C&C Gold Factory
Hello there and welcome to the February 22nd edition of Hangin’ in the Hammer; where we try to make each and every day a little like Canada Day.
Hey there, thanks for stopping by as we get set to roll through another of our lists about the people and events from Canadian history, sports and entertainment related to the day’s date.
Joining us as always to make sure we give this information that smooth and polished delivery it requires, is our man with the golden voice, Gordie Cornforsale.
On this day in 1813, Lt. Col. ‘Red George’ Macdonnell led a group of some 400 Prescott regular militia and the Glengarry Light Infantry in a pre-dawn raid on the US Fort Ogdensburg across the frozen St. Lawrence from Elizabethtown (later renamed Brockville) on February the 6th.
On this day in 1838, William Lyon Mackenzie abandoned his plan to attack Kingston from Hickory Island in the Thousand Islands. It has been just a little over a month since Sir John Colbourne laid waste to the rebellious villages in Lower Canada surrounding Montreal and there are very few men left who have a mind to cross swords with the crown.
On this day in 1887, John Alexander Macdonald celebrated his election victory over Edward Blake’s Liberals. The Liberals were still in the minority at this time but, they had significantly lowered the majority level in this election to just 37 seats (126 to 89.)
On this day in 1919, an estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of Ottawa and later gathered at Notre Dame Cemetery for the state funeral of Sir Wilfrid Laurier (died February 17th). First elected to the House of Commons in 1874, Laurier led the Liberal Party from 1887 to 1919 and was prime minister from 1896 to 1911.
On this day in 1943, near Gibraltar, the Royal Canadian Navy corvette HMCS Weyburn strikes mine and sinks near Gibraltar with the loss of seven crew, including the commanding officer Thomas Maitland Wake Golby.
On this day in 1945, a German U-Boat 1004 torpedoed the Royal Canadian Navy corvette Trentonian and she went down with the loss of six of her compliment.
From the world of sports, it was on this day in 1998 that the Olympics in Nagano, Japan came to a close and while Canada was disappointed that our two hockey teams returned home with just a silver medal, there was still lots to cheer about as our 144 athletes combined to bring home fifteen pieces of Olympic neck hardware, including six golds.
On this day in 2006, Chandra Crawford (cross-country skiing) and Cindy Klassen (speed skating) both win gold medals at the Olympics in Turin, Italy. (pictures up top)
On this day in 2010, at the Vancouver Olympics, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the first Canadian figure skating gold medal in ice dancing.
Some other notable Canadians born on this day include the author Morley Callaghan (Our Lady Of The Snows); Elizabeth Taylor, who won a bronze in the 80m hurdles in 1936 in Berlin; Donald Stockton, who claimed a silver in wrestling at the 1928 Olympics; swimmer Elaine Tanner, who won two silvers and a bronze at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico; former Red Wing great Sid Abel, who joined the HHoF in 1969 (winner of three cups); Graham Drinkwater, who won 4 Stanley Cups and was made a member of the HHoF in 1950 and Eddie Gerard, who was successful as both a player and a coach (6 cups) and was one of the original HHoF inductees of 1945.
On this day in 1990, Canadian singer k.d. lang, won a Grammy Award as the top female country singer. A feat she would later duplicate at the Junos as well and so our Juno Moldy Oldy for today is k.d.‘s Constant Craving. (Gold.)
Born on this day in 1945, the singer known simply as Oliver. When was the last time you heard Good Morning Star Shine? (Gold!)
Today’s musical title, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing was inspired by guitarist Gordon Banks, who spent a number of years working with the late, great Marvin Gaye. (GOLD!)
And this is where I go line up to board the short school bus while mom makes Puck wash his face.
Yeah, I don’t know either. Best we let it rest.
A couple of other events that happened on this day include David II succeeding Robert II to the Scottish throne and the Stuart Dynasty begining in 1371.
And on this day in 1888, John Reid (it’s pronounced Cornforsale remember) first brings the game of golf to North America when he puts on a demonstration of the sport in Yonkers, New York and getting a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday has been impossible ever since.
We hope you enjoyed out little entry today and we’d love to see you back again one day soon (How’s tomorrow for you?)
Until then, have fun, but please be safe.
Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby…
