On Friday, February 12th, 2010, my Glowing heart was bursting with Patriotic Pride. As Nikki Yanofski sang our National Anthem, and we all awaited the final flame of the Olympic Torch Relay to ignite, there was magic in the air!After 200 years of trying to convince the world that we were more than just Eskimo's in igloo's and Mounties patrolling a nation of Teepee's, this was our chance to show the world what we were all about. This was our moment to exhibit Canada's rich pluralistic culture. This was our moment to display our vast variety of talent. This was our moment to SHINE. Instead, I was gobsmacked to see that the organizers of the show decided to use this as a chance to show 2 hours worth of First Nation's culture; have Nelly Furtado and Brian Adams Lip sync their song, before Katie Lang decided to perform looking like a hobo man with no shoes on. My patriotic pride was further deflated as I saw THE GREAT ONE, Wayne Gretzky had to make the final run to light the Outdoor torch, riding on the back of a pick-up truck?! The organizers took years to plan for this event and yet they failed to provide him with suitable transportation. It was like watching the Brampton Santa Clause Parade. If this was a US event, our neighbours to the south would have made sure that he was riding in style with a motorcade of Envoy's surrounding his mode of transportation to keep away the hoodlums that were putting up gang signs as he went. You're from the 'West Side', we get it. Now put your fingers down. The rain was beating down and as the torch nearly extinguised, the only thing that wasn't soggy on Gretzky was his smile. Thankfully, Canadians did make one good decision... To choose a final torch bearer who has a glimmer in his smile and a Patriotic Pride in his heart that could like the torch without a single flame.
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