Proud to Be Canadian

Last night Mr. Husband and I got treated to a little life on the other side of the fence…and I loved it. Through some fluke of winning a contest in which I did not even realize I was entered, Mr. H and I went to the Canada’s Walk of Fame gala. We were invited up the red carpet, to the fancy-shmancy dinner party with food stations prepared by Pusateri’s and Perrier Jouet just for me, to the show at the O’Keefe Centre (that would be the Hummingbird to you littl’uns) and to the after party at The Suites at 1 King Street West hosted by Fashion Magazine. Mr. H was incredibly handsome in his monkey suit and I looked something like a cross between a waitress and a matronly old lady in a bunch of borrowed pieces that I put together to try and resemble something black-tieish. As lingered in the Chanel lounge I was grateful for my 14 year old fashion consultant in the guise of Mlle Jensaispas, who kindly straightened my hair with a gadget I don’t begin to understand and then even more lovingly took up the bet that someone would ask me to get them a drink or clear a plate.

The red carpet thing was cool, but intimidating and of course, provided another opportunity to prove that every famous man in show business is short. I had a friend involved in the proceedings and gave her a big shout-out, but I was much too cool and Canadian to say anything to any of the other inductees, although they seemed very friendly and very accessible.

The glitz and glamour were fun, especially for an English teaching, car pooling, house cleaning, dinner preparing step-mother/mother of 4, but it was the ceremony that won me over. The inductees included Johnny Bower, Nickelback, Jill Hennessy, Gordon Pinsent, Catherine O’Hara, Ivan Reitman, Rick Hansen, and Lloyd Robertson.  In order to achieve the level of excellence these Canadians have, there had to be a bit more than the average level of ego in the room, but it was not apparent. The three central themes of the evening were gratitude and admiration for the other inductees, love of family and Canadian pride. Each recipient sang the praises of the others in a heartfelt and genuine manner. Rick Hansen received a standing ovation when he was introduced, but it was Johnny Bower who got most of the accolades from the men "those were Leafs!" and Nickelback who seemed to be the most desired amongst the daughters and granddaughters. 

I sat in my seat at the back of theatre, behind a very big camera and realized yet again how lucky we are to be from a country that appreciates who it is.  There were some great Canadian references, such as the observation that it took Canadians, under the helm of Ivan Reitman to create quintessential American comedies such as Animal House, Meatballs, Stripes and Old School.  Catherine O’Hara apologized herself off the stage and Jill Hennessy thanked all the people who threw loonies in her guitar case during her busking days in front of the Horseshoe and the Rivoli. And these famous Canadians, who could choose anyone they wanted to present their star, chose their family members as well. Reitman chose his son Jason, Hennessy her sister Jacq, Pinsent, his daughter Leah and her partner Peter Callaghan and O’Hara, her sister Mary Margaret O’Hara, all of whom exhibited the same poise, pride and respect as their honourees.

The evening was so impressive that the fact that George Strombouloupolos thought it acceptable to introduce Nickelback, all elegantly arrayed in black suits and tuxedos, in a disheveled shirt and white sneakers made him look like an American music award presenter who got lost on his way to the Nickleodeon awards.

Yikes!  I am watching the CTV coverage of the event while I am typing this and I realize I have forgotten a major moment. Baby soul singer Kyle Riabko from Saskatoon sang a version of David Foster’s "Man in Motion" so outstandingly moving in honour of Rick Hansen that you would never even know it had anything to do with Rob Lowe’s angst in St. Elmo’s Fire. As soon as I finish this, I’m going to see if there is a way I can download it and I suggest you here it to. It truly is everything that is Canadian.

Later, at the after party, a conversation with a lovely couple who are friends with my man Jim…aaah a chance to wax poetic about him on top of a celebration of Canadian accomplishments…was the maple syrup on my flap jack.

Now I have to go and wash the dishes, fold the laundry, read the Gaffer a story, work on my report cards, you know…this side of the fence stuff.