Canada’s Walk of Fame develops cachet as stars appear for 2004 inductions
TORONTO (CP) – They cried “Mario! Mario! Mario!”
And they sang “Born to Be Wild!”
But mostly and loudly they chanted “Jim, we love you!”
A thousand screaming fans outside Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall on Wednesday night belied the ongoing concern that there’s no star system in Canada.
They waited for hours in bleachers alongside the red carpet for the official arrivals of this year’s inductees into Canada’s Walk of Fame, an event that included the official unveiling of the latest sidewalk plaques as well as a gala variety show telecast live on TV.
Jim Carrey’s limousine was the last to arrive and he didn’t disappoint, dashing along a fenceline shaking hands and signing autographs for the delirious hometown fans.
“When I come back here, I always get that same feeling, that feeling of lightness and the feeling of home and I’m so glad to finally get a chance to say to the Canadian people how much they mean to me and how wonderful the whole trip has been,” he said to the crowd. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
And naturally Carrey didn’t just unveil his plaque. He yanked the cover off with the flourish of a matador and then sat atop it, his legs spread apart while his family flanked him for the photographers.
“It’s the whole DNA strain!” he shouted with a laugh.
NHL superstar Mario Lemieux had his own cheering section, many sporting Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys.
“Obviously it’s a great honour,” Lemieux said. “I had a chance to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame a few years ago but this is very special.”
The arrival of rocker and founder of Steppenwolf, John Kay, was greeted by an impromptu version of Born to be Wild, a rock anthem made legend by the band. Dressed in black and accompanied by his official presenter, old friend Peter Fonda, Kay injected politics into the affair when he told reporters that if the governing Liberals have dropped the ball, Canadian voters shouldn’t punish them by voting them out of office.
“Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by electing those who do not represent your views. Re-elect the ones who theoretically do represent your views and then hold THEIR feet to the fire.”
Kay said in his world travels he’s found Canadians are viewed as peacemakers and the nation as one with enlightened leadership.
“And when you have a somewhat belligerent neighbour next to you, that’s not always easy.”
He added that regime change may be at hand soon in the U.S., though.
Fonda said his mother was Canadian and wondered jokingly if he could have a piece of one of the Walk of Fame stars because he wanted to be a part of Canada.
Actor and social activist Shirley Douglas said it was important that events like the Walk of Fame encourage Canadian talent.
“I would say to any young actor tonight ‘If you see me, believe me you can do the same thing. All you have to do is believe that you want to do it and if you truly want to do it, it will happen.
“Work at it and you’ll get here.”‘
Actor-director Helen Shaver said she was proud of such an incredible honour.
“I remember when we used to say there are no stars in Canada, and here we are and there are so many stars that we have to scatter them on the sidewalk. It’s fabulous!”
The other living inductees included jazz performer Diana Krall who, like Fonda, wore faded jeans on the bottom half of formal attire, and director Denys Arcand.
And there were posthumous inductions for four pioneers of Hollywood who had Canadian roots: studio bosses Jack Warner and Louis B. Mayer, producer Mack Sennett and silent screen star Mary Pickford.
Filmmaker Norman Jewison was on hand to help with the tribute to the so-called Canadian Connection. He said it’s a much bigger event than the debut year in 1998 when he got his star.
“There was 30 people, a cop and my sister, that’s who was here,” he quipped. “We’re growing up and we’re starting to embrace success which is what we should do.”
In an unusual and even daring move, unpredictable shock comic and MTV personality Tom Green served as emcee for the gala. The list of presenters included directors Jewison and David Cronenberg, film producer Robert Lantos and actors Peter Fonda and Fiona Reid.
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