The Chicago Tribune says poutine has become popular in Chicago restaurants.Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail
Chicago, it seems, has a crush on Canada.
In a love letter to its northern neighbour, the Chicago Tribune ran an editorial on "Canada's ascension to the ranks of Chicago cool."
"Boring, eager-to-please Canada is taking Chicago by storm – in a nice way, of course," says the piece, which appeared earlier this week.
Among a long list of plaudits, the piece mentions the popularity of poutine in trendy Chicago restaurants, the hiring of former Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman to lead the Chicago Bears and the more stable Canadian economy.
"Often ignored and taken for granted, Canada is on a roll. From the U.S. point of view, the tail is wagging the dog in North America, and that's not so bad. The economic activity helps both countries," the editorial says. "The key to Canada's success has been avoiding some of the worst mistakes made by its neighbour to the south."
Other reasons Chicago admires Canada:
- Our banks are stable.
- The housing market “never went pop.”
- Debt and spending have been kept at more reasonable levels.
- The “gold-rush-style energy boom.”
- The loonie trades at par with the U.S. dollar.
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s “ambitious trade agenda.” (However, the editorial notes that many Americans have never heard of him).
- Half of the Chicago Blackhawks are Canadian.
- “Land of the north, Chicago is calling to you,” the piece concludes. “Calling your sesame bagels, smoked meat and Tim Hortons double-doubles. Calling your low rates of gun crime, and universal health care. Calling your oil, especially your oil. We hope some of that Canadian good fortune rubs off on our city.”
Jill Mahoney