This morning I called in to CKNW’s Bill Good Show during a focused open line segment. The topic (which few callers stuck to) was the finding of a Historica-Dominion Institute survey “that the Vancouver Olympic Games are a defining national moment in Canadian history”. Bill Good asked callers about the events they consider “defining”.

I dialed the open line number and chatted with a young man I assume is one of the show producers. I was put on hold to wait my turn but time ran out and I was left on the line.

I planned to begin by mentioning I lived in the Montreal during the 1976 Olympics.  I did not attend any events but I had a great experience with my family spending time at the Olympic site and collecting athlete autographs with my sister.

However, the radio question was about defining moments and I have two that occurred in close historical proximity to the ‘76 Olympics.

The first is the FLQ crisis.  I am still shaking my head that the 25 year old producer had no idea what I was talking about…even after I explained (I could make a few comments about our public education system at this point…)

We lived in Petawawa during the FLQ crisis and it was terrifying.  I was eight years old.  My father left suddenly - during Thanksgiving dinner if I remember correctly - after a phone call from his military commander.  He could not tell us where he was going or how long he would be gone but I knew it was serious.  He was not allowed to contact us during the crisis.  Every car was searched going over the bridge to Pembroke because for fear terrorists would blow up the bridge in an effort to stop troops from easily crossing the Ottawa river. There was talk of canceling Halloween trick or treating.  There was immense fear and I learned first hand the horribly insidious power of terrorism.

My second defining moment was soon after the Montreal Olympics.  In 1976, we lived on the military base within the riding Rene Levesque won (coincidentally within sight of the farmhouse where they discovered Pierre Laporte’s body).  Separatist Levesque became Quebec’s Premier that year.  My English speaking parents were not enumerated and I remember my mother going with others to the election office to have their names added to the voting list.  They were unsuccessful.  Soon after the election English street names changed to French.  King’s Blvd became Roi Rene.

I started writing letters to the editor when I was fourteen and I have paid close attention to political issues ever since.

Today, my children are only a few years older than I was in 1976 and they are having a great time going into Vancouver and being part of the action. However, while the Olympics may help solidify our national identity, I hope that which defines it is based on a stronger foundation.