The Great White North

Abigail was the penultimate boss of Final Fight before appearing in Street Fighter V. The hulking enforcer of the Mad Gear Gang is the largest character in the Street Fighter franchise, and he even makes guys like Zangief and Hugo look small by comparison. Abigail is dim-witted and childish, but he makes up for it with brute strength. Who needs intelligence when you’re eight feet tall? The Street Fighter series features contestants from around the globe, but Abigail is the first (and only) Canadian-born fighter on the roster. He apparently left his homeland to build a reputation in the streets of Metro City, however, and he’s much louder and more violent than typical Canadians are. He may not be Canada’s best representative, but Abigail shows his love for his country by cutting his hair into the shape of a maple leaf.

Although Canada is viewed as one of the most peaceful countries in the world, they are no stranger to war. The Canadian Armed Forces have had a constant and visible role in international conflicts, so it seems fitting to mention someone like Frost on this list. Tina “Frost” Lin Tsang grew up in Vancouver and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force when she turned 18. After completing her officer training, she was eventually invited to join an elite special operations force. Focused and meticulous, Frost plans out every move she makes and comes equipped with mechanical traps that can be used to incapacitate the enemies she encounters in Hudson Bay. Her weather-themed name wasn’t exactly subtle, but her use of glorified bear traps almost feels like a parody. I’m surprised they didn’t arm her with hockey sticks!

Humble, apologetic, and selfless, Maxima was a Canadian soldier who embodied the best Canadian archetypes. The somber hero led a relatively normal life until one of his brothers-in-arms was killed in an incident involving a criminal syndicate. In an effort to avenge his friend, Maxima had his body cybernetically modified so he could infiltrate the cartel without being recognized. His cybernetic enhancements increased his strength and reaction time to superhuman levels, and he had numerous built-in weapons that were powered by a miniaturized nuclear reactor. Turning yourself into Iron Man doesn’t exactly scream “low key” to me, but Maxima’s mission was a success and he even managed to convince others to leave the organization. Maxima is one of the most honorable character on this list, and he brings variety to The King of Fighters.

Like many others, Jean Bison traveled across Canada in search of wealth in during the Gold Rush of 1852. Unfortunately, he pushed his luck too far while he was mining and was caught in an avalanche. He was buried in deep snow and frozen in a block of ice, but he somehow survived for over a century. Eventually, he was thawed out due to the affects of global warming. Without skipping a beat, he picked up where he left off and began taming the White North by chopping down every tree in sight. His immense strength made him a perfect lumberjack, but his 19th-century thinking had no place in the modern era. He had no respect for conservation – which is ironic given the plight of bison herds across the North American plains. If nothing else, Jean Bison is a product of his time and serves as a reminder of how far society has progressed.

Legends of abominable snowmen are prevalent among indigenous people all around the globe. There have been hundreds of sightings in North America, and the creatures have become a facet of folklore and a staple of pop culture. In the Darkstalkers universe, Sasquatch is a noble and strong-willed creature who lives with his Bigfoot tribe in the Canadian Rockies. His village relies on fish as a primary source of food, but they’re also known for their love of bananas. Canada is known for its cold climate, and there’s no one better to represent this concept than a massive snow beast. On that note, Sasquatch has the uncanny ability to weaponize the weather, and his attacks often leave his opponents encased in ice. I’d rank Sasquatch higher on this list, but I somehow doubt he identifies as a Canadian citizen.

Canada has been on the forefront of the snowboarding scene since its inception in the 1960s, and the country’s climate and geography is well-suited for the sport. SSX is synonymous with snowboarding in the gaming world, and Elise Riggs is one of the mainstays of the series. Dangerous, daring, and stunningly beautiful, Elise has the presence of a supermodel and the drive of a world-class athlete. Her love of the outdoors makes her a force to be reckoned with on the mountain, and her competitive spirit helps her succeed in the business world as well. She pulls double duty as a model and a snowboarder, and she still found the time to launch a multi-billion dollar empire. Canada is a vast country with an eclectic populace, so it’s fitting that Elise is constantly looking for ways to reinvent herself.

Wolf Hawkfield is a quiet and gentle man who is deeply connected with nature. Despite his docile tendencies, he will not back down from a battle if he is provoked. Wolf spent most of his life as a hunter in the Canadian wilderness before being discovered by a pro wrestling promoter. His incredible strength and unbridled enthusiasm made him an instant star in the squared circle, but he left the wrestling circuit because he was dissatisfied by the level of competition. He would eventually find worthy opponents when he entered the “World Fighting Tournament.” Wolf competed in several of these tournaments, but was never able to win. He was obviously filled with a fighting spirit, and few participants could match his exuberance. After returning home, Wolf kept himself busy by dominating the underground fighting world.

Candy Cane is a professional wrestler who labels herself a misfit and an outcast. Although she seems to epitomize the “bad girl” stereotype, she’s sweeter than maple syrup. In fact, the only reason why she entered the “Rumble Roses” wrestling tournament was so she could win enough money to save the orphanage where she was raised. Despite her good intentions, Candy Cane still acts like an archetypal delinquent. She has a bad attitude, she dresses like a whore, and she’ll use any trick in the book to beat her opponents in the ring. When she’s not busy in the squared circle, Candy Cane is the lead vocalist in an all-girl rock band. (Incidentally, she thinks guys are all “pervs” and doesn’t waste her time with them.) Her alter-ego is eager to make friends, but Candy Cane exemplifies the spirit of independence.

Raquna Sheldon is an easygoing paladin of noble birth who lives in a place called Ontario in the far north. I know what you’re all thinking. Etrian Odyssey is a fantasy RPG. Surely, the game isn’t making reference to a real-world Canadian province, right? Let’s examine the evidence. Raquna speaks with a stereotypical Canadian accent (she even uses the word “eh”), she drinks like a sailor, and she has a fondness for maple syrup. Even her voice actress is Canadian! If things were any more blatant, she’d be attending bonspiels and downing double-doubles from Timmies. It’s entirely possible that the Ontario from the game and the Ontario in real life are one in the same. At the very least, Raquna can be described as an amalgamation of Canadian tropes. In either case, she fits the mold quite well.

Bear Hugger is the first person I thought of when I started making this list. He’s one of the first Canadian characters in gaming history – the arcade version of Super Punch-Out!! was released in 1984 – and he’s basically a walking Canadian stereotype. The massive lumberjack from British Columbia drinks maple syrup, he loves hockey, and he frequently uses the word “eh.” He also wears toques, wrestles bears, and hangs around with squirrels. Although he looks wild and untamed, Bear Hugger has a sensitive side too. He can hit you hard enough to make you see the Northern Lights, but he’ll shed tears if he’s separated from his animal buddies. You can debate whether or not Bear Hugger deserves the top spot on this list, but he’s more wild than Sasquatch, he’s stronger than Wolf, and he has bigger tits than Candy Cane. Hat trick!