass up so the ladies decided to swipe them.
Awoken by her yippy Chihuahua, the homeowner alerted the authorities and the so-called chip bandits were discovered and arrested on Tuesday. They are now being charged with breaking and entering.
Investigators discovered the chips close to the crime scene.
“Apparently the chips had been accessed and there had been some illicit chip tastings,” said Sgt. Dean Jantzen at a press conference. “These are first time chip offenders” he said trying to stifle a laugh.
CTV reported on the incident with the most serious tone they could muster. While I think the charges are a little steep for something so silly, all I can think about is how I have to get my hands on some Zellers brand BBQ chips.
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were strategically brought in the middle of a badass congress debate surrounding Arizona’s “Show Me Your Papers” law. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez introduced the guessing game ‘Spot the Immigrant’ and during round two (around 2:19) he revealed flashcards of the happy celebrity couple.
“I’m sure Justin helped Gomez learn all about American customs and feel more at home in her adopted country. Oh wait a minute, I’m sorry!” he said sarcastically. “I somehow got that backwards. Actually Ms. Gomez of Texas has helped Mr. Bieber of Canada learn about his adopted country. Justin, when you perform in Phoenix remember to bring your papers.”
Of course, Bieber was born in Canada. The congressman was trying to show how you can’t judge a person’s origin by their appearance. We love that he busted out the celebrity flashcards, considering it’s a decent pull for the younger crowd and is outside of the politico box.
Watch it here:
I’m admittedly biased since I’m Canadian, but here’s just another reason why Canada and SportsCenter SportsCentre ROCK. Spontaneous dance parties are not just welcomed here, they’re encouraged on national television.
The description on TSN Canada is: “Jay and Dan decide to… wait for it………………….. DANCE!” Best part? Dan stealthily spunks up his look with sunglasses midway through.
Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Purity Ring, an electro duo from Canada.
Purity rings, also known as abstinence rings, took off in the US in the 1990s and are worn as a sign of chastity by Christians who are saving themselves for marriage. I am not sure what this has to do with this Canadian hipster-chic electro duo, but I don’t really care because they make my ears happy, and they’ll do the same for you. Plus they have a killer live show, and they’ve already won the hearts of fans at music festivals all around the world.
Origins: Edmonton, Alberta
Band members: Megan James (vocals), Corin Roddick (instrumentals)
Known for: Corin’s carefully chopped beats and Megan’s ethereal beats
Used in a sentence: Dream pop, 90s R&B and modern day hip-hop are all combined to make Purity Ring’s unique sound.
File next to: Niki and the Dove, Adult
Download now: “Lofticries”
Five fun facts:
1. Megan is trained in piano and Corin plays the drums
2. During live shows Corin uses a custom made tree-shaped instrument for sound and lighting that he built himself
Allstar Weekend is easily one of the most down to earth bands I’ve ever interviewed. And that’s a lot coming from me.
I met the band at The Sutton Place Hotel, which, if you know the selection of luxury hotels in Toronto, is a modest choice. Not too fancy. Pretty low key.
The band just finished a show last night at the Sound Academy, one of the last legs of their Canadian tour before heading up to London, ON. I ask how it went.
“It was really awesome seeing how many kids came out,” says Zachary, the lead singer and guitarist. “Toronto just seems like a cool city for bands, all the kids are really into it which is really exciting for us. We can’t wait to come back.”
“Fans here know our lyrics more than in America, it’s crazy. They know all the words,” says Cameron, the bassist.
Leave it to us crazy Canadians to leave an impression on them. The band also paid a visit to the MuchMusic studios a day earlier, which was of course, met with a sold out audience.
So between sold out television appearances and a passionate, driven fan base, how does the band prepare themselves for their shows?
“I like to light a bunch of candles, sit in a dark room. I’ll put on the Spice Girls,” says Nathan, the guitarist.
For what seems like forever, Adele has been dominating the charts. But after reviewing UK sales, it seems as though soul-singer Adele may lose her number one spot on the charts to Kate Bush.
The iconic singer just released her new album, ‘Director’s Cut,’ which is already expected to top the UK artist album sales this week and potentially beat out Adele’s ’21′ for the first time in 15 weeks.
Bush’s album has sold 17,562 copies this week, compared to the Adele’s 14,645.
Adele is currently number one on the Canadian and American charts. It’s so crazy how big of a hit Adele has become – literally everyone loves her. And I don’t blame them, because I love her too.
I don’t think Bush will beat out Adele in Canada and America, but it looks as though she’s about to be dethroned in the UK.
Hobo With A Shotgun – a pretty self explanatory title. Dutch actor Rutger Hauer is a hobo who tries to clean up a crime infested town that’s full of drugs, guns, pimps and prostitutes. The film is directed by Jason Eisener who won a fake-trailer competition for Quentin Tarantino, which lead to the development of the movie. If you like blood, guts, and the idea of a hobo delivering justice, you may want to check this out!
