Canadian Embassy offers expat visitors ringside seat for inauguration

at 17:59 on January 20, 2009, EDT.
By Lee-Anne Goodman, THE CANADIAN PRESS

WASHINGTON - Alex P. Keaton was a 1980s poster boy for young, buttoned-down Republicans, but the man who played him joined the Barack Obama love-in Tuesday at the Canadian Embassy.

"I was saying to my son as we walked in here, it feels like Canada, it feels like home - there's an ease, a familiarity," Michael J. Fox told The Canadian Press after he made his way from the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol to the Embassy just a few blocks away.

"I'm so excited just to be warm ... (and) to see both my countries represented."

Fox was one of about 200 people at the gleaming embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue, just down the street from the Capitol. Its rooftop terrace, with an up-close view of the iconic building and a panoramic view of the National Mall and other landmarks, is always a hot ticket on the day a new president is sworn into office.

No more so than this year, with one of the most momentous inaugurations in American history playing out on the streets below.

Canadians and Americans mingled over glasses of wine and shrimp, mini-hamburgers and smoked salmon canapes to take in the pageantry, braving icy winds to survey the scene six storeys below as millions of people amassed in front of the Capitol and spilled down the National Mall to witness history.

Some wept when Obama took his oath; almost everyone cheered.

William Boyd, a judge from Chicago, and his wife, Linda, a lawyer, were among those who were in attendance at the embassy to watch their hometown hero make history.

They had nothing but raves for the Canadian party and the embassy's choice locale, but more importantly, they spoke of how meaningful the moment was for Americans.

Boyd, an African-American, said he's been overjoyed to see the country come together - all races, all ages, all walks of life - to revel in the election of the first black man in U.S. history.

"It feels great," he said. "Finally we've come together as a country."

Outside, on the steps of the embassy, a tailgate party was in full force. The CFL's Grey Cup was on proud display, Mounties chatted and posed for pictures with the party-goers, and a Beavertail booth was attracting a large crowd eager for the Canadian pastry treat.

Even the Mounties, normally reserved, were gushing about what they'd seen from atop the Embassy.

"It's super, it's special, it's incredible to be here - we're so fortunate to be taking part in this event representing Canada," said Cpl. Nilu Singh.

Chimed in her colleague, Const. Claude-Michel Cimbert: "It's joyful. As you can see, everybody around has got a smile and they're looking for a brighter future."

The Mounties then formed a line and saluted President Obama as his motorcade passed the embassy during the inaugural parade that followed his inauguration.

Canada was officially represented at the event by Tory cabinet ministers Peter Kent and Jason Kenney.

"I am terrifically honoured to be down here today," Kent, the junior foreign affairs minister, said on the steps of the embassy.

He had high praise for Obama's political skills.

"He's a very charismatic personality, I think he's the epitome in a lot of ways of cool in terms of his ability to communicate powerfully with audiences ... the couple of million people who are gathered shivering in downtown Washington are looking for some words of inspiration and leadership and direction."

Another guest was race car driver Jamie McMurray, who drives the NASCAR stock car sponsored by Crown Royal.

"It's overwhelming," McMurray said. "The view from here is unbelievable and the reactions of everyone here was really moving."

But he had no intention of sampling a Beavertail, a Canadian pastry treat known in the U.S. as a funnel cake.

"I can guarantee you 100 per cent I will not be eating a beavertail," McMurray said, until it was explained the pastry didn't involve mammal flesh, but rather deep-fried dough and sugar.


©The Canadian Press, 2009

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