Sunday Night TV - Take 3: The Greatest Canadian, eh? October 18, 2004
My mom called last night to tell me that the CBC was airing The Greatest Canadian. I hadn’t known it was on, or even intended to watch the whole thing, but naturally, I got sucked in.
As one of the commentators (Ian Ferguson, I think) said, it was truly and exercise in democracy, and demonstrated why sometimes democracy doesn’t work (or, at least work like you think it should). Hence the inclusion of the DJ from Winnipeg, who must have started a campaign to be included, because they said almost nothing about him. Or the guy who founded the Kinsmen - Harry or Harold something. Who? Exactly.
Other than that, it included more Canadians who were famous than actually great. Mike Myers? Jim Carrey? The DJ from Winnipeg? Not so much nation-builders and great thinkers as Canadians who made it big down south. And only one Canadian author (contrary to the claim that there were no Canadian authors on the list) - Pierre Burton.
The list of the 50-11 people they featured doesn’t seem to be posted. Or at least, isn’t posted yet. But the top 10 will be presented over the next 10 weeks, complete with celebrity advocate. It was interesting to see who made the top 10 (Don Cherry? Meh. David Suzuki? Yay!), and even more interesting to see who the advocates are:
- Frederick Banting (Mary Walsh)
- Alexander Graham Bell (Evan Solomon)
- Don Cherry (Brett Hart, who was one of the 50)
- Tommy Douglas (George Stromboulopoulos)
- Terry Fox (Sook-Yin Lee)
- Wayne Gretzky (Deborah Grey)
- Sir John A. MacDonald (Charlotte Gray)
- Lester B. Pearson (Paul Gross)
- David Suzuki (Melissa Auf der Maur)
- Pierre Elliot Trudeau (Rex Murphy! Woo!)
You can vote here, but watch the episodes too!
I certainly enjoyed that show as well. It was interesting to see some of those who made the top 11-50. Ok for the guy who started the Kinsmen but what about the Bahai lady? That was even more obscure to me! I also was pleased with the choice of Rex to champion Trudeau…. why didn’t HE make it on the list to 50 if Avril did!!??!! Figure that one out!
I also am impressed that after watching all that you were still up early enough to post that message!
Mom
MAry Maxwell - she’s the woman who married the guy who founded the religion, the name of which I can’t remember how to spell right now.
I was talking to Karen and we both complained that there weren’t enough women on the list, and she brought up another someone who was left off the list - Joey Smallwood! How can you justify having a list of great Canadians without including him?
And yes, I was up early, but spent all my time online. Didn’t make my lunch and barely had breakfast!