1% off Absolutely Everything Sale Ends Oct. 20/00 1459 Bellevue Ave., West Vancouver 926- BEAR C7 WIRELESS NOKIA 5160. $24- 95°42 Months _ Unlimited Local Calling!” Sign up with Canada’ s largest digital network on * a $30/month or more, 2 year term plan and the“ NEWS photo Mike Wakefie!d POLITICAL columnist Jettray Simpson displays his new book on Canadians liv- ree Strangers i ‘Strange Tracking the ‘invisible Canadians’ j in the U.S. ie Star-Spa rngled Canadians: Canadians Living the: American Dream by Jeffrey Simpson, HarperCollins, 391 pp, § ‘Katharine Hamer ’ News Reporter kbamer@nsnews.coni’ - HOW are Canadians different from Americans? It’s ‘a long- running question that Globe and Mail political columnist Jeffrey Simpson was uniquely placed to investigate in his new book; Star-Spangled Cancdians: Canadians Living the American Dream. The book picks up where the last decade's brain drain debate left off, assessing the expe- riences of expatriate Canucks south of the border. ~ Simpson made the move in reverse: born in New York to a Canadian. mother and American father, he relocated to Montreal and then Torento with his family as a child. Until. recently he also summered in Vermont, during which time he “used to fis- ten to my American friends talk about things, and say, ‘Hmm, that’s an interesting way to come at that, Tf wonder if. would come at it the same way as a Canadian’.” Simpson’s original pian. was’ simply to interview Canadians in the States about their experiences, with the aim of shedding lig for Canadians readers on what American tite is like compared to one own. It was after Simpson had begun his research that “we went into one of these © “spasins of concern about the: brain drain. | then began to ask the Canadians, ‘OK, why did you leave? What were your motivations? Would you go back?” and then to 0 reflect fur- ther on what it meant for Canada that they were leaving.” Simpson SeU out to interview “the invisible Canadians” south of the border: actors and producers in California; insurance salesmen in Minnesota; nurses in North Carolina. Nor ‘evervone, even here, knows that some “American. legends”. are -actually Canadian: actor Jim Carrey, comedian Tom Green, news anchor Peter Jennings, and director James Cameron. Some of the most _ talented animators at Disney are Canadian, as are several high-profile doctors and scientists in the States. : Why did they leave? Green and Jennings were among many who informed Simpson that their career ladder was stunted by orga- nizations like the CBC — that their talents were simply not appreciated, or rewarded, to the same degree as in the States. Said Simpson, “We need to create more opportunities for success, so that people with energy and drive, skills and determination, will decide that they will be able to fulfill their ambitions and find the: cpportunities here, rather than feeling they have to up stake and go somewhere else.” Simpson spends some time debunking the sort of assumptions we all) make: about America: thatthe crime rate. for instance, is -- ‘violent, inner-city. crime is; crimes: higher like burglary and auto thett actually turned out to. be higher per capita in Canada). The “noisy, ebullient, flag-waving” displays of nationalism we associate with the U.S. also belies othe intense regional loyalties. he encountered. : ; He says the lack of knowledge Americans See Can-do page 13 Nokia 5160 is yours for only $24.95° ° Guaranteed success. Yar child will os innoe oe fill ga level within 36. hows of irstartio, o ve'll pevice L2 aditiorl hows at no derge.* °-A conpebensive sills assesorert to identify yor dilld's grecific reeks. ° A persenalized program Don’t wait. Call Syiven tocy. North Vane 985-6811 W et Vane 926-3365. . Sylvan. Learning © Vive “Centre?” ~Suecess is learned. sm Same restrictiar-cpph ©1999 Sy san Learning Systens, Inc.