We were delighted that Mark Critch, the wonderful Canadian actor, comedian, and author, joined us for
a conversation about his new book, Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada
Worth Fighting For. Kevin Bosch, our Chair, and Pam Damoff, our CEO interviewed Mark to hear his
insights on Canadian identity, culture, and unity.
Critch originally set out to write a historical novel set in Newfoundland during the Second World War.
But amid the political noise, particularly the threats to Canada’s sovereignty from our southern
neighbour and the newly elected President, the project took a sharp turn. Halfway through writing, he
scrapped the novel and pivoted to nonfiction, despite being warned by his publisher that “nobody ever
does that.” The result was Sorry Not Sorry: a deeply Canadian response to the frustration and uncertainty
of our times – and the need for something we can laugh about together. As Critch put it, if you can laugh
at something, it no longer has control over you.
Our conversation started with a discussion of the importance of Canadian cultural content in giving us
something to rally around. Critch noted that it can be hard to think for ourselves over all the noise that
comes from our neighbours. Canada’s size and regional diversity, and the fact that citizens who don’t
often travel internally, means that artists often play a critical role in connecting Canadians to one
another. By providing shared cultural touchstones, they help us to help connect to a national identity
that transcends provincial or regional boundaries.
Born and raised in Newfoundland, Critch reflected on his own evolving identity as a Newfoundlander and
a Canadian. While Newfoundland’s relationship with Confederation remains complicated, he noted that
most young people today identify confidently as Canadians. Through his career, travelling coast to coast
to coast and meeting people from every region, Critch came to see our people as Canada’s greatest
resource; our kindness, welcoming nature, and willingness to show up for one another are qualities that
need to be protected.
Commenting on Newfoundland traditions, notably humour and good music, Critch said he believed these
things stemmed from a sense of community that is common among people from small places who rely
on each other to get through a winter and hard times. The musical, Come From Away, which has made it
to Broadway, captures this helping spirit. It was not any city planning that led to the kindness and
generosity in Gander, Newfoundland after 9/11 – it was what the residents did. For Critch, that same
spirit is reflected all around Canada. As he said in our conversation, Canadians have always been there
for our neighbors, from 9/11 to sending troops to Afghanistan.
Like the book, the conversation delved into the effects of President Trump’s rhetoric around Canada.
Trump thought people would be running over the border to be saved from “snowy socialism,” but in
reality, the opposite has happened. The dismissive attitude toward Canada has actually bolstered
Canadian unity and patriotism in a way many Canadians have never experienced in their lifetimes.
Paradoxically, the dismissive rhetoric and threats may have actually reminded Canadians of what we
value most, and of the need to pull together despite our differences. In his book, Critch uses the analogy
of all the provinces, each with their own characters and personalities, some with very specific dietary
restrictions, eating dinner at the same table. There are some conflicts, as in any family, but at the end of the day we are not rivals, we are fighting for the same team. As Critch says, “It’s time to start passing
around the potatoes more.”
Pam, who has been an advocate for the Terry Fox Foundation throughout her career, asked Crtich to
expand on the significance of Terry Fox for Canadians. Critch described Terry Fox as a perfect example of
how Canadians celebrate each other, and how our communities rally around those who are thinking and
doing things outside the box. Terry Fox became a unifying symbol for our country – and made our very
large nation a small one by bringing Canadians together. He encompasses the Canadian values of
kindness and humility but also being stubborn when it’s needed. In Critch’s view, this is something
Canada needs to embody now – to be a little stubborn and play the long game, knowing that if we stick
together we will come out stronger than ever before.
When asked if he is optimistic about the country moving forward, Critch responded with a resounding
yes. We live in a time where our leaders are not being faced with what they could do, but rather with
what they had better do. Times change and society evolves and we need to look back at our history.
Rather than tear down monuments and erase history, Critch noted, we need to “amend the plaques”
and learn from our past, because we are only here because of where we have been. Looking ahead we
need to share honest histories of both the good and the bad and use our identity as a nation to come
together and move forward. It may be a long process, but eventually by working together again and
again, that will become the norm and we will have a stronger nation. As Canadians we tend to be modest
about our accomplishments and, while this is a valuable trait, we also need to embrace our resilience
and put our foot down when we are dismissed and provoked. Now, more than ever, Canadians need to
be proud and not stand behind anybody else.