OTTAWA - David Suzuki leans over George Stroumboulopoulos and says to Bruce Cockburn: "Hey, can I put that in my ear?"
Bruce has one of them fancy ear cell phones and even though the Doc has been across the country and back to the nation's capital, listening to tens of thousands of Canadians, he's still fascinated by new ways to communicate with people.
Bruce is more than obliging and David is delighted with the hi-tech sound. We're in the Elephant and Castle Pub and the tour is done. A whirlwind day in Ottawa led to this moment and it's sweet, because after 30 days, the Doc took the people's will to Parliament Hill.
We didn't know if he'd make it from Toronto to Ottawa today, what with the blizzard and the train derailment and now it's snowing in Ottawa and we've had to cancel the morning hockey game/press conference and oh... handler's nightmare.
But he's here now, tired but pumped and ready to go. So he dives into the vortex - CPAC, CTV Ottawa, then Mike Duffy's producer wants him on live from Parliament Hill and then it's Roy MacGregor of the Globe and Mail (who brings his two daughters to meet David and they ask more questions of the Doc than Roy does) and then off to the Ottawa Citizen for an editorial board meeting...
... and then we're on Parliament Hill, sprinting through the snow and slush towards the Peace Tower while documentarian Kyle runs backwards, filming everything and David JUST makes it to the press conference in the Charles Lynch Theatre and even though it's late afternoon on Friday there's a good turnout and the Blackberry is ringing with more requests and we get David upstairs into the Centre Block lobby where they scrum after question period and I have just enough time to think: "Wow! David is in the corridors of power..." before A Channel wants to film Dr. Suzuki now, please and....
...and it's just so cool to see David in this space of soaring stone arches and Gothic carvings that is usually reserved for Prime Ministers and MPs. It's a moment we've dreamed about before the tour started...
...and then we have to race to another interview. In all, the Doc did eight interviews and held a press conference - not bad for a half-day's work...
Okay. So we're in the green room at the Museum of Civilization and David has a chance to hug daughter Severn for the first time in a month and Tara Cullis Suzuki is there to keep him centered and the show starts and holymother'o'gawd! Here's surprise guest Bruce Cockburn doing a set. And the crowd of 1,200 that's been spread out in the lower floor in front of the totems moves in, spellbound, listening to "Lovers in a dangerous time" and "If a tree falls..." and you can hear a pin drop in the place.
With the "If I were Prime Minister..." video clips, Bruce and the video of Joni Mitchell's new version of "Big Yellow Taxi" with the Alberta Ballet, it was a magic evening. But the best part was the last, where David walked out on stage to tumultuous applause. Tired, haggard and yet exhilarated, he gave them the speech one last time and when he finishes I'm deafened by the ovation and suddenly very, very tired and I wonder: "How did David manage to do this for a month?"
But he did it, thanks to the incredible hard work of Team Suzuki, all the partner organizations that stepped up to the plate, the local organizers and all the personalities, performers and doubtless I'm going to forget someone because after months of planning and weeks on the road and 42 events from coast to coast and back again, it's all a bit of a blur right now...
...but one last thing: the overwhelming success of this tour reflects the public vibe out there. There's a profound shift happening right now. So while this is the end of the tour, it is, as the Doc fiddles about with Bruce Cockburn's ear cell phone, simply the beginning on the conversation. Let's keep it going...
--Don Hauka, communications specialist who is accompanying Dr. Suzuki to the tour's final stop in Ottawa.
v.p.
BRAVO!!!
Bragg Creek, Ab., CANADA!!
Lora Bruncke
I am so excited to hear Bruce Cockburn is with Dr. Suzuki!
I got to hug Bruce and I have a picture of him on my fridge! I got to shake Dr. Suzuki's hand and have one of his buttons on my fridge!
They are both mentioned in a poem I wrote! I hope you can share it with my two heroes!
What One Mother Wants...
I am a mother of two, who wants to debate
The value of more. Lets not leave it to fate.
Some love nature made, but others throw weight,
And blind a great vision - a new world. We wait...
Lets sit the G8, with those who have vision,
To end poverty, lets make the decision
To give peace a chance. Lets make it our mission.
Draft a plan for the planet, can we all please just listen?
At a round table, lets make plans for mine
And all other children, so they grow up just fine.
Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair, do you really undermine
Peace in our world? We walk such a fine line!
Bruce, Neil, and Paul are heroes who try
To sing for our safety, before we all die.
Sunscreen and baby seats both make me cry,
A Nestles and Coke team! Who knows the why?
A life with good health and all love defended.
We give peace a chance and all war is ended.
Where less is much more and all scars are mended.
Hunger is history and motherhood transcended.
Lets fill up the room and listen to all,
Hawking, Chomsky, Suzuki, are some we can call.
People with future, who stand up so tall,
And try to change our direction, before we all fall.
There is no evil, not in their stories.
Just bad planning and big bad bullies.
Humans caught up in materialistic glories.
I won't even care if I ever hear 'sorries'.
Many god fearing people, are end of world sayers;
But man can do that, we are all major players!
We sell such destruction, in so many flavours.
Lets listen to all, in case they're our saviors.
Accidents happen, the ozone is thinning,
Lawn grass is dying, desert is winning.
Tides are a'rising, technology spinning.
Helping our planet, should not be called sinning.
Let's call politicians and b
Dave Dowling
Kudos to Dr. David Suzuki for raising awareness that We have to do more to make sure there is clean waters to drink, fresh airs to breath and forests where we can walk and admire that which we name nature!
My only question is" "Is it enough?"
We still have the stevils of the east saying Kyoto can not be met, we have Ed whats his name in Alberta wanting to increase the oil flow from the tar sands by five times what it, and we all still throw away tons of garbage every year.
When oh when will the politicians enact laws that enable corporations to set up manufacturing centers that produce environmentally friendly products, and at the same time enable consumers to purchase those new products.
In My Opinion, it takes politicians with gumption to stand up and make the laws that need to be made. UNfortuantly we do not seam to have such. All we seam to have in Ottawa and elsewhere is a bunch of Pirates out to pillage tax dollars for polluting white elephant projects!
Eli Sanchez Ortiz
Mr. David Suzuki,
In recognition of your team and yourself, i cannot thank you enough for taking on this enormous challenge and, for the best, going forward on it no matter what cometh your way until Victory. Yes! Victory for understanding, sharing and delivering a very important message to the Canadian Family.
My heartful salutations and respect.
Thank You Again.
Bob the Builder
I find what your doing is great, keep up the good work to make Canada a better and safer place to live.