Wide world of sports in Canada

Danielle is somewhere to the left in this mass of rugby players

Paul coaches Louis at first base wearing his White Sox jersey on honour of "the perfect game" the day before

Summer is flying by and we've been busy with travel, company and of course sports. So much as changed from last summer's sports lineup. Danielle is playing rugby in Montreal, which is something new and exciting for everyone. She's also playing water polo at the neighborhood pool. It's been a great way to meet other kids and it can't get any more convenient than right in the neighborhood. Swim team is limited to the neighborhood team as well and it's extremely laid back, which has been great. No 5 a.m. practices this summer. Rugby practice can be five hours, but they rarely start before 10 am. We're enjoying this schedule!

Louis is playing baseball. While not that different from playing in Naperville, it does amaze us when we hear other teams conversing in French and parents don't think twice about bringing bottles of wine to the games. It's a long season and runs until the third week of August. Canadians make the most of summer and it's okay to take off for vacation from time to time. What is different this summer is that Louis is trying swim team, something he never did in Napervile. For an almost 12 year old to START swim team in Naperville would be like an almost 12 year old deciding to START playing hockey in Canada. (Kish's opinion). It's been very fun for him. You know when there's the kid in a race who comes in last and everyone is cheering him/her on? That's our Louis. He comes out of the pool grinning from ear to ear and doesn't care that he's last.

Tomorrow we head to Quebec City for a rugby tournament at the Plains of Abraham. Now, that's something we never thought we would be saying a year ago.

The thing on her head is not a sweatband. We found out it's to protect her ears from getting ripped. This is news to us too.

Fête du Canada

It's Canada Day in Canada -- or as they say in French -- Fête du Canada -- a holiday similar to 4th of July in the U.S. Once called Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération), this day celebrates the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act, which united Canada as a single country. This act joined the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec).

Ironically, even as Canada Day is celebrated today, there's a movement in Quebec called the Quebec Sovereignty Movement. The "Separatists" as they are called, want the province of Quebec to separate from Canada to become a country of its own. They are rather upset at the continued infusion of English in Quebec and want to preserve this heritage, and other things. Danielle has run across members of this movement in her sporting events and it's somewhat awkward, especially considering the fact that we speak little French, yet contribute to the economy in Quebec on a daily basis and at a pretty hefty tax rate. Canadian politics can be interesting at times, almost as interesting as what's going on in South Carolina.

It's been an odd day though and doesn't seem as "Patriotic" as the 4th is in the U.S. We're thinking it's because there are so many darn holidays in Canada that the day off is taken for granted. Paul still went into work, we had a swim meet tonight and it seemed like business as usual for some, especially in Quebec since last Wednesday was a different holiday. We have not checked out the calendar to see what holiday we have to look forward to in August.

This year's Canada Day also marks the opening of the CFL (Canadian Football League) or for Quebecers, the LCF (Ligue Canadienne de Football) and a game between Calgary and Montreal. It's not as popular as hockey around here, but the Pisani's enjoy a bit of football in July.

Kish found this interesting opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times today...

It's Canada Day! And Canadians forgot why...
Today, July 1, marks Canada Day. "America's hat," as some have referred to the lovely North American behemoth, celebrates its 142nd birthday.

In honor of this special occasion, Ipsos Reid conducted a poll on behalf of the Dominion Institute to see just how many Canadians recognize their important political and historical figures.

Turns out not too many.

I'm imagining this playing out like Jaywalking, former late-night (now prime-time) host Jay Leno's signature segment where he interviews passers-by about basic facts that they get horribly wrong. While only four out of every 10 Canadians knew who their first prime minister was from a picture, nine out of 10 could pick out 90s pop sensation Celine Dion and eight out of 10 recognized hockey star Wayne Gretsky (the only two people I could identify as Canadian off the top of my head).

Granted, some of the "top 10 Canadians" included the man named the Father of Medicare and 2004's Canadian of the Year, as well as the guy who won the Nobel Prize for discovering insulin. I wouldn't be able to recognize the faces of the American equivalents of those historical figures either.

But not first Prime Minister Sir John McDonald -- whose face is on the $10 bill -- and your current ceremonial leader, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean (whom only 50% recognized)? That's a little sad. I would seriously hope that most Americans could pick out George Washington and Barack Obama from 10 photos. But then again, the Jaywalkers could (and often do) prove me wrong.

All joking aside, Canadian leaders seemed a bit dismayed by the results.
"We put their faces on stamps or put statues up, but if the majority of Canadians don't recognize them, what good is it?" said Marc Chalifoux, executive director of the Dominion Institute.

Some Canadians attribute these less-than-stellar polling results on the country's lack of storytelling, crediting the United States for having a great deal of national pride that has not immigrated north.

Perhaps for its 143rd birthday, Canada's goal should be to tout more of its history so its citizens can learn the stories behind the figures they celebrate on Canada Day.

School's out...almost

Danielle's last day of exams at Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's school (June 2009). Prep time, ten minutes.

We have always taken photos on the first and last days of school, and it's amazing to see the difference from beginning to end. This year of course was particularly different considering both kids started the year in Naperville and will complete the year in Montreal. Danielle finished writing exams (that's how finals are referred to here) last week. Louis' official last day is June 23rd, making for a long school year and short summer.

Danielle has become a huge fan of the uniform. So has mom. She can literally get up and out of the house in ten minutes if need be. Her school has lots of rules, which we actually like. No make-up, no nail polish, only natural colored hair, very limited jewelry and of course specific shoes, socks and the works. It limits morning drama...it doesn't eliminate all of it though, as many parents of teenagers can appreciate.

We continue to have those wow, life is different from a year ago moments as we get closer to our first summer in Montreal.

Danielle's first day at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville (August 2008). Prep time, 45 minutes.

Dog of many names

Louis has renamed our dog. He's now known as Duke Urlacher Gretzky Crosby. No hyphens. Photo by Danielle.

Timbits!

One of our favourite weekend places is Tim Horton's. Okay, sometimes we go there during the week too. For those of you who have visited us, you know that there's nothing that Louis likes more than Timbits. They are donut holes, but let's just say they kick as$ over Dunkin' Donuts. And the coffee is quite good, and much more affordable than Starbucks around here. And a lot more convenient. Finding a Tim Horton's in Canada is like finding a Starbucks or McDonald's in the US -- they are everywhere. Here's a link to an interesting news feature story about Tim Horton's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4LKFvOGx_c

And speaking of Tim Horton...hockey season comes to a close tonight. We're watching the game right now so we obviously don't know the outcome. In honour of our Pittsburgh friends the Kirstein's, we're of course cheering for the Penguins. And Crosby is well-liked in Canada, obviously. Tim Horton's is a big sponsor of youth hockey programs in Canada. Crosby has a natural connection to Timbits Hockey and at the age of 5, in 1993, played for the Cole Harbour Timbits in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Standing at 3' 11" Sidney wore jersey # 8 and played centre, clearly a sign of things to come. We thought this was a great video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTmUBATgNSE

Now to cheer for baseball...before we know it will be football season.