Mr. Gross has used the “Dinners With Billionaires” story all over his press tour for this film. I heard it at the TIFF premiere, read it in the VIA Rail magazine, and on this blog. He needs to get a new anecdote!!!! But it was a great film, and don’t be ashamed for liking it just because it’s Canadian.

Sir J.G. Bourinot wrote in “How Canada is Governed(1895) under “Executive Power” with regards to the Dominion Government and the National flag, Quote” The Dominion of Canada has also authority to display on all public occaions a national flag; viz., the Red or Blue Ensign…The Red Ensign is displayed at the opening and closing of parliament, and on national occasions. The Blue Ensign is a distinguishing flag of the government vessels of Canada; the mercantile marine of the Dominion has a right to use the Red Ensign.”Sir John George Bourinot,(1837-1902)Canadian historian and political scientist. He is remembered as an authority on the Canadian constitution and government his “Local Government in Canada (1887), Manuel of the Constitutional History of Canada (1888,rev.ed.1901), How Canada Is Governed (1895, rev.ed. 1918),” and other books are still authoritative… It would be wise and only fair to make sure that it becomes common knowledge that with the passage of time the true perspective on the creation of the current national flag of Canada, and the great emotion and sadness that accompanied the moment has in many ways been purposly hidden, lied about, overlooked and in many cases forgotten. In June 1964 the Toronto Telegram wrote “The people of Canada should be allowed to decide whether or not they wish to live under the flag of thier forebearers or discard it in favor of a new emblem…Mr. Pearson has an enviable reputation for sagacity and diplomacy. Let him ask the people by referendum whether they want to replace the banner that carries the symbols of our nationhood by one that is mounted on the colour of surrender and would be most suitable for an arboretum.” The Vancouver Province wrote “Canadians who are outraged at the thought of abandoning a flag sanctified by lives and blood of thousands of our countrymen in two great wars – a flag of colour and character in every way superior to the glorified dish towel that Mr. Pearson seeks single-handedly to impose on this country.” No one can change these facts and many of us will always remember.

This was one of the most sadly laughable films I have ever seen. As a Canadian, I wanted to like it. Three of the six people in the theatre walked out. I stayed. The cast (the doctor, for instance, and the recruiter), gave embarrassingly awkward/stilted performances, and the immaculate Calgary street scenes screamed out “action!” as the rigid figures moved down dustless streets (Anne of Avonlea looked much more authentic), past just-built sets. Similarily, battlefield ambulances had mud on their tires, but polished mirror-like fenders. No tired or dying soldiers fell against them, or touched them with their bloody hands. I could go on and on and on. Never has an asthma attack been so hilarious. And all three of those “I will now try to say something profound” actors, there in the same company in France. The Alberta tourist bureau horseback ride! And the underwritten Gil Bellows part–what the heck was that for or about. Is the rest on the floor somewhere? The stilted “there was a man…etc” lines, written apparently to be remembered as something other than funny and improbable. The lines of the dying hero paraphrasing the last words of Stonewall Jackson! Where was the director’s eye and ear throughout? This is apparently Paul Gross, an otherwise most admirable man, gone middle-age crazy. Having said all this, the basic battlefield set was very well done. Notice that the best part of the film is the still photographs that accompany the closing credits.

Good article. Would just comment that “fighting core” should be “fighting corps,” just in case you want to edit that. Anyway, just finished watching the film and enjoyed it. Thank God for Paul Gross. There are too many Canadians who cling to the peacekeeping myth (just a phase in our military history) and would suppress the truth about the rest of our exploits. Political correctness is what should be suppressed.

[...] also warriors. And we were the most feared fighting corps in the British order of battle.” (source) Gross wanted Canadians to have a war film much like the Americans, British and even Australians [...]

The Canadian Red Ensign”
2,000,000 Served 111,000 Died
We are at the end of an era. The Veterans from Canada’s Armed Forces, are becoming very few in number.
The Canadian Red Ensign is the flag they volunteered and served under. It symbolized the Canada they were fighting for.
A lot has changed since then.
Soon all we will have left is their memory. The one thing above all that will always represent them and their efforts, is our first national flag. The last flag of all those that died for us.
At Victory Square, the main war memorial in downtown Vancouver, Canada’s old battle standards fly proudly from the face of the monument–every day, all year round. The Union Jack and the Canadian Red Ensign on the left, the Royal Canadian Navy White Ensign and the Royal Canadian Air Force Blue Ensign on the right, with the new Maple Leaf flag in the centre.
Although these old service ensigns were disposed of by our government in Ottawa, they will always have a place of honour in our history. They should never be forgotten. Without them, all perspective is lost. They are important symbols of our heritage, representing our wartime sacrifices and the evolution of Canadian culture.
For years many Canadians requested that the Red Ensign be flown at Vimy Ridge with the Union Jack in memory of and out of respect for all those it was created, just as it was on the day it was opened.
All the flags at Victory Square should be proudly flying at the newly created tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa and the war museum. Every day, all year round. Anything less is a misrepresentation of our past.
These requests are not too much to expect. It cannot hurt anyone to keep asking and it will only help if we keep them flying. Lest we forget,
Bill Bishop
Maple Ridge, BC

well said