blog post Live on CBC Radio 3 w/ Grant Lawrence: Fashion Fight Club! Canada As A Brand - Are You Ok With That?

I have the mittens and love them. They show my Canadian pride, are actually useful and warm and were cheap! What more can a Canadian ask for!

The Olympic rings on mine look different than yours though.... knock off? haha

Am I cool with something that I think is a truism? By that I mean I believe that national labeling has always been a form of branding. I guess I don't have much choice in the matter. I'll qualify that though. I don't think it's 'cool'. But it's ok.

Where I think advertisers have overextended their reach I'll let my play in the market dictate my preferences. (ie. the eh-oh-canada-go cheer is to crass and forced for my tastes, so i'll forgo pepsi products during the games (even though I don't buy them that often to start with) and it seems that others are of the same mind.)

I'm not much for the olympics, the whole spirit of it has been ruined by commercialism, drugs, and abuse of rights and freedoms.  I'm all for athletes getting together to compete to see who is the best, but once it's been turned into a money making event for others, I lose interest.

We have the best looking flag in world. I, with a huge sense of pride, wearing anything with some allusion to being Canadian.

Most notably the best way to proudly show off who I am, and what I love is something with the Radio3 logo on it.

Two birds, one stone.

Canada… CBC… Two brands I believe it. Like I believe in myself.

It seems like every year there's a bunch of Team Canada gear that pops up everywhere.  Even more so this year since the games are in Vancouver.  So I'm not convinced it's a "trend" per say.

to each their own... not big on a lot of the olympic stuff...and I prefer my homemade Oma mittens over those red olympic ones.

however i JUST bought a Hudson's Bay blanket that I am very excited about.

I don't mind people wearith their national pride. Although it may be a little culture vultureish, those non Cowichan sweaters available at the Bay look kinda cool.

I do however dislike the "eh oh Canada go" Pepsi chant.

but I do think we've been banking on our positive brand image and not doing enough to improve it for too long. Hit my profile and there's a link there if you wanna read my ramblings.

..don't fall for it olympic symphonium ..it's a trap ..it may seem ledgit right up until the trap doors fall from beneath your feet, but your fate will inevitably be a big olympic patty wagon

..heck, i don't even think you're allowed to walk arond Vancouver making your 'o-face' these days.

i will wear anything CBC related that I am given ...i was majorly bummed out when my Hockey Night In Canada t-shirt was stained by the washing machine after only getting to wear it once.

There is a hockey company that makes skates. They are a US based company. But wisely added in their logo a stylized maple leaf because of the lineage our country has with hockey, and how we are known for the quality equipment (that used to be) made right here.

By including the maple leaf, it was assumed in the States, that when people bought them, they were buy a Canadian product with years of knowhow and experience. When in fact it was a less than 5 year old US company (at the time) completely manufactured in the states.

Can't get any cuter then the Mascots this year! I was beside myself happy when they picked the illustration team as I have been following their work for years.

Yet I still would not wear anything that says olympics. I just hate sports and am loading up on books & DVD boxsets becasue TV is going to be mighty dull while the event is going on.

I am also going to say that the HBC has done a really good job with their clothing this year the graphics are clean, stylish and timeless.

An HBC blanket is a completely different matter. It's inherently, and subtly, Canadian.

I think the use of the maple leaf and symboles as beaver is not a problem with me, it is part of Canada and why not use it. I have a problem with using things like the Inukshuk or Native art... etc. I think it is great to put them forward and share them with the world... but not as a profit off the native people's back.  White man have already toke the land and is now using for olympics... and not the being the greenish about it. On top of it, we use native symbols as if they were ours and make profit with it. I heard that some native women were making sweater for the Olympics and then there design was taking and made into manifacture items. I really hope they got the money they deserve of it.

But there is nothing wrong with the maple leaf... just don't create a false nice image of Canada. At lest, the natives leaders will get a place of honor during the olympics.

is that "Christine Two" or "christine the second"?

I don't think its the worst thing in the world...and I don't like that pepsi is involved but MY NAME IS GOING TO BE IN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME...yah. that is what i cared about. haha

That's the part of the U.S. that particularly want to fick Cuba, right?

Love your profile photo.  Truly symbolizes what I think of when I think of Canada in the winter!

Lee

I am in the olympic mittens club as well! I got them as a gift for Christmas, they are so warm and thick so it doesn't get too wet if they're dropped.

However, you wouldn't catch me dead wearing those  oddly looking Conservative-logo sweaters or shirts. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE DESIGN. 

I'm proud of being Canadian, sure, but I'm not a Conservative is all. I'd be happy to wear anything else because I like show my pride.

I don't know, it seems to be the way things are, but I'd be happier if the companies could just silently sponser events, you know, for the good of the event, not their brand.  But I'm a dreamer... :)

I know what you mean "if the companies could just silently sponser events" There's times where companies come pretty close to this ideal (I'm thinking about the time around Remembrance Day) but not very often...

I got one of the Cowichan-ish sweaters for christmas (seen here accessorized with a nephew)!  I love it, it's super warm.  I also feel like it's something that can be an heirloom.  I always get excited about the olympics.  I know they're all corporate and sell-out-y, but I still love watching.

It certainly was a cold day. Hard to not associate this country with cold sometimes, especially in a city that experiences winter weather for at least 6 months of the year!

" the realization that I can't afford any tickets" - did you actually explore ticket pricing? Marquee events (Opening, Closing ceremonies, most hockey) do have seating with big $'s attached, but there were lots of tickets in the $25-40 range. How affordable are we talking they need to be before people can afford them?...not to suggest that $25 is nothing (especially to a single parent), It's just that I hear this complaint often and it's usually unqualified (ie. ticket prices weren't actually looked into, just a response to news stories about how expensive some tickets are)

Do companies that use canada as a marketing tool have to pay any sort of licensing fee to the country of Canada or do they just get to keep all the money they make from it? Is a maple leaf a trademarked logo?

Great post.  I loved the "not their real names".  Made me laugh out loud. 

But I have to ask, since you've provided so much info - how in the world did you meet this Florida girl?  You down in the Sunshine State on holiday?  Was she up north experiencing the unknown and unexplored frontier of southern Ontario? 

And never give up the pride of your home.  I'm a third generation Californian, and even though this place is overcrowded and seems the home of insanity, there are things about it that are second to none - at least in my heart.

Also, I would think there would be more than 7.

Lee

are you all trying to give me a new name? hah.11 was comment #11 hah

Ya, I understand (it ain't hard) the Amerindians' feelings, but the most basic reality is that you can't stop "progress". It's not really progress, but it is stuff happening. Development, people wanting to do stuff. Hold Olympics.

Sad to say, and Canadians don't like to say sad things, they make us uncomfortable, but First Nations, Inuit and the Innu (and add in the Métis if you want) were subjugated by "Europeans" -- New Canadians, really -- long ago.

Full stop. The World keeps on turning... In the end, there's no real relation between the Olympic Games and the perpetual, existential misery that many First Nations (etc.) find themselves in.

Beautiful sweater!

See 21, up there.

Canada Goose jackets make sure you're not cool in the winter.

So, what can you call the Olympics then?

you can't even type winter games?! i'm sorry, but that is absolutely stupid.

i have a few beefs with the olympics. none of which i have time to type out today.

Ugh... I shudder to think what CTV will do to the Olympics. 

CBC Sports has always had *dignified* and fairly low-key presentations (Don Cherry notwhithstanding) that were a pleasure to watch, with commentators like Ron MacLean and Brian Williams. 

So will CTV bring the "TSN-style" to Olympic coverage?

Flashy 3D graphics, anyone?

I love this Egg, and I can air it because she's from Orillia! So great. Please let me steal!

Oh, and I'm ok with Canada as a brand...as long as we don't become a commodity like oil and the U.S. decides to invade to save us from ourselves.

With all the Canadian branding focused on the very fact that the Olymics are being held in Vancouver, shouldn't Canadians be able to call it whatever they want?

We can have the games, but we can't talk about them; unless of course it's about buying into them.. then that's cool.

I'm sick and tired of that ad when watching The Bold and the Beautiful. I keep saying in my head afterwards, "I don't believe." I really need a barf bag when watching and I wouldn't care about it. :)

Thing is the Olympics are the private property of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), which guards its marks and protects its licensees it like the Disney Corporation guards its figures and trademarks.

With huge mastiffs and pit bulls.

I'm not happy about Canada's image being used mainly a means for large corporations to sell things.

I'm assuming that's what you mean by branding; it could also mean the effort to control Canada's image, which is somewhat different.

Fun facts: after seeing the Olympic torch last night, I looked up some stuff about it.  Although it's been traditional to give the torches to the torchbearers, this year we are selling them to the torchbearers for $349.  They also have to pay their own transportation costs to their leg of the relay.  Many of them were chosen by Coke and RBC through contests.

Up close, the torches look less like joints and more like something you'd see for sale in an overpriced home-decor store.

Still my favourite piece of Nazi propaganda, though.

Well, you could always say your refence to "Winter Games" was really a reference to my old Atari 2600 cartridge of the same name...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phCUK4Axb64&NR=1

I don't think Atari will be coming for you or the CBC for violating their game's name.

Fair enough, but how can they trademark a city (Vancouver), a season (winter), and a past-time (games)?

I mean, I'm not completely in the dark, but honestly - other networks saying Winter Games is too much for CTV to handle?

Glad you enjoyed the post....I always intend for them to be a couple of lines of "blog-speak", but when I get on a Canadian tangent have a difficult time shutting it down.  Probably not my worst attribute.

Since you have asked how I met this Florida girl....whom I typically refer to only as "my lovely and ever-so-talented wife"......I can only tell you this.  It is really a tale of divine intervention and good foftune.  Some 18 years ago, I was down in Central Florida on vacation enjoying sun/surf, but particularly Blue Jays Spring Training and golf.  Anyway, there was a huge storm...all baseball games were cancelled and the golf courses were closed.  The power was even down.  When it came back up, my brother and I went bowling.  We were there for hours, cuz there was nothing else to do, bowling and pounding a few pops, when these 2 lovely girls took the lane a few down from us.  Much ogling ensued on our part, and when it was time to leave we stopped by to chat with these 2 enchantresses (only 1 for me, as I had already figgered out the 1 I wanted to know).  Anyway, we ended up going to a movie (Fire In The Sky), spending a lot of time together over the next two weeks, and dating long-distance for awhile (a lot of miles on my car, trust me), until we decided we shouldn't laugh in the face of fate.  Why am I telling you this mcfflyer....are you part of the anti-Canadamination squad? 

18 years later, 2 awesome Indie-music lovin' kids down the line, here we are.  It's a good life, if you don't weaken. 

Always with the home pride.....and the number may be closer to 8

They had a lawyer briefing; in essence, although speaking about the games is sort of okay (words are fleeting), because CTV is the sponsor network, they (Grant and others of his ilk, not us) are not allowed to write "the XXXVVVVVVVIII (heh) Olympic Games", not only that but they're not even allowed to write (on this blog) the "Vancouver Games" and such generic references, for fear of being sued I suppose.

I claim lawyer paranoia!

Has anybody seen that CTV commercial where they're interviewing some official Olympics dude and he exclaims very boldly that "The 2010 Olympic Games are going to be like Expo 86 on steroids!". He might even be shaking his hands as he says it, for emphasis.

How amazing is it that that got through the filters? Mentioning Olympics and steroids in the same sentence, as a super positive thing? I have to laugh every time I see it.

I think proceeds from a portion of the official Olympic merch. goes toward funding programs for athletes, which I think is a great idea.  The contract for the official athlete clothing is generally given to Hudson's Bay Company (prior to that Roots) so Canadian companies are benefitting.  As long as Walmart isn't getting a cut I think I'm OK with it.

I guess I had better re-arrange my collection of 5 hoola-hoops.  I laid them out on the floor and it kinda looks like a familiar logo - don't wanna get sued...

They couldn't trademark Vancouver or Games, I agree; perhaps it's a case of CBC lawyers having had talks with CTV people (vice-versa, really), and over-interpreting the needed behaviour to the staff.

Like CTV spooked them a bit.

I find it ridiculous because, though privately owned, the Olympics have a public dimension.

Don't you think you've kind of earned that by watching that (air quotes) show?

Hey, could have happened to me.  On my college graduation trip around the US in 1973, we looped up from New York to Montreal, then west through Toronto, and back to the states through Niagara Falls.  Met a girl from Ottawa, who was with her friend at the motel that we stopped by in Belleville ON.  Became friends, kept the lines of communications open in those days of hand written letters and expensive long distance international phone calls.  She came to visit me in California in 1975, and on my 1977 trip across Canada, I came through Ottawa to visit her.  Alas, sparks never ignited.  Haven't heard from her in over 30 years.

Lee

I'm giving props to Absotively's sweet little side player that she coded and gave to the world on Scott's last Techie Tuesday. When you are in blog threads it goes to the side and scrolls with you. it's great.

dear Benoit

Thanks for 85. I second the claim of lawyer paranoia. VANOC (and the city) have said they won't be bringing legal challenges against use of trademarks other than where it is used for a commercial venture. Grant writing those words on this blog could hardly be counted a commercial proceeding. Lets see some challenges and verify if VANOC and the city's word is good.

Hi!

Okay.  Just trying to say hello.

Lee

"Sport" comes from the old English word "disport" (itself from the French, but no matter here); it meand to divert or enjoy oneself, to frolic.

So, we get a name: disportment. Now, for Winter: hibernal.

So, the hibernal disportments on the Left Coast.

(you're welcome)

Mccflyer demands your presense on Facebook right now! He's our Fan of the Year, do as he says!

What?  Retract that right now.  And that is an order.

Harruph.

Lee

Just kidding! ;)

Crokinole board is on order, I promise!!!!

You seriously do... how the hell is that supposed to be pronounced anyway?

I think the blanket things in your pixxes (good, incidentally) are "genuine" -- in style at least -- while the other things are modern craft or art.

I like the beaver skulls of the robe (there are two); I find such stuff emblematic.

(Incidentally I just finished reading Samuel Hearne's A Journey to the Northern Ocean -- primes my appreciation of things genuinely made from wild game. Fully recommended reading; not always easy to take, but fascinating and real.)

I am not cool with "canada" being a brand. For that matter I'm not cool with it happening on unseated native land. I'm not cool with social housing getting shut down sending over two-thousand people to the streets to fund it. I'm also not cool with brands co-opting ideas of peace and solidarity for corporate profit. I am also not cool with forests being torn up just to expand roads to accommodate a one time flood of tourism. I am also not cool with the police state that it is turning canada into. The olympics is an absolute travesty, and i am sad to that people are actually proud about it happening. These are dark times in canada.

HA HA....I listened to that show, and shared (jealously...note the "u") in mcfflyer's glory!!!  I was thrilled for him, and the excitement of an American over the Canadian culture made me smilishly proud!!!  Still, not a big social network fan....please don't judge!

It really makes me sad to hear that CTV is getting the olympic coverage. I thought Ron MacLean should've won the "Greatest Canadian" contest, or at least been higher then Don Cherry. His coverage of the last olympics was amazing. You could see his dedication working crazy hours to keep up the broadcast. And then when an unfortunate death in his family occurred he gave a special broadcast to inform everyone of his situation and why he had to leave for the rest of the Olympics.

You can tell he really loves his work and I don't see any shred of evidence that CTV has that kind of heart.

This is the kind of person I want as an ambassador to Canada. He is a better image or logo for Canada than any of the branded clothing or stupid frigging forced cheers.

Why can't we just say "Go Canada Go" like we always do?

p.s. Air Canoeing...Awesome! WE should do that like how Atlanta Braves fans do the "Chop"

Put your hand up if you want Tyler to rig up his vehicle if he gets the job and do an Olympic version of Cash Cab.

"fucking awesome"

wonderful tyler :)

"

parksidemike    Said The Whale 6 song digital acoustic EP coming soon! 1 new track and 1 really really old track. ALSO - STW Iphone application.

"

Dear b.chris

"I am not cool with "canada" being a brand." - Nation states are themselves brands. If you dislike the marketing aspects it's easy for you to demonstrate your will. Do not spend your dollars on the marketers products.

"I'm not cool with it happening on unseated native land." - I'm not exactly sure what the phrasing means, but it sounds like this could apply to ALOT of things, not just the Olympics.

"I'm not cool with social housing getting shut down sending over two-thousand people to the streets to fund it." - Is this a reference to low cost hotels shutting down to renovate? Or something else? I'm not cool with social housing getting shut down either, and intend to raise awareness about the fact that city says that there's a good chance that non of the village will be used for affordable housing. This is an injustice that runs counter to what the organizing committee promised the city during the bid process.

"I'm also not cool with brands co-opting ideas of peace and solidarity for corporate profit." - but if these ideals do gain traction, people believing in them, is this not a net benefit?

"I am also not cool with forests being torn up just to expand roads to accommodate a one time flood of tourism." - I'm new to BC, so I don't really know, but it seems to me the Sea to Sky highway was a necessary piece of infrastructure improvement. If I am wrong, please tell me why.

"I am also not cool with the police state that it is turning canada into." - A police state is never a good thing, and I agree that in general Canada is becoming too deferential to it's police forces. This is a problem that exists outside of the Olympics, and the staging of the games merely exacerbates problems that our police forces already have with interacting with the public.

Someone just told me about this a little while ago! It's weird to almost overthink a high five, but it totally works! Where did this come from all of a sudden?!

There's really no pronounciation.  I was just lazy and put in a "old standby anonymous" web username sort of thing.  vt=Vermont, photo=photography, wx=Weather.  I'm from Vermont, and I'm a meteorologist and photographer.  Clever, but incomprehensible to 99.9999% of people that see it.It is sort of like having an incomprehensible vanity license plate.  (I know Ontario allows these):http://horriblelicenseplates.blogspot.com/

Hear hear for [121]! I love Ron McLean. I will miss the CEEB everytime I see..I dunno, some silly CTV talking head I dislike

Whoa whoa whoa. Okay hold on, just hold the phone for one damn minute. Gimme a second to collect my thoughts here. 

Okay lemme just get the facts straight... Canada is getting the 2010 winter Olympics?!

Reminds me of the Geoff Berner song: Official Theme Song for the 2010 Vancouver / Whistler Olymic Games

Personally, I don't get too political about it....  I happily wear my Canada Red Olympic mitts, as they were a gift.....  and I find Geoff's tune entertaining, although disturbing.

I like my Olympic shirt, I got it for Christmas and it makes me feel really sporty when I wear it. I also like supporting my country and getting into the Olympic spirit. The only thing I really DISLIKE is that the clothing isn't actually made in Canada. Go China Go?

I saw one of these 'CANADA/OLYMPIC' clothing displays at the mall, emblazoned with maple leafs and screaming patriotism.  Turn over the tag and all the merch says 'Made in China'. How are the olympics helping our economy by supporting (most likely) sweatshop work overseas.

I won't really get into the envronmental destruction and social displacement caused by these games.  We're sacrificing a lot as Canadians for this 2 week party.  Is this really something to be proud of?

YEAH....the freaklings give'er, all right!  FYI, I listen to R3 all day while I work, and when I hear stuff the kids should be listening to I add it to their playlists.  Zoe (aka 15, not her real name), no lie, was belting out Give'er in the shower the other night.....*and a single tear rolled down my cheek*.  

Don't worry, you NEVER sound like a jerk! Leave that to me!!! ;)

instead of clogging up the wall with argument i can suggest going to 

http://no2010.com/

by the way thanks for reading my comment grant, sorry for the bad grammar

"I won't really get into the envronmental destruction and social displacement caused by these games. " why not? This is a good forum to do so. Personally I feel those claims are overhyped/overcynical, but that's just me. I want to hear anyone's viewpoint on what they don't specifically like. I might not agree, but that's no reason to not have the dialogue.

Economic benefits are still to be had for a country selling a product that was not manufactured there...not maximal profit, but profit is still to be had (The buyers, shippers, sellers here). Believe it or not, injecting a whack of people into any given environment economic growth will occur.

how should we advertise our awesome Canadian-ism if not by sporting the maple leaf? and when IS it ok to wear a maple leaf?

I agree its gotten commercial and it sucks that the clothes are made in China but holy cow... relax people.

That high five thing totally works! Never miss another high five again, try it out.

I know the people that film Cash Cab...maybe we could get it going :)(PS. A-freaking-dorable picture with your little one...)

@ blog - A few people have mentioned how the Olympics are a good showcase for Vancouver. But if we're supposed to rally around the Olympics as a country, shouldn't it also be a showcase for our country too? I don't feel like that is being done - especially with those provincial pavillions that don't even have musicians native to that province playing at the pavillion (I think Manitoba is the major exception with 2 or 3 Manitoban performers). I also think there should be more Olympic related events around the country, such as live shows in support of the Olympic athletes, or even for another quasi-related Olympic cause. If that makes any sense at all.@ Absotively (77) - Yeah, the costs for some of those torchbearers is unbelievable. My friend was originally supposed to carry it up in Thompson (we live in Wininpeg) and would have had to drive 8 hours there and 8 hours back for a 5 min ordeal all on her own dime. Have you seen the list of torchbearer only items that can be bought?! Talk about playing on a person's emotions. Of course a torchbearer would like to keep a momento of carrying the torch, but why should they have to shell out $349 for their torch?! I can understand the additional stuff that they don't actually wear on the relay, but the torch? C'mon!

@ Krib (and anyone else who can answer this) (82) - Didn't CTV do the coverage for the '88 games? If so, does anyone recall if they only showed events that Canadian athletes were in or did the show the medal rounds too even if we weren't in it like the CBC does? That might gives us a clue as what to expect. Personally, I find the CBC does the best sports coverage (of any sport) than any other broadcaster. I also liked their 2008 Olympic site better than CTV's 2010 one.

Wanted to show off the picture of me with my new R2 sunglasses! :)

Also, my friend and I were discussing the resemblance of the C logo for the Olympic gear to the C logo for the Conservative Party. Hmm.

Gotta jet now! I'll be the girl wearing everything emblazoned with CBC Radio 3.

isn't the thread for dialogue though? I've been on the no2010 site before and will continue to see what has to be said there.

I can't believe no one made a comment about Grant telling Tyler he was 5 during the Vancouver Expo!

ctv did the games early in the nineties i believe...i cant remember which games. they weren't all bad. I just dislike they're style. they still should a wide range of events, not just canadian featured (as i remember it from childhood)

Where's Pedro Mendez when you need him? Chris Kelly, get a mic in there!

I'm with you!

Although you raise many immportant issues, some I am also passionate about, I think you're making stretches to link every one of them with the Olympics.  You apparently assign no value to the social benefits of things like encouraging children to participate in sport (many will inspired simply by watching the Olympics and being exposed to the event) etc.  Also, the handful of trees cut down to widen the highway is probably an imeasurable percentage when viewed against the logging industry as a whole.  Deforestation is a ligitimate problem, but the olympics are hardly a meaningful contributor to the issue.  As for putting poor people out on the streets - the impact is very debatable.  I used to work with BCPWA on the eastside when I lived in VAN and saw some terrible living conditions.  If some of that gets flattended and replaced with decent, affordable accomodation I say its worth some short term pain to transiton.  That said, if the idea is a large net reduction in affordable housing, then you have a point.  As Boders aluded to, the plan certainly wasn;t pitched to the people as such, and it will be up to the voting public to hold their elected officials to account.  Regarding 'branding' of Canada, I really don't see the fuss.  If the proceeds ar egoing to good causes, or at minimum, Canadian jobs are being sustained by the sale of the items, who cares if it has the flag on it or not.  My feeling is your anger is justified, but perhaps ill focused.

It's alright man, you get a well-intentioned "You're young at heart, and that's what counts"

=)