Canadians extra-ordinarily ordinary

John Shelton Reed was interviewed on the radio program Thinking in Public last month about the question of regionalization and culture. While most of the conversation was centred around the South, he did use Canada as a reference, and said that "Canadians take pride in being un-exciting, extra-ordinarily ordinary." I found this rather humourous. Are we as Canadians as boring as he just made us sound? What about our beer commercials? Those certainly make us look exciting...don't they? The rest of the conversation centred around topics which help us understand regionalization, and it made me think of our own 'boring' country. Does regionalism factor into our Canadian culture? I think it's obvious it does.

If our country could be generalized from coast-to-coast, we would find our regions very distinct. Religiously, the east coast through to central Canada is largely made up of Catholics. The western half of the country has a large portion of evangelical and ecclesiastical protestants as compared to the rest of the country.

Our food is regionalized. Can you get better seafood than the east coast? Can you find a better steak than Alberta? B.C. Salmon and fruit is delicious. Quebec...poutine!

Quebec speaks French, as does New Brunswick. Ontario says 'boot' (I had no idea what Americans were talking about when they said we spoke with a funny accent until I spent some time in Ontario), Newfoundlanders speak...Newfanese?? The west speaks English.

When you think of major crime, Quebec has the Canadian mob, B.C. has Asian gangs, the rest of the country has a hodge-podge of all of them.

Alberta is the stronghold of conservative politics, Ontario typically Liberal, Quebec socialism, and the rest of the country again being a mix.

So do these differences, although largely generalized, play an important role in our self-image and identity as 'Canadians'? Or will these differences eventually split our country apart? It almost did once in the 90's with the very close Quebec referendum. Will we ever, as a country, feel truly united?

Do these differences matter to the church and how we share the gospel with others? How do we reach out to Canadians? As Paul Washer has said when asked how he evangelized to the Peruvian natives, he replied, "I don't preach to Peruvian natives, I preach the gospel to lost people no matter where they are."

The point Paul was making was that evangelicals sometimes get too caught up in cultural differences and studies, rather than trusting in the Word and the Spirit to convert lost people, regardless of the culture. The message is the same no matter where you go. Man needs a Mighty Saviour, and we have One in Jesus.