1 00:00:01,402 --> 00:00:02,868 Here we are in windsor, nova scotia! 2 00:00:02,937 --> 00:00:07,039 [cheering & applauding] 3 00:00:07,108 --> 00:00:09,107 An hour northwest of halifax, 4 00:00:09,143 --> 00:00:11,977 Gateway to the annapolis valley. 5 00:00:12,112 --> 00:00:15,313 This town was home to an enormous textile mill, 6 00:00:15,349 --> 00:00:18,917 A cotton mill, specializing for a long time 7 00:00:18,986 --> 00:00:21,853 In windsor wear underwear, 8 00:00:21,855 --> 00:00:25,057 The kind that has the trap door in it. 9 00:00:25,126 --> 00:00:26,258 [laughing] 10 00:00:26,327 --> 00:00:29,227 But that's not the only canadian classic 11 00:00:29,263 --> 00:00:31,162 From your history. 12 00:00:31,198 --> 00:00:33,265 Windsor, nova scotia claims to be 13 00:00:33,267 --> 00:00:35,801 The birthplace of hockey. 14 00:00:35,936 --> 00:00:40,072 [cheering & applauding] 15 00:00:40,074 --> 00:00:44,143 In fact, when I do a search for the birthplace of hockey, 16 00:00:44,145 --> 00:00:46,078 Most of the top hits are windsor. 17 00:00:46,147 --> 00:00:49,414 Thanks in part perhaps to your cleverly named museum, 18 00:00:49,450 --> 00:00:51,783 The birthplace of hockey museum. 19 00:00:51,852 --> 00:00:54,086 [laughing] 20 00:00:54,088 --> 00:00:57,089 But there's a lot of evidence that suggests 21 00:00:57,091 --> 00:01:00,059 The puck dropped here first. 22 00:01:00,194 --> 00:01:02,427 [cheering & applauding] 23 00:01:02,430 --> 00:01:05,163 People in montreal might think that's offside. 24 00:01:05,232 --> 00:01:06,765 People in kingston, ontario, 25 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:08,934 Might say you crossed a line. 26 00:01:09,069 --> 00:01:11,770 However, even if you did cross a line, 27 00:01:11,772 --> 00:01:14,173 If the puck was here first, then it's not offside. 28 00:01:14,175 --> 00:01:17,276 [laughing & applauding] 29 00:01:17,278 --> 00:01:19,845 When you grow up in a small town in newfoundland, 30 00:01:19,847 --> 00:01:21,313 You see that people have a sense of humour 31 00:01:21,382 --> 00:01:22,381 About hard times. 32 00:01:22,383 --> 00:01:23,482 Check, check. 33 00:01:23,484 --> 00:01:25,517 I turned that into a career and hit the road. 34 00:01:25,519 --> 00:01:28,052 [announcer] mr. Jonny harris! 35 00:01:28,089 --> 00:01:30,055 Now I'm on a mission to find the funny in the places 36 00:01:30,057 --> 00:01:31,223 You'd least expect it, 37 00:01:31,358 --> 00:01:33,258 Canada's struggling small towns. 38 00:01:33,393 --> 00:01:35,227 Towns that are against the ropes, 39 00:01:35,296 --> 00:01:36,261 But hanging in there... 40 00:01:36,396 --> 00:01:39,264 Still laughing in the face of adversity. 41 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:41,466 This is windsor, nova scotia. 42 00:01:41,469 --> 00:01:46,004 ♪ 43 00:01:46,139 --> 00:01:49,141 [cheering & applauding] 44 00:01:49,210 --> 00:01:50,442 Let's say it's true. 45 00:01:50,444 --> 00:01:54,078 If this is genuinely the birthplace of hockey... 46 00:01:54,115 --> 00:01:56,481 That would still make hockey 47 00:01:56,550 --> 00:01:58,416 The second biggest thing 48 00:01:58,486 --> 00:02:00,752 To come out of windsor, nova scotia. 49 00:02:00,887 --> 00:02:02,321 Have you seen the pumpkins? 50 00:02:02,456 --> 00:02:05,290 [cheering & applauding] 51 00:02:05,426 --> 00:02:08,193 There's a metal sculpture of one downtown that 52 00:02:08,229 --> 00:02:10,462 I was looking at, and there is a plaque there. 53 00:02:10,531 --> 00:02:12,063 The plaque is a bit warn. 54 00:02:12,133 --> 00:02:14,299 I couldn't quite read all of it. 55 00:02:14,434 --> 00:02:15,833 The whole thing kind of reminded me of 56 00:02:15,870 --> 00:02:17,169 The tragically hip. 57 00:02:17,304 --> 00:02:20,105 Here you have a gourd that's become legendary, 58 00:02:20,174 --> 00:02:22,307 Even if you don't quite get all the words. 59 00:02:22,309 --> 00:02:24,242 [laughing] 60 00:02:24,311 --> 00:02:28,247 ♪ 61 00:02:28,382 --> 00:02:31,984 ♪ 62 00:02:31,986 --> 00:02:35,087 I met a woman who was a legacy at the mill. 63 00:02:35,222 --> 00:02:38,724 She made long underwear, but gave me a brief history. 64 00:02:38,859 --> 00:02:40,259 -How are you, joanne? -Hi jonny! 65 00:02:40,394 --> 00:02:42,193 -Welcome to windsor. -Thank you. 66 00:02:42,229 --> 00:02:44,029 Joanne galley! 67 00:02:44,031 --> 00:02:47,866 [cheering & applauding] 68 00:02:47,935 --> 00:02:49,801 You had a bit of a list as far as 69 00:02:49,837 --> 00:02:52,271 Immediate family who all... 70 00:02:52,406 --> 00:02:54,806 All worked there- my mother, my father. 71 00:02:54,808 --> 00:02:57,809 As did her grandmother, her brothers, 72 00:02:57,878 --> 00:03:01,079 Sisters, cousins, everybody. 73 00:03:01,081 --> 00:03:03,147 She said it wasn't easy work. 74 00:03:03,184 --> 00:03:05,784 For most people in the community, that was... 75 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:07,486 A place you really didn't want to work 'cause 76 00:03:07,488 --> 00:03:09,755 It was hot, it was dusty, it was dirty. 77 00:03:09,890 --> 00:03:13,025 A lot of people couldn't last one day in that mill. 78 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,893 She said, every day, at the end of her day... 79 00:03:15,930 --> 00:03:17,963 I could knit a pair of socks... 80 00:03:17,965 --> 00:03:20,032 From all the dust that might have been in my lungs. 81 00:03:20,034 --> 00:03:21,366 -Really? -[laughs] yeah. 82 00:03:21,501 --> 00:03:23,368 And cotton's supposed to be breathable. 83 00:03:23,437 --> 00:03:25,704 [laughing] 84 00:03:25,773 --> 00:03:27,372 So whatever colour they were doing that day, 85 00:03:27,507 --> 00:03:29,975 That's the colour you were when you went home. 86 00:03:30,044 --> 00:03:32,444 And let me tell you, there was fuzz, 87 00:03:32,446 --> 00:03:34,780 Coloured fuzz in places you wouldn't expect it to be. 88 00:03:34,915 --> 00:03:36,248 [laughing] 89 00:03:36,383 --> 00:03:38,817 When she talked about inhaling fiber, 90 00:03:38,886 --> 00:03:41,519 It sort of reminded me of whenever I would see 91 00:03:41,555 --> 00:03:44,356 My nan drink her vodka metamucil. 92 00:03:44,358 --> 00:03:47,326 [laughing] 93 00:03:47,328 --> 00:03:49,061 She could inhale fiber. 94 00:03:49,196 --> 00:03:51,129 [laughing] 95 00:03:51,131 --> 00:03:53,331 The hardest part was working with the dryer... 96 00:03:53,466 --> 00:03:56,267 And you're talking a dryer that's like 250 degrees, 97 00:03:56,303 --> 00:03:58,737 A big industrial dryer. 98 00:03:58,872 --> 00:04:00,939 I learned very quick the first day, 99 00:04:01,074 --> 00:04:02,340 Do not wear earrings. 100 00:04:02,409 --> 00:04:05,277 'cause the metal would absorb so much heat, 101 00:04:05,412 --> 00:04:07,078 It could scorch you. 102 00:04:07,114 --> 00:04:09,147 It's like, "oh my god, I think somebody 103 00:04:09,216 --> 00:04:11,350 Is talking about me. My ears are burning." 104 00:04:11,352 --> 00:04:13,084 [laughing] 105 00:04:13,086 --> 00:04:13,919 It made me wonder, 106 00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:15,754 What if you just got your ears pierced? 107 00:04:15,823 --> 00:04:17,956 You're not supposed to take them out for at least... 108 00:04:18,091 --> 00:04:20,025 I know for a bellybutton ring, it's... 109 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,696 [laughing] 110 00:04:24,831 --> 00:04:27,165 I've got two weeks left, and that was canada day. 111 00:04:27,234 --> 00:04:29,301 [laughing] 112 00:04:29,303 --> 00:04:31,436 Despite the heat and the hard work, 113 00:04:31,438 --> 00:04:36,140 Joanne has fond memories of, of working at the mill. 114 00:04:36,176 --> 00:04:38,076 One of the ladies I was taking work to 115 00:04:38,078 --> 00:04:39,911 When she was sewing men's briefs... 116 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:41,780 Her friend was making underwear. 117 00:04:41,849 --> 00:04:45,149 She was making the y fronts, the opening in the briefs. 118 00:04:45,185 --> 00:04:46,785 And the foreman came along, and he said, 119 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,455 "you're leaving the gap in the front too big." 120 00:04:50,457 --> 00:04:54,559 The opening is only supposed to be three fingers wide. 121 00:04:54,561 --> 00:04:56,394 She said, "you don't know my husband. 122 00:04:56,430 --> 00:04:57,996 He needs four." 123 00:04:58,131 --> 00:04:59,464 [laughing] 124 00:04:59,599 --> 00:05:01,266 I thought the pumpkins were big. 125 00:05:01,401 --> 00:05:03,802 [laughing] 126 00:05:03,804 --> 00:05:06,404 It doesn't tell us exactly how long john was, 127 00:05:06,473 --> 00:05:08,740 But his girth was beyond question. 128 00:05:08,776 --> 00:05:10,842 [laughing] 129 00:05:10,911 --> 00:05:13,144 ♪ 130 00:05:13,180 --> 00:05:15,447 But it wasn't just windsor wear underwear they made. 131 00:05:15,582 --> 00:05:18,015 They supplied clothing companies like roots. 132 00:05:18,052 --> 00:05:20,818 We were doing roots maybe 15, 18 years. 133 00:05:20,854 --> 00:05:23,087 They also did work for the dnd, 134 00:05:23,123 --> 00:05:24,422 Department of national defense. 135 00:05:24,558 --> 00:05:26,124 Talk about supporting the troops. 136 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:27,392 [laughing] 137 00:05:27,527 --> 00:05:29,094 Especially the privates. 138 00:05:29,229 --> 00:05:31,029 [laughing] 139 00:05:31,164 --> 00:05:33,464 How many people worked there at the height of...? 140 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:35,767 Probably 300, 350. 141 00:05:35,836 --> 00:05:38,770 And she said when they had big rounds of layoffs, 142 00:05:38,905 --> 00:05:41,306 It was hard, because a lot of families, 143 00:05:41,375 --> 00:05:44,442 Both parents worked at the mill. 144 00:05:44,511 --> 00:05:47,713 And you're looking at people late 40s, 50s... 145 00:05:47,848 --> 00:05:49,381 To go back into the workforce 146 00:05:49,383 --> 00:05:51,316 When you're that age, what do you do? 147 00:05:51,451 --> 00:05:53,751 Any particular household could find itself 148 00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:55,787 Down two incomes. 149 00:05:55,789 --> 00:05:58,123 It's sort of like putting all your eggs in one... 150 00:05:58,125 --> 00:05:59,991 Putting all your fruit in one loom. 151 00:06:00,126 --> 00:06:02,194 [laughing] 152 00:06:02,196 --> 00:06:04,996 One last-ditch effort to keep the mill alive was 153 00:06:04,998 --> 00:06:08,099 A contract to make firefighters jackets. 154 00:06:08,168 --> 00:06:11,002 They use nomex, a fire retardant material, 155 00:06:11,071 --> 00:06:12,303 For their jackets. 156 00:06:12,339 --> 00:06:15,339 But then she said when the war in afghanistan ramped up, 157 00:06:15,376 --> 00:06:18,342 The material they used, the fire retardant material, 158 00:06:18,379 --> 00:06:20,812 Was getting shipped overseas for the war effort, 159 00:06:20,848 --> 00:06:23,281 And they lost the contract. 160 00:06:23,317 --> 00:06:26,151 That was it. The company had no other options... 161 00:06:26,286 --> 00:06:27,886 Nothing else they could do. 162 00:06:27,888 --> 00:06:29,321 That was a bad year right there. 163 00:06:29,456 --> 00:06:31,957 There's no fireproof jackets... 164 00:06:31,959 --> 00:06:36,161 No t-shirts, and no underwear. 165 00:06:36,163 --> 00:06:37,962 Although your firefighters put out 166 00:06:38,031 --> 00:06:39,831 A hell of a calendar that year. 167 00:06:39,867 --> 00:06:42,066 [laughing] 168 00:06:42,102 --> 00:06:44,035 ♪ 169 00:06:44,171 --> 00:06:47,105 In 2005, your textile mill closed its doors 170 00:06:47,174 --> 00:06:51,142 After 106 years of operation. 171 00:06:51,145 --> 00:06:53,411 It was the end of an era. 172 00:06:53,414 --> 00:06:56,314 There had been several rounds of, of layoffs... 173 00:06:56,350 --> 00:07:00,785 And people tried to make it last as long as they could, 174 00:07:00,788 --> 00:07:02,354 Which is the same way I am. 175 00:07:02,356 --> 00:07:05,791 With long underwear, if I have a pair of long johns, 176 00:07:05,926 --> 00:07:10,262 I would make them last as long as I possibly could. 177 00:07:10,397 --> 00:07:12,931 I would, dammit. Darn it. 178 00:07:12,933 --> 00:07:14,332 Sorry, I would darn it. 179 00:07:14,368 --> 00:07:16,067 [laughing] 180 00:07:16,069 --> 00:07:18,736 [applauding] 181 00:07:23,210 --> 00:07:27,912 ♪ 182 00:07:27,981 --> 00:07:29,514 ♪ 183 00:07:29,516 --> 00:07:31,816 After struggling for nearly two decades, 184 00:07:31,852 --> 00:07:34,019 This town is growing. 185 00:07:34,154 --> 00:07:38,189 Growing, among other things, gargantuan gourds. 186 00:07:38,192 --> 00:07:40,759 -Here's jonny! -How are you? 187 00:07:40,761 --> 00:07:44,195 I met a man who is still standing on the 188 00:07:44,264 --> 00:07:46,297 Shoulders of giant pumpkins. 189 00:07:46,333 --> 00:07:47,899 Danny dill! 190 00:07:47,968 --> 00:07:51,035 [cheering & applauding] 191 00:07:53,307 --> 00:07:56,274 Big pumpkins. Whose idea was it? 192 00:07:56,409 --> 00:07:58,176 Well, it actually would have come from my dad. 193 00:07:58,311 --> 00:08:00,278 He was a farmer during the 50s, 194 00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:01,913 Grew a lot of vegetables, 195 00:08:01,915 --> 00:08:03,982 And every fall they'd have the fall fair here. 196 00:08:03,984 --> 00:08:05,883 The winter agricultural fair, 197 00:08:05,919 --> 00:08:09,387 The oldest agricultural fair in north america. 198 00:08:09,456 --> 00:08:12,290 All the farms, local farmers, loved to take their livestock 199 00:08:12,292 --> 00:08:14,626 Or produce, and enter it, like any fair, 200 00:08:14,761 --> 00:08:16,928 And they had noticed how the public, 201 00:08:16,997 --> 00:08:18,930 Or mostly the children, would take to the 202 00:08:18,966 --> 00:08:20,732 Size of these pumpkins. 203 00:08:20,734 --> 00:08:23,268 No matter what agricultural fair you were at, 204 00:08:23,403 --> 00:08:25,337 The biggest pumpkin was a rock star. 205 00:08:25,472 --> 00:08:27,205 Even if they had booked kim mitchell... 206 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:29,140 [laughing] 207 00:08:29,176 --> 00:08:32,210 ...The biggest pumpkin was always the star of the show. 208 00:08:32,279 --> 00:08:34,312 He decided to grow them bigger. 209 00:08:34,381 --> 00:08:36,748 So he basically, what he did, he taught himself genetics. 210 00:08:36,817 --> 00:08:38,816 ♪ 211 00:08:38,852 --> 00:08:42,120 Danny's dad began genetic experimentation, 212 00:08:42,122 --> 00:08:45,357 And through selective breeding, he created... 213 00:08:45,492 --> 00:08:50,161 His own species or variety, they say, of pumpkin. 214 00:08:50,197 --> 00:08:51,495 You know, there were some different names 215 00:08:51,532 --> 00:08:53,164 Floating around, but at the end of the day, 216 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,900 It was giant, and we're in the atlantic area. 217 00:08:55,936 --> 00:08:57,969 He named it atlantic giant. 218 00:08:58,005 --> 00:09:00,238 When your dad was experimenting, 219 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,341 How does he fertilize the female with the 220 00:09:03,410 --> 00:09:05,110 Male of your choosing? 221 00:09:05,245 --> 00:09:07,378 You know, it's first thing in the morning. 222 00:09:07,414 --> 00:09:11,850 ♪ [saxophone] ♪ 223 00:09:11,985 --> 00:09:13,985 The female flowers open on the plant, 224 00:09:13,987 --> 00:09:17,255 And the male flowers open up, so... 225 00:09:17,257 --> 00:09:20,191 He can do his pollination, and basically... 226 00:09:20,227 --> 00:09:22,393 You take the male flower from the pumpkin you want 227 00:09:22,429 --> 00:09:24,195 And the female flower and, 228 00:09:24,197 --> 00:09:27,132 And you peel all the petals off the male flower, 229 00:09:27,267 --> 00:09:29,934 And you're sort of left with the pistol. 230 00:09:29,937 --> 00:09:33,204 And he basically just takes the male flowers and, 231 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,273 Gently like pollinates the female flower 232 00:09:35,275 --> 00:09:36,474 That's opened up. 233 00:09:36,476 --> 00:09:40,945 It's like most reproductive methods on this planet. 234 00:09:40,981 --> 00:09:43,481 It boils down to poles and holes. 235 00:09:43,483 --> 00:09:45,450 [laughing] 236 00:09:45,452 --> 00:09:48,152 After he's done, he might just put a bag over it 237 00:09:48,221 --> 00:09:51,156 For the day, so the bees can't contaminate it, 238 00:09:51,158 --> 00:09:53,290 Because you know them bees... 239 00:09:53,327 --> 00:09:54,759 Who knows what they're doing. 240 00:09:54,894 --> 00:09:56,160 Those bees, right? I mean, 241 00:09:56,229 --> 00:09:58,029 You don't know where they've been. 242 00:09:58,164 --> 00:09:59,463 You don't know what they're carrying. 243 00:09:59,499 --> 00:10:01,032 [laughing] 244 00:10:01,068 --> 00:10:03,368 So you got to put the protective bag on 245 00:10:03,370 --> 00:10:04,769 After fertilization. 246 00:10:04,771 --> 00:10:05,970 That's the birds and the bees 247 00:10:06,039 --> 00:10:07,372 When it comes to pumpkins. 248 00:10:07,441 --> 00:10:10,241 Not to confuse any of the young viewers... 249 00:10:10,243 --> 00:10:11,909 For any of the young fellows viewing, 250 00:10:11,945 --> 00:10:14,445 You want the protective bag to go on before fertilization. 251 00:10:14,514 --> 00:10:16,981 [laughing] 252 00:10:17,017 --> 00:10:19,250 Three years in a row, he had the world's largest. 253 00:10:19,286 --> 00:10:21,853 I mean, he had to take these down to the united states 254 00:10:21,855 --> 00:10:22,854 To prove it. 255 00:10:22,989 --> 00:10:24,722 He would tell me that he'd get to the border, 256 00:10:24,857 --> 00:10:26,791 Every customs agent came out to get 257 00:10:26,793 --> 00:10:28,059 Their photo taken with it. 258 00:10:28,095 --> 00:10:30,294 There's his dad with the 350 pound pumpkin 259 00:10:30,330 --> 00:10:32,864 In the back of the pickup truck, and the border guard 260 00:10:32,866 --> 00:10:34,265 Sees it and tells them to wait. 261 00:10:34,267 --> 00:10:36,534 Goes into the office, then comes out 262 00:10:36,536 --> 00:10:38,936 With all the other border guards. 263 00:10:38,972 --> 00:10:40,405 They all want to get their picture taken 264 00:10:40,407 --> 00:10:41,839 With the pumpkin. 265 00:10:41,908 --> 00:10:43,274 [laughing] 266 00:10:43,276 --> 00:10:44,975 I would just like to know once and for all 267 00:10:45,012 --> 00:10:47,411 What the rule is for fruit and vegetables at the border. 268 00:10:47,447 --> 00:10:49,748 [laughing] 269 00:10:49,883 --> 00:10:51,449 'cause last time I tried to cross at niagara, 270 00:10:51,584 --> 00:10:54,452 I had to throw out a banana. -[laughing] 271 00:10:54,587 --> 00:10:56,454 That wasn't even 300 grams! 272 00:10:56,589 --> 00:10:59,157 [laughing] 273 00:10:59,292 --> 00:11:02,694 Then when I thought things couldn't get any crazier, 274 00:11:02,829 --> 00:11:05,396 I found out that it's on his property 275 00:11:05,465 --> 00:11:08,266 Where you will find long pond. 276 00:11:08,401 --> 00:11:12,837 ♪ 277 00:11:12,972 --> 00:11:16,040 ♪ 278 00:11:16,043 --> 00:11:17,942 Some call it the 'pond of dreams'. 279 00:11:18,011 --> 00:11:21,980 This, apparently, is the birthplace of hockey. 280 00:11:22,115 --> 00:11:24,182 Of course, that's been a debate for... 281 00:11:24,251 --> 00:11:25,784 Many, many years. 282 00:11:25,919 --> 00:11:27,719 He said in 1988 they were going through 283 00:11:27,788 --> 00:11:30,020 Some artifacts from king's college, 284 00:11:30,057 --> 00:11:33,057 The oldest private school in canada, 285 00:11:33,126 --> 00:11:38,063 And they found a book that referenced a game in 1844, 286 00:11:38,198 --> 00:11:41,466 With boys from the college playing "hurley" 287 00:11:41,601 --> 00:11:44,269 On that pond, in the winter, on ice. 288 00:11:44,271 --> 00:11:47,271 Hurley's the old irish game that hockey comes from. 289 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:49,140 But if you need more convincing, 290 00:11:49,176 --> 00:11:52,210 They found another article that referenced those boys 291 00:11:52,212 --> 00:11:56,047 Playing the game on ice using skates. 292 00:11:56,049 --> 00:11:59,217 Now, if that's not hockey, I don't know what it is, 293 00:11:59,352 --> 00:12:01,418 But I'll do you even one better. 294 00:12:01,455 --> 00:12:04,856 One of the researchers came across another passage... 295 00:12:04,858 --> 00:12:07,659 About the boys, john kinnaird, 296 00:12:07,794 --> 00:12:09,327 Getting his front teeth knocked out by 297 00:12:09,396 --> 00:12:11,295 Pete delancey of annapolis. 298 00:12:11,364 --> 00:12:13,164 He got his two front teeth knocked out. 299 00:12:13,299 --> 00:12:15,366 Now if that's not hockey... 300 00:12:15,435 --> 00:12:17,435 [laughing] 301 00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:20,638 [applauding] 302 00:12:25,111 --> 00:12:29,114 ♪ 303 00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:31,115 Along with hockey and giant pumpkins, 304 00:12:31,184 --> 00:12:33,284 I found out how puppetry plays a part in putting 305 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,987 Windsor on the world stage. 306 00:12:36,056 --> 00:12:38,123 To learn more, I had to pull some strings. 307 00:12:38,258 --> 00:12:41,359 Luckily, they led me to the artistic director of 308 00:12:41,494 --> 00:12:43,761 Mermaid theatre, jim morrow. 309 00:12:43,830 --> 00:12:47,999 [cheering & applauding] 310 00:12:48,001 --> 00:12:51,903 Jim morrow studied under... 311 00:12:52,038 --> 00:12:56,307 The most famous puppeteer in history, jim henson. 312 00:12:56,442 --> 00:12:58,876 Did you see some of the famous muppets 313 00:12:58,878 --> 00:12:59,977 That we all know from? 314 00:13:00,046 --> 00:13:01,813 Yes, maybe kermit. [laughs] 315 00:13:01,948 --> 00:13:03,148 -Kermit the frog? -Yeah. 316 00:13:03,283 --> 00:13:06,417 -You met kermit the frog? -Yeah, I met kermit. 317 00:13:06,453 --> 00:13:08,953 Kermit was to be in all the videos that we were creating. 318 00:13:08,989 --> 00:13:09,954 We were told though, 319 00:13:10,089 --> 00:13:12,824 Under no circumstances were we to touch kermit. 320 00:13:12,826 --> 00:13:16,294 And so, myself and jacques from quebec, two canadians, 321 00:13:16,363 --> 00:13:18,162 Arrived back to the workshop early. 322 00:13:18,165 --> 00:13:19,697 It was just him and his buddy, 323 00:13:19,766 --> 00:13:22,366 Alone there with kermit the frog. 324 00:13:22,402 --> 00:13:25,169 So I picked kermit up, and put him on my hand, and... 325 00:13:25,172 --> 00:13:26,704 And I'm dancing kermit around. 326 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:28,039 Give the kermit the frog voice, 327 00:13:28,108 --> 00:13:30,041 Do the little arm wires and being kermit the frog, 328 00:13:30,043 --> 00:13:31,209 And jacques said, "gimme it!" 329 00:13:31,278 --> 00:13:32,743 They're trying to do the voice. 330 00:13:32,779 --> 00:13:34,778 They're dancing around with him. 331 00:13:34,815 --> 00:13:37,448 And while jacques has it on his arm, we hear a cough. 332 00:13:37,450 --> 00:13:40,184 And this was jim. Jim had come back early... 333 00:13:40,187 --> 00:13:41,051 And he caught us. 334 00:13:41,087 --> 00:13:44,154 -And he's not impressed. -[laughing] 335 00:13:44,191 --> 00:13:45,423 -He caught jacques. -Right. 336 00:13:45,425 --> 00:13:46,457 I just happened to be there. 337 00:13:46,526 --> 00:13:48,025 "jacques, what are you doing?" 338 00:13:48,061 --> 00:13:49,861 [gasping] 339 00:13:49,863 --> 00:13:52,163 So anyway, all jim said was, "lads, 340 00:13:52,165 --> 00:13:54,131 I would appreciate it if you'd put kermit down." 341 00:13:54,167 --> 00:13:56,100 Although, it's better that they 342 00:13:56,169 --> 00:13:57,568 Got caught by jim henson. 343 00:13:57,571 --> 00:13:59,204 If you're fooling around with kermit the frog, 344 00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:01,873 It's better that than if they got caught by miss piggy. 345 00:14:01,875 --> 00:14:03,408 [laughing] 346 00:14:03,410 --> 00:14:05,143 She got a hell of a karate chop. 347 00:14:05,145 --> 00:14:06,844 Hiyah! 348 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:08,279 [laughing] 349 00:14:08,315 --> 00:14:10,348 ♪ 350 00:14:10,350 --> 00:14:12,784 So, jim, what is mermaid theatre? 351 00:14:12,919 --> 00:14:15,152 So we're a puppet company creating plays 352 00:14:15,154 --> 00:14:19,123 For children based on popular storybooks. 353 00:14:19,125 --> 00:14:21,059 And like most things, it started modestly. 354 00:14:21,061 --> 00:14:24,128 There was no performing arts in the school system 355 00:14:24,164 --> 00:14:25,229 In nova scotia at the time, 356 00:14:25,298 --> 00:14:27,365 So the three founders of the company decided that 357 00:14:27,434 --> 00:14:29,033 They should fill that void, 358 00:14:29,102 --> 00:14:31,502 Got the money to start this little, tiny theatre company. 359 00:14:31,504 --> 00:14:34,439 Jim told me how mermaid theatre has been active 360 00:14:34,574 --> 00:14:36,907 In the community for almost 40 years. 361 00:14:36,943 --> 00:14:39,043 In the world of puppetry, there are traditional puppets. 362 00:14:39,045 --> 00:14:41,846 Stringed puppets, which is a marionette, or a hand puppet, 363 00:14:41,915 --> 00:14:43,247 Something you put on your hand. 364 00:14:43,250 --> 00:14:45,983 I promote the idea of objects as opposed to puppets. 365 00:14:46,119 --> 00:14:47,452 Around this room are objects that are 366 00:14:47,454 --> 00:14:49,320 Simply sitting there inanimate. 367 00:14:49,455 --> 00:14:51,255 When a puppeteer, a skilled puppeteer, 368 00:14:51,324 --> 00:14:53,458 Picks them up and begins to give them life, 369 00:14:53,460 --> 00:14:54,525 Then they become puppets. 370 00:14:54,561 --> 00:14:57,795 He said, "here, I'll show you a demonstration." 371 00:14:57,831 --> 00:15:00,230 [humming] 372 00:15:00,267 --> 00:15:03,234 He got two other puppeteers to help, struan and alex. 373 00:15:03,303 --> 00:15:05,869 So they took one of their characters, dobo. 374 00:15:05,906 --> 00:15:07,871 [jim] and stop. 375 00:15:07,908 --> 00:15:10,107 [jonny] and at first, I found it kind of strange 'cause 376 00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:12,443 The three of them were all holding on to dobo, 377 00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:16,080 And I was very aware of them. 378 00:15:16,082 --> 00:15:17,381 10 seconds into it, 379 00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:21,085 I was just watching dobo do his thing. 380 00:15:21,121 --> 00:15:25,089 [jim] mm-mm... Look behind. 381 00:15:25,158 --> 00:15:26,424 And sit. 382 00:15:26,426 --> 00:15:28,359 [groaning] 383 00:15:28,395 --> 00:15:30,294 I can see why he's such a popular character. 384 00:15:30,330 --> 00:15:32,429 He should be a tv actor. In fact, 385 00:15:32,465 --> 00:15:34,699 If it takes three people to get him moving, 386 00:15:34,768 --> 00:15:36,400 That's classic tv actor. 387 00:15:36,436 --> 00:15:38,536 [laughing] 388 00:15:38,538 --> 00:15:42,106 ♪ 389 00:15:42,108 --> 00:15:43,374 They do puppetry shows. 390 00:15:43,509 --> 00:15:45,242 They got a 400 seat theatre. 391 00:15:45,312 --> 00:15:47,378 They have a touring company. 392 00:15:47,414 --> 00:15:50,315 They have a puppetry school and tv production. 393 00:15:50,450 --> 00:15:53,384 They've got a series called animal lingo. 394 00:15:53,386 --> 00:15:56,454 Trevor is teaching me all about the 395 00:15:56,589 --> 00:16:00,992 Mi'kmaq language and culture. 396 00:16:00,994 --> 00:16:02,894 So they asked me to help out. 397 00:16:02,896 --> 00:16:04,996 I decided I'd teach a few newfoundland words 398 00:16:05,065 --> 00:16:07,031 To a hare. 399 00:16:07,033 --> 00:16:09,200 How about streel? 400 00:16:09,202 --> 00:16:12,003 Ah... Streel? 401 00:16:12,138 --> 00:16:16,140 A streel is somebody who is unkempt. 402 00:16:16,275 --> 00:16:17,975 And jim's there, he's operating. 403 00:16:18,011 --> 00:16:19,343 He's got his arm up the puppet. 404 00:16:19,346 --> 00:16:20,911 Geez, you're a streel, buddy. 405 00:16:20,947 --> 00:16:21,979 There you go, you got the hang of it now. 406 00:16:22,015 --> 00:16:22,947 How about that? 407 00:16:23,082 --> 00:16:24,948 Considering in some newfoundland dialects, 408 00:16:24,985 --> 00:16:28,019 You drop the 'h' from the beginning of a word... 409 00:16:28,021 --> 00:16:30,421 I think you could describe the scene as 410 00:16:30,556 --> 00:16:32,256 "arris and the 'are". 411 00:16:32,392 --> 00:16:33,791 [laughing] 412 00:16:33,860 --> 00:16:34,826 Or even better, 413 00:16:34,961 --> 00:16:37,895 "arris and a 'are with a 'and stuck up his arse." 414 00:16:37,964 --> 00:16:39,930 [laughing] 415 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,399 [applauding] 416 00:16:47,039 --> 00:16:51,776 ♪ 417 00:16:51,778 --> 00:16:56,447 ♪ 418 00:16:56,516 --> 00:16:59,249 Windsor has a strong hockey history. 419 00:16:59,285 --> 00:17:01,919 And it's more colourful than you'd think. 420 00:17:01,988 --> 00:17:04,322 You'll never guess who I met down at the 421 00:17:04,457 --> 00:17:06,858 John paris jr. Hockey rink. 422 00:17:06,993 --> 00:17:08,392 -Nice to meet you, sir. -Jonny and john. 423 00:17:08,428 --> 00:17:09,326 Yeah. 424 00:17:09,362 --> 00:17:12,029 The first black coach of a pro team in 425 00:17:12,098 --> 00:17:13,798 The history of the sport. 426 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:15,199 John paris junior. 427 00:17:15,334 --> 00:17:18,702 [cheering & applauding] 428 00:17:18,738 --> 00:17:21,972 John said he had a nickname from his playing days, 429 00:17:22,042 --> 00:17:25,276 And he used it in the title of the autobiography he wrote, 430 00:17:25,345 --> 00:17:27,344 "they called me chocolate rocket". 431 00:17:27,414 --> 00:17:29,012 That's a hell of a nickname. 432 00:17:29,049 --> 00:17:30,815 In fact, I think there was a missed opportunity 433 00:17:30,817 --> 00:17:32,216 When you named the rink. 434 00:17:32,218 --> 00:17:35,086 John paris jr. Rink is a fine name, but... 435 00:17:35,088 --> 00:17:36,854 "chocorock arena"? 436 00:17:36,890 --> 00:17:39,023 [laughing] 437 00:17:39,158 --> 00:17:43,961 ♪ 438 00:17:43,963 --> 00:17:46,363 After getting caught up on some black hockey history, 439 00:17:46,399 --> 00:17:49,433 I was brought "black" to the future to check out 440 00:17:49,436 --> 00:17:52,269 The aces kids hockey program. 441 00:17:52,404 --> 00:17:54,839 I got the play by play from 442 00:17:54,974 --> 00:17:57,741 Lawrence parker and jackie allen. 443 00:17:57,777 --> 00:17:59,510 [cheering & applauding] 444 00:17:59,512 --> 00:18:01,612 What is the aces program? 445 00:18:01,747 --> 00:18:04,382 It's a hockey program for students of african descent. 446 00:18:04,517 --> 00:18:06,851 There's quite a few black communities in nova scotia 447 00:18:06,853 --> 00:18:08,051 That a lot of people don't know. 448 00:18:08,088 --> 00:18:09,253 So, when we started, 449 00:18:09,322 --> 00:18:11,054 It cost nothing for the families to come. 450 00:18:11,091 --> 00:18:13,658 Skates were provided, so we would take the equipment back. 451 00:18:13,793 --> 00:18:15,259 They'll come back in September. 452 00:18:15,261 --> 00:18:16,327 We'll give them re-used, right, 453 00:18:16,396 --> 00:18:17,895 From the previous years. 454 00:18:18,030 --> 00:18:20,063 They have a program where they circulate the gear. 455 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:22,466 Cbc has a similar thing with clothing. 456 00:18:22,469 --> 00:18:24,802 -This suit, ron mcclean. -[laughing] 457 00:18:24,937 --> 00:18:26,737 Ron mcclean, I got this from. 458 00:18:26,873 --> 00:18:31,342 [applauding] 459 00:18:31,344 --> 00:18:33,010 It's not bad, right? 460 00:18:33,146 --> 00:18:36,280 ♪ 461 00:18:36,415 --> 00:18:38,015 I'm jonny, nice to meet you guys. 462 00:18:38,051 --> 00:18:40,351 They were getting a game of ball hockey started. 463 00:18:40,420 --> 00:18:42,887 No, I am not related to johnny depp. 464 00:18:42,889 --> 00:18:44,689 So, I went in and played, and it was great. 465 00:18:44,824 --> 00:18:49,994 ♪ 466 00:18:50,063 --> 00:18:52,697 ♪ 467 00:18:52,832 --> 00:18:54,765 It was a lot of fun, but then it dawned on me 468 00:18:54,901 --> 00:18:57,000 What that program is all about. 469 00:18:57,036 --> 00:18:59,002 So many times in minor hockey, 470 00:18:59,038 --> 00:19:00,470 The black kid on the team 471 00:19:00,507 --> 00:19:02,440 Is the only black kid on the team. 472 00:19:02,442 --> 00:19:05,309 And there I am playing with a bunch of black kids... 473 00:19:05,378 --> 00:19:06,944 And it wasn't that I wasn't black. 474 00:19:07,013 --> 00:19:08,779 It's that I wasn't a kid. 475 00:19:08,815 --> 00:19:10,915 I was looking at them, and I was like... 476 00:19:10,917 --> 00:19:13,250 They don't really understand... 477 00:19:13,319 --> 00:19:15,886 -Joint pain. -[laughing] 478 00:19:15,922 --> 00:19:17,455 Even trying to communicate, I was like, 479 00:19:17,457 --> 00:19:19,856 "hey, team," I was like, "who's got that guy?" 480 00:19:19,893 --> 00:19:22,193 "okay. Who's got advil?" 481 00:19:22,195 --> 00:19:23,995 [laughing] 482 00:19:23,997 --> 00:19:26,764 At one point, jackie said, "hey, kids, no hitting." 483 00:19:26,766 --> 00:19:28,032 And I was like, "yeah, no hip checks 484 00:19:28,167 --> 00:19:29,767 'til I get these hips checked." 485 00:19:29,769 --> 00:19:31,936 [laughing] 486 00:19:31,938 --> 00:19:34,171 Aces! [cheering] 487 00:19:34,174 --> 00:19:37,474 ♪ 488 00:19:37,510 --> 00:19:41,278 What do you call it when two different species of pumpkin 489 00:19:41,314 --> 00:19:43,480 Get together to reproduce, 490 00:19:43,482 --> 00:19:46,817 And make one of such a size, you stop and stare? 491 00:19:46,819 --> 00:19:49,353 You call it an atlantic giant. 492 00:19:49,355 --> 00:19:51,355 First bred right here in windsor in 493 00:19:51,391 --> 00:19:54,425 North america's oldest agricultural affair. 494 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,761 [laughing] 495 00:19:56,763 --> 00:19:59,162 There's an art to puppetry at mermaid, 496 00:19:59,199 --> 00:20:01,098 Where objects come to life. 497 00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:04,201 But you don't necessarily put your hand inside. 498 00:20:04,336 --> 00:20:07,204 Women at windsor wear felt lucky, 499 00:20:07,339 --> 00:20:10,374 And clocking out, looked surprisingly plucky, 500 00:20:10,509 --> 00:20:12,910 Going home to a husband whose object 501 00:20:12,912 --> 00:20:14,245 Is four fingers wide. 502 00:20:14,380 --> 00:20:15,947 [laughing] 503 00:20:16,082 --> 00:20:18,815 If I had to crown the birthplace of hockey, 504 00:20:18,851 --> 00:20:21,385 I know montreal might mock me. 505 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,254 And the people of kingston, ontario, 506 00:20:23,389 --> 00:20:24,989 Would give me hell. 507 00:20:25,124 --> 00:20:27,825 But with the evidence, I could now show ya, 508 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,428 I'd have to bring it to nova scotia... 509 00:20:30,430 --> 00:20:34,231 For the crown fits here, and windsor wears it well. 510 00:20:34,366 --> 00:20:36,834 Thanks for coming, everybody, you've been great! 511 00:20:36,836 --> 00:20:39,403 [cheering & applauding] 512 00:20:39,405 --> 00:20:42,473 ♪ 513 00:20:42,542 --> 00:20:43,808 This town's buzzing. 514 00:20:43,943 --> 00:20:45,509 It's buzzing, you can tell. 515 00:20:45,545 --> 00:20:49,813 ♪ 516 00:20:49,849 --> 00:20:53,284 He really captured the essence of our community. 517 00:20:53,286 --> 00:20:58,022 ♪ 518 00:20:58,024 --> 00:21:02,760 ♪ 519 00:21:02,895 --> 00:21:06,030 ♪ 520 00:21:06,165 --> 00:21:07,531 It's a great little town with so many 521 00:21:07,533 --> 00:21:09,833 Interesting things going on. 522 00:21:09,869 --> 00:21:15,806 ♪ 523 00:21:15,842 --> 00:21:20,978 ♪ 524 00:21:21,047 --> 00:21:24,048 The birthplace of hockey is windsor, nova scotia.