For reasons that are probably going to be rather obvious the more you read this column, there was a day last week in which I seemed to feel more Canadian than I actually did on Canada Day.
Allow me to recap:
I returned from a combined bookstore and Costco run in the city on the night of June 30 and began editing a video to upload on our new YouTube channel (subscribe today!) which is very Canadian-themed. (my thanks to those who submitted clips and took part, by the way)
The video was calibrated to post on the morning of Canada Day, which it did, and I’m glad to see it was a bit of a hit.
I woke up, and things just seemed…off. I know that it was technically Canada Day, but this one was different. Where was all the activity? Where was my frantic sense of, “Okay, old man, you’ve gotta be HERE and HERE at THESE times for THESE activities to grab photos and footage”?
Oh right, a stupid pandemic cancelled Canada Day.
How was the rest of my July 1? Very tame, which is probably par for the course for everyone reading this. I went and bought some fireworks over in town, I barbecued burgers and we paired them with – what else? – some cheesy, velvety poutine. I blasted said fireworks, I gathered the charred remnants and put them in a garbage bag, and I came home.
Exciting stuff, no doubt.
It wasn’t until I returned to the office that I started feeling more positive and, essentially, more Canadian. I honestly think it was the sheer busy-body list of work things I had to do last Friday that lifted me up out of the doldrums. Here’s a quick run-through:
Wake up. Go to work. Get to work prepping copy and photos.
Coffee.
Put in a few calls to gather quotes for front page story. Post content to website and social media.
Lunch.
Off to Loreburn to check out art exhibit. Back to town. Defeat Bowzer to rescue Princess Peach. Pick up cupcakes. (one of those may not have happened)
Back to office.
More writing, more photo editing. Meet pool committee at pool for group photos, chatting, and enjoy previously mentioned cupcakes.
Back to office.
Upload photos. Shoot down to Gardiner Dam for photos.
Back to office.
That was my Friday. A busy one, but a good one, and like I said, I think it made me feel more Canadian than this year’s Canada Day did. The news of the massive irrigation deal for this region has everyone excited, and it’s hard not to feel a part of it, even if it’s behind the scenes. As well, driving down to the spillway at Gardiner Dam and seeing it opened up and roaring to life for the first time in a long time really made me smile. That’s the sound of Canada in these parts; the sound of lands getting a nice big drink, and the sound of all sorts of possibilities.
It honestly wasn’t until Independence Day a day later when I realized that Canada may have dropped the ball on its citizens on July 1.
I caught the Macy's 4th of July fireworks show on TV that night, which took place across several different locations in New York. Even without crowds, it was an amazing display, very patriotic and something that's always fun to watch. That being said, it made me feel disappointed that three days earlier, our own country did virtually nothing to mark our own celebration of this great land. For all intents and purposes, Canada was basically "closed" on Canada Day.
Did the pandemic screw up July 1st plans everywhere in general? You bet it did. But do I think some people in positions of leadership used the pandemic as a convenient excuse not to spend a little money and at least do *something*, *anything*? Yes, I do.
C'mon, Ottawa, you can't tell me you couldn't have cut a check, blasted off some red and white fireworks somewhere and aired the whole thing on CTV. Hey, if you needed some sponsorship dollars, why not try and hit up that Brazilian investment firm that owns Tim Hortons; they'll do anything to keep selling people on the whole "We're still very Canadian!" angle.
People are scared, burned out and just looking for something positive these days, and when they looked to their community leaders and their nation's top brass for something to take their minds off of things, they received nothing in return.
Canada's leaders failed this country's citizens at a time when people needed them the most right now.
Last week I told you that Canada Day wasn’t about parades and fireworks, and that’s still very true. But Canada Day is about finding SOME way to celebrate our amazing country, and to see our leaders cower away, close the doors and chalk it all up to “the virus” was just plain poor leadership.
In one way or another, Canada needed you last week, Ottawa.
It's sad that when we look back on 2020, July 1st was essentially "The Canada Day That Never Was."
For this week, that’s been the Ruttle Report.
