Canadian popular culture (or pop culture) is the vernacular (people's) culture that prevails in Canadian society. Canadian popular culture is influenced by Canada's British and French ancestry. Canadian pop culture is also influenced by the United States, which borders Canada to the south; US films, television shows and magazines dominate the Canadian media system. However, Canadians themselves play a large role in the US entertainment industry as leading actors, actresses, writers, directors, producers, technical crews, as well as providing film locations (though rarely if ever will the setting be Canadian). Canadian pop culture is also influenced by the diverse cultures of its immigrant communities, which include substantial populations from China and India.'";
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About two-thirds of Canadians speak English as their own language. Some aspects of English-Canadian popular culture have been influenced by Canada's British ancestry, from the period in the 19th century and early 20th century when Canada was a dominion of the British Empire. As Canada's independence from Britain increased during this time, English-Canadian popular culture has been influenced by the pop culture of the United States and by the diverse cultures of the huge immigrant communities which came to Canada.
Major touchstones for English-speaking Canadians include Canadian beer, promoted through advertising by brands such as Molson and Labatt, and comedies that poke fun at Canadian's love for beer, such as the 1980s "hoser" television comedy skit The Great White North (from SCTV) and the spin-off film Strange Brew.
Television programs influencing Canadian popular culture include the comedies such as Trailer Park Boys, Royal Canadian Air Farce, SCTV, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Kids in the Hall, and Rick Mercer; sports coverage such as Hockey Night in Canada, curling, and the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup playoffs; children's shows such as Mr. Dressup and Polka Dot Door; and teen dramas such as the Degrassi series.
Hockey provides another popular culture reference, with longstanding rivalries between teams (e.g., the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens; or, more recently, the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs) and cultural references to hockey in songs such as Stompin' Tom Connors' The Hockey Song.
Canadian musicians that have become an important part of English-Canadian pop culture include the singer k.d. lang, singer-guitarist Stompin' Tom Connors, Jann Arden, and the Barenaked Ladies.
About one-third of Canadians speak French as their mother tongue. While most French-speaking Canadians live in the province of Quebec (the area originally settled by French colonists in the 17th century), there are also major communities of French-speaking Canadians in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, and smaller communities in other parts of Canada.
Some aspects of French-Canadian popular culture have been influenced by the earlier period of Canada's history, in the 17th and 18th centuries, when Canada was a French colony. French settlers passed on a rich heritage of French songs, dances, and stories that continue to have an influence on French Canadian pop culture.
French-Canadians have also been strongly influenced by the popular culture of the United States; US films and television shows dubbed into French often appear in French-Canadian theaters and television channels. However, due to the language barrier, French Canadians have been more successful at preserving their culture from the powerful US media influence than English Canadians.
French-speaking regions of Canada are not as dominated by US television and magazines as English-speaking regions. There is a thriving French-language popular culture, which includes French-language television shows, newspapers, and magazines. The different media help to promote a "star system" of Canadian French-language celebrities such as popular television and film actors, sports stars (e.g., Formula 1 racing star Jacques Villeneuve), and musicians.
Major touchstones for French-speaking Canadians include Canadian beer, promoted through advertising by brands such as Molson and Labatt, and a love for ice hockey.