12 Reminders Of Canada's Greatness During These Dark Rob Ford Days

Canada's Jayna Hefford (16) and Gillian Apps (10) celebrate after Canada beat USA 2-0 to win the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

It's a super weird time to be Canadian. Toronto's crack-smoking mayor seems to have single-handedly reshaped the world's concept of our country and undermined the point of stitching Canadian flags on our backpacks.

Prepare for unsolicited Rob Ford crack chat, travellers.

Canucks, we can't let the circus of bad (albeit sometimes hilarious) press surrounding this troublemaker define our Canadian-ness and sully our country's good name.

There was a time when it was unfathomable that an elected official — let alone the mayor of Canada's largest city — would talk into a hot mic about cunnilingus. Those days are gone.

Our moment of redemption — the 2014 winter games — is months away, and in the meantime we need a few reminders of Canada's greatness that no crack-smoking mayor can torch.

Let's get one thing straight...

Rob Ford..

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The last threads of our wholesome Canadian reputation that is. But let's take a step back and put things into perspective and remember...

1. WE ARE A NATION THAT DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE CHOCOLATE TREATS

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America, you do. Because Kinder Surprise toys outrank guns on the scale of all things dangerous.

2. NEIL YOUNG. 'NUFF SAID

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"Some get stoned, some get strange, but sooner or later it all gets real." Listen to Neil Young, Rob Ford. He is wise.

3. THIS PHOTO OF LEONARD COHEN AND JONI MITCHELL

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So much Canadian pride right now. Remember that feeling? Here's a another patriot to be proud of...

4. THIS MAN AND ALL THE CANADIAN INTEREST HE SPARKED IN THE WORLD (THE GOOD KIND)

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Chris Hadfield, everyone. Canada's gentleman in space. First class officer in epic Canadian moustaches.

5. OUR RICH HERITAGE OF CANADIAN COMEDY

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Red Green > Rob Ford. We are a nation that perfected self-deprecating humour: "The Red Green Show," "SCTV," "Kids In The Hall." We're also a country with reputable marijuana to inspire Seth Rogen and these guys...

9. "TRAILER PARK BOYS." NEW SEASON COMING

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APPRECIATE.

7. OUR CANADIAN PRAGMATISM

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Science! (For the most part)

8. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS GUY

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HOORAY!

10. OUR BEER ROCKS. Y'HEAR THAT AMERICA?

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Because when you build your beerputation relying on sexy people to sell your brew, it’s probably crap.

11. THIS VANCOUVER 2010 MOMENT

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This ephemeral patriotic moment was brought by Team Canada's gold medal game. Everyone high-fiving everyone. So many smiles. So many maple leafs and gold-themed meal deals. It marked the goddamn height of our Canadian pride in our recent history. Which brings us to...

12. THIS