Ah, Canada. The land of politeness, poutine, and apparently perfectly timed political drama. If you’ve been paying attention over the last month, you know it’s been a real doozy for us Canucks. First, Mark Carney, the economist-turned-political-messiah, officially stepped onto the national stage. Then, Mother Nature decided to remind us who’s boss with a wild mix of warm spells, deep freezes, and sudden dumps of snow. And finally, as if the week wasn’t Canadian enough, we got a new rallying cry: Elbows Up!

Mark Carney’s entry into federal politics has been long expected, but still managed to cause a stir. Here’s a guy who made central banking look—well, not exciting, exactly, but at least important enough that people pretended to care. He kept Canada’s economy steady through the 2008 financial crisis, under the Harper government, jetted off to the UK to help them through Brexit, and now he’s back, seemingly ready to steer this country through whatever economic storm comes next. He’s got the calm, measured tone of a man who has witnessed financial meltdowns up close, and the kind of charisma that makes fiscal policy sound almost appealing; but politics is a different beast altogether. Managing currency fluctuations is one thing—handling Question Period is another. I wasn’t really looking forward to yet another grey-haired white guy leading the country, but we’ll see if Canada buys what he’s selling. For now, we know Mark Carney is officially in charge of the Liberals, and almost the new Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the weather has been reminding Canadians why March is the cruelest month. The classic fake spring arrived in full force, tricking people into putting their winter boots away—only for reality to come slamming back with an ice storm, a deep freeze, or a snow dump, depending on where you live. Ottawa, as always, seemed to be experiencing three different seasons at once, with the added insult of a wind chill so sharp it felt personal. And yet, like every year, we go through the same ritual; the brief moment of hope, the inevitable betrayal, and then the begrudging acceptance that we are, in fact, still in Canada.

And then there’s Elbows Up. What started as a phrase to describe Connor Bedard’s determined return to hockey after a brutal injury has quickly taken on a life of its own. There’s something deeply Canadian about it—it’s tough, practical, and just a little bit scrappy. It’s the perfect metaphor for how we handle everything. Snowstorm? Elbows up. Hockey fight? Elbows up. Trying to squeeze past someone in a Tim Hortons without knocking over their double-double? Elbows up—politely, of course.

It’s a reminder that we don’t back down easily in this country. We don’t go looking for trouble, but if it comes, we brace ourselves and push through—sometimes with a bit of force, but always with the unspoken agreement that we’ll say sorry afterward. So whether you’re trying to navigate Carney’s political future, survive the next swing in temperature, or just make it through the day without slipping on the ice, one thing is clear; keep your elbows up, Canada. It’s what we do best.

And not one mention of the Pumpkin Spice Palpatine!