Who says Canadians aren't patriotic? Louise Aird BRIGHT LIGHTS — | was waiting for Canada 125 celebrations to stop before writing about them. They've only just stopped and | still don’t have room for them all. Who says Canadians aren’t patri- otic? I kept a tow Canada Day profile - in the Molson’s media room at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium while’ | KNOW this seems late "many of the 27,000 peo le outside. . tried various methods‘of gaining : entry to the beverages and private washrooms provided therein. My favorites were “If | don’t get a drink I'll die’; “I need a washroom to take my heart pills or ~Vitdie’; and “I have a job inter- - view at the Vancouver Sun tomor- row.” (The two former petitioners GY: LORENC... wrapping ii up at the Pan Pacific Hotel. ~ both healthy teens — were, to their dismay, provided with water.) , . ‘+ This was the Great Canadian Party, a rock-and-roll fest with corresponding concerts going on across the country. Vancouver had - . Eugene Ripper, The Grapes of _ Wrath, the Skydiggers, Rita Chiarelli, the’Crash Test Dum- mies, Chrissy Steele, Colin James, The Tragically Hip and Spinal Tap. a : - farrived in time for the Colin James concert — a teal disap-* pointment. because he’s great live and his volume was turned way ‘ down: - . By that time, though, most au- dience members had been there since noon and were somewhat past their best, so | didn’t go out and mingle to see who was there from the North Shore. Not the place to be when you have the patience of a flea. "Also, by then the crowd had become rowdy so | wasn’t allowed _into the ‘‘pit’ for pictures, which is just’'as well-because my pal, — photographer Phillip Chin, there for the Georgia Straight, was twice kicked in the head while shooting. At9 p.m., Molson’s wisely shut down the beer tents — but they also shut down the media room, which had become a bunker, so i watched The Tragically Hip from the stadium roof with another friend, aerial photographer Uwe Meyer. . It was well worth it. Lead singer Gordon Downey is a very charismatic individual — and can he ever sing. Noted a few things. The stage bore flags from all provinces and territories — but there wasn’t a Maple Leaf in sight. On the other hand, when Downey called out the name of each province, no one booed at Quebec, and when he toasted “Canada for another 125,” the crowd roared. kkk After the concert, Molson’s hosted a wrap party at the Pan Pacific Hotel, providing a fabulous buffet and an interesting bar selec- tion — beer, soda and beer. Of course, lots of music biz people showed — locals Lava Hay and Herald Nix; MuchMusic's Erica Ehm, Ziggy Lorenc and Mike & Mike; and Keith Nakonechny and Jason Plumb — two of “The Waltons,” the hottest new band out of Regina. You read it here first... kak July 1 was also big at Canada Place. The Strand Group’s Jamie Maw, who is chairman and CEO of Canada Place (a volunteer posi- tion), organized an elaborate party involving 1,600 performers in 98 events, including concerts by Luba, Jim Byrnes, Gary Fjellgard, Stephen Fearing and The Nylons. .1 stopped in to see Quebec's Kashtin, who perform in French and Innu. You don’t know what theyre saying but you don’t care — they're great. And | spoke to Alan Thicke but there were so many people sticking cameras and scripts in his face, coherent con- versation was impossible. Hand- some guy, although } think his surgeon pulled just a fittle too tightly... wake Interrupted my Canada 125 revelry to do the ‘‘American thing” by attending a July 4 party in celebration of the 216th anni- versary of U.S. independence at the Shaughnessy home of U.S. Consul General David johnson and his wife Scartett Swann. (This was not the place for photographs. The only other media person there was CKNW‘s Bill Goode and he was there socially too.) - Naturally there were lots of VIPs. “CNR chairman and formet AG Brian Smith chatted with West Van's Colleen and Howard Nem- tin, and North Van native Lestie. "Mauro, there for the Vancouver Museum, schmoozed with Cana- dian-American Wine Society president fohn Levine. Mingling were Quilchena MLA Art Cowie, Education Minister- Tom Perry, Coun. Philip Owen, North Van Mayor jack Loucks, new-to-town adman Chuck Phillips (now in partnership, by the way, with West Vanners Russell Brink and Glen Carlton) and Socred party president and former Environment Minister David Mercier. Also there were the Consul General for Morocco, Percy von Lipinski, his Peruvian counterpart architect Umberto de fos Rios and, for the Canadian government, Ross Belshore. All listened intently to Johnson’s short speech and nodded in agreement as he stressed the need to dispose of “rhetoric” and “political two-by-fours” so as not to “overwhelm already good U.S./Canada relations.” Then there was West Van- Garibaldi MLA David Mitchell who, to my astonishment, willingly discussed my favorite topic/ a RAD photos Loulse Aird. JAMIE MAW (left) crganized a gigantic party at Canada Place on July 1. Among the notables were Jim Byrnes, Gary Fjeligard and actor Alan Thicke (right) who was hopelessly surrounded by media types most of the time. politica! hot potato/provincial disgrace — replacement of the Lions Gate Bridge. In fact, he en- courages ideas and suggestions. Mitchel! commented on recent reports that West Van municipal council has been discussing the fact that the British Properties still has room for another 10,000 peo- ple. | bet the engineers who know what shape the Lions Gate Bridge is: rea/iy in will be thritled to hear that.-!f council approves building plans to house 10,000 new West Vancouverites, | guess they'll fig- ure that these people won't want to use the bridge — and that the flow to Whistler will decrease. Of course, they would be right. And you’re fourth in line for the throne. cot Most major manufacturers offer co-operative advertising plans. This means your purchases may have earned dollars with which can pay all or some of your newspaper ad costs. it costs nothing but a phone call to find out about all available co-op advertising dollars you qualify for. BRUNDAY + WEDNESDAY > FRIDAY Co-op Advertising 980-0511