The Coolest Canadian: Young or Shatner?

Walk of Fame hardly a fitting tribute to these greats

Canada has produced more than its fair share of pop culture relics. There are too many to mention in a single blog posting. But today there are 2 Canucks that seem to be at the top of their game after 40 years as entertainers!

For both men, their stars began to rise in the 1960s. Both had breakout successes at the end of that decade, and each of them continued solid and productive careers through the 1970s. The 1980s saw them both losing some of their popularity and creative vitality.

Each of them had career revivals in the early 1990s, and both had memorable appearances on Saturday Night Live in this period.

Did I mention they are both Canadian?

I’m talking about Neil Young and William Shatner.

Shatner is riding a wave like few artists have in the autumn of their creative lives. Like fellow Canadian Leslie Nielsen, who revived his moribund career with the Airplane series of films, Bill is doing a lot of comedy. On top of his work in the hit Boston Legal series, there’s no shortage of his work in ad campaigns.

The oddest bit of William Shatner product endorsement I’ve seen lately was with Kellogg’s Bran Flakes. For months Shatner’s mug was on the box with no explanation (he’s since done a series of TV ads for Bran Flakes). The photo was of him from his TJ Hooker era – you know the lovely hair piece? I read every word on each side of the box and there was no mention of Bill, just his smiling 80s face.

If you have the slightest doubt whether Bill is hitting his stride, then check out Shatner at this George Lucas tribute (thanks to Darren for the link).
Neil Young’s latest record Living With War is deservedly topping the charts. It’s another record that rivals his Crazy Horse-era finest. No guitar player sounds like him, and few can raise goosebumps on me with a loud chord like Neil Young.
So how do we pay tribute to these Canadian greats?

A stone in Canada’s Walk of Fame (mp3) is a feckless way to acknowledge their greatness. We might consider sainthood as the ultimate national tribute.

If you’re with me, let’s start writing to our MPs on this idea. The Canadian Sainthood Bill could potentially pass in our minority parliament, provided we elevate the right candidate.

Tommy Douglas, the Father of Canadian Medicare™, will not get approval from the Conservatives. That’s why I propose John Candy as the First Official Canadian Saint.

The scene in the House of Commons will go something like this.

Prime Minister: “Mr. Speaker, my government was elected on a promise of accountability to the Canadian voter. It is in the spirit of accountability that we put forward Bill C89, The Canadian Sainthood Act. (loud raucus applause from the right side of the House ensues)

“It was the findings of a Royal Committee on Sainthood that the general public has the highest respect for our leaders in the Arts, Business and Public Life. There were many Canadians we had to choose from as our first candidate for the Official Canadian Saint. There were loud objections from my Honourable Member, the Leader of the New Democratic Party on why his iconic predecessor Tommy Douglas should be sainted first. (grumbles from the Tory backbench, shame shame)

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the Honourable Member that this government has the best interests of the Canadian mainstream at heart, and that just because something aired on the CBC, it doesn’t necessarily have to be true. (howls of laughter from the government members)

“Mr. Speaker, we asked the Canadian people what they wanted, and the response was so certain member of our Caucus and Cabinet never doubted who that candidate for First Official Canadian Saint would be. (rumbles of hear hear).

“It was a simple question, Mr. Speaker, that any Canadian can understand. I’ll repeat that question now for the Members of this House. I’m sure they will agree with the overwhelming majority of Canadians, and support this bill.

“Mr. Speaker, would you rather have a public health care system, or Johnny LaRue?”

(The House explodes in cheers and applause. Vote passes 269 Yes/Pour, 29 No/Contre with the New Democrats voting against the bill).

With Canadian sainthood established, and John Candy the First Official Canadian Saint, we can be certain that when William Shatner and Neil Young leave this mortal coil, they will sleep with the angels.