Book excerpt: A hilarious all-Canadian collection of misfires, left turns, general numbskullery . . . and startling victories! Where else but Canada would you find a town that turns its main street into a giant tubing run? Or witness a Mission Impossible-style heist where the thief drops down through the ceiling and makes off with thousands of dollars worth of hockey sticks? Not to mention the slippery - or was that sticky? - bandits who stole 9,000 barrels of maple syrup. And where else would giant perogies, mosquitoes and T. Rexes dot the roadside landscape, or a bank robber be praised for his polite and well-written hold-up notes? It all makes perfect sense, really. Being Canadian means responding uniquely to a unique environment. And it's our - sometimes highly questionable - "good ideas" that makes us who we are! In an engaging, hilarious and always fascinating exploration of geography, history, wildlife, science, culture, food, art . . . and giant roadside attractions - this is our nation at its most jaw-droppingly unusual and innovative. Yes, we can poke fun at ourselves, but readers will also walk away understanding there is so much to celebrate about what it means to be Canadian.