Rural Doc BC: Canadian Myths Debunking........

1. That it is snowy in Canada for 11 months out of 12 in a year.....

This is our first winter here and Sechelt had its

worst snow in over 20 years. Apparently we normally have one week and it's gone. This was the view from the cove down at the bottom of our back garden and we enjoyed watching the coasters compare number of inches in their driveways in a manly fashion.....

2. That there are bears wandering around everywhere, even in your back garden....

This charming cuddly cub (ahem) was trotting around our backyard during most of the summer, eating plums and pears from the tree and once scaring Craig out of his wits. As he walked through from the garden next door where he had been collecting some wood, the bear

was around a metre away from him, staring at him quizically, all 8 furry foot of him. He gradually backed away from the bear, growling loudly as he went - the poor animal pretty much shrugged (who is this crazy guy with not enough fat on him to make a good hibernation feast) and ambled off.

3. That all Canadians are wandering around dressed like mounties.....

Well, this was July 1st, Canada Day, when all the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) do get dressed up in their ceremonial togs to parade. Unfortunately it was about 30 degrees so the sweat factor in all that red worsted wool must have been somewhat high. Most of the time

they seem to copy their US counterparts and are to be found in blue costume and cap in Starbucks or shooting their speed guns at you on particularly tricky corners of the highway. I frequently get to see them in the ER escorting handcuffed assorted felons or mental health patients to be 'pinked' by me (the colour of the mental health forms that summarily detain people who are a danger to others or themselves).

4. That Canadians are obsessed by the Maple Leaf flag and all things maple........

The flowers are by the Peace Arch where British Columbia meets Washington State on the coast and where the three of us have spent some fun times in summer heat waiting to cross. Not only do we have the car wait, but then the foot wait inside the wonderful customs building which makes it very clear that there are no toilets despite the two hour queue and the lack of

chairs. Luckily Fraser is quite accommodating about being changed on a narrow wall heater. Welcome to the US......

Fraser is enjoying both a dead bear and the general Maple Leaf theme here - although actually both belong to a transplanted American friend in West Sechelt. However, he did kill the bear and skin it himself, so he is pretty much a Canadian.

5. All Canadians have big four wheel drive trucks......

Our beloved Jeep Patriot - the first car I have ever owned and which proudly displays my novice driver sign (although I am positively amazing compared to a large number of the coasters). And this one is definitely true - even in the city.