Bundles of trivia from our bottomless files/
FAR AWAY, INDEED
In 2011, B.C. Business published a retrospective on Canadian pop music, including the “10 Best Classic Canadian Albums” and the “10 Best Modern Canadian Albums.” Of far more interest are the “10 Worst Canadian Songs Ever.”:
1. Nickelback, “Far Away”
2. Celine Dion, “My Heart Will Go On”
3. Bryan Adams, “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)”
4. Kon Kan, “Harry Houdini”
5. Alanis (Morissette), “Too Hot”
6. Snow, “Informer.”
7. Roch Voisni, “Helene”
8. Trooper, “Boys in the Bright White Sports Cars”
9. Corey Hart, “Never Surrender”
10. William Shatner, “Rocketman”
PRIORITIES
In 2008, the CBC asked viewers to rank the most important Canadian inventions. Some highlights of the final “top 50”:
1. Insulin (Frederick Banting and Charles Best, 1921)
4. Five-pin bowling (Thomas Ryan, 1874)
5. The Wonderbra (Louise Poirier, 1964)
10. Poutine (Fernand Lachance, 1957)
12. The Caesar cocktail (Walter Chell, 1969)
15. Ski-Doo (Armand Bombardier, 1922)
20. Retractable beer carton handle (Steve Pasjack, 1957)
22. Instant replay (Hockey Night in Canada, 1955)
39. Instant mashed potatoes (Edward Asselbergs, 1962)
Vancouver has the most flights connections to China of any North American city.
Maclean’s held a poll in 2012 to determine the most-hated hockey team nationwide. The results:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs (19%)
2. Montreal Canadiens (15%)
3. Vancouver Canucks (4%)
3. (tie) Ottawa Senators (4%)
5. Calgary Flames (3%)
5. (tie) Edmonton Oilers (3%)
7. Winnipeg Jets (1%)
The most common response, by 51% of respondants: “none.”
BLAME CANADA
Ask Men Canada ran a list of “The Top 10 Canada Hating Countries.” Here are the countries you should stay out of, and why:
1. The U.S., because conservative polticians think Canada is too liberal.
2. Russia, because of property disputes in the Arctic.
3. Spain, due to lingering ill will over the 1995 incident in which Canadian ships fired at a Spanish fishing boat.
4. Mexico, because a string of Canadian tourists have mysteriously been murdered at Mexican resorts.
5. Iran, due to the “Canadian Caper” hostage extraction drama, as depicted in the movie Argo
6. Denmark, because of continued bad feelings over the Hans Island dispute.
7. Chile. After losing a 2007 soccer tournament game in Toronto to an Argentine team, the Chilean team got rowdy and were roughed up by Toronto police.
8. Brazil, because Canada banned imported Brazilian beef in 2001 over Mad Cow Disease concerns.
9. The African Union, which resents Canada, because Canada mines its own diamonds, and doesn’t need their business.
10. China, because of the Canadian government’s calls for human rights improvements there.
World record: In 2005, 989 accordion players performed together at a folk festival in St. John’s.