Hershey the Hedgehog goes to Canada

Toothbrush? Check.
Pajamas? Check.
Traveling companion? Check.
Canada’s National Anthem soundtrack? Check.

That’s right. This weekend, Hershey and I are on our way to grand old Canada. Yes, I still have to resist the urge to say “eh” at the end of every sentence, complete with a question mark.

So here are a few fun facts about Canada to entertain you while we get some great touristy pictures where we’ll be in good old Canadia. Hershey wants to include thirteen, which reflects how many provinces and territories there are in Canada.

1. Canada is the largest producer of natural uranium in the world. So if you’re putting together some serious science projects, don’t insult the Canadians...eh?

2. Canada also contains what might be, in regards to footprint, the largest mountain in the world. Located a mere few miles outside of Alaska in the Yukon Territory, Mt. Logan is 19,551 ft high and still growing! It’s the largest non-volcanic mountain in the world—it’s height is due to tectonics.

3. Canada boasts seventeen Nobel Prize winners. The US has three hundred and twelve.

4. The name Canada came from “Kanata,” which is Iroquois and Huron for “village.” Well, that’s original.

5. Alberta, Canada, is probably one of the only places in the world that is completely rat-free.

6. Canada’s national animal is the beaver (TREES! *nom nom nom*).

7. Canadians eat more macaroni and cheese than anyone else on earth. So if all my college friends decide to get healthy, Kraft will still be in business.

8. Canada’s education was heavily influenced by (guess who? No, not the French, silly) Great Britain. Hence, it’s “z” is pronounced “zed,” and they maintain their honour and colours by throwing a “u” in.

9. Canada claims a lot of our Hollywood actors, directors, and musicians. To name a few? Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, who starred in the Notebook. Jim Carrey, known for his comedic expressions. Celine Dion? Yup. Canadian. Not to mention Michael Buble and Justin Bieber. I still chuckle over his “German? We don’t say that here,” comment.

10. Want some space? Canada’s population density is 3 people per square kilometer. Not only that, but according to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canadians have the highest quality of life.

11. Ontario, which is where Hershey and I are headed, hosts the Niagara Falls, the largest city (Toronto), and the nation’s capital (Ottawa).

12. Every winter, Quebec builds their Ice Hotel (Hotel de Glace) out of 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow. Every summer, they let it melt, then rebuild it. Personally, I feel like someone ought to mention how inefficient that is.

13. Maybe Bieber isn't the best example, but Canadians are smart! They invented the baseball glove, basketball, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, the telephone, cable TV, CPR dummies, and the electron microscope.

And in case those thirteen facts aren’t enough, I’m providing two lovely renditions of O Canada, Canada’s national anthem, by Canada’s own Celine Dion and Classified, the band.





Hershey and I hope you enjoyed learning about Our Great Neighbor, good old Canada!

Until next Thursday!

-Hershey the Hedgehog & Co.

Hershey thanks his sources for all information on Canada, videos, and others:

http://www.canadafacts.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_mountains

http://www.jinfo.org/US_Nobel_Prizes.html

http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Society/nobel-prize-winners-canada.html

http://members.tripod.com/~justin_slade/justin/useless.html

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/fun-facts/default.asp

http://columbustotoronto.blogspot.com/2007/01/random-facts-about-canada-ive-learned.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/canada-fun-facts-interesting-facts-about-canada.html

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/facts-about-ontario-3088.html

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0kWTOGZ53I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjiwBwBL4Qo&feature=player_embedded

Thanks to John for allowing us to feature him driving with Hershey.

Photo taken somewhere near Houston, Texas.