Happy 150th Birthday Canada - People

I am Canadian Rant by Joe - Molson Canadian Commercial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMxGVfk09lU

The people of Canada are a diverse bunch. We are unique and diverse yet we are similar. We come from everywhere and we come from here. The first nations people were here long before Canada became a country, long before the Europeans and settlers claimed the land for their own. But there is room for everyone. 

The Canadians I list here are just a sample of the Canadians who I think help make Canada great. 

1. Lester B. Pearson: A diplomat, soldier and 14th Prime Minister of Canada, he reflected the values of the Canada I love today. It was his vision that a world could exist with peace instead of conflict. He proposed a peacekeeping mission to resolve the Suez Crisis in 1956. It was successful and Canada has been known for peacekeeping ever since. During his tenure as Prime Minister he instituted the Canada Pension Plan, Universal Health Care, and our flag is what it is today because he saw a need for Canadians to be distinguished from the red ensign of the British Empire.

2. Terry Fox: It was 1977 when athletic 18 year old Terry Fox went to the doctor complaining of knee pain. Four days later with a diagnosis of Osteogenic Sarcoma (bone cancer) his right leg was amputated 6 inches above his knee. His survival rate was 50%, just 2 years earlier it would have been 15%, he immediately recognized the profound effect that research could have. 

After several years of training, on April 12, 1980, Terry Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and began his Marathon of Hope. He wanted to raise $1 for every Canadian to go to cancer research as he ran a marathon a day (42km/26m) each and every day as he made his way across the country. After going through 6 provinces in 143 days and  half-skip/running 5,373 km (3,339 m) Terry was forced to stop just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario on September 1 1980, when his cancer had returned, this time to attack his lungs.
Terry didn't finish his Marathon, but his dream was realized. The national population was 24.1 million, and by February 1981 he had raised $24.17 million. By 2014 that figured had reached $650 million and it is still growing. The odds of survival are up to 80% and amputation is rare. The work continues around the globe!

Terry Fox passed away on June 28, 1981 just one month shy of his 23rd birthday. He made a difference in the life of everyone fighting cancer, including my brother, with his Marathon on HOPE!

3. Leslie Nielsen: "Don't call me Shirley." I can't think of that line without smiling! It came from the Airplane! movie (1980), the beginning of several spoof movies that Leslie began doing that catapulted his career on the Hollywood stage.

Leslie Nielsen

Born in 1926 in Regina Saskatchewan, Leslie had careers in the Royal Canadian Air Force, as a deejay, and as a dramatic actor on both the small and big screen. He was 54 when he reinvented himself as a comedic actor and he never looked back. A mere 6 episodes of Police Squad became a cult favourite and led to the Naked Gun series of movies. Leslie was legally deaf and wore hearing aids most of his life.

Leslie Nielsen died in 2010 leaving a legacy of more than 200 television and film roles for us to enjoy for years to come. Leslie was legally deaf and wore hearing aids most of his life. He was known as a practical joker on and off set. To that end, he carried a portable fart machine with him, as an homage to that (his favourite prank) his epitaph reads "Let 'er rip".

John Candy

4. John Candy: Born in Toronto in 1950, John Candy was first and foremost a comedian. He was studying journalism and acting when he got the opportunity to join the Second City troupe in Chicago. He returned to Toronto to help launch SCTV where he created many memorable characters and won awards for his writing. Most of his film roles tended to be that of the comedic relief, and second banana. He made those characters memorable. He did have starring roles as well including a rare opportunity for a dramatic role in Only the Lonely which showcased his softer side. 
An avid sports fan, John Candy co-owned the Toronto Argonauts football team. He also owned a chain of restaurants with fellow funny men Dan Akyroyd and Jim Belushi called House of Blues (the three all starred in the Blues Brothers movie also). 
John Candy passed away at the age of 43 while on the set of the movie Wagons East. 

SCTV cast - early years

5. SCTV: Out of Second City TV came many famous Canadian comedians. So although this isn't a specific person I am going to take this opportunity to recognize some of this amazing talent under one heading. 
SCTV ran from 1976 to 1984 and focused on improvisational sketch comedy. It was universe essentially created by the stars as a place to showcase the many comedic alter-egos they had individually developed to entertain others and each other. SCTV was a fictional station set in Melonville, zany characters would broadcast the news, parody movies, perform commercials and make us laugh while doing it. 
Canadians John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas rose from the ranks of Second City comedy clubs  as well as being founding members and creators. Fellow countrymen Rick Moranis and Martin Short would be added in subsequent years. Born in the United States, Andrea Martin, Harold Ramis and Joe Flaherty (veterans of Second City Chicago) all found their fame with SCTV as well.

Paul Gross as
Constable Benton Fraser

6. Paul Gross: Actor, director, author, producer, screenwriter, singer and songwriter. His talent knows no bounds - except for math. Paul Gross is most recognized for his 6 year run (starting in 1994) as Constable Benton Fraser of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Due South. Interestingly, Gross has been denied roles because he is too handsome and been offered roles that he felt were intellectually beneath him. Beauty and brains in one solid package. 
He solved this by focusing on writing and producing his own projects. First there was Men With Brooms in 2002. From 2003-2006 his focus was on Slings and Arrows. He wrote Passchendaele, then directed, produced and starred in the movie version (2008). In 2015, Hyena Road hit the big screen. Paul wrote, produced, directed and starred in this war flick as well.
Of course there were many side projects as well, including the lesser known stint as singer and songwriter. He released 2 studio albums and they are both really good. I met Paul once and he was genuinely surprised that anyone remembered or considered him a singer! 
My favourite Canadian movie is a little comedic parody of the American wild west called Gunless. Check it out for some laughs and great music! 

Mr Dressup, Casey & Finnegan
at the treehouse

7. Mr Dressup: Ernest Coombs who played Mr. Dressup for 30 years on Canadian television was actually an American citizen. He came up to Canada for the first time as an understudy of Fred Rogers to pitch an early version of Mr Rogers' Neighbourhood, a childrens' educational show to the CBC in 1963. Mr Rogers left to work for the PBS and Coombs stayed on to become Mr Dressup and in 1997 a Canadian citizen. He never left again. 
Mr Dressup was a staple for Canadian children growing up and we still remember his tickle trunk and the treehouse with fondness. His sidekicks were 2 puppets, Casey and Finnegan (a dog). Casey was a gender-neutral character and remained that way for the duration of the show. 

Viola Desmond

8. Viola Desmond: Viola Desmond is going to be the first woman pictured on Canadian money (the $10 bill) so it is important that we understand and remember who she was. Viola was a businesswoman who became a civil rights pioneer. She started with a salon that catered to black women and then moved on to opening a beauty school and launching a beauty products line. She happened to be a woman of colour. 
One day in 1946, Viola Desmond bought a ticket for a main floor seat at a movie theatre. She was sold the ticket despite the fact that it was an unwritten policy that black person were to sit in the balcony. Confronted by an usher she tried to pay the extra penny required to enable her to sit on the main floor. Refusing to sit in the balcony in the segregated theatre, she was arrested and spent the night in jail. She was fined $20 for tax evasion (the difference in the cost of the two seats). All of her subsequent attempts at righting the wrong fell on deaf ears. 
Viola Desmond died at the age of 50 in 1965. In 2010 she was granted a full pardon and issued an apology by the province of Nova Scotia. 

David Suzuki

9. David Suzuki: David Suzuki is a respected and passionate scientist, environmentalist, advocate and broadcaster who was born in 1936 in Vancouver, British Columbia. He pursued the love of science through higher education and eventually became a professor. Wanting to share his passion, he embarked on a broadcasting career. Starting in 1970 with a childrens' science show and then 1979 began hosting the Nature of Things which has been airing since 1960. David Suzuki has written over 50 books during his career. His foundation has the main focus of working with Canadians and all levels of government and businesses to conserve and preserve our environment through science based research and education. As stated in the vision statement, "we are all interconnected and interdependent with nature" (from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/)
The Blue Dot Project is asking Canadians to take action and join the "people across the country who want the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water and eat safe food legally recognized at all levels of government" (from http://bluedot.ca/).

Dr. Emily Stowe

10. Dr. Emily Stowe: Emily Stowe was born in 1831 and began a career as a school teacher until her husbands bought with tuberculosis prompted her to study medicine. Unable to enrol in Canadian schools, she graduated from New York college. She set up practice in Toronto in 1867 but was not legally licensed until 1880. Frustrated with the difficulty for women to enter the medical profession, she started the Woman's Medical College in Toronto in 1883 and the Canada's first suffrage group in 1889. Although she died before women were given the right to vote, she did help move the process along. 

Pierre Trudeau

11. Pierre Elliott Trudeau: The 15th Prime Minister of Canada, Trudeau was born in Montreal in 1919 and he held that title for nearly 16 years. He was charismatic and had a youthful vibe that resonated with the people in the 1960's. In his first year in office he reformed the divorce laws and liberalized the laws on abortion and homosexuality. His greatest accomplishments were the the fight to keep Quebec a part of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter effectively brought Canada into it's own from underneath the wing of Britain and the monarchy. Pierre was in power from 1968-1979 and again 1980-1984. He died in 2000 suffering from both Parkinsons and prostate cancer.

Justin Trudeau

12. Justin Pierre Trudeau: Pierre Trudeaus' oldest son Justin swept to power, becoming the second youngest Prime Minister of Canada in 2015. As charismatic as his father, Justin had a loyal following of a younger generation that had hope in real change when the junior Trudeau won the role of 23rd Prime Minister of Canada. He quickly appointed women to the roles in half his cabinet because "it's 2015". His cabinet is notable in the presence not only of women but also of minorities of every description - because they are the best for the roles, not to fill a mandate. 
No politician (or human) is perfect but there are good things to look forward to from the tenure of Justin Trudeau, starting with some real discussions and actions concerning the indigenous people of this land.

Margaret Atwood

13. Margaret Atwood: This prolific author, poet, critic, educator, feminist, inventor and social campaigner was born in 1939 in Ottawa, Ontario. Atwood began writing plays and poems at the age of 6 but never had regular schooling until two years after that. 
Her most famous work is The Handmaid's Tale which she calls speculative fiction rather than science fiction, because it could happen. It's not just imaginative. In 2004, Margaret had visions of a robotic pen that would allow her to remotely write in ink anywhere in the world via a tablet and the internet - it would allow her to conduct book tours around the world while never leaving home. She called it the LongPen. Still in use today, but primarily in the business market for signing contracts and legal documents. 
Politically active and not afraid to share her views. In her own words, "War is what happens when language fails" 

Dr. Norman Bethune

14. Dr. Norman Bethune: A Canadian physician and medical innovator, Bethune was born in 1890 and died at the age of 49. His forward thinking cured him of tuberculosis he contracted in 1926 but was unable to prevent his early demise from blood poisoning. 
There is no doubt that Norman Bethune was a thinker ahead of his time. He was a proponent of socialized medicine and to that end became a communist supporter. His commitment to the party took him first to Spain and then to China during WWII. During this time (1929-1936) Bethune invented or redesigned 12 medical and surgical instruments, he wrote more than a dozen articles describing his innovations in thoracic surgery.
Norman Bethune was a doctor and a surgeon for the people - not for just those that could pay. Almost unknown in his home country, he is considered a hero in China where he is commemorated with statues and medical buildings bearing his name. But his forward thinking and brilliance has helped us all. 

Tommy Douglas

15. Tommy Douglas: Tommy Douglas (1904-1986) was the premier of Saskatchewan, a Baptist minister, leader of the New Democratic Party and the father of socialized medicine in Canada. 
Tommy's family immigrated from Scotland to Winnipeg in 1910, but returned to Scotland before coming back to Canada for good in 1918. As an ordained minister, Tommy Douglas moved to Saskatchewan where he witnessed the hardship of drought and a failing economy. He came to know many families that simply could not afford medical care. He vowed to change this and embarked on a political career to see it through. In 1959 he unveils his Medicare Plan, ensuring every person in Saskatchewan has access to publicly administered health care. There was plenty of opposition at first but by 1962 it is implemented. Four years later the principles would become national policy for all Canadians.
Publically owned Saskatchewan power, insurance, legalization of unions, and the Saskatchewan bill of rights all came to be during Tommy Douglas' tenure as provincial premier. A visionary for sure, and aptly named "Greatest Canadian" during a 2004 TV show by online voters. 

Lucy Maud Montgomery

16. Lucy Maud Montgomery: Born in Clifton, PEI in 1874 in a house known as Green Gables. Montgomery spent almost her entire life writing, not necessarily for publication but in the form of journals and diaries. Actually she wrote more than 500 short stories, 20 novels plus 2 poetry compilations. When her mother died (she was 2), Lucy Maud found herself living with her maternal grandparents. Her father moved to Saskatchewan and although she tried to be with him, her heart was with the Island and she returned to Cavendish. She had a lot of extended relatives but was always lonesome and devoid of affection. Her characters became her friends.  
LM Montgomery (intentionally gender neutral) is best known for Anne of Green Gables which was her first novel. Originally rejected for publication it was pick up on re-submission 2 years later in 1907 and was an instant hit selling 19,000 copies in less than 6 months. Since then, more than 50 millions copies have been sold and been reproduced in more than 30 languages. The character Anne Shirley is an icon in Japan and required reading in school, thousands make the trek every year to the National Historic Site of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island. A musical based on the novel has been running on the Island for the past 50 years (a Guinness World Record for longest running musical).
Montgomery left the island when her minister husband had taken a position in Ontario (Leaksdale and then Norval). In death, Lucy Maud Montgomery returned to her island home, where she knew love. 

Louis Riel

17. Louis Riel: Born in 1844 in Red River Settlement (now Manitoba), he was hanged for treason on November 16, 1885 in Regina, Saskatchewan. Riel was the founding father of Manitoba and a Metis leader to his people. He led 2 separate rebellions against the European settlers in his attempt to preserve the rights and culture of the Metis and indigenous people. 
The intent of the Red River Rebellion in 1869 was to ensure a temporary government body was established to ensure the rights of the native people would not be ignored when the Canadian Government purchased Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company. During the rebellion, Riel's government arrested, convicted and executed Thomas Scott for threatening to murder Riel. The Rebellion came to an end when the province of Manitoba was created, fearing for his life Riel fled to the US.
By 1884 the Metis people had been pushed westward into Saskatchewan and were becoming increasingly concerned that the federal government had failed to protect their rights, their land and their very survival as a distinct people. With no clear title to their land, Riel was called in to try to mediate with the government. Riel began with peaceful agitation and drafting a petition outlining grievances. Canada's response was to send 500 soldiers. Two months of fighting ended with eventual surrender of Riel.
During his trial for treason, Louis Riel continued to defend the actions of the Metis people. He was none-the-less found guilty and was hanged at the North West Mounted Police barracks in Regina. Today he is recognized as a Father of Confederations, a defender of his people and pioneer in the protection of minority rights - a pioneer. 

Samuel Cunard

18. Samuel Cunard: By his 40's (1830's) Samuel Cunard had amassed a substantial personal fortune as a shipping magnate and businessman. He followed his father in the timber industry but had visions beyond lumber. He proposed a regular mail service between Liverpool, England and Halifax and Boston in the New World. Thus in 1839 the predecessor to the Cunard Line, The British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was born. Competition forced him to drop Halifax as the port of call in favour of New York City. But it started here. 
The Cunard Line is still prosperous today as over time the company absorbed many others such as the White Star Lines (owners of the Titanic) and owning such famous liners as RMS Queen Mary and is now a part of the Carnival Cruise Lines.

Cirque Du Soliel performers

19. Cirque du Soleil: Conceived in 1979 by 3 street-performing friends in suburbs of Quebec City, it was like no other circus out there. There were no animal acts and the show is theatrical and more of a story or live play with acts that stuns and amazes the audience. The performers are the stage hands and crew. 
With nothing more than an idea, co-founder Gilles Ste. Croix walked 56 miles (90km) to Quebec City as a publicity stunt to convince the Quebec government to help fund his project. It worked and Ste. Croix along with his partners Guy Laliberte and Daniel Gauthier used the money to create their first show Les Echassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul in 1980. 
From these modest beginnings, Cirque du Soliel has gone on to entertain more than 15 million people worldwide. They have released DVD's, CD's, a collection of clothing and accessories and an extension for Google Chrome to bring some of their imagination to browsing. The company has become a corporate citizen with its foundations set up to improve life for youth at risk and it's One Drop Foundation is dedicated to ensuring clean drinking water. 

Colonel Chris Hadfield

20. Chris Hadfield: Sarnia, Ontario in 1959 is the birthplace of this man who would the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station, someone to look up to (he spent a lot of time in space). Now retired, Colonel Hadfield has become an author, recording artist, teacher and public speaker.
It started at 10 years of age, the desire to go space, and to achieve his goals, Chris enrolled in the Air Cadets. He graduated to the Royal Canadian Air Force and became an experimental test pilot and flying over 70 different aircraft. His father was an Air Canada pilot and 2 of his brothers followed in those footsteps, Chris took a bigger leap.
In 1995 Chris left earth in his first rocket. The mission was to dock with the Mir and transfer over supplies to the cosmonauts. Hadfield became the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in orbit and the only Canadian to ever board Mir space station.
In 2001, Hadfield was part of the team that installed Canadaarm2. He performed 2 spacewalks which made him the first Canadian to leave a spacecraft and float freely in space. In fact he travelled 10 times around the world during his 14 hours, 50 minutes hanging around in space.
On December 19, 2012 Hadfield was launched aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, upon his arrival at the International Space Station, he became the first Canadian commander on March 13, 2013. He became a social media sensation, he shared pictures, songs, and stories and educational videos. He made people on earth feel a part of the journey. He posted the first ever video on YouTube shot in space, his rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity". After almost 100 million kms of travel, 146 days in space and 2,336 obits of the earth, Colonel Hadfield returned to earth on May 13, 2013. 

Other notable Canadians:
1. Chief Dan George: poet, actor, activist and Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
2. Don Cherry and Ron MacLean: sports commentators and icons of Hockey Night in Canada.
3. Group of Seven: Artists showcasing this country with a paintbrush
4. Mary Pickford: trailblazer for women during the silent film era
5. Greenpeace: Not a person but an idea working to change attitudes and preserve the environment
6. Wayne Gretzky: Hockey player often considered the greatest of all time. Other great hockey players include: Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Jean Beliveau, Maurice (Rocket) Richard, Tim Horton, Ray Borque, Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, David Gilmour and Bobby Hull.
7. James Cameron: movie director, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, inventor, engineer, and deep-sea explorer.
8. Musicians: Every soloist or band from coast to coast to coast that has sung the praises of this great country in the smallest of communities to the largest venues. Those who have made a mark internationally and those who have left their mark on land known as Canada. 
9. Immigrants: Every immigrant who passed through the gates of Pier 21 in Halifax or made their way to this land by air or any other means. They all help make Canada great.
10. Every Indigenous Person past and present who are doing their part to preserve this land, and have been doing so for centuries before any settlers or immigrants came to change things. I acknowledge the sacrifices that the First Nations people made as they struggled to maintain their distinctiveness. 

I am Canadian eh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyJcEgEyCmQ

Credit:
1. Lester B. Pearson: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/pearson_lester_bowles_20E.html
Picture: https://745515a37222097b0902-74ef300a2b2b2d9e236c9459912aaf20.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/1e817bd2dcaad95807f6fc6b3ce79d80.jpeg
2. Terry Fox: http://www.terryfox.org/
picture: http://condorsecurity.ca/sites/default/files/terry-fox-determination.jpg
3. Leslie Nielsen: https://www.biography.com/people/leslie-nielsen-9542322
picture: https://colectivopiesfrios.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/lnl.jpg
4. John Candy: https://www.biography.com/people/john-candy-9542625
picture: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2010/62/167_126772700038.jpg
5. SCTV: http://www.sctvguide.ca/
picture: http://www.avenueedmonton.com/images/cache/cache_0/cache_9/cache_8/sctv_cast_photo_2-5f730890.jpeg?ver=1468686526&aspectratio=1.2383900928793
6. Paul Gross: http://paulgross.org/indexhigh.htm
and: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-gross-profile/
picture: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a4/5e/7a/a45e7a44bfe32d2614e77298cefcaee0--due-south-tamales.jpg
7. Mr Dressup: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Dressup
picture: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0won7UCMAEKWWA.png
8. Viola Desmond: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/viola-desmond/
picture: http://www.blackpast.org/files/blackpast_images/Viola_Desmond__public_domain_.jpg
9. David Suzuki: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
and: http://bluedot.ca
picture: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/507328ece4b0b0f8a33e85e8/t/5593099ae4b043a66d8398eb/1435699613867/DavidSuzuki.jpg?format=300w
10. Emily Stowe: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/emily-stowe/
picture: https://tce-live2.s3.amazonaws.com/media/media/d00ff516-9acb-4ba6-9578-2de7da8f067b.jpg
11. Pierre Trudeau: https://www.biography.com/people/pierre-trudeau-9510956
picture: https://www.biography.com/.image/t_share/MTE4MDAzNDEwNzA5MzQ5OTAy/pierre-trudeau-9510956-1-402.jpg
12. Justin Trudeau: https://www.biography.com/people/justin-trudeau
picture: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Justin_Trudeau_APEC_2015_(cropped).jpg
13. Margaret Atwood: http://margaretatwood.ca/
and https://www.biography.com/people/margaret-atwood-9191928
picture: http://www.cbc.ca/books/Margaret%20Atwood-584.jpg
14. Norman Bethune: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/norman-bethune/
picture: http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/norman-bethune-2.jpg
15. Tommy Douglas: http://www.canadashistory.ca/Explore/Politics-Law/History-Idol-Tommy-Douglas
and http://www.canadashistory.ca/Explore/Politics-Law/History-Idol-Tommy-Douglas
picture: http://www.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/240Tommy_Douglas_1963.jpg
16. Lucy Maud Montgomery: https://www.biography.com/people/lucy-maud-montgomery-9412697
picture: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaiAjK9NxGL5dccInwm03-wuHw2f-Q8_DaU6v_9MSDjyu3r1PiUkIHLvpYzljqVwJJbRlel5r3C_tXG4_lADzAKrRCko8lwChB_t2vlBkkEE3jIfk9inD0gGSRSVRh4ne-G48lgIe5ls/s1600/Lucy-Maud-Montgomery.jpg
17. Louis Riel: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/louis-riel/
picture: https://tce-live2.s3.amazonaws.com/media/media/f1e669ab-93dc-4936-93c4-3aaf8b5846b8.jpg
18.Samuel Cunard: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-samuel-cunard/
picture: https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/011-Samuel-Cunard.jpg?resize=600%2C548
19. Cirque Du Soliel: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cirque-du-soleil/
picture: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJFhDSXta8Sd6_auXUBrfePvNrQDEOn2PZWMm_ZsI-aa_IkBLqONdlRJr6aL1YmOwmO6J-c5kSQCMRGWi047Gp8ibk7d8vsFz_2v47AiQX8mJJrA8aCwbSnToVXNhAskPEIFtvFUhvS8/s1600/Contortion1-credit+Martin+Girard+shoot+studio.png
20. Chris Hadfield: http://chrishadfield.ca/about/
and: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chris-hadfield/
picture: https://2982-presscdn-29-70-pagely.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/chris-hadfield.jpg

Another Golden Goal Heard Around the Nation

Take It On Faith - Matt Mays

The costliest games in Olympic history are over. Sochi, Russia in 2014 spent 51 billion dollars to host the world. Before the games began there was controversy that continued throughout the duration of the games. I had some serious reservations and concerns about the venue of the Olympics as the date to light the flame approached. There were negative news reports coming out about facilities not being completed or ready or in the case of accommodations, not up to the standard expected. In hindsight, perhaps all world class events work to the very last moment to ensure a perfect stage for the scrutiny of the media glare. Throughout the games, there seemed to be one common thread in all the comments of athletes, and that was praise of the accommodations and facilities. I am more accustomed to hearing praises of the countryside and its people. 

Then there was the whole political anxiety side of things. Vladamir Putin's stance on LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) rights put a lot of people on edge. Would there be a feeling of tolerance or a sense of discrimination. Here in Canada, many major cities opted to fly the rainbow flag in support of the LGBT community during the Olympics. In a country tolerant of the differences it was a move that was applauded and encouraged. Well, save for our biggest city, Toronto. Mayor Rob Ford, (keeping his name in the controversial spotlight) argued with City Council that it should not fly. A fight he lost. In the end, tolerance won at least on the public front even in Russia - where there were no reports of discriminatory behaviour (at least that I heard). Pussy Riot demonstration excepted.

There were credible threats of violence and attacks from terrorist groups. But security was tightened and on high alert. Indeed, one report I saw during the games revealed the many channels and hoops that had to be navigated in order to enter the Olympic Park as a spectator. And that was a Russian citizen. I felt compassion for someone trying to share the experience that as a citizen they dearly paid for. Yet, incomes prohibited the purchase of tickets for events despite there was much talk about empty stands at some venues. 

It wasn't until I heard about the dogs that I really got annoyed however. And I made my feelings know in a facebook status questioning which moron thought Russia would be a good place to hold the Olympics. It seems that unbeknownst to many until shortly before Opening Day, Russia had a long-standing problem with stray dogs. Many cities have populations of feral cats lurking in alleyways, but the dogs in Russia apparently can be aggressive and while it didn't matter much that the citizens could be bitten when walking down the street, the idea that tourists might become the next feast was not tolerable. Poisoned bait was set out to take care of some of the more elusive ones that eluded capture either by cage or crosshairs. More that 300 canines were rounded up and killed monthly leading up to the games. I'm a dog lover but I don't know if I would open my home to a dog that was literally an ankle biter. Although did exactly that - including athletes. There was at least one makeshift shelter built to house some of the last dogs lurking in the shadows before the world's spotlight shone on the streets of the Motherland. But I don't believe it is in the political agenda to continue to pay to house these animals. Are they then released to wander again when the flame goes out? With the Olympic stage being located in Korea next, maybe the dogs will be sent there - where they are not a pest but a delicacy. :(

So with all this tension and controversy before the games even started, I thought it might be wise to just avoid the entire production. That didn't happen. In part, because I learned that most of the television I watch is aired on the CBC which was the national broadcaster for all things Olympic. So for many days there was to be nothing PVR-ing for my viewing pleasure. I don't think of it as a national pride decision to watch the CBC, more that the content and quality of programming I chose to view is more likely to be found on the CBC than on Oprah's channel. 

Truth is, controversy and potential television withdrawal aside, the news of the first Canadian Gold medal had me/us all beaming with pride. And I got sucked in to my fair share of viewing time. The winter sports are where we excel. #wearewinter. Personally I have experience in participating in many of them so I have an understanding. For me that helps. I was a kid skiing on the slopes, watching my brother compete in slalom, my classmates inaugurated the world class ski jumping facility where I spent my weekends skiing. Skating was never my thing, because I was so bad at it, but I had lessons and I understand the term shoot the duck and can identify it when I see it during figure skating competition. 

Who am I kidding...play it or not, we are a hockey nation. Windsor Nova Scotia has claimed the title of the first place to ever hold a hockey game. The first reference is found in 1836 writing of the Irish game of Hurley being played on the ice instead of field in Windsor. Hockey was born. And shortly thereafter the nations obsession with it. My own childhood consisted of my grandfather who had a recliner just to make his Saturday night more comfortable as he raged against the Toronto Maple Leafs fisticuffs over his beloved Montreal Canadiens. 

Any chance that we can prove that we are the best hockey players unites the nation more any other single event. People recall where they were when Paul Henderson scored the game winning goal during the Summit series in 1972 with seconds to go before the end of the game. It was a national event and defining moment for the country. It made many of us hockey fans - if only "moments" fans. And that is Olympic hockey fans! The jerseys come out once every four years. 

A nation of tolerance, we came to embrace women's hockey as much as the mens'. Well, nearly as much. I am glad to see the women playing the sport without feminising it. There is nothing wrong with ringette, but it is considered the female version of hockey. The Olympic women play hockey the same as the men - but without so many of the hard hits. And they play with the same passion to win. Salt Lake City Olympics (2002) brought womens' hockey in my radar when news broke that the USA team put the Canadian flag on the floor of the dressing room for the players to walk on. After winning the Gold, captain Hayley Wickenheiser offered that the Canadian team would sign that same flag. It turns out that the story was false and used to incite some passion into the players. It worked! But as they were leading up to that point it may not have been necessary. They had previously won Gold in Turin, Italy (2006), Gold in Vancouver, Canada (2010) and now Gold in Sochi, Russia (2014). They are a good team and a healthy rivalry continues to exist (without rumours) against the USA. GO GIRLS! 

Someone has to win. And in order for someone to win, someone has to lose. And as the Gold Maple Leaf flag fluttered in the breeze, ugliness reared it's head and dampened the spirit. Trending on twitter was #f***Canada. Real mature. Not!  :( Granted it was a heart-breaking loss for the Americans. The USA team was leading by a two goal margin and the game was tied in the last few minutes just as the smell of victory was in the air. The win came for Canada in overtime. Without a doubt, two well-matched teams and the winning could have gone either way. I felt bad seeing the dejected looks on the faces of the team as silver medals were hung upon their necks. I don't think the loss would have looked any different on the Canadian ladies. But I do hope that we wouldn't have stooped to American bashing. Poking fun at a long standing rivalry is quite different. And for the record if you want to throw out your maple syrup and cut down your maple trees only means that you lose again. Carry on.

But nothing is quite like the Men's Olympic hockey. A game played in the afternoon in Russia would be seen here in the early morning hours. An 8 hour time difference meant long lunches or Friday afternoon off when Canada and the USA faced off in semi-final puck whacking. Canada had been playing okay but the cocky attitude from the reporters leading up to the game against Latvia was really quite unbecoming and frankly un-Canadian. If Latvia had advanced to that point, they deserved to be taken seriously and given the credit for playing well that they rightfully earned. Canada won that game but it sure wasn't a landslide victory. It was a well-played game in both ends. Following the narrow escape from elimination, there was tension going into the game against the Americans. For these two teams it was the Gold medal game. And it is that way because we realize (or we should at least) that we are talking about two evenly matched teams. The win could go either way. This time it went ours and twitter universe sparked up once again with the profane hashtag. The funny thing is that many of the players on the Canadian team play for American NHL teams and vice versa. Once every four years they play against each other - this hate is beyond rivalry. And I mean the public not the players.

Celebrate (We All Play for Canada)

Canadian Tire TV Commercial 2014

The game this country had been waiting for was a reality. The Gold medal game would be played against Sweden on Sunday morning at 8 am (AST). The sport that brings people together as armchair/barstool cheerleaders threw its' governing leaders into a frenzy trying to determine if bars would be allowed to open at 5 am and serve liquor. Ah the breakfast beer...know it well :) Ah yes, beer dispensing establishments coast to coast were allowed to open and accommodate the eager fans if not pour them a cold one. It was a beautiful weekend here on the Atlantic coast, nearing double digit temperatures and clear blue skies. Saturday morning, people were walking the streets enjoying the weather and driving about doing errands. Sunday morning? Ghost town. Not a creature was stirring, even the pets were forced to wait for their morning elimination round. 

Good morning Canada! Let us pray eh-men! 

Canadian facebook was all a-buzz as we waited for the face off. The entire country had woken up and were glued to a tv set in pajamas or in the local watering hole. It wasn't a shoe-in victory but it was sweet. And it was tense. I swear you could hear the breath escape from thousands of Canucks that held their breath until Sid "The Kid" Crosby scored that second (insurance) goal. It was a thing of beauty. An unassisted breakaway goal always amazes me. So fast and precise. But we had seen our own ladies come back from a two goal deficit so we sat on the edge of our seats hopeful but not assured until the last minute when play did not allow the goalie to leave the ice to add an extra attacker for the Swedes. Victory came and Gold was going to Canada again. The second in a row after Gold on home turf in Vancouver 2010. In the history of hockey in the Olympics, Canada started off on a winning streak but suffered a 20 year drought in the 1970's - 1990's. Back in the bars, the crowds started whooping and yelling in the streets across the nation blocking streets and diverting traffic. Transit in the downtown core of Toronto was a mess. The joy was contagious and infectious. You would swear we played and won that medal ourselves and not the professionals in another country wearing our flag on their chest.

With this kind of hype, it would be difficult to return to a national team that didn't include professional players on the amateur stage of the Olympics. But at the risk of public scorn - followed by a characteristic Canadian apology - I personally would like to the see the playing field during the Olympics more equal with other countries that don't send players making millions of dollars playing the game. Much like the World Juniors Hockey tournament that has the ability to showcase up and coming talent. Of course not including players from the NHL would also mean that players from the KHL and other professional organisations would also not be included. I suppose the almighty dollar will ultimately have the final say. The Olympics are big business and the hockey games are a big draw and contributor to that income. I disagreed with professional basketball players at the Olympics and this is no different for me. Sorry Canada and the world.  

Meanwhile, despite misgivings and trepidation, terrorist attacks against choices and nations didn't happen. The games were a success. I may not want to live in Russia but I understand it as a country a little bit more. And that is worth something. Canada as a team did everyone here back on home soil proud. The ladies curlers who never lost a game, the male curlers who also found gold. The skiers and the skaters and the sledders. The ones who got a medal and the ones who didn't. I hope you were as proud to wear the Canadian colours as I was seeing them on you. 

GO CANADA! 

Credit where credit is due:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-sochi-dog-rescue-20140224,0,501363.story#axzz2uG62KJQx

http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/

http://www.1972summitseries.com/index2.html

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/25/flag_dispute_ap/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Olympic_medalists_in_ice_hockey