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Stampede awaits Canadian icon
Parade marshal to be unveiled Thursday
 
By Valerie Fortney, Calgary Herald April 27, 2011
 
Wayne Gretzky is one. So are Neil Young, William Shatner, Steve Nash and -like it or not -Celine Dion. When it comes to Canadian icons in the human form, though, Ian Tyson, Jann Arden and Justin Bieber miss the mark.

"With a few notable exceptions, a Canadian icon is someone who is among the most famous of Canadians, as well as internationally recognized," says Jeremy Diamond, director of development and programs for the Historica Dominion Institute, the largest organization of its kind devoted to Canadian history, identity and citizenship.

While many a rabid tween fan might hiss through her braces at Diamond, he stands by his statement that Bieber still needs to ferment a little.

"We judge an icon on recognizability, their impact on Canadian society and how Canadians see themselves through that person," he says. "I think Justin needs to prove his fame will be enduring, because he's so young."

I chat with Diamond on Tuesday afternoon, after a morning of ruminating on Thursday's pending announcement of the 2011 Stampede parade marshal. According to the Stampede's news release, we are being promised a "Canadian icon" will not only be announced, but also present at A.E. Cross School on Thursday.

Desperately seeking alternative water-cooler talk to the unending federal election and the "Wedding of the Century," I, along with several newsroom colleagues, waste much of our morning working hours musing on just which Canadian icon will be unveiled.

Famous names fly fast and furious: Gretzky and Shatner join the likes of Bieber, Michael J. Fox and Don Cherry.

David Suzuki, k.d. lang and Pamela Anderson are quickly discarded due to their disdain for beef eating, while Rick Mercer is deemed a little too left of centre and Anne Murray and Margaret Atwood too boomerish for the Stampede brass, whose curious choice last year of a pair of American cowboys from the Amazing Race reality TV series likely was partly due to the desire to attract a younger demographic.

My Herald colleague Heath McCoy, author of Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, throws wild card Bret Hart into the ring.

"He's probably the most famous Calgarian worldwide," McCoy says, telling me something that until now I was in the dark about. No one dares to even mouth the words Celine Dion.

Sorting through our choices, Diamond sees some potential.

"You've got a lot of strong contenders," says Diamond, whose recent poll of Top 101 Things that define our country had respondents across Canada choose the Calgary Stampede as No. 26, behind the beaver and Niagara Falls, but well ahead of maple syrup, moose and the Quebec Winter Carnival.

"We tend to choose people from popular culture, and because we're an insecure country, we wait for others -particularly the Americans -to say someone is worth celebrating before we claim them as our own."

Two things jump out about this year's parade marshal that lead this sleuthing columnist to other names: the announcement is coming more than a month earlier than usual, and is being done, for the first time, at a local school.

It just so happens the world-famous Shania Twain started her own charity recently, Shania Kids Can, to help kids at the primary school level who are having problems at home.

Not only that, but with her autobiography, From This Moment On, hitting the stands May 3, along with her new six-part, reality TV series debuting next month on the new Oprah Winfrey network OWN, the 44-year-old will be busy in June, when the marshal is traditionally announced.

Perhaps in time to sell tickets to a Shania Stampede concert?

"Have as much fun as you can, Val," Stampede media relations manager Doug Fraser tells me when I call him to announce I've cracked the mystery. "I'm not telling you a thing, other than to say once you hear the name, you'll know why we call them a Canadian icon."

I try the Palliser Hotel next, the venue the bestselling female country artist of all time is said to prefer when she overnights here.

"I can't confirm or deny that Shania Twain, or any other guest, is booked here," Stephanie Reynolds, communications manager for the Palliser, says.

Just when I'm willing to bet a farm in Timmins it's Twain, a colleague informs me that a certain Canadianborn NBA superstar also happens to have a kids' charity: the Steve Nash Foundation is dedicated to, reads its website, "assisting underserved children in their health, personal development, education and enjoyment of life."

Then, as I'm readying to file my story for the day, my boss sends me an alert that wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen is in town to see local philanthropist Harley Hotchkiss receive the inaugural Israel-Canada Award for Outstanding Contribution to Medical Research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada.

Diamond says that like Terry Fox, whom he describes as the most iconic of Canadian icons, the Man in Motion is in a class all his own.

"The hero says the best thing about us, and our country," he says.

"They appeal to Canadians of all generations. He would be a great choice for your parade marshal."

So, who will it be? At this point, I'm not ready to place my bet. With this big a tease, though, it had better be good.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Stampede+awaits+Canadian+icon/4679677/story.html