Canadians mark Truth and Reconciliation Day

If you were a school student — elementary, junior high or high school — in the 1970s, you might remember them: those clunky-looking huge black and white televisions being rolled into the classroom on an even clunkier dolly.

A movie, perhaps. That widely opened the door — sssh — for those of us, pick me, to get our homework finished … due in the very next class.

The same can be said about documentaries — drier than fiveday-old butterless popcorn at the theatre.

For me, though, there were two monumental Canadian history lessons learned from those video outfits … not on film or video, but live television.

The first was in Grade 6 in Mr. Good's class — Glenrose School Hospital's Room 270 on Dec. 3, 1970.

Canada was experiencing national unity challenges, that October. A group called the FLQ — a terrorist Quebec group — kidnapped British diplomat James Cross.

After 60 days of captivity — his last night being handcuffed to a ceiling — he was released.

Mr. Good, to his national patriotic credit, wheeled the aforementioned Mobile Video Command Centre so we could watch Cross being released.

Mr. Good's Canadian citizenship shone as he wanted us students to watch news helicopters follow the vehicle with Cross to safety.

That footage is still with me like the latest newscast: a blue car — Chrysler, I think — crossing a Montreal bridge to safely take Cross to Notre Dame Island.

I did not appreciate until my adult life that, in the early 1970s, Canada needs something to bring us together.

With an entire nation barely sitting on the edge of our seats — Canada's national game, hockey, has a patriotic tendency to create such posture — that September afternoon in 1972.

Canadian history was unfolding.

Not on a Montreal bridge. But in a hockey rink in Russia. In an eight-game series against Russia, Team Canada, awkwardly and perhaps embarrassed, found themselves equalled by another nation in hockey.

Everything was on the line in Game 8.

Now in Grade 8, and three months shy of the anniversary of the Cross release, I heard the wheels ferrying televisions into classrooms, multiple classrooms, to watch a hockey game: a tilt that would enshrine itself in history.

It was 50 years ago Wednesday when Paul Henderson found a loose puck with 34 seconds left.

We mark such an iconic memory and recall the national pride.

We remember who we were with: for me, I was sitting beside a young girl with long brown hair who I was pretty smitten with. Cathy, her name.

With the game tied at five I told myself if Canada scored, I would — cover your eyes, Grampa — kiss her.

Henderson scored and I thought I had lost my mind.

That kiss was replaced with a high five.

Call me romantic.

Those of us who remember that, now, perhaps that victory brought Canada together. When we needed it the most. Whenever I turn on a hockey game on television now I try to never dismiss where a hockey puck can go.

And how its ultimate direction can unify tens of millions of people.