Canadian Crossing

Larry Walker is now the second Canadian in the Baseball Hall of Fame

Like his Montréal Expos teammate Tim Raines, Larry Walker reaches the Baseball Hall of Fame on his 10th and final try. Walker was on 76.6% of the ballots, making the Hall by a 6-vote margin.

Walker is the second Canadian and first position player from Canada to reach the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ferguson Jenkins was the first Canadian player to reach the honour in 1991.

Although I believe I’m going to come up a little short today I still wanna thank all you that have been pulling for me and showing your support. I’m grateful for all of you! It’s been fun leading up to today reading everyone’s thoughts. Cheers 🍻 LW

— Larry Walker (@Cdnmooselips33) January 21, 2020

Walker, the pride of Maple Ridge, BC, showed Canadian modesty earlier in the day. Walker did thank all those for their support.

Walker had a lifetime .313 batting average with 383 HR and 230 SB with an OBP of .400. He won a MVP in 1997 and 3 batting titles.

The outfielder won 7 Gold Gloves, 2 with Montréal. Walker turned 40 double plays as an outfielder in his career, ranking him 10th in MLB history. His .565 slugging percentage was 12th best all time. Walker is one of 20 players since 1900 (minimum 5000 plate appearances) with at least a .300 average .400 OBP, and a .500 slugging percentage.

Walker started his career with the Montréal Expos from 1989-1994. He left for Colorado as a free agent, playing for the Rockies from 1995-2004. Walker finished 2004 with St. Louis before retiring after the 2005 season.

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The road to the Baseball Hall of Fame was rough for Walker. His lowest point was 10.2% in 2014 (75% is the threshold needed). The highest total in the first 6 years was 22.9% in 2012.

In 2017, Walker was at 21.9%. The outfielder moved up to 34.1% in 2018 and 54.6% in 2019.

Celebrating Montreal Expos legacy in Washington, DC

Toronto Blue Jays help celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Montreal Expos

Ryan Dempster on the MLB Network Monday night pointed out the impact of Walker was a "Hall of Famer for a lot of different reasons."

"(Walker) influenced an entire country and changed the dynamic of which we play baseball up there." Dempster talked about Canadians who would be on the fence as to whether to play hockey or baseball.

Seeing Walker succeed made them "believe now that they could play in the major leagues and be successful major leaguers because of him. And to me, that influence he had on an entire country and a generation of baseball players coming from there should put him in the Hall of Fame alone."

When Walker started his professional baseball career, Canadians weren't eligible for the MLB draft.

Walker made a significant impact on Canadian baseball. He noted that his high school didn't even have a baseball team. MLB has a lot more Canadian players: Joey Votto, Justin Morneau, and Russell Martin will get some potential HOF mention and who knows about Mike Soroka and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

Tim Raines had to wait even longer to make Baseball Hall of Fame speech

Tim Raines finally makes the Baseball Hall of Fame

#Retire33 Weekend will be April 17-19 at Coors Field, culminating with the number retirement ceremony on Sunday, April 19. pic.twitter.com/TtGoo2STg5

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) January 17, 2020

Walker has a sense of humour. The best example of that came in the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland. Walker was facing Seattle's Randy Johnson, lefty against lefty. A Johnson pitch sails over Walker's head. Walker has fun in the moment putting his batting helmet on backwards and hitting right-handed.

Walker described himself after being accepted into the hall that he thought of himself as the B-side of a 45 record with Derek Jeter also getting the honour.

He also found out last week that the Colorado Rockies will retire Larry Walker's #33 on Sunday, April 19.

As wonderful as Walker would look in a Montréal Expos cap, the outfielder will almost certainly be in a Rockies cap. The effects of the 1994 Montréal Expos team and the unceremonious breakup of the team thanks to the strike meant that Walker would find fame in a different uniform.

CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage

Walker will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY on July 26. There will be plenty of Montréal Expos fans at the ceremony.

photo credit: MLB Network
Twitter captures: @cdnmooselips33; @Rockies

Little Women; Anne with an E are relevant updates to appreciate timeless classics

There is no conclusive data that men are afraid to see the latest remake of Little Women, up for best picture at the 92nd Academy Awards. We wouldn’t be surprised if some men are afraid or reluctant to see the film.

Your humble narrator wasn’t excited about seeing the film. I didn't get too far into the 1994 version. The 1994 version had Trini Alvarado as Meg; Winona Ryder as Jo; Claire Danes as Beth; and Samantha Mathis and Kirsten Dunst split time as Amy.

I didn’t know there was a 1949 version (Janet Leigh as Meg; June Allyson as Jo; Margaret O'Brien as Beth; and Elizabeth Taylor as Amy).

If you read the book, you know how the movie turns out. Their stories aren’t all that hopeful. That doesn’t always appeal to some filmgoers, regardless of primary gender.

Little Women (2019) brings the story to life unlike its well-meaning predecessors, thanks to Greta Gerwig, who was nominated for an Oscar for best adapted screenplay but sadly not nominated for best director.

Emma Watson as Meg; Saoirse Ronan as Jo; Eliza Scanlen as Beth; and Florence Pugh as Amy play the March sisters in the newest version.

Gerwig does a great job in making clear the distinction between the sisters. True fans might find that to be obvious; casual viewers might struggle. Gerwig covers a lot of ground with flashbacks to different points in the story without making the audience nauseous. The story was a lot easier to follow, even if you have read the book.

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The paths of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy don’t change. They are given more honour in this adaptation.

Some true fans might find the 1994 and 1949 as well as other versions to be more authentic. The story feels more modern in Gerwig’s hands and guidance.

A number of fans had a similar reaction to the latest version of Anne of Green Gables, Anne with an E on CBC and Netflix.

Moira Walley-Beckett and Miranda de Pencier incorporated women writers and inclusion themes into the timeless classic story. Amybeth McNulty had an unique brightness and energy to the spirited Anne Shirley Cuthbert.

The criticism over a character of colour and an Indingenous girl reflects the reality of the time instead of ignoring the obvious.

Anne with an E cancellation might be start of fallout with CBC and Netflix

Females make up slightly more of the population and a significant percentage of those who see movies. They see a lot of films because a guy encouraged them to go see a film. The films that dominate the best director category leap to mind: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; The Irishman; 1917.

I had an acquaintance who posted on FB say “I’m guessing no film directed by a women (sic) was worthy this year.” I replied "Little Women, Hustlers, The Farewell. Booksmart."

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

Film and TV are about insight into stories. To ignore stories from women, people of colour, and other visible minorities prevents us from seeing all of humanity. We are making strides with foreign films such as Roma and Parasite getting more recognition; films by women deserve much more recognition.

Louisa May Alcott and Lucy Maud Montgomery might have a few notes or two about the latest adaptations of their heroines. They might embrace the spirit of those characters told in a modern embrace.

The realities of girls and women in 2020 are a lot different than 1994 (Little Women) and 1985 (Anne of Green Gables). Men, women, those that identify otherwise: they see these modern adaptations as taking in these timeless stories in a more relatable prism. Your humble narrator hopes to live long enough to see the next remakes 30 years down the road. And he won’t be afraid to see them.

photos credit: Little Women film; Anne with an E/Netflix

CUSMA passes through U.S. Congress

Today is a federal holiday in the United States with the impeachment trial resuming tomorrow morning.

Even without those elements, the U.S. Congress passing the CUSMA | USMCA still would have little attention. The Senate voted 89-10 last week to approve the deal. The U.S. House passed the legislation 385-41 last month.

NAFTA 2.0, er, USMCA is a nightmarish trade deal for Canada

"Canada's existing cultural exemption is preserved under the new deal. This is in place to protect Canada’s cultural institutions from being bought out by U.S. business interests. Though as we’ve seen, U.S.-based hedge funds dominate control over Postmedia, the largest private newspaper company in Canada, with a reported 98% ownership level by U.S.-based hedge funds."

We go into garish length to say why this is a horrible trade deal for Canada. Victory is being defined as not losing important issues such as Canada's cultural exemption.

U.S. gets more access to Canada on the milk, eggs, chicken, and turkey markets and introduces the artificial growth hormone recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) allowed in American milk but banned for Canadian milk.

Clause 32 deals with any attempt by Canada to negotiate with a “non-market country” (i.e., China) and how Canada would have to keep the United States up to date in obnoxious detail. A cornucopia of petty for the U.S. and against Canada.

Just to be clear, Canada doesn't gain anything of advantage from the United States.

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Despite childish threats by Donald Trump, Canada should hold out for a good NAFTA deal

The Trudeau Government has said good things about the trade deal. You have to smile when you are being extorted and sign a trade deal under the threat of bullying. Not an idle threat with the tariffs that came down. Still have a tariff on Canada on softwood lumber, which wasn't solved with NAFTA 2.0.

Canada is the only country that hasn't passed the trade deal. The prime minister has a minority government. The Liberals wouldn't get votes from the NDP and Greens. The Bloc Quebecois aren't likely to support the deal because of Quebec's aluminum industry, dairy industry, or both.

The Conservative Party could help get the trade deal over the threshold. Can't believe we're saying this, but the Conservatives would do Canada a great favour by refusing to accept the deal. Someone would have to translate what a minority government has to confront to Donald Trump.

CanadianCrossing.com trade coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Donald Trump coverage

The Trudeau Government argued against a sunset clause, which could trigger uncertainty in trade. Canada has been living with uncertainty since 2017, which is part of the anguish of signing a bad trade deal. There is a sunset clause in this trade deal: a 16-year sunset clause. The deal is also subject to a review every 6 years. That is a long time to wait to fix a really horrible trade deal.

Parliament is back in session on January 27. Laws and regulations have to be adjusted based on elements in the new trade deal. The Senate will likely take its sweet time, as they are required to do. The new trade deal kicks in 90 days if Canada approves the deal. 

photo credit: Government of Canada

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle living in Canada will be easier by staying fewer than 6 months

"A British and American couple, both unemployed, are seeking to emigrate to Canada despite having no real skills to offer the country, early reports indicate. British and American media have said that an American actor and her husband have the intention of living in the country on a semi-permanent or permanent basis.

"The actor has found some previous work in Toronto which may help her immigration and work permit applications although Citizenship and Immigration Canada has not identified acting as an in-demand trade."

The Beaverton captured the Harry and Meghan saga of potentially living in Canada better than any serious article.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are looking into living part of their lives in Canada. British Columbia seems to be a more specific target since the couple and new son, Archie, spent the holidays on Vancouver Island and Markle has been spotted this week in Vancouver.

We've seen quite a bit of coverage about the hurdles the couple would have to go through to live in Canada part time. As lovely as that coverage has been, there is one huge consideration. None of those concerns apply if the royal family spends less than 6 months in Canada. Everything gets more complicated if they stay beyond 6 months.

The couple doesn't have to stay in England for 6 months provided the family travels elsewhere.

Having a lot of money and staying within the guidelines makes living in Canada rather easy. The family won't get help from Canada outside of security costs. Their pounds will go further in Canada. The pound has been trading lower thanks to Brexit. Still, the pound is trading at approximately $1.30 U.S. and $1.70 Canadian.

The awkwardness of having them in Canada would come with working in Canada. As we've learned, the standard is high in that you have to be supremely qualified that no Canadian could do what you do. Actors and hockey players, among others, get special dispensation.

Markle does have work experience in Canada having worked on Suits in Toronto. She would have an easier time working in Canada than the prince would.

Prince Harry could do some of his royal work while in Canada. The country has more of an issue with taking jobs in Canada as opposed to people with overseas jobs being physically in Canada.

Canadian snowbirds in the United States have limitations on how long they can stay in the United States. Unlike Americans in Canada, Canadian snowbirds have to be concerned with spending enough time in Canada to keep their health insurance.

England's royal baby boy 3rd in line to be Canada's monarch, but should tradition end?

Royal baby has to wait in a long line to be relevant to Canadians

There was even speculation of Prince Harry becoming Canada's Governor General. The National Post poll had 61% supporting the prince in that role. So many problems with that from the royal end, such as the awkwardness of a close blood relative representing the monarch, whether that be grandson of the current Queen or son or brother of those next in line. Let's talk about that from Canada's perspective.

The end of World War II brought a number of significant changes to have Canada be more autonomous from the United Kingdom. The Canadian Citizenship Act in 1947 created the designation of Canadian citizenship. Canadian passports were issued to Canadian citizens, as opposed to British subjects, the following year.

Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent advised Queen Elizabeth II days into her reign in 1952 to appoint Vincent Massey as the first Canadian-born Governor General. Every Governor General before was British; every governor general since has been Canadian.

Canadians can now transact with the new $10 bill featuring Viola Desmond

Neither Harry or Meghan have a felony, DUI or otherwise. Whatever the platitudes about moving to Canada, having a felony would be a considerable concern.

Markle did have the distinction of spending $20 bills in Canada with the picture of her future grandmother-in-law.

Staying slightly more in the United Kingdom would be a warm gesture to the royals and make living in Canada a lot easier. I would be willing to live in their place in the 6 months where they don't live in Canada.

The Canadian media will be a bit star struck at the beginning. They won't be as awful as the British tabloids have been, especially to Markle and her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana of Wales.

Markle has enough time spent in Canada so the royal family doesn't need this blog to help them. They can read about Canada at CanadianCrossing.com with almost next to nothing about them.

photo credit: Facebook/Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, Vancouver
video credit: Daily Show with Trevor Noah/Comedy Central

Canadian film review: Firecrackers

Young people wanting to escape small-town Canada for the United States makes for a great plot, such as New Waterford Girl. Lou (Michaela Kurimsky) and Chantal (Karena Evans) want to escape their small town for New York City but more because of trying to escape where they are. Firecrackers is an intense debut Canadian film from Jasmin Mozaffari.

Lou and Chantal have been raising money by cleaning motel rooms. They think they have enough money to escape. They start down the path of doing all the wrong things to do when trying to leave a small town. There is also the outside factor of Chantal being assaulted by her possessive ex-boyfriend. Lou's revenge ultimately means losing the hard-earned money.

The gender dynamic is clearly on display as the males make leaving much more difficult. When men run away, they aren't as likely to be held back by women.

Lou also struggles with her mother's new younger boyfriend. Lou works hard to protect her potentially closeted brother. Lou wants to leave but doesn't want her brother to struggle.

Mozaffari does really well to ground the film in reality. The friendship of Lou and Chantal gets tested in lots of ways.

The tension builds in the first half of the film. The second half of the film is mostly watching Lou spiral after being stuck in the small town while Chantal mostly disappears from the screen. The friendship is meaningful until it isn't.

Changing that ratio to have more excitement and tension over a longer section of the film would help. The only real disappointment in an otherwise strong film.

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TIFF selects Top 10 Canadian films of 2018

Canadian film review: New Waterford Girl

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Firecrackers was the feature debut for Michaela Kurimsky, one of the 2018 TIFF Rising Stars.

TIFF named Firecrackers to Canada's Top Ten list of 2018 films. The Toronto Film Critics Association listed the film as a finalist for the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award in 2019. The film won Canadian Screen Awards for Best Director for Jasmin Mozaffari and Best Editing for Simone Smith.

Firecrackers won Best Film and Best Actress (Michaela Kurimsky) at the 2018 Stockholm International Film Festival.

The film did have brief theatre runs in Canada and the United States. Firecrackers is available on Amazon Prime for an additional fee.

photo credit: Firecrackers film
video credit: YouTube/LevelFILM

Parasite set to be a breakthrough foreign film at 92nd Academy Awards

The 92nd Academy Awards will have a stronger foreign film influence mostly due to Parasite, the amazing South Korean film with 6 Oscar nominations. Parasite got a rare double nomination for best picture and best international feature film (known previously as best foreign language film).

Bong Joon Ho also picked up a nod for best director, in addition to original screenplay with Jin Won Han. The film also got nods for film editing and production design.

Burning was the first South Korean film to make the shortlist in the best international feature film category last year. Parasite won the Palme d’Or, Cannes highest honor, this spring.

Parasite will compete against Les Misérables (France); Honeyland (North Macedonia); Corpus Christi (Poland); and Pain and Glory (Spain) for Best International Feature Film. The shortlist films that didn't make the final cut are The Painted Bird (Czech Republic); Truth and Justice (Estonia); Those Who Remained (Hungary); Beanpole (Russia); and Atlantics (Senegal).

Lionheart from Nigeria suggests Academy Awards reconsider language for best international feature film

Parasite won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language last week. The film beat out The Farewell (United States); Pain and Glory (Spain); Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France); and Les Misérables (France).

"Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films." Bong Joon-ho said through a translator in his acceptance speech.

The Critics Choice Awards winner for Best Foreign Language Film was Parasite over Atlantics (Senegal); Les Misérables (France); Pain and Glory (Spain); and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France). Bong Joon-ho tied for Best Director for Parasite.

The night before the Academy Awards, the Film Independent Spirit Awards will hand out a winner for Best International Film. The nominees are:

• Invisible Life (Brazil)
• Les Misérables (France)
• Parasite (South Korea)
• Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France)
• Retablo (Peru)
• The Souvenir (United Kingdom)

Honeyland (North Macedonia) is also nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Antonio Banderas is up for Best Actor in Pain and Glory in a role that is in Spanish.

Parasite joins a select group of foreign-language films up for a Best Picture Oscar.

1938 Grand Illusion (France)
1969 Z (France/Algeria)*
1972 The Emigrants (Sweden)
1973 Cries and Whispers (Sweden)
1995 The Postman (Italy)
1998 Life Is Beautiful (Italy)*
2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Taiwan)*
2006 Letters from Iwo Jima (US)
2012 Amour (France/Germany/Austria) *
2018 Roma (Mexico) *
2019 Parasite (South Korea)*

* also nominated for Best International Feature Film. All the previous winners did win Best International Feature Film.

Canadians Oscars nomination scoreboard

Looking at how Canadians have done at the Oscars

Brotherhood made the cut for best live action short film for Meryam Joobeur. Brotherhood deals with a rural Tunisian family after the eldest son returns from fighting with ISIS. The film won best Canadian short film at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. The film has won more than 60 awards in 48 countries.

The Physics of Sorrow made the shortlist for best animated short from Theodore Ushev but didn't make the final cut. The Physics of Sorrow is comprised of more than 15,000 images with beeswax and resin, the first animated film made using the encaustic painting technique. That film features the voice talents of Donald and Rossif Sutherland.

Dean DeBlois from Aylmer, Quebec wrote and directed How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in the best animated feature category. Jay Baruchel is the lead as a young Viking named Hiccup.

Sami Khan from Sarnia, Ontario co-directed (with Smriti Mundhra) St. Louis Superman, a nominee in the best documentary short category. The film won the grand prize at the 2019 Indy Shorts International Film Festival in Indianapolis and won the audience choice award at the Traverse City Film Festival in Michigan.

Paul Massey is up for best sound mixing on Ford v Ferrari. Vancouver-born Dennis Gassner has a nomination for best production design for 1917.

Gassner now has 7 Oscar nominations, winning in 1992 for Bugsy.

Antigone doesn't make Oscars shortlist for best international feature film

Xavier Dolan film makes top 9 Oscars cut

Canada has only had a single film make the shortlist in the last 7 Oscars seasons: Xavier Dolan's Juste la fin du monde, which was 2 films ago for the French-Canadian director. That film didn't make the Top 5 cut.

Antigone didn't make the cut for Best International Feature Film. The Canadian entry didn't have much of a shot at making the Oscars shortlist. The film was the best entry Canada has had in the last 3 years.

Canada has the potential to get back in the discussion for Best International Feature Film. Les invasions barbares | The Barbarian Invasions from Denys Arcand is the only Canadian film to win an Oscar in this category.

Marvel superhero films have place in film landscape but shouldn't crowd out independent films

Scarlett Johansson does have some Canadian roots, having been married to Ryan Reynolds. Johansson became the 12th actor to receive dual acting nominations in the same year. These are the first Oscar nominations for Johansson.

Fay Bainter (1938) Best Actress, White Banners // Best Supporting Actress, Jezebel*
Teresa Wright (1942) Best Actress, The Pride of the Yankees // Best Supporting Actress, Mrs. Miniver*
Barry Fitzgerald (1944) Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, Going My Way*
Jessica Lange (1982) Best Actress, Frances // Best Supporting Actress, Tootsie (win)
Sigourney Weaver (1988) Best Actress, Gorillas in the Mist // Best Supporting Actress, Working Girl
Al Pacino (1992) Best Actor, Scent of a Woman* // Best Supporting Actor, Dick Tracy
Holly Hunter (1993) Best Actress, The Piano* // Best Supporting Actress, The Firm
Emma Thompson (1993) Best Actress, The Remains of the Day // Best Supporting Actress, In the Name of the Father
Julianne Moore (2002) Best Actress, Far From Heaven // Best Supporting Actress, The Hours
Jamie Foxx (2004) Best Actor, Ray* // Best Supporting Actor, Collateral
Cate Blanchett (2007) Best Actress, Elizabeth: The Golden Age // Best Supporting Actress, I'm Not There
Scarlett Johansson (2019) Best Actress, Marriage Story // Best Supporting Actress, Jojo Rabbit

* Oscar win

What Canadian film can learn from Jojo Rabbit?

Jojo Rabbit made an impact at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival winning the People’s Choice Award. TIFF viewers have had a good track record with seeing the potential of a film. JoJo Rabbit is a wonderful film, whatever you may have heard. TIFF patrons know their films.

Jojo Rabbit has 6 Oscar nominations: Best Picture; Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Johansson); Best Adapted Screenplay (writer/director Taika Waititi); costume design; film editing; and production design.

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The 92nd Academy Awards will take place on February 9 on ABC and CTV.

photos credit: Parasite film; Antigone film

Schitt's Creek shut out after 5 nominations at 2020 Critics Choice Awards

a story in three parts#CriticsChoice pic.twitter.com/TiGRBQzwTO

— Schitt's Creek (@SchittsCreek) January 13, 2020

What a difference a year makes. Schitt's Creek received a rare Critics Choice Awards nomination for a Canadian TV show for Best Comedy Series last year. The CBC and Pop TV show received 5 Critics' Choice Awards nominations this year: Best Comedy Series and acting nominations for its major players: Eugene Levy (Best Actor in a Comedy Series),  Catherine O'Hara (Best Actress in a Comedy Series), Daniel Levy (Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series), and Annie Murphy (Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series). 

The Critics' Choice Awards had the moment for the supporting actors at once, which came across terribly. Daniel Levy lost to Andrew Scott (Fleabag) and Annie Murphy lost to Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). Catherine O'Hara lost to Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag). Eugene Levy lost to Bill Hader (Barry). Schitt's Creek lost out to Fleabag.

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS) was nominated for Best Talk Show. The show lost to a tie with Late Late Show with James Corden and Late Night with Seth Meyers. Robbie Robertson (The Irishman) nominated for Best Score but lost to Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker).

2020 CBC television winter schedule

Top 10 best Canadian TV shows in the 2010s

Schitt's Creek, Anne with an E win big at 7th Canadian Screen Awards

Schitt's Creek receives 4 Emmy nominations

Schitt's Creek to bow out gracefully after Season 6 in 2020

Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara presented the award for Best Limited Series. They had a bit of fun with how depressing the material was in the category.

"I personally love Eugene Levy. I love you," said Kelly Clarkson when presenting the award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. "Schitt's Creek is the jam."

A Little Bit Alexis the newest music phenomenon from Schitt's Creek

Schitt's Creek gets rare Canadian nomination for Critics Choice Awards

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

The nominations apply to Season 5 of Schitt's Creek. The show has another season of potential awards for Season 6.

The awards were broadcast on the CW network on January 12.

Twitter capture and photo credit: @SchittsCreek

Neil Peart, legendary Rush drummer and lyricist, passes away at 67

Neil Peart September 12, 1952 - January 7, 2020 pic.twitter.com/NivX2RhiB8

— Rush (@rushtheband) January 10, 2020

Though Neil Peart passed away Tuesday, we only found out late on Friday afternoon. The long-time Rush drummer passed away at 67 after a 3½ year battle with glioblastoma.

The Neil Peart retirement lasted a little more than 4 years. The Rush retirement has been about 2 years old. The retirement felt like a sad reality. Lots of rock and roll bands retire to then go back and unretire. Even in 2018, you felt like this was real.

Rush fans know Peart joined the group in July 1974. Peart became the band's lyricist, taking the band and their fans in a new and exciting direction.

I had arranged a theoretical Canadian dinner party based on the contribution of words. I included Peart along with Leonard Cohen, Margaret Atwood, and Jacqueline Hennessy. Peart and Cohen have passed on, leaving a legacy of poetry all its own.

Neil Peart was also an author. His non-fiction work focuses on his travel experiences — Peart was an avid motorcycle rider. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road might have been his most significant work where Peart goes into the death of his 19-year-old daughter, Selena, in a car accident in 1997, and his wife, Jackie, who died of cancer 10 months after the accident.

Peart also worked on fiction novelizations of Rush's 2012 album Clockwork Angels.

The most Canadian thing I did in 2019 outside Canada was on August 21 when Cinema Strangiato 2019: An Annual Exercise In Fan Indulgence was shown in multiple cities in movie theatres. The concert footage went backward chronologically through their song catalogue. There were other fun tidbits in between songs showing off their humour.

The second most Canadian thing was check out the crowd waiting for the book signing for Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book Of Bass.

Rush the band reaches retirement with grace and dignity

Celebrating Canadian classic rock contributions

1981 was amazing year for Canadian classic rock artists

Some thoughts on what could go into a Canada music national playlist

Rush gets the long overdue Rolling Stone treatment

Wal-Mart use of Rush's 'Working Man' smothered in irony

Words is the theme of the inaugural Canadian Dinner Party

Rush in the 'limelight' after making Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Top 10 list: Canadian upbeat classic rock songs

'Suck' is a rock and roll film with vampires, but mostly cameos from cool rock stars

Rush makes first U.S. appearance in 33 years on U.S. TV

CanadianCrossing.com music coverage

If you got a chance to see Rush live in concert, be truly thankful. If you didn't, there are lots of recordings live and studio to enjoy.

If you weren't into Rush, appreciate that Neil Peart was a wordsmith and one of the most talented people at his craft.

Twitter capture: @Rushtheband
photo credit: Rolling Stone magazine
video credit: YouTube/Rush

Canadian content notebook: 2019 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award is selected

The iconic @MargaretAtwood gets a standing ovation and does the honours tonight opening THE envelop. And the @Rogers $100,000 Best Canadian Film Award goes to... @BodyRemembers!!!#TFCA2020 #TFCAAwardsGala2020 #TFCA20

— TFCA (@TFCA) January 10, 2020

The Toronto Film Critics Association selected The Body Remembers When the World Broken Open from Kathleen Hepburn and Elle-Maija Tailfeathers as the winner of the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award. The winning film gets a $100,000 prize. The other finalists were Antigone by Sophie Deraspe; and Firecrackers from Jasmin Mozaffari.

I've seen all these films, not something that happens every year. Our Firecrackers review is coming soon.

Here are the previous winners:

2018 Anthropocene Ed Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier
2017 Werewolf Ashley McKenzie
2016 The Stairs Hugh Gibson
2015 The Forbidden Room Guy Maddin
2014 Enemy Denis Villeneuve
2013 Watermark Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky
2012 Stories We Tell Sarah Polley
2011 Monsieur Lazhar Philippe Falardeau
2010 Incendies Denis Villeneuve
2009 Polytechnique Denis Villeneuve
2008 My Winnipeg Guy Maddin
2007 Away From Her Sarah Polley
2006 Manufactured Landscapes Jennifer Baichwal
2005 A History of Violence David Cronenberg
2004 The Triplets of Belleville Sylvain Chomet
2003 Spider David Cronenberg
2002 Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner Zacharias Kunuk
2001 The Last Wedding Bruce Sweeney
2000 waydowntown Gary Burns
1999 Set Me Free Léa Pool
1998 Last Night Don McKellar
1997 The Sweet Hereafter Atom Egoyan

I have seen the winners from 1997-1998, 2000, 2002, 2006-2013, 2015, and 2018-2019.

Canadian film review: The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open

Antigone doesn't make Oscars shortlist for best international feature film

TIFF selects Top 10 Canadian films of 2019

Black Christmas is a rarity in that an American film remakes a Canadian film. Even without seeing the 2019 remake, there is likely little similarity with the original Bob Clark classic from 1974. There was also a 2006 remake where Clark served as executive producer and Andrea Martin (who was in the original film) has a cameo.

The original film features English actor Olivia Hussey, Martin, and Canadian actors Margot Kidder, Marian Waldman, and Lynne Griffin.

Stick with the original.

IFC should applaud the unique drink that is a Caesar

Baroness von Sketch Show makes U.S. debut on IFC

Is Canadian content a casualty of the 'streaming wars'? (Front Burner CBC Radio)

"Sometimes we'll say, 'Is that only going to play to Canadians? And if so, is it worth doing it?"' "Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't, but it is something we do think about now."

Brent Butt of Corner Gas had this quote in a recent article on the impact of streaming services. While we understand this instinct, we are saddened by the idea of Canadians self-censoring themselves on matter that is Canadian. The British don't do this. Americans don't even understand the concept.

How else are audiences outside Canada suppose to learn about Canada if not through Canadian TV. Baroness von Sketch Show did a sketch in the most recent season about the horrors of living in Hamilton. Sure non CFL fans might have had to look up "Hamilton Ontario not the musical."

IFC censors did step in and make them change Caesar to Bloody Mary. A couple of cast members live Tweeted recipes for a Caesar during the American debut. Americans should learn both drinks and decide for themselves. 

Streaming services offer chances for Americans to learn about other cultures. British people say biscuits even if Americans are confused what they mean by biscuits (cookies). Chesterfield, poutine, serviette: Canadians know what they are; Americans can learn them too.

If you ever thought you couldn't be an actor because you can't memorize lines, think of (Canadian-born) Anna Paquin's script in The Irishman. Paquin didn't have 7 lines; she had 7 words.

Paquin played the adult version of Peggy Sheeran, the daughter of mafia hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro). About 2:40 in the 3½ hour movie, Paquin delivers her 7 words.

"Why?" Peggy asks her dad, who responds with "Wha?"

"Why?" she asks again.

"Why what?" Frank says.

"Why haven't you called Jo?," she asks, referring to Jimmy Hoffa's wife.

No one expects a significant amount of dialogue from female characters in a Martin Scorsese film. Still, a Oscar winner deserves a bit more screen time and dialogue. If Paquin ended up with an Oscar nomination (we will know Monday), she might win the mark for the shortest screen time. Beatrice Straight spent 5 minutes, 40 seconds on screen in winning Best Supporting Actress for Network (1976).

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

Stand! is an unusual Canadian film. The film is a dramatic musical about the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. I confess I knew very little about the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 until I saw Canada: The Story of Us. The CBC TV show is available through Amazon Prime.

The last and only Canadian musical I recall was Score: A Hockey Musical (2010), a dreadful film despite the talents of Noah Reid (Schitt's Creek) and Allie MacDonald (Young Drunk Punk).

Given the current economic conditions, a film about the Winnipeg General Strike would be a welcome sight. The film has had a Canadian run and is expected to have a release in the United States and Japan.

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Layoffs are a thing these days in both Canada and the United States. It would be a joy to work for the Toronto International Film Festival or the National Film Board of Canada.

Unfortunately, both film organisations recently had layoffs. TIFF had a "comprehensive review" with 15 pink slips across all departments. The NFB laid off 5 staff members: 2 executive directors, a chief digital officer, a director of operation, and an administrator.

While we hope the organisations can thrive under the dismissals, we do feel bad for those who lost their chance to work for these organisations and their loved ones.

The Cineworld acquisition of Cineplex and its 165 cinemas and 1,695 screens will do better for non-Canadian movies likely at the cost of exposure for Canadian films. This is one of a few deals that will impact the Canadian theatre and film scene.

The Tyee has a suggestion for an alternative path for independent films in theatres.

For all the talk about streaming, creating buzz about movies involves theatres. English Canada needs to see itself as a place for homegrown films instead of the latchkey of the U.S. movie market.

Twitter capture: @TFCA
photos credit: The Body Remembers When the World Broken Open film; The Irishman film

U.S. may not pick a permanent replacement for Ambassador to Canada until well into 2021

Richard Merrill Mills Jr. is an American diplomat who currently serves as U.S. Chargé d'Affaires for Canada. Mills has been in the position since Kelly Knight Craft left for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Craft's last day was August 23, 2019.

As we have recounted, Craft's tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Canada was filled with silence and numerous trips back to Kentucky.

Canada has had large gaps in between official stints for ambassadors. David Jacobson didn't take over until October 2, 2009. The gap in between Jacobson and Bruce Heyman lasted from July 15, 2013 to March 26, 2014. Craft didn't take over until October 23, 2017.

This current gap may not be filled even on January 20, 2021.

As far as we know, Aldona Wos, a retired physician and former U.S. Ambassador to Estonia from 2004-2006, is still the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Wos hasn't made the news lately.

Given the track record of Craft, Mills might be an ideal ambassador by comparison. Wos would lend a permanence to the position. Mills was the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia from February 2015 until October 2018.

Mills has been based in Canada since October 23, 2018 in the position of Deputy Chief of Mission in Ottawa before rising to his current interim position. His official biography lists that Mills can speak French, something Craft might not have known. Mills might have knowledge or interest in Canada. By not having the permanent title, Mills won't be able to do much publicly. The Twitter feed @USAmbCanada has been dormant since Craft left.

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

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

You could argue that the U.S. Senate will be busy with an impeachment trial and about ⅓ of the senators running for re-election. True. Though Canada hasn't been a priority lately in Washington.

The current U.S. regime wants Canada to pass the USMCA | CUSMA soon. The legislation passed the U.S. House 385-41 last month.

Where in the world is Kelly Knight Craft?

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

CanadianCrossing.com Donald Trump coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian politics coverage

Donald Trump tweaked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the trade deal when he blamed Trudeau for a CBC television edit on Home Alone 2 in 2014, back when Trudeau was the Liberal Party leader and not prime minister.

The potential trade deal will do a lot of damage to Canada. The chirping is a sign of a bad winner.

We will report back if the Senate does take up the nomination of Wos. Craft is from Kentucky, home of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and her nomination took months.

Canadian ambassadors should know Canada really well

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

Kirsten Hillman is the acting Canada Ambassador to the United States. Hillman succeeded David MacNaughton, who left the post after 3 years.

Hillman has been a deputy ambassador since August 2017. According to her LinkedIn page, Hillman was assistant deputy minister, trade policy and negotiations for the Government of Canada from April 2014 – August 2017, where she was Canada’s chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

François-Philippe Champagne has not been Foreign Affairs Minister for too long. We are very willing to predict that Canada will fill its position long before the United States will fill its position with a permanent replacement.

photo credit: U.S. embassy to Ottawa