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On toques, bacon and the best sport on earth: we are Canadian, eh?

(Thinkstock)

Oh Canada, you are a hockey-loving, maple syrup-swilling, toque-wearing cliché. And you love it.

A new poll says 64 per cent of Canadians have seen a beaver in the wild, 60 per cent a moose, 59 per cent a loon and 55 per cent a bear.

The Historica Canada survey found that six in 10 Canadian are hockey fans – 18 per cent proclaiming it the greatest sport on earth.

Seventy-three per cent of more than 1,000 Canadians surveyed across the country have been in a canoe and 65 per cent on a snowmobile, according to the survey conducted by pollster Ipsos Reid for Historica Canada, the independent charitable organization best known for its Heritage Minutes ads.

Half of those surveyed said the toque is the most Canadian item of clothing, followed by the plaid shirt (18 per cent) and the parka (17 per cent).

It was evident that the survey took place in summer, since just five per cent considered longjohns the most iconic of Canuck duds.

Celine Dion topped the list of Canadian crooners we’re most proud of, thanks to her overwhelming support in Quebec.

Dion dominated with 38 per cent of votes, followed by the Tragically Hip (14 per cent) and the band everybody loves to hate, Nickelback (11 per cent). Blue Rodeo was favoured with nine per cent, Drake had six, and Justin Bieber just two.

Grammar teachers gird yourselves. The much-maligned “eh” is, indeed, ubiquitous.

One in four Canadians admit – anonymously – that they use it every day. Half of those surveyed say they use it occasionally and one in 10 admit they use it when they’re talking to Americans.

Nineteen per cent “claim it never crosses their lips,” says Historica. They are probably lying.

The poll proves once again the refined nature of the northern palate. Canadian bacon is best for more than one in three surveyed, though it’s the top nosh for almost six in 10 Albertans.

But not all Canadian clichés ring so true.

Contrary to common belief outside our borders, only 16 per cent of Canadians have ever been inside an igloo and just 12 per cent have been dogsledding.

Sixteen per cent say they have never seen a beaver, bear, moose or loon and one in 10 Canadians admitted that they were “sick to death of hearing about hockey all the time.”

The surveys of 1,005 members of Ipsos’ online panel took place from June 12-15. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

According to the poll, 71 per cent of Canadians will mark Canada Day this year, which begs the question: What’s with the other 29 per cent, eh?