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Winnipeg Free Press
Saturday, November 18th, 2006

True expatriate love
Grey Cup game brings Canadians together no matter where they live

By David Sanderson

ON Grey Cup weekend, an expatriate's fancy turns to thoughts of love.

Love, that is, of Canadian beer, salty Canuck snacks and homespun pigskin parties.

Brad Gurr moved from Winnipeg to New York City 2 1/2 years ago. Occasions like Sunday's CFL title tilt make Gurr pine for home more than usual.

"It's funny, being away, what you actually crave," he says when reached at home in Ossining, N.Y. "Fort Garry Dark (Ale), Bick's Pickles... and nuts and bolts. Is there anything better than homemade nuts and bolts?"

Come kick-off, Gurr will be embedded at a Greenwich Village watering hole, The Village Pourhouse. He won't lack for company. Joining him will be 30 or so other members of a New York meet-up group composed entirely of transplanted Canucks.

"This is our second annual Grey Cup party," says Regina-born Michelle Putzlocher, the troupe's activities co-ordinator. "Last year we just had a section of a sports bar but this time we have a private room. We'll lounge on leather chesterfields -- I love being able to use that word -- while drinking the Molson XXX and Blue Light regularly stocked at the pub."

New York isn't the only gathering spot for Canadians south of the border on Sunday. Lloyd Brownlee, president of the Canada Colorado Association, says 150 former hosers will be following the action at Boston's Gourmet Pizza Restaurant in Denver. Official CFL jerseys will be among the prizes up for grabs.

And in Bears country, the Canadian Club of Chicago is expecting a huge crowd at Timothy O'Toole's Pub. "Canadian beer will be on special at $1 a bottle -- while it lasts," says Greg Brewer, the group's executive director.

The New York-based Eh-team does its best to get together every month. Members regularly attend screenings of Canadian films. Just recently, everyone attended a Barenaked Ladies concert at Radio City Music Hall.

Members hail from coast to Canadian coast. So do their Grey Cup snack wish lists. Sherbrooke, Que., native Vincent Blouin casts a vote for poutine. Prince George, B.C.'s Elissa Meiklem will gladly accept donations of Crispy Crunch bars. To a person, the Broadway bunch would kill for anything Tim's.

"And those of us from the prairies whine constantly about Old Dutch," laments Putzlocher. "Did you know that you cannot get ANY dill pickle chips in the States? Also, I've yet to find a good perogy this side of Yorkton."

But topping everyone's list, Putzlocher stresses, is real Canadian suds. "I've actually e-mailed Sleeman's to ask where they distribute in the New York area. Kokanee and Moosehead also come up in fond reminiscences, depending on where people are from."

"I miss all the microbreweries in St. John's," says Jeremy Barry, the group's resident Newfie, "but I especially miss Alexander Keith's, or Vitamin K, as we used to call it when I was at St. Francois Xavier University. Now, there's a beer that goes well with football."

Barry, who counts himself an Argos fan, has lived in the Big Apple for just over five years. One of his favourite things about watching Canadian football stateside is explaining the oft-curious rules to Americans. Nuances like three downs, single points and 12 men on the field "make them a little queasy," he says. "I also like to tell them that according to the CFL rulebook, the losing team gets eaten by polar bears. That keeps 'em watching."

This year is Brian Kucheran's first time joining his countrymen for the big game. "I'm looking forward to a truly Canadian feel to the Grey Cup,"says the ex-Vancouverite.

Although Kucheran is pinning his half-time snack hopes on a Mars bar, he doesn't hesitate when asked what he misses most about the Great White North.

"Without a doubt, my friends and family. There's a distance that can be bridged by telephone and e-mail but there is no place like home, as they say. Especially when it comes to uniquely Canadian events like the Grey Cup."
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