Day 435: Vancouver, Canada
I finally arrived in Vancouver, after taking the first Air Canada flight out of Buenos Aires, for a travel writer conference.
I had a quick nap and joined a group who had already made plans to watch Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Other than one moment in Chile, I have always been fiercely proud to be Canadian.
But it wasn’t until we were in the bar singing the national anthem that I could appreciate my own culture.
The Canucks won that game and fans poured into the street for a massive party.
The non-Canadian writers were overwhelmed with the street celebrations and I felt such a great sense of pride showing friends the Canadian culture at its best.
Note: I wrote this post before Game 7 and the destructive behavior after the Canucks lost Game 7.
At first I was really disturbed by the actions and embarrassed that several writers had changed plans to see the last game.
But it was only momentary as several writers wrote posts about the other side of the story, where the city banded together to show support and repair the city. For more on it check out
It was a momentary slip but I am still proud to be Canadian.
I’m proud to be Canadian too 🙂
(When I first started traveling in Central America, I told people I was from Canada… just in case.)
Wonderful post, there are things that I despise about America, but at the end of the day I’m proud to be American! 🙂
That was a proud Canadian moment. I’m glad you mentioned it. Plus, for me getting to see BC for the first time and realizing how much beautiful nature Canada has to offer made me feel lucky to be a citizen.
Love this post, about to read the recommended links as well. I think sports can really bring a culture together. I am glad you got to be home for the pride!
Welcome home. What an adventure you were (are) on. Thanks for sharing with the world.:)
There are many Canadians that are proud you are Canadian too! 🙂
Aww thanks Raymond!
Great post and welcome home!
I seem to have missed what happened at the end of the game but the whole event from your point of eyes sounds like one of those moments that you will never forget. They are priceless.
its great to be proud of your culture
I believe where you’re from forms such a huge part of the person you are, and no matter where you go you take that with you.
I am fiercely proud to be Australian, I wouldn’t have it any other way, and there are songs that will always bring a tear to my eye when on foreign soil (here’s looking at you, “I Come From A Land Down Under” and “I Still Call Australia Home”)
A small minority did this, always been proud to be Canadian, always will be.
So true Rob.
I guess it people saw the Canadian fans at their best and worst. It great to be proud of one’s culture especially when people banded together to fix the city!
I was so happy to see those posts, it really renewed my faith in my country.
It is so disturbing what happened there. Great to see your happy photos though 🙂 Welcome home.
I know it was sad to see it go South so quickly but I’m still happy to be home.
You have every reason to be proud to be a Canadian. I would be if I was. It’s a wonderful country with very friendly people and I had a great time there!
So surprised to read about the rioting. Sad. Always thought that only happened in Europe after soccer games.
Great Ayngelina! I’m not Canadian, but I think it’s an incredible country to be proud of!
Glad to hear you made it back home! Thats the great thing about traveling is that you always will have a place to call home. There are always going to be things that make us wonder about our homeland but in the end I think most of us have a true love for the place that makes us who we are.
I always loved Canada but now more than ever.
I have now been in your homeland for abut’ 18 hours but I’m loving it already!
I’m hoping to enjopy my stay here in Canada with my motley crew of cyclists. I hope your travels continue to go well and I look forward to one day seeing you on the road again.
ae.
Oh I am sure we will meet up again. Hope the roads in Canada are good to you.
Looks like you had a blast. I lived next door to Joe Sakic before he won the first Stanley cup, he had a huge clock party after he won and invited all the kids to drink apple cider out of it. It was pretty awesome. It’s kind of cool how sports can bring people together. I am a die hard football fan so I know how intense it can get too.
a huge BLOCK party…. not clock. Too quick for my own fingers. 🙂
I once went to a Buffalo Bills tailgate party before the game, it does get intense!
thanks so much for linking to my post ayngelina 🙂 canada should be proud to have you as a citizen in addition to the other beautiful folks i met while there. vancouver’s a great city that was temporarily mistreated by some fools, but that’s not what i’ll remember about vancouver, and it certainly won’t make me love canada (or canadians) any less. 🙂
I don’t mind the Vancouver Canucks even though I’m in Calgary! I just didn’t like the way they were “poor sport” about their win. IMHO
I was actually surprised to see it happen in Vancouver. I wouldn’t have been surprised in other cities but Vancouver seems so laid back.