Canadian Crossing

Driving to Alaska now has specific terms in Canada

Driving to Alaska, which I want to do after the pandemic is over, is now a lot more specific. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announcing new credentials as of July 31 at 12:01 am PDT. You must enter at a crossing from a list of 5 crossings: Abbotsford-Huntingdon (BC); Coutts (AB); Kingsgate (BC); North Portal (SK); and Osoyoos (BC).

Travellers will get a “hang tag” attached to their rear view mirror. This will help reduce Canadians' concern over U.S. licence plates in Canada. Drivers must check in once again with the CBSA before exiting Canada for Alaska.

They will be limited to travel within Canada using the most direct route from the point of entry while avoiding all national parks, leisure sites, and tourism activities. For what it's worth, Alberta RCMP said no fines were issued to wayward U.S. drivers in July.

Curious what the direct route would be crossing at Coutts. That could put you in Calgary and on the way to the Icefield Parkway. The drawback is the route would put you in Banff National Park, a violation of the terms. Just thinking about a post-pandemic trip.

You can go through the specifics if you are planning a trip. Quite surprised this wasn't on the docket before now. The trust the countries share should be encouraged but clearly some travellers were violating the letter and spirit of that trust.

CanadianCrossing.com border crossings coverage

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

Canadians do a lot more shopping in the United States than the other way around. Yet the numbers are now in the opposite direction. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says more than 2,100 people were turned away attempting to enter America at a land border between March and June.

The Canada Border Services Agency said more than 6,000 travellers were stopped from coming into Canada at land, rail, and marine ports between March 22 and July 22.

Those numbers are apples and oranges. The Canadian numbers include more ways to get in and are for a month longer than the U.S. numbers.

Canadians might be smarter in not trying to cross the border at this time. Americans may be clueless or they just don't care.

"When I called the U.S. the biggest petri dish in the world, that was not just off the cuff," George Creek, president of BC Marine Parks Forever, told NPR.

There are stories about accidentally crossing the border. The way some Americans are traveling shows they know the border is closed. Potential penalties include being banned from entering Canada for a period of time. 

The 21st day in the month is now a trigger in whether the border closing will be renewed. There is no political capital on the Canadian side to open. Even if the worst of COVID-19 is in states nowhere near the border, Canadians for the most part have said no to the United States.

The American political landscape has a lot of issues; somehow the Canadian border isn't one of those issues lately.

Assuming the NFL starts anywhere the regular scheduled dates, the Buffalo Bills have informed Canadian season ticket holders that if the border remains closed, money will be refunded accordingly. No major sports league in North America has allowed fans; the NFL seems to think the league will allow limited numbers of fans. The Buffalo Bills have a significant Canadian clientele.

The Canadian government protection for those unemployed and underemployed isn't perfect but is light years away from the United States. The loss of the $600 unemployment supplement, for political purposes only, will do significant damage to the U.S. economy, which is saying something.

photo credit: Government of Canada

2020 Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax: What would have been

The CFL had plans for a much larger Touchdown Atlantic experience culminating in the first regular season CFL game in Nova Scotia on Saturday. The game had sold out, something that didn't always happen.

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic might take out the first year without a Canadian football season since 1918. COVID-19 did take out the 2020 Touchdown Atlantic game and celebration.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts were scheduled to play at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. Chris Cuthbert did regret in his departure from TSN that he never got to call a regular-season game in Halifax. Cuthbert's TSN debut was a preseason game in Halifax.

They were bringing in temporary seats to fill the capacity to 10,000. There would have been a festive atmosphere given the proximity to downtown Halifax.

The Touchdown Atlantic has had regular season games in Moncton, New Brunswick in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2019. A scheduled 2006 exhibition game in Halifax was cancelled in 2006 since the Ottawa Renegades folded. Saint John, New Brunswick hosted preseason games in 1986 and 1987 before Touchdown Atlantic was a concept.

Having a regular season game in Halifax was supposed to be a major step in the formation of the Atlantic Schooners.

The CFL had planned a 3-day “mini Grey Cup festival” featuring music, parties, and family-friendly fun. Today would have been Day 3. I have not been to a Grey Cup week but reportedly the people who have the most fun are the Atlantic Schooners gatherings. They don't even have a team. Yet.

What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020

CFL dream: What if U.S. sports fans suddenly cared about the CFL

If CFL plays in 2020, have all the games in the Maritimes

We did propose the CFL play a limited season in Moncton, Saint John, and Halifax to bring attention to the sport in Atlantic Canada. Not a genius but the timing of a July and August season in that part of Canada would have been glorious.

There wouldn't have been fans at the games but the attention to that part of Canada would have looked so good on television.

I visited Moncton and New Brunswick in 2013 in part because of Touchdown Atlantic. That was a wonderful trip that had a CFL game in the mix. I have seen a lot of Canada in part because of the CFL.

Canadian travel bubbles could boost tourism within Canada

CFL travels have sent me to every league city

CanadianCrossing.com New Brunswick coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

We know the next full and relatively normal CFL season will have a Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax. The celebration may be extra special because of what has happened. I would have done some morning shopping at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market, a short distance from the stadium. A good time of year to get a real lobster roll (butter, not mayonnaise). The streets will be filled with the green of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They travel well. There will be some Toronto Argonauts fans, too. I remember seeing Ottawa Rough Riders jerseys in 2013, a year before the Ottawa RedBlacks made their debut.

There will even be some Atlantic Schooners jerseys in the mix.

photo credits: CFL; Google maps

Toronto Blue Jays won't play in Canada for 2020 regular season

The Toronto Blue Jays won't be allowed to play regular season games at Rogers Centre or anywhere else in Canada. The Canadian government said no to the proposal, even though the city and the province had approved the request.

The Blue Jays are looking into Sahlen Field in Buffalo or TD Stadium in Dunedin, Florida for the 30 games of the regular season. While the Blue Jays season starts on Friday, the home season doesn't start until July 29. The lights are a major issue in Buffalo. The high numbers of COVID-19 are a major issue in Florida. 

The Canadian government had approved for the Blue Jays to train at Rogers Centre; that model was similar to the hub concept for the NHL. Speculation for the denial for the regular season was the back-and-forth travel from some key hot spots in the United States, especially Miami and the Tampa Bay area. 

The Blue Jays had reportedly made improvements to the plan, shifting to have both teams in the hotel within the confines of Rogers Centre. 

What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020

Canadian sports notebook: Toronto and Edmonton still NHL hub city options

CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage

"Unlike preseason training, regular-season games would require repeated cross-border travel of Blue Jays players and staff, as well as opponent teams into and out of Canada," Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said. "Of particular concern, the Toronto Blue Jays would be required to play in locations where the risk of virus transmission remains high.

"Based on the best-available public health advice, we have concluded the cross-border travel required for MLB regular-season play would not adequately protect Canadians' health and safety. As a result, Canada will not be issuing a National Interest Exemption for the MLB's regular season at this time.''

For the first time since 1989, Blue Jays home games will be subject to weather delays and cancellations. The team will also have to scramble to find "home" housing if the team ends up in Buffalo. There may be housing for the team and its opponent in Dunedin.

There was speculation earlier this week that the Washington Nationals would also be in a similar predicament. However, the Nationals will play their home games at Nationals Park. The Blue Jays will be there July 27-28 after playing exhibition games in Boston and a 3-game series in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Buffalo is the preferred choice for the Blue Jays with Dunedin a reluctant Plan B.

The Canadian government decision will likely impact the MLS home games for Toronto FC, Montréal Impact, and the Vancouver Whitecaps once the MLS tournament in Orlando has concluded.

We will have more on this for our Toronto Blue Jays preview this coming week.

Note: The Toronto exhibition games at Fenway Park will be on Rogers Sportsnet at 7 pm Eastern on Tuesday and Wednesday. MLB Network will carry both games on a tape delay basis at 7 am Wednesday and 11 pm Wednesday, respectively. The NESN feed will almost certainly be used.

photo credit: me

Driving to Alaska should not be code for staying in Canada during a pandemic

Most of my crossings into Canada have been in planes and buses. I used to cross by car on occasion but not lately.

Before the pandemic, getting into Canada by driving to Alaska is not something I would have considered. The United States purchased Alaska from Russia on October 18, 1867, a few months after Canada became a country .

The "driving to Alaska" reasoning has increased to get around the rules to enter Canada from the United States during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Americans keep getting caught in Canada vacationing instead of traveling to Alaska.

There is no way via public transportation to get to Alaska. Sailing on a cruise ship, flying, and driving are the ways to get to Alaska from the continental United States.

Before the pandemic, driving to Alaska would have been a boon for tourism in western Canada. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon would have had extra tourists and their dollars.

Driving to Alaska might be legitimate even in 2020 but the excuse clearly has been abused by some who have no intention to going to Alaska. Some may be heading to Alaska eventually but stopping off in the Canadian Rockies.

Americans trying this stunt should know that Canadians aren't happy with Canadians driving around with U.S. licence plates. They aren't taking kindly especially when Americans are behind those wheels.

A man in his 20s has been linked to a COVID-19 case in Nova Scotia and a case in Prince Edward Island. He had been in the U.S. and flew to Toronto and then Halifax. He reportedly did not self-isolate in Nova Scotia. He had a student visa to study on PEI, but did not have the necessary paperwork.

Missoula, Montana to Anchorage, Alaska would be an incredible road trip … just maybe not in a pandemic.

Canadian travel bubbles could boost tourism within Canada

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

I do have a friend who recently moved from Indiana to Alaska. Would love to visit this person. Haven't been to Alaska. I would find a different way to make that happen, as fun as the trip would be.

Gas is pretty cheap by Canadian standards lately. I would be tempted to drive up the Icefield Parkway between Calgary and Jasper on the way. Still, Canadians are trying to protect themselves from the horrible COVID-19 numbers to the south. Driving to Alaska is a legitimate purpose for a select few. Piggybacking on that to have a Canadian vacation is detrimental to the health of Canadians.

Trust has disappeared in the times of the pandemic. If you lie about traveling through to Alaska, assumptions will be made that you won't conform to wearing a mask or social distancing.

Indigenous areas in northern Canada are especially vulnerable to visitors since they don't have the resources to deal with a pandemic. In this case, the careless, clueless traveler is the smallpox.

Western Canada will still exist once this pandemic has subsided. The nature will still be there, whether you are traveling for that purpose or honestly driving to Alaska. We encourage travel to Canada during normal times. These times are not normal. Being patient is not easy but thinking Canadian might help you understand this.

Canada is more about society versus the United States' brand of individualism. These are generalities but in a pandemic, you have to think of other people. You really do. You don't know them but they are kind, gentle, wonderful people. They still keep the exception for driving to Alaska for those who are driving to Alaska. Don't take advantage of someone's good graces.

There might be international tension if Canada does clamp down on that exemption. That wouldn't be Canada's style. Then again, you have to do what you need to do in a pandemic.

map credit: Google

What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020

The NHL is setting up shop in Toronto and Edmonton as the NHL hub cities, unless they aren't. The Toronto Blue Jays will train at Rogers Centre, though we still don't know how exhibition games or the regular season will work.

Those decisions didn't come easily given Canada's 14-day quarantine. Exceptions were made because the concept of quarantine now includes quarantine as a group.

We don't know whether Toronto will have a MLB/NHL overlap due to the uncertainty of the MLB scenario. The Blue Jays could play in Buffalo where you can see Canada from Sahlen Field in downtown Buffalo. The MLB team wants to avoid Dunedin, the Blue Jays spring training home, due to the huge numbers of COVID-19 cases.

The Canadian MLS teams are playing in Orlando for the next few weeks. If the Blue Jays are allowed to play regular season games in Toronto, Toronto FC, Montréal Impact, and Vancouver Whitecaps might get the same exception. The Blue Jays plan to have the other team in the hotel on the grounds of Rogers Centre. The MLS teams will need their own lodging plans. Hub cities and training are at an easier level than regular season games.

Given that some family members can't reunite between Canada and the United States, having professional athletes cross can seem unfair.

We finally heard from the CFL with speculation about a Hamilton/Burlington hub city concept as well as Winnipeg. IG Field is near the University of Winnipeg so housing the players in dorms would help. We suggested the Maritimes earlier this year. The sites in Moncton, Saint John, and Halifax are around university campuses.

Canadian sports notebook: Toronto and Edmonton still NHL hub city options

If CFL plays in 2020, have all the games in the Maritimes

As we learned in the discussion with the NHL and British Columbia, safety of Canadians is the highest priority. The idea is that fans won't see players in bars and restaurants in Toronto and Edmonton and soccer fans won't see their favourite athletes in Montréal, Vancouver, and Toronto.

If families of NHL players are in the Canadian Rockies, as per Jason Kenney's infamous Edmonton video, they would do so after their player's team has been eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the NHL hub setup, each team has about 50 people (players, coaches, etc.). After 3-5 games, ⅓ of those people will leave the bubble. After another 4-7 games, ⅓ of the original total will leave the bubble. If the Blue Jays play regular season games on Canadian soil, there will be a proverbial dance in downtown Toronto as you can see on the above map.

The international NHL focus will be on a pair of Canadian cities. As we've seen on the U.S. side, we rarely see much of the Canadian cities during typical Stanley Cup playoff coverage. The announcers aren't likely to be on site in Toronto and Edmonton. We pretty much felt that NBCSN carried a game involving Edmonton at Toronto where the announcers weren't in Canada. This time, we understand why the announcers would not be in Canada.

The NFL likely won't have a preseason so no chance of a Canadian city hosting a NFL preseason game in 2020.

U Sports has cancelled 6 fall national championships, including the Vanier Cup for football. Minor league hockey is on the shelf until further notice.

The Raptors won't get any home games. 4 of the 6 NHL teams from Canada not from hub cities won't get home games. Even if Toronto and Edmonton will be at home, the players have to be part of the bubble and there will not be fans.

map credit: Google maps

Celebrating Canada Day 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the tentative agreement of Toronto and Edmonton to be the NHL hub cities.

Today marks the 153rd anniversary of the founding of the Dominion of Canada with Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick aka Canada Day.

Newfoundland and Labrador honours Memorial Day on July 1, going back to 1917 for the loss of approximately 700 soldiers of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont-Hamel during World War I.

Quebec celebrates July 1 as Moving Day.

The Canada Day Daytime Show and Canada Day Evening Show will be broadcast on CPAC, the Canadian Heritage Facebook Page and the Canadian Heritage YouTube page.

CBC will carry Canada Day Together | La Fête du Canada Ensemble with hosts Serena Ryder and Pierre Yves Lord. Performances will include Corneille, The Jerry Cans, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Haviah Mighty, Alexandra Stréliski, and The Sheepdogs. The program runs at 8 pm local time (8:30 pm in most of Newfoundland).

Canada Day is normally filled with outlandish ceremonies. There will be fireworks just not officially.

Canadian travel bubbles could boost tourism within Canada

Where to visit Canada in 2020

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

Those in Atlantic Canada might be spending their Canada Day packing for a trip within the region. The coronavirus travel bubble kicks in Friday for Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. They can travel within the region without any self-isolation.

The areas where I have been in those provinces are so beautiful. A Cape Spear sunrise. Hopewell Rocks when you can explore the ocean floor and then watch 40 feet of water show up. The red sand beaches of Prince Edward Island. Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia is a spot where I want to go.

Manitoba is allowing travelers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Ontario without a 14-day quarantine. 

Canadian sports notebook: Toronto and Edmonton still NHL hub city options

We covered a lot of ongoing sports stories on Monday. The hub city count is down to 4 with Los Angeles reportedly out of the running.

There is a tentative agreement for Toronto and Edmonton to be the NHL hub cities.

Minor league baseball will not have a 2020 season. Sadly, Canada only has a single MLB-affiliated minor league team: Vancouver Canadians of the Class A Northwest League, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Canada Day is traditionally when the NHL free agent frenzy begins. This is a very different Canada Day.

CanadianCrossing.com journalism coverage

Wendy Mesley was suspended from hosting The Weekly on June 9 for using the n-word twice in editorial meetings for the show. In one reference, Mesley quoted the title of a 1968 book by Quebec journalist Pierre Vallières that includes the n-word. The rest of the show's season was cancelled June 12.

We generally like Mesley but she was absolutely wrong for what she did. Being a journalist means understanding words and the power that they have. When you are the boss of a TV show, you hold extra power over your employees. The power of words combined with your power makes using such language even worse than a casual conversation in an office.

For the longest time, we knew of the incidents but didn't officially know what word was being used.

I grew up hearing the n-word a lot from white people, some of whom I am related by blood and marriage. I knew as a child not to use that word.

The power of words is knowing when to use those words. Otherwise, you don't. Everyone knows what you mean when you say the n-word.

2019 Canada Day notebook: More delays with edibles

How to celebrate Canada Day 2018

My path down the TIFF Top 10 Canadian films of all time (2017)

The 2020 Junos were scheduled to be in Saskatoon in March. Like the Canadian Screen Awards, the Junos had a virtual awards ceremony. The ceremony ran on Monday night on CBC Gem, CBC Music Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages, as well as CBCMusic.ca/junos.

Celebrating Canada Day 2016

McDonald's Great Canadian Taste Adventure needs more Canadian (2015)

Thoughts about Canada on Canada Day 2014

"There were 19 new cases of the virus in B.C. on Wednesday. Only 15 people in the province of 5.1 million people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19."

This quote comes from a story from last Thursday on Vancouver taking itself out of the running to be a NHL hub city. Imagine how many hundreds and hundreds of American hospitals that have well more than 15 COVID-19 hospitalisations right now. The 15 number isn't Vancouver or Victoria or Fort St. John or Penticton or Terrace. This is 15 in the entire province.

Those Canadian numbers are amazing compared to the United States, even the good ones.

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

A couple of food-related TV suggestions that takes in the bounty of Canada. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with David Chang has a chapter on Vancouver with Seth Rogen. Chang and Rogen travel to the Granville Market and Richmond among other places on Netflix. Rogen knows his way around his native Vancouver.

Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations debuted its last episode on Monday from Nova Scotia on Cooking Channel. Andrew Zimmern does the stand up from the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market. Yes, I can tell. The episode features lobster, donair, and blueberry grunt from wild blueberries (different from blueberries).

Celebrating Pride with Canadian films and television

Quebecois films to watch on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day 2020

Drive-ins are making a comeback: Here are some Canadian films to show

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

We did have a bit of fun last week spotlighting Canadian film (and television) within categories. You can celebrate Canada without having to go outside or worry about social distancing.

In lieu of sports and politics, we have devoted a lot more space to covering film and film reviews. We like sports and politics but we love writing about film.

Canada milk producers threatened with invasion of cheaper American milk (BalanceofFood.com)

Canada secretly passes heavily flawed CUSMA during the COVID-19 corornavirus pandemic

In a cruel sense of timing, the dreaded CUSMA | USMCA trade deal debuts today. The economic damage from the obnoxious tariff battle switches over to economic damage in a lopsided trade deal. You can get more details in the link above as part of our coverage on the deal.

Deal in place to (finally) lift damaging #steel #aluminum #tariffs on #Canada. Do not let that be a reason to consider ratifying #CUSMA #USMCA https://t.co/Y8mPU8cl8K #cdnpoli #cdntrade

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) May 17, 2019

The debut of the new trade deal also comes on the heels of the threat of aluminum tariffs against Canada, something the new trade deal was agreed upon to avoid the tariffs. Sounds like I am calling Donald Trump untrustworthy and a liar. Yes.

This is one of many reasons why Canada should not have agreed to such a lopsided trade deal.

photo credit: Exclaim.ca
Twitter capture: @canadian_xing

Canadian sports notebook: Toronto and Edmonton still NHL hub city options

#Canucks statement on @NHL hub city bid. pic.twitter.com/qs6v4EOO7w

— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) June 25, 2020

Vancouver honourably withdrew from being a NHL hub city because, well, British Columbia considered the NHL approach on those who tested positive to be unsafe. Gary Bettman doesn't like to be told that he is wrong.

"Our advice and our direction was that if there was a positive case that arose, that we would do what we do with all cases that we have here – that we would investigate and there needed to be a contingency in case there were other people that were identified as ill," B.C. chief medical officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said. "It might mean suspension of part of a series for a period of time until that could be done."

Toronto and Edmonton on the Canadian side are still in the hunt along with Las Vegas, Chicago, and Los Angeles. 4 American markets were the first cuts earlier in the process: Pittsburgh, Dallas, Columbus, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. We originally predicted Edmonton and Las Vegas. As we've learned in the Vancouver situation, we would like Canada to get the NHL hub cities but we also want the people of Canada to be safe.

Now that Canadian cities have the green light from the federal government, Canadian NHL teams can train on Canadian soil.

The low COVID-19 rates and the even lower Canadian dollar give Canada an advantage.

It’s the obvious choice to bring the @NHL to #Edmonton.

We look forward to welcoming the league and players here to Alberta to take in the beautiful province we have to offer. pic.twitter.com/kp0iN86vCP

— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) June 22, 2020

Alberta premier Jason Kenney, already known for propaganda with the Canadian Energy Centre, introduced a video for families of NHL players coming to Edmonton. The video is lovely and full of real places in Alberta, none of which is anywhere near Edmonton. These places are near Calgary, but Calgary has the oldest arena in the NHL not the newest arena.

Edmonton would be a great choice for a NHL hub city, but not for the reasons Kenney unveiled.

Jason Kenney, Alberta United Conservative Party launch Canadian Energy Centre propaganda site

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

Alberta pitches NHL hub city without showing Edmonton (CBC News)

The Ottawa Senators went into the NHL draft with a rather good chance at the #1 pick, given that the Sens controlled the #2 best odds (its own pick) and #3 best odds (via San Jose). The Senators fell to the #3 pick (via San Jose) and #5 pick (Ottawa) while a playoff team will get the #1 pick.

Canadian Alexis LaFreniere is the consensus #1 pick. Last season, LaFreniere had 35 goals and 77 assists in 52 games for Rimouski in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Though the 8 playoff losing teams in the opening round get an equal chance, you have to wonder if that pick ends up with a prominent American team (Pittsburgh, Chicago). Theoretically, every Canadian team but Ottawa is eligible if they lose in the qualifying round. Perhaps the lottery was sincere, but the league doesn't have a good reputation. Pittsburgh magically ended up with Sidney Crosby after a NHL lockout. We aren't saying the NHL cheated: we are saying if the league cheated, this is exactly the scenario that would have happened.

If the NHL does not resume playing this season, the bottom 8 teams based on points percentage would be in a lottery for the top pick. Montréal and Winnipeg are the only Canadian teams in this category.

The 2020 NHL draft lottery was originally supposed to be in Montréal.

CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage

Vinsanity has come to an end of his NBA career. Vince Carter finally retired as a NBA player after 22 seasons.

Carter was drafted by Golden State but instantly traded to Toronto for Antawn Jamison in the 1998 NBA draft. He was known as a dunk master and earned the nickname Air Canada. Carter led the Raptors to the team's first-ever playoff appearance in 2000 and first playoff series win in 2001.

Carter won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He later was traded to New Jersey in late 2004. Carter was an All-Star every season when he was with the Raptors.

Carter won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2000. The win included a 360° windmill.

Carter is the first NBA player to appear in 4 different decades in 22 seasons, also a league record. He also played for New Jersey, Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis, Sacramento, and Atlanta.

Vince Carter became a reason for Raptors fans to get excited and made a huge impact on the history and viability of the Toronto Raptors franchise.

The Toronto Raptors have never retired a number. Carter was loved while in Toronto, booed heavily after he was traded, and eventually loved again. #15 in the rafters would look really nice.

CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

We are still waiting to hear about sports on Canadian soil.

The Toronto Blue Jays are heading back to Toronto. The Blue Jays want to train and play their regular-season games in Toronto. The team has a good chance of training at Rogers Centre. The team would stay in the hotel at Rogers Centre and quarantine in that fashion similar to what the NHL might do in Canada.

The team had been in Dunedin with Florida recording extremely high COVID-19 case numbers lately. Sahlen Field in Buffalo, home of their Triple A team, could enter the mix if the Jays can't play regular season games in Toronto.

The Canadian MLS teams will play in a tournament in Orlando. Then, Toronto FC, Montréal Impact, and the Vancouver Whitecaps would have trouble playing games in their home parks or country. The NBA Toronto Raptors are playing in Orlando.

The CFL had prided itself in modern times for not having a regular season game lost to a strike or lockout. The pandemic has postponed the start of the 2020 CFL season. We aren't even sure of a season at this point.

The CFL might play in September or not at all. James Wilder Jr., who signed with Montréal, couldn't wait any longer and took a job. DaVaris Daniels, who signed with Toronto, has given CFL Commissioner Randy Ambroisie until Friday to announce plans for a 2020 CFL season.

The other leagues have plans that may or may not happen. The CFL has said "September" but otherwise has been vague.

TSN added a new show called CFL2020 running Fridays at 7:30 pm Eastern before the CFL Encore Fridays. For unknown reasons, ESPN+ hasn't picked up CFL programming via TSN during the pandemic.

For those outside Canada, you can find 2019 highlights on YouTube and discuss whether Hamilton would join the other 8 CFL teams in a 21st century championship and who should replace Chris Cuthbert as the #1 play-by-play person on CFL telecasts.

Chris Cuthbert picks Stanley Cup final over TSN, jumps to Rogers Sportsnet

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Rogers Sportsnet did imply there would be more broadcasting changes after the Chris Cuthbert acquisition. We don't want to report a name without an official announcement but there is apparently a new free agent formerly with Rogers with NHL and CFL television experience.

Speaking of Rogers, Rogers Sportsnet One has debuted a new interview series Top of Her Game with Tara Slone. This is a show that is long overdue and Slone is an ideal host. Profiling women in sports needs to be a part of the current sports landscape.

The news release notes some of the early guests: Stephanie McMahon and Charlotte Flair of the WWE; NHL executive vice-president Kim Davis; Waneek Horn-Miller, the first Mohawk woman to compete in the Summer Olympics; Mathea Olin, Canada’s first Pan Am Games surfing medallist; and Chantal Petitclerc, Canada’s most decorated Paralympian.

The series runs on Sundays at 6:30 pm Eastern on Sportsnet One and is also available on Sportsnet Now.

Twitter captures: @canucks; @jkenney
photo credit: CBC News
video credit: YouTube/CFL

Windsor International Film Festival cancels the 2020 festival

We didn't expect the announcement as soon as yesterday, but there will be no 2020 Windsor International Film Festival.

The 2019 Windsor International Film Festival was the 15th anniversary of the film festival with 10 days of celebration. The WIFF Alley that led from the Capitol Theatre to the Chrysler Theatre was a wondrous sight, reminding us of why we love film.

From the 800+ crowd who saw Parasite on a Saturday night to the 1 (me) crowd who saw We Are Gold late on a Tuesday night, the amazing celebration of film has only grown stronger over the years in Windsor.

I had wondered about the prospect of a virtual festival, something the Toronto International Film Festival is still contemplating for 2020. I have had this fear that a limited Windsor festival would be geo-exclusive to Ontario. If that had happened, I would have gladly supported what the festival was doing, even if that meant I would not be allowed into the festival.

I have attended in part or all of this film festival since 2007 when I accidentally discovered there was a festival. Breakfast with Scot was that film.

2019 WIFF Canadian films in review

2018 WIFF Canadian films in review

2017 WIFF Canadian films in review

Breaking down 2016 WIFF Canadian films

Breaking down 2015 WIFF Canadian films

"Was this a difficult decision? Yes. But, it was also in many ways an easy decision. WIFF is about bringing people together through film. WIFF is about watching and discussing the best Canadian and International films, seeing old friends in the theatres, making new friends in the lineups and celebrating at the parties all over downtown Windsor. Anything short of this is simply not the WIFF we all want and love." — Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer for WIFF.

2014 Windsor International Film Festival wrapup

Reviewing the WIFF 2013 Canadian films

Likelihood of seeing the Canadian film class of 2012

This fall's Canadian film 2011 crop: will they come to the United States?

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The element that you think you will miss in a film festival is film itself. Being at the Windsor International Film Festival is so much more than seeing film. A few months in a pandemic have brought me lots of Canadian film but this isn't the same.

There were a few trusted voices who said I had to see Honeyland from North Macedonia in the first slot on a Sunday morning. I trusted them and saw the film. An incredible experience.

Absorbing a film becomes difficult when you have a film in the next slot. I recall coming outside after Meditation Park to clear my head and shed a few tears.

The volunteers, the participants, the school kids who weren't supposed to be in Une colonie and had awkward reactions: they are the joy and splendor of being live in a film festival.

#TIFF20 will feature a tighter selection of 50 feature films, and five programs of short films, with the same quality and range you’d expect — from Wavelengths to star-driven Galas, documentaries, international cinema, and Midnight Madness.

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) June 24, 2020

The Toronto International Film Festival announced a few details for its limited festival running September 10-19 (a day short of the original September 10-20). We will cover Canadian films as the news gets released later this summer.

TIFF also announced layoffs of 31 employees, who represent 17% of full-time staff.

My heart is absolutely broken. The Windsor International Film Festival will return in 2021. As difficult as looking forward has been, this film festival and other film festivals will bounce back. You might even be more appreciative of sitting close to people and enjoying a film in a group environment.

photo credit: me
logo credit: Windsor International Film Festival
Twitter capture: @TIFF_net

Canadian travel bubbles could boost tourism within Canada

The Maritime provinces as well as Newfoundland and Labrador are looking into a travel bubble. Nunavut and Northwest Territories are planning a travel bubble for themselves.

The idea behind a travel bubble is that Canadians in those areas could cross provincial and territorial borders without the need to quarantine from the pandemic.

I haven't been to a Canadian territory but I have visited the Atlantic provinces in the summertime. I have been in Newfoundland and Labrador in late July, Nova Scotia in August, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in September. So much seafood, driving without obnoxious billboards, a lot of walking, and tons of water.

A lot of Canadians out west haven't been to this area of Canada. Costs are normally prohibitive even before a pandemic: cheaper to fly to Las Vegas to London then to travel to Halifax or St. John's.

A travel bubble, combined with relatively cheaper gas, allows Canadians from that region to enjoy the splendid beauty of the region without as many tourists as normal. The Bay of Fundy, Peggy's Cove, Cape Spear, the red sand PEI beaches, Cape Breton, Hopewell Rocks, and so many more travel destinations./p>

The Atlantic provinces have been doing really well with COVID-19 with Nova Scotia being the slight outlier. This doesn't obscure the fact that people have suffered and died from the COVID-19 coronavirus. Even though the numbers have been good, provincial premiers want to be sure this is done safely.

I loved the Hockey Day in Canada coverage from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories back in February. Having seen the Iqaluit film made me more excited about seeing the Nunavut capital.   

CanadianCrossing.com New Brunswick coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Nova Scotia coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Prince Edward Island coverage

CanadianCrossing.com Newfoundland and Labrador coverage

CanadianCrossing.com territories coverage

Like Americans, Canadians are allowed to travel freely within their own country. Provinces have stepped up during the pandemic to limit travel in their provinces. British Columbia provincial parks are closed to non-residents. There has been some animosity against cars with Alberta licence plates in B.C.

Those in the 6 other provinces could discover the travel jewels in their own province. Those in Alberta can drive the Icefield Parkway with fewer tourist cars around. British Columbians can explore the interior and Vancouver Island.  

I've been to Regina and had an amazing Saskatoon berry pie. I would love to visit Saskatoon. Winnipeg is truly more fun than you might expect. Ontario and Quebec offer numerous options for those who live there.

Where to visit Canada in 2020

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

We have heard that while land crossings are out for American travelers, some have been able to fly into Canada without issue. They would need to do a 14-day quarantine.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slightly loosened the U.S.-Canada border last week allowing some family members to cross into Canada, provided they have no sign they might have COVID-19 and no reason to believe they might have caught it. The 14-day quarantine still applies.

Everything we saw last week said the border closing extension will run until the end of July. That could leave August if you want to be hopeful. Don't make plans until the border opens. Even then, you want to be careful. Masks and social distancing are smart, regardless of whether rules are in place.

We had hoped 2020 would bring more Canadian travel adventures from your humble narrator. There is a lot of pain in not being able to see Canada first hand these days.

photo credit: @VisitNovaScotia

Victoria Day 2020 notebook: Summer of uncertainty in Canada

Editor's note: The story has been updated to show the Canada-U.S. border ban has been extended to June 21.

If the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic news coverage is too much, you are not alone. We do recommend if you need a quick dosage of pandemic news, spend about 2 minutes with James Murray on the World at Six from CBC News.

Toward the beginning of each newscast, Murray gives the listener a capsule of the day's COVID-19 news in Canada, United States, and the rest of the world. We haven't timed the segment but Murray takes fewer than 2 minutes to give the highlights.

Feel free to listen longer than just the updates from James Murray. If you can't handle more than 2 minutes, Murray will help you out.

The World at Six runs weeknights at 6 pm local time/6:30 pm in Newfoundland on CBC Radio One. You can find the frequency nearest you or find the program on the CBC Listen app. You can also listen in podcast form wherever you get your podcasts.

Some Canadian provinces are easing their COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic restrictions

We have noted the limited travel between Canada and the United States during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The provinces are also cracking down on travel between the provinces.

Out east, Nova Scotia has checkpoints at every major entry point. People are stopped and questioned. Only Newfoundland and Labrador residents are allowed to enter that province. Prince Edward Island is closed to non-residents, except for health-care providers and other essential workers. Provincial peace officers in New Brunswick are at each of 7 interprovincial land entry points.

Manitoba allows a 50-kilometre "buffer zone" into northwestern Ontario; the province requires a 14-day self-isolation otherwise for entering the province, except for essential workers.

Lloydminister, Alberta and Saskatchewan and Ottawa/Gatineau are rare exceptions of communities that cross provincial borders frequently within Canada.

Canada-U.S. border closes to non-essential traffic over COVID-19 coronavirus

The travel ban between Canada and the United States is likely to be renewed this week. The 2-month ban expires May 21. [The ban was extended to June 21 on Tuesday.] Exceptions are made for essential travel, though this story hints that air travel into the United States is easier than a land crossing.

Rosemary Barton reported on the Party Lines podcast on CBC Radio last week that from March 21 to the beginning of May that 2,500 Americans tried to cross the Canadian border for non-essential reasons and were turned away. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is adamant about not having the international border be reopened. The question is whether the U.S. wants to reopen the border before Canada does (i.e., the angry toddler) and whether Canada would say no.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made countries feel more nationalistic. Canada is requiring a 14-day quarantine. Given the startling number of cases and deaths in the United States, the American government is just as eager to keep the border closed.

As for wanting to travel to Canada, I would gladly do so in a heartbeat, even now. I would feel much safer in Canada and, if I were Canadian, much more financially secure. The 14-day quarantine eliminates simple pleasure trips. Not being practical to travel to Canada is a reality that doesn't diminish my desire to travel to Canada. Not one bit.

COVID-19 notebook: How Canada is faring in the coronavirus pandemic

CanadianCrossing.com travel coverage

Calgary Stampede. Canadian National Exhibition. The very cool Montréal festivals. These and other great summer activities aren't happening in 2020. You can't close the Canadian Rockies, the Bay of Fundy, and the surf off Tofino in British Columbia.

I have travel memories of all 10 provinces. We would be pushing people to travel to see Canada at this time of the year. Even if you can't literally travel to Canada, find a way to do it virtually. Victoria Day marks the beginning of summer in Canada. The 2020 summer is a summer of uncertainty for Canada and the rest of the world.

photo credit: CBC News