Canadian content (abbreviated cancon or can-con) refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters (including cable/satellite specialty channels) must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from Canada. It also refers to that content itself, and, more generally, to cultural and creative content that is Canadian in nature.
Some other countries employ similar quota systems. For example, Australian broadcasters are required to broadcast a certain percentage of Australasian content alongside international content.
A major motivation is the fear that without a regulatory system, independent Canadian popular culture would be swallowed up by that of the neighboring United States. However, the policy has been criticized by other commentators as cultural protectionism.
Having lived in Newfoundland for seven years, I have had ample exposure to this concept. Even in Canadian football, teams are limited to the number of American players they can have. And the rules are changed from American football, just to be different. For example, a team can score by MISSING a field goal. CFL must have been drinking Screech (a unique style of Newfoundland rum) when they thought that one through.
Newfoundland (pronounced new fun LAND, with the accent on the last syllable. Actually the Province is really Newfoundland and LabraDOR, with Labrador being the Easternmost province attached to the Canadian mainland. Newfoundland and Labrador boast two nice breeds of hearty dogs named after them. Labrador Retrievers, and Newfoundland Dogs. They speak dog woof rather than Newfoundish or Newfie. The speech of native Newfoundlanders has a very distinct dialect, difficult to describe without hearing it. Many sentences end with a kind of sucking sound, as if the speaker is running out of breath or trying to finish before the next gust of wind hits. And man, it's some windy here bye.
Come by Chance, Seldom Come By, Dildo Run, Bumble Bee Bight, Witless Bay, Ha Ha Bay, Little Heart's Desire, Run-by-guess, Bleak Joke Cove, Misery Point, Bareneed, Savage Cove, Empy Basket, and Famish Gut, are a sample of the more colorful place names.
Newfoundlanders seldom think of themselves as Canadians, having just barely voted to join Canada in 1949. Canadians are mainlanders. Others, such as myself, are "come from aways".
I had some good times in Newfoundland though. Backpacking and kayaking (generally among vast swarms of black flies), cross country skiing, and walking up hill on ice without busting my ass.
Some other countries employ similar quota systems. For example, Australian broadcasters are required to broadcast a certain percentage of Australasian content alongside international content.
A major motivation is the fear that without a regulatory system, independent Canadian popular culture would be swallowed up by that of the neighboring United States. However, the policy has been criticized by other commentators as cultural protectionism.
Having lived in Newfoundland for seven years, I have had ample exposure to this concept. Even in Canadian football, teams are limited to the number of American players they can have. And the rules are changed from American football, just to be different. For example, a team can score by MISSING a field goal. CFL must have been drinking Screech (a unique style of Newfoundland rum) when they thought that one through.
Newfoundland (pronounced new fun LAND, with the accent on the last syllable. Actually the Province is really Newfoundland and LabraDOR, with Labrador being the Easternmost province attached to the Canadian mainland. Newfoundland and Labrador boast two nice breeds of hearty dogs named after them. Labrador Retrievers, and Newfoundland Dogs. They speak dog woof rather than Newfoundish or Newfie. The speech of native Newfoundlanders has a very distinct dialect, difficult to describe without hearing it. Many sentences end with a kind of sucking sound, as if the speaker is running out of breath or trying to finish before the next gust of wind hits. And man, it's some windy here bye.
Come by Chance, Seldom Come By, Dildo Run, Bumble Bee Bight, Witless Bay, Ha Ha Bay, Little Heart's Desire, Run-by-guess, Bleak Joke Cove, Misery Point, Bareneed, Savage Cove, Empy Basket, and Famish Gut, are a sample of the more colorful place names.
Newfoundlanders seldom think of themselves as Canadians, having just barely voted to join Canada in 1949. Canadians are mainlanders. Others, such as myself, are "come from aways".
I had some good times in Newfoundland though. Backpacking and kayaking (generally among vast swarms of black flies), cross country skiing, and walking up hill on ice without busting my ass.
2 comments:
I love learning about other cultures...tell us more!
Go to Flickr and search on Newfoundland - lots of pics. Also, I am sending you some via email.
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