the beginning of the long dash

How do you tell a Canadian from an American? Accents may be deceptive but just
ask them to complete the following sentence: the beginning of the long dash...

This is a phrase that has been part of the canadian lexicon, the canadian psyche, perhaps, since the thirties. It is repeated daily on the national radio service (CBC, radio 1) daily, at 12:59pm eastern. It is the most pervasive and persistent demonstration of the work of research, and the National Research Council. It potentially does more for national unity than the railway once did - in its quiet, semaphoric way.

Sharon Theesen, in the late 80's wrote a collection of poems entitled the beginning of the long dash. it should have won the governor general's medal that year (it was nominated) for the title alone. it strikes a chord.

There's something particular about an event that happens everywhere at the same time each day in such a vast country, its people spread so far apart, as a nation synchronizes watches to the following (any canadians out there, feel free to chant along...)

Now for the National Research Council Official Time Signal. The beginning of the long dash, following ten seconds of silence, indicates exactly one o'clock" (EST).

peep peep peep peep peep &nbsp&nbsp &nbsp&nbsp &nbsp&nbsp &nbsp&nbsp

peeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Are there culturally identifying nation-based events like this where you are?