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Bell: Danielle Smith says Don Cherry should be appointed to the Order of Canada

Don Cherry for the Order of Canada? Premier Danielle Smith is an enthusiastic Yes.

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks out on this day.

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But the premier is not on about budgets or pipelines or the place of Alberta in Canada.

Smith is talking about Don Cherry, the man also known by his nickname, Grapes.

For years, for far too many years, Don Cherry has been snubbed by the establishment types in this country, the look down their noses at the rest of us elites, the self-styled smart set who almost certainly do not have Grapes anywhere near their cocktail party invitation list.

For years, for far too many years, Canadians from all walks of life have asked for Cherry, now 92 years old, to be appointed to the Order of Canada, to be acknowledged for his many contributions to this country of ours.

The list of Order of Canada appointees is long, many thousands of individuals but not Don Cherry.

With all due respect, is Cherry less worthy of the Order of Canada honour than the journalist and musician Nardwuar the Human Serviette?

Not long ago, Ontario Premier Doug Ford appointed Don Cherry to the Order of Ontario and stopped in to see the legend.

“No one is more deserving in this country than you,” said Ford.

“You’re the most patriotic Canadian I’ve ever met.”

Conservative MP Andrew Lawton, a real stand-up guy, stepped up.

“For decades Don Cherry has celebrated hockey, honoured veterans and said what millions think — without apology.

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“I am nominating Don Cherry for the Order of Canada. I want to show the Governor General how many Canadians support Grapes. Sign up if you do!”

There is a petition on the Conservative Party of Canada website.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre backed the petition, saying Cherry “embodies what it means to be a proud Canadian.”

On Friday, Premier Smith put her full support behind Cherry.

“This shouldn’t even be up for debate. Don Cherry is a Canadian icon and a hockey legend,” says Smith.

“He’s not just one of the greats. His word and opinion about our national sport is still treated as hockey gospel by millions of Canadians.

“His contributions to Canada sport and culture are undeniable and the work he did to honour our nation’s veterans was an invaluable contribution to our country. He will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Canadians.

“So, put the puck in the net and give Grapes the recognition he deserves.”

Everyone knows Cherry’s speak-his-mind style and his strong opinions and there were times those opinions got him in hot water.

But he was a man who often said what we would say if given the chance to the talk to Canadians on a coast to coast to coast hockey broadcast.

He was authentic, the real deal. He spoke to us not at us.

Many Canadians, ourselves and likely people we know, stayed during the intermission in the hockey game watching the screen with the volume turned way up to hear what Grapes had to say and often when he was done, we would chime in with our response.

Thank God, finally somebody is telling it like it is.

I still remember speaking at a gathering of university students in Edmonton more than 30 years ago and talking to them about how important Don Cherry was to this country.

As I write these words, news stories appear, reports of the pushback against the campaign for Cherry.

A Quebec Conservative member of parliament says the Order of Canada should be given to individuals who embody the values of inclusion, respect and unity.

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Another Quebec Conservative MP says Cherry has made unacceptable remarks towards the Quebec nation and Francophones.

A Quebec separatist member of parliament in the House of Commons hopes the Order of Canada could be awarded to “someone who hasn’t insulted everyone in the world who isn’t an English Canadian white man.”

It is reported the federal NDP condemns the idea of having Cherry appointed to the Order of Canada.

And what of the Canadians who finally found their patriotism in the past year or so?

Why don’t they put their elbows up and go for Grapes?

Or is that too much to hope for?

Is Don Cherry just not part of their Canada?

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