Questions For Our Canadian Friends

[KissArmy]

Originally Posted by haroldeye

It's half way between Edmonton and Calgary. All I can remember was the strong desire to get out of the place.

I think I see why. My now-wife's stories of rural Alberta include working under the table illegally, shoplifting native indians, drunk native indians in blizzards, her coke-addled boss, and the boss's brother who crawled naked into my now-wife's bed one night after a party hoping for a fuck (she very quickly crawled out the other side and escaped).

[recluce]

Originally Posted by highwayman274

When the "oil & gas exploration" circus comes to town (as it did in GP during the late 70's) you see an influx of single young men; often uneducated, generally highly paid, and far from home. They provide the work-force for seismic crews, drilling rigs, pipeline, road and power-line construction, and the drivers/swampers for the thousands of heavy trucks that bring everything in (and out). Hotels, motels, trailer-parks and work-camps spring up to accommodate them . . . together with restaurants and bars.

The "city fathers" quickly lock up the "city daughters", and an influx of mostly poor, single, young women flock to area to fill the jobs created by the hospitality industry. They make more in tips than they do in wages, and, fortunately, most have the common sense to resist the constant stream of indecent proposals that come their way.

Money and booze flow like water; day and night, seven days a week. The RCMP Detachment doubles or triples in size and the hospital emergency ward is expanded. Long time residents curse the loss of their sense of community, and scramble to take advantage of the money making opportunities.

This overheated, transient, and alcohol-fueled environment spawns all kinds of problems. As in every gold-rush . . . . bad things happen.

In Alberta we have many rural communities that have gone through this experience. It may take a decade for the "exploration & development" phase to burn out. By then, many of these communities have evolved into small cities (like GP has), with strong economies, and lots of amenities that cater to young families. They become great places to live and work.

Similarly witnessed in Rocky Mountain House (and other places between Calgary and Cold Lake, AB), when I was there on business (not oil-related) in 2013 and 2015. Prices for food and especially accommodation were "interesting", to say the least.

However, the RCMP seems to be better in handling it than in your account. While I guess some bars could get rowdy, regular places were quiet. Also, no "24-hour booze". I believe the liquor stores closed around 10.00pm (if memory serves) and bars had reasonable cut-off times as well.

Still, winter travel in Alberta is not on my list of fun things to do.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by ultimatewarlord

I was wondering what are the most popular Canadian made tv shows? We get very little Canadian products on tv in the UK but I'm sure there must be many. I do watch Amazing Race Canada. I watched a comedy series called Testee's and one episode of Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays because it was written by Matt Watts. But I think that's about it.

Can’t let that go by without mentioning SCTV - a tremendously influential sketch comedy show made on a shoestring. Somewhere in Canada, SCTV is playing at almost every moment.

And I’m lucky to have an internet television feed to “Hockey Night in Canada” - ice hockey is, maybe, America’s fourth sport, but it’s a,distant fourth. Hockey matters to Canada in an essential way, and their coverage of games is very different.

One of the things I love about Hockey Night is that the commentators view the game as a lesson for young hockey players- no US hockey broadcast assumes that the people watching might also play the game.

[KissArmy]

[QUOTE
Still, winter travel in Alberta is not on my list of fun things to do.[/QUOTE]

My now-wife told me the story of her date and her finding two drunk native indians sitting in a stalled truck out in rural Alberta during a blizzard. They declined help. She said there was a really good chance they froze to death hours later.

[beemerider500]

I live near the Canadian border and only get CBC television. I haven't seen SCTV in years, but I wish I could get it again... especially the early years episodes with Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin and John Candy. Those were hilarious. I'm probably showing my age here, but there was a late night show from Toronto named "NiteCap". It was hosted by Al Hammel (probably) before he married Suzanne Somers and it was a very funny variety type program.

[haroldeye]

Went into a bar in Hicksville one night and had to walk over a man collapsed in the doorway. I told the Landlord about the fellow and he dismissed it with a wave of his hand and the comment "Fucking Indians, always getting drunk and in the way" I was quite shocked, you'd never get nasty comments like that in the UK, except about Mackems.

[KissArmy]

Any of our middle aged-Canadian friends in British Columbia remember the name Jarek "Jerry" Ambrozuk? Watched a fascinating crime show last night on what he did. And it included an interview with him. He came off as a very smart - and very lucky - sociopath.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by haroldeye

It's half way between Edmonton and Calgary. All I can remember was the strong desire to get out of the place.

Rather like Fakenham in Norfolk, where I was once marooned for a day. The place made me think of the Stepford Wives.

[Sir Honkers]

Oh frabulous day for Canada. Perhaps some kind Canadian friend will send me a box of doobies?

[KissArmy]

Anyone know what Regina, Saskatchewan, is like in August? I'm going to a CFL football game there that month...