Oh Canada – we celebrate the differences!

I was fortunate to do an ‘almost’ cross Canada trip this past month as I work on the Astral Media National Day of Caring for Kids Radiothon, which will be held on Thursday, May 5th.

More than 60 radio stations, coast to coast, will be modifying their programming to raise funds for Children’s medical needs. Many of the station’s are aligned with the Children’s Miracle Network while others raise money for various children’s health needs in their broadcast community.

More on this later – as the topic is “Oh Canada.”

When you do a quick hit trip like I did the differences in each of the major cities I visited are quite pronounced and surely highlights the differences in the various parts of our wide and wonderful country.

First stop was Montreal, where I was fortunate enough to have met one of the organizers of the annual legendary Montreal Jazz Festival.

This is a fest with a difference in that it not only covers the jazz genre but ‘compatible’ artists that have a definite ‘cool factor’ – the likes of Van Morrison, Jackson Browne, etc.

I always love visiting Montreal because it is just so neat that the people there easily move from French to English when they realize you are a ‘fur-in-er’ and not from their back yard. The contrast between Old Montreal and New Montreal is unique and historical while Ste. Catherine’s street is definitely the magnet of the city.

And man they love their Habs – as do ‘half’ of the crowds that attend games in NHL cities across Canada. (More on this later…)

In Ottawa, a similar story with the French/English culture – but the neatest thing I saw was the amazing Rideau Cannel skating rink. You can go for miles and miles around the city, stopping in to the waiting areas set up for hot chocolate/coffee and ‘music.’ Live bands entertain you, weather permitting, and the cannel was jammed for as far as I could see on the day I went there.

Ottawa ‘needs’ their CFL football team back and I chatted with a sports pal there who gave me the upside on the rebuild of the stadium and ultimate return of the football team to the Nation’s Capital. Ottawa too is highly disappointed in their NHL hockey team.

Their city centre market has some ‘great’ restaurants, and the parliament buildings look spectacular at night all lit up.

Toronto is – well Toronto.

Everybody there always seems to be in a hurry and the traffic is paralyzing to say the least. If you make a bunch of money – and are single – downtown Toronto is a great place to live. If you ‘don’t make a bundle and have to live in the suburbs you’ll be on the road forever.’

Toronto indeed likes you to know they’re the ‘centre of the universe’ that makes the rest of the country go! And boy do they ever want to win a Stanley Cup to catch up to the rest of the country. Or as a good friend says “to win one in ‘color’ on television.’ (reference to black and white tv in 1967)

My Mom still lives there, so 'bonus stop' to see her as she still makes me laugh at the tender age of 83.

Next stop was Vancouver, and we hit the BC city on a very nice day – no rain – and the ocean, as always, has such a calming effect on the people on the ‘wet’ coast as they say. Vancouver travels at their own pace - which I like!

I will ‘never’ forget my first ever visit to Vancouver as I attended the Rolling Stones/Stevie Wonder/Martha Reeves concert early in the 70’s that turned in to a ‘riot’ when people tried to crash the doors for the encore at the PNE. Walking out to cops on horseback with shields, guns, gas, and dogs was rather overwhelming for a 21 year old second year broadcaster.

Vancouver’s downtown core is always a highlight, and even though the glory days of “Gastown” are long gone a stroll down that street is magic as well when you stare across the water to North Vancouver.

We stayed at the stunningly beautiful Pan Pacific Hotel – and the receptionist asked me if I ‘knew anybody in Vancouver media’ after seeing my Radiowise Inc. business card as she had a friend in television there.

In the ‘isn’t it a small world’ category the two of us both know Wayne Cox, the BCTV weatherman. Wayne and I shared a $90 a month apartment while we both worked at CHNL in Kamloops in 1970. I want to thank her, and Wayne, for an immediate ‘upgrade’ to a beautiful suite that looked over the bay towards Grouse Mountain – which had a dusting of snow to add to the beauty of the topography.

I attended the Vancouver Canuck/Montreal Canadiens hockey game that evening (thanks Brad) and the sold out crowd kept the dual chant going virtually all night. Go Habs was met with Go Canucks throughout the contest and the Canuck fans seemingly just want to get the lengthy season over with now to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs while their nemesis Chicago Blackhawks struggle to get in the back door.

Next it was the one day Alberta blitz as we whipped in to both Edmonton and Calgary. First stop, and a total contrast to the coast, was to get some help to get my ‘stuck’ vehicle out of the snow IN the Edmonton Airport parking lot.

A quick push in about minus 25 weather and my noted traveller Pierre Boisseau from Montreal was giggling under his breath as I cursed the wonderful Alberta February weather.

Edmonton, as most of you know, is ‘home’ (part of the year) and it is one city that has learned how to live in what can only be called ‘extreme’ weather conditions. Kids still play outside in frigid weather – people ski on the mini ski hills downtown – and other than during a major snow storm – the West Edmonton Mall is always busy.

After our station meeting at my former radio stations a trip back to the Edmonton airport (boy parking is expensive if you use the main terminal) and down to Calgary where ‘oil rules.’

The downtown core now is massive and buildings that were the tallest several years ago are now ‘dwarfed’ by giant sky scrapers all homes of either the oil companies or companies ‘related’ to the oil business. Calgary truly is the 'power city' of the west though I hate to admit it.

Walking through the pedways is a blessing in frigid weather and it was amazing for me to see that “ties are now gone” in the business world. About 10% of the guys had suits and ties while the open collars of the executives now seem to make casual Fridays prevalent any day of the week.

Calgary is white collar. Edmonton is blue collar.

The difference is extremely evident and especially when you’re in and out of both cities on the same day. The Battle of Alberta is ‘everywhere’ (thank god) and Edmontians have to suck it up again this NHL season as it appears the Flames have somehow ‘rebuilt themselves’ during the season and could also find themselves in the big race shortly.

This alone provides Edmontonians with a major decision – do we support the Flames or the Canucks?

Answer: Go Coyotes!

As I headed home I was so thrilled to do this trip as I got to meet the magic people who help us raise over $7 million dollars a year during the Radiothon. thanks guys and ladies, it's going to be a great Radiothon.

I also got to quickly enjoy a little Canadian culture and proud to celebrate the differences in this great and vast country. Hopefully next year I can finally make it to the east coast as well.

Two quick notes.

Vancouver wins two big distinctions during this trip.

1. The zaniest cab drivers in the country. Our 5 am ride to the Vancouver airport was highlighted by a gent from another land who could barely speak the language yet wanted to tell us non stop jokes (that weren’t funny - I think) and to chant along with him upon demand.

2. The best restaurant – and this was a tough one – but the “C” Restaurant in False Creek was simply amazing. Beautiful setting – great service – and the best seared Ahi Tuna I’ve had anywhere. Again – ‘thanks Brad.’ A close second, Calgary’s Caesars Steak House – that remains visually like it was in the early 70’s when it first opened. Our waiter had been there for over 32 years and a ‘pro’ server as expected.

Now I know a trip across this country would be better in the summertime but I truly enjoyed this trek regardless of the temperature – and we were somehow ‘untouched’ by any strange weather and had ‘no delays’ in all that travel. Thanks Jennifer Harrison!

My personal thanks to both Pierre Boisseau, and to Astral Media for first class treatment start to finish.

As for the Radiothon ‘please’ join our Facebook site – “Astral Media’s National Day of Caring for Kids Radiothon’ for a full update.

Should you decide to donate – ‘double thanks.”