After I filed my first article from Corner Brook after the opening of the 1999 Canada Winter Games, the curmudgeonly editor of the Yukon News told me to cut out the rah rah rah stuff. That was a tough gig, writing objective media stories while my insides were crying out to cheer on our Yukon athletes. I was torn, struggling to hold back my enthusiasm, while I kept getting caught up in the excitement of competition and great story.
So with the opening ceremonies for the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, I wanted to go and feel the excitement, hoot and holler, stamp my feet and wave. (I’ve always found there’s something rather therapeutic about yelling in a socially acceptable environment.) And I wondered if anyone would dance.
The event started with great energetic rap numbers from northern artists including Yukon’s own Galen and Daniel Ashley and Tagish’s Fiona Solon rousing the crowds and bringing in the athletes. But overall, it was a little bit more subdued affair than Corner Brook. It was well rehearsed, orchestrated and obviously done for TV. In Newfoundland, the enthusiasm couldn’t be contained. Television was forced to fade rather than conclude when Newfoundland athletes sprung into spontaneous dance that erupted and spread throughout the whole arena.
The athletes entered with their premiers waving flags and cheering them on. They were followed by the three northern premiers. Then, as no surprise to anyone who’s felt like they’ve been working for Piers McDonald for the last three years — Piers, the Prime Minister and a guy called Larry Smith.
Now for those of us who have been around the territory for a few years, we know Larry “Cowboy” Smith – a local legend who took on the sleeker Alaskan dogs of the Iditarod, with his bigger Yukon huskies in the seventies. He inspired us, running a Yukon Quest style dog race, long before the Yukon Quest was born. Back then, Larry’s competitive spirit brought on that bit of emotional resonance that felt like Yukon culture.
But the Larry Smith on stage wasn’t a cowboy – he was Chairman and CEO of the Canada Games Council up there to make a speech. Short speeches are always good, but a few of us held back a chuckle when the dogs backstage started howling as Prime Minister Harper spoke.
Well nothing’s ever perfect, no matter how well rehearsed or how well prepared. And politicians have a lot on their plate- they need to practice their speeches, follow their handlers, and pay attention to their hair. No one knows hair better than Gordon Campbell. It’s a little known fact that Gordon and I have the same hair dresser. And I suspect, that after our Premier sees his hair on television, he’ll be thinking of asking Gordon for a little hair advice.
But political impressions are not what the Games are all about. Jean Chrétien looked out over the assembled athletes in 1999 and said “the future of Canada is in good hands”. Today, Steven Harper saw athletes and spoke on athletic excellence. I saw a bunch of kids who have worked their butts off to get to Whitehorse, having one of the biggest experiences of their lives to date.
I’m so thrilled that our classic northern mythologies are holding — it’s cold, dogs howl and there’s tons of snow.
It’s not often like this, but I suspect, that as the Games wear on, we’ll be exposing a few more Yukon secrets.
