CHA Secretaries / Secrétaires de la SHC

Abstract

At the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver, Jon Montgomery won a spectacular come-from-behind victory to take the gold medal in skeleton racing. Moments after his win, the larger-than-life red-haired Manitoban walked triumphantly through the crowds at Whistler, giving high-fives and receiving pats on the back, as he made his way to an interview booth. From the mass of people who had gathered to see Canada’s latest Olympic hero, a woman emerged with a pitcher of beer and handed it to Montgomery. Decked out head-to-toe in Canadiana gear, and with all of the eyes of the world watching, Montgomery drank a good portion of the pitcher and then lifted the jug over his head in victory. The crowd let out a collective cheer. Montgomery’s Olympic “beer walk” emerged as a passionate declaration of national pride and speaks to the connection between beer and “the Canadian identity.”