Monday, February 23, 2026

I Am Canadian!

No other union embodies what it means to be Canadian quite like CLAC.

By Wayne Prins, Executive Director

This will age me a bit, but I’m confident many of you will remember what I’m talking about. Years ago, Molson’s ran a series of commercials that playfully featured the most stereotypical characteristics of being Canadian.

One of the most popular of these commercials had a typical Canadian guy walk up to a bar and order a Molson Canadian beer only to be mocked by two American guys who were already at the bar. The American guy asks the Canadian, “Where’s your pet beaver?” The Canadian replied, “Right here” as he lifts a beaver up onto the bar and places it in front of the American. The Canadian then calmly says “attack,” and the beaver lunges for the throat of the American.

In my humble opinion, it’s still one of the greatest ads of all time. If you haven’t seen it, I’d recommend a quick YouTube search. It’ll cheer you up.

Years after the commercial ran, I found myself in the same university class as the guy who played the American who was attacked by the beaver. We had great fun bringing it up with him, and he was a good sport about it.

The commercial, of course, was a spoof meant to give the audience a laugh. But I’d argue the bold message of the ad—which was a proud proclamation of “I Am Canadian!”—has taken on new significance today.

What does it mean to be Canadian? There’s not a single answer to this question. For some, the answer may be rooted in your family’s multigenerational history in the country. For newer Canadians, the answer may be tied to comparing Canada to the place from where you came. For Indigenous Canadians, the answer may be something entirely unique to your experience.

When asked the question, a previous prime minister gave an interesting answer. He said it means we’re not American.

Quite frankly, I thought that was a dumb and uninspiring answer. But it is at least partially accurate. Canada was formed in 1867 in large part to protect the territory from becoming part of the US, which was giving imperialistic glances to the north after the conclusion of their civil war.

The new nation of Canada was given the motto peace, order, and good government, which stood in contrast to the American motto of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Canadian emphasis on peace and order recognized the diversity that existed in Canada already 159 years ago. The vision for Canada, from day one, is of a country characterized by peaceful and productive coexistence among the many citizens who call Canada home.

I find this an inspiring starting point in defining what it means to be Canadian. I also find it a fitting parallel to CLAC’s vision and role in this country. Our motto could easily be peace, order, and good representation.

I’m proud to be Canadian, and I’m proud to belong to an all-Canadian union that embodies the very vision of our country. Our job now is to take this pride and let it spur us on to building out the prosperity and security of this great country we call home.

I Am Canadian!

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