In conversations about hockey, the passion for the sport among Western Canadians doesn't stop with words.

The prairie grain elevator is an icon that continues to disappear from Western Canadian's horizon.

For years, the Isles have been stereotyped, not without foundation, as a collection of Western Canadians from the same mold.

Those are fighting words and reflect the deep feelings of chagrin among western Canadians, who normally look kindly on the United States.

As a western Canadian who has been in Montreal for 20 years, I consider myself a neutral observer of the Quebec scene.

Many older western Canadians remember fondly Woodward's famous "$1.49 Day" sales, held the first Tuesday of every month.

In a demographic shift that spells a loss of rural access to government tax money and political influence, the majority of western Canadians now live in cities.

Western Canadians turned their support to the Reform Party of Canada and later to its successor, the Canadian Alliance.

Because of this uneven population distribution, Western Canadians are less represented in both the House of Commons and the Senate.

Many Western Canadians then called for a "Triple-E Senate", standing for "elected, equal, and effective".