Canadian Myths

The American Flag on the 2 or 10 dollar bill

Many people seem to think that either the two dollar or ten dollar bills made in the 1989 "Bird" Series has the American Flag in it.

The two dollar bill is simply the Canadian flag, and is a false alarm. But, if you have a copy of the ten dollar bill and look very closely at the flag over the Parlimant Buildings you will see a patch in the upper left hand side, and this, combined with the pattern on the rest of the flag, looks like the American flag.

The flag is, in fact, the Canadian Ensign, the patch in the upper left is the Union Jack, and the stripe effect is caused by shading and scaling. If you look carefully, you can see a crest in the bottom right of the flag.

• Flag Rumour - Canadian Paper Money
• Government of Canada's National Flag

Origins of Basketball

There has been a long running debate as to the invention of basketball. Many Canadian websites and Canadian heritage TV spots claim that basketball is a Canadian invention. Meanwhile, there's no shortage of claims that basketball is an all-American sport. As it turns out, both sides are wrong.

Basketball was created by James Naismith, a Canadian, while working in Springfield, Massachusetts. And while the first game took place in the United States, no less than 10 of the players of the first basketball game where from Quebec. It seems that basketball was part of both countries heritage.

• History of Basketball - NBA

Origins of the Telephone

A common myth, especially among Canadians, is that the telephone was invented in Canada. Again, this is only half true. Alexander Graham Bell was an educated Scotsman, who moved to Canada with his family. He later immigrated to the United States. Much of his work was done in both Canada and the United States. However, the idea of the telephone was "conceived" by him when visiting his father in Brampton, Ontario. The actual development of the first telephone was carried out in the United States.

Another myth is that the first telephone call was to Canada, which seems to be untrue.

• Alexander Graham Bell - Britannia Biographies
• Alexander Graham Bell - Answers.com
• Alexander Graham Bell - Wikipeida

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