The Canadiens, Canadians and Canadianity

Most Canadians I know are backing Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge—even if the Habs aren’t their team—against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

I missed Game Four because my wife and I had other things going on and finished at different times. She ended up listening to the game on the Internet while I continued reading Canadianity: Tales from the True North Strong and Freezing, by Jeremy Taggart and Jonathan Torrens (TnT). 

Canadianity. Did you catch that? A tough word for you to pronounce, too? Say it with me: Cuh-nay-dee-ANN-ity.

I thought I knew a lot about Canada and what makes the folks from Newfoundland to Nunavut to Nanaimo so Canadian, you know, what gives them their…Canadianity.

In all our travels and conversations with friends we’ve made since first visiting our northerly neighbours in the late 1990s, my wife have become familiar with the Canadian entertainers TnT reference in their book, from Great Big Sea to the Guess Who, Leslie Neilsen to Steve Nash.

We’ve even been to some of the eateries that TnT mention: Clementine Café in Winnipeg; Two If By Sea Café in Halifax; Mallard Cottage in St. John’s.

I know the difference between St. John’s (Newfoundland) and St. John (New Brunswick). Look at me, braggin’.

But, man, so much I didn’t know. Kind of embarrassing for a Canadian spy to admit: I didn’t realize when MuchMusic went on the air (1984). Never heard of Taggart’s band (Our Lady Peace) or the program Torrens hosted (Jonovision). And Dan Hill and Gino Vannelli are Canadian? Whoa.

“I Just Wanna Stop” and cry when I get to the story Torrens tells about Mike Stevens, another fella I didn’t know existed. A harmonica player and founder of ArtsCan Circle, Stevens won the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award at the Canadian Country Music Awards (2016).

So much I’ve learned up until page 197, and I’m sure TnT have more in store for me in the next eighty-three pages of Canadianity.

I’ll watch Game Five tonight and hope the Canadiens come back to win the series. As soon as it’s over, though, I’m going right back to Canadianity to up my Canadian Spy game.

Still Spying and Still Standing

O Canada, I miss you.

Image Courtesy of YYT Photo & Design

I haven’t seen you since last July. Highlights from that trip to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island: visiting with friends at the safehouse in St. Andrews (NB) and with other friends in the Montague (PEI) area; a Souris sunset, set to music; and a tour of the Belfast Mini Mills, where I purchased a hat that I’d wear for a good portion of a long New England winter.

I’ve resorted to staying semi-connected by electronic correspondence with friends and by these other means:

Music: Alan Doyle (from Petty Harbour, NL) and The Beautiful Band in Lowell, MA. At that outside show part of the summer music series, the lads and lone lassie fiddler filled the air with frolicking tunes. Can’t remember if “When I am King” made the setlist that evening. To keep Newfoundland and Labrador close to heart, I’ve been practicing that song on the guitar and performed it for the first time in public at open mic at the local coffeehouse.

Books: Mark Critch, a Newfoundland comedian, mentions Great Big Sea in his book, Son of a Critch. Funny, insightful and entertaining, the book also left me feeling grateful—for my childhood, my family and all the adventures my wife and I have enjoyed Newfoundland. Black Ice, a story billed as a tribute to the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, grabbed a hold of me not just because of the hockey; George and Darrill Fosty did their homework about Maritime history that connects that part of Canada to places I hadn’t considered much. Enlightening.

Internet TV. Ever heard of Jonny Harris? I hadn’t until my wife mentioned the Newfoundlander’s Still Standing show. In the past month or so of 27 episodes, I’ve been mystified and misty-eyed as Jonny meets Canadians who dwell in small towns, from Bamfield (BC) to Fogo Island (NL). These hearty and enterprising folks have stuck together through difficult times, evolved and endured. My kind of people.

My wife and I have visited some of these towns. So many more, we’ll put on our wish list. Top of that list: Bell Island, NL.

See you in two weeks, Canada.

Why Winnipeg

Three years ago, I posted a piece about the best of Newfoundland. (Sorry to any readers who wondered if the espionage police had finally tracked me down and stripped me of my Internet connection.). Not the case. I’ve returned to St. John’s, NL (the province officially known as Newfoundland and Labrador) as well as British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia. Too much material for one blog post, so I’ll fill you in about a province my wife (and professional donut photographer) and I hadn’t visited.

Manitoba: Home to the American Hockey League’s Moose and the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. Other than hockey, why Winnipeg? For nine days? In late November, for crying out loud? These are questions that friends, as well as Winnipeggers at the safehouse, asked us.

We wanted to meet the good people of Winnipeg and learn more about the joys of Canada. Who knew Winnipeg had so much character—and characters?

Those who’ve congregated at the West End Cultural Centre, which in 1987 was transformed from a church into a music venue, could testify to performances from Arlo Guthrie to the Hanson Brothers to Zoo Animal. On this chilly November night, the Reverend Rambler, a.k.a. Matt Colpitts, opened for the Dust Rhinos, who would be celebrating their 25^th anniversary. The Reverend, a bearded blues-inspired guitarist, rocked the former house of God.

After the Rev’s rambunctious set, he told us that he’s a shop teacher by day.

If Colpitts is half as passionate about molding young minds as he is about music, his students must love him. (Further research indicates that the Rev also enjoys hockey.)

My wife and I did, of course, see the Jets play in Bell MTS Place. Friendly people behaving themselves yet alive with the spirit of True North, strong and free. (Warning to first-timers: stay alert during O Canada.) The home team defeated Taylor Hall and the New Jersey Devils, 5 – 2.  

As we approached the arena’s exit, I spied a fellow wearing a Jets sweater; the name on the back was not Wheeler or Perreault but rather Dancing Gabe. (Never heard of him).

Fast forward a few days later to Chapters. A light snow fell outside the bookstore. Inside, in the hockey section, I saw a man sporting Canadian red attire. With his arms extended and his face lit up with joy, it’s as if Gabriel Langlois was about to embrace me. I plucked Daniel Perrons’s biography of Dancing Gabe from the shelf and would later enjoy the heck out of the book about Winnipeg’s most revered and wonderful sports fanatic.

Next time I’m at Jets game, I’ll have to ask Gabe what his favourite donut is and then add him to the list.

I wonder if Gabe has been to Bronuts, in “the Exchange” (district). 

Home Alone
(Image courtesy of YYT Photo and Design)

Brett and Dylan Zahari, the brothers who in 2015 launched the gourmet donut and coffee shop, have created a community centre of sorts. Spacious. Welcoming. Brett served as the frontman during our first visit and explained donut menu: Each of the eight seasonal round darlings has a name based on a fictional character. These donuts have flair for sure, and boy oh boy, is the staff friendly. And the bros, as well as Brett’s wife Meghan, have done their homework. Lots of research, trial and error. And when you get right down to taste, these are the best donuts in Winnipeg.

Yes, yes, it’s cold there in November. But not brutal. And in the summer, I’ve heard of nasty black flies to despise. Keep the faith, fellow travelers. There are lots of reasons to love Winnipeg. This Canadian spy tells you no lies.