For some reason the post went out without the main pic at the top -- sorry about that everyone; the formatting of this dispatch looked at little cheapo without it. I've put it back on. Flexed arm hang fTW.
This continues to be brilliant, Andrew, thank you. I was one of those skinny kids who flexed on the arm hang. My wife and I could both recall the smell of those badges when we saw the picture. And the not-quite-satisfying game of Oh Canada would never have resurfaced if you hadn’t brought it up.
I thought I was a pretty athletic kid - I played hockey, baseball, spent all day riding my bike - until we had to do those fitness awards. Turns out I couldn’t run, do situps, or hang from my arms. Thanks for the memories.
And I don’t recall the Oh Canada game, but a few years ago at a dep in Montreal’s south-west, I found (and bought) a Government of Canada-produced board game about the metric system from 1970.
I feel seen. I was a fairly athletic kid who felt genuine shame I could barely last seconds on the dreaded flexed arm hang, which was invariably won by one of the scrawniest kids in the class. Which is probably still a source of lingering pride for him to this day.
What about someone - yes, those annoying ‘boomers’ - skillfully sharing insights to those of us culturally spent the full 70’s having just left high school? Versus a focus going the wrong way into the 90’s?
I am finding SUBSTACK inspiring, especially Andrew’s efforts. Shall actually subscribe and send a missive covering those of us having complete junior and senior high school similar experiences - grades 8 to 12, 1967 to 1971. Then, coverage of what unfolded into the 70’s which has been in many ways similar but very different than all these 80’s and 90’s folk. 2000 on? Those from another planet!
I always got the badge with the red background. Is that the "participation" consolation prize? :D I'm not sure I ever even saw the bronze/silver/gold badges pictured. I don't know if anyone in my class ever got one of those!
I'm three weeks shy of my 60th birthday, born and raised in Canada and never heard of the Canadian Fitness Awards!? I grew up in Cape Breton. Maybe it never made it that far east... I do remember ParticipAction..
For some reason the post went out without the main pic at the top -- sorry about that everyone; the formatting of this dispatch looked at little cheapo without it. I've put it back on. Flexed arm hang fTW.
This continues to be brilliant, Andrew, thank you. I was one of those skinny kids who flexed on the arm hang. My wife and I could both recall the smell of those badges when we saw the picture. And the not-quite-satisfying game of Oh Canada would never have resurfaced if you hadn’t brought it up.
I loved that oh canada package. I used to play the record all the time.
I thought I was a pretty athletic kid - I played hockey, baseball, spent all day riding my bike - until we had to do those fitness awards. Turns out I couldn’t run, do situps, or hang from my arms. Thanks for the memories.
And I don’t recall the Oh Canada game, but a few years ago at a dep in Montreal’s south-west, I found (and bought) a Government of Canada-produced board game about the metric system from 1970.
Do you still have that metric system thing? I'd love to see it.
The Oh Canada board game was banned in Quebec. But Spicer ended up mailing copies to teachers privately, who would then distribute it like samizdat.
I feel seen. I was a fairly athletic kid who felt genuine shame I could barely last seconds on the dreaded flexed arm hang, which was invariably won by one of the scrawniest kids in the class. Which is probably still a source of lingering pride for him to this day.
This could be a collab with @Canada.gov.ca
That pic of the badges made me shuddddderrrrr... Again, spot on and fabulous take on a truly, umm, unique Canadian Xer Experience. From hell.
What about someone - yes, those annoying ‘boomers’ - skillfully sharing insights to those of us culturally spent the full 70’s having just left high school? Versus a focus going the wrong way into the 90’s?
I am finding SUBSTACK inspiring, especially Andrew’s efforts. Shall actually subscribe and send a missive covering those of us having complete junior and senior high school similar experiences - grades 8 to 12, 1967 to 1971. Then, coverage of what unfolded into the 70’s which has been in many ways similar but very different than all these 80’s and 90’s folk. 2000 on? Those from another planet!
I always got the badge with the red background. Is that the "participation" consolation prize? :D I'm not sure I ever even saw the bronze/silver/gold badges pictured. I don't know if anyone in my class ever got one of those!
I'm three weeks shy of my 60th birthday, born and raised in Canada and never heard of the Canadian Fitness Awards!? I grew up in Cape Breton. Maybe it never made it that far east... I do remember ParticipAction..
My wife is from the Valley and she never heard of it, either.
Sounds like you guys got hosed.
What? Never encountered CR Awards? What part of Canada did you live? You must be just out of diapers?
Mean CF Awards….duh!
Cape Breton. Born in '64