Chris Hadfield’s Ode to Canadian Tire

My Dad used to say that he’d only live in a town that had a Canadian Tire.  Funny the things people look for when relocating, isn’t it?  I have a little Canadian Tire story to share with you today.

This past September, I had the pleasure of co-chairing Collingwood’s first literary festival – Wordstock.   We had a surprise guest perform at our opening gala show; singer-songwriter, Chris Hadfield.   And yes, he also happens to be one of Canada’s astronauts AND, he will become the first Canadian to command a spaceship, as Commander of the International Space Station in 2013.  Stay with me, there is a connection here to Canadian Tire.

John and I have been fortunate in having a close friendship with Chris and Helene since our teens.  In the summer of ’89, we were down visiting them in Maryland and in the evenings, Chris would play his guitar and sing to the kids before bedtime.  One night he told us the story of how much he missed certain things in Canada and then proceeded to sing a song he had just written.  It was an ode to Canadian Tire.

Chris’s performance of this song at Collingwood Wordstock brought the house down.  People are still singing it around town.  Here it is.  Enjoy.

P.S. Yes, there is a Canadian Tire in both Collingwood and Wasaga Beach.