Quebec, the French Language, and Quebecois Identity

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

I get the impression this is changing and the Maritimes are becoming more of a "normal" place now. It was definitely not true in the past and during the Harper years even the PM would trash talk the region. I think they registered as a normal region up to maybe the 1960's or a bit later, but that's all before my time.

I think Canadians often miss the forest for the trees. While there is a lot of gatekeeping and regionalism, the Maritimes offer something interesting and complementary to the rest of the country. Canada as a whole is not a large country so if you write off some parts (east vs. west, Newfoundland vs. mainland, Ontario and westward, Quebec vs. dreary Anglo cultural dead zones, pick your poison) you're not exactly left with an overwhelming list of places.

Definitely NS is on the map now, given the recent population increases (and probably some attention during the Covid situation), but still I chuckle a little (with all due respect) at some of the Quebec assertions, as if no other region in the country deals with eroding culture and lack of attention/respect from the ROC (which includes Quebec from my perspective), and proven by the comment I quoted from one of our esteemed Quebec members... I know he was just tossing in some humour, but I think there is still a bit of "looking down" on the Maritimes (and NL) by the average citizen who lives west of NB.

It's actually all good... I kind of liked flying under the radar, because I really don't want Halifax to become Vancouver 2.0 (again with all due respect). Hopefully Halifax's newfound popularity fizzles out in a few years...

[Al Ski]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Pâté chinois is in fact quite different from English shepherd's pie, and its genesis is somewhat unclear.

Even if inspired by shepherd's pie, it's probably different enough to be in the same category as donairs are relative to true Mediterranean kebabs.

You're stretching, it's just shepherds pie. Don't try to make it unique, it's not.

It was made of whatever was locally available, not some cultural hill to stand on.

This is actually a tale of abuse that you should back away from..

[Al Ski]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Makes sense. I was just looking at the pic on their order page and it looked like it had lettuce and such in it... which would make me believe they aren't trying to hit the "authenticity" target. Not that it would be bad... I'm sure it would be quite tasty, but not a "Halifax Donair" (if there even is such a thing... like I don't really go for identifying a food by a place, but it seems to be a thing here).

Fuck I miss Hali donair!

It's funny because when I lived in Hali, the locals all dissed donair..

But I'm sure they all miss it now, wherever they are.

Ahhhh.. I could go for Hali donair right now!

Jonesing!

Need the sweet sauce!!

[Al Ski]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Actual Martimer take: "Wow! Somebody from the ROC realized that land east of Quebec exists, and that it is actually part of Canada!"

Hey man, don't ruin the secret.

Onterriblans will fiee and double your cost of living!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Al Ski

Hey man, don't ruin the secret.

Onterriblans will fiee and double your cost of living!

It’s already happening.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Al Ski

You're stretching, it's just shepherds pie. Don't try to make it unique, it's not.

It was made of whatever was locally available, not some cultural hill to stand on.

This is actually a tale of abuse that you should back away from..

Who is talking about a "tale of abuse"?

I have no idea if it's the product of people simply making a cheap meal with stuff that's easily available (as people around the world often do) or if they really did set out to make shepherd's pie. No one says that French hachis parmentier is a rip-off of British shepherd's pie, or vice-versa. They seem to have developed separately but in similar societal conditions and "soil".

Pâté chinois could very well be the exact same thing.

And it's not a cultural hill to stand on but it is part of the cuisine and therefore the culture, no matter what. Just like poutine, La Petite Vie and La Petite Grenouille may not be high-brow, but are still part of the culture.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Al Ski

It's funny because when I lived in Hali, the locals all dissed donair..

Really? I don't think I've ever experienced this.

People I know would joke about the unhealthiness of eating them (hint: they are delicious, but they are not good for you), but would still rave about how good they were while they were eating them.

Don't recall ever hearing anybody "diss" one, though, but not saying it didn't happen.

[JHikka]

New research shows Bill 21 having 'devastating' impact on religious minorities in Quebec
Steve Rukavina
Aug 10, 2022

New research shows that three years after Quebec's secularism law — commonly known as Bill 21 — was adopted, religious minorities in the province are feeling increasingly alienated and hopeless.

"Religious minority communities are encountering — at levels that are disturbing — a reflection of disdain, hate, mistrust and aggression," Miriam Taylor, lead researcher and the director of publications and partnerships at the Association for Canadian Studies, told CBC in an interview.

"We even saw threats and physical violence," Taylor said.

...

Taylor and her colleagues at the association worked with polling firm Leger to gather a unique portrait of attitudes toward Bill 21 in Quebec.

The association surveyed members of certain religious minority communities including 632 Muslims, 165 Jews and 56 Sikhs.

Those results were folded into a Leger survey of the Quebec population as whole, and then weighted to ensure the sample was representative of the entire population.

That allowed Taylor to compare and contrast the attitudes toward Bill 21 of Quebecers who are religious minorities with the attitudes of Quebecers as a whole.

In total 1,828 people were questioned in the online survey.

Taylor shared an advance copy of her final report, which is being released today, with CBC.





Although all three religious minority groups surveyed said they've experienced negative impacts due to Bill 21, the effects are being most acutely felt by Muslims and, in particular, Muslim women.

"We saw severe social stigmatisation of Muslim women, marginalization of Muslim women and very disturbing declines in their sense of well-being, their ability to fulfil their aspirations, sense of safety, but also hope for the future," Taylor said.

Of the Muslim women surveyed, 78 per cent said their feeling of being accepted as a full-fledged member of Quebec society had worsened over the last three years.

Fifty-three per cent said they'd heard prejudicial remarks about Muslims from family, friends or colleagues.

People surveyed were given the opportunity to share examples of comments they'd heard or behaviours they'd experienced.

One reported hearing: ''These Muslim women with rags on their heads, if they are not able to integrate, let them return to their country.''

Forty-seven per cent of Muslim women said they'd been treated unfairly by a person in a position of authority.

One person reported being called a "dirty immigrant" by a police officer in Quebec City. Another reported that a teacher told disparaging anecdotes about Islam in class.

Two thirds of Muslim women said they'd been a victim of and/or a witness to a hate crime. Seventy-three per cent said their feeling of being safe in public had worsened.



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...rvey-1.6541241

[Luisito]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Really? I don't think I've ever experienced this.

People I know would joke about the unhealthiness of eating them (hint: they are delicious, but they are not good for you), but would still rave about how good they were while they were eating them.

Don't recall ever hearing anybody "diss" one, though, but not saying it didn't happen.

I unfortunately have heard local people talk down on donairs. Many of them health nuts. Alot of Haligonians are just snobs.

[ciudad_del_norte]

With all the donair conversation, some might find this interesting.

Donairs are ubiquitous in Edmonton, but not generally recognized as a regional thing. I don't think many Edmontontians realize that donairs aren't as common in most other places, or are aware of the east coast history. It's just something that most people are accustomed to seeing everywhere and assume is typical in Canada, or even North America.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Luisito

Alot of Haligonians are just snobs.

Well there you have it in a nutshell. Just because it's a nice place to visit on vacation, doesn't mean you will enjoy it if you choose to live here. Please pass the word - don't move to Halifax, don't drive up our real estate prices. It's a snobby backwater with nothing to offer except some greasy donairs (that the locals will diss) and you'll tire of them within a month of moving here.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by ciudad_del_norte

With all the donair conversation, some might find this interesting.

Donairs are ubiquitous in Edmonton, but not generally recognized as a regional thing. I don't think many Edmontontians realize that donairs aren't as common in most other places, or are aware of the east coast history. It's just something that most people are accustomed to seeing everywhere and assume is typical in Canada, or even North America.

I think that's great. It's just food, not some sort of local culture thing to wear as a badge of honour. I think too many people spend too much time thinking about who deserves credit for some food recipe and forget that it's just something to eat. How many things does one eat in the run of a day without thinking about their origins? Think about it.

I, for one, would like to see this discussion go back on topic - to Quebecois issues, as I see jHikka attempting to do. Enough donair and Halifax talk - I will hereby cease to move that topic along any further...

[someone123]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I, for one, would like to see this discussion go back on topic - to Quebecois issues, as I see jHikka attempting to do. Enough donair and Halifax talk - I will hereby cease to move that topic along any further...

This thread is a little weird. If it's just about Quebec shouldn't it be in the Quebec section? If it's not in the Quebec section, shouldn't it be broader?

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by someone123

This thread is a little weird. If it's just about Quebec shouldn't it be in the Quebec section? If it's not in the Quebec section, shouldn't it be broader?

This thread exists because every other thread would get derailed by Quebec talk. It seems only right that the Quebec thread itself becomes derailed by Maritimers.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by JHikka

This thread exists because every other thread would get derailed by Quebec talk. It seems only right that the Quebec thread itself becomes derailed by Maritimers.

Yeah, it is the dumping ground for hijab talk and so on. I think donairs are actually a much better topic. We can talk about the human rights abuse of putting lettuce on donairs.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by someone123

Yeah, it is the dumping ground for hijab talk and so on. I think donairs are actually a much better topic. We can talk about the human rights abuse of putting lettuce on donairs.

Je me souviens (Pizza Corner).

[MolsonExport]

Le Québec, c'est moi.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

We can talk about the human rights abuse of putting lettuce on donairs.

That might need a separate thread!

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by esquire

That would be great... I'd be 100% on board with that.

Seeing that "health specialists" still insist that saturated fats are bad for you and that seed oils are better for your heart I wouldn't trust any industrial to come out with something that is healthy. Seeking the current fake meat and knowing how much processed food are bad for you (and I eat too much of it), it shouldn't replace real meat but be complimentary.

And for Pâté chinois's name origin. One theory is that it was a popular dish in South China, Maine which had tons of French Canadians working there. Locals called it Chinese pie. Pâté chinois is actually a hachis parmentier.

I also find it odd the use of Shepherd's Pie as it's not it. (though I eat like 10 of those PC ones a week) mixed with melted cheddar cheese.

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

That might need a separate thread!

I'm pro lettuce and anti onion.