Love me, love my rant...

I'm from the East Coast of Canada; Nova Scotia to be exact. I love my province of origin and it has a lot to do with my sense of identity. I am a Bluenoser and a Maritimer through and through… also an Atlantic Canadian (not the same thing - as my Newfie friends will attest). I am possibly all of these things before I am Canadian, although I have a strangely strong sense of national pride as well.

But I have a somewhat irrational, intense, and undeniable difficulty when people say “Out East” and mean Ontario. I think it comes from the years of watching bands do “Cross Canada tours” that went from Vancouver to Toronto, stopping short of the 5 other provinces where I'm sure there are one or two fans. I'm sure this is where my problem began.

I think it is also linked to the problem many Atlantic Canadians (well, all Canadians really) have with the idea that Toronto is the centre of the universe. If “Out East” means Toronto, then there is nothing of significance past that. And that also bugs me.

Also when you learn Canadian history the whole Upper Canada/Lower Canada thing really resounds with many Maritimers. (Not so much with Newfoundlanders since they were still pretty much their own country then).

I know Ontario is east (small “e”) of Alberta. I can read a map. I even acknowledge that if you are speaking of geographic area, Ontario is in the eastern (small “e”) half of the country. But I won't go for it being “Out East” I just won't. I will be stubborn and irrational and I will always grumble about it when it is said. Because I think there are places of significance past Ontario. And I always will.