Hockey and Canadian Civic Pride

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the interrelated issues of civic pride and identity and the challenges of retaining big league sports teams in Canadian cities. The paper argues that the sources of civic pride are changing, such that hockey is no longer the chief or only source of a sense of civic pride and identity in Canadian cities. Moreover, the paper argues that this is a good thing, as hockey has become increasingly commercialized and public money should not end up in the private pockets of franchise holders.

From the Paper:

"Fortunately, as we have seen, civic identity and pride is no longer tied exclusively to hockey in Canada. People have grown up and moved on. This is a good thing, as hockey at the same time has morphed into a big-money sport that makes only a very few people richer - mainly just the franchise owners. It is untenable and unconscionable for people to be denied food, healthcare and housing, while taxpayers' money is poured into the pockets of already wealthy franchise owners. This will mean that more Canadian cities will see the departure of their teams to the big, wealthy cities of the USA's sunshine belt. It seems that Canadians will simply have to root their civic pride and identity in benefits for all, and learn to watch the games from afar. Fortunately, most of us have television!"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Angus, Ian. "The Social Identity of English Canada." A Border Within: National Identity, Cultural Plurality, and Wilderness, 11-47. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press.
• Grant, George. Lament for a Nation. Carleton University Press, 1995.
• Gruneau, Richard and Whitson, David. Hockey Night in Canada: Sport, Identities and Cultural Politics. Toronto: Garamond Press, 1993.
• Lee, John B. The Hockey Player Sonnets: Overtime Edition. Manotick, Ontario: Penumbra Press, 2003.
• Lewis, Mike. "Area Businesses in a Whirl over Bid for Olympics: They Hope There's Something to the Hoopla over Games in Vancouver." Seattle Post. May 28, 2003. Retrieved from web site: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/ 123929_olympics28.html.

More papers on Hockey and Canadian Civic Pride:

• Article Review # 120368 : "Hockey and Canadian Indentity"
• Analytical Essay # 132429 : "Hockey and Civic Pride"
• Analytical Essay # 88678 : "Hockey as Canadian Mythology"

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