"We All Play for Canada"

As promoted by Canadian Tire, during the current PyeongChang Winter Olympics

and previous Olympic Games, this fact is so true!

Although following the Games on my home television,

I played every 'end' in curling...

I 'leapt every jump' in ice skating...

I 'snow-skied' every mogul...

I attempted 'women's Giant Slalom' (but missed a gate)...

and in luge, I 'raced down the icy track'

(challenging myself as did all Canada's athletes themselves).

I cheered when winning a medal...and teared at every loss.

Yet I marvelled at the 'road travelled' by athletes to earn a berth for their country at the Games. Whether winning Bronze, Silver or Gold, each competitor in all events performed at the highest level of their ability while wearing the Maple Leaf on their hearts.

Yeah! I Played for Canada!

PyeongChang Winter Games

could be altered to read

We Belong when Rang out O Canada

as the Maple Leaf flag soared sky-high when medals were presented.

Hundreds and hundreds of young adults tried out for Canada's team...with only the best chosen to compete at the next training level. Not everyone has that superb athletic talent and competitive desire.

I recall when my niece in Goderich at age 7 or 8 yearned to ice skate; her parents enrolled her at the local skating arena to help her realize her dream. Sonia loved it but quickly realized, as did her parents and in-house coach, that she lacked the physical ability to proceed  further. As a teenager, she found her niche ~ teaching young children in the club to skate. And this gave her great satisfaction as a part-time job until she proceeded to Western University in London, Ontario.

Yes! She Played for Canada!

Eva Salem, Vice President of marketing at Canadian Tire said, “Over the years, the guiding principles of the retailer's platform ~ which launched as part of its Olympic partnership four years ago, have remained the same with heavy emphasis on the idea of inclusiveness, play, and the importance of communities rallying together.”

Isn't it amazing the heavy emphasis placed on the annual Super Bowl advertisements? The cost for each is phenomenal, hopefully netting much 'down-the-road' business. Yet, Canadian Tire says it best:

We All Play for Canada!

To date, The Number of Kids Helped by Canadian Tire Jumpstart

is approximately 1,500,000.

Canadian Tire is also Official Partner for City Kidz.

 The end result of both these organization is the groundwork development of sport qualities: courage...leadership...teamwork...confidence...pride...friendship and creativity 

 among Canada's youth.

Brian Orser's Contribution to the Games!

Born December 18, 1961, Brian is a former competitive and professional figure skater: the 1984 and 1988 Silver Medalist, 1987 World Champion and 8-time Canadian National Champion. Orser turned professional and skated with “Stars on Ice” for almost 20 years. Today, as a coach, he has led skaters to medals of gold, silver and bronze...including Javier Fernandez (from Spain) to a 2018 Bronze Medal in PyeongChang...and with 2015 and 2016 World titles. Highly respected he is, as coach to several competitors at the current Winter Games. Back home, he is a skating consultant at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club. His heart and soul declare We All Play for Canada!

Canada's Maple Leaf Flag

Our flag is an icon ~ recognized everywhere in the world...from travellers wearing labelled back-packs to toques and jackets. Wherever we go, we represent and honour our country...and travellers 'on the go' always generating smiles and chats with us: Its significance is its design and colour.

Our 'Maple Leaf Flag' consists of a red field with a white field at its center

in the middle of which is featured a stylized red 11-pointed maple leaf.

It was adopted February 15, 1965. The red ends represent Canada's two coastal oceans.

Significant and colourful it is, when Canada's Maple Leaf Flag

is photographed against an azure blue sky...and recognized worldwide.

We should be so proud!

Hilary Clinton remarked:
Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.

And wouldn't she be amazed that at the current Winter Olympics,

is the largest representation, ever, of Women competing for medals in their specialized fields???

We All Play for Canada!

“Your talent is God's gift to you.

What you do with it, is your gift back to God.”

(Leo Buscaglia)

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

(Michael Jordan)

Scripted by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 17, 2018

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca or inezkate@gmail.com