Oh Canada!

"The Olympics are a wonderful metaphor for world cooperation, the kind of international competition that's wholesome and healthy, an interplay between countries that represents the best in all of us." ~John Williams

Last night's opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver were spectacular. Though I got to see only the last 45 minutes of the ceremony live (at the theatre for Little House on the Prairie - ugh!)I was enthralled every moment I saw and enchanted with the parts I saw only in replay when CTV reran the ceremonies at midnight.

After Beijing I think some people were concerned these ceremonies wouldn't be able to measure up. Beijing was truly wonderful as a celebration of Chinese culture and ingenuity. Vancouver was equally wonderful as a celebration of the very best parts of Canada. From the musical performances, to the Aboriginal rapper, the skier who manoeuvred through the rings to enter the stadium, to the native dancers and drummers, it was hard to decide what was best about the program. And lighting the torch in such a quintessentially Canadian way - as a team effort, said a great deal about the spirit of this country.

Though the purity of the celebration was dampened by the death of the Georgian luger, these sixteen days in Vancouver are all about the celebration of community, of excellence, of big dreams and hard work. I cannot recall a time I have felt more proud to be Canadian.