I could bore you (really, I could) about the history of Canada Day, the Confederation, and how four lonely provinces became a country on this day in 1867. But even I would get bored. So instead let me share a few personal observations from this year.
-- My Canada Day celebration started on June 30, when the Barenaked Ladies played a free concert as part of our 10-day "eat everything and listen to music" festival. The group seemed off following the recent departure of original band member Steven Page. They didn't do "Brian Wilson" in concert.
But that being said, they were entertaining during and in-between songs, their traditional trademark antics on stage made us laugh.
-- That concert got us in the mood for the next day: Canada Day. I wore my CBC T-shirt with the old ball-type logo (please, CBC, make a hat with this logo and I will buy it and wear it). As part of the free foreign film series on Wednesdays, I saw "Bon Cop, Bad Cop," an English and French Canadian picture that was part satire of buddy movies, commentator of English and French Canadian stereotypes, and a slam against NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and his disdain for Canada.
Imagine a cop, murder mystery that is very funny, and you get an idea for this movie.
We were given Canadian flags to fly, which was a very nice touch. It was fun to be in a room full of people who appreciated the Canadian film contribution. And there were plenty of non-Canadians sprinkled throughout the crowd.
-- In a sort-of related point, a quick shout out to Joey Votto, first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. Votto is from the Toronto area and is already one of the top players from Canada in the Major Leagues. Votto has been suffering from anxiety from the recent loss of his father (and an ear infection), and actually went on the disabled list for awhile.
Votto has been back for a short while, amusingly making his return in his hometown of Toronto in a rare interleague game between the Reds and the Toronto Blue Jays. Votto's team won on Canada Day, 1-0, over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Who drove in the game's only run? Joey Votto.
-- And finally, Stephen Colbert had a nice touch to honor Canada Day by "slamming" Canada Day:
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