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“May you live in interesting times” is a well known curse, one that Canada has escaped for the most part. There are some pretty good reasons for it (geography and age of the country mainly). The one ‘interesting’ part about our history revolves around Quebec where Canada has done well to mostly avoid the issues seen in other parts of the western world such as in Northern Ireland and the Basque region of Spain.

I agree with wmoxam about our history. And if a more relaxed history of Canada’s past events lead us to our free country as it stands today… well I’d just have to accept it. But to say that Canadian History is dry, I couldn’t agree. Maybe dry on the surface, but dig a little deeper and meet the strange characters that shaped the nation and you may find a diamond in the rough filled with some interesting facts and foes….. “but you did have a good opinion of the day!”

When you scratch beneath the surface you come up with a man like Sam Steele who was able to take on armed American cowboys and set them straight without owning a gun. Colourful reading!! Scratch beneath the surface and discover why Cartier, a French speaking politician, got along so well with Macdonald. Go to Richard Gwyn”s book on Macdonald for an answer. If you really want to experience the richness of Canadian history, read about interesting individuals from coast to coast, not involved in earth-shattering events, but unique men and women who demonstrate courage, perseverance and modesty-characteristics quietly Canadian.

My experience is that those who complain about Canada’s history don’t know much of it. Largely Canada’s history is about quietly getting on with the job and getting it done .

One small example. Canadian troops liberated parts of Holland and have been recognized by ceremonies that continue to this day but have not been seen as much as the triumphal entries of the US military which were seen round the world but have been less celebrated by the residents of the towns they liberated.

Safe but slightly dull may describe life in Canada but not our history.

Canadian’s ability to think outside the box, for instance command actually telling the soldiers what they were expected to do, when and where, compared to the Brits saying “Charge!” was the basis of our success in WW1 and WW2. The Canadians actually got out ahead of the US on DDay

Size matters in war. In the years after the war we could use our middle position to achieve good work by being the honest broker. We need to find a new role now that there is no more middle since the fall of the communism as an alternative.

Have you read “At Home in the World: Canada in the 21st Century” by Jennifer Welsh?

It lays out a much more interesting role than being offered by the current government in Ottawa.

Just heard a story on “For King and Empire” that makes a lie of the dull Canadian history myth. http://www.kingandempire.com/

A Mrs Durie had lost here only sone to the war. She wanted his body back to bury in the family plot.

Given the numbers of dead, the policy was to return no one to Canada. Mrs Durie kept at it for 7 years until one cemetery at Lens had to be moved. She got to France, waited until her son’s remained were reburied, dug them up and returned them to Canada were today they lie side by side in Toronto’s St James cemetery. THis is the one documented case where a Canadian soldiers body made it home.

We have an awesome and unboring history if you dig into it. The Avro Arrow story is a good one. As is the story about the war of 1812 and the subsequent burning of the White House, capture and return of Detroit….granted 1812 was really pre-Canada (1867) but the people still represented this geography. And for the policitally minded of you. In a few years this week will seem very unboring historically what with the prorogueing of the Government and all. The many times we have hosted the Olympics and great medical discoveries. There’s tons of stuff going on here all the time making our history rich and unboring.

Well…if we compare Canada in a sense of HOW MANY wars it has been involved in and how many people dead etc.I guess our history is boring.In that sense.But on the other hand..it is only boring,cause we do not take pride in being Canadian.Look at USA…they drill the history of that nation into the little kids minds right from the beginning.National pride comes from knowing your history and instilling that pride into our children.

And…yes Canadian history is intresting.IT JUST DEPENDS…who teaches it and how and what they focus on.It is intresting…but teachers can make it more or less so.Anyhow…Canadian history is tied to USA history,because we share the continent and have much in common in terms of early days.Also…Canadian history is directly tied to European history,because we are more or less extension of Europe and the problems they had in the 1600-1800 .That is why they came here…to escape poverty.Starvation and to look for religious freedom.Somehow Canada failed its own people by NOT instilling pride into their children.Such a shame.

Such a beautiful country.

In a real sense…every day is history.Not today…but tomorrow.So,we make history.Not by having a war,but by living a life.Canada has become known all over the world as the politically neutral country.Anywhere you go…you are accepted…nobody has hard feelings against Canada.In Europe it is popular to hate Americans,they are called rash,arrogant,ignorant etc.The fact is…any nationality that knows little of any other is ignorant,so it is not the nationality but school system that shapes the understanding.We are known as peaceful nation…that is good.USA has been the peace keeper in the world and it has done that by using ARMY to maintain peace in many regions.Canada is passive and politically quiet…so we dont use arms to create peace.We simply are peaceful nation.That is good,too.

Other thing about history…And Canada as a whole.We have made over one Million inventions.Amazing inventions.You should google canadian inventions and it is very,very intresting.We should teach our children these things and give them pride over their people.We have done much good in the world,by the many inventions in the area of science,medicine and sports and every day inventions.As I said…that alone makes Canada interesting.Good read for anyone.

I agree… we’re very peaceful, and we don’t use war to create peace (which makes sense). Does that make us boring? Some would say yes, some no.

About Canadian inventions- yes, some are quite interesting- zippers, basketball, insulin, etc. But when you look at a certain category of inventions… there’s snow shoes, snow blowers, snow-mobiles… you spot any trends?