J.C. Villamere 
Is Canada Even Real? 
How a Nation Built on Hobos, Beavers, Weirdos, and Hip Hop Convinced the World to Beliebe

This quirky ode to a quirky land is a humorous nostalgia trip and a fun Canadian history lesson couched in a hipster quiz book.



If you’ve ever wondered

• Why is the inuksuk more revered than Wheelchair Jimmy?


• Does the iconic beaver really represent us better than The Littlest Hobo?


• Is everyone going canoeing without me or is canoeing way less of a thing than it’s made out to be?

then this book is for you.



Is Canada even real? It’s a question that’s being asked more and more, thanks to our waterproof, see-through, supposedly maple-scented currency and our improbably hot prime minister’s assertion that Santa lives here.



In the age of Google Maps and #factcheck, how could the existence of Canada be questioned? And yet how could a nation that’s the home of toboggans, Drake, and KD exist in the same realm as, say, Belgium or Niger?




Is Canada Even Real? examines the cultural factors behind the twenty-first-century monolithic myth of Canada, a nation that is lovable and real — if only in your imagination.

Tabla de materias

Introduction



Section One: HOBOS: Which Haunting Hobo Myths Are Real and Which Are Imagined?

1.
The Littlest Hobo: Our German Shepherd Guardian Angel TV Star

2. Sol: The Hobo Clown of
Parlez-Moi/Your Nightmares

3. Wilf Carter: Maritime Cowboy and Hobo Balladeer

4.
Hobo with a Shotgun: Vigilante Hobo Canuxploitation A-Go-Go



Section Two: BEAVERS: What’s True and What’s a Dam Lie?

5. The ‘Beaver Hour’: Can Con Quota Gets a Ghetto Shot

6.
Hinterland’s Who’s Who: Cool Flute Tune but Beaver Questions Remain

7.
Cucumber: Moose + Beaver + Tree House = Zero Cukes

8.
The Beaver: Tittering Pervs Force Mag’s Name Change



Section Three: HIP HOP: Is Any of These Scenarios Legit?

9.
Electric Circus: Let’s Spandex-Dance on TV

10. Maestro Fresh-Wes: The Backbone of Canadian Hip Hop

11. Snow: All the ‘Informer’ Info That’s Fit to Print

12. ‘Wheelchair Jimmy’: Started from Degrassi, Now He’s Drizzy



Section Four: WEIRDOS: Which of These Were Actually Canadian Prime Ministers?

13. Sir John A. Mac Donald: Founder of the ‘Go Home, Dad, You’re Drunk’ Meme

14. William Lyon Mckenzie King: Inspired Spiritualist, Big, Big Fan of Dogs

15. Stephen Harper: Hockey Fan,
Murdoch Mysteries Star

16. Justin Trudeau: #hair



Bonus Round: MASCOTS: Which of These Creations Were Brought to Fruition?

17. Hidy and Howdy: Twin Rodeo Polar Bears

18. Peter Puck: The
Itchy & Scratchy of Hockey

19: Youppi!: The Ulitmate Free Agent

20: Bonhomme: Super A-Lister Snowman



Acknowledgements

Appendix

Sources

Image Credits

Index

About the Author

Sobre el autor

J.C. Villamere, who knew how to drive a Ski-Doo by age eight, reminds you that your country is wise and weird and you’re in charge of keeping it that way.