Canuck: Do You Speak It?

Have a sit-down on the chesterfield with your double-double and learn ya some Canadian.

In preparation of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C., the Associated Press has developed a list of terms all visitors to Canada should know.

With the caveat that not all Canadians may agree on the language, definitions and spellings below, and not all may use all expressions listed here all the time in all contexts in an all-joking or an all-earnest manner, let's begin:

LOONIE: One-dollar coin bearing the image on one side of a diving bird known in North America as the Common Loon.

TOONIE or TWOONIE: Two-dollar coin bearing the image on one side of a polar bear. Named as a play on Loonie and for its double-dollar denomination.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE: A coffee with two creams and two sugars.

TRIPLE-TRIPLE: You guessed it, same as above plus one each.

CHESTERFIELD: Generic term for couch. Refers elsewhere to a specific leather style.

TIMMIES: Shorthand for Tim Hortons, Canada's answer to Starbucks and making its first foray into the United States.

TIMBITS: Doughnut holes at Tim Hortons.

TWO-FOUR: A case of beer that contains 24 bottles. A ‘case’ of beer – although in BC a ‘case’ refers to a 12-pack, a 24-pack is often called a ‘flat’.

TOQUE: Pronounced TOOK (sort of), a knit cap called a ski cap in the United States.

THAT'LL LEARN YA: Meaning, "That will teach you," said in response to a stupid or non-fatal avoidable bad outcome.

HYDRO: In some areas, refers generically to electrical power and power bills.

Alright – well enjoy the games and not to worry, we also speak ‘merican, eh?

Canucklehead Torch Run

Well, here it is - the final product. I wish I had more video to show - but this is all I've got!

Paris, Ontario - December 22, 2009: A time and place that will be with me for the rest of my life. I'll have the memories forever and to help me preserve them I have made this video, which I share with you now.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is a 45,000 kilometre journey across Canada that will unify the country and build excitement for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The relay is over 100 days long, and will visit over 1000 communities and places of interest. I was chosen as 1 of 12,000 to help the torch make it journey around Canada, which at over 45,000 kilometres is the longest in history to be contained within the host country.

I'm proud and honoured to be part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, even though I suppose it is in a limited way. The world will be soon be watching Canada and I wish all our athletes the best - we are already proud of you!

I do want to take this opportunity to publicly thank my employer, Bell Canada for this once-in-a-lifetime experience! While I only actually carried the torch for a few minutes, the joy of this day will last me a lifetime!

I really have no closing words, I hope you enjoyed the video and I hope you enjoy our upcoming Olympic games.

GO CANADA!

CHEERS!

Ordering Vancouver 2010 To Go?

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are coming to five Canadian communities this February as part of the CTV Olympic Celebration - a free, one-day festival-style event taking place in Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, St. John's and Quebec City during the Games.

The CTV Olympic Celebration will begin in both Calgary and Winnipeg on Saturday, Feb. 13 before moving to Toronto (Saturday, Feb. 20), St. John's (Friday, Feb. 26) and Quebec City (Saturday, Feb. 27), where the event is called Célébrations olympiques RDS. Each free event will feature live performances from some of Canada's top musical acts, including Simple Plan in Calgary, The Waking Eyes in Winnipeg, Barenaked Ladies in Toronto, Sam Roberts Band in St. John's and a triple bill in Quebec City featuring Annie Villeneuve, Les Trois Accords and David Usher.

As part of each event, the CTV Olympic Celebration will provide a variety of on-site entertainment activities including winter sports simulators, the Canadian Olympic Team Winter Gaming Zone, The Globe and Mail Front Page Photo Area, the Olympic Winter Games Theatre, and the Leave Your Mark Canada Zone where individuals can help take part in creating a Canadian flag by dipping their thumb in red ink and placing it on the flag.

The Celebrations will also include the Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Celebration Tent, where attendees will have the opportunity to sign a congratulatory card for Canada's 2010 Olympians and Paralympians.

"This is a unique endeavour that extends the Olympic Games experience beyond traditional media while simultaneously bringing communities together to cheer on Canada's Olympians as they go for gold," said Keith Pelley, President, Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. "The CTV Olympic Celebration delivers on our commitment to providing Canadians with all the tools they need to experience the Olympic Games like never before."

This marks the first time a cross-country Olympic-themed festival-style event has been organized in Canada in celebration of the Olympic Games.

The following are the official dates, times and locations for the CTV Olympic Celebration. All events will take place outdoors with the exception of St. John's. (All times are local)

Saturday, Feb. 13

Calgary (Olympic Plaza) - 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Musical Headliner: Simple Plan

Saturday, Feb. 13

Winnipeg (The Forks) - 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Musical Headliner: The Waking Eyes

Saturday, Feb. 20

Toronto (Nathan Phillips Square) - 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Musical Headliner: Barenaked Ladies

Friday, Feb. 26

St. John's (Mile One Centre & St. John's Convention Centre) -3 p.m. to 12 midnight

Musical Headliner: Sam Roberts Band

Saturday, Feb. 27

Quebec City (Parliament Lawn) - 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Musical Headliner: Annie Villeneuve, Les Trois Accords, David Usher

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!

The VANOC Pic

Part of the deal of being a torchbearer is that you get to keep the outfit. As well, some lucky souls like myself actually get to keep the torch I ran with - which is currently sitting above my TV collecting dust. Lastly, there is also an 'official photo' that gets taken of you from the media truck you run behind. Mine showed up a couple of days ago. I really have nothing to add and present it here simply to illustrate that I'm not always a bad-tempered guy.

That's me! December 22, 2009 - Paris Ontario.

I think I've got all the photos and videos I'm going to get and will start work on a full video in the very near future. Looking at the picture above now all I can think is - wow - I really did it! CHEERS!

The Eagle Has Landed!

Former Olympic folk hero Eddie (the Eagle) Edwards flew down Winnipeg streets Thursday morning as he proudly hoisted the Olympic torch in frigid weather.

The British ski jumper who gained a cult following during the 1988 Calgary Olympics - despite coming in dead last - carried the torch for several blocks as people honked their horns and shouted encouragement.

For Edwards, the experience was a thrill.

"It's almost as good as actually jumping in Calgary 22 years ago, but a lot safer,'' Edwards laughed.

The 45-year-old said he feels honoured to be back in Canada and thanked the country for including him in the celebrations for the Vancouver Games, which start next month.

"I was immensely proud and honoured to be invited back to Canada, to take part in the whole Olympic dream again,'' he said as he prepared to accept the torch on a snow-covered Winnipeg street.

"It's wonderful - 22 years later I'm back and all part of it. Being a part of the whole Olympic relay is wonderful. Now I've done both sides. I'm happy. I can die a happy man!''

Edwards made a name for himself around the world during his appearance at the Calgary Games. The Brit had been ski jumping for just two years when he decided he wanted to participate in 1988 as the country's first ski jumper.

From the beginning, he endeared himself to crowds with his fogged-up Coke-bottle glasses, prominent underbite and permanent smile. He finished last in the competition and people joked paramedics should be waiting at the bottom.

Yet Edwards was mobbed by thousands throughout the Games and people chanted his name as he tentatively launched himself off the ski jump tower at Canada Olympic Park.

His poor performance and determination didn't impress everyone. Ski officials felt he was bringing the sport into disrepute and tightened requirements for Olympic hopefuls. New rules restricted spots to top athletes.

Although he continued training after 1988, Edwards hasn't ski jumped competitively since. He is now married, is the father of two girls and has returned to his job as a plasterer in the U.K.

Despite his experience, Edwards said he still believes in the Olympic dream.

"Anybody can go to the Olympics,'' he said following his torch run.” If you are in your sport for your country, you should be able to go to the Olympic Games and represent your sport for your country, bringing people together in the interests of sport. It's a fantastic Olympic ideal and I uphold it as much as I can.''

 

SOURCE: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/