Define Canada

After the fireworks show was over, and the crowds poured past the re-lit Olympic cauldron, I took a moment to sit down on the now empty stage and just... absorb; the warm air, punctuated by the occasional chilly breeze; the chatter of hundreds of festive (and sometimes, inebriated) revelers; the soft glow of the city lights; and the golden splendor of flames emerging from the cauldron.

I couldn't help but feel a little warm inside over it all; it was as if the cauldron had been re-lit inside of all of us, and just for one day, we stopped, reflected, and celebrated the magnificence of this place we call home.

And just as quickly as these feelings had been rekindled, the flame was extinguished, to the collective sounding of "awwww" from those around.

Tomorrow, Vancouver will return to it's status as a "No-Fun City", with red Canada t-shirts and Canada flag capes replaced by power suits and trench coats, but true Vancouverites will know that deep down, we still wear those colours proudly in our hearts - those cauldrons remain lit.

I can't help but reminded of the poem recited by slam poet Shane Koyczan at the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, "We Are More". The poem follows, along with select pictures taken during the day.

"we are more" by Shane Koyczan

define Canada

you might say the home of the Rockets or the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines
off the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you're welcome
well we say that too



 but we are more than
genteel or civilized
we are an idea ie process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history



we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences arranged from a to zed
and yes, we say zed instead of zee
we are the brightness of Chinatown
and the laughter of Little Italy
we dream so big there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we have vineyards of good year after good year



we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what we used to be
we can stand here today
filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like "someday"



because we are more
than just a laundry list of things to do and places to see
more than hills to ski
and countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait



we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a nation that can give you variety
because we are choices.
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
"keep exploring... we are more"



we are the surprise the world
has in store for you
it's true
Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"
so don't let your luggage define your travels



each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the color of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free



and what's more is that
we didn't just say it
we made it be.

Bonne Fête du Canada, everyone.