I share this sentiment. While it is not overtly offensive, the fact that it is so overused in foreign media makes it difficult for anybody to disserne what it really sound like if they never really met a Canadian. Almost as if they are afraid of culture shocking Americans by saying we actually do not speak that way. XDSoviet Heavy said:Any time somebody tries to speak like a Canadian, I want to punch them. We don't all sound like that! A lot of our speech patterns are local, or influenced by whoever settled the region we were born in. For example, my speech style is technically known as Ottawa Valley Twang. Heavy Irish influence, but also incorporating Polish and Scottish accents as well, depending on what part of the valley you live in. (Wilno is the oldest Polish settlement in the country for example.)
And we don't sound like anybody from the city or from the other provinces.
I mean, it is very obvious to us when someone tries to speak like a Canadian, but we have such diverse accents that some people can't pick up on them. Take Mass Effect for example. MaleShep and FemShep are both voiced by Canadians, but a lot of Americans I know never picked up on it. Listen in particular to words like "route" or "roof" to catch the accent.
I'm am personally from south central Saskatchewan and accents are almost none existant but something I have come to learn from a few foreign people is that I personally inherit a tiny Irish flavour to my voice. Minus any Irish terminologies or figure of speeches. ^^;
But on the other hand like you said our accents are extremely varied. Even though it is hard to hear it there are distinct differences in the accents of someone from Northern and Southern Saskatchewan that are not present in other provinces.