Canada, specifically Calgary, has a problem. In my hometown, there are constant cries about a lack of community and constant debate on how to build one. It’s not an easy challenge. Calgary is a relatively new city and a very transient city where residents don’t have very much in common.  I experienced my first Buckeyes game day in Columbus this month and I realized that Canada needs collegiate football.

 

You’re laughing, I know. I thought I didn’t like football. However, it’s more than just the game. It’s the restaurants and living rooms filled with friends, discussion and laughter. It’s the strangers willing to invite you to their tailgate party because you’re Canadian and they want you to enjoy it as much as they are. It’s the sea of school colours entering the stadium and it’s the buzz in the air.

 

This feeling of community doesn’t happen by itself, it gets indoctrinated early. I’m told the day before games, lower school students are encouraged to wear Buckeye colours (grey and scarlet, if you’re wondering) and they sing in first period. Before big games, like Ohio State and Michigan, they have a school wide assembly.

 

We can make fun of Americans for their college pride, but aren’t they the ones laughing? We’re continually facing budget cuts in post-secondary education, our athletic programs are pretty close to non-existent (no offense, Dinos) and I’ve never even considered going back to the University of Calgary to support an event and I live about 15 minutes away.

 

Americans regularly make the trip back to their alma mater for important games, to catch up with friends and cheer on their team. They pay for tickets to routinely fill massive stadiums to capacity, donate large sums of money to the schools they graduate from and belong to a community.

 

I know we do things differently up in Canada and school spirit isn’t something that happens overnight, but isn’t it a model worth taking a look at?  Can we start somewhere? If we borrow the best parts of American culture, we might be able to improve our own. Also, Thanksgiving will happen twice a year. Think about it.