Happy New Year everyone!  I just returned from a little solace in the sun down in Phoenix, Arizona where it's now mostly Canadians anyway so I felt just like home without the minus 32 degree temperatures.

We spent a lot of time with Americans too and over a little rum and egg nog we had to put on our Canadian bragging rights, starting with fiscal responsibly and our banking system being superior to theirs seeing as we were buying up half their state.

I did a little session on the Google machine and was ready for all things Canadian that are great and they were quite surprised to see how much we have brought to the world.

For instance Basketball; this one caused a more then a few raised eyebrows but when they realized we weren’t just hockey and Lacrosse fans they had to surrender that it was indeed a Canadian invention as is Five Pin Bowling.

The green garbage bag you use every week to toss out the trash also Canadian, I’m not sure if the man from Glad is but he has a lousy tan and that probably makes him Canadian.

Lets get to the important stuff like the Retractable Beer Carton Handle, the entire world owes us for this one along with the Bloody Caesar invented right here at The Westin Hotels, Owls Nest, which is now the Keg and also Canadian (I had to mention that because that’s where we were drinking in Gilbert Arizona, I guess that’s rubbing it in huh?)

The Blackberry was invented here also in Ontario, but seems like it might have had its time of which the American reminded me when they held up their I phones and Galaxy 3 Smart phones, Ok they win that one.

The Electric Oven was invented here as was the Electric Wheelchair, both hugely helpful in day-to-day life, if we are talking about lifesavers so was the CPR Mannequin that saves thousands of lives every year.

If you hit the P in the alphabet you also get Poutine, Paint Rollers. Plexiglass and The Packemaker, and for the little ones -Pablum is ours too.

The Americans were left with their mouths open and the back the occasional Mc Donald’s and Stretch Pants and The good old Automobile but left amazed at what we contribute.

I didn’t have the heart to mention all the great comedians that have moved south but had to take it on the chin when they also reminded me of Celine Dion and Justin Bieber.

At this point I out down my Rum and Egg Nog in Favour of a Canadian Club and Ginger and said make it Canada Dry.

 - Ger