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What is the favorite time of day for Canadians?

Not sure how hard this will be...

Hint 1: Happens twice a day. To the minute.

Hint 2: Think digital clocks.

Hint 3: If you don't believe me, consider 1996.

NEW:

Hint 4: Technically, it is something that almost happened in 1996.

More Hint(s):

Hint 5: Something was almost re-named in 1996.

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    $\begingroup$ From personal experience, the answer is beer o'clock. $\endgroup$
    – Ian MacDonald
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 14:43
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    $\begingroup$ Nah, it's beer thirty $\endgroup$
    – Neon612
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 14:54
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    $\begingroup$ every single time happens twice a day if you consider 12 hour clocks. none does, if you consider 24 hour clocks $\endgroup$
    – njzk2
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 15:22
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    $\begingroup$ but all times happen twice a day, so the hint is not really hinting, unless I am missing something $\endgroup$
    – njzk2
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 16:43
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    $\begingroup$ 2:23 PM does not happen twice a day. Nor does 14:35. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 16:59

8 Answers 8

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Edit:

My new answer is:

8:08 (Bob)

because

In 1996, after the Northwest Territories split off from Nunavut, there was discussion about changing the name of the territory. One of the suggestions for renaming the territory was "Bob," and the suggestion gained widespread public support. In the end, the Northwest Territories kept its name.

Previous answer (incorrect):

1:16

Because

In 1995, Quebec voted for independence from Canada. The results were (according to Wikipedia) 49.42 For, 50.58 against. 50.58 - 49.42 = 1.16, hence 1:16. It occurs twice a day on a digital clock if you discount the AM/PM.

Although,

In my experience as an expat living in Canada, people tend to use 24 hour time fairly frequently here, so I have a nagging suspicion that the twice a day thing hints at something else.

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  • $\begingroup$ Nice try. The twice a day thing just means the number shows up twice a day on 12 hour time. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 15:07
  • $\begingroup$ I guess you got it. The newer edit was just a clean up. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 18:03
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    $\begingroup$ ok, but how is that a "favorite time"? $\endgroup$
    – njzk2
    Commented Jul 6, 2016 at 1:56
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    $\begingroup$ So it's a "Boaty McBoatface" kind of thing...? $\endgroup$
    – Paul Ellery
    Commented Jul 6, 2016 at 8:02
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    $\begingroup$ @MorganG yes. Time. But "favorite", that's a stretch. $\endgroup$
    – njzk2
    Commented Jul 6, 2016 at 14:06
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Can it be

8:08?

Because it resembles an

ice hockey field
enter image description here

Not sure how it fits the twice a day though

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    $\begingroup$ The time 8:08 occurs twice a day - AM & PM. $\endgroup$
    – Mithical
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 13:44
  • $\begingroup$ @Mithrandir Thought about that, but on my digital clock it shows differently for PM. And each minute is like that, so that hint is not very helpfull. $\endgroup$
    – Mathias711
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 13:45
  • $\begingroup$ It rules out 24 hour clock times. $\endgroup$
    – Mithical
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 13:47
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    $\begingroup$ 8:08 could be read as BOB... so maybe we're looking for a similar 3 or 4 letter word that we could write on a digital clock... that's related to Canada? Not sure where 1996 comes in though $\endgroup$
    – Paul Ellery
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 16:21
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    $\begingroup$ Paul is so warm the rink is starting to melt. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 17:00
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Canadians reputedly say 'eh' a lot, which on an old digital clock (or my casio calculator) looks like 43 upside-down.

At the risk of generalising, they also like to say two-four.

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    $\begingroup$ Or here in BC 4:20 $\endgroup$
    – gtwebb
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 15:55
  • $\begingroup$ I thought that was confined to the less salubrious parts of Vancouver. hadn't appreciated that it was province-wide $\endgroup$
    – Strawberry
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 15:58
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The time is

8:08

Because

It could be interpreted as "BOB", one of the proposed new names for the Northwest Territories (a campaign that was underway in 1996).

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  • $\begingroup$ Got it! But Paul probably deserves an assist. Good job! $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 17:31
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    $\begingroup$ Looks like he was pretty close, yeah. I didn't read any of the comments, actually. $\endgroup$
    – Ian MacDonald
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 17:36
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    $\begingroup$ Technically I did provide the correct answer 5 minutes before Ian did $\endgroup$
    – Morgan G
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 17:37
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    $\begingroup$ @Jiminion, no the mouseover for the revision history shows that Morgan had the correct answer 5 minutes before me. The answer was edited again to clean up some of the text after I had answered. $\endgroup$
    – Ian MacDonald
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 19:03
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    $\begingroup$ @Strawberry: Essentially, this was the "Boaty McBoatface" of 1996, but with the name of a whole province instead of a research vessel. It's an entertaining factoid, but I agree that "favourite" is a stretch. $\endgroup$
    – Ian MacDonald
    Commented Jul 6, 2016 at 13:39
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There's always

7:01, which is Canada Day (July 1 = 7/01).

However, in 1996,

The Winnipeg Jets officially became the Phoenix Coyotes on July 1, which would disqualify it as a "favorite" day/time for myself and anyone else who grew up in Winnipeg.

So I don't think this is correct.

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  • $\begingroup$ Interesting answer! Sorry about the loss of the Jets. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 14:19
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    $\begingroup$ It's OK — another team moved to Winnipeg 3–4 years ago and started playing under the "Jets" name, so that wound is healed somewhat. :-) $\endgroup$
    – Michael Seifert
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 14:56
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Could it be :

02:15 AM/PM

Explainations :

Looking at what happened in 1996 in Canada, I found about National Flag of Canada Day. This event occured on February 15th, hence my answer. As for the twice a day, a digital clock would display this time twice (AM/PM).

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  • $\begingroup$ Not quite. But a good answer. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 14:51
  • $\begingroup$ You're looking for something that nearly happened, and why would that be their favourite time? $\endgroup$
    – Strawberry
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 22:07
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In 1996, Reform Party PM Stephen Harper, the same politician who later became Canada's Prime Minister, introduced a private member's bill to have Canada Day (July 1st) renamed back to Dominion Day, which is what it had been called until 1982. The bill was defeated. If the bill had passed, then the day would have been renamed; thus Canada Day was almost renamed in 1996.

Thus:

Since July 1st is, numerically, 7-1, maybe our favorite time is 7:01?

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  • $\begingroup$ Happy belated Canada Day! I remember your coinage all changed for a year in 1967. I especially remember the fish on the dime. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 7, 2016 at 13:54
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May be it is:

11:11

because

With 22:22, it is the time of the day when the same digit appears 4 times on a digital clock.
But it' probably not the answer: I have no clues about 1996, or Canadians' favorite time of day.

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  • $\begingroup$ Interesting answer. No the right one, though. $\endgroup$
    – Jiminion
    Commented Jul 5, 2016 at 13:49

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