Mariposa is a fictional town created by the author and humourist-Stephen Leacock in 1912. He came to the Orillia area from England when he was 6. When he wrote "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town", he wrote about the ideal, charming community of small town life. It was patterned after Orillia. There are many sites to read about but this one seems to serve the purpose:
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/leacock/little.htm
As far as the Quebec/French - Canada/English thing - that's been going on since the 1800's. It started up again big time in the 70's and again about 8-10 years ago. Some French people in Quebec want to separate from Canada because they feel they are treated as second class citizens. This is in large part because the rest of the country does not speak French. The only province that is officially bilingual is New Brunswick. Quebec has "language police" that ensure that any signs etc. have the French words larger than the English and people are fined if they do not comply. French is the language in schools and there isn't much of a choice about it like here in Ontario and the rest of the country. They want to "leave" but still want use of our money, our military, our government etc.!
That would be the central core reason for the trouble I believe. I have listened to it for so long I have turned a deaf ear and don't really give a rat's ass if they go to the moon! Canada is not a melting pot like the States. Immigrants don't""assimilate" into Canadian culture. Immigrants come to Canada and continue on their customs,culture,language,religion etc. We are a "Mosaic" of people. We don't want to offend anyone. My grandparents were immigrants 70 years ago and when they hit the shores of Canada they bent down and kissed the ground for the opportunity to live here. They worked hard, learned English and never, ever expected Canada to bow to their whims. Now it's completely different. We have changed the lyrics in our anthem, changed our Mounted Police/Metro Police uniforms to conform to other religions that dictate turbans must be worn, etc. I know if I went to some of these countries and wanted to Canadianize their culture I'd have my butt back home pretty fast. It seems there is no acknowledgement that Canadians (even tho we initially were all immigrants) have a history and it needs to be respected. Not changed and thrown out because some people find it doesn't fit with their lives. If life was so terrible where you came from why do you want it to be the same here in Canada?
Helping people and learning about their cultures makes us all better people but when it is taken to court and laws are changed etc. I have to shake my head and wonder. The States is more demanding of the immigrants generally - come here, be who you are but damn it, you are in America now! I like it - we even heave people in other provinces being prouder of their provincial heritage than their Canadian heritage! I am a Canadian first, then I am from Ontario, then I am from Toronto. When I travel I always say I am from Canada first.
The folks in Quebec can hit the road - they will never have it as good! It's sad because it is a beautiful province and a lot of people are not for this separation stuff at all. It must be very hard on them to live there and see the hatred and strife.
A bit of a rant, but hey, you asked eh???
LOL
CHAR