What's Your Story: the Canada Reads edition
Beavertails, passports, an Inuit knife: the authors and panellists share their most Canadian stories
Throughout 2017, we're asking Canadians "What's your story?" We got to ask this year's Canada Reads authors and panelists even more.
We sat down with the authors to find out which object defines Canada for them. With the panelists, we got answers to some of our favourite rapid fire questions, including: What historical moment would you go back and witness? What emoji best represents Canada? And what cheesy Canadian song do you secretly love?
Katherena Vermette, author of The Break, has a family history deeply rooted in Métis history. She shared a few important heirlooms and spoke about how "when I think of what's important to my identity, I think of these people who came before me."
Candy Palmater, comedian and panelist defending Vermette's book, told us about a memorable road trip she took as a kid where she realized for the first time that skin colour matters in Canada.
Fifteen Dogs author André Alexis explained why the fried pastry "beavertail" is essential to his Canadianess: "Not only does it taste good, not only does it smell good, but it is from somewhere, and that somewhere that it is from is partly where I'm from too."
And Fifteen Dogs defender Humble the Poet invented what might just be the best new Canadian holiday (National It's Too Cold to do Anything Today Day), and told us when he feels most proud to be Canadian — when he's not here.
Sheila Watt-Cloutier, author of The Right to Be Cold, brought in her ulu, the Inuit woman's knife, and shared what makes it both a powerful tool and symbol: "The ulu is but one part of that remarkable culture that I come from."
Juno-winning singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk is defending The Right to Be Cold and revealed which cheesy Canadian song she secretly loves by giving us a brief rendition.
Plus, Kreviazuk told us about a time she got pegged for being Canadian when in L.A., thanks only to the expression on her face.
Companytown author Madeline Ashby revealed her most treasured objects — her passport and her Canadian residency card. "I had no ID. No way of proving who I was. No money. No way of returning to my partner, my cats, my bed, my books. No way back into Canada."
And Jody Mitic, who's defending M.G. Vassanji's Nostalgia, shared which Canadian stereotype he totally falls into, eh?
For all the details on the books, the writers and the ready-to-fight panelists, visit Canada Reads.
The debates take place March 27 to 30 and you can catch them on air on CBC Radio One at 11 a.m., live streamed on CBCbooks.ca at 11 a.m. and broadcast on CBC Television at 4 p.m.
What's your story?
What defines Canada for you? Is there a time that you were proud to be Canadian, or perhaps a time you felt disappointed? Is there a place, person, or event in your life that sums up what being Canadian is to you? Visit cbc.ca/whatsyourstory.