Mike Myers is a proud Canadian. Though he is more known for his work in the United States, Myers has sprinkled a bit of Canadian in his work.
His Stan Mikita's parody of Tim Hortons in Wayne's World. His surprise appearance with Ryan Gosling on Saturday Night Live telling Gosling to be proud to be from Canada. And if the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing where Myers is, you'll see him in the crowd in Leafs blue.
Myers has also channeled his love for Canada in a new book called Canada.
I have hunted for this book for the longest time but for awhile, you could only get the book in Canada. But I did get a sense of the book from a Mike Myers interview with Tom Power on Q.
I have studied Canada and Canadians and have a sense of it all. But I liked Myers take on how "Canadians know who we are but wonder why we are."
That has thrown me off, too. I can tell you Canadians have a great view of the world around them: a cool, self-deprecating friend who is very loyal. But I don't know the why that is the case.
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Other than being famous, Myers points out his status in determining these elements that he has lived longer out of Canada than in Canada. He says the book contains personal reflections of a 53-year-old person. Sadly, I am close to that age.
"There's nobody more Canadian than a Canadian who no longer lives in Canada," Myers told The National on CBC-TV about doing the book.
While the writing and interview were well before the transition of power in the United States, Myers said about Canada: "show me another country that's trying so hard to get it right." Combine the U.S. transition with Brexit, and Myers has proven his analysis to be poignant.
The "strength of democracy is how well we disagree. Civility might be our greatest legacy," said Myers, calling Canada a "laboratory for the world for politics of compassion."
While Justin Trudeau has been a force along those lines, he has tapped into what Canada already has had, even if that waned on the surface during the Harper Government.
I will search further to touch a physical copy of the book. But I'm intriguing to learn more of the "why" of Canada.
Newfoundland and Labrador developing anti-book reputation
Bibliophile Canadians know the saga of books being way more expensive in Canada than in the United States. And hopefully, our friends in Newfoundland and Labrador are finding a way to buy books without paying the new 10% tax.
"It's so incredibly sad, and should not happen in Canada. We're such a peaceful and loving country that for somebody to violate us like that, and try and take our innocence. The greatest thing we can do is stay Canadian and stay who we are. And just say to the people that want to harm us, don't mistake civility for weakness. You do so at your own peril. We're very tough people, we're very sane people, and very fair people. And I'm very, very proud of my country."
Myers told this to Scott Oake on Hockey Night in Canada after the 2014 Ottawa shooting. Very brave advice in the face of uncertainty, which in itself is very Canadian.
Stan Mikita's Donuts will come to life thanks to the NHL, Honda, and the 2017 All-Star Game. There will be a pop-up version at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the NHL All-Star Weekend through Sunday. The coffee and doughnuts will be free along with giveaways, celebrity appearances, speaking panels, and more.
The tie-in to the special pop-up coincides with the 25th anniversary of Wayne's World. Myers talks about how that all happened in this Sports Illustrated interview.
If you have had a chance to read the book, please let us know your thoughts and impressions in the comments section.
photos credit: Canada by Mike Myers; NHL.com
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