Carol and I recently escaped to the Great White North, the Land of Maple Syrup and America’s Hat. After five days in Toronto, I am a bit of an expert.
My sense is Canadians are friendly. People speak on the elevator, which confuses New Yorkers. They refuse to cross the street against the light, which also is confusing. Canucks say, “Sorry” and “Please.”
We did not hear anyone shout, “Hoser,” but we saw someone roll down their car window to yell, “Thank you!” One of our tour guides says “Eh?” a lot, but he may be exaggerating for the tourists.
Some describe Toronto as a cleaner version of New York. The city is frequently used in films as a stand-in for New York.
Tim Horton’s, which is omnipresent, is Dunkin Donuts without the elitism. Fifteen percent of Canadians visit one of the 3,500 Tim Horton’s each day. Their honey-dipped donut is a Krispy Kreme with a little more heft.
We participated in a maple syrup tasting. Canadians are serious about maple syrup.
We enjoyed one ounce of ice wine, which comes from frozen grapes and costs too much.
The only lie I heard while in Canada was that Anthony Bourdain called the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence’s Market “the best sandwich I have ever eaten.” After eating this celebration of corn meal, I do not believe this happened.
“Canadians’ love for poutine is similarly inexplicable.”
Canadians’ love for poutine is similarly inexplicable. Carol’s favorite Canadian restaurant was Mexican, and mine was Indian. We both enjoyed Rasta Pasta’s Jamaican jerk meatballs with spaghetti.
We visited the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and took a picture in front of a picture of the Rosebud motel, the finest place to stay in Schitt’s Creek, Ontario.
We went to a Toronto Blue Jays game. Their national anthem is better. They sing about love, glowing hearts and “our home and native land.” We sing about “the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air.” We could at least switch to America the Beautiful.
Even at a baseball game in August, they talk about hockey. (I chose not to ask why the Toronto Maple Leafs are not the Toronto Maple Leaves.)
We made it to Niagara Falls, where the view is better from the Canadian side. Going behind the falls is overrated, but the boat ride is 10 minutes of the last five seconds on the log ride at Disneyworld.
Toronto has amazing public art — murals, fountains and sculptures. Their statues are more likely to be poets than generals.
Twenty miles of underground pedestrian tunnels and elevated walkways connect downtown buildings. Torontonians love this in winter.
We attended Sunday worship at the Cathedral of St. James, where Prince Harry met Meghan Markle. That is not why we went there, but it didn’t hurt.
“I am disappointed in the ways the United States has stopped listening to our better angels.”
My appreciation of Canada makes me feel disloyal, but I am disappointed in the ways the United States has stopped listening to our better angels. Canada has a more gracious approach to social and political issues. They talk more about equality than individualism. They believe in the collective well-being. Their leaders don’t incite hatred.
Canada’s strict gun laws have led to a rate of gun violence that is one-seventh of ours. By one count, the United States spends $997 billion annually on the military, while Canada spends the equivalent of $29 billion. We can argue about what these numbers should be, but this partially explains why all Canadians have health care. Canada is more welcoming to immigrants — four times as many proportionally.
Income inequality is lower in Canada than in the United States. The gap between the rich and poor has remained relatively stable in Canada since the mid-1970s, while it has increased significantly in the United States. The top 1% in the United States holds a much larger share of the country’s wealth compared to Canada.
When we enjoy visiting another country, it is hard not to imagine ourselves living there. I don’t think Canada should be the 51st state, but a part of me would not mind the United States being the 11th province.
I recognize we owe a debt to the people and place that nurtured us. I am not planning to renounce my citizenship, but Canada reminds us that our country doesn’t have to be exactly as it is. We can be a kinder, more compassionate and more courageous nation. Eh?
Brett Younger serves as senior minister at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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