Happy Canada Day.
Our national holiday is much like our nation – understated. People generally don’t party on Canada Day (that’s for Victoria Day) and there aren’t many over-the-top displays of nationalism. In most cases, Canada Day is about face painting and bouncy castles. Multicultural food is sold by new Canadians with small Canadian flag temporary tattoos on their cheek.
It all wraps up with a sensible fireworks display and ice cream for the kids.
Nothing wrong with it. It’s just not a day that generally stirs the emotions. Passion is something Canadians have always struggled with. We’re a northern country, former colony and located above the most bombastic culture the world has ever known. We were destined to be subdued.
Whereas Americans talk about “the 4th” with reverence and anticipation, Canadians kind of go through the motions.
In an average year the day goes by without much note – newspaper’s run fluff pieces about how nice we are and how wonderful it is that the nice Pakistani family is fitting into rural Canadian life. As stated, Canada Day just kind of is.
Today, at least in the major urban areas, it runs the risk of being an afterthought. If you are reading this space you are well aware that Spain plays Italy today for the European championship. As always, the Euros have been massively popular in Canada’s biggest cities and have become part of the national conversation.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Most of that conversation centers around our ethnic heritage (both real and imagined). TSN (in)famously asked fans to “put their country’s flag” on a map to indicate what team they were cheering for.
“Where are you from, no really, where are you really from” is the attitude. Ethnic heritage has been embraced and celebrated all month.
That’s great. It really is. That we are such a multicultural country is wonderful and, speaking as someone that learned to truly love this game while sitting in the bars and cafes of Toronto during World Cups and Euros, we are truly lucky to be able to watch these tournaments in this country.
It’s fitting, actually, that the final is on Canada Day, because, to me, the way our cities react to these tournaments is, in fact, part of the Canadian experience.
I can think of very few if any places in the world where honking Italy fans drive down the same street that disgruntled Portuguese fans walked down one day before. It’s brilliant, beautiful and I hope it never changes.
That is the Canadian experience. There is one thing each and every fan of the Euros here in Canada has in common – they live here. Their day-to-day experiences happen here and for some of later generations, there is nowhere else in the world where they "fit" as they do here.
They may be waving the Italian flag, but they are doing so as an Italian-Canadian.
And, that's my plea for the day – remember what's on the other side of the hyphen. Enjoy the game and celebrate your ethnic heritage today if you are Spanish or Italian, but leave some time this evening to appreciate the country we live in.
It’s a wonderful country – even if it lacks depth at fullback.
Enjoy the day and the game (...and Forza Balotelli!)