Canadian food and national symbols
After your top 10,* your lists of favourites took on a more personal flavour. And speaking of flavour, we do love to eat, drink and be Canadian! Here are your toasts to Canadian tastes.
*The balance of your top favourites are listed in no particular order
11. Culinary variety "The availability of food from around the world, including locally grown produce." Catherine Charnell, Victoria
12. Maple syrup "Dripping freshly brewed maple sap onto frozen snow for that wonderful taffy treat – awesome!" Louise Aspden, Utopia, Ont.
13. Poutine "Who would have thought fries + cheese curd + gravy could be an out-of-body experience?" Ashlee Mackey, Houston originally from St. John's, N.L.
14. Beef "Best beef in the world, from Alberta." Marybell Ritchie
15. "Canadian beer is the best, hands down!" Jennifer Rayment, Bolton, Ont.
16. Seafood including P.E.I. lobster, Atlantic salmon, Newfoundland chowder, "Atlantic Coast Lobster and BC salmon." Pat Greer, Aylmer, Ont.
17. "We have real bacon. Canadian back bacon." Patricia Fretz, Courtice, Ont.
18. Nanaimo bars "So traditional and so B.C.!" Alana LeSueur, Surrey, B.C.
19. Fresh produce "An abundance of homegrown fruits and vegetables." Karen Mitchell, White Rock, B.C.
20. Saskatoon berries "on ice cream, with fresh cream, on their own as you mow by the bush, mmhmm." Barb Beck, Wetaskiwin, Alta.
21. Wines "Yes, we have some of the best in the world and for many of us, right at our doorstep." Susan Fox, Thornhill, Ont.
22. Butter tarts "You can't find them anywhere else! It's the treat friends from the U.S., Britain and Australia want when they set foot on Canadian soil." Jo-Anne Page, Toronto
23. "Any farmer's market on a Saturday morning." Carrie Chenier, Etobicoke, Ont., (a transplanted Northerner)
24. Icewine "Mmmmm..." Kristi Briltz, Regina
25. Beavertails "Delicious and just part of being a Canadian." Katrien Reed, Belleville, Ont.
26. Fiddleheads "Nothing heralds spring as much as a steaming plate of freshly picked fiddleheads served with butter and a side order of pork." Anne Glazier, Bathurst, N.B.
27. Smarties (originated in the U.K., but made in Canada!) "Do you eat the red ones last?" Jaclyn Nelson, London, Ont.
Canadians may not be as flag-waving as citizens of some other countries...or are we? All of these distinctly Canadian icons and national symbols got lots of "votes."
28. "It does us no end of good here to see and have an excuse to salute the flag of Canada — a hockey game (yes, on ice!) or a Maple Leaf Ball." Shairon Burton
29. The maple leaf "So unassuming, so clean and so elegantly simple — so reflective of Canadians." Willy Wilkins, Richmond Hill, Ontario.
30. The beaver "Our national animal is hard-working and has a strong sense of family." Christine Peters, Edmonton
31. Money "Brightly coloured bills and unique coins" Lynda Colvey, Cold Lake, Alta.
32. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) "So proud, independent, brave...they make us feel safe." Erin Purdy, Ottawa
33. O Canada! "I feel pride in my heart each time I hear our national anthem." Sandi Larson, Cold Lake, Alta.
34. Parliament Hill "The grandeur of the place added to the lasting memory it created in my parents' visit to Canada. Their photograph in front of the parliament buildings will forever be present in my living room." Cynthia G. Garcia
