Canadian Crossing

NFL in Winnipeg with no starters and an 80-yard field

No starters. An 80-yard field. No kickoffs. The NFL in Winnipeg was a night to remember and forget.

The CFL goal posts are on the goal line as opposed to the NFL goal posts found at the back end of the end zone. The issues with the patch in the south end zone for the CFL goal posts forced the game into an 80-yard field. Oakland had decided not to play its starters before the goal post issue. Green Bay decided to pull its starters after that decision.

The Oakland Raiders scored the only 12 points of the second half; Daniel Carlson won the game with a 33-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining. Oakland edged out the Green Bay Packers 22-21 at IG Field in Winnipeg last night. The Packers scored all their points in the 2nd quarter.

The 80-yard field wasn't the shortest in NFL history. The 1932 NFL playoff game between the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans (later Detroit Lions) had 60 yards in between the goal lines inside Chicago Stadium instead of Wrigley Field.

Hello, Canada! 🤙🇨🇦@AaronRodgers12 pic.twitter.com/RpLYP0C9UX

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 21, 2019

Aaron Rodgers was the biggest star potentially to take the field. Rodgers has not played in the preseason. The Green Bay star quarterback did make a dramatic entrance at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport in a Canadian tuxedo.

Rodgers was introduced to the idea of the Canadian tuxedo via Cabbie aka Cabral Richards on TSN.

apologies to the citizens of Winnipeg, Manitoba... just a kid from Atlanta, Florida playing football in Oakland, Nevada with a low geography IQ @Raiders https://t.co/oh0i2tJbNR

— AJ Cole III (@AJCole90) August 22, 2019

AJ Cole III is hoping for a long NFL career as a punter instead of going back to school to learn to teach geography. Cole bought a shirt, reportedly via Amazon, that said "Winnipeg, Alberta." Alberta has Edmonton and Calgary, not Winnipeg. Manitoba has Winnipeg and Churchill, home of the polar bears.

The shirt maker didn't check to see if it was wrong. The player didn't check to see if it was right. At least Alberta is in Canada.

Jeopardy contestant comes up blank on Canadian cities

Getting an element Canadian and wrong reminded us of the Jeopardy player who told us under pressure that Edmonton was in Ontario; Whistler was in Alberta; and Moose Javians (Saskatchewan) live in Winnipeg.

Loud and proud for the North, @LWillson_82
—#HardKnocks airs Tuesdays at 10ET on @HBO pic.twitter.com/mawFbeVFBC

— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) August 22, 2019

Luke Willson is a successful Canadian NFL player in his first season in Oakland. Willson grew up in LaSalle, Ontario near Windsor. He missed the first preseason game and only had a single catch for 4 yards last week. Willson didn't have any catches in Winnipeg.

The Upon Further Review podcast hosted on raiders.com interviewed Willson about Canada. Willson said he had never been to Winnipeg. He pointed out that the NFL is big in Canada. Willson noted that he was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts and has not been to a CFL game. To be fair, Willson grew up close to Detroit. He said the CFL draft happened 4 years past secondary school so he was drafted in his junior year at Rice University (Willson was red-shirted).

The Raiders started running back James Butler, who signed earlier this year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders but didn't stick around.

Hard Knocks from HBO is following the Raiders this summer. We don't anticipate too much coverage of Winnipeg.

Oakland, Green Bay to play NFL preseason game in Winnipeg

If the NFL is serious about building a relationship with Canada, the league should look into how much Canadians will invest in the product. We heard a lot of rhetoric from the Buffalo Bills Toronto series about exorbitant ticket prices for preseason and regular season NFL games.

The Oakland-Green Bay game easily sold out the $75 seats in the corners of the upper deck. The 40+ suites easily sold out. The average ticket price for the remaining seats (including parking, taxes, and fees) was reportedly just short of $200. All prices are Canadian dollars. U.S. media converts those numbers to American dollars but Canadians buy those tickets in Canadian dollars.

With about 2 weeks to go, the price of the 5,500-6,000 end zone seats went from $164 to $75 (both prices before taxes and fees).

The 3rd preseason game is considered the best of the preseason. Then again, CFL fans only get 2 preseason games in their league.

The better deal, and one that would have earned everyone more money, is to price the tickets so fans would want to buy them. You can’t make money off concessions and parking unless people show up. You get the nice visual of a large crowd in a beautiful facility.

We know the Blue Bombers are being compensated for providing the host venue. Not clear as to whether the compensation is tied to attendance.

The attendance was announced at 21,992. That number reflected purchases for the 40+ suites. They seemed to steer the fans toward where they would be on TV. The crowd didn't look too bad in the 33,000 seat stadium.

For future travel to the stadium, you can avoid parking costs if you take the #60 bus from downtown. The #36 and #51 buses also connect to the stadium.

Bills Toronto series is done

Wide receiver Mervyn Fernandez, who just got inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame earlier this month, also played for the Raiders. Fernandez played for the BC Lions from 1982-1986 and 1994 and for the Los Angeles Raiders from 1987-1992.

Fernandez traveled throughout Canada leading up to the game to promote the contest. The Oakland Raiders TV team interviewed Fernandez during the game.

CanadianCrossing.com NFL coverage

The Boston Red Sox drew more than 16,000 yesterday for the continuation of a suspended game. Admission was $5, free for kids, with $1 hot dogs. The game only lasted 12 minutes.

A different approach would have drawn a joyous crowd. What if the tickets were set up to draw a huge crowd? What if the NFL decided to have some fun and play an exhibition on a CFL sized field. The NFL and CFL played exhibition games with different sized fields from what one of the leagues was used to doing. If the NFL can play on an 80-yard field, why not a 110-yard field for a contrast.

The argument for not using Mosaic Stadium was the quick turnaround between NFL and CFL. The Saskatchewan Roughriders look like geniuses for not hosting the NFL. If the NFL had more imagination, they could have played on a CFL field in Regina.

Let's not put NFL games in Canada with people who don't understand the country and have no imagination. Imagine what the impact would have looked like with a full stadium and the joy of playing on a larger field.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

The halftime show was Winnipeg band Attica Riots. The set didn't make the cut for the NFL Network.

TSN, RDS, and the NFL Network picked up the Oakland Raiders feed via KTVU-2 Oakland and KICU-36 San Jose. The crew made some references to Winnipeg and Canada. Beth Mowins made a joke late in the game about Green Bay being "3rd down and Alberta" referring to Cole's shirt.

photo credit: KTVU/Oakland and KICU/San Jose / Oakland Raiders/NFL
Twitter captures: @packers; @AJCole90; @Raiders

2019 CFL Week 11 preview

ESPN brings the U.S. audience west to Edmonton and east to Moncton this week. The week starts on Friday with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Edmonton. The NFL is in Winnipeg tonight and we will cover that tomorrow.

ESPNews is in Moncton on Sunday for Touchdown Atlantic. The matchup would have been hot a decade ago as Montréal plays in a Toronto "home" game in the Maritimes. The game originally was scheduled for 7:30 pm Atlantic time but has been moved to 1 pm Atlantic time. That is 1:30 pm in Newfoundland and 9 am in British Columbia.

The Saturday doubleheader has East teams going West with Ottawa at Mosaic Stadium in the early game. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are in Vancouver in the nightcap.

Calgary gets a break before the Battle of Alberta.

ESPN2

Friday
Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 9p

ESPNews

Sunday
Montréal @ Toronto, Noon

TSN

Friday
Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 9p
Saturday
Ottawa @ Saskatchewan, 7p
Hamilton @ BC, 10p
Sunday
Montréal @ Toronto, Noon

Bye week: Calgary

CFL once again comes to Moncton for 2019 Touchdown Atlantic

We published a 2019 Touchdown Atlantic preview earlier in the week. Moncton is a really nice place. Looking forward to seeing the place where I was in 2013 for the last Touchdown Atlantic game.

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In the Montréal-Ottawa battle, the RedBlacks had an advantage by winning in Calgary. The Alouettes hadn't won against the Stampeders in Calgary since Canada Day 2009.

Montréal trailed Calgary by 11 points before Vernon Adams Jr. engineered a comeback to force overtime. Both teams exchanged touchdowns but were thwarted on the 2-point conversion. In the second overtime, the Alouettes got a touchdown. Eric Rogers looked like his foot was on the back white stripe before his other foot touched in the end zone.

Montréal is now 1-1 in overtime games this season, the only 2 in the CFL in 2019. The Alouettes are 2 points up on the RedBlacks with a game in hand.

Andrew Harris is now the all-time Canadian CFL player in yards from scrimmage. Harris passed Ben Cahoon (13,368) to claim the top spot.

Milt Stegall on the CFL on TSN panel noted that Harris is getting better with age, rare among running backs. Harris started with the BC Lions, Winnipeg's Thursday opponent. While Harris was good in Vancouver, coming back to his hometown of Winnipeg has boosted his career.

Harris has well over 1,000 yards on the season with 819 yards on the ground and 322 yards through the air.

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The Lewis Ward streak ended at 69 straight field goals. The 31-yard attempt wasn't filled with high winds or a bad snap. The Ottawa crowd gave Ward a standing ovation even with the miss.

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Trevor Harris and Mike Reilly. The last 2 CFL quarterbacks to play without a significant injury. Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols is on the 6-game injured list. Nichols was injured on a hit by BC defensive end Shawn Lemon.

Chris Streveler will start in his absence. Brandon Bridge, aka Air Canada, doesn't have a team.

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BC likely won't be involved in a division tiebreaker this season. The Lions have already lost the season series with Edmonton, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg. The Calgary tiebreaker won't be decided until the final game of the season. The Stampeders have a +4 advantage in the first game.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Rod Black played up the Canadian National Exhibition angle along with TSN in Toronto. Argos fans to that game got into the CNE for free with a game ticket.

The Toronto attendance was 16,490 from the opening day of the CNE. This is the first time in the 3 home games that Toronto announced its home attendance.

As for the game, Edmonton brought out touchdowns to field goals for Toronto in the first half. The Esks aren't a great road team but improved to 2-3 on the road this season. Edmonton had not won in Toronto since 2016.

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On the August 13 Waggle podcast, Donnovan Bennett talked about interviewing Canada basketball players about the dumbest question you have had about Canada. Davis Sanchez weighed in about Americans not understand the distances between certain points in U.S. vs. Canada, as if Americans thought Canada was farther away.

Bennett said to a man, the Canada basketball players said "Do you live in an igloo?" Bennett added his one from going to school in Buffalo, right next to Canada. "Where do you park your canoe?"

We feel shame for Americans who are that ignorant about Canada and hope CanadianCrossing.com is changing some of those impressions.

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TSN had a bit of fun with the announcer teams. Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor were in Winnipeg. Rod Black and Matt Dunigan were having corn dogs in Toronto. Cuthbert went east to meet up with Duane Forde in Ottawa while Dustin Nielson and Suitor were in Calgary. That makes 2 of 8 games for Nielson and 0 for Gord Miller.

Kate Beirness is done as is Thursday Night Football for the season.

There were audio issues with the panel on the Saturday telecasts. They sounded like issues with TSN since we could hear the music but not the panelists.

photo credit: ESPN+/TSN/CFL

CFL once again comes to Moncton for 2019 Touchdown Atlantic

How long has it been since the CFL was in Moncton? Your humble narrator attended the last Touchdown Atlantic in 2013.

The 2013 version struggled to sell out with much speculation that the 2013 version would be the last Touchdown Atlantic ever.

A new commissioner (Randy Ambroisie), decent prospective ownership for an Atlantic Schooners franchise, and a strong desire to have a 10-team league does make a difference.

The CFL folks looked at Halifax, Antigonish, NS, and Saint John before coming back to the Université de Moncton campus.

There isn't a real option in Halifax. We did note last month that the Halifax Wanderers soccer team have a "stadium" in the Commons. The Moncton stadium gives the largest potential capacity of the options.

As we noted in 2013, sitting on the "good side" in Moncton shields you from the sun in the late afternoon, gives you the only concessions, and actual restrooms. Sitting on the "bad side" in Moncton brings you back to watching high school football, no concessions, and a long line for porta-potties.

The ticket prices started out ridiculously high. The price I paid for the worst seat in the house (literally) was much higher than I've paid for much better seats in actual CFL stadiums. The prices came down for the 2019 version; those who bought early literally paid the price.

The other "fun" part of that excursion is that you couldn't see the yard markers until the sun went down far enough.

The original starting time for the 2019 Touchdown Atlantic was 7:30 pm ADT. The kickoff has been moved to 1 pm ADT.

Analysis: Could Moncton host a permanent CFL franchise?

CFL hits Moncton, showcasing New Brunswick, but U.S. can only see the game on ESPN3.com (2011)

The 2013 version featured the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and their well-traveled fans against the Montréal Alouettes, who were supposed to have Anthony Calvillo. I remember running into a lot of Tiger-Cats fans in downtown Moncton. There wasn't a lot in downtown Moncton so the black and gold were easier to spot.

The game itself featured CFL uniforms from coast-to-coast. I remember Ottawa Rough Riders jerseys; the RedBlacks didn't start until 2014. That was a fun experience seeing a rainbow of CFL support.

CFL travels have sent me to every league city

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

This region would support an actual team. Rooting for out-of-region teams is nice but doesn't have the same feel. The Montréal Alouettes are a logical draw for their relative proximity but also for the French-speaking people of New Brunswick who would watch the CFL on RDS. The Alouettes are not as good as they were in 2013 but better than they have been in recent times. Toronto, the team sacrificing a home game, is by all definitions the worst CFL team in 2019.

This is the Argos second game of the CFL season against a fellow East opponent. The Alouettes have been a pleasant surprise.

The temptation would be to make this a regional team similar to the Green Bay Packers playing some of their game in Milwaukee. Halifax needs to justify 10 home dates for a stadium.

Shannon Park would be a great site for a new Halifax stadium that could be used for multiple purposes. The imagery of the ferries crossing from Halifax to the skyline being seen on national TV (and even into the United States) is something people in Halifax should look forward to seeing.

The Touchdown Atlantic is a good way to remind Canadians of this part of their country. The Atlantic Schooners would showcase the sports passion of people in the Maritimes. For the first time, the Touchdown Atlantic game will air on U.S. television.

TSN and RDS will show the 2019 Touchdown Atlantic game. ESPNews will carry the TSN feed in the United States.

photos credit: me; CFL

Canadian film review: Finding Don McKellar

I have had a theory that I had the privilege of living in Toronto, I might run into famous Canadian film people doing ordinary things. Toronto is now the fourth-largest city in North America, behind New York City, Mexico City, and Los Angeles. The magnitude of Toronto makes that dream not so likely.

Ben Gordon and Matt Hoffman had a bit of fun to try and find acclaimed Canadian film icon Don McKellar in Finding Don McKellar. Like several films dating back at least to Michael Moore's Roger and Me, the fun is not actually finding McKellar.

Gordon and Hoffman have fun in the process of the 11-minute short film with recreating moments from McKellar's masterpiece Last Night, shot in Toronto, and a list of favourite Toronto places McKellar noted in a 24 Hours article.

Sensitive Skin shows the shadows of dark Canadian humour

They also take off for the Toronto Islands in hopes of finding McKellar based on the fact that Season 2 of Sensitive Skin was filmed on the islands.

'Twitch City' is where my love for Canada started

'Twitch City' on DVD

Canadian film review: Highway 61

'The Grand Seduction' matches up well with Quebecois version

McKellar is a triple threat as writer, director, and actor. The film honours his achievements in all these categories.

As we've noted, I first discovered his talents through Twitch City.

Americans can find McKellar's talents as a voice actor in Window Horses and in Mina Shum's Meditation Park as well as The Grand Seduction, all on Netflix.

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Gordon and Hoffman use Finding Don McKellar to draw attention to Canadian film as well as Canadian television. Extending this to a full-length film might be more than enough time to go through McKellar's career but could be a good way to draw attention to the wonderful world of Canadian film.

Canadian film review: Women Who Act

Though this film takes a different path from Women Who Act, both do a fine job with giving insight into Canadian film.

Finding Don McKellar would be a good opening short film before you watch Last Night. You could pair this film with Your Mother and I, a short film from Anna Maguire featuring McKellar and Julia Sarah Stone.

video credit: YouTube/Ben Gordon
photo credit: Finding Don McKellar film

2019 CFL Week 10 preview

The BC Lions are in for a tough visit in Winnipeg to start out the CFL week. Edmonton goes to Toronto on the opening day of the 2019 CNE. A game ticket gets you into the fairgrounds. Got to help Toronto's attendance any way you can.

The Saturday doubleheader is East-dominant with Hamilton in Ottawa in the late afternoon and the Alouettes in Calgary in the late afternoon out west.

ESPN2 picked a bad weekend to go dark. ESPN+ has the entire weekend in the United States.

Saskatchewan gets to bake some Saskatoon berry pies in its week off.

TSN

Thursday
BC @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
Friday
Edmonton @ Toronto, 7:30p
Saturday
Hamilton @ Ottawa, 4p
Montréal @ Calgary, 7p

Bye week: Saskatchewan

"The weather protocol states that if there is a stoppage greater than 60 minutes after the game becomes official at the midway point of the third quarter, the game will be considered final, and that two points will be awarded to the leading team."

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were up 17-10 with 2:41 remained in the third quarter. The delay ran from 9:06 pm to 10:06 pm Eastern. The late game in Edmonton started on time. TSN would have split the feed if the Roughriders and Alouettes kept playing.

"The weather protocol was negotiated into the CFL and the CFLPA’s collective bargaining agreement this past spring." This also came from the CFL statement.

We thought the end of the game in Montréal might be on ESPN2 but that wasn't the case.

MLB sets the mark at 5 innings (4½ innings if the home team is winning). Setting limits might be a good idea: 60 minutes is not long enough for a delay while 2 hours would be better. This could lead to Montréal not making the CFL playoffs.

During the actual game, Saskatchewan got both touchdowns from fumbles after hitting the quarterback. Earl Okine and Charleston Hughes scored for the Roughriders and Antonio Pipkin and Matt Shiltz were the targets. The Alouettes major score came on a 101-yard punt return by Shakeir Ryan.

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The BC Lions dominated the time of possession in the 3rd quarter with about 11 of the 15 minutes. The Lions were up 34-19 early in the 4th quarter.

Hamilton scored the final 16 points, including a late touchdown from Dane Evans to Brandon Banks. This was likely the Lions best game of the season but also the second loss where BC blew a large lead.

The short turnaround and Mike Reilly struggling with a bad ankle will not help the Lions.

The Hamilton comeback is a reminder that shutting off games late in the 3rd quarter has repercussions.

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Winnipeg snapped its 2-game losing streak thanks to the phenomenal performance of Janarion Grant in his CFL debut. Grant had 306 kick return yards and a pair of punt return touchdowns of 76 and 83 yards in the first half.

Calgary falls to 5-3 along with Saskatchewan and Edmonton, a game behind the Blue Bombers at 6-2.

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The lone ESPN2 TV game was a boring affair. The first half was exciting by comparison with an Ottawa 12-10 lead.

Ottawa went 23 minutes in the second half before getting a first down. Edmonton scored the only points of the second half with a major somewhat late in the 4th quarter.

The RedBlacks had a chance at the end but couldn't pull off a major of its own.

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2019 is the Year of the Return with 18 returns for touchdowns already this season. The 18 returns is the best mark in recent years and we aren't at Labour Day yet. The last 3 years have seen 15 (2018), 16 (2017), and 13 (2016).

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

The game Saturday in Hamilton was the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Game. Jon Cornish, the legendary Canadian running back for Calgary, was among the 2019 inductees. The hall used to be in downtown Hamilton but was moved to Tim Hortons Field. I would love to take in both a hall visit and a game.

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Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor ruled the west in Winnipeg and Edmonton. Rod Black and Matt Dunigan were in Montréal Friday night. Black and Duane Forde held command in Hamilton on Saturday. Rod Smith got a Thursday off.

The CFL on TSN panel were onsite at Tim Hortons Field for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame activities.

photo credit: RDS/CFL

Come From Away a chance to learn about Canadian kindness on 9/11

Come From Away tells the story of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador and how the town responded to an influx of sudden visitors after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Planes were flying to and from Europe and Asia from Canada and the United States. With U.S. airspace restricted, the planes had to land somewhere. That somewhere was Canada.

Operation Yellow Ribbon process had 256 planes in Canada in 17 different airports. Gander took in 38 airplanes while Halifax had 40 planes. Other transatlantic flights ended up in St. John's, Moncton, CFB Goose Bay (Labrador), and Stephenville, NL.

Vancouver and Winnipeg handled the majority of flights coming from the other direction. Edmonton and Calgary airports helped out as well.

Transport Canada didn't want flights coming into Toronto, Ottawa, and Montréal. Despite this announcement, some planes did land at Pearson International Airport in Toronto and Montréal–Mirabel International Airport and Dorval (now Pierre Trudeau) International Airport in Montréal.

The Broadway musical Come From Away touring the United States takes us through the anxieties of those traveling and wondering where they were as well as the dilemmas of those in Gander about how to accommodate the influx of travelers.

They landed with little news about what had happened and had to stay on the planes for awhile. Once they exited the planes, the passengers and crew had a lot of disorienting confusion and concern. They were also greeted with warmth, love, and lots of food.

The townspeople were settling into an ordinary day when called upon to help those trapped by events in the United States.

The show is filled with ordinary details such as a school bus strike temporarily lifted to help get large amount of people to destinations. At one point, a woman is happy to be there but still wants to go home.

A gay couple try to hide their relationship because they aren't sure about whether these people will understand. Turns out gay people are everywhere, even in Newfoundland.

They see a moose at one point. We hear Newfoundland lingo. Cod tongues were mentioned. There is even a song about the screech ceremony, which might have seemed unusual even if the passengers had been to other parts of Canada.

The warmth, friendliness, and generosity of the people of Gander and Newfoundland is apparent, obvious, and loved. The lasting friendships of those people in the play and in real life are awe-inspiring.

There are Canadian references such as Tim Hortons (which got a big laugh at the show I attended in Chicago) and Shoppers (Drug Mart). Even if you didn't know what Shoppers was, you soon figured it out.

The deterioration of the U.S.-Canada relationship ties back to September 11, 2001

There might be a concern about seeing or laughing at a musical that has to do with 9/11. The show has little to do with the actual attacks but more about the people temporarily in a foreign land and their triumphs and struggles. The show might trigger such moments if you are more sensitive about what happened that fateful day. Your feelings are more than valid. We do not judge.

The Chicago audience had a chance to learn more about what happened during a Q&A session, featuring Lt. General Rick Findley from North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD); James Earl Jones II, a Chicago native who is in the show; and Beverley Bass, the first female American Airlines pilot who features prominently in the musical.

Even for those who landed in Canada but closer to the United States, Findley reminded the audience that the Canada-U.S. border was closed for awhile. The musical makes a note about showing how long it would take just to get to the U.S. border from Gander.

Jones told the story of taking an initiative to visit Gander. The touring company only had a single official week off in the year. Jones took that opportunity to go to Gander.

His plane didn't arrive until 3:15 am yet Jones were greeted upon his arrival in Gander. Jones said Gander has a Wal-Mart, mom/pop shoppes, and an open door policy. He said they took him everywhere and he was immersed in the community. Jones mentioned the Bread Box and noted the "mug shot" there is having your picture in front of a wall of mugs.

Jones got an offer to chase icebergs where a woman was driving a random stranger (Jones) for several hours to see icebergs. He said the people there never wanted a thank you or money for their help for Operation Yellow Ribbon.

He told the audience that Gander is now up to 12,000, up from 9,000 in 2001.

Come From Away wins a single Tony award for best direction

Come From Away earns 7 Tony nominations

Come From Away hits Broadway, shows how Canada helped out after 9/11

CanadianCrossing.com Newfoundland and Labrador coverage

Beverley Bass arrived late with a delayed flight the night of the discussion. Bass said her plane was the 36th of 38 planes to land on September 11. Her September 11 day started in Paris and was scheduled to end in Dallas.

The passengers on her flight were forced to remain on the aircraft with limited news. Bass said the passengers and crew didn't leave the airplane until 7:30 am on September 12. They stayed in Gander for 5 days.

When they did leave the airplane, they went through a tiny terminal. Bass remembered the tables full of food that the people of Gander had cooked up the previous night. They handed everyone a plastic bag full of food.

I asked Jones how much he knew about the story before doing the play: "Nothing." He didn't know Gander existed and had never been to Canada. Jones didn't even know about the Tom Brokaw Operation Yellow Ribbon video (above) that NBC News ran during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Jones said the story blew my mind and "you will be compelled to find out about Gander once you've heard the story."

Location might be a factor in seeing this musical as opposed to where you see Hamilton. Jones said the Toronto Come From Away shows felt like a party. He was reminded in the Q&A that a lot of Newfoundland people live in Toronto (not just Q's Tom Power).

If you don't get a chance to see the musical, you can find out more about the experience through a documentary You Are Here. Jones mentioned the documentary in his presentation and noted that the documentary is already available in Canada.

There are screenings in 800 theatres across the United States on September 11.

Come From Away is based on a true story, a story that Americans should know about how Canada responded at America's lowest modern moment.

map credit: Google
photos credit: me
video credit: NBC News

Workin' Moms will be the next Netflix Canadian treasure

Schitt's Creek (5 seasons) and Kim's Convenience (3 seasons) each found an audience in the United States with Netflix. Workin' Moms was the logical next entry since Season 1 appeared on Netflix.

Even though Workin' Moms has aired 3 seasons on CBC, Season 1 was the only season on Netflix until late last month.

Good news for the U.S. audience: Netflix recently added Season 2 and will carry Season 3 on August 27 (August 29 according to some sources).

Workin' Moms Season 1 finally comes to Netflix

Workin' Moms provides CBC with Canadian humour for adults

Season 2 starts with a flashback episode set in 2005. Reitman took a good risk in using the episode to tell the backstory of Kate and Anne. Their friendship goes through a few pains in Season 2.

Amanda Brugel, who seems like she is in most Canadian shows, is in a few episodes in Season 2.

Jann Arden plays Anne's (Dani Kind) mother. The show gets great secondary support from folks such as Olunike Adeliyi, Mimi Kuzyk, Dan Aykroyd, Jess Salgueiro, and Peter Keleghan.

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

"Hi, I'd like an abortion." "You can't just walk in here and order one." "But this is Canada."

We won't say who says that line. Such a great line and a way to reinforce pride in Canada.

Catherine Reitman (sister of Jason, daughter of Ivan) is the mastermind behind Workin' Moms and is the star of the show. Dani Kind as Anne Carlson is so marvelous to watch. Frankie Coyne (Juno Rinaldi) has gone through a lot. Jenny Matthews (Jessalyn Wanlim) gives way as her husband Ian (Dennis Andres) becomes part of the mother scene.

Season 4 of Workin' Moms airs this winter on CBC.

photo credit: Workin' Moms/CBC

Kelly Knight Craft gets to stop pretending to spend time in Canada

Kelly Knight Craft got a promotion from U.S. Ambassador to Canada to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations by a 56-34 vote in the U.S. Senate. This promotion was not based on her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Flying from New York City to Kentucky ought to be easier than flying from Ottawa to Kentucky.

As we noted in June, Craft was asked about hundreds of absences from her post as U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Some of her absences were allegedly tied to the CUSMA talks, but there isn't proof. Despite her lack of interest in her current post, the GOP-controlled Senate helped push her out of Canada.

Aldona Wos, a retired physician and former U.S. Ambassador to Estonia from 2004-2006, is the new nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Wos served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from 2012-2015.

2019 Canada Day notebook: The many absences of Kelly Knight Craft

Book review: The Art of Diplomacy

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada has a new book on The Art of Diplomacy

Kelly Knight Craft may leave U.S. Ambassador to Canada post for promotion

Craft's "both sides" of climate change. The sweet time that she took to show up in Ottawa. Her invisibility cloak. Her lies about working on the horrible NAFTA rewrites. Her sincere lack of interest in anything Canada or Canadian. Her inability to help in the many crises between the two countries. Her large number of absences from the post. 

Andrew Cohen wrote a column in the Ottawa Citizen that sums up Craft's tenure as ambassador.

"That Craft has been an absentee ambassador is not news in Ottawa, where she made few public appearances or speeches (beyond friendly audiences) and seldom gave interviews. She socialized little, unlike other ambassadors. And, as Politico reports, Craft left Canada often – once for several weeks. ... " 

"Craft is called 'a good listener' and 'a quick study' who is charming and generous, and opened doors in Washington to Canadians. But she introduced herself awkwardly to Ottawa in October 2017 when she mused to the CBC about 'both sides of the science' on climate change. This set the tone of her ambassadorship: cautious, scripted and largely unseen, beyond tweeting chirpy greetings to relatives, celebrating the military and praising Vice-President Mike Pence, a close friend."

Wos may not be a great ambassador based on her potential boss. She can't be as bad as Craft. Good luck to the United Nations.

Where in the world is Kelly Knight Craft?

Kelly Knight Craft nominated to be U.S. Ambassador to Canada

CanadianCrossing.com Donald Trump coverage

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I have offered in the past to be a Canadian senator or U.S. Ambassador to Canada. I might not prove to be too diplomatic for the latter role. Understanding of Canada and/or an eagerness to learn is helpful for any U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Bruce and Vicki Heyman had some of the former and a lot more of the latter. Craft had neither.

Under normal circumstances, the United States and Canada can be close friends. If Wos gets the nod, we hope for some repair in the relationship.

Canadian ambassadors should know Canada really well

New U.S. ambassador to Canada should know Canada before taking job

The Globe and Mail reported yesterday that Canada Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton will step down from the post. MacNaughton, who is expected to leave at the end of the month, has been the ambassador since March 3, 2016.

Kirsten Hillman, Canada's deputy ambassador to the United States, will take over as acting ambassador.

video credit: CBC News
photo credit: Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press

2019 CFL Week 9 preview

ESPN2 peeks in to carry the latter half of a Friday night doubleheader. Perhaps we will get to see the end of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Montréal before Ottawa travels to Edmonton to visit a few old buddies.

Calgary is in Winnipeg on Thursday night while the BC Lions hang out in Hamilton on Saturday night.

Toronto gets to rest after its first win before the 2019 CNE comes to town.

ESPN2

Friday
Ottawa @ Edmonton, 10p

TSN

Thursday
Calgary @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
Friday
Saskatchewan @ Montréal, 7p
Ottawa @ Edmonton, 10p
Saturday
BC @ Hamilton, 7p

Bye week: Toronto

The Argos lost on a rouge in the previous home game. Toronto's decisive advantage in its first win of the season was on a rouge.

The Winnipeg strategy at that point of the game wasn't to get a point. The rouge cut the Toronto deficit to 6 points, which proved advantageous after a last-minute touchdown and a conversion. Points matter whenever they come in a game.

Winnipeg blew a 20-point lead for its second straight loss. The Blue Bombers stayed east and worked out at the University of Guelph, coach Mike O'Shea's alma mater. The eastern air didn't help as Winnipeg lost to Hamilton and Toronto. Winnipeg is undefeated in the west and at home.

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Montréal had a chance to win the tiebreaker over Ottawa. The injury to Vernon Adams Jr. hurt the Alouettes chances to hang on to the lead as the RedBlacks had a comeback to tie and force OT. Montréal fumbled in its OT scoring chance. That was the first OT game of the 2019 season.

Adams remains out with a "minor concussion" and won't play against Saskatchewan.

The season series tiebreaker won't be determined until the final weekend of the season. If the teams tie on November 1, Montréal gets the tiebreaker with a +14 in head-to-head battle.

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Dane Evans had a solid game in his 2019 debut as a starter for Hamilton. The offence struggled early; not having Brandon Banks was a factor. The Tiger-Cats had a chance for a win but the Saskatchewan 10-point last-minute comeback was the difference.

Calgary outlasted Edmonton in the first Battle of Alberta. The Stampeders join Winnipeg and Hamilton at 5-2 in the CFL standings.

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The BC Lions acquired offensive lineman Justin Renfrow in a trade with Calgary. The Lions need a lot of help on the offensive line. One blocker might not make a difference. The fans in Vancouver hope the move will help.

Winnipeg wide receiver Chris Matthews was on the field in Toronto. Matthews was reportedly the victim of a recent stabbing in Winnipeg. Glad Matthews is much improved.

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Rod Smith and Duane Forde held court in Toronto on Thursday. Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor were together in Regina on Thursday and Calgary on Saturday. Rod Black and Forde hung out in Montréal on Friday.

2019 TIFF Rising Stars

The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival has announced its Rising Stars. Each year, TIFF picks 4 young Canadian stars in the making.

The Rising Stars have different paths whether they have done a couple of films or mostly TV work. 

The 2019 Rising Stars are (left to right) Kacey Rohl, Mikhail Ahooja, Nahéma Ricci, and Shamier Anderson.

We have our first sibling connection as Anderson joins his brother Stephan James (class of 2015) on the list. Anderson and his brother Stephan co-founded the B.L.A.C.K. Ball, an event hosted in Toronto during TIFF and in Los Angeles during Oscars season.

Rohl, from Vancouver, has done mostly television, including The Killing, Arrow, Hannibal, Wayward Pines, and The Magicians. She will be featured in White Lie playing at TIFF 2019.

Ahooja, a Montréal-based actor, has done a mix of plays, TV, and movies. TV credits include Au secours de Béatrice, Prémonitions, and Juste nous deux. His feature films include La Maison du pêcheur, Fabuleuses, and The Twentieth Century, the latter playing at TIFF 2019.

Ricci, born in Montréal, has a varied career as a performer, interpreter, and author/director. She is also the author, director, and interpreter of the play Identikit, presented in the Montréal fringe festival. Ricci has been in Ailleurs and the upcoming Antigone playing at TIFF 2019.

Anderson, from Toronto, has had the most famous career in and out of Canada. His TV work includes Wynonna Earp and Goliath. His feature roles include Across the Line, Destroyer, and City of Lies. Endings, Beginnings debuts at TIFF 2019.

We continue to see past Rising Stars. Jared Abrahamson (2016) is in the TV show Travelers available on Netflix in the U.S. and Canada. Alexandre Landry (2014) was in the latest Denys Arcand film The Fall of the American Empire | La chute de l'empire américain. Grace Glowicki (2016) was in Paper Year and will be in Raf at TIFF 2019. Charlotte Sullivan (2012) just finished up the final season of Mary Kills People. Karelle Tremblay (2015) starred in The Fireflies Are Gone. Sophie Nélisse (2016) will be in The Rest Of Us at TIFF 2019. Evelyne Brochu (2013) was in Monia Chokri's La femme de mon frère, a film that debuted at Cannes 2019.

2019 TIFF Canadian film preview

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Here are the TIFF Rising Stars.

2011 Sarah Allen, Katie Boland, Sarah Gadon, Keon Mohajeri

2012 Tatiana Maslany, Connor Jessup, Charlotte Sullivan, Charlie Carrick

2013 Megan Park, Johnathan Sousa, Evelyne Brochu, Cara Gee

2014 Shannon Kook, Sophie Desmarais, Alexandre Landry, Julia Sarah Stone

2015 Deragh Campbell, Stephan James, Aliocha Schneider, Karelle Tremblay

2016 Jared Abrahamson, Grace Glowicki, Mylène Mackay, Sophie Nélisse

2017 Daniel Doheny, Mary Galloway, Théodore Pellerin, Ellen Wong

2018 Devery Jacobs, Lamar Johnson, Michaela Kurimsky, Jess Salgueiro

2019 Kacey Rohl, Mikhail Ahooja, Nahéma Ricci, Shamier Anderson

You can find out more about these TIFF Rising Stars.

photo credit: TIFF